Houston Running: Why What I Wrote About Spring Fever 5K is Important

Houston Running

One of the leading sources for the discussion of Houston-area (and Texas as well) road racing. Focus and attention will be given to Houston-area runners, specifically HARRA members, that compete in outside-of-the-area events as well as those who do interesting things that aren't captured in the various media outlets, such as Inside Texas Running, Runner Triathlete News and Roberta MacInnis' Running Notebook in the Houston Chronicle (all fine publications and columns but with limitations too).

About Me

Name: WalkSports.com

Location: Spring, Texas, United States

I'm a mid-to-the back of the pack runner who probably enjoys promoting runners more than I do running myself ... I've completed 21 marathons (with a 4:47:32 PR! in Austin) and 52 half marathons (with a 2:09:58 PR! in Oregon) since November 2003 ... I've done a marathon in 12 states, half marathon in 23 and an event in 30 states and one Canadian province ... I have a 13-year-old daughter, Waverly Nicole, who completed her first half marathon in January 2006, made only two B's each of the last two years, was the only sixth grader to sing a solo (Carrie Underwood's Don't Forget To Remember Me) in their choir program (adding Taylor Swift's Tim McGraw in '08) and scored a 19 on the ACT in December 2007 as a seventh grader ... Waverly and I are members of the following clubs -- the Seven Hills Running Club, HARRA and The Woodlands Running Club ... I'm Marathon Maniac #308 ... I edit HARRA's Footprints in Inside Texas Running and write a column for Runner Triathlete News called, "Talking the Talk" ... I'm also the running columnist for the Courier of Montgomery County ... I'm a three-time winner of TAPPS' Sportswriter of the Year Award as well as TABC's Golden Hoops Award.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Why What I Wrote About Spring Fever 5K is Important

Spin.

I believe that the media has an obligation to ferret it out and to set it straight.

See this article from last week - link - in The Woodlands Villager, specifically this statement:

“This event has traditionally attracted over 500 participants and we are hoping to attract more this year,” Fowlkes said.

Not true, at least for 2008. And I'll be very surprised if they do in 2009.

In 2007, there were 362 timed finishers in the 5K and there was a good turnout for the kids 1-mile run that year. Waverly and I was there in person before we flew that afternoon to Georgia for the Alpharetta Marathon.

Last year, they had 207 timed finishers in the 5K and another 40 in the kids' 1-mile.

And the article above wasn't written by the Sports Editor, which should tell you something right there. Basically it is a fluff piece.

And race day registration? $30 for a 5K! Welcome to The Woodlands!

2 Comments:

Bill D said...: After reading this I'll have to change a page in the club newsletter. See if you catch it when I send it Friday (late).; 7:50 AM
Hey Zeus said...: There is talk of a protest during the event held by some of the homeowners.; 10:10 AM