This past Sunday was the annual Chevron Houston Marathon and Half-Marathon, one of my favorite annual events in Houston.

After running a few of these over the years from Houston to NYC, Chicago and Washington, D.C., I ultimately decided to “retire” from marathons. I could have kept going, but I wanted to be able to walk 18 holes of golf in my seventies (not there yet), so I gave it up.

I continue to roll out of bed on the Sunday of each year, in most cases, regardless of the weather, to watch the start.  This past Sunday it was around 40 and windy.  Didn’t bother me.  It helps living two blocks from the start which is around Congress and San Jacinto.

Even though I am not running in it and seem to know fewer and fewer each year that do, I am still amazed by the start.

There’s a certain excitement that builds right before the start.  The crowd gathers early before 7:00. The news station helicopters hover over head, the line of HPD motorcycle officers form to escort the runners through town and the truck with the large clock in the back which keeps the official time.

The race starts with the elite runners going first and off goes the caravan I just described.  The rest of the field starts in multiple waves of runners grouped according to estimated finish time.

As usual, it started precisely at 7:00 in the morning and there was a steady stream of runners until the very last runner crossed the start.  That was a few minutes before 8:00.

I made the 3 minute walk back home, turned on the tv and the winner of the half-marathon was crossing the finish line, right at about 8:00.

If you have never watched the marathon in person, start or otherwise, put it on your calendar for next year.

Sunday, January 19, 2025, 7:00 a.m. sharp.