Race Basics
It is with great pleasure that Runtex and Lone Star Relays are joining together to bring to you the Capitol to Alamo Relay! Here are the basics about the race:
But, as those who have run long distance relays can attest, these relay building blocks are the ingredients that come together to provide a GREAT life experience! Just as butter, flour, sugar, and baking soda are put together to make a cake… These are the basics that are mixed together to give you a never-to-be-forgotten running adventure. Put another way, if the C2A relay WERE a cake, we’d be talking about a very special cake, mmm-mmm-yummy-to-my-tummy… the BEST!
No doubt, Texas is an iconic state. And, if talking about renowned landmarks, are there any greater than the Texas Capitol or the Alamo?! While all of Texas is sacred ground, a case could be made that there are slight degrees of distinction. When you run around the Capitol with your team at the start of the relay, and then encircle the Alamo at the finish, you’ll know we mean. As significant as the happenings that have occurred at the Capitol and Alamo, these places are revered more for what they symbolize, the great spirit that can be found in Texas… in her people! Texans demonstrate this spirit every day. But, rest assured it will be undeniably on full display on the first weekend of August as your team completes the C2A.
What’s better than taking the time to spend quality time in community with each other!? This is a GREAT aspect of these relays. It’s not just the race, it’s the time you come together to plan for it, the occasions you set aside to run together beforehand, the shared time out on the course cheering for each other, the talking about it afterwards, and the shared memories for the years thereafter.
We haven’t even mentioned the running and all the excellent benefits derived from that – Ha! Everything is better when seasoned with running… pour it on!
In summary, “Race Basics” is a contradiction in terms when you’re talking about the Capitol to Alamo. That said, you can be utterly sure that you’ll have a fantastic time at the inaugural C2A!
General Course Description
While the Capitol at the start and the Alamo at the finish are significant features of this event (hence the name), it would be a mistake to overlook all the parts and good running in between!
On Saturday, teams will directly head out of Austin, taking Congress almost until it ends. Make sure to give Austin’s finest a thumbs up and a good word of appreciation as they control the traffic for you!
After running on Old San Antonio Road (a historic route in its own right), you’ll get to visit downtown Buda. After leaving Buda, the course starts to take on more of a rural feel as you pass by the outskirts of Mountain City and Kyle. A little after that, however, teams will visit San Marcos – running by its golf course as well as through a hilly neighborhood on its north side.
The course up to this point has been making its way straight to San Antonio, but it is in San Marcos that the course turns decidely westward. The fastest teams will only be 5-10 miles west of San Marcos when darkness starts to overcome daylight. It goes through the popular summer destinations of Sattler and Startzville (the slowest teams will be beyond Startzville as the sun sets). If you haven’t heard of these places, then maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve gone tubing on the Guadalupe. This is also Hillie Billie Relay country!
Going directly West, teams will pass through Bulverde before having a healthy stretch before reaching Boerne in the wee hours of the morning. It is in Boerne, though, that teams will change direction yet again to make their approach into San Antonio!
San Antonio cyclists will be familiar with Boerne Stage Road and Scenic Loop, which is the trail we’re blazing into the NW metro area. It is near the UTSA campus on the 1604 loop (we don’t run on 1604) in which teams will be closest together, with the fastest making their way to the front and the slower starting to take up the back.
Vance Jackson is primarily used to get closer to downtown. Teams will make their way through the swanky neighborhood of Olmos Park in the very early morning Sunday hours. Then, teams will visit beautiful Brackenridge Park (where the San Antonio Zoo is located) and Pearl Park. Teams will make their way through downtown San Antonio, but before finishing, the last runner will take a quick tour of the historic King William neighborhood.
Finally, teams will run together around the Alamo. Remember the Alamo!! Yes, indeed… and you will!
