SPONSOR	Houston Happy Hikers (TX-6, AVA-15)
WHERE	Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites - Med Center, Houston, TX
WHEN	January 01 - December 31
WHAT	10K and 11K walks

SANCTIONED	By the American Volkssport Association (AVA), a member of the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV).  Participants in this event may receive credit toward IVV awards.
LOCATION	The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 6800 Main Street, Houston, TX  77030. ( 713) 528-7744.  Ask the Front Desk staff for the "Walk Box".   Mapquest
SPECIAL NOTES	Parking at the hotel is limited.  The hotel management has requested walkers that are not staying at the hotel to park at one of the nearby parking garages during their walk. The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites has generously agreed to offer their assistance in administering the walk.  Please be considerate and appreciative of their help.  There may be times when the staff is busy with customers, so please be patient and let them finish their business first.  An additional "thank you" would be to patronize their facilities whenever possible.
START/FINISH TIMES	The Hotel is open 24 hours.  It is suggested that you start after  08:00 A.M and finish 30 minutes before dusk.  Please be courteous to the hotel staff and defer to hotel guests during busy times.

AREA DESCRIPTION:  More than 50 years

ago, insightful Houstonians began building the

foundation for the network of the 42-member

medical care institutions that comprise Texas

Medical Center.  Today, there are 13 hospitals

and several medical schools within its borders.

Patients come from around the globe to the

center for state-of-the-art procedures, quality

care and medical breakthroughs.  With the

largest air emergency system in the nation, the center performs countless trauma-related procedures yearly, as well as a record number of heart surgeons.

   The Houston Happy Hikers are happy to host 3 events in and around the Houston Medical Center area, including Rice University and Hermann Park.

DIRECTIONS:  From the 610 South Loop:  Take Main Street north.  At Holcomb, turn left and immediately right into the Holiday Inn parking lot.

From US 59:  Take Green Briar south to University, then left on University to Main.  Right on Main to the Holiday Inn entrance on the right.  The Hotel is on the northwest corner of the Main/Holcombe intersection.
--OR-- Take the MetroRail train to the Dryden stop.  Walk west along Dryden to Main Street.  Cross Main Street at the light and turn left, following Main Street south to Holcombe.  The Holiday Inn is on the right, before the Main/Holcombe intersection.

CREDIT:  Each walk can be done as many times as your like for event and kilometer credits.  $3.00 must be paid for each event credit, one per day.  $3.00 must be paid each time the course is walked for distance credit except that a trail may be walked twice on the same day for one fee.  A single $3.00 can be paid on a daily basis for a single event and distance credit.

AWARD:  "B" awards from previous YRE events will be available.

REFRESHMENTS:  For course #1, the checkpoint is at Chelsea Grill.  Additionally, there are many restaurants in the West University area.  Course #2 has several opportunities for water and restroom stops along the way, including the zoo and the checkpoint at the amphitheater.  Course #3 has a convenience store and gasoline station along the way.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION:

Rice University (AVA-Y071) - The flat (rating = 1, easy), 11 kilometer (6.8 miles) course is interesting and varied.  The trail follows shaded paved streets and sidewalks with some curbs, suitable for strollers, past Houston's world-famous Medical Center, the charming shops and restaurants of the Village, the renowned Art Museums and Sculpture Gardens, scenic residential areas and through the beautiful campus of Rice University.

Hermann Park (AVA-Y0143) - The flat (rating = 1, easy), 10 kilometer (6.2 miles) course passes several things to do when you aren't volkswalking - golf, zoo, museums and theaters.  The trail is opposite Main Street from the YRE Course 1 trail and also follows shaded, paved streets and sidewalks with some curbs, suitable for strollers.  Take your time and enjoy the hike and bike trails introduced on the route.  Come back after the walk to participate in the many activities in and around Hermann Park.

Medical Center (AVA-Y1388) - Another flat (rating =1, easy), (what else in Houston!) 10 kilometer (6.2 miles) walk that takes you through the inner courtyards and past the fountains and statues of the world famous Texas Medical Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Woman's University's Houston Center, and Methodist and St. Luke's Hospitals.  Then, through an attractive residential district on its way back to the Medical Center.

REGISTRATION/FEES:  There is no pre-registration.  Ask for the "Walk Box" at the front desk, register and pick up a start card.  The start cards and fees are: "B" award & IVV credit = $4.00; IVV credit only = $3.00.  No refunds for inclement weather.  All participants must carry a start card and return it when finished.  NOTE:  IVV record books are NOT available at the Start/Finish.

ELIGIBILITY:  These events are open to the public and all ages are welcome. Family participation is encouraged but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All pets must be leashed and under control at all times. Wheelchairs and strollers may be used on all 3 walks.

DISCLAIMER:  We have carefully selected the routes to ensure the safety of the participants. The sponsors and hosts of the events are not liable for accidents, theft or damages, so we ask everyone's cooperation in making these events safe, enjoyable and memorable.

INFORMATION:

CONTACT:  Patsy McLean,  713-774-5377

                 hhhmedctryre -at- houstonhappyhikers -dot- org

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL:  www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/bd/houmd    713-528-7744

HOUSTON INFO:  www.houston-guide.com/                    www.houstontx.gov/

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This page was last updated on 01/25/2012.

Copyright, Houston Happy Hikers, Houston, Texas