The various lockdowns and restrictions has affected the number of road races being held. At one time, San Marcos was a small-town hotbed of road races in Central Texas. There were as many as 30-40 races a year held in San Marcos. Most of them were measured and certified at one time or another. I took a class from Kevin Lucas one weekend in (I think) 1981 to be able to certify courses. I taught David Alexander how to certify courses and I think almost any road race course in this area was probably measured by one or both of us. I started to recall the different locations that have held a road race in San Marcos. So many disappeared because of increased traffic or changes in road construction.
The most-used course was the 5K distance starting at the (1) downtown Courthouse. There were a few summers where as many as eight weekends held a race at that location. Cinco De Mayo 5K and the original Sights and Sounds were probably the largest venues in their day.
Jim’s Gym (2) (now Texas Health and Racquet Club) had races running both directions off McCarty Lane. One went out to the Turkey Hollow subdivision (only a P shaped road back then); another 10K went out to the access road, and the first Moe’s Better Half was held there. The old Civic Center (3) off Clovis Barker Road had the Chilympiad 10k and others that ran up Redwood Road (now Wonder World) and came back off Hwy 123. (4) Tanger Outlet has had 5K, 10K, 10 miler, half marathons, a 20 miler, and duathalons all starting there and heading out Center Point Road. (5) Toyota Car Dealership now has a 5K route heading out Posey Road. (6) City Park and the River Walk has held several races from Pet Fest 5K to Juneteenth 5K.
