When an organization starts looking for a fund raiser, one of the options is sponsoring a road race. It takes about five or six members to put the necessary duties in place and to line up some advertising sponsors.
There are several things the group must decide on when thinking about sponsoring a race. A date to hold the race. A catchy name to call the race. The distance of the race, which for a first-time endeavor is almost always a 5K distance. And the location. This is one of the interesting parts of putting on a race and it started me recollecting the various locations in San Marcos that have held a race.
The most popular was the Courthouse Square and heading down San Antonio Street. The course has had several changes but the start and finish had always been the Courthouse. Sights and Sounds starts/finishes at the Chamber Area but follows the same course. Aquarena Springs has held several cross country races on the golf course and a few that headed down Post Road (Five Mile Dam Road) or Lime Kiln Road.
Tangram had started a race at Aquarena and ran through downtown San Marcos, but had numerous complaints from business owners trying to get to their business because of blocked streets. Cuauhtemoc Hall had one race that used the neighborhood streets. Playscape had a race that ran down Cheatham Street into a figure eight loop in the neighborhood. The City Park has had several races following the Riverwalk Trail to the Little League Fields and back, very scenic run but unless the organization had enough volunteers for direction there were a few where runners got lost in the wooded area.
One of the most popular runs was the Cemetery Run starting at the Lamar School and running through the gravestones. This run needed two lead bikers as the hill leading up to Loop Street almost always had the lead runners pass the lead bike. The River Ridge Fire Station had a lot of 5K races including the Pink Heals 5K. A flat and fast course.
Texas Health and Racquet Gym (Jim’s Gym) had a 10K race, a 5K race, and a half marathon starting point. The First Baptist Church on McCarty Lane still has a 5K run with an out-andback course. Hernandez School on Stagecoach Road has had several 5K runs start there. Football stadiums for both the Texas State University and the San Marcos High School have had 5K runs start at these locations. The “old” high school had a 15K race out Staples Road and down Old Bastrop Highway that crossed the river three times for a scenic run.
The Crocket Elementary school had a nice run through the neighborhoods for several years. The Toyota Car Dealership has had a nice 5K run from their back parking lot and heading up to Old Bastrop Road. La-Cima Subdivision has a 5K run on the wide sidewalks for a safe run.
The most popular sites lately have been the Country Estates subdivision; it has two 5K courses and a 10K course to use and the Hays County Soccer Field Complex for a 5K run through the neighborhood.
I’m sure I may have missed a couple of run locations but the point is there have been a lot of run locations in San Marcos over the years. With all the new developments and subdivisions now in the immediate surrounding area, I am sure an organization will try one of the locations for a 5K run someday.
For an organization thinking of finding a new location, remember a few important points. Minimal traffic, restrooms, parking space, few turns that need a volunteer for directions, permission to use the area, and police officers for traffic control if needed. It’s not as easy putting on a race as most people think. Add to that the number of T-shirts, what kind of shirt, the number of awards in age groups (5-year groups or 10-year groups), and Overall Awards (Masters, Senior Masters, Grand Masters).
After looking over locations and race details do you still want a race?
