Chevron Houston Marathon 2010

Race Review: The Chevron Houston Marathon on January 17th was run in outstanding weather.Race start was around 42 degrees and finish temps were in the 50's. Great weather as far as I am concerned since I left temps in the teens. From the minute you get to Houston in is clear that race organizers are very glad to have yo as a part of the race. There is a marathon, half-marathon, and 5K. The host hotel was the Hilton Americas and we really enjoyed our stay there. The Expo was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center right next to the hotel. Packet Pick-Up was fast and well organized.Runners are greeted with a 7:00AM start. The half-marathon starts at the same time and joins the marathon course at mile 2. Runners are organized into waves with a 10 minute space between starts. Wheelchair start is a 6:45.The course is flat and fast with a few beginning, middle, and end hills. None of the large variety but enough to get your attention. The course is a loop course beginning and ending downtown Houston. Although the race is all run on roads, the course is well taken care of and good. The staff and volunteers at the aid stations and expo were amazing and very well prepared to help the runners as well as inform spectators of prime vantage points. The finish area was very well run. Attention was paid to all runners in need and also congratulations were widespread by everyone in the area. Food after the race is a real treat if that's what you need. It was a runner's buffet. Personally, right after a marathon, eating is not my first thought. More hydration and recovery drink. The medals were a great design and also the glass mug that you receive. Everyone that finished got a finishers shirt to go with the participant shirt that runners got at packet pick-up. Finishers shirts were a good tech material. For the race I used Hammer Heed and Hammer Perpetuem mixed in a hand held bottle as well as GU Chomps. Water was also part of my plan. Other Hammer supplements taken every hour were 2 Endurance Amino caps and 2 Endurolyte caps. That also includes the pre-race Hammer supplements: Race Caps Supreme, Mito Caps, Endurance Amino Caps, and the Endurolyte Caps. For my pre-race meal I had a peanut butter sandwich and a banana. Finish time was 3:48:11 with a pace of 8:42 per mile. Felt great after the race and as always had the Hammer Recoverite drink soon after as well as post-race supplements. This is a great race and it sold out at all distances within hours this year. Registration opens for 2011 on July 27th.