Tour de Houston: Exploring the city through a marathon runner’s view
Where New and Old Mix
The race begins amid downtown’s striking architecture, next to Minute Maid Park, where the athletic prowess of the Houston Astros is often celebrated with fireworks. Runners pass over Buffalo Bayou, near the point on the waterway where the city was established in 1836. Downstream, the Port of Houston was made official in 1841, with the completion of the Houston Ship Channel following in 1914. These two developments have fueled Houston’s growth exponentially over the past century.
Just past downtown, runners travel through one of the oldest parts of the city, passing by Jefferson Davis High school’s red brick buildings. The school educated country singer Kenny Rogers and multiple Houston city council members.
From Buffalo Bayou to White Oak Bayou runners find themselves in the Woodland Heights, a charming neighborhood established in 1907. While the modern downtown skyline serves as a breathtaking backdrop, the Woodland Heights showcase the past. Rich with trees, the neighborhood is known for Victorian homes complete with wrap-around porches and candy-colored paint jobs. Some of these historic homes enjoy sweeping views of downtown in all its steely splendor. So close to the city, but yet a community unto itself, Woodland Heights is known for its close neighbors and award-winning architecture that preserve the charm of the area.
Artsy & Eclectic
From the traditional to the funky, runners soon become enveloped in one of Houston’s most talked-about and eclectic areas—Montrose. This pedestrian-friendly area that features a mix of bungalows, mini-mansions and contemporary new homes. Since its development in 1911, Montrose has drawn a diverse group of people and businesses. Along the race route, participants will pass some Houston institutions, such as the recently expanded Niko Niko’s Greek restaurant that often draws crowds willing to wait out the line snaking through the parking lot. La Colombe d'Or Hotel and restaurant exemplifies the refined beauty of France, but it is right at home in Houston’s Montrose.
Stately elegance surrounds the trek as runners take in the beautiful St. Thomas University campus. English ex-pats can get a little taste of home at the Black Labrador Pub, a red brick building blanketed in green vines. Upstairs, Cezanne is an intimate jazz venue, while Kraftsmen Baking next door is a local star for fresh breads, sandwiches and coffee. Just before passing over Highway 59, runners get a glimpse of some of Houston’s newest art galleries, a modern grey building on 4400 Montrose, which is also home to Tart Café.
The Museum District is an oasis of beauty, education and relaxation—considered the treasure trove of Montrose. Runners may be tempted to stop and take in great works of art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston or check out the dinosaurs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science right along the route. The Mecom Fountain, essentially three water sculptures that signal the heart of the Museum District, is a delight to all who pass. On the right, lies Rice University, one of the country’s most respected colleges. With just 3,000 students, the school is the size of Harvard and is often referred to as the Ivy League school of the south.
Lush Neighborhoods and Dynamic Shopping
There is no stopping for shopping, but runners will be tempted when traveling through Rice Village, a mix of national retailers and mom-and-pop owned boutiques and restaurants. The bustling shopping scene in Rice Village gives way to wide open streets in West University. Some of Houston’s most architecturally stunning homes reside in West University,which was established in 1917. Originally planned as a community of country homes, West University has evolved to a lush array of traditional red brick homes and Texas limestone and stucco homes, offering a small town within the big city.
The route is one of pleasant surprises and wide-eyed wows. Runners go from the residential environs to the hustle of the city as they move through the Uptown and Galleria areas. The 64-story Williams Tower, constructed as two 32-floor towers stacked on top of each other, stands as a beacon in the distance as runners make their way through the shopping district of the city. Some of Houston’s most desirable real estate is in the Uptown area and new stores and shops are popping up with great fervor. In a blink, runners are back in the shady comfort of Tanglewood, an elite neighborhood that is home to two distingished winter residents—former President George and Barbara Bush.
From one tony neighborhood to the next, runners wind through Memorial, a lush thread of villages with homes tucked deep in the trees. Buffalo Bayou couches Memorial on the south and gives many of the expansive ranch-style homes a tropical feel. The private nature of the Memorial area makes it a popular neighborhood for local sports stars. Canopies of trees and clusters of foliage are hallmarks of the Houston landscape and that is evident in the route along Allen Parkway. This curvy, park-lined street (truly a parkway) overlooks the gently sloping banks of Buffalo Bayou. Popular with fitness enthusiast, the area is a natural fit for the marathon and draws runners ever closer to the finish line beyond downtown’s skyscrapers with its sweeping green embrace.
Just mere miles from the finish line, runners once again enter downtown Houston and head for the George R. Brown Convention Center, a destination for national and international events and conventions. In contrast to the residential areas of Woodland Heights, Tanglewood and Memorial, downtown Houston is an ode to progress and commerce. Notable buildings include the JP Morgan Chase Building at 75 floors and Pennzoil Place, made of angular black-glass twin towers built in 1975. Runners cross the finish line in the shadow of the massive convention center accented by red and blue trim and can celebrate their success at the GRB’s neighbor, the Hilton-Americas Hotel. The 24-story, state-of-the-art hotel features a covered walkway connecting the hotel to the convention center.
Want to cheer on the athletes?
Watch the Chevron Houston Marathon Sunday, Jan. 13, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can be a part of the Hoopla Brigade, the more than 200,000 spectators who cheer on these determined athletes. Belly dancers, Elvis impersonators, tuba players, marching bands, radio stations, cheerleaders, bag pipers and a multitude of believers in the human spirit line the course from start to finish. Just pick your spot along the route! View map at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or call 713-957-3453 for info.
Green Houston 
