Hooters-to-Hooters Half Marathon takes off

The weather forecast wasn't promising for the second annual Hooters-to-Hooters Half Marathon, run Sunday, March 1. An approaching cold front with wind, rain, and the potential for tornadoes was slated to reach Southwest Florida during the race.

However, as is usually the case with runners, the nearly 700 registered participants ignored the prediction. In the end, all but a handful had completed the 13.1-mile course before storm clouds even appeared.

What's remarkable about this event is its instant success.

Like many communities, ours has many races to choose from, most being distances that the average person can handle, whether they decide to run or walk. Primarily, 5Ks (3.1-miles) abound, with a 4-miler and a few 10Ks (6.2-miles) thrown in for good measure. During the racing off-season, there are even a number of 2-mile fun runs. Other than a select few 5Ks, attracting more than 300 runners is rare. So having nearly 700 people run a half-marathon — 200 of them signing-up the morning of the race — says something about the quality of the event.

Among the runners was my wife, Maria de Leon. Both of us have participated in, helped organize, and worked many races over the three decades we've been involved in running. That being the case, we think we know a good event when we see one. To quote Maria: "Being a running fanatic for many years here in Fort Myers, I find the Hooters-to-Hooters Half-Marathon to be so special for many reasons. The whole event was very well planned and executed; it felt like a tour a visitor would take to get a feel for the real Fort Myers. For locals, it was a pleasant revisiting of the well-established running routes we all know and regularly use and I personally had pleasant flashbacks of when I was starting to love this town and the track club." That's quite an endorsement from a veteran runner and organizer.

Another positive aspect of the race is the money raised for Moffitt Cancer Center and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was all done through the support of Hooters, sponsors, volunteers and runners.

So we now have one more top-notch running event in Southwest Florida. Along with the River, Ruts, & Roots Half- Marathon, which snakes runners along the challenging trails of Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Alva, and Naples Daily News Half-Marathon, which winds participants through beautiful Gulf-front residential neighborhoods and the wellkept streets of old Naples, the Hootersto Hooters Half-Marathon is another long-distance race that will hopefully be around for a long time. Bicycle advocacy update

If you haven't already taken a look at the online petition asking elected officials to improve conditions for Lee County cyclists and pedestrians, go to www. thepetitionsite.com/1/Make-Lee-County- Florida-Bike-Ped-Friendly.

Although the petition has no official standing, adding your name and comment to it will help energize the working group that recently met to begin the process of starting a local advocacy effort that will focus on creating awareness of the need for the changes we believe are long overdue.

In the near future, we'll be announcing a kick-off event with the intent of bringing together the many cyclists, walkers, runners, and those with mobility limitations who will be impacted by the work of this forthcoming organization. I hope you'll join us.

On the state level, the Florida Bicycle Association is busy organizing our first-ever Florida Bicycle Summit at the State Capitol on April 2. To learn more and to register for the summit, go to www.floridabicycle. org/joinus/summit.html. We're seeking Southwest Florida advocates who will meet with elected officials.

Until next time, I'll look for you on the roads and trails.

— Dan Moser is a league cycling instructor/trainer and program manager for the Florida Bicycle Association who cycles regularly for transportation, recreation and fitness. He may be contacted at dan@floridabicycle.org or 334-6417.

Upcoming Events

>>Running/Walking: Komen Race for the Cure 5K, Saturday, March 14, Coconut Point Mall, Estero, www.ftmyerstrackclub. com

Shrimp Fest 5K, Saturday, March 14, Key Estero Plaza, Fort Myers Beach, www.ftmyerstrackclub. com

Lehigh Acres Spring Fest 4-Miler, Saturday, March 21, Microtel Inn, Lehigh Acres, www. ftmyerstrackclub.com

Beach Bum 5K, Saturday, March 21, Lowdermilk Park, Naples, www.gcrunner.org For details of these and other running events. check with the Fort Myers Track Club (www.ftmyerstrackclub. com) and for Naples running info it's the Gulf Coast Runners (www.gcrunner.org).

>>Cycling: LOST Ride, Saturday, March 28, Scott Driver Boat Ramp, Okeechobee, www.palmbeachbiketours. com

Bike Florida, Sunday, March 29 - Saturday, April 4, Start/Finish in Madison, www.bikeflorida.org Visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club at www. caloosariders.com, Florida Mudcutters at www. mudcutters.org, and Naples Pathways Coalition at www.naplespathways.org for more information on local bicycling activities, including weekly rides. The Florida Bicycle Association (www.floridabicycle. org) is your source of statewide happenings.

>>Triathlon: Caloosahatchee Adventure Triathlon, Sunday, March 29, (4-Mile Kayak, 3-Mile Trail Run, 6-Mile Mountain Bike), Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva, www.leeparks.org