Park to Park Run benefiting the Hermann Park Conservancy

This is ONE, really FUN RUN that is second to NONE.
So perhaps there are places you wouldn’t drive 5 miles to, hence the quite interesting combination of two cool places: Discovery Green and Hermann Park. Its not just about point A to B, but the journey of five miles with some truly cool Houstonians.
As this is the 6^th Annual Park to Park Run that benefits the Hermann Park Conservancy, it stands to reason that they have got there act together. This was a well organized event with a great deal of support from enthusiastic volunteers, police, race officials, and even medical support teams.
My day started with a primo parking spot at the Toyota Center Garage (free). Rolled into check-​in and had no trouble getting my racing chip. Had I needed too, I could have had a bag of spare clothes taking to the Finish Line at Hermann Park by race personnel. Because the start is at the Green, racers had unlimited access to the nice bathroom facilities (no Portacans, yeah).
Race started with a very classy prayer and a beautiful acapella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The route was well coned and staffed by volunteers and police pointing in the right direction (believe me, I have seen this go horrible wrong at other events). Everyone got a great tour of downtown, midtown and the museum district (had Reggae Hut been open, I would have been jonzing for a beef patty). Volunteers at every mile marker yelling out race time and pace. Little dry on the water stops at the midpoint (but no biggie).
The Finish was located between the Reflection Pool and the Boat Lake. Race officials quickly snipped off my chip and someone handed me a welcome bottle of water with a smile. Plenty of bagels, donuts, kolaches, fruit, water, and juice to be found. Farrah was proudly passing out great Unilocal schwag. And even better: liquid adult carbs were available from Budweiser (run & drink before 9am — stay classy Houston). No problem getting back to your car at the race start because they had a free Metro pass back to the Green.
Not that I’m an expert racer or anything, but this was truly a great event that I will attend every year from here on out (until my knee gives in). It’s only the last five miles that’s hard. Make sure you try it!