Harlingen hosts the 20th annual Jalapeño Hundred

Harlingen welcomes you to join them for the 20th annual Jalapeño Hundred Ride, Run and Walk that will be held February 13th and 14th. The Jalapeño Hundred originated as the Border Surf and Citrus Bicycle Ride, however, when event organizers were going their separate ways, an effort was made to keep the event from completely disappearing. In 2000, the Harlingen Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of Harlingen, and Bicycle World were asked to take on the event and consequently renamed it the Jalapeño Hundred Bicycle Ride. The event is still evolving. Attentive to the need to boost the local economy and increase overnight stays in local hotels, in 2007, event organizers decided to expand the event to include a 5k and 10k run on Sunday.

While the Saturday ride is strictly for fun, riders are invited to test their endurance against the South Texas winds. This year riders are automatically entered to win 2 round trip Southwest Airlines tickets. Runners/walkers will be competing for award trophies. Fun family activities are also being planned for Saturday, so if the kiddies are not riding, they can participate in the planned activities.

However, participants are not the only ones having fun. Organizers also coordinate a friendly competition between the rest stops of the ride. Rest stop volunteers compete for the "Hottest Rest Stop" award, a 14lb. pewter jalapeño shaped trophy they get to keep for a year.

Throughout the years, non profits such as The Shepherd Center (now defunct), Harlingen Youth Athletics, Harlingen Boys & Girls Club and Foundation for Valley Sports have benefitted from the proceeds of the event. With proceeds received from the ride, Harlingen Youth Athletics has been able to offer scholarships to young athletes who participate in the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation's Games of Texas. Sponsors of this year's event include Harlingen Convention & Visitors Bureau, Harlingen Parks & Recreation, Bicycle World, and South Texas Flag & Banner.

Since 2000 participation in the event has steadily increased from less than two hundred participants to nearly 500 riders and nearly 200 runners/walkers from around the state, across the country, Mexico and Canada with ages ranging from 8 to 80.

Register now at www.jalapeno100.com. For more information on the event, go online or contact Katy McAngus at 956-423-5440 or katy@visitharlingentexas.com.