Houston

When to come?: 

Houston is close to the Gulf of Mexico and can get very humid year-round. The summers are hot, but the winter is very mild. Come during spring for some of the best weather. Houston can be very rainy, but it usually comes down as brief downpours, not as soaking rains or drizzle.

What to do if you have a sunny Saturday?: 

Start by joining what seems like everyone in Houston at Memorial Park for a 3-mile jog on the crushed stone trail - shaded by piney woods, the Memorial Park running trail is even lighted. The only problem will be parking, so get up early.

Head over to Terry Hershey Park to use the 10 mile paved hike and bike trail for bike riding. The asphalt path stretches along Buffalo Bayou, and is the best uninterrupted bike riding in the Houston area - Houston is choked with traffic until you get far outside the city. The hike and bike trail is a shared trail though, so look out for kids, walkers, and dogs.

Where can I go to get out away from the city, without driving too far?: 

Armand Bayou Nature Center is the opposite of Houston's concrete jungle. Before Houston became the nation's fourth largest city, the area along Galveston Bay was a mix of wetlands, prairie, and piney woods forest. Go for a walk along the trails at the bayou for a glimpse of how it must have looked.

Huntsville State Park, one hour north of Houston, has great hiking, trail running, and mountain biking in the piney woods, surrounding a lake. The best trail in Huntsville State Park is the singletrack Chinquapin trail - the CCC trail is similar in length but has a lot of open jeep/dirt road. The lake is very inviting to swim in, but like all of East Texas, watch out for alligators!

Brazos Bend State Park is another world altogether. A low-lying area along the Brazos River, Brazos Bend State Park is a guaranteed place to see alligators. The trails in the park are great for leisurely mountain biking - nothing too technical makes them great for families (except for the gators).

What mountains/hills can I hike nearby?: 

Unfortunately, the whole Gulf Coast really doesn't have any hills. You'll have to head west 600 miles to Guadalupe Mountains National Park or Big Bend National Park or Davis Mountains State Park for real mountains.

What outdoorsy stuff is way overrated in this town?: 

Galveston is not exactly the greatest beach destination. The gulf water near Galveston can be very muddy, and the sand is usually a dingy brown. Don't go all the way down there for a relaxing day at the beach - many visitors thinking of the crystal clear water and white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf coast end up disappointed.

The Rice University running trail is narrow and can get very crowded.

Running
When is the major marathon?: 
Houston's big marathon is the Chevron Houston Marathon in late January. The Houston Marathon has become one of the biggest and most popular marathons in the country, and will host the 2012 Olympic Marathon trials for both men and women. The marathon is extremely well organized, with excellent support and food. You do have to plan well in advance though. The Houston Marathon just switched to a lottery system for 2011 for sign up. If you didn't win the lottery for the Houston Marathon, try the Seabrook Lucky Trails marathon, the Surfside Beach Marathon, or the New Year's Day marathon in Kingswood, all of which are about an hour away from Houston.
Running Races: 

Houston Marathon

The Chevron Houston Marathon is fast, flat, and is now available by lottery (or charity run) for 2011 - plan to do this one early! The reason it consistently sells out is the great weather for a winter marathon, superb organization, and a fast course. Houston is a great host city for the marathon.

Date: 
Sun, 2011-01-30
Length: 
26.20miles
Triathlon
Where can I get a triathlon/duathlon event schedule?: 

The Houston Racing club maintains a schedule at http://www.houstonracing.com/?page_id=437

You can also take a look at http://www.totrfitness.com/events/ - maintained by Tri on the Run.

Triathlon Races: 

Ironman 70.3 Lone Star

The Lone Star Half Ironman in Galveston Texas is a great half Ironman. The race headquarters is at Moody Gardens, which has a resort hotel, a white sand beach, an aquarium, a rain forest pyramid, and several other attractions.

The swim is in salt water, but in the protected bay, not the open ocean, so waves shouldn't be a problem.

The bike and the run are both flat. The bike goes all the way down Galveston Island and crosses the bridge at San Luis Pass, goes another six miles, and then turns around. The run is four loops in and around Moody Gardens - good for spectators.

Date: 
Sun, 2011-04-10
Length: 
70.30miles