Courtesy: event press release

The road to the starting line of the 2006 Houston Marathon and its companion half marathon and 5K races, to be run Jan. 15, begins with the annual Kickoff Party on Sept. 12. More than 2,000 runners are expected to attend the party and kick off training for Houston's premier road races.

Registration is slated from 5 to 7 p.m. in Memorial Park, in the Picnic Loop area south of Memorial Drive. Runners can take advantage of early registration at discounted prices with entry fees of $75 for the marathon, $55 for the half marathon and $20 for the 5K. After Sept. 12, marathon and half marathon fees increase by $10. While registering, runners can enjoy free refreshments and live music and enter to win raffle prizes.

Runners also can learn how to make their run count through "Run for a Reason," the Houston Marathon's successful charity program. Over the past 11 years, marathon, half marathon and 5K participants have raised close to $4 million for local charities through pledges and donations. Nonprofit organizations designated as official charities for the 2006 race will staff information booths at the kickoff event to provide runners with details about their organizations' missions and give participants a chance to sign up for the program.

In addition to signing up at the Kickoff Party, runners can also register online for the trio of weekend races at the marathon web site. Registration forms also will be available at many Houston-area running and fitness stores, Houston YMCAs, the Tennis Center at Memorial Park and most local athletic clubs after Sept. 12.

The Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, is the nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S. states and several foreign countries. In 2005, nearly 20,000 runners took part in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half marathon, 5K run and children's run). The Houston Marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's largest single-day sporting event.

For more information, visit the marathon web site at www.houstonmarathon.com or 713-957-3453.