Montgomery County and Spring Races Jostle Already for 2012 Position

            With the growth of road racing on the far north side of the greater Houston area, specifically Montgomery County and Spring, effective date placement of a race is becoming even more critical.

            And with the introduction of Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas, many road races in the spring are seeing the departure of a large number of triathletes – up to 200 from Montgomery County and Spring who are training for this year’s event.

            Additionally, with a full slate of spring marathons and two major season-opening triathlons (Kemah Sprint and Olympic Triathlon and the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas), it may become more and more of a challenge for races to maintain their numbers.

            About the only things that are known for sure are the area marathons and Ironman Texas for next year, where the dates on the latter are likely to be spelled out in the Host Value Sponsorship Agreement between the World Triathlon Corporation and The Woodlands Township and The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau.  

(A signed copy of the agreement between WTC and St. George, Utah’s Convention & Visitors Bureau was discovered on the Internet prior to the Ironman Texas announcement.)

So what do we know for sure – the marathons?  Well, these ones we do:

January 1 – Texas Marathon (Kingwood)

January 15 – Chevron Houston Marathon (Houston)

February 5 – Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon

February 19 – Livestrong Austin Marathon

March 3 – My Fit Foods The Woodlands Marathon

March 17-18 – Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon

            Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon is the first race that is making a two week move from its 2011 date which put it head on against the sold-out Austin Marathon.  

            The Gusher Marathon in Beaumont is crossing its fingers to be able to snare the Saturday, March 10, 2012 date

            And what about the local Montgomery County and Spring races? 

The only race that has officially announced its race date is the fourth annual Bill Crews Remission Run, which will kick off the year from Conroe’s Carl Barton, Jr. Park on Saturday, January 28, 2012.

            Easter Sunday will throw a unique challenge for local road races, the major area triathlons and possibly even the Texas Independence Relay – if it moves from its traditional March date because of The Woodlands Marathon -- as it falls on Sunday, April 8, 2012.

            It is highly likely that Kevin Hopkins and Paul Alli will put their successful Valentine’s Day weekend Run Away With My Heart Trail Run - a 5-miler - on Saturday, February 11.

            The second annual FM 2920 @ Kuykendahl Chick-fil-A 5K is eyeing the Saturday, February 18 date to veer away from Houston’s largest race behind Komen Race For The Cure in October and the Chevron Houston Marathon, the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run.

            The sixth annual BMI (Benevolent Missions International) 5K in Conroe hasn’t officially set its date, but is likely to grab the Saturday, March 24 date.

            Three races may be looking to dodge Easter, MS150, the Boston Marathon and the large early season triathlons.

            They include The Woodlands Township’s successful Muddy Trails 10K and 5K and then two newer races that were hosted on Saturday, April 16 – the second annual Running of the Bears 5-Miler in Montgomery and the inaugural Run For Hope 5K at Market Street in The Woodlands.

            But all of those events, including the Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, will await on Ironman’s decision on when to host the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas.

            This year, the event set six weeks away from Ironman Texas.  In 2012, that’s Easter.

            Rohto Ironman 70.3 California, typically the ever popular season-opening 70.3 in Oceanside, has already had a Saturday, March 31 date posted on the Ironman website.

            It is expected to see the ninth annual CB&I Sprint Triathlon fall on Saturday, May 5.

            This year, two road races in the area will be land on this year’s May 7^th date – the longest-running 5K in Montgomery County, the David’s Dream Run in Shenandoah and a third-year event, the Spring Assistance Ministries 5K, which is to be held off of FM 2920 just west of the Spring Cypress-FM 2920 split.

            A lesser-known event, the Founders Day 5K in Splendora, also falls on the first Saturday in May, while veteran race director Roxanne Davis with the South Montgomery County YMCA avoided a head-on collision this year with David’s Dream Run by moving her steadily-attended Conroe YMCA Trail Run 5K to the second Saturday in May between CB&I and Ironman Texas.

            And then ... who knows when the Warrior Dash will return to Montgomery County?