I live in Los Angeles and always wanted to run the Houston Marathon. I arrived at the airport and realized Houston was colder than Los Angeles. There are two days of expo at the convention center. I loved the hype and the energy of the expo. There were also many vendors and a huge selection of Brooks running gear. Brooks running shoes have been my favorite running shoes ever since my first marathon race. Bib pickup was seamless and exciting to other runners who were as excited as I was to race.
There were 34,000 participants, but the race was very organized. I went to the assigned corral and waited 30 minutes before the race began. Houston Marathon is well-organized, with clear signage, aid stations, and support services for participants. The course was flat, and many runners PR’ed at the race. The weather was perfect for running, although it was a little chilly for me because I live in Los Angeles, CA.
I loved the design of the medal. Another favorite part of the race was after the race. I picked up a T-shirt, and there was a FREE breakfast. I had drinks, snacks, and bananas, but breakfast was awesome. I definitely want to come back next year to race.