Tropical Storm Harvey did not deter the organizers of the Pleasure Island Bridge Half-Marathon from organizing the sixth annual edition, but they welcome a few more helping hands.

“This is different because so many people are helpless and displaced by the storm, so it has affected our volunteer numbers, but as far as the event itself, everything will still be like it has in previous years, as far as the course is concerned and the experience,” said Richard James III of the Sports Society for American Health, the nonprofit organization behind the half-marathon. “But, the whole event is dedicated toward recovery effort and keeping it at the forefront of everybody’s minds because the return of their normal lives, those impacted are struggling just to make it daily, and we don’t want to forget about them. We want them to know we’re still here for them, still here to help and provide what’s needed.”

James is expecting about 300 runners for Saturday morning’s event, which begins and finishes on the south end of Jared N. Logan Park, off of South Levee Road, well below the usual count of 500 to 550. The number of volunteers has gone down as well in the wake of Harvey, from about 50-60 to 20-30.

“A lot of our volunteers were displaced and couldn’t be able to make it this year,” race safety director Michael O’Keefe said.
The logistics for planning the event haven’t been interrupted, James said. Plans typically begin the day after each event.

“It’s like clockwork, like the mail service,” James said.

The event includes the main half-marathon, or 13.1-mile foot race, and 10-kilometer race, both of which will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The 2-mile race will start at 7:45 a.m.

James said his motivation for organizing the half-marathon is the mission behind the Sports Society for American Health. His organization also organizes the Gusher Marathon held every winter (usually early March) in Beaumont and the Sabine Causeway 5K every August.

“It’s about helping people improve their quality of life by being active, and by being active, you just have more energy in the long run, and you’re healthier, so you can have more and dedicate more time to your hobbies, your children, your family, those things you cherish in life,” James said.

The half-marathon has brought in top-level athletes over the years, including Little Cypress-Mauriceville and Lamar graduate Drew Bean, the two-time defending champion who ran in last year’s U.S. Olympic marathon trials. Last year’s overall 10K champion, Italian-born Virginia Leonardi of Beaumont, will run in the New York Marathon this year.
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews