San Marcos — For runners in San Marcos, time is running short to get ready to enter some local races.

The time to put on the running shoes, take a quick breath and get ready for the starting gun is only two weeks away. Local runners probably have not had it this good for a long while when they could sleep in an extra hour and drive to a race right here in San Marcos for a month of running.

Starting the calendar month with the popular Country Roads 10K and Kids Run on Sept. 18 out at Country Estates starting at 8 a.m. Runners receive a hi-tech long sleeved shirt and are eligible for some great drawings of prizes after the run.

This is a very scenic course through the Country Estates subdivision and with the early start, chances of seeing wildlife such as deer is always a lift.

Early entry fee is only $20 until Sept. 11 and then the cost right up to and including day of race is $25.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Subway of Central Texas this race is the only race that the San Marcos Runners Club puts on for the clubs benefit. The proceeds go to help with supplies and equipment to aid other organizations and races here in San Marcos to be first class.

With the warm weather it is also nice that the Country Estates Recreation Association lets runners use the swimming pool after the race to cool off. This is a very good race to put on your running calendar.

After running the Country Roads 10K, local runners get the chance to enter two races the very next weekend, Sept. 25-26.

On Saturday, Sept. 25 the Pet Fest 5K is held down at City Park along the River Walk Trail.

The fun part of this run for dog owners is that well-behaved dogs can run along with the owners during the race. The course along the River Walk is always very scenic and cooler in many areas of the course because of the river and the overhanging trees that keep the temperature down.

If you are going to run this with your dog, just remember that your pet needs some exercise and conditioning before the run also.

Entry fee is $20 for early registration and $25 for late and day of race registration.

The very next day, Sept. 26, the SMPFFA Pink Heals 5K will be held out at the Tanger Outlet Center starting at 8 a.m.

The San Marcos Professional Fire Fighters Association is sponsoring this race to help with the awareness of breast cancer. Bring the kids to this one as fire trucks and fireman will be on hand to help with the race and kids always like to be close to a real fireman and fire truck.

The course is an out and back course with a good downhill finish so that runners can look good crossing the finish line. Entry fee is $20 for early entry and $25 for late and day of race registration.

Runners need to keep the running shoes on as the very next week on Oct. 2, the fun and challenging From Here to Eternity 5K is held at the Lamar School Annex starting at 8 a.m.

The course runs from the school up a long hill to Loop Street and then on through the cemetery and back to the school. The course is primarily an uphill start to the cemetery but after getting through the cemetery there are downhills for most of the way to the finish line.

Entry fee for early registration is only $15 and $20 for late registration and day of race entry.

Awards are the very unique and one-of-a kind small cemetery head stones for winners in the age categories.

To finish off the four weeks of local races runners in San Marcos can top off the race calendar with the Hope For A Cure 5K out at the River Ridge on Oct. 9 starting at 8:00 a.m.

The race is a benefit race for Juvenile Diabetes cure. Entry fee is early registration for $20 and late registration and day of race $25. For a city, San Marcos, with the help of the San Marcos Runners Club, it is a nice benefit to be able to run in your own city and have good organization at the race.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to run and support some excellent causes that these organizations sponsor.



Dr. Maurice Johnson is a professor at Texas State University in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. His column appears every Sunday in the Daily Record.