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:
Comfort Suites-Kingwood 22223 Hwy 59N Humble, TX 77339 (This is only tentative- updates will follow)
Reservations: 281-359-4448  mention Texas Marathon 
Price: $94.99 for a queen double or king double. 
Includes complimentary hot breakfast.  Late checkout available on request.

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

Race limit:
The race has a limit of 400 runners- 300 marathon and 100 half marathon 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 stuffed penguin with the finishing position hanging around its neck.   Each registered participant will receive a pile of premiums generously donated by our sponsor, Sportzfuel.   (The pile of premiums and finisher medal are a secret until race day). 

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 this year as the "year of the penguin".  Each finisher will receive a very colorful penguin with the official finishing position hanging around its neck.  Don't blame us if you have a very slow penguin.  Last year was the   "year of the bat" and the prior years have been: "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 11:00 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 and at www.marathonguide.com .

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

Marathon Challenge Program:
Seventeen 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 and/or 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 2008 6,000 students completed the distance and received t-shirts.   The program has provided t-shirts to children for 17 years.  The progam is funded entirely by private donations.  Every dollar donated goes directly to the students.
 
The leftover shirts last year 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:
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    http://www.karenthibodeaux.com/home.asp

Course Records:

 Texas Marathon Triple:
Announcing:  Texas Marathon Triple.   Complete the Texas Marathon on 1/1/09, Surfside Beach Marathon on 2/14/09, and Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon on 3/15/09.  Puma will award you a windbreaker type jacket with Surfside Marathon paying for the embroidery.  The Seabrook marathon will award a 50/50 t-shirt, and the Texas Marathon will provide an embroidered hat to commemorate your accomplishment of completing all 3 marathons.  There is no cost to participate, you don't have to sign up for the Triple, and the merchandise is free.   The marathon distance is required for all three events.  http://texasmarathontriple.org/

Surfside Beach Marathon  www.surfsidemarathon.com  
Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon  www.seabrookmarathon.org            

Sponsors:
This year our very generous main sponsor is Sportzfuel.  Please visit the web site:   http://sportzfuel.com/

Does your company have free samples they would like to provide to 450 (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

Extras:
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)