Eight Greater Houston Half Marathons Increase Prices By January 9

Between now and Monday, January 8, 2017, eight (8) greater Houston area half marathon races - that will be held between January 29 and April 23 - will have some form of price increase or registration-related deadline come to pass.

Perhaps the best and most unheralded deal in all of greater Houston is the two-person marathon relay that is part of the Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon on Saturday, March 4, 2017.

I was so surprised that I actually confirmed this on the telephone with race director Willie Fowlkes on Friday, December 23.

So if you're not hung up on seeing your own name in the individual results of a half marathon, but want to race the distance at the cheapest price in town, this is your deal!

Each runner of the two-person relay pays just $55 through Sunday evening, December 31 and $60 per person once the ball drops in Times Square to bring in 2017.

A complete listing by date of the registration-related deadlines is listed below:

January 1
USA Fit Marathon and Half Marathon finishers will receive their choice of a "Finishers" sweatshirt, 1/4 zip pull-over shirt or backpack, if registered by January 1.  After January 1, only backpacks are guaranteed.  The official link is here.

The Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon increases the price on all of its races but the Family 2K run by $5 on January 1.  Therefore, the marathon goes from $110 to $115, the half marathon from $90 to $95 and the 5K from $35.  The four-person marathon relay goes from $180 to $200 - or from $45 per runner to $50.  Exchange Points will be at the 6.5, 13.1 and 19.75 marks for the 4-person relay teams.  The official link is here.

Texas Country Music Half Marathon, less than two weeks after it was announced, will see a price increase on January 1.  The half marathon fee increases to $80, the half marathon relay team jumps to $110 (from $90) and the 10K goes from $40 to $50.  The official link is here.

The Cross Creek Ranch Dusk To Dawn Half Marathon, 5K and 1K, to be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017, will see its prices go up on January 1.  Prospective half marathoners will pay $84 instead of $75, 5K runners will pay $35 instead of $30 and 1K'ers will increase $2 to $20 even.  The official link is here.

January 3
Surfside Beach Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K future participants will experience a price on January 3.  Price for the Surfin' Surfside 5K will go from $40 to $50 and Offseason pricing for the marathon and half marathon will increase from $75 to $85.  The race's Facebook page posted on December 22 reminding runners to "register the family by January 4th to claim your shirt sizes!"  The official link is here.

January 4
Katy Half Marathoners may defer their entry up to a year, but are charged $30 to do so.  The deadline to defer or change distance must be submitted before January 4, 2017.  The official link is here.

January 7The Messina Hof Wine & Roses Half in Bryan will have its registration fees increase from $90 to $110 for the half marathon and from $45 to $50 for the 5K on January 7, 2017.  The race is on Sunday, April 23, 2017.  The official link is here.

January 9
Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon prices increase on January 9, 2017.  The half marathon goes from $85 to $95, the quarter marathon goes from $60 to 70 and the 5K goes from $45 to $55.  The official link is here.

(Disclaimer:  While the writer does provide various communications-related services to many races in the greater Houston area, he no longer serves the Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon as its media relations director.)