Courtesy: event press release

Click here to register for the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs

The 14 annual Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs will be held Dec. 13 in Huntsville State Park, which is located 60 miles north of Houston on IH-45. A 50-mile race and 50 kilometer event are expected to attract over 1,000 ultra-marathoners from more than 40 states and several countries.

The 50 mile route is comprised of four 12.5 mile loops through the park's extensive trail network. The 50K route covers a two loop course. The 50 mile event begins at 7 a.m., with the 50K race set to start at 7:30 a.m.

Most of the top runners from last year's race are expected to compete. Yiannis Kouros, of Athens, Greece, and Connie Gardner, from Medina, Ohio, the respective mens and womens 50-mile winners from 2002, are expected to defend their titles. Dave MacKey, of Boulder, Colo., and Tonya Miller, of Rockwall, Texas, are expected to defend their 50K titles as well.

Race director Roger Soler of San Antonio reports that a record turnout of runners, joggers and walkers is expected to register for this year's event. Sunmart is the largest ultra-marathon in the United States.

"We're looking for a large number of trail runners to keep coming back to this race and bring their friends with them," said Soler, who was a Peruvian Olympian at 5,000-meters in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. "Our expectation is to again have over 1,000 runners."