NOVEMBER 12, 2016
THE VALLEY MORNING STAR
Runners will be able to take in the classic sights of downtown Harlingen while they also move toward marathon gold. They’ll make their way along the lake trail and enjoy the expected brisk morning before they finish right back where they started. Some will be treated to medals and some with be treated to a job well done for completing the 13-mile run.
This Sunday’s Harlingen Half Marathon is expected to be quite an event with more than 1,000 runners and walkers. That includes participants for the 5K walk/jog, a two-person relay event, the Kids Ninja Warrior One Mile Challenge and the 13.1-mile solo run.
Runners from Arizona, the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, San Marcos, Houston, Matamoros and Monterrey, Mexico will be represented. Footwork’s and the city of Harlingen have teamed up again this year to host this second annual Harlingen Half Marathon starting downtown at 7 a.m. The route includes upbeat music and water stops about at least every mile while participants go past downtown Harlingen and its landmarks.
This year’s event also will include a Kids Ninja Warrior One Mile Challenge and Health & Business Expo on Saturday beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. at the TSTC Athletic Field followed by the health expo that will take place at TSTC Cultural Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The expo will be open to the public.
“The Kids Ninja Warrior One Mile Challenge is one of the first major running events for children in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Jun Ellorimo, race director. “Over 100 children have registered for the event.”
Families and individuals are encouraged to attend and fill the sidewalks along Jackson Street, from Commerce to 6th Street, and encourage runners and walkers.
Jackson Street will be closed down for part of the morning.
The 5k walk/jog is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m.
After leaving the Lon C. Hill Fair Park, athletes will head into downtown Harlingen.
They will then go to the City Lake Trail, past Austin Elementary School, the Harlingen Home Town Heroes Trail at Pendleton Park, and Texas State Technical College before reaching the turn-around point at the Iwo Jima Memorial on the campus of Marine Military Academy.
Runners will then go to TSTC, Memorial Middle School, Harlingen School of Health Professions and Harlingen High School before back tracking to finish at Lon C. Hill Fair Park.
Following the marathon, guests will be treated to a post marathon celebration at 9:30 a.m. with a full blast concert.
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the South Padre Island Marathon tomorrow. To accommodate the large crowd, the city is taking extra precautions. Registered athletes are set to run from Port Isabel and across the Queen Isabella Causeway onto the island. Registration for the event is closed.
The actual race will start early at 6:30 a.m. on the corner of Manautou and Highway 100. The finish line is at Clayton’s Beach Bar and Grill.
The eastbound side of the causeway will be closed for athletes. There will be two-way traffic on the westbound side of the causeway allowing access to and from the island. Highway 100, eastbound lane will be re-routed through S. Shore Drive. Westbound traffic along Highway 100 will operate as usual.
There will be spectator parking along Gulf Boulevard and no parking will be available at Claytons Beach Bar and Grill on race day.
Shuttles will run from the island to the start line from 4:30 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. Parking is available at the waterpark, Andy Bowie Park and the convention center. Spaces are limited.
The shuttles are for registered runners only.
By KAYLEIGH SOMMER Staff Writer
