I once certified a 5K course that started on Tiki Island, immediately in front of City Hall. The finish was at the front door of the Galveston Daily News. And in between? The Gulf of Mexico. Three quarters of the race was contested on the Galveston Causeway. When laying out the course I had a police escort, still one of the scariest rides of my life. A major span, four lanes in each direction, the only artery and evacuation route for Galveston to the mainland. My task assigned the inner most lane. Traffic whizzing by at posted speeds. Real Cowboys, their gun racks and legal open containers, last vestiges of the wild, wild west, the Houston city slickers heeding beckoning beaches, the pick up beds full of hopeful youth, a constant SPF bouquet , the clunkers with their bamboo cane poles headed to harvest the jetties.
The Fred Hartman Bridge is another massive span outside of Houston. Underwater tunnels were more prevalent 30-40 years ago. I drove the old Baytown Tunnel many times cutting my teeth in road race management at the Baytown Heat Wave 5 Miler every 4th of July. The old tunnel is now closed and the magnificent Fred Hartman stands shoulders above anything for miles.
The Verrazano Narrows Bridge, start line for the NYC Marathon.
Take me to the bridge.
Omaha’s own Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. 3000′ long, 15′ wide, 60′ above the Missouri River. Five years ago I designed and measured the first ever USATF Certified event over the Pedestrian Bridge. My old Big Blue Run 5K, a pet project to raise funds for prostate cancer awareness. Back in the day I prefaced my measurement effort titles with the name of my former club. Though never paid by them for measuring a course I did extended this as an attempt to elevate its presence. I now claim things as my own, ala Will Lindgren’s Festival of Races.
Several events now utilize the Pedestrian Bridge, including March 12th’s Shamrock Run 5K. Starts down at the Dubliner, crosses the bridge and back. Same course I believe as the one time held Run For The Diamonds.
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