Take a little Texas heat, a little Texas history, 143 miles of roads, 7 to 9 of your best running friends, mix it all up, and you’ve got Texas’ newest relay – the Capitol to Alamo Relay, slated for August 7-8, 2010. Lone Star Relays, the race management team headed by Jay & Joy Hilscher and best known for its Texas Independence Relay in March, have cooked up a running adventure that should not be missed.
Even better, the first 50 teams who sign up can do so for just $500 (open or corporate). Registration fees will climb to $1000 for the open division, and $1400 for the corporate division after the first 50 slots are filled, and they will rise once more after March 31, 2010. That’s a deal worth registering early for.
The course sounds pretty killer according to their website:
While the Capitol at the start and the Alamo at the finish are significant features of this event (hence the name), it would be a mistake to overlook all the parts and good running in between!
On Saturday, teams will directly head out of Austin, taking Congress almost until it ends. Make sure to give Austin’s finest a thumbs up and a good word of appreciation as they control the traffic for you!
After running on Old San Antonio Road (a historic route in its own right), you’ll get to visit downtown Buda. After leaving Buda, the course starts to take on more of a rural feel as you pass by the outskirts of Mountain City and Kyle. A little after that, however, teams will visit San Marcos – running by its golf course as well as through a hilly neighborhood on its north side.
The course up to this point has been making its way straight to San Antonio, but it is in San Marcos that the course turns decidely westward. The fastest teams will only be 5-10 miles west of San Marcos when darkness starts to overcome daylight. It goes through the popular summer destinations of Sattler and Startzville (the slowest teams will be beyond Startzville as the sun sets). If you haven’t heard of these places, then maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve gone tubing on the Guadalupe. This is also Hillie Billie Relay country!
Going directly West, teams will pass through Bulverde before having a healthy stretch before reaching Boerne in the wee hours of the morning. It is in Boerne, though, that teams will change direction yet again to make their approach into San Antonio!
San Antonio cyclists will be familiar with Boerne Stage Road and Scenic Loop, which is the trail we’re blazing into the NW metro area. It is near the UTSA campus on the 1604 loop (we don’t run on 1604) in which teams will be closest together, with the fastest making their way to the front and the slower starting to take up the back.
Vance Jackson is primarily used to get closer to downtown. Teams will make their way through the swanky neighborhood of Olmos Park in the very early morning Sunday hours. Then, teams will visit beautiful Brackenridge Park (where the San Antonio Zoo is located) and Pearl Park. Teams will make their way through downtown San Antonio, but before finishing, the last runner will take a quick tour of the historic King William neighborhood.
Finally, teams will run together around the Alamo. Remember the Alamo!! Yes, indeed… and you will!
They do acknowledge that the race will likely be very hot on race day. Despite the tough conditions, the race sounds like it is going to be great experience. Be sure to check out their website for more details.
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