San Marcos, local cities hold their own with running events

I was looking back on the trends in running since 1978 when I started this crazy sport.  In the late 70s and early 80s people that ran long distances were considered a strange person that would run more than a mile when you could drive there in a perfectly good car.  There were only a few races that a runner could enter and most of them were either 10 K’s, or maybe a marathon. The Capital 10K was the first “big” race and had about 2,000 runners that first year and ran over the trails and swinging bridges that were around Town Lake. When I had the first Better Half Marathon in 1983 there were maybe five or six half marathons in the entire state.  

Now there are races every weekend, and up to three or more half marathons every weekend. In the four largest cities – Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas -Fort Worth – there are over three races in each of those cities every weekend.  Most are of the 5K variety but now and then a 10K, or half marathon, is scattered in the schedule. One new trend is the multi-distance races. You can enter a 5K, a 10K, or a half marathon – and even a marathon – all at the same venue.  

While the large cities have several races for runners to enter every weekend the runners in Central Texas can hold their own without traveling to the big city.  The small cities such as San Marcos, New Braunfels, Wimberley, Kyle, Lockhart, Seguin, Dripping Springs, Buda, Luling, and Bastrop have a good representation at area races. I look at the list of entrants at local races and there is always a good number of runners from these small cities.  All of the above cities will have several races sponsored in a year. A few of them, like San Marcos and New Braunfels, have a dozen or more for runners to enter.

The other good point for runners in these cities is that there are several that have a Runner’s Club that has regular group runs for the citizens.  These clubs offer a chance to run with a group and several of them are consultants for an organization that wants to host a run. I know that San Marcos, New Braunfels, and Kyle have very active clubs.  

I was talking with Ty Cervantes at Core Running Company the other day and he informed me of the Texas State Running Club. Texas State has close to 40,000 students enrolled, and when you think about that number of students, it has a greater population than many of the small towns that the students come from. It is open to students and town people that want to run with a group. The group meets on Monday evenings at 7 o’clock on 400 West Holland Street near the parking garage.   The group also runs with the Core Running group on Wednesday’s at 6 p.m. starting at the store after Dave Moody closes up shop.  

The advantage of belonging to a Runner’s Club is that it is open for all levels of runners. One other advantage that these clubs offer is training advice and tips on running. If you are starting out as a runner and think you might want to enter a 5K race there will be a member that will train with you and get you ready to run. The Texas State Club has members that can train runners for half marathons and full 26.2 mile marathons.  And if you are adventurous enough to try an ultra-marathon (one of those races that is 50 miles to 100 miles in length) the Texas State Club has a member that runs those races and would welcome the company on his long training runs. The San Marcos Club has had several groups that train for marathons and are always willing to help any runner that wants to try a marathon distance.

For me, the fun of running in the Central Texas “small cities”, is that generally it is a smaller group of 80 – 250 runners entered.  The race is often a very scenic run as compared to the big city streets, and has minimal traffic and a local flavor to it.  Many of these races are part of a local celebration such as the Luling Watermelon Thump Celebration.  Gruene almost always has a good turnout for races and will often get close to 1,000 runners at some of the races.  Maybe it is because after the races the runners can go into Gruene Hall for some live music and refreshments.

For runners, the Central Texas running communities have much to offer, and all the towns are within a short travel time to one another.  One other point to mention is that entering races in these central Texas cities is that you will soon recognize the same runners at the races. It won’t be long before these runners are now on a friendly basis and comparing notes about running with you.  Check out the online race calendars for the schedule of area races and take advantage of these good and fun races near home base.