Date:        Saturday, February 26, 2011    
Time:        Start time 8:00 A.M. (Marathon & Half)    7:00 AM 50K                 
Location:  Beach in front of Stahlman Park, Surfside Texas  - 
Address:   2300 Blue Water Highway, Surfside Beach Texas
GPS Location:  (Paste these coordinates into Google Earth): 28°58’16”N 95°15’41”W or 28.971111, -95.261389

Directions to Race Location:
CLICK HERE: For a Google Map to Surfside: 

From Houston:  Go south about 50 miles on Highway 288 to Lake Jackson and Clute. From Clute exit right onto Highway 332 East, exit marked  “Surfside”.  Go about 8 miles and cross a BIG bridge (the one many of you didn’t want to run over).  This highway ends at the water’s edge.  Turn left onto the beach, and drive down almost 2 miles to reach our big tent, on the beach. 

From Galveston/Clear Lake area:  Take Interstate 45 to Highway 2004 exit.  Go Southwest (past the dog track) on 2004, and continue to Highway 523.  Turn left on Highway 523, and go to Highway 332.  Turn left onto 332, which will lead to the beach. (See above). 

To Hotels:  All of the hotels listed below are along highway 288/332 as you drive through Lake Jackson and Clute.  Comfort Inn is on the right in Lake Jackson, just before Oak Drive, across from the Civic Center.  All of the others are 2-3 miles further down on the left, clearly visible from the highway. 

Air Travel:  Houston’s two airports (Bush and Hobby) are served by most

major airlines, including Houston based Continental Airlines, and

Southwest Airlines, (the national airline of Texas). Hobby is about 60

miles away, Intercontinental about 80 miles. 

Packet Pickup:

Location:  Our Tent on the beach at Stahlman. 

Time:  Friday :  5 PM - 8 PM.  (Directions below)  You may also pick up packets      

           Saturday 6 AM, until race time. 

YOU MUST also pick up your chip at the tent on Saturday morning.  That will only take a minute, they have them organized by race number.  
      

Switching between the Marathon and the Half will be allowed from December 1 through January 31st, at no charge!  

Bib transfers will be allowed from December 1 until January 15th, also at no charge! 

CLICK HERE - to go to the article - relive the event from last year (remember the fog?)

Pre-race dinner:       

A very informal pre-race dinner will be announced closer to race date. 

Cancellations and wait list:    Registration is currently open - Wait list will form after race is full.

Course description:
The course is the nearly the same as 2010.  Both the Start and Finish are exactly on the beach in front of Stahlman Park 2 miles NE of the beach entrance at highway 332.   From there, the course goes 2.44 miles back SW into the village of Surfside.  You will turn, and proceed back NE, past the start to mile 9.  At mile 9, the Half will turn back to Stahlman (SW again), and the Marathon will continue to San Luis Pass for the turn around, at mile 15.5.   

The 50K will start on the other side of the Surfside high bridge, at 7 AM.  You will cross the high bridge as the sun rises over the gulf, and go down the beach to Stahlman.  Depending on your speed, you will join the Marathon and Half Marathon runners, as they begin at 8 AM. 

CLICK HERE:  To look at it on Google

CLICK HERE:  For a simple course map

Course Cautions:
1. The course is open to vehicular traffic on the beach – it’s a Texas thing.  You may use headphones, but be aware of your surroundings.

2. From mile 2 to 3, there are pilings and other remnants of beach houses, courtesy of Hurricane Ike.  We will try to cone these, but be aware.

3.  From about mile 11 (marathon only) to mile 13, all the traffic from the road is diverted down onto the beach.  We will have some cones, try to stay nearer the water on this stretch away from traffic.  (Same for the return on this section). 

Course Map: Click Here  for course map (NOW Active!)  
 

Weather:
Historically, the temperature has varied from 50 to 65 degrees.  Prevailing sea breeze usually gives a tailwind from the start to mile 2.44, then a headwind to mile 9 for the half, or mile 15.5 for the full marathon.  After these turns, both the half and full are downwind to the finish.  Again, that is the prevailing normal wind. 

CLICK HERE: for the Surfside Beach Webcam and beach weather

Lodging:

OFFICIAL RACE HOTEL: (Highly recommended) - Candlewood Suites   (979) 297-0011
 (Ask for the Surfside Marathon Rate, $89)

Candlewood is a very nice hotel, just built 2009, and has in-room microwave, fridge.  On-site free laundry, exercise room, etc. 

Other Recommended Hotels:

Surfside Breeze - Also a new place - located only 50 Meters from the START Line of the marathon on the beach. 

http://www.surfsidebreeze.com/   $79 per night off season (and February is off season) - They only have 6 rooms, so hurry for this one.

Texas Inn & Suites – Last year's race hotel in Clute, only one year old

Comfort Suites Lake Jackson 979-297-5545

         Holiday Inn Express – Clute – 979-265-5252

Super 8- Lake Jackson– 979-297-3031 -

         Best Western  Clute   979-388-0055

Cherotel Lake Jackson – 979-297-1161

Beach Houses:

Beach Front Properties, 713-995-6111, www.BeachHouses.com

Brannan Realty - 888-233-1812 

Cape Bay Rentals 800-992-6670 www.beachresortservices.com

Coastal Sisters Charming Rentals  713-204-8054   www.coastalsisterstx.com

Course Measurement:
The course is accurately measured by GPS.  We can’t be certified by USATF, but will work with Boston or any other group needing course verification.

Race limit:
The race has a limit of 900 runners this year.  Last year we filled up early.       

Time Limit:
The race starts at 8 AM, course closes at 3 PM.   Anyone needing more time than that, may start at 6:45 AM.  We will have an official starter there to take down bib numbers, and you will be an official finisher, but not eligible for competitive age group awards. 

Shirts, Awards:
1.  Each participant and volunteer will receive a high quality race shirt.    

2.  Each finisher will receive a finisher medal. 

3.  The first 50 Out-of-state and international finishers to report to the awards desk receive a special award.  

4.  Of course, Overall and Age group awards!  Awards this year include: Overall and Masters three deep, 5 year awards for the 30’s through 50’s, 10 year groups for Teens, 20’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. 

Pre-race Announcements and National Anthem:
Race announcements, group pictures, introductions, and instructions will start at 7:40, just outside the tent!   

Aid Stations:
There will be water and HEED brand sport drink available every 1.6 miles at each of the aid stations. Portable toilets are located at the start and at each aid station after #1.

Bag Drop:
There will be a area inside our tent where you can leave a bag. 
 
Post race:
Our traditional Texas BBQ, beans, and potato salad will be served, along with smoothies from Maui Wowi, and the usual runner food.

Results:
Finishing results will be available on the website www.surfsidemarathon.com and at www.marathonguide.com .

Race Benefits:
Each year, the race contributes to Save Our Beach Association, and scholarships for local area students. 


Race Photography:
Photos will be available at:  www.RaceShots.net

Volunteers:
If you know of an adult who wants to volunteer, please include their name and shirt size with your application or send us an email at:  surfsidemarathon@yahoo.com

 
Sponsors:
OverNite Software, inc. – Title sponsor of the race.  They are not yet a household name, so we thought you might want to know more about them:  The company was established in 1995, and is a cutting edge designer of learning management and delivery solutions. ExxTend LearningT, OverNite Software's innovative web-based solution, creates, schedules, assigns, delivers, and tracks your organization's training. OverNite Software equips organizations with quality training courses that improve employee safety and efficiency, and satisfy compliance requirements. Topics include EH&S, HAZWOPER refresher, Human Resources, Off-the-Job Safety, Security, and many others. Choose from these distinctive course libraries, or let our talented design team create custom courses to your specifications. Learn how OverNite Software can fulfill your training and documentation needs! Call (979) 849-2002 or visit our website at www.overnitecbt.com.

ConocoPhillips –  Our founding sponsor for the race.  ConocoPhillips promotes the Surfside Beach Marathon and Half Marathon to encourage community health and fitness, and environmental awareness of the natural resources of our beach.

HAMMER Nutrition - LINK  - Advanced performance nutritional products, supporting the race with:

      HEED - Sport Drink - Link

      Hammer Gel - Link

      Endurolyte - Link

Village of Surfside Beach – For assistance with the Park Facilities and EMT support. 

Brazoswood High School National Honor Society – For setting up and staffing the water stations.

Hope Fellowship Church, Lake Jackson – For preparing and serving the BBQ and for preparing the stone drink coasters. 

Save Our Beach Association – Volunteers who work year round to keep the beach nice, and a beneficiary of proceeds from the race. 

Dr. Jeff and Amber Ward –  Ward Chiropractic, Lake Jackson who will be available to runners after the race.

Dr. Thea M. Taylor - of Taylor Sport Chiropractic – who will be available to runners after the race.

Maui Wowi Smoothies - Our appetizer after the race, before the BBQ.  We want to also be the only Marathon where you can go home having GAINED weight.

Brazosport Area Road Runners Association – Race organization and volunteer support.