Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wait, I appreciate you joining me as we talk every
year with you as the executive director of the marathon
Committee and me being a part of the running community.
I think, first of all, there are a couple of
things from a security standpoint that I'm pretty sure everyone's
going to be interested in. This is the first big
(00:21):
event in Houston since the horrific attack in New Orleans.
I know you can't get into specifics, but what kind
of precautions extra precautions are being taken to ensure the
safety of the runners and of the people spectating.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
If It's always great meeting with you, so thank you
for including me on the show again this year.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I look forward to talking to you every year.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, obviously, we were deeply saddened by the tragic events
in New Orleans, as we are with LA and everything
that's going on right now in the world regarding public
safety specifically, Unfortunately, over the last ten to twenty years,
we've had a handful of ventza kerr nationwide and the
(01:15):
result of that has been full collaboration with all of
our city public safety agencies over the last you know,
pretty much since the Olympic Trials. Cliff, we meet every
year and we have the full attention of every agency
in the city.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We meet year round.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
We conduct meetings where we collaborate and we go through
a lot of different scenarios. We have gone through plenty
of different scenarios, even including the ones like New Orleans.
We started doing that way back following Oklahoma state homecoming
parade tragedy that occurred.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I don't even know eight to ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
But you know, with that said, you know we give
one hundred percent every single year, regardless of what happens
in December or January. But with the focus of the
Houston aspect of the New Orleans situation, you know, at
this time there's no connection between Houston and New Orleans.
There's no further threat to the city that's been found
(02:20):
from this from that incident connected to here to future incidents,
which is which is a relief. And we have again
the full attention of HPD, Homeland Security, FBI, Fusion, all
of our partners, h FD first responders.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So we met again yesterday as we always do.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
You will see some enhanced resources in various areas you
had asked about the g RB. You will certainly see
a more visual presence there at all entrancing gates and
run fest you will also see there will also be
plenty more enhanced resources that you won't see. And you know,
(03:08):
I have the confidence in our public safety group. As
you know, over the last ten years we've hosted Super
Bowls and Final Fours and huge events. We were awarded
the World Cup coming in two years, so you know,
that's that's certainly you know, gigantic public safety you know,
challenge or exciting challenge for our city to get to
(03:31):
host an event of that magnitude. So the Mayor's Office
Special Events, Mayor's Office Homeland Security is certainly aware of
the magnitude of our event annually and how our event
has grown significantly, and we're confident that we'll have everything
in place and have a safe event.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
That is that what you were looking.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Forward, That's what we were looking for very much. So
the next thing I have because you already took care
of my GRB stuff, which is which is perfectly fine,
But I did want to ask about something very concerning
and very close to the running community. We had to
hit and run about four weeks ago with Lily Vasquez
(04:11):
in the Tanglewood area deeply as well. Yeah, I mean
She's a fixture at Memorial Park. She's a fixture. I mean,
you know, where you see her, she's always smiling, you know,
whatever race she's doing, whatever she's over at Memorial. Whenever
I see her over there, I know her daughter was
trying to get into the race. Is her daughter? I
(04:32):
know it was very late in the game, and the
race is always a sellout. Is she going to be
able to run an honor of her mom?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
It is my understanding that that is taking place.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yes, awesome, awesome, all right, So now let's get to
the good stuff.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Now. I didn't have that on the car.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I didn't go follow up on that, but as the
chain that I followed last week is that is my
understanding that that everything's been taken care of.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
You know, it's really just I'd like to dress out
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
You know, we have so many wonderful important people to
this race, and we try to do everything that we
possibly can to accommodate people's wishes. But it's very, very
important that we speak directly to the family members. You know,
we've had unfortunately, we've had a handful of sad situations
(05:17):
with runners and stuff like that, and we try to
accommodate families wishes and everything, but we also want to
make sure that this race means so much to all
thirty four thirty five thousand runners that sign up for
our event, and you know, we don't want to dictate
what the race will mean to them, so you know,
(05:37):
we try to work individually with families and do what
they can with that with what we can do within
our roles and abilities and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But yeah, it was horribly.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Sad, and you know, we're so sorry, and we're glad
that the family can run in.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Her honor, and I'm sure everybody else that cares about
her will as well. There was the big vigil obviously,
all right, So sir, now that we've got that stuff
the way, let's talk about the more fun stuff. How
many runners are we expecting and what is this split
half versus full this year?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I'll do my best. So we just closed switching yesterday.
As you know, we're one of the few races that
allow you to do that, and we're the only race
that's a gold labeled race by World Athletics that hosts
a gold labeled half marathon during a gold labeled marathon,
which is something we take a lot of pride in
but it also causes a lot of logistical challenges as
(06:29):
we try to do that. But what I will say
is that on Saturday for the five k, we have
over seven thousand registrants, the most we've ever had. That
race has growing significantly and we're excited about what it
may be in the future.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
And then on.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Saturday we're as you know, we've sold out, which means
we're over twenty seven thousand runners between the two races.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
You can do the math right now. I don't have
the specific numbers.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
On me, but I can tell you that where it
always falls is right in there between sixteen and seventeen
thousand for the half and ten and eleven thousand for
the full. So without getting specific on it, that's usually
about where it is. I think that we're pretty close
to eleven thousand in the marathon and pretty close to
seventeen thousand and the half the year.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
There's no doubt this is one of the biggest races
in the country. I mean, it's not as big as Boston,
not as big as Chicago, not as big as New
York certainly, but it's certainly in that top five right
up there. I think with La.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Actually with oh sorry, just actually, with the number that
we put on the start line, we're very comparable to
Boston and the numbers that they do. I think that
after the pandemic, they went up into about that are
close to thirty thousand, but I think that they're more
comfortable in that twenty three to twenty five thousand dollars
range for their or twenty five thousand person range for
their races as well. So you know, we'll have twenty
(07:51):
four thousand people on the start line as well on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I was looking a little bit at the elite field
and my eyes quickly ran to the men's half marathon.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Where you got the story.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
I mean connor Man's and Clayton. I mean, that's a
coup because number one, I mean, anybody who's followed American
long distance running knows that there has been a There
was I don't want to say you swoon, so to speak,
but it was in a downturn for many, many years,
and these two guys really have helped it come back
up a little bit, especially with the way they finished
(08:24):
at the Olympics and with especially what they did in
New York. I mean it was. It was very fun
to watch.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, we're really looking forward. I was at the Olympic
Trials this year and earlier this year, and the job
that Connor and Clayton did was admirable and really exciting
for American running, and we kind oft be more pleased
to have them here and host the event. You know,
Ryan's record that was set Ryan Hall's record that was
set here in two thousand and seven, you know, eighteen
year old record, and road racing is it is hard
(08:57):
to even wrap your brain around. So it's really neat
to see Connor and Clayton and Joe Klucker come and
try to compete and try to break that fifty nine
to forty three. But yeah, that has risen to the
top of everyone's attention.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Yeah, and put it this way, I would love it
because you're kind of right in that mid spot between
New York and Boston, and this would kind of be
a great training run show to speak for even more
of the elite runners. I don't know if Helen Obery's
ever thought about running here or any of the other
elites that we've talked about, especially especially in the women's side,
(09:35):
but that would be all I would that would be
a perfect tune up for Boston, except without the hills
of course.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, yeah, it's the speed run, right, No, I mean,
it's just interesting, you know, the way it's the way
it's all kind of played out with the way the
marathon majors are in the fall in the spring, it's
really allowed our half marathon to become one and probably
you know, the top three to five elite half marathon
in the world, and you know, because they can come in,
(10:03):
because we can get runners to come and compete at that.
But it's tougher, especially without another marathon major. You know,
it's going to become more and more challenging for us
to to attract to the to the Chevron Houston Marathon.
But we take a great deal of pride in is
we bring a great American runners in and we also
the hitd and gyms, right, the ones that we haven't
heard of, the stepping stone event that they come and
(10:25):
they post a great time and.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Go on to an amazing career, and then we've done
that for our numerous runners.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So it's really it's really been kind of intriguing how
it's all developed over the last ten years for the
half in the full and it makes for four super
exciting races.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
It really does. Now, I got to ask you this,
and I think I've talked to you about this before.
I've always wondered because I keep seeing the crowds at
Memorial Park, and I keep seeing the crowds with our
running groups, whether it's Houston Striders, Houston Harriers, any of
the other groups that are out out there, they get
bigger and bigger and bigger. And I know Harad does
(11:05):
their best, but I've always wondered why we don't have
like a New York Roadrunners Club, like a Boston Athletic
Association LA Roadrunners Club. Why is there not the infrastructure
for that?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Boy, you know, it's an intriguing question.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
We've always just since I've been here, I've just felt
that Hurrah has done a great job, and they've done
a wonderful job. We have a great relationship with them.
They support us in so many ways with runners volunteers,
you know, kickoff and celibatory events during the off season,
and so we're in constant communication with raw and what
they do. I certainly that would certainly have to be
(11:43):
something that we would sit down with that organization and
talk about for future planning. We love our running community.
We love where we sit in the running community calendar.
I know you were asking about other events as well.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, the Houston Marathon Committee was created and our
mission is is to put on the best event in January,
the you know, the marathon, half marathon, and five k
every year in January, and to focus on the safety
and security and the elite field and the participant experience
(12:19):
being number one. You know, we have a twelve person
staff and it certainly takes a year for us to
put on the show that we that we put on
and not the show, but I would say the platform
for you all to go put on the show.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Yeah, here's the I never knew you guys only had
twelve people. I thought it was a little bit bigger
than that, and maybe that's on me for not knowing it.
But considering the fact that you have twelve people, you know,
what you guys do is amazing because I know Rob
similcare pretty well over New York roadrunners. Those I mean
they're putting on events every other week, if not certainly
(12:56):
one one per month, and certainly a much bigger staff.
It's actually now that I know that you only have
twelve people on staff. It's a herculean task. What you
guys are doing.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
It's our staff's amazing. We work closely.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
We've got some important contractors too that help us with
various functional areas on race weekend. But then it goes
right into our one hundred and sixty volunteers on the
Houston Marathon Committee and then they manage the seven thousand
volunteers for race weekend. That communication just takes months and
months and months. Plus We've got our stakeholders and corporate partners,
but it is a city event and they put it on.
(13:32):
We are going to be looking to bring back the
Family Fund run that we used to do with Texas
Children that turned into a really nice about thirty five
hundred and four thousand dollars event work. We're going to
be announcing that on race weekend for April fifth. There's
gonna be more information to come on that. So we're
going to bring back the family fun run, priced really low,
try to get as many people out of families to
(13:54):
come out and run over at the Houston Sports Park.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
We're working with the Dynamo and Dash on that.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
So we're hoping to rekindle rekindle that that event. But
you know how short our window is for events as well,
in this window because of the weather. So I mean,
you're really looking at mid September to what late April
that you can conduct anything of length.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Wait a second, you're being generous on that because if
we're if we're going by what happened this year, it
would have been like December one through now, and you know,
the weather is just so wacky here, you know, So
to put events together, you're right, is it is a
herculean task.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It's a tough windows, very tough many so many of
you all in the various running clubs and the events.
You know, we've already have so many traditional race weekends
where we have wonderful fun events, whether it's hosted by
your group or in the spring and stuff. And then
you know you've got the you've got the rodeo there
for the takes up a month, you know, So for
(14:59):
us to look at the calendar, you know, we're open,
We've been open. We've talked about numerous events. Let me
be honest with you, but you know, for it to
be the right event that we want to do, and
the brand and the level of the you know, the
level that we can put into it and meet the
expectations of what we do on this weekend. We haven't
(15:19):
just found that right fit. But we're always open to
listening to ideas. But we certainly don't want to drop
races right into the middle of the race calendar. That
disrupts what what a lot of our other groups depend
on financially and for fun and tradition. So you know,
we keep our eye on it, Cliff, but it just
the opportunity hasn't hasn't come up yet.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
For example, you know, the perfect example is Thanksgiving. You
know that race.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
You know there was an opportunity, there is an opportunity
to go there and stuff, but it's just too close
to our race weekend for us to take on that task.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Yeah, and there are so many other Turkey trots around
for Thanksgiving, you know, putting with or not. And I
know you still running company did like three of them.
And then you've got different ones, you know, like Jackson,
Katie pear Land, they're they're they're all over the place.
All right, let's talk about spectators because I know we've
got thirty some thousand people running, We're gonna have way
more people spectating, and the one thing that I tell,
(16:16):
you know, everyone, like, for instance, I ran I ran
the New York half with my niece in March. There
was good spectating there, there was good crowd support there,
but there were stretches that it was dead. Honestly, it
was totally dead until you get off of you know,
(16:36):
seventh Avenue and you're coming up forty second Street and
then you're you know, then it's it's absolutely nuts. What
I love about Aramco because I've never run the full,
I've only done that, I've only done the half, is
that with the exception maybe of the stretch that's in
the river Oaks where you don't get a ton of
people out, there are people everywhere. I mean, it's it's
(16:59):
not stop. So how many people do we think actually
spectate this event?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
You know? It's over the years.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
We work with HPD because they get an estimate each
year based off of Astro's parades or the Thanksgiving Day parade,
and so they give us their essence when we have
ideal volunteer spectating weather sunny, skies, dry, not too windy.
We've been upwards of two hundred and fifty thousand that
(17:27):
touch the course of startline finish line between the start
and the finish of the event. That's what they've estimated
in the past, so we always say two hundred, two
hundred fifty thousand.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
People's that's a huge number.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
All right.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You brought up weather. I'm going to go there with you.
How often are you praying to the weather gods that
we get good weather? Because I'm literally following four different
weather apps, whether it's Apple, the Weather Channel, ACU Weather,
or whoever it might be. I have seen four different forecasts.
(18:01):
The best I can figure, start line temperature probably be
around fifty and we might get some showers during the
least early portion of this. What are you guys looking at?
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah, we work really closely with the National Weather Service
and all the different models as well. We reviewed for
yesterday as well that have been seen. We unfortunately, which
which really makes it challenging for to do outdoor events,
is these models, we're not gonna be able to rely.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
On anything till about Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
So you know, we're ready whether or not we have
to have buses along the course for heating or buses
along the course for cooling. Our medical team we're ready
to pivot once we see it. Yes, what we've seen,
we've seen a couple. We've seen what you're seeing as well.
We don't see anything that's too concerned about about temperature,
whether too cold or too hot. So knock on wood,
(18:53):
we're comfortable there. It's just going to be whether or
not it's dry, and so, you know, we always get
such good luck. I'm hoping that the little cool front
blows in Saturday afternoon after the five k, maybe it
rains a little bit and then we have you know what,
we always have forty five degrees that start lineing maybe
(19:15):
some well last.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Year, last year, wage we had about thirty five at
the start line. That was I know I was, and
I'm I'm I'm the crazy one.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I love it cold.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Like I'll be out there doing nine miles tomorrow it'll
be thirty two degrees feeling like twenty eight and yeah,
I mean I'll be bundled up and everything. But you know,
give me, give me that as opposed to seventy because
I've seen both and I've run in both at this
event and the difference is just you know, crazy. I mean,
we did two races so far this year. I did
(19:46):
the Houston Half ten k and I did the the
hmsa ten miler, and both of them were too hot
and they're perfectly timed, but it's just that's what you
deal with with the Houston weather.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, and everybody has different preferences, right, so you know,
it's tough. I know, even with our elites, you know,
too cold can be hard for them because they're done
with their half marathon in an hour, you know, they
you know, they never even hit their warm up. So
a little bit warmer for for some of our international guests.
They you know, they probably purford in the low forties
(20:20):
to start. But yeah, we'll just have to we'll wait
and see and we'll be prepared for for whatever they
whatever they throw at us.
Wait, I appreciate you joining me as we talk every
year with you as the executive director of the marathon
Committee and me being a part of the running community.
I think, first of all, there are a couple of
things from a security standpoint that I'm pretty sure everyone's
going to be interested in. This is the first big
(00:21):
event in Houston since the horrific attack in New Orleans.
I know you can't get into specifics, but what kind
of precautions extra precautions are being taken to ensure the
safety of the runners and of the people spectating.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
If It's always great meeting with you, so thank you
for including me on the show again this year.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I look forward to talking to you every year.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, obviously, we were deeply saddened by the tragic events
in New Orleans, as we are with LA and everything
that's going on right now in the world regarding public
safety specifically, Unfortunately, over the last ten to twenty years,
we've had a handful of ventza kerr nationwide and the
(01:15):
result of that has been full collaboration with all of
our city public safety agencies over the last you know,
pretty much since the Olympic Trials. Cliff, we meet every
year and we have the full attention of every agency
in the city.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We meet year round.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
We conduct meetings where we collaborate and we go through
a lot of different scenarios. We have gone through plenty
of different scenarios, even including the ones like New Orleans.
We started doing that way back following Oklahoma state homecoming
parade tragedy that occurred.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I don't even know eight to ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
But you know, with that said, you know we give
one hundred percent every single year, regardless of what happens
in December or January. But with the focus of the
Houston aspect of the New Orleans situation, you know, at
this time there's no connection between Houston and New Orleans.
There's no further threat to the city that's been found
(02:20):
from this from that incident connected to here to future incidents,
which is which is a relief. And we have again
the full attention of HPD, Homeland Security, FBI, Fusion, all
of our partners, h FD first responders.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So we met again yesterday as we always do.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
You will see some enhanced resources in various areas you
had asked about the g RB. You will certainly see
a more visual presence there at all entrancing gates and
run fest you will also see there will also be
plenty more enhanced resources that you won't see. And you know,
(03:08):
I have the confidence in our public safety group. As
you know, over the last ten years we've hosted Super
Bowls and Final Fours and huge events. We were awarded
the World Cup coming in two years, so you know,
that's that's certainly you know, gigantic public safety you know,
challenge or exciting challenge for our city to get to
(03:31):
host an event of that magnitude. So the Mayor's Office
Special Events, Mayor's Office Homeland Security is certainly aware of
the magnitude of our event annually and how our event
has grown significantly, and we're confident that we'll have everything
in place and have a safe event.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
That is that what you were looking.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Forward, That's what we were looking for very much. So
the next thing I have because you already took care
of my GRB stuff, which is which is perfectly fine,
But I did want to ask about something very concerning
and very close to the running community. We had to
hit and run about four weeks ago with Lily Vasquez
(04:11):
in the Tanglewood area deeply as well. Yeah, I mean
She's a fixture at Memorial Park. She's a fixture. I mean,
you know, where you see her, she's always smiling, you know,
whatever race she's doing, whatever she's over at Memorial. Whenever
I see her over there, I know her daughter was
trying to get into the race. Is her daughter? I
(04:32):
know it was very late in the game, and the
race is always a sellout. Is she going to be
able to run an honor of her mom?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
It is my understanding that that is taking place.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yes, awesome, awesome, all right, So now let's get to
the good stuff.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Now. I didn't have that on the car.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I didn't go follow up on that, but as the
chain that I followed last week is that is my
understanding that that everything's been taken care of.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
You know, it's really just I'd like to dress out
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
You know, we have so many wonderful important people to
this race, and we try to do everything that we
possibly can to accommodate people's wishes. But it's very, very
important that we speak directly to the family members. You know,
we've had unfortunately, we've had a handful of sad situations
(05:17):
with runners and stuff like that, and we try to
accommodate families wishes and everything, but we also want to
make sure that this race means so much to all
thirty four thirty five thousand runners that sign up for
our event, and you know, we don't want to dictate
what the race will mean to them, so you know,
(05:37):
we try to work individually with families and do what
they can with that with what we can do within
our roles and abilities and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But yeah, it was horribly.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Sad, and you know, we're so sorry, and we're glad
that the family can run in.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Her honor, and I'm sure everybody else that cares about
her will as well. There was the big vigil obviously,
all right, So sir, now that we've got that stuff
the way, let's talk about the more fun stuff. How
many runners are we expecting and what is this split
half versus full this year?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I'll do my best. So we just closed switching yesterday.
As you know, we're one of the few races that
allow you to do that, and we're the only race
that's a gold labeled race by World Athletics that hosts
a gold labeled half marathon during a gold labeled marathon,
which is something we take a lot of pride in
but it also causes a lot of logistical challenges as
(06:29):
we try to do that. But what I will say
is that on Saturday for the five k, we have
over seven thousand registrants, the most we've ever had. That
race has growing significantly and we're excited about what it
may be in the future.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
And then on.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Saturday we're as you know, we've sold out, which means
we're over twenty seven thousand runners between the two races.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
You can do the math right now. I don't have
the specific numbers.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
On me, but I can tell you that where it
always falls is right in there between sixteen and seventeen
thousand for the half and ten and eleven thousand for
the full. So without getting specific on it, that's usually
about where it is. I think that we're pretty close
to eleven thousand in the marathon and pretty close to
seventeen thousand and the half the year.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
There's no doubt this is one of the biggest races
in the country. I mean, it's not as big as Boston,
not as big as Chicago, not as big as New
York certainly, but it's certainly in that top five right
up there. I think with La.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Actually with oh sorry, just actually, with the number that
we put on the start line, we're very comparable to
Boston and the numbers that they do. I think that
after the pandemic, they went up into about that are
close to thirty thousand, but I think that they're more
comfortable in that twenty three to twenty five thousand dollars
range for their or twenty five thousand person range for
their races as well. So you know, we'll have twenty
(07:51):
four thousand people on the start line as well on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I was looking a little bit at the elite field
and my eyes quickly ran to the men's half marathon.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Where you got the story.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
I mean connor Man's and Clayton. I mean, that's a
coup because number one, I mean, anybody who's followed American
long distance running knows that there has been a There
was I don't want to say you swoon, so to speak,
but it was in a downturn for many, many years,
and these two guys really have helped it come back
up a little bit, especially with the way they finished
(08:24):
at the Olympics and with especially what they did in
New York. I mean it was. It was very fun
to watch.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, we're really looking forward. I was at the Olympic
Trials this year and earlier this year, and the job
that Connor and Clayton did was admirable and really exciting
for American running, and we kind oft be more pleased
to have them here and host the event. You know,
Ryan's record that was set Ryan Hall's record that was
set here in two thousand and seven, you know, eighteen
year old record, and road racing is it is hard
(08:57):
to even wrap your brain around. So it's really neat
to see Connor and Clayton and Joe Klucker come and
try to compete and try to break that fifty nine
to forty three. But yeah, that has risen to the
top of everyone's attention.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Yeah, and put it this way, I would love it
because you're kind of right in that mid spot between
New York and Boston, and this would kind of be
a great training run show to speak for even more
of the elite runners. I don't know if Helen Obery's
ever thought about running here or any of the other
elites that we've talked about, especially especially in the women's side,
(09:35):
but that would be all I would that would be
a perfect tune up for Boston, except without the hills
of course.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, yeah, it's the speed run, right, No, I mean,
it's just interesting, you know, the way it's the way
it's all kind of played out with the way the
marathon majors are in the fall in the spring, it's
really allowed our half marathon to become one and probably
you know, the top three to five elite half marathon
in the world, and you know, because they can come in,
(10:03):
because we can get runners to come and compete at that.
But it's tougher, especially without another marathon major. You know,
it's going to become more and more challenging for us
to to attract to the to the Chevron Houston Marathon.
But we take a great deal of pride in is
we bring a great American runners in and we also
the hitd and gyms, right, the ones that we haven't
heard of, the stepping stone event that they come and
(10:25):
they post a great time and.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Go on to an amazing career, and then we've done
that for our numerous runners.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So it's really it's really been kind of intriguing how
it's all developed over the last ten years for the
half in the full and it makes for four super
exciting races.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
It really does. Now, I got to ask you this,
and I think I've talked to you about this before.
I've always wondered because I keep seeing the crowds at
Memorial Park, and I keep seeing the crowds with our
running groups, whether it's Houston Striders, Houston Harriers, any of
the other groups that are out out there, they get
bigger and bigger and bigger. And I know Harad does
(11:05):
their best, but I've always wondered why we don't have
like a New York Roadrunners Club, like a Boston Athletic
Association LA Roadrunners Club. Why is there not the infrastructure
for that?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Boy, you know, it's an intriguing question.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
We've always just since I've been here, I've just felt
that Hurrah has done a great job, and they've done
a wonderful job. We have a great relationship with them.
They support us in so many ways with runners volunteers,
you know, kickoff and celibatory events during the off season,
and so we're in constant communication with raw and what
they do. I certainly that would certainly have to be
(11:43):
something that we would sit down with that organization and
talk about for future planning. We love our running community.
We love where we sit in the running community calendar.
I know you were asking about other events as well.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, the Houston Marathon Committee was created and our
mission is is to put on the best event in January,
the you know, the marathon, half marathon, and five k
every year in January, and to focus on the safety
and security and the elite field and the participant experience
(12:19):
being number one. You know, we have a twelve person
staff and it certainly takes a year for us to
put on the show that we that we put on
and not the show, but I would say the platform
for you all to go put on the show.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Yeah, here's the I never knew you guys only had
twelve people. I thought it was a little bit bigger
than that, and maybe that's on me for not knowing it.
But considering the fact that you have twelve people, you know,
what you guys do is amazing because I know Rob
similcare pretty well over New York roadrunners. Those I mean
they're putting on events every other week, if not certainly
(12:56):
one one per month, and certainly a much bigger staff.
It's actually now that I know that you only have
twelve people on staff. It's a herculean task. What you
guys are doing.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
It's our staff's amazing. We work closely.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
We've got some important contractors too that help us with
various functional areas on race weekend. But then it goes
right into our one hundred and sixty volunteers on the
Houston Marathon Committee and then they manage the seven thousand
volunteers for race weekend. That communication just takes months and
months and months. Plus We've got our stakeholders and corporate partners,
but it is a city event and they put it on.
(13:32):
We are going to be looking to bring back the
Family Fund run that we used to do with Texas
Children that turned into a really nice about thirty five
hundred and four thousand dollars event work. We're going to
be announcing that on race weekend for April fifth. There's
gonna be more information to come on that. So we're
going to bring back the family fun run, priced really low,
try to get as many people out of families to
(13:54):
come out and run over at the Houston Sports Park.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
We're working with the Dynamo and Dash on that.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
So we're hoping to rekindle rekindle that that event. But
you know how short our window is for events as well,
in this window because of the weather. So I mean,
you're really looking at mid September to what late April
that you can conduct anything of length.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Wait a second, you're being generous on that because if
we're if we're going by what happened this year, it
would have been like December one through now, and you know,
the weather is just so wacky here, you know, So
to put events together, you're right, is it is a
herculean task.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It's a tough windows, very tough many so many of
you all in the various running clubs and the events.
You know, we've already have so many traditional race weekends
where we have wonderful fun events, whether it's hosted by
your group or in the spring and stuff. And then
you know you've got the you've got the rodeo there
for the takes up a month, you know, So for
(14:59):
us to look at the calendar, you know, we're open,
We've been open. We've talked about numerous events. Let me
be honest with you, but you know, for it to
be the right event that we want to do, and
the brand and the level of the you know, the
level that we can put into it and meet the
expectations of what we do on this weekend. We haven't
(15:19):
just found that right fit. But we're always open to
listening to ideas. But we certainly don't want to drop
races right into the middle of the race calendar. That
disrupts what what a lot of our other groups depend
on financially and for fun and tradition. So you know,
we keep our eye on it, Cliff, but it just
the opportunity hasn't hasn't come up yet.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
For example, you know, the perfect example is Thanksgiving. You
know that race.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
You know there was an opportunity, there is an opportunity
to go there and stuff, but it's just too close
to our race weekend for us to take on that task.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Yeah, and there are so many other Turkey trots around
for Thanksgiving, you know, putting with or not. And I
know you still running company did like three of them.
And then you've got different ones, you know, like Jackson,
Katie pear Land, they're they're they're all over the place.
All right, let's talk about spectators because I know we've
got thirty some thousand people running, We're gonna have way
more people spectating, and the one thing that I tell,
(16:16):
you know, everyone, like, for instance, I ran I ran
the New York half with my niece in March. There
was good spectating there, there was good crowd support there,
but there were stretches that it was dead. Honestly, it
was totally dead until you get off of you know,
(16:36):
seventh Avenue and you're coming up forty second Street and
then you're you know, then it's it's absolutely nuts. What
I love about Aramco because I've never run the full,
I've only done that, I've only done the half, is
that with the exception maybe of the stretch that's in
the river Oaks where you don't get a ton of
people out, there are people everywhere. I mean, it's it's
(16:59):
not stop. So how many people do we think actually
spectate this event?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
You know? It's over the years.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
We work with HPD because they get an estimate each
year based off of Astro's parades or the Thanksgiving Day parade,
and so they give us their essence when we have
ideal volunteer spectating weather sunny, skies, dry, not too windy.
We've been upwards of two hundred and fifty thousand that
(17:27):
touch the course of startline finish line between the start
and the finish of the event. That's what they've estimated
in the past, so we always say two hundred, two
hundred fifty thousand.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
People's that's a huge number.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
All right.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You brought up weather. I'm going to go there with you.
How often are you praying to the weather gods that
we get good weather? Because I'm literally following four different
weather apps, whether it's Apple, the Weather Channel, ACU Weather,
or whoever it might be. I have seen four different forecasts.
(18:01):
The best I can figure, start line temperature probably be
around fifty and we might get some showers during the
least early portion of this. What are you guys looking at?
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah, we work really closely with the National Weather Service
and all the different models as well. We reviewed for
yesterday as well that have been seen. We unfortunately, which
which really makes it challenging for to do outdoor events,
is these models, we're not gonna be able to rely.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
On anything till about Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
So you know, we're ready whether or not we have
to have buses along the course for heating or buses
along the course for cooling. Our medical team we're ready
to pivot once we see it. Yes, what we've seen,
we've seen a couple. We've seen what you're seeing as well.
We don't see anything that's too concerned about about temperature,
whether too cold or too hot. So knock on wood,
(18:53):
we're comfortable there. It's just going to be whether or
not it's dry, and so, you know, we always get
such good luck. I'm hoping that the little cool front
blows in Saturday afternoon after the five k, maybe it
rains a little bit and then we have you know what,
we always have forty five degrees that start lineing maybe
(19:15):
some well last.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Year, last year, wage we had about thirty five at
the start line. That was I know I was, and
I'm I'm I'm the crazy one.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I love it cold.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Like I'll be out there doing nine miles tomorrow it'll
be thirty two degrees feeling like twenty eight and yeah,
I mean I'll be bundled up and everything. But you know,
give me, give me that as opposed to seventy because
I've seen both and I've run in both at this
event and the difference is just you know, crazy. I mean,
we did two races so far this year. I did
(19:46):
the Houston Half ten k and I did the the
hmsa ten miler, and both of them were too hot
and they're perfectly timed, but it's just that's what you
deal with with the Houston weather.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, and everybody has different preferences, right, so you know,
it's tough. I know, even with our elites, you know,
too cold can be hard for them because they're done
with their half marathon in an hour, you know, they
you know, they never even hit their warm up. So
a little bit warmer for for some of our international guests.
They you know, they probably purford in the low forties
(20:20):
to start. But yeah, we'll just have to we'll wait
and see and we'll be prepared for for whatever they
whatever they throw at us.
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