Posted 10:27 pm Sunday, January 22, 2012
Houston Marathon holds excitement, Olympic dreams
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
HOUSTON — With the crack of the gun resounding in the cool Houston air, hundreds of U.S. Olympic team hopefuls began their grueling 26.2 mile race, but in the end, only six would move forward on the road to London.
Underneath the canopy of glass and concrete structures reaching to the heavens, the U.S. Olympic men and women winded through the downtown streets on an eight mile loop Jan. 14 for the chance to represent their country in this year’s Olympic Games held in London this summer.
The sound of the contestants’ shoes striking the pavement mixed with the cheers gave the atmosphere an electrifying element and the racers drew encouragement from the cheers of thousands of bundled up fans frantically screaming, “Go USA,” while waving flags and holding up signs for their favorite runner.
Staff Writer
HOUSTON — With the crack of the gun resounding in the cool Houston air, hundreds of U.S. Olympic team hopefuls began their grueling 26.2 mile race, but in the end, only six would move forward on the road to London.
Underneath the canopy of glass and concrete structures reaching to the heavens, the U.S. Olympic men and women winded through the downtown streets on an eight mile loop Jan. 14 for the chance to represent their country in this year’s Olympic Games held in London this summer.
The sound of the contestants’ shoes striking the pavement mixed with the cheers gave the atmosphere an electrifying element and the racers drew encouragement from the cheers of thousands of bundled up fans frantically screaming, “Go USA,” while waving flags and holding up signs for their favorite runner.
Ryan Hall, the men’s favorite before the race ended up in second place, as 36-year-old Neb Keflezighi took the ribbon with his time of 2:09:08, according to Olympic Trials officials.
After lagging behind several runners for much of the women’s race, Shalane Flanagan set an Olympic Trials record of 2:25:38 in only her second marathon.
Standing proudly on the podium Hall, Abdi Abdirahman and Keflezighi were revealed as the men’s team while Desiree Davila, Ms. Flanagan and Kara Goucher earned their places on the women’s team.
But for many, the race on Saturday was the precursor of a much bigger race to follow the next day — the 40th running of the Houston Marathon.
Runners, both young and old, waited for the 7 a.m. start to the race while listening to “The Star Spangled Banner” being sung over a public address system. Moments later, the runners thundered away from the George R. Brown Convention Center area and down La Branch Street to the shutdown Elysian Parkway.
Across the span of the freeway, the marathoners and those participating in the Aramco Half Marathon took the form of a rolling sea of colors as they plodded along the course set out before them
For the half-marathoners the journey would be complete in 13.1 miles, but for those running the marathon they would have to endure 26.2 miles through Herman Park, the Galleria area, the Houston Medical District and finally back into downtown Houston to the finish line in front of the convention center.
The crowds lining the city streets to encourage runners held up signs such as, “Don’t let the Kenyans and Ethiopians beat you,” “It’s just a blister,” and “You didn’t need those toenails any way.”
There were Elvis impersonators who gyrated to “Burning Love” and various bands including one group dressed as a 1950s doo wop band that belted out tunes as the runners ran by.
“The people cheering us on really helps me to keep going,” one runner said to his companion as they ran along San Felipe near the Galleria.
Also lining the streets were thousands of Houston Texan football fans, who would see their team fall in a divisional playoff later that afternoon, who screamed, “Hurry up, the game starts at noon.”
Jennifer Carmouche, Houston Marathon communications manager, said a study is being conducted to determine the race weekend’s economic impact on the city.
Mrs. Carmouche said there were 7,647 finishers in the Chevron Houston Marathon with 27-year-old Tariku Jufar winning the men’s race in 2:06:51, which broke the record of 2:07:04 set just last year by Bekana Daba.
For the women, it was 26-year-old Alemitu Abera triumphing in 2:23:14 to take down the 2010 record set by Teyba Erkesso. Both runners claimed a $35,000 prize for their victories, plus a $10,000 bonus for breaking their course records.
Mrs. Carmouche said there were about 300,000 participants, volunteers and spectators over the course of the weekend.
“We do not know the economic impact at this time, but will be doing a study. Last year, we generated a $51 million economic impact for the city,” she said.
The 41st Houston Marathon is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2013.
After lagging behind several runners for much of the women’s race, Shalane Flanagan set an Olympic Trials record of 2:25:38 in only her second marathon.
Standing proudly on the podium Hall, Abdi Abdirahman and Keflezighi were revealed as the men’s team while Desiree Davila, Ms. Flanagan and Kara Goucher earned their places on the women’s team.
But for many, the race on Saturday was the precursor of a much bigger race to follow the next day — the 40th running of the Houston Marathon.
Runners, both young and old, waited for the 7 a.m. start to the race while listening to “The Star Spangled Banner” being sung over a public address system. Moments later, the runners thundered away from the George R. Brown Convention Center area and down La Branch Street to the shutdown Elysian Parkway.
Across the span of the freeway, the marathoners and those participating in the Aramco Half Marathon took the form of a rolling sea of colors as they plodded along the course set out before them
For the half-marathoners the journey would be complete in 13.1 miles, but for those running the marathon they would have to endure 26.2 miles through Herman Park, the Galleria area, the Houston Medical District and finally back into downtown Houston to the finish line in front of the convention center.
The crowds lining the city streets to encourage runners held up signs such as, “Don’t let the Kenyans and Ethiopians beat you,” “It’s just a blister,” and “You didn’t need those toenails any way.”
There were Elvis impersonators who gyrated to “Burning Love” and various bands including one group dressed as a 1950s doo wop band that belted out tunes as the runners ran by.
“The people cheering us on really helps me to keep going,” one runner said to his companion as they ran along San Felipe near the Galleria.
Also lining the streets were thousands of Houston Texan football fans, who would see their team fall in a divisional playoff later that afternoon, who screamed, “Hurry up, the game starts at noon.”
Jennifer Carmouche, Houston Marathon communications manager, said a study is being conducted to determine the race weekend’s economic impact on the city.
Mrs. Carmouche said there were 7,647 finishers in the Chevron Houston Marathon with 27-year-old Tariku Jufar winning the men’s race in 2:06:51, which broke the record of 2:07:04 set just last year by Bekana Daba.
For the women, it was 26-year-old Alemitu Abera triumphing in 2:23:14 to take down the 2010 record set by Teyba Erkesso. Both runners claimed a $35,000 prize for their victories, plus a $10,000 bonus for breaking their course records.
Mrs. Carmouche said there were about 300,000 participants, volunteers and spectators over the course of the weekend.
“We do not know the economic impact at this time, but will be doing a study. Last year, we generated a $51 million economic impact for the city,” she said.
The 41st Houston Marathon is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2013.
