2013 A Banner Year for Fitness Events

2013 was a banner year for fitness events in the San Angelo area.

Based on a rough count, there were almost 80 organized cycling, running, multisport or related events during the past 12 months — an impressive average of more than six events per month.

That number doesn’t include the weekly semi-organized activities such as cycling or running groups that meet on a regular schedule for workouts.

The number of organized events is good news for our community. It indicates that more people are taking part in healthy activities and thus becoming fitness ambassadors for other individuals.

Fifty-four of the fitness events this year were run/walk activities with distances ranging from one mile to 100 kilometers (62 miles).

Although the most common run/walk event distance was 5K (3.1 miles), the 2013 events also included trail runs, full and half marathons, several 10K distance races (6.2 miles) and a state championship 8K race.

Cycling accounted for 22 of the events during 2013, including 14 time trials (road or off-road races against the clock), two cycling tours, five cyclocross races and one long distance mountain bike race.

In addition to single-sport cycling and running, there were two swim-bike-run triathlons held locally and one “mud run” (the Down and Dirty Mud Dash), which combined running with negotiating obstacles such as mud pits and other barriers.

There were also some positive indicators regarding the groups that organized local fitness activities.

Six campus groups at Angelo State University organized 12 fitness events at the school, and a San Angelo Team RWB (Red, White and Blue) community was formed with its mission being to engage and support veterans via fitness activities.

On the down side, two long-standing San Angelo events were not held this past year. Striders Duathlon, a run-bike-run event normally held each April, and the Wool Capitol triathlon, held in August, were both canceled and did not take place in 2013.

Other “downers” during the past year included no visible construction activity on the Red Arroyo Trail (supposedly to be completed in 2014), a senseless proposal by a city council member aimed at restricting fitness activities on the highly popular Gun Club Road (KOA) loop, and no significant action related to implementation of the city’s Bike/Pedestrian plan.

These fitness infrastructure items are important because as more local residents embrace fitness as part of a healthier lifestyle, the demand for accessible and safe workout venues will continue to increase.

Given the banner year that fitness events experienced in San Angelo during 2013, what does the future hold during 2014?

We can again expect to see a large number of run/walk events during the coming year as these events continue to increase in popularity.

Trail running will continue to grow as more San Angelo runners discover that “fast hiking” on trails is arguably more fun than running on pavement.

The participation level for cycling during 2014 will remain at about the same level as 2013, but we may see a shift toward more people riding off-road due to increased traffic on area roads.

Off-road cycling events such as cyclocross, dirt road rides (“gravel grinders”) and mountain bike races will increase in popularity as event organizers seek safer, no-traffic alternatives to on-road events.

Twelve of the 22 local cycling events during 2013 were held off-road, and that trend is expected to continue.

The rumor mill also suggests that we may see several new (or reincarnated) events during 2014 to include a large Color Run, an Olympic distance triathlon to replace the former Wool Capitol event, and possibly an off-road run-bike-run duathlon.

Remember — 2013 was a banner fitness year in San Angelo and the prediction is for more of the same in 2014.


Upcoming Events

Jan. 4: Resolution Run, roadlizards.org
Feb. 14: Funnel Cake 5K, roadlizards.org
Mar. 22: Crazy Desert Trail Race, roadlizards.org