Runners give Heart & Soles

A few months ago Chris Johnson of the Bayou Runners Association (BRASS) and Alan Kelly of the Bayou Country Cyclists began kicking around an idea.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a half marathon in Houma?

The two got Terrebonne General Medical Center and Cardiovascular Institute of the South on board and the Heart & Soles Half-Marathon was born.

This isn’t the first half marathon for Houma. Johnson said some members of BRASS remember one around 1984, but it will be unique.

“Instead of finishing outside in the elements at the (Houma Terrebonne) Civic Center, we’ll finish indoors. Runners can sit down and wait for their friends to finish and the awards will also be presented inside,” Johnson said.

The half-marathon is just that n 13.1 miles beginning and ending at the Civic Center. Also included will be a two-man relay and a 5K walk/run.

Participants can register up to the day before the race and will receive a commemorative finisher medal.

“So far we have 213 people registered and expect to reach 225 to 250,” Johnson said.

Once the race is finished, racers will enjoy free food, drinks and entertainment while winding down.

“We’d like to get the community involved and want people to come out and watch. We want this to be an annual event and the more spectators that come out n the more likely we are to do it next year,” Johnson said.

The Heart & Soles Half-Marathon is Saturday, Jan. 8 beginning at 7 a.m.

Proceeds to raise funds for cardiovascular screenings and education about cardiovascular disease for the community.

For more information, visit www.bayourunners.com or www.bccbike.org

Runners give Heart & Soles