Texas Border Business
McALLEN – There’s still time to register for one of the runs at the McAllen Marathon on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the McAllen Convention Center. The McAllen Marathon is hoping to attract runners who are ready to compete in the Boston Marathon. The McAllen Marathon is a fun, fast and flat USATF certified course that can qualify you to live your dream of running in Boston.
“This year, the McAllen Marathon has a volunteer committee made up of citizens who are passionate about the event and the sport of running,” said Veronica Whitacre, McAllen City Commissioner District 6. “In 2017, we hosted 1,800 runners with some of them coming from Mexico, Canada and Denmark.”
More competitors, from several states and several countries, have already signed up for 26.2-mile marathon, half-marathon and as legs in the five-person relay-marathon. Organizers say McAllen’s average weather temperature in January is in the 60’s and 70’s which is good for runners. The McAllen Parks and Recreation Department added a 10K-Run to encourage runners to participate. There is now a 5K, 10K, and the Kids Marathon Final Mile run which will occur on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the McAllen Convention Center. There’s also an Expo open on Saturday for packet pick up and for spectators and their friends and family at the McAllen Convention Center Exhibit Hall.
“We understand people train for months to get ready for a marathon and we want to provide a great experience for the runner, visitors and residents in McAllen,” said Mike Hernandez, Director of the McAllen Parks and Recreation Department. “I encourage the community to participate in many of the activities, either the family events on Saturday, including the Health Expo or just come out and cheer on the runners.”
This is the 5th Annual McAllen Marathon Scott Crane Memorial Run. The marathon was renamed for former City Commissioner Scott C. Crane who died a couple of years ago. Crane was an avid runner and one of its biggest supporters.
“Thanks to our great partnership with the McAllen Independent School District and our media partners The Monitor and Telemundo 40, we are encouraging our young children to start running early, helping them to get healthy and in shape,” said Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. City Manager for the City of McAllen. “I ran the half-marathon last year, I encouraged City of McAllen employees to sign up and run in the McAllen Marathon in either the 10K, relay marathon, half-marathon or full-marathon.”
Packet pick up is on Saturday, January 20th from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the Health Expo is also on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McAllen Convention Center. If you’re running on Sunday, you have two chances to pick up your packet either during the Health Expo on Saturday or Sunday before the race at 5:30 a.m. The marathon will start at McAllen Convention Center.
Race organizers call the race courses flat and fast with a South Texas breeze on asphalt routes that will cut through the city. There will be entertainment in a couple of stops on the course. There will be several water stations manned by volunteers and cheer teams to support the runners throughout the course.
Runners can still register until Friday, January 12th at the www.mcallenmarathon.com and if you have any questions, please call McAllen Parks and Recreation at 956-681-3333.
