TC Half Announces Stephen Hidalgo as New Race Director and 2022 Race Dates

Hello runners,

This is P.J. McGuire, race director of The Colony Half Marathon and Green Dragon 5 Miler (TC Half). I have a special announcement to share with you all. I will be stepping down as race director of the TC Half this year.

I’ve been involved with the race since 2015 and it has truly been a privilege to serve the community through my love of running. I would like to sincerely thank all of you who have made this race one of your annual traditions. We strive to make this race noncorporate as it is 100-percent volunteer backed, meaning not a single person gets paid on our team.

Since the race’s inception, we’ve been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars dedicated to cancer research, and each year our race has grown tremendously. We peaked in 2019 with more than 1,500 registrants for the half marathon and five miler. Despite our cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we bounced back in full swing in 2021 with nearly 1,000 runners. And yes, we heard your feedback. We are bringing back the quarter zips in 2022!

Despite this transition, I will still be involved in planning the race at a different capacity.

I’m leaving it in great hands, and I’m honored to announce that Stephen Hidalgo, who has handled marketing, social media and communications for the TC Half since 2017, will be taking my spot as race director effective this month.

Stephen’s day job is in communications at a Dallas-based bank where he has worked since May of 2019. He graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2020, and during his time there, he helped plan large-scale events such as UNT’s homecoming for two years, the TC Half and assisted with the Denton Area Running Club’s Downtown Denton Turkey Trot. In 2018, Stephen created a new brand for our race with new apparel options, new logos, marketing strategy and social media strategy.

I have no doubt Stephen will take the TC Half to the next level this year, and on behalf of The Colony Roadrunners Club, I’d like to congratulate him on this new role.

Registration for the 10th Annual TC Half is now open, and you can use the code EarlyBird now through February 20 for a special discount.. Race day is Saturday, October 22, 2022.

Happy training and see you on October 22.

UNT Professor & Guest Blogger- Conducting Running Research

Running Research Studies 

My name is Brian McFarlin and I am a Professor and Researcher at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. I am the Co-Director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory (appliedphysiologylab.unt.edu) and our core research focuses on improving the health and overall experience of runners. Being physically active has been very important to me throughout my life. I did a lot of running to stay active in my early 20’s and then fell out of it for a number of years as “Life Happened”. Two years ago, my wife (Meredith McFarlin) challenged me to train and run the 2018 Cowtown Half Marathon with her. Not only did we train and run the race we went on to run 12 other Half Marathons in 2018. Meredith helped remind me how much I LOVE running. In 2019, she challenged me to run two marathons with her. In February we ran Cowtown and in December we are running the Dallas BMW Marathon. We have also run several Half Marathons this year. In addition to my own running, my research team has been conducting research studies to support the running community. I think it is important that we practice what we study, so my whole research team (Melody Gary, Asheal Davis, Liz Tanner, Meredith McFarlin, and Rich Gary) are runners. Our previous studies have focused on strategies to improve run training and tracking, running footwear, post-exercise recovery using dietary supplements, performance enhancing clothing, and others.  

We are proud and honored to be a research partner for the 2019 Colony Half Marathon. At this year’s race we will be conducting two studies. The first study focuses on using a dietary polyphenol supplement to improve training efficiency and race recovery in seasoned runners. The second study involves non-runners who have been training since June to run their first half marathon. These runners have been using custom UnderArmour shoes with embedded MapMyRun technology to create adaptive, responsive training plans. As a thanks for participating and supporting our research, our subjects get free race entries, coveted APL Research Running Team Swag (from Orange Mud, Bondi Band, BibBoards, etc.), free nutrition support, and financial compensation. Even if you are not one of our subjects, with your race entry this year, you will be getting a limited edition, brushed metal APL Running Team 13.1 sticker. We hope that you will proudly display our sticker on your car, yeti mug, coffee cup, etc. If you are interested in participating in any of our studies or would like more information, please fill out the information request on our website (https://appliedphysiologylab.unt.edu/current-research-studies) and we will get in touch with you.

Guest Blog- Why I run- Michaela Correia

My name is Michaela Correia. Several years ago, I was told I could not run as I have scleroderma, a rare auto immune disease. Everyone always asks me what that is. I run because a few years ago, I was told I had the lungs of a 70 year old and needed to take it easy. I started by walking around my living room at night when kids went to bed, and slowly started jogging. Then I started slowly jogging outside. Eventually I walked/ran a 5k with friends. Then two years ago, I decided to sign up for my first 10k.  

Shortly afterwards I started having chest pain, and was sent to a heart doctor in which I was terrified. So far, I felt I had been lucky with scleroderma. I did an exercise stress test and nailed it! I told the doctor I was thinking about running a 10k, and I will never forget the feeling when he said, "you could do a marathon with that heart!"  

It turns out my gastric issues were just a lot worse than I knew, but I can handle that! So I signed up for The Colony Half Marathon! It was an amazing experience crossing that finish line. Since then I have completed three other half marathons, a full marathon, and several 10ks and 15ks. I try and schedule one race a month, and love pushing my awesome Facebook group of #healthychics to run with me. They keep me motivated! 

I run because someone once told me I couldn't. I could have used Scleroderma as my excuse to not run, instead I use it as my superpower. Everyone has their own battle or excuse. I just want people to see that you can turn that excuse into a superpower that pushes you! #whatsyours  

I look forward to coming back this year, and hopefully beating my time from last year!  

I really just want to show people that anyone can race. It is all about believing in yourself. 

-Michaela Correia

#sclerodermawarrior

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Call for Entries- Run- write- Run

The Colony Half Marathon and 5 Miler Community,

Every runner has a unique story and we would like to provide a platform for our community to share. We are seeking blog entries to provide a platform for like-minded runners to share in a slightly more formal and moderated environment. 

All entries that we publish will receive a special running gift from The Colony Half Marathon presented by Scheels as well as a 50% off discount to the 2019 or 2020 race. Below are some suggested topics, but we are open to any running related ideas:

-          Why I run

-          Most memorable race

-          Favorite running story

-          The Colony Half Marathon specific such as about the race, previous experience, etc.

-          Training strategies, best practices and tips 

-          Dear Coach Abby: ask us your running question and we will do our best to provide an answer

Please include a picture of yourself for the blog post, unless you'd like to be an anonymous contributor. 

We can’t wait to hear from you and to have this platform for the local running community. 

Please send your entries to  thecolonyhalf@gmail.com  subject line “Blog Submission” to be considered. 

2019 registration is open

Registration Commences

This just in- The Colony Half Marathon 2019 In our 7th year, is now accepting participants. We are looking for the brave, the fierce, the ones that color outside the lines and those that walk to their own drum. We are looking for a few (1500) good women, and men, to take on the elements on October 26th, 2019, and bring home a beautiful medal and a memory that will last a lifetime. Are you ready?

After selling out the last three years, we can’t wait to kick off the 2019 race and plan to make it the best yet. Long sleeve quarter zip jackets will be back. Craft beer.. back. Pizza too. Awesome medals, course, and volunteers, check.

Will you answer the call?

Submit your application here: REGISTRATION