Celebrating just its second annual running in the fall of 2008, the
Tyler Half & 5K road races take runners on a tour of this East
Texas town's in-town neighborhoods and rural roads through the
countryside just outside Tyler, along an
out-and-back course that starts and finishes on the campus of the
University of Texas-Tyler on the southeastern side of town. Staged to
promote awareness of running and fitness in the local area, the race
also is run as a benefit for the university's track and cross country
running teams.
Runners in the half marathon start the race on the campus at 8:00 AM,
from the starting line at 3900 University Boulevard. From there, the
course takes runners around the university and the nearby neighborhoods
for the first four miles, while most of roughly the next eight miles
take runners into Tyler's rural outskirts, along country roads and over
a mix of rolling hills and flat stretches. On the way back in toward
the university (and the finish line), the final mile of the course
returns to the city and is run through the campus, and finishes where
runners started on University Boulevard.
Both runners and walkers are encouraged to come out and participate in
this year's race, which will feature a four-hour time limit for all
participants, whether they're running or walking -- which means a pace
of about 18 minutes per mile. The terrain for the course is paved
surfaces throughout the race, along both city streets and rural roads.
Race
Weather & Climate
Mild to moderately warm weather conditions, with the area's typically
heaviest rainfall of the year, are the norm in the early fall in Tyler,
which lies about 70 miles west of the state line with Louisiana in East
Texas. In October, the city's average monthly temperatures range
between 78°F and 56°F, while rainfall totals average
about 5.14
inches for the month -- Tyler's highest rainfall of the year, on
average.
Fees
For the half marathon:
$45 if registered by September 1, 2008
$50 between Sept. 2 - October 10
$55 on the day of the race
For the 5K:
$15 if registered by September 20, 2008
$20 between Sept. 21 - October 10
$25 on the day of the race
