Weather:
Temperatures may vary from 32 to 60 degrees. Typically you can expect 40 degree weather.

Air Travel:
The closest airport is IAH- George Bush Intercontinental Airport-Houston, TX (less than 10 miles).  The next closest airport is HOU-William P. Hobby Airport-Houston, TX (31 miles).  Car rental is necessary because the hotels do not have shuttle service to the race site.  Most major airlines have service to Houston, TX. 

Lodging: These rates were for the 2013 Texas Marathon.  We will update as soon as possible.
Comfort Suites-Kingwood 22223 Hwy 59N Humble, TX 77339        Race Headquarter Hotel                                                                
Reservations: 281-359-4448  Mention Texas Marathon. 
www.choicehotels.com/hotel/tx547
Price: $84.99 for a queen double or king double. 
Includes complimentary hot breakfast.  Late checkout available on request.

Candlewood Suites-Kingwood/Humble/IAH, 291 Kingwood Medical Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339
Marathon Rate: $79
Mention Texas Marathon to request secure this rate.
24 Hour free shuttle, free laundry, pool with gazebo, Jacuzzi, gas grill, free wireless internet, business center, off freeway for safety and security.
www.candlewoodsuites.com/kingwoodtx

Country Inn & Suites-Humble 20611 U.S. 59, Humble TX 77338
Reservations:  281-446-4977 Ask for the 14th annual Texas Marathon rate.
http://www.countryinns.com/hotels/txhoaire/rooms/
Price: $89.99 for one king or two queen suite
Includes free hot breakfast and complimentary shuttle to IAH.

Fairfield Inn Marriott, 20525 Hwy 59 N, Humble, TX
Reservations 281-540-3311 ask for 14th annual Texas Marathon rate $84.99 double queen or 1 King, all rooms non smoking, includes Continental breakfast, indoor pool and hot tub, free wireless internet 
www.fairfieldinn.com/houhm

Holiday Inn Express & Suites-Kingwood, 22675 Hwy 59 N, Kingwood, TX 77339

Holiday Inn Express & Suites-Houston, 12915 FM 1960 W Humble, TX 77065
Reservations: 281-359-2700 Includes free, hot breakfast.  Ask for Texas Marathon rate: $79 (2014 rate) for single or double either property

Certification:
The course is USATF certified and is a Boston qualifier.                        Course number TX02112ETM.

Timing:
Timing will be provided by Run Houston Timing www.runhoustontiming.net 
Chips will be available for pickup starting at 6:30 am on race morning at the park.  3826 Brook Shadow - Kingwood, TX 77345

Race limit:
The race has a limit of 700 participants.     Check your registration

Time Limit:
This event is walker and velocity challenged participant friendly.  The only time limit is that participants must finish before dark (5:30pm).  An early start is not allowed because of the park curfew.

T-shirts, medals, and stuff:
Each participant and volunteer will receive a shirt. Each finisher will receive a custom finisher medal and a squeezie elephant with the finishing position hanging around its neck.   Each registered participant will receive a goody bag.   (The finisher medals are a secret until race day). The Texas Marathon started as a marathon event only. Later we added a half marathon to accomodate family members and local runners in the interest of promoting the sport.  We became that our event has changed its focus from a marathon to a half.  This was not our intention.  We heard several runners comment that there was no reason to run the marathon when they would receive the same medal for running the half.  We agreed.  For the 2013 and all future events, marathoners will receive the really large medal and half marathoners will receive a substantial, yet smaller one. We feel this is in the best interest of the marathon sport.  -Steve&Paula

Pre-race Announcements and National Anthem:
Race announcements, introductions, and instructions will start at 7:45.  National Anthem will be sung by Waverly Walk followed by the race start at 8:00am sharp.

Aid Stations:
There will be water and sports drink available every 1.5 miles at each of the aid stations. There are snacks available at the start/stop aid station (every 6.5 miles).   Portable toilets are located at the start and at each aid station.

Bag Drop:
There will be a area near the starting line where you can leave a drop bag that is easily accessible from the race course.

Awards: 
We have designated 2014 as the "year of the squeezie elephant".  Each finisher will receive a squeezie elephant with the official finishing position hanging around its neck.  Don't blame us if you have a very slow elephant.  Last year was the "year of the squeezie cheesie rat" and the prior years have been: "year of the pink pig", "year of the yellow rubber duck", "year of the bat", "year of the monkey" , "year of the bear", and "year of the cow".  There are no age group awards because every runner is special.

Post race:
A pizza picnic lunch is provided after the race with fresh pizza being delivered every hour starting at 10:00 AM.  Also, snacks, fruit, cookies, chips, and soft drinks are available while you cheer on the other runners as they finish.

Results:
Finishing results will be available on the website.

The Charity:
The net proceeds of this race will be donated to the Marathon Challenge running program. 

Marathon Challenge Program:
Twenty years ago we were repeatedly asked by PTA parents "How far was that marathon?".  After deciding that it nearly impossible to teach adults what a marathon was, we would teach their children.  We came up with a program in our local school called the Marathon Challenge Program. The program promotes fitness for elementary school students by providing t-shirts to the students  who complete 26.2 miles or more of running/walking during the school year. The first year we had 14 students complete the distance.  Each year we've added schools  in the area to the program.  In 2012 8,900 students completed the distance and received t-shirts.   The program has provided thousands of t-shirts to children for 20 years.  The progam is funded entirely by private donations.  Every dollar donated goes directly to the students.

Photos
 
The leftover Marathon Challenge shirts in 2007 were sent to an after school program for children in Ecuador.      photo a    photo b      photo c

To date, the race and your generous donations have raised funds for the Marathon Challenge Program in the amounts of:
2013-$19,000 2012-$19,000  2011-$22,000  2010-$17,500  2009-$11,000  2008-$4,000  2007-$3,000  2006-$1,906  2005-$1,302  2004-$2,450   2003-$1,250

Race Photography:
Karen Thibodeaux Photography    www.yoursportingimage.com

Photos from Steve & Paula Boone    (2012 photos)   (2011 photos)  (2010 photos)

Video of 2012 Texas Marathon and Half from Monica Montoya  (video)

Course Records:

Sponsors:
This year our very generous sponsor is Metal Sawing Technology.     Visit their web site www.metalsaw.com. 

Does your company have free samples they would like to provide to 700 (very appreciative) runners??  If so, we would be very happy to include your items in our race packets.  Runners really love freebies!  Just drop us a line and we'll do the rest.  steveboone@aol.com

Volunteers:
If you know of an adult who wants to volunteer, please include their name and shirt size with your application or send us an email. steveboone@aol.com

We have marathoners travelling to Texas from out of the country.  We have had folks ask for rides to/from the race course.  If you are willing to be a contact for "shuttle service", please send us an email and we'll list you as a contact for our marathoners.  steveboone@aol.com

Texas Marathon Veterans:
After a participant completes their 5th Texas Marathon (26.2 mile event only counts), they are considered a Texas Marathon Veteran.  Special awards are presented to the finisher when they complete their 5th year and every 5 years afterward of the Texas Marathon. 

*50 States Marathon Club members    www.50statesmarathonclub.com

5 Year Veterans

10 Year Veterans

Texas Marathon Triple:
For those who complete all three marathon distances at the Texas Marathon 1/1/13, Surfside Marathon 2/18/12 and Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon 3/18/2012, we will mail a hat and shirt. The shirt will list the finishers alphabetically and there is no cost to the participants.  Register for Surfside and Seabrook soon, before they fill up. 

Extras:
Nifty, Custom made Wooden Display Medal Stand from Lifespeed Sports.  www.lifespeedsports.com  email to order lifespeedsports@yahoo.com  Texas Marathon Special pricing is $32.00 (plus shipping). (photo)

For our tenth anniversary, Gary Nixon comissioned a stained glass work from his daughter, Sherry Nixon, for our Christmas gift.  It's a gorgeous 18" stained glass window.   (artwork)