Page 1/2
Chevron Houston Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K - 2009
The Chevron Houston Marathon happens every year in January in Houston, Texas. The next race will be
on January 11, 2009. The marathon is popular enough to have set a limit for the
number of participants. When this limit is reached, he race is closed for registration.
Whether the popularity of the Chevron Houston Marathon is a result of the flat and
fast course, the cool winter weather, the possibility to qualify for Boston or something
completely different, is hard to say. But whatever the reason, the organisers have
been obliged to introduce a race limit of 17,000 participants for the marathon and half marathon
between the two of them. The limit for the 2008 race was reached already in October,
so you have to hurry up and registrate to guarantee yourself a bib number.
If the tendencies from the earlier
years proceed, the 17,000 participants will be travelling to Houston from all 50
U.S. states and more than 30 overseas countries to compete in the marathon distance
of 42.195 km, 1/2 marathon and 5K run. The course of the Chevron Houston Marathon
is a loop around the city of Houston with very few ascents. This makes the race
popular with runners trying to break the time limit for the Boston Marathon and
makes it suitable for record-setting.
Houston Marathon 2008 recap
In 2008 no less than two former records were
beaten in Houston. The course record in the women’s marathon
was set by Dire Tune of Ethiopia for the second year in a row. Tune broke her own
record from 2007 by shaving an extra two minutes and 12 seconds of her old record
and finishing by 2:24:39. The other record was the number of participants - a field
of more than 20,000 people combined ran the three races on Houston Marathon day. A
large part of this impressive field ran the marathon from downtown Houston through
scenic neighbourhoods, shopping areas, a couple
of parks, past Rice University to finally return to downtown Houston and the George
R. Brown Convention Center.
Apart from gaining the personal accomplishment of finishing
a marathon and the festive experience of being cheered by 200,000 onlookers and
numerous jazz bands, belly dancers, Elvis impersonators and other entertainers,
marathoners have the possibility of making a difference while sweating on the course.
By entering the Run for a Reason-programme participants can make donations or become
an active fundraiser for one of 35 official charities. Among these are the Texas
Children’s Hospital, the AIDS Foundation Houston and the American Red Cross.
For further information and registration on the full and 1/2 marathon, see the official Houston Marathon site
here.
Chevron Houston Marathon Course
The course of Chevron Houston Marathon is advertised to be ‘Flat, Fast and Friendly’.
Click here for course details, map and elevation profile of the
full marathon and
half marathon.
For the same information on the 5K run, please go
here.
Selected video from the Houston Marathon 2008
Houston Marathon Results and Information 2009/2010