Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon 2011 – Review

I completed the Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon in Seabrook, Texas, today — Saturday, 19 March 2011. Here is my review of the good and bad aspects of the Saturday edition of the 2011 event — the eighth year for the two-day event in Seabrook, which hosts another (second) half marathon, as well as a marathon, on the Sunday of the same weekend.

Exposition

• Not Applicable: No exposition!

Toilets

• Good: Public restrooms and several portable toilets near start/finish line
• Good: Portable toilets at many water stations
• Good: Women-only portable toilets — in pink!

Start line

• Good: Efficient start (~2-3 minutes total)
• Good: Nice outdoor assembly area on street next to a large park

Police

• Good: At every street that we had to cross

Water-station people

• Good: Cheered racers onward

Water stations

• Good: Heavily manned
• Good: Always had water and Gatorade
• Good: Spaced appropriately
• Good: Plentiful fluid in ample cups

Bibs

• Good: Racer name in large font for early registrants, so readable by spectators

Spectator turnout

• Bad: Relatively sparse
• Good: Participants acted as fellow spectators, given the 2-loop nature of the half marathon

Timing mats

• Good: Reliably picked up timing chips on shoes
• Bad: Only at start line and finish line

Course

• Good: Very flat
• Good: Volunteers at every intersection that required crossing a public street
• Good: Shaded by trees across much of the course loop
• Good: Beautiful scenery along the Seabrook nature trails, including both fresh-water and salt-water marshes, the coastline of Galveston Bay, and bird and wildlife sanctuaries

Weather

• Good: Breezy but not windy
• Good: Cool temperature throughout much of the race

Race photographers

• Good: Enjoyed engaging the approaching racers

Finish area

• Good: PA announcement of finishers’ names and cities
• Bad: Medals not put over heads of finishers

Medals

• Good: Attractive medal that distinctively combines a running pelican with shamrocks and two pots of gold

Post-race area

• Good: Shaded areas and picnic tables
• Good: Plenty of room for running groups to set up tents relatively closely to the finish line

Conclusion

I give Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon an “A+” grade for the 2011 Saturday event. This event has a small-town feel combined with natural beauty and a sense that the organizers know what they are doing. I highly recommend this event.

The parking is free. All proceeds benefit the charity The Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The scenery is spectacular. And walkers will appreciate the liberal time limit (at least four hours).

Just note that you may not set a personal record (PR) at this event, given that the course is very narrow (as narrow as two abreast and often two-way) in many places and is mostly crushed granite, which is easier on the joints than hard asphalt or concrete but is more likely to kick pebbles into your shoes. You may want to wear a pair of “gators” to prevent this. I walked the first twelve miles of the course to enjoy good conversation with a husband and wife who are dear friends. The wife wore them, and she never got stones in her shoes, whereas the gators-less husband had to stop at least once to empty a shoe.

Have you had a similar set of experiences? Where? Please leave a comment. Thanks!

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