Houston Running: 2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Holiday Hustle 8K (Plano, TX) Race Report

When I started to run, I had a website, walksports.com, that I kept up with my times and then I started a blog.

It became pretty well followed and opened the door for me to eventually write for Texas Runner and Triathlete.

I’ve gotten away from the simple race (or event) report over the last couple of years; therefore, I’ll get back to my roots and discuss this morning’s race in Plano.

It was a race in my 153rd Texas city, town or census designated place and 328th community in north America.

It also became the 206th Texas city, town or CDP that I’ve put down a mile or more in. I may chase some more today. We’ll see when I’m done writing this, get cleaned up and checked out of my hotel here in Plano.

I had targeted the Holiday Hustle 8K, produced by the Plano Pacers Running Club and held in Bob Woodruff Park, as part of a holiday trip between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Wednesday, I ran a mile-plus in five new Texas counties, taking my count to 116, and spent the last two days covering Texas private and parochial high school basketball games in Tyler and Fort Worth for the Lone Star Christian Sports Network (lscsn.com).

If I don’t chase miles today, I’m probably going to head to Ruston, Louisiana to see Louisiana Tech host University of Southern Mississippi in men’s basketball to see a game in a new arena.

I could see two good games in Stephenville, Texas, but I’ve been to the arena at Tarleton State.

Again, we’ll see.

I’ve known about the Plano Pacers Running Club since I started running in 2003. It is one of the largest clubs in the D-FW Metroplex along with the Dallas Running Club.

They produce a monthly club run that is open to non-club members, who are charged a $10 fee.

For that, you get a well laid-out and marked course, the race is timed and there are food goodies after you finish. (There might be awards, but I didn’t stay this morning.)

In fact, one of Texas’ course measurers Ken Ashby sets out their course so I have it on good belief that it is/was accurate from a distance standpoint. And I hope it is/was, because I ran well.

What happens when you commit to improving your health and you drop some weight.

It was cold and windy this morning and the only negative was that the race didn’t start at 8 a.m. (i.e. on-time), but the spirit provided by club members was excellent to mitigate most of it.

You do a loop in the parking lot and then it is almost a complete out and back on the trails and sidewalks that run through and along the park.

The 8K and the 3K start together and when you get a little way in and around the lake in the park, the 3K runners turn around and head back to the finish line while the 8K runners keep going.

One of the Dallas’ best all-time veterans runners, Linda Kelly, was at the 3K turn around. She and Ken are both Texas running legends.

I tried to not go out too hard and fast and I passed the mile one marker in 9:25.

I’ve done that a lot over the years, regardless of my weight, but now I can hold it.

There weren’t a lot of curves in the first mile, but in the second there were and knowing that Ken laid the course out I ran as many of the tangents as I could.

I might not be fast, but I know how best to run a legal course.

Mile two came in at 9:35 for a cumulative 19:00.38 – 9:30 per mile.

The third mile included a turnaround and a long, slight incline. The turnaround was about two-thirds of a mile in according to the pre-race instruction.

There was also a water stop in this mile – and the beginning of the fourth mile – that you could partake of twice. I did going out.

I remember seeing 6:25 in mile three at that turnaround, but finished at 9:33.11 for the third mile (cumulative 28:33.49).

With 1.97 miles to go (remember an 8K is not five miles exactly), I would have been perfectly pleased with a 47:30.

However, I passed a young woman around Waverly’s age or a little older and a guy who had passed me at the water stop going out.

Then came a little downhill and I started to work some.

I really didn’t think I was going faster, but everything started to feel like I was running in quick sand towards the end.

There was no mile four marker for some reason – although I suspect it might have been on the 3K turnaround sign (and was picked up), but a guy passed me – who must have been sandbagging – coming back around the lake.

Nonetheless, I kept pushing through what I was feeling and when I could see the clock for the first time I was treated to a little bit of a surprise.

It turns out that the 1.97 miles came in at 18:01.48 for a total time of 46:34.97. Call it 46:35.

Was it a PR today? Possibly.

In 2013, I ran the Run Free Texas 80’s 8K in Cedar Park, which was a little hilly, in 48:02.

In 2017, I ran the Law Week 8K in 49:21.

On February 19, 2005, I did the Hermann Park Conservancy Park to Park Run 5-miler in 47:06.7.

So maybe it was a PR today.

Nonetheless, I’m most pleased that I ran well. Sure, the conditions were in my favor: cold (and I could have done without the wind, but it wasn’t that bad.)

I ran in shorts, had two tech shirts on (one of my old Space City 10-miler white shirts with the newest Waco Stampede 10K grey tech shirt on top from this year’s race) and my black gloves from last year’s Bismarck Marathon.

Hope you enjoyed the write-up.

Stay active, have fun, find a race that you enjoy and run it and when you can, please volunteer for one or more. You’ll be glad that you did.

Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 23, 2018

2018 Year In Review

100 events.

That's how many races that I either ran, announced or was in attendance for in 2018.

I ran 66 races this year.

It certainly could have been more, but various life decisions came in to play to overrule that notion.

I announced 23, which is down from the 37 in 2015.

It could have been a couple of more, but I stopped announcing Run In Texas races after the No Label Brewing First Street 5K in Katy the Saturday before Father's Day.

I will be dropping the Galveston Marathon and the Space City 10-Miler in 2019 as well as the Sylvan Beach Duathlon / Triathlon.

None of these race directors do I have any issue with other than paring back how much I'm doing.

I simply have gotten to the point that I'm either not having the same type of fun that I've had in the past or my interest level has waned.

I literally had discussions with three of the groups that I remain with about what the impacts would be of me not announcing and when I needed to let them know of my decision.

The bottom line is that if you're not having fun at something, it is probably time to stop completely or cut back.

I spectated at nine different races - four of those were of the TWRC Sunday Night 5K variety.

I worked Barry Blanton's aid station at Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas for the fourth consecutive year by announcing as many names as possible as they came in and out.

And finally, I legally paced Waverly 11.2 miles during the Chevron Houston Marathon, her first marathon finish.

As far as racing was concerned, I ran a race in 27 new cities -- 12 outside of Texas and 15 in.

Those 11 cities outside of Texas came in 9 different states.

I ran a race in my 50th state on Sunday, June 24 with a 5K in Rhode Island - one of three races that I ran with Waverly this year (other than the marathon).

The day before I checked off state #46 in half marathons with a finish at the 25th annual Westfield Half Marathon in Massachusetts.

State #47 came in early November when I returned to Rhode Island to run the Colt State Park Half Marathon in Bristol.

My last seven races that came over the last two months were the best six.

Four half marathons, two 5K's and a 10K.

Most of them came on cool or cooler days.

The last three came in Nike Air Zoom Vomeros that I was given for working the Nike Cross Regionals South for The Woodlands High in late November.

They produced a 28:24 5K, a 2:11:14 half marathon on a hilly course in Tyler and a 2:06:58 half marathon on a flat course in Galveston.

The number of short or long courses that I dealt with this year was frustrating.

Waverly and I ran three races together - other than the marathon - and I got to announce her finish of four races: Green 6.2, Independence 8K, Ten For Texas and Run Thru The Woods.

We raced against each other three times and she came out on top twice with wins at the SAGU Half Marathon in Waxahachie Half Marathon in February and the Springwoods Village 5K in March while I picked up a solid win at the Memorial Park Conservancy Brunch Run 4M in between.

Toughest courses of 2018?

First place definitely went to Running The Rose 7K trail race in Tyler on Saturday, January 27.

Paint Palestine Pink 10.5-miler around the Loop that goes around Palesting on Saturday, October 6 was second with the Joplin Memorial Run Half Marathon in mid-May in third.

Both Tyler races - the Fresh 15K in March and the inaugural Tyler Half Marathon in December - were close behind.

Do run the Fresh 15K if you have the chance. Do not run the Tyler Half Marathon.

And the Westfield Half Marathon in Massachusetts wasn't exactly a walk in the park either.

Running a bunch of races in a short period of time is fun -- and I do it fairly frequently.

These were the highlights, in those regards, from 2018:

1. Four races in four days over Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday). The last one came in my hometown, the Joshua House Memorial Day 5K in Tyrone.

2. Texas 10 Huntsville 5M and the Bearkat Bolt 5K in Huntsville on the same morning. Less than 30 minutes between the finish of the 5-Miler and the start of the 5K. (I had run the 2.77-mile 5K at Nike South the Friday night before these Sunday, September 30 races.)

3. The Firemans 4 Race in Port O'Connor and the Stars and Stripes 5K in Eagle Pass in the same day -- with 287 miles between the two cities.

4. Actually kicked off the racing season with a 373-mile jaunt from Galveston - after running the Friends of Galveston Island State Park New Year's 10K - to Arabi, Louisiana for the 111th Anniversary Jackson Day Race 9K the next morning.

5. Three night / morning race combinations -- Eastland / Dublin, Frisco / Saint Jo and Sealy / Center. The latter involved 223 miles of driving.

6. Three times I did a Run For Wellness 5K on a Sunday morning and a TWRC Sunday Night 5K in the evening -- March, April and June.

7. Finally, on Saturday, July 28, on what would have been my sister's 46th birthday, I ran the Mosquito Chase 5K in Clute pretty well in the morning in 30:19 and the Howl at the Moon 5K in Waco in the evening. Time was 29:28, but I'm pretty certain it was short. However, it was 254 miles from Clute to Waco.

I ran the last version of the Outrigger's 5K on the Bay in Seabrook in early August.

One of the most fun races to be a part of was the Moore War Run 5K in Moore, Oklahoma on Saturday, August 25. It was centered around a high school football rivalry. Wish we could see a lot of that here in Texas during football season.

I ran a lot of and announced a few 5Ks.

I announced a 6K, and 8K and a 12K while running a 7K, 9K and 10K this year.

The races that take the most out of me to work - but that I get the greatest personal fulfillment from - are the cross country meets that I do.

I do two for Sam Houston State University and two for The Woodlands High School.

On the former, I get to work with an NCAA Division I cross country and track and field program and receive a lot of credit from their head coach for keeping the meet humming on-time and running smooth.

The latter? I have the opportunity to work with one of the top boys' cross country programs in the United States and get to announce one of the seven Nike Cross regionals (two regionals are held at the same location).

My announcing there at NXR is witnessed by a lot of people -- and to my surprise this year was all videod during the awards ceremony.

That doesn't necessarily make me nervous, but rather it drives me to do very well.

Of those 66 races that I ran this year, 42 of them were new races. And that's not even my record!

Two years ago, 48 of the 65 were new to me and last year 38 of the 66 were first-time affairs.

So, that's 197 races in the last three years and 128 of them were new to me.

The four years prior, I raced 37 in 2012, 44 in 2013, 50 in 2014 and 63 in 2015.

391 races from 2012-2018.

Somewhere I have an estimate of what I've done from 2003-forward.

All good fun, I guess.

I hope that 2019 will be more of the same for me as well as for you if you're reading.

Thank you for your friendship. I really appreciate it.

God bless you and your family in the coming year!

Monday, December 17, 2018

Ultra Expeditions Race History

Upcoming Events
1/26/19 - The Urban Ultra - Dallas, Dallas (5k, 10k, 13.1mi, 26.2mi, 50k)
2/16/19 - The Border to Badlands Ultra, Seminole Canyon State Park, Texas (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2, 50k, 50mi)
3/30/19 - The Southwest 100, Fort Davis (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2, 50mi, 100mi)
4/13/19 - The Wild Canyon Ultra, Quitaque (5k, 10k, 25k, 50k, 100k)
TBA - The Plano Half Marathon (per website on 10/16/18)
Past Events
10/20/18 - Oktoberfest Trail Run Festival, Farmersville (5k, 10k, 13.1mi, 26.2mi, 50k)
11/10/18 - Barrier Island Ultra, Port Aransas (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2, 50k, 50mi)

11/10/18 - Barrier Island Ultra, Port Aransas (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2, 50k, 50mi)

5K - 11 finishers (6 women / 5 men)
10K -16 finishers (12 women / 4 men)
Half - 26 finishers (17 women / 9 men)
26.2 - 6 finishers (4 women / 2 men)
50K - 5 finishers (1 woman / 4 men)
50M - 4 finishers (1 woman / 3 men)

10/20/18 - Oktoberfest Trail Run Festival, Farmersville (5k, 10k, 13.1mi, 26.2mi, 50k)
5K - 21 finishers (15 women / 6 men)
10K - 24 finishers (16 women / 8 men)
Half - 61 finishers (38 women / 23 men)
26.2 - 25 finishers (7 women / 18 men)
50K - 21 finishers (2 women / 19 men)

9/22/18 - The Piney Woods Ultra, Tyler (5k, 10k, 25k, 50k, 100k)
5K - 17 finishers (12 women / 5 men)
10K - 67 finishers (44 women / 23 men)
25K - 85 finishers (46 women / 39 men)
50K - 49 finishers (24 women / 23 men / 2 unknown)
100K - 6 finishers (1 women / 5 men)

4/21/18 - The Wild Canyon Ultra, Quitaque
5K - 32 finishers (18 women / 14 men)
10K - 45 finishers (32 women / 13 men)
25K - 100 finishers (47 women / 53 men)
50K - 24 finishers (7 women / 17 men)
100K - 5 finishers (5 men)

4/22/17 - The Wild Canyon Ultra, Quitague
10K - 16 finishers (9 women / 7 men)
25K - 27 finishers (15 women / 12 men)
50K - 22 finishers (6 women / 16 men)
100K - 4 finishers (2 women / 2 men)

Santa Hustle Galveston Finisher Numbers

Half Marathon
2012 - 639 (378 women / 261 men)
2013 - 956 (593 women / 363 men)
2014 - 1,350 (998 women / 441 men)
2015 - 1,182 (772 women / 410 men)
2016 - 933 (593 women / 343 men)
2017 - 725 (457 women / 268 men)
2018 - 746 (430 women / 285 men / 31 unknown)

5K
2012 - 1,566 (1,015 women / 551 men)
2013 - 1,959 (1,295 women / 664 men)
2014 - 2,853 (1,899 women / 950 men)
2015 - 2,959 (2,105 women / 854 men)
2016 - 2,369 (1,687 women / 682 men)
2017 - 2,420 (1,680 women / 739 men)
2018 - 2,446 (1,676 women / 736 men / 34 unknown)

Total
2012 - 2,205
2013 - 2,915
2014 - 4,203
2015 - 4,141
2016 - 3,301
2017 - 3,145
2018 - 3,192

Friday, October 19, 2018

Statement from HARRA Medical Adviser Dr. Bob Hoekman regarding HARRA's CPR/AED Program

“The time has come," the walrus said, "to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

I will get right to the message. Effective the end of 2018 I am resigning from the HARRA CPR/AED program and, to the best of my knowledge, the program as we know it now will end at that time.

I have been attempting to reduce my involvement and find someone willing to take it over and run it for several years but that has been unsuccessful. In addition, costs have gone up and HARRA funding for the program has come into question. To add insult to injury three of our AED units are now unusable because of a recall related to parts defects which could lead to failure of the unit when it is needed. Replacement would run nearly $8,000.00.

Finally, volunteer participation has decreased and it has become nearly impossible to adequately cover the larger events. There has always been turnover in the team but we are just not seeing new people entering as in the past.

HARRA started the program the summer of 1999 with one AED when Chiquita Taylor was Board President and we worked our first events that fall. I appreciate the training and support for 19 years by Barry and Cheryl Ponder who trained me in 1999 and supported our program. The fact that no other program like this has existed says something about how difficult it is to support and run. I do not regret starting it. It was a lot of work but also was a lot of fun.

For many reasons I have concluded that I can no longer run it and it is obvious to me that it is time for me to wrap it up and move on.

I am not totally leaving Houston at this time and will still be seeing many of you at the races between October and May. Because our family is all in WA there is a good chance more of our time will be there as time goes by.

The HARRA Board has not made a final decision/commitment about the future from their standpoint. If a program continues in a limited fashion they will communicate that decision. I will continue to send emails and schedule teams for the HARRA events only through year end 2018.

I will not be scheduling any training classes in the future. It is possible HARRA may be doing some with Dean Sokolow and Debbie Coles Shilcock teaching. If so they will announce it.

I want to thank everyone who has participated. There have been 780 volunteers trained in CPR/AED over the 19+ years. I appreciate Debbie and Dena helping in recent years. We have has some super volunteers and those have been recognized each year in the VVIP awards. I firmly believe this program was one of HARRA’s greatest accomplishments.

Feel free to share this with past team members, race directors and your clubs as I do not have a comprehensive email list of them all.

HARRA Medical Adviser
Robert Hoekman, M.D.
19 Crestwood #9
Houston, TX 77007
713-863-9525

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Lake Houston 10K and 5K All-Time Winners (2010-2018)

10K
Men's - Overall
2010 - 38:14, Brandon Sager, 28
2011 - 31:58, Derek Yorek, 27
2012 - 31:58, Kipkrui Ruttoh, 27
2013 - 31:15, Kiya Dandena, 24
2014 - 31:10, Kiya Dandena, 25
2015 - 30:41, Henry Lelei, 26
2016 - 33:16, Ryan Miller, 24
2017 - 32:06, Ryan Miller, 25
2018 - 32:18, Joseph Whelan, 27

Men's Masters - Overall
2010 - 38:44, Manfred Roenz, 40
2011 - 35:38, Raul Sanchez, 53
2012 - 39:34, Rip Reynolds, 46
2013 - 39:05, Sherman Everett, 47
2014 - 35:11, Peter Lawrence, 42
2015 - 35:42, Peter Lawrence, 43
2016 - 39:54, Steve Morrell, 52
2017 - 39:24, Andres Ferro, 45
2018 - 43:02, Jason Grier, 41

Women's - Overall
2010 - 38:18, Debbie Arzola, 35
2011 - 38:22, Rachel Phillips, 22
2012 - 38:30, Virginia Jones, 31
2013 - 37:00, Lauren Smith, 22
2014 - 35:41, Samantha McClellan, 25
2015 - 35:34, Hillary Montgomery, 22
2016 - 35:39, Hillary Montgomery, 23
2017 - 35:49, Hillary Montgomery, 24
2018 - 41:55, Adrienne Langelier, 36

Women's Masters - Overall
2010 - 47:45, Norma Evans, 40
2011 - 46:19, Tammy Garton, 41
2012 - 46:41, Teresa Nichols, 40
2013 - 42:13, Cindy Taylor, 44
2014 - 47:19, Norma Evans, 44
2015 - 46:55, Melissa Hurta, 52
2016 - 49:33, Diana Carter, 47
2017 - ?
2018 - 49:52, Andrea Vidal, 42

5K
Men's - Overall
2010 - 17:09, William Blancett, 35
2011 - 18:48, Nathan Faulkenberry, 29
2012 - 16:02, Maximo Mendoza, 23
2013 - 15:37, Adam Saloom, 23
2014 - 15:13, Adam Saloom, 24
2015 - 15:11, Adam Godwin, 23
2016 - 15:00, Wilkerson Given, 25
2017 - 18:16, Andrew Pearson, 25
2018 - 17:47, Justin Brinkley, 24

Men's Masters - Overall
2010 - 19:08, Joel Johnston, 43
2011 - 20:13, Doug Bugner, 53
2012 - 16:55, Peter Lawrence, 40
2013 - 16:03, Luis Armenteros, 40
2014 - 20:14, Mark Sobus, 46
2015 - 20:09, Manuel Barrientez, 41
2016 - 19:21, Kevin Schneider, 40
2017 - 19:58, Vance Reyes, 41
2018 - 18:21, Tim Martin, 52

Women's - Overall
2010 - 22:19, Latisha Staten, 35
2011 - 20:23, Natalie Guerrero, 33
2012 - 18:15, Kimberly Mac Namee, 41
2013 - 18:16, Megan Saloom, 25
2014 - 17:42, Megan Saloom, 26
2015 - 17:27, Megan Saloom, 27
2016 - 17:27, Lauren Stroud, 25
2017 - 18:22, Lauren Stroud, 26
2018 - 19:37, Lauren Schultz, 27

Women's Masters - Overall
2010 - 23:18, Patti Bates, 45
2011 - 24:24, Maggie Grueskin, 43
2012 - 21:28, Lisa Korsten, 45
2013 - 18:44, Kimberly Mac Namee, 42
2014 - 21:30, Sabrina Tillson, 50
2015 - 22:12, Sabrina Tillson, 51
2016 - 23:31, Eugenia Carter, 51
2017 - 21:42, Marcia Cassels, 43
2018 - 23:05, Minerva Cervantes, 44

Source: runhoustontiming.net

Lake Houston 10K and 5K Total Number of Finishers

10K
Overall Finishers
2010 - 246
2011 - 316
2012 - 335
2013 - 398
2014 - 360
2015 - 345
2016 - 301
2017 - 330
2018 - 212 (changed date to October 13 from August)

5K
Overall Finishers
2010 - 210
2011 - 239
2012 - 383
2013 - 450
2014 - 349
2015 - 363
2016 - 361
2017 - 389
2018 - 286 (changed date to October 13 from August)

Source: runhoustontiming.net

Shiitake 5K Official Finisher Numbers

2018 -- 62 (21 male / 41 female)
2017 -- 84 (39 male / 45 female)
2016 -- 115 (46 male / 69 female)

Sources: runhoustontiming.net (2017-2018), allsportstiming.com (2016)

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Toughest 10K Kemah Finishers History

2018 - 1,790 (752 men / 1,038 women)
2017 - 1,881 (746 men / 1,135 women)
2016 - 1,962 (746 men / 1,216 women)
2015 - 1,886 (732 men / 1,154 women)
2014 - 1,807 (714 men / 1,093 women)
2013 - 1,670
2012 - 1,502 (705 men / 797 women)
2011 - 826 (405 men / 421 women)
2010 - 672 (302 men / 370 women)
2009 - 328 (150 men / 178 women)
2008 - 206 (101 men / 105 women)

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Announcing Sunday's Bayou Bucket 5K

Race announcing has changed for me recently.

As I've written before, when I got to do a little bit of announcing in relief of those working the Cowtown Marathon a couple of years ago, I proved to myself that I could hold my own with some of the best out there.

And when you share a stage with a Dana Tyson and get complimented by the likes of a Kevin Kline, it is a nice, silent satisfier that validated the ability that God gave me even though I didn't make my living as a result of my voice.

My style might be different, but all of that proved that I was in the same conversation.

And that came as a result of my grandfather's background in radio - the Armed Forces Radio Network at end of World War II and helping to launch a few radio stations in central Pennsylvania in the 1950s -- and both he and my Dad teaching me what it meant to be professional in everything I did.

I'm not a fit, for example, for the Chevron Houston Marathon, given the way that the sport has changed over the last number of years.

They have guys - Whit Raymond and Mark Purnell - with incredible voices and energies.

So there are still events out there that allow for me to earn the respect of organizers and competitors alike.

If given the information I need with enough time, I prepare as well or better than anybody in the business.

I get to choose what I will and won't put up with - and what I consider fun or not.

Sunday, I get to announce - thanks to Graham Schooley and Brian Jones with RA Sports Management - the inaugural Bayou Bucket 5K, which starts outside of Rice Stadium and finishes on the field.

(Finishing on a college football field is fun. I've done so at Notre Dame, Penn State and Illinois and wanted to get over to Nicholls State last Saturday but didn't because of the weather forecast.)

I learned during the week via Twitter that Sammy The Owl is going to be running the race.

Playfully, I replied that I needed @RiceAthletics to tell me what Sammy's PR was since I was announcing.

I got chided a little bit that I might not be worthy compared to the late great J Fred Duckett.

I responded that I got to meet J Fred when he would keep the score at Houston Awty International School basketball games, where he was a teacher. (As well as a few other resume building facts.)

I think I hit it off J Fred initially when I told him that I thought it was a travesty that they didn't bring him back for the last Astros game in the Astrodome to deliver his signature "Jose Cruz" introduction.

When I first started to run in 2003, I had a tradition of finding J Fred before the start of the Houston Marathon as he was the race anouncer - and had been for more than 20 years.

Until he wasn't.

I don't know if it was the year that I ran with Waverly, 2006, when she did her first half, that I didn't notice him on the microphone.

I e-mailed him and he said that he had been fired. A volunteer. Fired.

J Fred passed away at the age of 74 before the 2008 Chevron Houston Marathon and I ran that race with the bib "RIP J FRED" and I carried a microphone the entire 26.2 miles.

A microphone that I placed in the casket of my grandfather four and a half years ago before I saw him for the very last time.

So while it won't be over the big speakers at Rice Stadium, it'll be in the same venue where J Fred right before kickoff belted out that "It's a beautiful day for outdoor football."

Sunday I'll do my best job of being me, but like at times that I think about the influence that my grandfather has had on my announcing I'll also think about the great J Fred too.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Fastest Marathons in Texas - Updated 8/15/18

1,000 finishers or over
4:27:26 - Chevron Houston Marathon (2018: 6,710 finishers)
4:37:52 - Austin Marathon (2018: 2,558 finishers)
4:38:39 - BMW Dallas Marathon (2017: 2,818 finishers)
4:46:17 - Cowtown Marathon - Fort Worth (2018: 1,180 finishers)
5:18:22 - Humana Rock 'N' Roll San Antonio Marathon (2017: 2,828 finishers)

500-999 finishers
4:30:12 - The Woodlands Marathon (2018: 784 finishers)

250-499 finishers
4:36:59 - El Paso Marathon (2018: 260 finishers)
4:38:43 - Fort Worth Marathon (2017: 299 finishers)
4:41:06 - Bryan/College Station BCS Marathon - College Station (2017: 476 finishers)
4:45:26 - Silo District Marathon (2018: 487 finishers)
5:19:21 - Run The Alamo 26.2 - San Antonio (2018: 323 finishers)
5:42:48 - Metal Sawing Technology Texas Marathon - Kingwood (2018: 254 finishers)

100-249 finishers
4:29:23 - Irving Marathon (2018: 225 finishers)
4:30:46 - Lubbock Mayor's Marathon (2018: 122 finishers)
4:31:32 - Galveston Marathon (2018: 115 finishers)
4:58:17 - McAllen Marathon (2018: 130 finishers)
5:01:28 - USA Fit Marathon - Sugar Land (2018: 149 finishers)
5:18:27 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon (2018: 144 finishers)
5:27:04 - Harlingen Marathon (2018: 153 finishers)
6:45:42 - Brazos Bend Marathon - Needville (2017: 148 finishers)

50-99 finishers
4:38:23 - Marathon 2 Marathon (2017: 91 finishers)
4:40:05 - Miracle Match Marathon - Waco (2018: 84 finishers)
4:45:21 - New Year's Eve Marathon - Allen (2017: 88 finishers)
4:50:07 - Arlington Marathon (2018: 90 finishers)
5:26:59 - Beach To Bay Marathon - Corpus Christi (2018: 65 finishers)
5:33:12 - Grasslands Trail Run Marathon - Decatur (2018: 77 finishers)
5:44:40 - Wildflower Trail Run Marathon - Bastrop (2018: 28 finishers)
5:47:33 - Surfside Beach Marathon (2018: 56 finishers)

Under 50 finishers
4:27:29 - Amarillo Marathon (2018: 24 finishers)
4:36:54 - Gusher Marathon - Beaumont (2018: 49 finishers)
4:49:43 - New Year's Day Marathon - Allen (2018: 43 finishers)
5:09:22 - Hill Country Marathon - Marble Falls (2017: 16 finishers)
5:15:11 - Davy Crockett Bear Chase - Groveton (2018: 38 finishers)
5:16:26 - Urban Ultra - Dallas Marathon (2018: 38 finishers)
5:18:12 - Run For The Americas Marathon - San Marcos (2018: 18 finishers)
5:18:57 - Hachie 50 Marathon - Waxahachie (2018: 39 finishers)
5:23:30 - Paleface Trail Run Marathon - Spicewood (2017: 36 finishers)
5:26:25 - Wonderland Trail Race Marathon - Spicewood (2017: 23 finishers)
5:32:28 - Oktoberfest Trail Festival Marathon - Farmersville (2017: 16 finishers)
5:32:54 - The Walk Marathon - Dallas (2017: 22 finishers)
5:43:46 - Whine Not Marathon - Dallas (2017: 27 finishers)
5:48:08 - The Tortoise Marathon - Dallas (2017: 36 finishers)
5:50:01 - The MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon - Dallas (2018: 33 finishers)
5:52:01 - Saddle Blazer Trail Marathon - Killeen (2018: 18 finishers)
5:52:10 - Whine Not Another Marathon - Dallas (2017: 28 finishers)
5:55:43 - Goodwater Trail Race Marathon - Georgetown (2018: 42 finishers)
5:56:29 - Charlie's Snake Wrangling Marathon - Dallas (2017: 17 finishers)
6:00:04 - The Waddle Marathon - Dallas (2017: 26 finishers)
6:08:16 - Houston Running Festival Marathon (2017: 25 finishers)
6:10:17 - Memorial Day Marathon - Dallas (2018: 21 finishers)
6:13:22 - Pandora's Box of Rox - Burnet (2018: 42 finishers)
6:17:15 - Border to Badlands Ultra Marathon (2018: 7 finishers)
6:31:43 - Dust Bowl Series Marathon - Dalhart (2018: 34 finishers)
6:34:24 - Wayne's World Marathon - Dallas (2018: 26 finishers)
6:36:14 - Texas Trail Racing Festival Marathon - Spicewood (2018: 24 finishers)
6:39:34 - Orion Ultra Marathon - Freeport (2017: 16 finishers)
6:53:20 - Cross Timbers Trail Runs Marathon - Lake Texoma (2018: 47 finishers)
7:00:29 - Gulf Coast Series Marathon - Beaumont (2018: 22 finishers)
7:05:33 - Headwaters of the Frio Marathon - Leakey (2018: 5 finishers)
7:08:32 - Rough Creek Trail Run - Glen Rose (2017: 37 finishers)

Monday, August 6, 2018

Southern Star Brewing Company 5K Top 25 All-Time Best Times

Male
17:07.3 - Hawley, Rick, Spring, TX, Top Male, 2018
17:34.5 - Amann, Mark, Conroe, TX, Top Male, 2017
17:34.9 - Winski, Chris, Katy, TX, 1-29 Male, 2018
18:04.2 - Amann, Mark, Conroe, TX, 1-29 Male, 2018
18:10.2 - Ontko, Robert, Houston, TX, 1-29 Male, 2017
18:15.7 - Palermo, Luke, Spring, TX, 1-29 Male, 2017
18:25.5 - Felske, Ethan, Houston, TX, Top Male, 2016
18:33.1 - Robertson, John, Conroe, TX, Top Master Male, 2017
18:42.6 - Gill, Ryan, Houston, TX, Top Male, 2015
18:45.3 - Palermo, Luke, Spring, TX, 1-29 Male, 2018
18:51.2 - Whitley, Isaac, Spring, TX, 1-29 Male, 2017
18:58.9 - Edwards, Chance, Montgomery, TX, 30-39 Male, 2018
19:01.9 - Harrison, Brandon, Huntsville, TX, 30-39 Male, 2017
19:05.9 - Baker, Kevin, Spring, TX, 40-49 Male, 2017
19:08.7 - Wills, Patrick, Spring, TX, Top Master Male, 2018
19:09.8 - Ray, Kyle, Houston, TX, 1-29 Male, 2018
19:11.6 - Pearson, Andrew, Cypress, TX, 1-29 Male, 2018
19:16.4 - Byrne, Dan, Huntsville, TX, 50-59 Male, 2017
19:17.1 - Guerrieri, Riccardo, Houston, TX, 30-39 Male, 2015
19:22.5 - Wallace, Jason, Huntsville, TX, Top Master Male, 2015
19:26.8 - Sosa, Elias, Bellaire, TX, 1-29 Male, 2017
19:27.5 - Mercado, Jorge, Pearland, TX, Top Master Male, 2016
19:31.4 - Carmichael Jr., Kelly, Galveston, TX, 1-29 Male, 2016
19:35.7 - Gavia, David, Spring, TX, 40-49 Male, 2017
19:38.9 - Seale, Rocky Patrick, Montgomery, TX, 1-29 Male, 2017

Female
20:08.7 - Shasteen, Stephanie, The Woodlands, TX, Top Female, 2015
20:52.1 - Dyksterhuis, Leanne, Spring, TX, Top Female, 2016
21:14.9 - Hall, Karyn, Houston, TX, 1-29 Female, 2015
21:24.3 - Dyksterhuis, Leanne, Spring, TX, Top Female, 2017
21:25.3 - Pigford, Halley, Tomball, TX, Top Female, 2018
21:28.1 - Parker, Remi, Port Lavaca, TX, 1-29 Female, 2018
21:28.9 - Pigford, Halley, Tomball, TX, 30-39 Female, 2017
21:32.4 - Gault, Hannah, Conroe, TX, 1-29 Female, 2016
21:39.0 - Sizer, Brooke, Houston, TX, 1-29 Female, 2017
21:53.6 - Bellard, Karrie, The Woodlands, TX, Top Master Female, 2015
22:04.0 - Butler, Pam, Houston, TX, Top Master Female, 2017
22:05.7 - Van Wyngaarden, Henrita, Spring, TX, Top Master Female, 2018
22:13.7 - Tillson, Sabrina, Spring, TX, 50-59 Female, 2017
22:24.1 - Kuhn, Jill, Spring, TX, 30-39 Female, 2015
22:32.2 - Abell, Lynn, Houston, TE, 1-29 Female, 2015
22:39.4 - Wells, Amy, Conroe, TX, 40-49 Female, 2015
22:41.8 - Allen, Krista, Houston, TX, 30-39 Female, 2015
22:48.7 - Felske, Allie, Houston, TX, 1-29 Female, 2016
23:04.2 - Keith, Barbara, Houston, TX, 30-39 Female, 2016
23:05.0 - Spilker, Julie, Houston, TX, 1-29 Female, 2015
23:06.2 - Benoit, Laura, Brownwood, TX, 50-59 Female, 2015
23:14.7 - Mazur, Lisa, Austin, TX, 40-49 Female, 2015
23:21.4 - Wells, Amy, Conroe, TX, 40-49 Female, 2017
23:22.0 - Sanchez, Debra, Richmond, TX, 30-39 Female, 2016
23:25.4 - Guzman, Ana, Houston, TX, 1-29 Female, 2017

Sources: iaapweb.com, runintexas.com

Friday, August 3, 2018

Bayou City Triathlon Series: Cypress Triathlon Numbers

At 3:46 p.m., Friday, August 3, I received an e-mail from the Bayou City Tri Series - yes, I did the duathlon once at Towne Lake - heralding the following: "We're rolling back prices for Kemah and Towne Lake through Saturday!"

The mailer read, "Prices for Kemah and Towne Lake went up this week, we hope you didn't miss the chance to save. But, summer is busy, we get it."

So for the next 32 hours, until midnight, Saturday, August 4, the event production company is offering "discount" codes to move the prices back.

What this always tells me is one of two things: 1.) registration numbers aren't where the race producer wants them to be - or needs them to be and/or 2.) numbers for a just-finished event weren't what they hoped for.

So unless an event posts a bib list or has its registration list - via "Find Partipicant" through RunSignUp, for example, I can't ever assess the hype factor of any race surrounding registration numbers.

When a race offers no proof (not this producer specifically), it is reasonable to believe that numbers are off. (I noticed this from a Fourth of July race that had always been posting its bib list online prior to Packet Pickup. Not this year, as numbers were way down.)

What I can do is evaluate completed races based on official timed finishers.

This, of course, doesn't take into account athletes who registered, but didn't start or did start, but didn't finish the race.

For the Bayou City Tri Series' most recent event, the Cypress Triathlon, its three events were all down by the metric of "official timed finishers".

A year ago, there were 869 adult finishers (counting relay teams as one), 309 youth finishers and 29 in the Doggie Splash N Dash.

Last weekend, all three races were off.

The adult races were off 13.2% (down from 869 to 754). Youth finishers were down 50 -- 16.2%. And the biggest bark came from the dogs and their owners in the Doggle Splash N Dash, which was down 37.4% (29 to 18).

2017 Cypress
Sprint Invitational 12
Sprint AG 774
Clydesdale 40
Athena 26
Male Relay 1
Female Relay 5
Mixed Relay 7
Physically Challenged 4
Adult Total - 869 (counting relays as one)

Youth Relay 2
Juniors 195
Seniors 112
Youth Total - 309

Toy Dogs 2
Small Dogs 6
Medium Dogs 5
Large Dogs 8
X-Large Dogs 8
Doggie Splash N Dash - 29

2018 Cypress
Sprint Invitational 16
Sprint AG 657
Clydesdale 27
Athena 21
Male Relay 3
Female Relay 7
Mixed Relay 16
Physically Challenged 7
Adult Total - 754 (counting relays as one)

Juniors 152
Seniors 107
Youth Total - 259

Small Dogs 5
Medium Dogs 7
Large Dogs 6
Doggie Splash N Dash - 18

Sources: https://www.bayoucitytriseries.com/resultsandphotos/; https://nolimitstiming.com/

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Honeywell Lunar Rendezvous Run 5K Winners (2002-2018)

Male - Overall
2018 - Brandon Lantau, 16:48
2017 - Luis Armenteros, 16:16
2016 - Ryan Smith, 15:54
2015 - Lane Boyer, 15:21
2014 - Ryan Tilotta, 15:18
2013 - Ryan Smith, 15:59
2012 - Joe Oviedo, 16:55
2011 - Carlos Arias, 16:09
2010 - John Hedengren, 15:55
2009 - Sesar Figueroa, 15:02
2008 - John Hedengren, 15:51
2007 - Jacob Phillips, 15:59
2006 - Alan Hedengren, 15:49
2005 - Luis Armenteros, 15:12
2004 - Joseph Routt, 15:55
2003 - Luis Armenteros, 15:27
2002 - Luis Armenteros, 15:20

Female - Overall
2018 - Virginia Frank, 19:53
2017 - Lauren Stroud, 16:53
2016 - Lauren Smith Stroud, 17:08
2015 - Ann-Marie Charno, 19:59
2014 - Kaytlynn Welsch, 19:29
2013 - Anne Jones, 18:44
2012 - Lauren Smith, 17:40
2011 - Lauren Smith, 17:01
2010 - Lauren Smith, 17:43
2009 - Lauren Smith, 17:49
2008 - Peggy Yetman, 17:24
2007 - Nichole Jones, 16:59
2006 - Allison Pye, 18:17
2005 - Debbie Rudisill, 19:39
2004 - Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, 17:11
2003 - Kathryn Scarborough, 19:08
2002 - Sherrie Keim, 18:31

Male - Masters
2018 - Peter Lawrence, 17:04
2017 - Peter Lawrence, 16:31
2016 - Peter Lawrence, 16:56
2015 - Peter Lawrence, 16:42
2014 - Luis Arementeros, 15:20
2013 - Peter Lawrence, 16:39
2012 - Peter Lawrence, 17:05
2011 - John Yoder, 17:15
2010 - Sim Cuevas, 17:55
2009 - Gerardo Mora, 16:32
2008 - Gerardo Mora, 16:47
2007 - Gerardo Mora, 16:46
2006 - Gerardo Mora, 17:10
2005 - Francisco Perez, 16:49
2004 - Joe Melanson, 17:16
2003 - Jon Butler, 16:15
2002 - Joe Melanson, 16:37

Female - Masters
2018 - Jetola Anderson-Blair, 23:56
2017 - Lynn Malloy, 21:23
2016 - Suni Williams, 22:57
2015 - Suni Williams, 22:42
2014 - Melissa Hurta-Crites, 20:37
2013 - Martha Long, 21:30
2012 - Lynn Malloy, 22:38
2011 - Laura Bennett, 19:43
2010 - Laura Benentt, 19:29
2009 - Suni Williams, 20:57
2008 - Donna Sterns, 22:03
2007 - Heide Mairs, 20:15
2006 - Bonnie Jo Barron, 20:42
2005 - Liz Schwandt, 20:38
2004 - Donna Sterns, 20:43
2003 - Sherrie Keim, 19:20
2002 - Bonnie Jo Barron, 21:07

Timed Finishers
2018 - 426
2017 - 403
2016 - 281
2015 - 396
2014 - 401
2013 - 480
2012 - 508
2011 - 523
2010 - 505
2009 - 464
2008 - 492
2007 - 325
2006 - 375
2005 - 393
2004 - 524
2003 - 546
2002 - 603

Original Walk Sports Services research

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Baytown/Texas Bud Heat Wave Multiple Finishers

The Texas Bud Heat Wave (formerly the Baytown Bud Heat Wave) - a five-mile race - was reinstituted in 2011. A five-kilometer race was added in 2018.

There are 166 runners who have finished five races in the last eight years. 129 of those finished the five-mile distance every time while the remaining 37 ran the 5K this year.

Additionally, 145 have finished four races, 256 three races and another 548 runners have crossed the Bud Heat Wave finish line twice.

Below is the list of all five-time or greater finishers:

8 Years (All 5-Milers) - 12
Barfoot, Jack
Boyd, Bruce
Collins, Nathaniel
Harris, June
Holland, Melanie
Hunter, Anh
Jones, Vicki
Moffatt, David
Rake, Joshua (Josh)
Schreiter, Keith
Smith, Alison
Torres, Alfonso

8 Years (2011-2017/5M; 2018/5K) - 4
Casey, Debbie
Peden, Chris
Peden, Jackie
Tate, David

7 Years (All 5-Milers) - 22
Alvarez, Jim
Bradley, Randy
Chapa, Oscar
Conklin, Dave
Contreras, Rigo
Cook, Dusty
Cooper, Steve
Eilers, Mary
Furman, Robert
Jaeger, Dan
Jantowski, Cynthia
Jones, Kevin
Lawrence, Peter
Medina, Albert
Muldowney, Nancy
Nuckols, Ernest
Petty, Laurie
Raines, David
Rake, Pete
Smith, Wayne
Torregrossa, Jack
Wells, Jennifer

7 Years (2011-2017/5M; 2018/5K) - 7
Brand, Cheryl
Davis, Steve
Furman, Lynn
Pearsall, Theresa
Rodgers, Paul
Stanford, Karen
West, Jamie

6 Years (All 5-Milers) - 35
Aguirre, Victor
Als, Colin
Arnold, Jennifer
Barrington, Paul
Bennett, Pam
Bitterly, Michelle
Braden, Jim
Crumpler, Ken
Garcia, Betty
Harvie, Ben
Jimenez, Juan
Johnston, Ruth
Kaul, Kuldip
Kramer, Pamela
Lang, Kevin
Lyon, Ed
Maduzia, Kristina
Miley, Keith
Miley, Terri
Moser, Barry
Nieto, Deborah
Nuckols, Christina
Oviedo, Joe
Padilla, Don
Parsons, Jeff
Ploss, Chris
Rickman, Vickie
Rios, Larissa
Rodriguez, Luis
Shaver, Bernice
Smith, Greg
Smith, Teresa
Solomon, Gloria
Villarreal, Rose
Wheeler, Kim

6 Years (2011-2017/5M; 2018/5K) - 11
Bach, Chuck
Baeza, Jose
Blackburn, Greg
Ferris, Danielle
Ferris, Tonya
Holcomb, Nancy
Kleiber, Carol
Kush, John
Moyer, John
Salinas, Rosie
Weaver, Brandon

5 Years (All 5-Milers) - 60
Abney, Jim
Asbill, Michael
Bell, Britt
Bell, Susan
Betancourth, Robert
Bitterly, Charlie
Bontz, Martin
Buitron, Rose
Byard, John
Camp, Tom
Cassells, Colin
Christie, Gordon
Clark, Curtis
Defee, Michael
Dixon, Adam
Donnelly, Kevin
Elkins, Tina
Estrada, Paul
Fermo, Jeremy
Fierro, Priscilla
Garcia, Ana
Gonzalez, Pete
Herder, Jim
Howlett, Becky
Howlett, Buddy
Jackson, Hesley
Jimenez, Jesse
Johnston, Jamie
Latimore, Robin
Latimore, Todd
Lira, Richard
Lopez, Miguel
Lugo, Felix
Mallet, Kay
Mathis, Fred
Melgoza, Alberto
Minish, Tracy
Muston, Dave
Myers, Martha
Nicodemus, Pauline
Nielsen, Paul
Ringer, Jennifer
Ripkowski, Ryan
Robbins, Chris
Rocha, Teresa
Ruiz, Jose
Sanchez, Rene
Scarritt, Sara
Spurlock, Foster
Spurlock, Susan
Stockton, David
Toupard, Angelica
Turner, Venus
Valladares, Leroy
Van Beers, Gretchen
Vautier, Mana
Villarreal Jr., Alex
Whitlock, Ryan
Wickboldt, Rich
Williams, Karen

5 Years (2011-2017/5M; 2018/5K) - 15
Barta, Daniel
Brown, Buddy
Burris, Dawn
Cazares, Virginia
Diaz, Mary Lou
Jackson, Michelle
Johnson, Heather
Johnson, Mona
Parshall, Paula
Ramirez, Elizabeth
Riekert, John
Rosser, Leanne
Voeller, Jan
Womack, Omer
Yates, Raymon

Sources: Running Alliance Sport, Campbell Timing Systems, texas5milerun.org

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Christmas In July 5K Statistics Package

Timed Finishers

2016 - 423 (157 men / 266 women)
2017 - 588 (212 men / 376 women)
2018 - 433 (150 men / 283 women)

Overall Winners
Male

2016 - 17:50, Yale Jay, 17, Kingwood
2017 - 18:39, Nathan Botros, 17, Houston
2018 - 17:58, Tim Foldy-Porto, 21, Northampton, MA

Female

2016 - 18:26, Amanda Cruise, 33, Livingston
2017 - 22:49, Melissa Hurta, 54, Freeport
2018 - 21:34, Caroline Wheat, 18, Kingwood

Masters Male

2016 - 19:46, Clayton Bankston, 40, Pearland
2017 - 21:16, Patrick Wills, 46, Spring
2018 - 20:39, Marcos Rubio, 44, Houston

Masters Female

2016 - 23:07, Christy Brown, 42
2017 - 23:40, Cesia Delarosa, 40, Katy
2018 - 24:48, Rebecca Steven, 56, Wichita, KS

Top 20 Times
Male

17:49.9 - Yale Jay, 17, Kingwood, 2016
17:54.7 - Eugenio Olivarez, 28, Pearland, 2016
17:58.0 - Tim Foldy-Porto, 21, Northampton, 2018
18:13.5 - Mahta Mesfun, 34, 2016
18:14.8 - Evan Klein, 14, 2016
18:31.7 - Hung Cao, 33, 2016
18:39.1 - Nathan Botros, 17, Houston, 2017
19:12.7 - Jesse Danner, 39, 2016
19:16.0 - Andy Kwan, 39, Houston, 2017
19:29.0 - Andrew Cashion, 31, Houston, 2017
19:37.3 - Michael Hernandez, 31, 2016
19:45.9 - Clayton Bankson, 40, Pearland, 2016
19:47.0 - Peyton Hanna, 15, Katy, 2017
19:55.8 - Juan Ramirez, 17, 2016
19:58.7 - Isaac Bozarth, 14, 2016
20:02.4 - Mark Montes, 16, 2016
20:02.6 - David Huff, 51, 2016
20:03.3 - Bruce Hayes, 53, Houston, 2016
20:11.0 - Hung Cao, 35, Houston, 2018
20:14.1 - Brandon Harrison, 30, Huntsville, 2017

Female
18:25.5 - Amanda Cruise, 33, Livingston, 2016
20:11.3 - Kelly Humphries, 37, 2016
20:56.0 - Lauren Valentino, 38, Houston, 2016
21:30.0 - Caroline Wheat, 18, Kingwood, 2018
21:57.5 - Traci Benson, 36, 2016
22:49.0 - Melissa Hurta, 54, Freeport, 2017
23:01.1 - Casey Timme, 31, Kingwood, 2017
23:10.1 - Adlynn Molina, 18, Houston, 2018
23:33.1 - Brandi Kendall, 33, Houston, 2017
23:40.1 - Cesia Delarosa, 40, Katy, 2017
23:49.3 - Tyfani Wilson, 25, 2016
24:09.9 - Peyton Benson, 10, 2016
24:32.6 - Samantha Scott, 28, 2016
24:35.3 - Erin Sanders, 31, 2016
24:48.1 - Rebecca Steven, 56, Wichita, 2018
24:50.0 - Monica Johnson, 31, Georgetown, 2018
24:53.7 - Sue Rector, 50, 2016
24:54.1 - Frida Villalobos, 36, Houston, 2018
25:10.8 - Lisa Dixon, 45, Seabrook, 2016
25:15.8 - Kristin Jay, 47, Kingwood, 2016

Three-Year Veterans (20)

Amy Yother
Andra Morphew
Claudia Madrigal
Debby Leighton
Debby Piland
Douglas Piland
Holly Huber
Itze Soliz
Kate Healy
Linda Zapalac
Mark Garvin
Michael Herrera
Nora Ruiz
Norman Dunham
Olivia Garcia
Rene Decquir
Schnandre Nedd
Sophia Garcia
Stephen Gant
Vanessa Ruiz

Two-Year Veterans (96)

Adrean Ho
Anabel Rodriguez
Andy Kwan
Anesha Godden
Angela Robichaux
Anne Edwards
Annie Hero
April Baugh Chears
Barrett Trumbo
Brandy Alexander
Cameron Dunn
Chanda Dewoody
Cherish Thompson
Chris Paschke
Christopher Acevedo
Coppelia Acevedo
Corey Daniels
Corina Buentello
Courtney West
Danny Martinez
Deborah Fainstein
Dona Hinton
Douglas Godden
Elena Chapa
Elijio Serrano
Elisa Garnica
Elizabeth Ruiz
Eva Rendon
Ewan Dunn
Fela Sandoval
Gabriela Alba
Glenn Frable
Hung Cao
Israel Cerda
Iva Knight
Jacob McCowin
Jamila Spencer
Jane Harper
Jennifer Powers
Jennifer Reyes
John Pape
Jonathan Miller
Jonathan Reyes
Julia Dunn
Karen Fainstein
Karen King
Karen Lemker
Kason Twitchell
Kelly Smallbeck
Lakia Champagne
Latiffany Sauls
Leandrea Finley
Leticia Guzman
Lisa Dixon
Lisa Marie Garcia
Lisa Wilson
Lori Ralph
Lynn Furman
Major Kent Davis
Marco Soto
Maria B. Valdez
Maria Negrete
Mark Curda
Mary Maxey
Matthew Bruegger
Megan Bruegger
Melissa Carty
Melody Davis
Mohan Kudchadker
Morgan Ashworth
Myra Walker
Nancy Holcomb
Nick Jakse
Nora Duran
Pedro Ruiz
Rebecca Botello
Rigo Contreras
Robert Lapus
Sandy Brown
Sarah Harper
Sarah Straub
Shae Smith
Sharon Zissa
Sheala Cunningham
Sophia King
Stephanie Curda
Tracy McCowin
Val Parreno
Vicki Jones
Virginia Fowler
Virginie Houilliez
Wendy Stewart
Whitney Wallace
Yessica Castillo
Yves Houilliez
Zina Jackson

Sources: runhoustontiming.net (2016); mychiptime.com (2017-2018)

Texas' Largest Independence Day-Themed Races - 2018

Using the number of timed finishers as the metric, here is a list by individual race distances of Fourth of July-themed races (so far) in Texas in 2018:

1,392 - Run Wild 5K, Houston, 7/4 (610 men / 741 women), includes 41 5K walk (14 men / 27 women)
800 - Independence Day 8K, Houston, 6/30 (325 men / 475 women)
572 - Hotter 'N Firecrackers 5K, Frisco, 7/3 (235 men / 337 women)
548 - Liberty By The Lake 5K, The Colony, 7/4 (248 men / 300 women)
539 - Stars & Stripes 5K, Mission, 6/30 (210 men / 429 women)

508 - Five on the 4th, Dallas, 7/4 (236 men / 272 women)
508 - San Antonio Road Runners Freedom Day Four Miler, San Antonio, 7/4 (237 men / 271 women)
429 - Texas Bud Heat Wave 5M, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (207 men / 222 women)
421 - Patriot 5K, Trophy Club 7/4
392 - 12th annual Up And Running Fourth of July 5K, El Paso, 7/4 (186 men / 206 women)

335 - Liberty Run 5K Run, Denton, 7/4 (140 men / 195 women)
298 - Michelob Ultra 5K, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (108 men / 190 women)
280 - Rowlett Freedom 5K on Main, Rowlett, 7/4 (111 men, 169 women)
277 - Freedom Fighter 5K, Tyler, 7/4 (117 men, 160 women)
266 - Corpus Christi Road Runners Four on the Fourth, Corpus Christi, 7/4 (100 men / 166 women)
261 - Dallas Running Club Independence 5K, Dallas, 7/7 (117 men / 144 women)

259 - 10th annual Firecracker 5000, Fort Worth, 7/4 (124 men / 135 women)
244 - Dow Firecracker 4M, Lake Jackson, 7/4 (119 men / 125 women)
227 - Dallas Running Club Independence 10K, Dallas, 7/7 (140 men / 87 women)
198 - Liberty By The Lake 10K, The Colony, 7/4 (113 men / 85 women)
192 - Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, 7/4

186 - TXU Energy Wings of Freedom 5K, Houston, 7/4 (94 men / 90 women / 2 UNK)
178 - Cox Running Club 4th 5K, Fort Worth, 7/4 (90 men / 88 women)
175 - Popsicle Run 4M, Kyle, 7/4 (83 men / 92 women)
124 - WTRC Firecracker Run 3M, Brownfield, 7/4 (61 men / 63 women)
122 - Firecracker 5K, Lago Vista, 7/4 (59 men / 63 women)

121 - Shiner Half Moon Holiday 5K, Shiner, 7/7 (38 men / 83 women)
115 - Firecracker Flight 4M, Arlington, 7/4 (32 male / 83 female)
109 - Firecracker 5K Evening Run, San Marcos, 6/28 (54 men / 55 women)
108 - 10th annual Old Jo's Firecracker Run 5K, St. Jo, 7/4 (44 men / 64 women)
103 - Freedom 5K, Cedar Park, 7/4 (45 men / 58 women)

102 - Firecracker 5K, Greenville, 7/4 (43 men / 59 women)
100 - Independence 5K, Deer Park, 6/30 (37 men / 63 women)
91 - Memorial Villages 5K, Houston, 7/4 (51 men / 40 women)
74 - Popsicle Run 3K, Kyle, 7/4 (40 men / 34 women)
74 - Firecracker 5K, Mexia, 7/4 (34 men / 40 women)

71 - WTRC Firecracker Run 10K, Brownfield, 7/4 (41 men / 30 women)
68 - Stars and Stripes 5K, Eagle Pass, 7/7 (31 men / 36 women)
63 - Firecracker Flight 10K, Arlington, 7/4 (22 men / 41 women)
58 - Fitness Today & Cisco Chamber of Commerce 4th of July 5K Color Run, Cisco, 7/4
56 - Stu's Country Mile 5K, Centerville, 7/4 (17 men / 39 women)

54 - Stars and Stripes 1M, Eagle Pass, 7/7 (23 men / 31 women)
53 - Freedom Fest 5K, Mathis, 6/30 (21 men / 32 women)
45 - Independence 10K, Deer Park, 6/30 (20 men / 25 women)
45 - Dow Firecracker 2M, Lake Jackson, 7/4 (6 men / 39 women)
33 - 3rd annual Freedom Run 5K, Snyder (15 men / 18 women)

24 - Freedom 10K, Cedar Park, 7/4 (13 men / 11 women)

22 - WTRC Firecracker Run 1M, Brownfield, 7/4
19 - Stu's Country Mile Kids 1K, Centerville, 7/4 (12 men / 7 women)
17 - Dallas Running Club Independence 1M, Dallas, 7/7 (9 men / 8 women)
17 - 3rd annual Freedom Run 10K, Snyder, 7/7 (12 men / 5 women)

14 - Firecracker 1-Mile Walk, Mexia, 7/4 (5 men / 9 women)

Non-Themed Races Held During Same Time

433 - Christmas in July 5K, Houston, 7/7 (150 men / 283 women)
256 - SA Youth Summer Series 3 5K, San Antonio, 7/8 (120 men / 136 women)
166 - Hell's Half Acre 5K, Fort Worth, 7/7 (73 men / 93 women)
139 - Hell's Half Acre 25K, Fort Worth, 7/7 (78 men / 61 women)
136 - Trinity 5000 Summer Series Race #5, Fort Worth, 7/5 (78 men / 58 women)
128 - Run For Wellness - Heights/White Oak Bayou 5K, Houston, 7/1
26 - Hell's Half Acre 50K, Fort Worth, 7/7 (16 men / 10 women)

Notes
1. We've not seen complete posted results for Freedom 5K in Sugar Land. 63 finishers through 28 minutes is all that is currently posted on the First Colony Community Association site.
2. The Firecracker 5K in College Station, produced by the BCS Marathon, is an untimed race; therefore, it is not included.
3. We've not seen any posted results for the Coolest 5K in Texas in Fort Davis, which was held on the Fourth of July.
4. We saw references to the Pioneer Firecracker 5K in Leon Valley, held on the Fourth of July, on the RRPTiming.com website, but so far no results.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Texas' Largest Independence Day-Themed Races - 2017

Using the number of timed finishers as the metric, here is a list by individual race distances of Fourth of July-themed races in Texas in 2017:

1,187 - Run Wild 5K, Houston, July 4 (514 men / 673 women)
901 - 28th annual Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M, Baytown, July 4 (436 men / 465 women)
710 - Stars and Stripes 5K, Mission, July 1 (255 men / 455 women)
604 - Inaugural Independence Day 8K, Houston, July 1 (231 men / 373 women)
483 - Liberty By The Lake 5K, The Colony, July 4

456 - San Antonio Road Runners Freedom Day Four Miler, San Antonio, July 4 (204 men / 252 women)
447 - Hotter 'N Firecrackers 5K, Frisco, July 3 (194 men / 253 women)
404 - 11th annual Up And Running Fourth of July 5K, El Paso, July 4 (178 men / 226 women)
400 - Freedom 5K, Sugar Land, July 4 (196 men / 204 women)
349 - Patriot Run 5K, Trophy Club, July 4

336 - Dallas Running Club Independence 5K, Dallas, July 1 (197 men / 139 women) - No 10K
319 - 9th annual Firecracker 5000, Fort Worth, July 4 (141 men / 177 women)
313 - Rowlett Freedom 5K on Main, Rowlett, July 4
286 - Liberty Run 5K, Denton, July 4 (143 men / 143 women)
244 - Cox Running Club 4th 5K, Fort Worth, July 4 (130 men / 114 women)

221 - Corpus Christi Road Runners Four on the Fourth, Corpus Christi, July 4 (100 men / 121 women)
220 - 43rd annual Dow Firecracker 4-Mile Run, Lake Jackson, July 4 (94 men / 126 women)
209 - Popsicle Run 4 Miler, Kyle, July (86 men / 123 women)
184 - Let Freedom Run! 5K, Schertz, July 4 (91 men / 93 women)
163 - Liberty By The Lake 10K, The Colony, July 2

161 - Firecracker 5K, Lago Vista, July 4 (66 men / 95 women)
156 - Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, Granbury, July 4
153 - WTRC Firecracker Run 3M, Brownfield, July 4
148 - Red, White and Blue 5K, McKinney, July 1 (68 men / 80 women)
122 - Run For Wellness - Heights 5K, Houston, July 2

122 - Shiner Half Moon Holday 5K, Shiner, July 1 (47 men / 75 women)
121 - Independence Run 5K, Deer Park, July 1 (12 men / 32 women)
121 - Greenville Firecracker 5K, Greenville, July 4 (49 men / 72 women)
107 - Popsicle Run 3K, Kyle, July 4 (50 men / 57 women)
107 - 9th annual Old Jo's Firecracker Run 5K, St. Jo, July 4 (50 men / 57 women)

93 - Firecracker 5K Evening Run, San Marcos, June 29 (42 men / 51 women)
79 - Memorial Village 4th of July, Houston, July 4 (49 men / 30 women)
74 - 5th annual Fireman's 2-Mile Walk, Port O'Connor, July 1 (25 men / 49 women)
67 - 2nd annual Freedom Run 5K, Snyder, July 1 (28 men / 39 women)
60 - 5th annual Fireman's 4-Mile Race, Port O'Connor, July 1 (22 men / 38 women)

49 - Independence Run 10K, Deer Park, July 1 (22 men / 27 women)
47 - Stars and Stripes 5K, Eagle Pass, July 2 (20 men / 27 women)
46 - Stu's Country Mile 5K, Centerville, July 4 (23 men / 23 women)
45 - WTRC Firecracker Run 10M, Brownfield, July 4 (18 men / 27 women)
44 - 43rd annual Dow Firecracker 2-Mile Walk, Lake Jackson, July 4 (12 men / 32 women)

39 - Inaugural Independence Day Bash 5K, Laredo, July 1 (23 men / 16 women)
19 - Stu's Country Mile Kids 1K, Centerville, July 4 (23 men / 23 women)
12 - 2nd annual Freedom Run 10K, Snyder, July 1 (3 men / 9 women)

Polish Pickle Run 5K Official Finishers (2008-2018)

2018 - 660 (573 5K / 87 Clydesdale/Filly) - 69 Kids Race
2017 - 599 (514 5K / 85 Clydesdale/Filly) - 57 Kids Race
2016 - 734 (648 5K / 86 Clydesdale/Filly) - 56 Kids Race
2015 - 664 5K and Clydesdale/Filly
2014 - 662 (554 5K / 108 Clydesdale/Filly) - 42 Kids Race
2013 - 630 (529 5K / 101 Clydesdale/Filly)
2012 - 526 (436 5K / 90 Clydesdale/Filly)
2011 - 398 (329 5K / 69 Clydesdale/Filly)
2010 - 419 5K and Clydesdale/Filly
2009 - 394 5K and Clydesdale/Filly
2008 - 387 5K and Clydesdale/Filly - 36 Kids Race

Sources: Run Houston Timing; runhoustontiming.net; active.com

Texas Finishers at Western States 100 (2003-2018)

The Western States Endurance Run started to include cities and states of finishers in its results beginning with the 2003 race. Listed below are the 127 finishers from Texas from 2003 to 2018:

17:26:00 - Paul Terranova, M, 40, Austin, 2014
17:43:17 - Paul Terranova, M, 41, Austin, 2015
17:56:29 - Paul Terranova, M, 39, Austin, 2013
18:29:11 - Paul Terranova, M, 42, Austin, 2016
19:17:15 - Glenn Mackie, M, 50, Highland Village, 2012
20:12:15 - Paul Terranova, M, 38, Austin, 2012
20:19:56 - Nicole Studer, F, 33, Dallas, 2015
20:47:25 - Michael Adams, M, 41, Temple, 2011
21:00:05 - Elizabeth Howard, F, 40, San Antonio, 2012
21:00:52 - Nicole Kalogeropoulos, F, 35, Dallas, 2017

21:20:01 - Scott Eppelman, M, 36, Coppell, 2003
21:20:49 - Shaheen Sattar, F, 30, Dallas, 2014
21:52:27 - Glenn Mackie, M, 42, Highland Village, 2004
22:19:18 - Ford Smith, M, 19, Austin, 2015
22:47:44 - Joe Constantino, M, 41, Missouri City, 2010
23:00:16 - Carlos Ibarra, M, 34, Houston, 2005
23:03:11 - Jeff Ball, M, 28, Cedar Hill, 2017
23:10:56 - Joe Constantino, M, 35, Houston, 2004
23:19:35 - Quent Bearden, M, 38, Lubbock, 2013
23:21:46 - Ted Davison, M, 46, Austin, 2018

23:22:05 - Miguel Montealvo, M, 22, Austin, 2013
23:24:34 - Zachary Miller, M, 27, The Woodlands, 2018
23:25:49 - Eric Zipfel, M, 37, Austin, 2014
23:29:58 - Matt Smith, M, 39, San Antonio, 2018
23:36:55 - Mark Morris, M, 47, Tyler, 2005
23:43:27 - Kyle Rodemacher, M, 43, Austin, 2018
23:44:25 - Jeffrey Miller, M, 44, Corpus Christi, 2018
23:46:06 - David Brown, M, 31, Boerne, 2010
23:53:31 - Martin Guthrie, M, 45, Irving, 2012
23:55:14 - John Hill, M, 48, Pleasant Hill, 2015

23:56:02 - Meredith Terranova, F, 35, Austin, 2010
25:04:04 - Chad Lasater, M, 45, Houston, 2017
25:11:15 - Anna Hailey, F, 38, Gardendale, 2018
25:21:44 - Helen Hull, F, 44, Houston, 2003
25:37:26 - Mike Adams, M, 35, Houston, 2003
25:40:40 - Matt Crownover, M, 36, Garland, 2009
25:42:31 - Lise Plantier, F, 36, Austin, 2016
25:44:24 - Shan Rooney, F, 32, Austin, 2005
25:46:28 - Erik Moortgat, M, 37, College Station, 2005
25:49:58 - Donald Zoch, M, 37, Driftwood, 2014

25:51:42 - Gerardo Moreno, M, 28, Nacogdoches, 2013
25:52:28 - Matthew Searfus, M, 41, Dallas, 2014
26:05:04 - Brian Hill, M, 40, Ft Worth, 2014
26:08:30 - Richard Hensser, M, 53, Dallas, 2017
26:13:03 - Gary Horn, M, 54, Kingwood, 2011
26:22:21 - Linda Hurd, F, 43, Sugar Land, 2005
26:27:34 - Keith Rieger, M, 38, Lubbock, 2006
26:39:25 - Dennis Thompson, M, 55, Tyler, 2003
26:42:16 - Carlos Ibarra, M, 33, Houston, 2004
26:45:27 - David Reasoner, M, 40, Dallas, 2012

26:46:02 - Dan Mcintyre, M, 50, Fort Worth, 2017
26:58:20 - Ryan Beard, M, 35, Austin, 2011
27:01:37 - Mariela Botella, F, 38, Houston, 2004
27:02:18 - Scott Kunz, M, 34, Plano, 2016
27:02:56 - Anabel Pearson, F, 46, Helotes, 2016
27:07:12 - German Collazos, M, 46, Houston, 2004
27:11:21 - Paul Huggins, M, 42, Austin, 2017
27:13:07 - Joe Cooper, M, 38, Austin, 2018
27:13:56 - Linda Hurd, F, 41, Sugar Land, 2003
27:15:18 - Larry Pearson, M, 53, Helotes, 2014

27:20:00 - Dale Keen, M, 52, Milano, 2005
27:20:16 - Daniel Murphy, M, 35, Houston, 2014
27:25:43 - Amanda Alvarado, F, 38, San Antonio, 2014
27:27:32 - Steven Bernhardt, M, 46, Austin, 2011
27:28:41 - Doug Gimenez, M, 52, Austin, 2004
27:37:20 - David Iler, M, 40, Austin, 2017
27:39:17 - Cindy Melder, F, 48, Dallas, 2010
27:42:59 - Barbara Stoll, F, 41, Houston, 2003
27:50:01 - David Brown, M, 37, Boerne, 2016
27:50:12 - Mike Munoz, M, 31, Houston, 2012

27:57:31 - Mark Sobus, M, 42, Kingwood, 2010
27:57:53 - Christopher Barnwell, M, 43, Keller, 2013
27:58:00 - German Collazos, M, 47, Houston, 2005
27:58:04 - German Collazos, M, 48, Houston, 2006
28:03:29 - Juan Galvan, M, 30, Houston, 2003
28:06:44 - Keith Rieger, M, 36, Lubbock, 2004
28:06:56 - Mark Yeaman, M, 46, Dallas, 2015
28:07:13 - David Corley, M, 42, Fort Worth, 2004
28:11:27 - Larry Teeter, M, 44, Houston, 2004
28:14:46 - Larry Pearson, M, 55, Helotes, 2016

28:15:00 - Jay Freeman, M, 58, Farmers Branch, 2005
28:15:57 - Jennifer Evans, F, 42, Friendswood, 2011
28:21:33 - Chad Bailey, M, 40, Grapevine, 2018
28:27:10 - Darren Christiansen, M, 44, Mckinney, 2015
28:29:09 - Neil Smith, M, 42, Dallas, 2013
28:31:00 - Michael R. Riggs, M, 44, Austin, 2004
28:31:37 - Letha Cruthirds, F, 49, Bedford, 2003
28:33:43 - Tim Steele, M, 41, Dallas, 2013
28:36:20 - James Catron, M, 43, Nacogdoches, 2018
28:41:47 - Joshua Witte, M, 40, Flower Mound, 2012

28:45:34 - Billy Satterwhite, M, 31, Austin, 2018
28:47:38 - Nick Polito, M, 43, Dallas, 2012
28:54:26 - Frank Sizemore, M, 41, Houston, 2016
28:56:00 - Lynne Harkey, F, 37, College Station, 2005
28:57:08 - Robert Kemper, M, 31, Corpus Christi, 2012
29:01:12 - Jody Koehler, F, 45, Cedar Park, 2016
29:06:35 - Pat Shannon, M, 60, The Woodlands, 2011
29:09:25 - E. Allen Wrinkle, M, 41, Magnolia, 2006
29:11:48 - Letha Cruthirds, F, 50, Bedford, 2004
29:11:52 - Kyle McQuire, M, 27, Austin, 2012

29:19:41 - Axel Reissnecker, M, 56, Austin, 2010
29:22:21 - Paul Tidmore, M, 47, Carrollton, 2016
29:22:25 - John Powers, M, 48, Magnolia, 2011
29:22:29 - Rick Russell, M, 49, Austin, 2018
29:30:16 - Bill Nictakis, M, 43, Plano, 2003
29:30:18 - Paul Goodwin, M, 30, San Antonio, 2010
29:34:00 - Drew Meyer, M, 59, Fort Worth, 2006
29:34:29 - John Opalko, M, 44, The Woodlands, 2006
29:35:37 - Sam Voltaggio, M, 51, Austin, 2003
29:36:00 - Michael R. Riggs, M, 45, Austin, 2005

29:36:42 - Constance Wannamaker, F, 45, El Paso, 2018
29:38:00 - Henry Hobbs Jr., M, 50, Bastrop, 2005
29:38:42 - Brent Robinson, M, 37, McKinney, 2018
29:39:10 - Timothy Allen, M, 49, Houston, 2018
29:39:42 - Drew Meyer, M, 63, Fort Worth, 2010
29:39:43 - Fred Thompson, M, 61, Keller, 2010
29:41:00 - Leslie Hale, F, 53, Houston, 2005
29:42:28 - Jennifer Kimble, F, 43, Garland, 2014
29:42:37 - Suzannne Stroeer, F, 27, Houston, 2013
29:43:15 - Stephen Hudgens, M, 48, Fort Worth, 2004

29:43:29 - David Coats, M, 49, Houston, 2010
29:46:15 - Berton Keith, M, 55, Austin, 2016
29:50:35 - John Martinek, M, 26, North Richland Hills, 2013
29:52:55 - Steven Macdonald, M, 50, Dallas, 2017
29:53:00 - Kimberly Pilcher, F, 42, Houston, 2005
29:54:47 - Rob Ham, M, 45, Mesquite, 2014
29:57:10 - Marla Hendricks, F, 56, Waco, 2011

Source: wser.org

Western States is a registered trademark of the Western States Endurance Run Foundation copyright © 2018 Western States Endurance Run Foundation.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon - Dallas Official Finishers Numbers

Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon - Dallas

2018 - 6,607 HM (3,754 female / 2,853 male)
2017 - 8,322 HM (4,826 female / 3,496 male)
2016 - 9,559 HM (5,766 female / 3,793 male)
2015 - 8,789 HM (8,502 individual / 287 relay)
2014 - 9,997 HM (9,706 individual / 291 relay)
2013 - 10,709 HM
2012 - 11,336 HM
2011 - 10,959 HM
2010 - 9,250 HM

2018 - 1,654 5K (1,016 female / 638 male)
2017 - 1,973 5K (1,263 female / 710 male)
2016 - 2,009 5K (1,333 female / 676 male)
2015 - 1,379 5K

Sources: runrocknroll.com (2016-2018), athlinks.com (2010-2015)
Researched on June 14, 2018

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Houston Heights 5K All-Time Winners (Complete from 2002-2018)

Men's Overall
1989 - Bob Amato, 15:16
1991 - Jeff Wells, 15:19
1992 - Billy Black, 21, 16:08
2002 - Luis Armenteros, 15:04
2003 - Jose Angel Lara, 15:20
2004 - Luis Armenteros, 16:30
2005 - Rudy Rocha, 15:38
2006 - David Wittman, 16:11
2007 - Anthony Green, 16:22
2008 - Sean Wade, 42, Houston, 15:01
2009 - Sean Wade, 43, Houston, 14:49
2010 - Ryan Smith, 24, 16:28
2011 - Zach Cater-Cyker, 26, Houston, 15:48
2012 - Sean Wade, 46, Houston, 15:20
2013 - Kiya Dandena, 24, Houston, 14:54
2014 - Maximo Mendoza, 25, Pearland, 15:07
2015 - Lane Boyer, 25, Houston, 14:58
2016 - David Smith, 25, Houston, 15:25
2017 - Austin Roth, Houston, 14:59
2018 - Ryan Parrish, Fulshear, 16:10

Men's Masters
1989 - David Chester, 17:10
1991 - Doug Rothenberger, 16:46
1992 - Doug Rothenberger, 17:04
2002 - William Martin, 16:41
2003 - Joe Flores, 15:41
2004 - Joe Flores, 17:34
2005 - Jon Warren, 16:33
2006 - Todd Gilbreath, 17:03
2007 - Joe Flores, 16:36
2008 - Jacob Mazone, 45, Oak Ridge North, 16:44
2009 - Bob Williamson, 40, 16:32
2010 - Bobby Williamson, 41, 16:40
2011 - Andrew Sharenson, 40, Houston, 17:41
2012 - Thomas King, Jr., 43, Houston, 17:34
2013 - Luis Armenteros, 40, Houston, 15:37
2014 - Luis Armenteros, 41, Houston, 16:05
2015 - Sean Wade, 49, Houston, 15:19
2016 - Luis Armenteros, 43, Houston, 15:33
2017 - Gabe Gomez, Houston, 17:48
2018 - Luis Armenteros, Houston, 16:46

Women's Overall
1989 - Debbi Warner, 17:59
1991 - Ann Bond, 18:27
1992 - Bridget Degan, 18:23
2002 - Jackie Rzepecki, 17:28
2003 - Kate Gorry, 17:38
2004 - Katrina Price, 19:52
2005 - Katrina Price, 18:38
2006 - Lisa Tilton-McCarthy, 18:50
2007 - Diana Hirst, 18:48
2008 - Diana Hirst, 33, Houston, 18:24
2009 - Diana Hirst, 34, Houston, 18:14
2010 - Katrina Price, 39, 19:00
2011 - Shannon Miller, 26, 17:37
2012 - Allison Pye, 23, Houston, 16:53
2013 - Lauren Smith, 22, Lake Jackson, 17:59
2014 - Kaytlynn Welsch, 13, Alvin, 18:44
2015 - Lauren Smith, 24, Lake Jackson, 16:57
2016 - Allison Poe, 34, Houston, 18:21 (18:17 chip)
2017 - Lauren Stroud, 26, Lake Jackson, 17:05
2018 - Lennie Waite, Houston, 17:45

Women's Masters
1989 - Georgette Green, 19:34
1991 - Jo May, 19:26
1992 - Barbara Amelio, 20:12
2002 - Sherrie Keim, 18:21
2003 - Sherrie Keim, 18:42
2004 - Heide Mairs, 21:01
2005 - Helen Grant, 19:04
2006 - Heide Mairs, 19:57
2007 - Helen Grant, 19:39
2008 - Sabra Harvey, 59, Houston, 19:40
2009 - Caroline Burum, 43, Houston, 19:12
2010 - Sabra Harvey, 61, Houston, 19:13
2011 - Martha Long, 42, 20:46
2012 - Cindy Taylor, 43, Bellaire, 18:38
2013 - Laura Bennett, 45, Houston, 18:47
2014 - Laura Bennett, 46, Houston, 19:09
2015 - Katrina Stilwell, 44, Houston, 19:09
2016 - Kirsten Stefan, 42, Houston, 19:35
2017 - Sabra Harvey, 68, Houston, 19:50
2018 - Sherry Scott, Houston, 20:45

10K Men's Overall
2017 - Colby Mehmen, Princeton, 32:15
2018 - Jonathan Scheiner, Houston, 38:03

10K Men's Masters
2017 - Richard Peoples, 57, Houston, 41:19
2018 - Andy McEwan, Chertsey, Surrey, ENG, 40:09

10K Women's Overall
2017 - Marissa Cutaia, 27, 45:27 (45:19.3 chip)
2018 - Laura Craig, 41:12

10K Women's Masters
2017 - Stephanie Willis, 43, Houston, 46:12
2018 - Camille Boon, Houston, 45:45

Number of Timed Finishers
2009 - 1,180
2010 - 857
2011 - 1,022
2012 - 921
2013 - 885
2014 - 961
2015 - 817
2016 - 798
2017 - 5K (776), 10K (237)
2018 - 5K (1,007), 10K (294)

Sources: 1989-1992 (Houston Chronicle Archives), 2002-2007 (Runner Triathlete News), 2008-current (Run Wild Sports Timing)

Friday, June 1, 2018

Shut Out In The Registration Line

Have you ever walked up to register for a race with money in hand - ready to part with your discretionary income - and turn around and walk away?

Probably not. And before tonight, I don't think I had either.

Five years ago, I did a 5K race on a Friday evening in Deussen Park, which is directly next to the southernmost part of Lake Houston.

It was called the Dusk Dash at Deussen.

I believe that a second race was held in 2014 and then it went dormant.

About a month ago, I received an e-mail that they were going to be holding it this year and it was going to be on Friday, June 1 in the same location.

I didn't sign up early because I have to work on Friday and I didn't know how long my work calls would go.

I had it planned out, however, to leave after the last call was over at 4 p.m. and have plenty of time, even with a little traffic, to register and be there for the start of the race at 6 p.m.

After the race, I would return my rental car at IAH for the week, walk to the EcoPark lot and get my car and then drive home.

I pulled into the parking lot at about 5:05 p.m. and started to walk up.

Having done it five years ago, I didn't expect all of the bells and whistles.

In fact, I was fully expecting to pay $35 - primarily as a donation to the Boy Scouts from Troop 474 and girls from Venture Crew Troop 665 - for nothing more than a bib and maybe a T-shirt and to run/race 3.1 miles in 97 degrees.

I saw a start and finish line inflatable and saw that it was from Kim Bachmeier's FTR Race Management in Galveston County.

I didn't see Kim immediately - or at all - so in hindsight they might have just been renting her inflatable.

There was a tent that looked like where packet pickup and registration activities might be going on.

Even though I saw that FTR was "there", I didn't see any timing mats. Therefore, as I expected, we'd do manual timing. I've lots of races that way.

As I approached the tent, I saw a sign for "packet pickup" and nothing for registration.

I had e-mailed to confirm that race day was $35 - and not a surprise of $40. ($40 would be past my 5K price limit.)

So there was a table close to the finish line where two young ladies had papers with them. I thought that maybe they were just taking names down, etc., but when I approached and asked, they pointed back to the tent that I was.

There were two young ladies and an adult with a child in her left hand.

Two young boys were getting bib numbers to either run the 1-mile race or the 5K. Couldn't decipher which.

The adult was putting their names in a laptop computer and even asked the second young man what number he wanted.

As they got done with both of them, I asked, "Is there any type of form to fill out?"

I'm not sure if "No" was said, but the adult said, "If you have a phone, you can go there and register or I can ...."

She didn't try to find somebody to hold the young person in her left arm and possibly say, "Can you hold him while I try to get this gentleman registered?"

But by the time she said, "I can ...," it was a turn-off. I didn't listen to anything else and made a decision to leave.

I had correct change even. A $20 bill, two $5 bills and five $1 bills.

I saw John Thames with Spring Action Photos and I tried not to engage too much because I really didn't want to go into any details about why I was leaving.

Could I have gone and registered on my phone? Yes.

It was PayPal setup with a credit card, but I didn't know if I would have had to pay an additional fee.

And then I would have been directed to fill out a Google form, which I'm assuming was setup to share to her computer.

As I drove towards George Bush Intercontinental Airport, I realized that the two young ladies at the table by the finish line were going to do manual timing, which was perfectly cool.

The numbers weren't going to be that big.

And I completely expected like Run The Woodlands 5K to keep my time manually.

And by registering online, there was an asterisk on the Register button which pointed immediately below to their legal release.

Perhaps if the adult had started with that, I might have been more amenable to the idea.

The bottom line was: I didn't need to run the race - as I'm running the Heights Fun Run 10K in the morning, but I wanted to.

However, I know a lot of other races that - if race day registration is offered - they will figure out how to receive your money every way possible short of bitcoins.

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Marathon Maniacs Get Fast Pass to Chevron Houston Marathon Registration Line

The Chevron Houston Marathon asked on its Facebook page yesterday, May 30, “Who’s registering with us?”

Registration for the January 2019 race opens at noon on Wednesday, June 6, in conjunction with Global Running Day.

Runners can register for $150 for the marathon and $130 for the half marathon through the month of June before the price increases to $175 and $140, respectively, on July 1.

Five days ahead of Global Running Day, the Austin Marathon kicks off its registration with $100 marathon and $80 half marathon pricing through July 17 and the BMW Dallas Marathon, which opened its registration on May 1 at $119 and $99, respectively, will increase its prices by $20 on the marathon to $139 and $30 on the half marathon to $129.

However, in an announcement made last night, May 30, to Marathon Maniac mailing list subscribers (of which I’m on as a former and early Marathon Maniac), the Chevron Houston Marathon is giving Maniacs and Fanatics members in good standing the opportunity to register for five days – in advance of the race’s public registration opening.

“The race is offering five days of early and exclusive registration prior to opening up registration to the masses,” Marathon Maniacs’ e-mail states. “The half marathon does sell out, so this is your opportunity to guarantee your spot in the race!”

The Chevron Houston Marathon is offering, according to the e-mail, the following: a.) special Marathon Maniac bib marking, b.) exclusive Marathon Maniac pre- and post-race area for gathering, c.) a tent in the outdoor Discovery Green post-race run club area and that d.) the “clubs will also have a booth at the Expo for all your gear needs!”

The e-mail blast from the Marathon Maniacs implies an ongoing relationship between the race and the organization.

“The Maniacs and Fanatics are partnering with the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon starting in 2019,” the e-mail stated. “This will be our 1st race in the new Club Exclusive Events lineup.”

The partnership with the Marathon Maniacs would increase the chances that more out-of-town runners – putting highly coveted heads in downtown hotel beds – before local runners – who didn’t commit early - have an opportunity to grab – and possibly sell-out early – entries at the $150 marathon and $130 half marathon price levels.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

This Weekend's Heights Fun Run and Run Houston Clear Lake

A review of the RunSignUp.com registration page for this Saturday's Houston Heights 5K and 10K Fun Run may indicate that the race may experience a slight bump in its numbers, dependent upon registrations throughout the rest of the week.

The Heights Run had 273 for the 10K and 717 for the 5K showing as registered so far. (This didn't include the 101 who are signed up for the 5K walk, which will be untimed.)

Last year, with the addition of the 10K, the race experienced an overall 26.9% increase in timed finishers (237 for the 10K and 776 for the 5K) over 2016.

This all coming in the face of competition from Sunday's Run Houston Clear Lake, which experienced a 7.3% decrease last year in overall timed finishers (including its Kids 1K that is timed) from 2016 to 2017.

While the Run Houston Series uses the same registration platform, RunSignUp, its participant lookup is limited - for valid reasons - to name combination or e-mail address.

Both races on Monday sent e-mails to their mailing lists offering a discount for registrations by end of day 5/28. Heights' amount was undisclosed, while Run Houston Clear Lake offered past participants $10 off. This amounted to 20% off its current $50 registration fee for both the 5K and the 10K.

Heights opened its registration on April 25 by offering its past participants 20% for the first four days.

The courses for both the 5K and the 10K of the Heights Fun Run are certified. TX17061LAB and TX17062LAB are the certification numbers for the 5K and the 10K, respectively. A check of certified courses on the USATF web site did not reveal the same for Run Houston Clear Lake.

Heights Fun Run Timed Finishers (Since 2009)
2009 - 1,180
2010 - 857
2011 - 1,022
2012 - 921
2013 - 885
2014 - 961
2015 - 817
2016 - 798
2017 - 5K (776), 10K (237)

Run Houston Clear Lake Finishers (Since Inception)
10K
2015 -- 617 (377 women, 240 men)
2016 -- 679
2017 -- 598 (304 women, 294 men)
5K
2015 -- 623 (422 women, 201 men)
2016 -- 905
2017 -- 893 (526 women, 367 men)
1M/1K
2015 -- 81 (47 women, 34 men)
2016 -- 105
2017 -- 75 (33 women, 42 men)
Total Finishers
2015 -- 1,320
2016 -- 1,689 (27.9% increase)
2017 -- 1,566 (7.3% decrease)

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Can't Everybody Run A Small-Town Race?

As many are aware, I don’t sit still for too long.

I have people tell me they have a hard time keeping up and my response is always, “I’m just trying to stay busy and encouraging others to do the same.”

One of the things that I wish my fellow runners would do more of is to participate in a small-town race.

Not because they can “podium” or take home “hardware”, but just to slow down a little bit and enjoy a race that – more often than not – is put on by a group of people who are passionate about their community and/or a cause … yet still produce a quality race.

I’m not saying that races in large cities don’t.

There’s just something different.

And until you experience it a few times, you can’t separate the hustle and bustle of a large race and the appeal of a small community race.

I’ve run three races so far this weekend and will run in one more in the morning on Memorial Day.

It will be in my hometown of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. I think I will run past two places – 802 and 809 Park Avenue – during the race where I lived as a child.

Friday night’s ninth annual Mayfest 5K in Fryburg had 111 timed finishers. This race was about two hours away from where my grandmother lives in Tipton, just south of State College – the home of Penn State University.

Saturday morning’s 12th annual Dr. John Yellenic Memorial Day 5K in Blairsville had 44 timed runners and walkers.

And this morning’s Gabriel Lee Friedline Memorial 5K Run in Schellsburg, just outside of Bedford, had 56 timed runners and walkers.

When I registered in Fryburg Friday night and was offered a chance for a drawing for a prize, I declined.

I was just being polite in that I didn’t want to possibly win anything that I wouldn’t have been able to use.

I explained to the woman that I was from Texas – and up to visit my grandmother about two hours away – and she just couldn’t get over that somebody from that far outside of their community would participate in their race – and visit.

Again, not that I’ve ever not been appreciated for participating in somebody’s race, but this was different – and I don’t think it was just a Pennsylvania thing.

Although, one of the state’s slogans over the years has been, “You’ve got a friend in Pennsylvania.”

Saturday morning in Blairsville, I thought the race started at 8 a.m.

There weren’t too many people around as I walked toward the middle of the park at about 7:30 a.m.
I made the comment, “Everybody will show at the last minute, huh?”

Then I quickly learned that the race – as it was seen on the flyer – would begin at 9 a.m.

I went back to the hotel and walked a little bit around downtown after I returned, but when I finished I enjoyed a conversation with two or three gentlemen about how the race went.

One was with Blairsville’s Parks and Recreation Department and I told them about my involvement at home and that they seriously checked off all of the boxes for a well-produced race.

A good bit of the race was run on the Blairsville Riverfront Trail that was developed along the north side of the Conemaugh River.

It was really a pretty, peaceful place to be and run a race.

This morning didn’t disappoint either.

Bedford is almost an hour south of where my grandmother lives. To the west, along Highway 30, is Schellsburg and Shawnee State Park.

I had two sets of plans, given that there was a threat of thunderstorms.

If it was continually raining, my plans were to go to church in either Altoona at Calvary Baptist Church (their services were at 10:30 a.m.) or at Northwood Baptist Chapel, which I guess you could say was the very first church I regularly attended as a child.

The latter was also the church in which my parents were married in.

The rains held off – and pretty much didn’t materialize too much throughout the day today; so, it was run that I did.

The loop around Shawnee Lake was 3.4 miles and more than half of it was on a nice trail and the rest was on park roads.

So we walked .3 mile to where the start line was and took off from there.

Before the race, I met a gentleman named David Addison from Norman, Oklahoma.

He was wearing a “Boomer Sooner” bandana that was positioned on his head like those who participate in Spartan races.

Before I talked to him directly, I said earlier, “As long as they beat Texas.”

He and his wife, Dawn, were running their fourth race in five days in four different states and they were heading to New Jersey to run a Memorial Day race tomorrow.

He shared with me that he lost a lung and his doctor made a comment that he wouldn’t run again.

He said that running a race in all 50 states was his way of proving his doctor wrong.

Wednesday, they were in Stamford, Connecticut for the Boys and Girls Club Corporate Challenge 5K where he ran 28:52 and his wife finished in 32:55.

Yesterday in Richmond, Virginia, he told me they ran the Virginia War Memorial They Gave All 5K and said that it was a very hilly course where the winning time was just 19:37.

He covered the distance in 33:23 while his wife stopped the clock in 37:43.

Today, they finished in 33:01.51 and 37:08.84, respectively.

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch where they raced on either Thursday or Friday.

He said his goal was to finish the Honolulu Marathon in 2020 in under four hours. He believes that it would be the fastest time in the marathon for a person with one lung.

The course had a little roll to it, a good portion of it was shaded and some was on the roads, but overall it was an enjoyable race.

I had hoped my times would be a little bit better, but hey, it is all about the experience of getting out and doing something different.

Friday -- 9th annual Fryburg Mayfest Fun Run 5K (Fryburg, PA) - 31:06.18
Saturday -- 12th annual Dr. John Yelenic Memorial Day 5K (Blairsville, PA) - 32:40.23
Sunday -- Gabriel Lee Friedline Memorial 5K Run (Schellsburg, PA) - 32:24.91

One more race in the morning, the Joshua House Memorial Day 5K in Tyrone.

It starts at 8:30 a.m. and then I have to come back here to my grandmother’s house, shower and drive to BWI to fly home tomorrow evening.

Another good trip. Always good to spend time with and around my 93-year-old grandmother, who has lived by herself for a little more than four years after my grandfather passed away in April 2014.

To me, that’s the most amazing thing of all.

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Ennis Polkafest 10K and 5K Finishers Numbers

10K
2018 (May 26) - 99
2017 (May 27) - 116
2016 (May 28) - 172
2015 (May 23) - 167
2014 (May 24) - 143
2013 (May 25) - 123
2012 (May 26) - 95
2011 (May 28) - 108
2010 (May 29) - 93

5K
2018 (May 26) - 271
2017 (May 27) - 299
2016 (May 28) - 319
2015 (May 23) - 378
2014 (May 24) - 381
2013 (May 25) - 313
2012 (May 26) - 297
2011 (May 28) - 273
2010 (May 29) - 252

Sources: Racing Systems; wetimeraces.com

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Canton Balloon Festival Half and 10K Finishers Numbers

2018 (May 19) - 173 half, 123 10K
2017 - Cancelled
2016 (May 14) - 181 half, 112 10K

Sources: Racing Systems, Dallas; wetimeraces.com

Monday, May 7, 2018

Silo District Marathon Boston Qualifiers

MALE
2:16:20 - Julius Keter, 29, New York, NY
2:16:25 - Rodgers Ondati Gesabwa, 30, Guadalupe, MEX
2:18:41 - Christopher Chipsiya, 43, Zacatecas, MEX
2:22:10 - Jarrett Leblanc, 27, Jennings, LA
2:22:22 - Benjamin Meto, 43, Georgetown, TX
2:33:03 - Travis Noble, 42, Waco, TX
2:53:32 - Pete Estes, 29, Little Elm, TX
2:56:30 - Merlin Elsner, 43, Oakland, MI
2:59:45 - Elias Rutto, 28, Grand Prairie, TX
3:00:22 - Peter Beauvais, 56, Desoto, TX
3:04:08 - Jay Matlack, 32, Kansas City, MO
3:09:06 - Donald Quintana, 34, Mandeville, LA
3:09:13 - Jason Ernst, 44, Camrose, AB
3:10:16 - Jim Cleary, 54, Austin, TX
3:14:42 - Shawn Griffin, 44, Nolanville, TX
3:20:09 - Steve Maliszewski, 46, Houston, TX
3:23:41 - Sean Lewis, 50, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
3:29:53 - Bill Dobbie, 58, St. Augustine, FL
3:35:47 - Chris Venicx, 58, New Braunfels, TX

FEMALE
2:38:15 - Shewarge Amare, 31, New York, NY
2:40:02 - Susan Tanui, 33, Grand Prairie, TX
2:41:52 - Ladia Albertson-Junkans, 32, Snoqualmie, WA
2:46:23 - Mary Akor, 41, Hawthorne, CA
3:01:00 - Megan Skeels, 44, Aledo, TX
3:04:08 - Ellie Pell, 26, Interlaken, NY
3:04:27 - Magaly Soto, 41, Arlington, TX
3:04:55 - Kristin Garcia, 37, Fort Worth, TX
3:05:41 - Shana Welch, 33, Strong, AR
3:15:00 - Cathie Delgado, 43, Grand Prairie, TX
3:16:13 - Aimee Henley, 30, Jonesborough, TN
3:18:08 - Lisa Holding Eagle, 35, Dickinson, ND
3:20:44 - Monica Kirkpatrick, 40, Tuscaloosa, AL
3:24:02 - Amy Johnson, 33, Hewitt, TX
3:26:23 - Becky Stanford, 33, Austin, TX
3:29:08 - Tiffany Dudley, 35, Starkville, MS
3:32:00 - Sierra Binek, 34, Beaverton, OR
3:32:05 - Amanda Price, 17, Lake Jackson, TX
3:43:46 - Maria Martinez, 41, Crowley, TX
3:48:51 - Julie Williams, 44, Pearland, TX

Sources: Racing Systems, wetimeraces.com, Silo District Marathon

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