George Tuley/Caller-Times

The race begins on Padre Island during Beach to Bay in 2001. This year's race will break with tradition and feature a new route.

Whether your team plans to break a world record or just cross the finish line, this race is about personal victory

May 16, 2003
By John Allen
Caller-Times

Whether your team plans to break a world record or just cross the finish line, this race is about personal victory

While the course of the King Ranch edition of the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon may not be the same, the goals for most of its participants are still the same - although they may be completely different.

This week, the defending Beach to Bay championship team put out a press release that they would not only win the race again but would also set a new world record in the event. To do so they were culling together a team that had runners from North America, Africa, Europe and Australia. They also claim to have the first American to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon this year.

While the Dismas Charities International Team of Peace will be filled with runners who would consider a five-minute mile jogging, most of the rest of the field would consider such speed as a rare feat by their feet. That’s why this race is one of the rare events in sports where everyone can be a winner.

You could be the winner of your age or gender group. You could have the best time of the six runners on your team. You could set a personal best time for running 4.4 miles. You could pass someone during your leg. You could just finish your leg.

The range of accomplishments is as varied as the individuals who compete in the race. Last year’s race had 18 different age/gender groups take titles - ranging from elementary school-aged kids to senior citizens.

While the goals are different for each runner, past participants will also find this year’s race different.

This year’s runners will not have the opportunity to run on the beach to open the race, which has both good and bad aspects. The good thing is no one is going to lose a shoe in the sand. The bad news is the weather will not be as cool on Saratoga Boulevard as it would be around Bob Hall Pier.

Runners of the race will point to heat being a key factor toward accomplishing your goal.

The current forecast calls for temperatures to start in the high 70s on the way to the low 90s, but the winds should be lighter than normal.

Here’s to wishing all of Saturday’s participants have a cool breeze pushing them on to their own personal victory, whatever that may be.

Contact John Allen at 886-3745 or allenj@caller.com