News release

Date Set for 2002 Compaq Houston Marathon

Race weekend 2002 for the 30th anniversary of the Compaq Houston Marathon has been set for the third week of January, with the 26.2-mile main event scheduled for 7:30 a.m., Sunday, January 20.

"We're in the process of reviewing our efforts with the 2001 race and beginning the planning phase for next year," said race director David Hannah. "Specifically, we are studying ways to increase participation throughout the weekend, and working with Compaq to further enhance the technology used to power the event and enable spectators to follow the action. Our 30th year is poised to be our best yet."

Marathon weekend 2001 drew record participation. More than 5,385 registered for the marathon, while another 1,000-plus ran in the companion Houston Cellular (Cingular) 5K. Texas Children's Hospital's Kids' Fun Run drew 3,500 middle-school students — a record for the Saturday event.

"Our first year of sponsoring the Compaq Houston Marathon was a tremendous success," said Michael D. Capellas, Compaq chairman and CEO. "In addition to the participation of 400 Compaq employee volunteers and 200 Compaq runners, I was especially pleased with the positive reaction to the new technology component to the race. The Compaq wireless runner tracking system, launched for the first time at the Compaq Houston Marathon, allowed fans to check for updates on their favorite runners. The system exceeded expectations by generating more than 300,000 hits on the marathon Web site."

The Houston Marathon Committee and Compaq intend to build on that momentum by offering additional enhancements to the 2002 edition of the race. While specific details regarding next year's event are in the development stage, some key decisions have been made.

The Compaq Athlete Tracking System will be extended to the 5K to supply finishers and fans with an instant link to results. Additional checkpoints also will be set up on the marathon course to provide spectators with even greater access to follow the progress of runners.

The 7:30 a.m. start time, which debuted in 2001, will return for the 2002 race. The 30-minute earlier start enabled many more runners to complete the race before temperatures reached uncomfortably warm levels, while still ensuring enough daylight to get the legions of volunteers and Hoopla fans safely in place on the course.

For safety reasons and Houston's unpredictable weather, the official course time limit will remain at 5 ½ hours in 2002. When warm temperatures and high humidity combine, as they have for the past four years, they create dangerous conditions for runners, especially those on the course for more than four hours.

"We are aware that many runners would like to see an earlier starting time and a longer official finishing time, and we have researched these requests extensively," said Hannah. "While we are always looking for ways to improve the race experience, the safety of runners and volunteers must come first.

"The race's medical staff has been very active in educating runners about weather dangers, including implementing a special warning flag system to inform runners about the day's weather conditions," Hannah added. "But weather is always a factor in running, and we believe our race is structured to maximize safety and protect against illness and injury."

More than 6,000 runners are expected for the 30th running of the Compaq Houston Marathon next January. Additional announcements about new race offerings will be made within the next several months.

The Compaq Houston Marathon is administered by an executive committee of volunteers and involves more than 5,000 additional volunteers on race weekend. The city's largest single-day sporting event, the race is a member of Running USA, a nonprofit group devoted to improving the status of road racing in the United States.

Further information is available at www.compaqhoustonmarathon.comor by calling (713) 957-3453.