Partnership for the Pathway • Texarkana, USA

It was a beautiful morning as 517 runners and walkers took off down Broad Street on a 13.1 mile race through both Cities of Texarkana.  Texas Mayor Pro Tem Bob Bruggeman and Arkansas Mayor Wayne Smith fired the starting guns at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 19th for the 5th annual Run the Line Half Marathon.

The race is a unique opportunity to run in one race in two states. The USA Track & Field certified course included Nix Creek Trail, Phillip McDougal Trail in Spring Lake Park and city streets with cars blocked off by cones.  The 3rd and Wood Street finish line included a post-race awards presentation at the historic Roy D. Hopkins Ice House.

The 517 participants included 31 two-person relay teams.  The runners ranged in age from 12 to 80 years.  Almost 350 of the runners came from out of the Texarkana area including runners from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and California.  All runners received t-shirts and finishing medals.  Awards were presented to the top three female and male finishers in Overall, Masters, Grand Masters, and Senior divisions.  Plus, the top three places for female and male runners in 5-year age increments.

The race attracted top-notch runners, especially from the Four States area.  The top three overall winners were Max Sawyer from Conway, AR winning first place at 1:15:56, second place was Kyle Clawson from Tyler, TX at 1:18:17, and third place went to Gordon Huff from Tyler, TX at 1:18:40. Texarkana’s own Stacey Sewell was the top female runner with a finish of 1:32:28 and Tiffany Gaulke, also from Texarkana, came in second place at 1:34:10. This was the third year for the race to be included in the prestigious Arkansas Grand Prix Series and the second year for the Arkansas vs. Texas Challenge. The Challenge was won by Arkansas.

The race was a collaborative effort that involved both Texarkana cities including their Police and Street Departments plus sponsors, volunteers at street intersections and water stations, Team Texarkana Running Club, Texarkana Bicycle Club, and Partnership for the Pathway.  The race proceeds benefit the Partnership for the Pathway.  The Partnership is a non-profit, all volunteer organization working to build a safe pedestrian and bicycle trail system in the Texarkana area.

■ Spring Pick

The arrival of baseball, warm temperatures, flowers in bloom and seasonal allergies all signal that spring is here! Check out the Phillip McDougal Trail, our spring trail pick. The trail meanders through the park, within sight of soccer and baseball fields and crosses through an 18-hole disc golf course before circling a small, spring fed lake richly populated with ducks and geese.

»Get the trail review

The third annual Kids Run the Line Too was held on Saturday, February 18th on the CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System campus. That afternoon as the clouds broke and the rain stopped, over 300 kids participated in a 1-mile run/walk accompanied by their parents, older students, and volunteers.

Over several previous weeks, kids 5 to 13 years old walked or ran a total of 12.1 miles and kept track of their training on a personal log. By completing the event on February 18, the kids had completed the equivalent of a half marathon – a total of 13.1 miles.

The young participants learned about setting goals, achieving success, and the benefits and fun of exercise. They enjoyed feeling good about themselves and hopefully will continue to exercise on a regular basis.  Every youngster who participated in the Kids Run the Line Too was a winner and received a t-shirt and finisher’s medal.

The Kids Run the Line Too included a Fitness Challenge for area schools. The school with the highest percentage of registered participants in the event received $500 to use for their school’s Fitness/P.E. Department.  At the event, Trinity Christian School was announced as the recipient of the $500 for the third year.

Proceeds from the Kids Run the Line Too go to the Partnership for the Pathway a non-profit, all volunteer organization working to build a safe pedestrian and bicycle trail system in the Texarkana area.

Want to feel better, have more energy, and perhaps even live longer?

Look no further than exercise.

Most of us know the common benefits of routine exercise--weight management, prevention/control of many chronic diseases, etc.  But, did you know the benefits extend far beyond chronic disease prevention and weight management to such areas as mental health and your love life?

I knew that might get your attention. Let’s examine a few of the not so commonly known benefits:

Improves Mood:  Need an emotional lift after a stressful day?  Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.  You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve self-esteem.  Researchers have found that regular exercise is likely to reduce depression and anxiety, plus help you to better manage stress.

Boosts Energy:  Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance.  Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardio vascular system work more efficiently.  When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily life.

Improves Love Life: Regular exercise can leave you feeling better about how you look and boost your energy level, which may put that spark back into your marriage or relationship.  But there is more to it than that; exercise can improve your libido, and men who exercise regularly have fewer problems with erectile dysfunction than men who don’t exercise.

Promotes Better Sleep: Struggling to fall asleep or to stay asleep?  Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.  Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.

Regular exercise is a great way to feel better, improve health and even gain some unexpected benefits.  Thomas Jefferson profoundly said, “Without health there is no happiness.  An attention to health, then, should take the place of every other object.”   Regular exercise is an individual choice, but through the efforts of Partnership for the Pathway, that choice is easier for the community of Texarkana.