Marathon Legend Steve Jones to Speak at Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs
More than 1,000 runners expected for the 50K and 50 mile races

E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page

Posted Wednesday, 15 November, 2006

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - (November 13, 2006) - Welshman Steve Jones, who set the marathon World Record (2 hours, 8 minutes, 5 seconds) at the 1984 Chicago Marathon, will be the headline guest speaker for the 17th Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs on Saturday, Dec. 9 in Huntsville State Park. This year's race will serve as the inaugural event of the IAU World Trail Challenge for 2006, with some of the top trail runners from around the world competing in the 50 mile race. There is also a 50K race on tap. Huntsville State Park is located 60 miles north of Houston on IH-45.

Top runners will vie for a share of prizes to include $1000 for the overall men's and women's champions in the 50 mile. Runner-up overall will receive $600, third $400 and fourth $200. If any runner breaks Charl Mattheus' course record of 5:20:25, he or she will pocket another $1000.

In the 50K, the men's and women's winner will receive $600, second place $300, third $200 and fourth $100. If any runner betters Uli Steidl's course record of 3:07:46, another $600 will be paid.

More than 1,000 runners from 45 states and several countries are expected to compete in this year's event. Final preparations are underway to make the event a memorable affair for the seasoned competitor or the fitness runner.

"There are quite a few people in the running community who think of Sunmart as one of the best trail races on the circuit," said race director Roger Soler of San Antonio. "I think this year's race will draw a lot of media attention, considering the caliber of runners that we are likely to attract."

Soler has no plans to change the route that is typically used for the popular race, but admits that if a huge influx of runners descends upon Huntsville, some nuances may have to be addressed.

"Depending upon the size of the field we draw, we might have to consider some logistical challenges that we have not had to address in the past," Soler said. "We want to have a fast course for the top runners, but we also want to cater to the folks who may not be going for course records."

For more information on the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs, call Roger Soler's Sports at (210) 366-3701 or go online at RogerSoler.com.

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page