HARRA supports Inside Texas Running's Effort

To avoid any duplication of efforts, HARRA president Tom Stilwell stated earlier this afternoon that the organization was in contact with Lance Phegley and the staff at Inside Texas Running.

While ITR's offices are closed this weekend, HARRA will have a drop off point at Memorial Park at the 0 mile marker in front of the Tennis Center to continue the collection efforts. HARRA will be present through noon on Saturday and Sunday to accept clothing donations.

During the week, runners and race directors alike can continue to drop of clothing and items at the offices of ITR at 14201 Memorial Drive, Suite 204, Houston,Texas.

Here's what others are doing:

+ The Seven Hills Running Club in Huntsville is donating over 100 extra Huntsville Half Marathon T-shirts from the last three years to the Good Shepherd Mission to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, who are staying at the mission.

+ Jim Braden of Fleet Feet Sports says his stores are in the process of collecting shoes (hopefully only slightly worn) at all three Houston area locations. He said that they are also donating shoes out of their inventory as well as shirts and other apparel. They will drop their merchandise off at one of the five local Salvation Army locations. Jim also reported that 1.) at least one of our major vendors is shipping shoes out of their inventory for the relief effort and that 2.) one of the store's Rice Blvd. neighbors, The European Walking Store, has commitments for about 1,500 pairs of shoes from his vendors to be shipped free by UPS.

+ Luke's Locker reports on its web site that it is collecting shoes, apparel and canned goods at all of their stores to send to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. (Their effort is in association with Houston Fit.)

+ In an e-mail on the Striders Yahoo Group list, Steve Shepard reported ITR's effort and added, "You'll be pleased to know that the Houston Striders have dropped off 100's of old 20k singlets with Lance in support of the cause."

+ Sometime on Saturday, I'll be dropping off just over 40 T-shirts, including 26 race t-shirts, and five (5) pairs of running shoes, including my first three (3) pair of Brooks Beast.

(Update: I drove by the Mile 0 marker in front of the Tennis Center at Memorial Park at 10:45 a.m. Saturday morning and there was nobody there. I got out of my truck, walked towards the center and eventually around the entire parking area to still find nobody there. As I got out back in my truck and drove off, I saw a woman putting up a couple of poster boards over to the left of the Tennis Center, where runners stretch a lot. I have no idea if she was with HARRA or not. I ended up taking my goods to Luke's in The Woodlands.)