Run In Texas Finishers Numbers

Piney Woods TrailFest 5K, 10 Mile, 20 Mile, 50k and Kids Mile, HOUSTON
2018 - 50K (14 - 6w/8m), 20M (25 - 10w/15m), 10M (53 - 23w/30m), 5K (33 - 17w/16m), 1M
2017 - 50K (17 - 5w/12m), 20M (44 - 26w/18m), 10M (132 - 62w/70m), 5K (62 - 42w/20m), 1M (19 - 13w/6m)
2016 - 50K (17 - 7w/10m), 20M (32 - 12w/20m), 10M (97 - 49w/48m), 5K (45 - 22w/23m), 1M (4 - 1w/3m)
2015 - 50K (25 - 5w/20m), 20M (63 - 23w/40m), 10M (109 - 53w/56m), 5K (53 - 26w/27m), 1M (5 - 4w/1m)
2014 - 50K (23 - 7w/16m), 20M (49 - 23w/26m), 10M (72 - 29w/43m), 5K (36 - 19w/17m)
2013 - 50K (19 - 5w/14m), 20M (24 - 12w/12m), 10M (94 - 48w/46m), 5K (63 - 33w/30m)
2012 - 10M (93 - 42w/49m), 5K (47 - 24w/23m)
2011 - 10M (99 - 36w/63m), 5K (73 - 39w/34m)
2010 - 10M (153 - 78w/75m), 5K (53 - 30w/23m)

Middleton Brewing Co. Third Coast 5K, SAN MARCOS
2018 - 225 (118 women / 107 men)
2017 - 258 (147 women / 111 men)
2016 - 113 (65 women / 48 men)

Goliad Brewing Co. 5K Beer Run, GOLIAD
2017 - 202 (106 women / 96 men)
2016 - 98 (62 women / 36 men)

Redfish IPA 5K Beer Run, GOLIAD
2018 - 213 (113 women / 100 men)

Twisted X 5K Beer Run, DRIPPING SPRINGS
2016 - 590 (347 women / 243 men)
2015 - 322 (193 women / 129 men)

The Texas Two Way Torture Test 10M, JOHNSON CITY
2017 - 41 teams and 10 solo (8 women, 2 men)
2016 - 79 teams and 13 solo (4 women, 9 men)

Alamo Brewing Company 5K, SAN ANTONIO
2018 - 261 (131 women / 130 men)
2017 - 258 (140 women / 118 men)
2016 - 348 (180 women / 168 men)
2015 - 286 (160 women / 126 men)

El Chupacabra de DFW, GRAPEVINE
2014 - 10K (105 - 49w/56m), 5K (61 - 27w/34m)
2013 - 10K (72 - 30w/42m), 5K (50 - 31w/19m)
2011 - 10K (62 - 29w/33m)
2010 - 10K (84 - 43w/41m)

South Padre Island Sand Crab 10K & 5K Nighttime Beach Runs, SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
2018 - 10K (62 - 32w/28m), 5K (221 - 143w/78m), Kids (19 - 5w/14m)
2017 - 10K (90 - 59w/31m), 5K (263 - 176w/87m), Kids (18 - 9w/9m)
2016 - 10K (140 - 85w/55m), 5K (377 - 241w/136m), Kids (29 - 16w/13m)
2015 - 10K (86 - 46w/40m), 5K (249 - 146w/103m), Kids (52 - 23w/29m)
2014 - 10K (127 - 69w/58m), 5K/2.8M (290 - 185w/105m), Kids (52 - 16w/36m)
2013 - 10K (153 - 81w/72m), 5K (488 - 322w/166m), Kids (65 - 36w/29m)
2012 - 10K (206 - 118w/88m), 5K (530 - 363w/167m)
2011 - 10K (159 - 83w/76m), 5K (213 - 142w/71m)

Rentsch Brewery 5K Beer Run, GEORGETOWN
2018 - 208 (112 women / 96 men)

Texas Flower Country Women’s 5K/10K, FREDERICKSBURG
2018 - 10K (78), 5K (278 - 276 women / 2 men)
2017 - 10K (86), 5K (204)
2016 - 10K (129), 5K (331)
2015 - 10K (71), 5K (204)
2014 - 10K (137), 5K (243)
2013 - 10K (173), 5K (296)
Texas Lavender Women's 10K, BLANCO
2012 - 10K (171), 5K (279)
2011 - 10K (190), 5K (231)
2010 - 10K (312), 5K (281)
Texas Lavender Hills Women's 10K, BLANCO
2009 - 10K (120), 5K (143)

Cedar Creek Brewery, SEVEN POINTS
2017 - 142 (74 women / 68 men)
2016 - 160 (91 women / 69 men)
2015 - 129 (75 women / 54 men)

Galveston Island Brewing Co. 5K Beer Run, GALVESTON
2018 - 263 (136 women / 127 men)

No Label Brewing First Street 5K, KATY
2018 - 817 (417 women / 400 men)
2017 - 973 (498 women / 473 men)
2016 - 942 (476 women / 466 men)
2015 - 769 (430 women / 339 men)
2014 - 675 (387 women / 288 men)

San Antonio Chupacabra 5K/10K Night Trail Run, SAN ANTONIO
2018 - 10K (153 - 64w/89m), 5K (297 - 135w/162m)
2017 - 10K (161 - 66w/95m), 5K (248 - 134w/114m)
2016 - 10K (170 - 76w/94m), 5K (238 - 131w/107m)
2015 - 10K (153 - 65w/98m), 5K (236 - 126w/110m)
2014 - 10K (155 - 77w/78m), 5K (208 - 116w/92m)
2013 - 10K (265 - 118w/147m), 5K (411 - 254w/157m)
2012 - 10K (304 - 122w/182m), 5K (487 - 283w/204m)
2011 - 10K (470 - 210w/260m), 5K (436 - 255w/181m)
2010 - 10K (913 - 516w/397m)
2009 - 10K (452 - 214w/238m)
2008 - 10K (77 - 33w/46m)

Port Aransas Sand Crab 5K/10K, Kid Mile Nighttime Beach Run, PORT ARANSAS
2018 - 10K (43 - 27w/16m), 5K (171 - 117w/54m), Kids (13 - 8w/5m)
2017 - 10K (34 - 16w/18m), 5K (128 - 88w/40m), Kids (21 - 9w/12m)
2016 - 10K (54 - 31w/23m), 5K (141 - 89w/52m), Kids (2 - 1w/1m)
2014 - 10K (7 - 4w/3m), 5K (36 - 23w/13m), Kids (16 - 7w/9m)

Southern Star Brewing Co. 5K, CONROE
2018 - 473 (240 women / 233 men)
2017 - 442 (217 women / 225 men)
2016 - 388 (204 women / 184 men)
2015 - 343 (179 women / 164 men)

Sand Crab Galveston 5K/10K Night Beach Run, GALVESTON
2018 - 10K (100 - 51w/49m), 5K (201 - 130w/71m), Kids (27 - 12w/15m)
2017 - 10K (70 - 40w/30m), 5K (203 - 122w/79m), Kids (22 - 13w/9m)
2016 - 10K (45 - 21w/24m), 5K (157 - 91w/56m), Kids (30 - 16w/14m)
2015 - 10K (67 - 33w/34m), 5K (223 - 140w/83m), Kids (24 - 11w/13m)
2014 - 10K (72 - 38w/34m), 5K (204 - 129w/75m), Kids (17 - 7w/10m)
2013 - 10K (135 - 73w/62m), 5K (342 - 215w/127m), Kids (17 - 8w/9m)
2012 - 10K (291 - 158w/133m), 5K (660 - 456w/204m)
2011 - 10K (253 - 143w/110m), 5K (528 - 340w/188m)
2010 - 10K (399 - 224w/175m), 5K (636 - 420w/216m)

El Chupacabra de Houston 10K Night Trail Run, HOUSTON
2017 - 10K (101 - 36w/65m), 5K (94 - 54w/40m)
2016 - 10K (147 - 59w/88m), 5K (111 - 60w/51m)
2015 - 10K (87 - 30w/57m), 5K (80 - 40w/40m)
2014 - 10K (137 - 67w/70m), 5K (111 - 68w/43m)
2013 - 10K (218 - 103w/115m), 5K (195 - 111w/84m)
2012 - 10K (327 - 141w/186m), 5K (216 - 134w/82m)
2011 - 10K (429 - 215w/214m)
2010 - 10K (367 - 162w/205m)

Lighthouse Hill Ranch, Saturday, JOHNSON CITY
2017 - 50K (14 - 6w/8m), 20M (42 - 17w/25m), 10M (75 - 40w/35m)
2016 - 50K (22 - 10w/12m), 20M (31 - 13w/18m), 10M (70 - 37w/33m)
2015 - 50K (14 - 6w/8m), 20M (38 - 21w/17m), 10M (74 - 40w/34m)

General Zaragoza 5K Beer Run, GOLIAD
2017 - 5K (125 - 70w/55m)

Monarch Migration 10K Butterfly, FREDERICKSBURG
2016 - 10K (23 - 15w/8m), 5K (60 - 46w/14m), 1M (20 - 14w/6m)
2015 - 10K (27 - 20w/7m), 5K (68 - 50w/18m), 1M (15 - 2w/13m)

Texas Harvest 5K/10K, FREDERICKSBURG
2017 - 10K (42 - 36w/6m), 5K (51 - 40w/11m)

Flying Man Brewing Company 5K, AUSTIN2019 - 102 (49 women / 53 men)

Guadalupe Brewing Company 5K, NEW BRAUNFELS2018 - 146 (77 women / 69 men)

Altstadt Brewing Company 5K, FREDERICKSBURG
2019 - 173 (97 women / 76 men)

Back Pew Brewing Company 5K, PORTER
2019 - 268 (131 women / 137 men)
2018 - 208 (110 women / 98 men)

Spicewood Vineyards 1/2 Marathon & 10K, SPICEWOOD
2019 - Half (82 - 51w/31m), 10K (97 - 68w/29m), 5K (41 - 34w/7m)
2018 - Half (106 - 65w/41m), 10K (83 - 61w/22m)
2017 - Half (92 - 62w/30m), 10K (60 - 35w/25m)
2016 - Half (113 - 64w/59m), 10K (100 - 68w/32m)
2015 - Half (180 - 122w/58m), 10K (135 - 92w/43m)
2014 - Half (240 - 158w/82m), 10K (145 - 113w/32m)
2013 - Half (193 - 113w/80m), 10K (120 - 88w/32m)
2012 - Half (213 - 127w/86m), 10K (147 - 101w/46m)
2011 - Half (216 - 146w/70m), 10K (160 - 113w/47m)
2010 - Half (148 - 97w/51m), 10K (132 - 103w/29m)
2009 - Half (93 - 57w/36m), 10K (150 - 104w/46m)

Real Ale Brewing Company 5K Beer Run, BLANCO
2019 - 257 (129 women / 128 men)
2018 - 273 (127 women / 146 men)
2017 - 205 (104 women / 101 men)
2016 - 217 (115 women / 102 men)

Terry Hershey parkrun #51 notes

After finishing second to Peter Lawrence in parkrun #50 on December 21, Andrew Johnston returned to his winning ways as he grabbed his 31st win in 33 appearances at Terry Hershey parkrun.

Junior runner James Boutte, Jr.'s first-ever parkrun saw him finishing second in a time of 18:56.  He was the first of 27 new runners to Terry Hershey parkrun on Saturday.

Graham Dwyer was the third overall male in 20:45 with a little international parkrun tourism at play as all 30 of his prior parkruns have been in the UK, with 23 of them coming at Tonbridge parkrun.  Wife Lesley joined in for first Terry Hershey parkrun (12 parkruns in total) with a 29:15 finish.

Alison Matthews was the first female finisher in her fifth consecutive race at Terry Hershey parkrun.  Alison has 43 career parkruns, including appearances at 15 different parkruns in the UK -- and wins at 13 of them.

Adam Eiler, fifth overall, completed his 25th parkrun, including 24 this year at Terry Hershey.  The other came this summer at the Centennial, Australia parkrun.

Darren Oxspring led his son, Thomas, across the Terry Hershey parkrun finish line by 38 seconds to finish seventh and eighth overall.  It was Darren's 25th parkrun at Terry Hershey and Thomas is one finish away from 15 at Terry Hershey.

Gita Kulkarni was the second overall female finisher in 24:20, her second race at Terry Hershey parkrun in the last three weeks.

Edward Montana, Mark Coleman and James Barry finished 14th through 16th and within 10 seconds of one another - and each is now one away from an official and unofficial milestone.  Ed's next race will be his tenth overall while Mark and James are looking for their 20th and 15th parkrun finishes respectively.

Stephen Pink trailed all three of them, but he posted his 25th finish at Terry Hershey with a time of 26:53.

Clint and Nicolas Hutchinson finished in 18th and 23rd, respectively, with times of 27:07 and 28:30, but it leaves Clint one parkrun shy of 15 while Clint is sitting at 16 to close out 2019.

Paul Broadhead was the first of seven new personal bests on Saturday with his mark of 28:32.  His next Terry Hershey parkrun finish will be his 10th.  He has five other parkruns to his credit - four at Daventry, UK and one at Sale Water parkrun in the UK.

Eva and Andrea Williams finished within a second of each other and completed their 20th and 21st parkruns at Terry Hershey as they are both approaching their 50th park run.  Eva, running in the 15-17 age group, has 46 - not even counting her six junior park runs in the UK - and Andrea has 47.

Irma Machac grabbed her fourth new personal best of the year with a run of 29:53 as she has lowered her time from her first parkrun of 31:43.

Kaiya Pino and Claire Foster were the next two runners who recorded personal bests in their second Terry Hershey parkruns.  Kaiya was 38th overall in 31:16 while Claire finish three positions and 24 seconds behind in 31:40.

Peter Foster's next parkrun finish will be his tenth.  He finished his sixth Terry Hershey parkrun to go with his three this March at the Portsmoth Lakeside parkrun in the UK.

Barry Chambers posted his personal best two weeks ago in his second Terry Hershey parkrun, but dialed it back a little bit to run with his granddaughter, Mia, for her parkrun finish in 32:17.

Father Paul and daughter Kristen Schank finished together in 32:18 on Saturday.  While it was his 17th Terry Hershey parkrun finish, it was Kristen's seventh -- and the sixth that she's run with her father.

Shima Gammack and Haitao Zhang finished four positions apart - 48th and 52nd in 32:26 and 34:25, respectively, but the two ladies will completed their 25th and 20th parkruns on their next finish, likely at Terry Hershey parkrun where they've run all 44 of their combined races.

Paul Dickerson completed his 30th career parkrun on Saturday, while 22 of them have come at Terry Hershey and one at the brand new Bear Creek Greenbelt parkrun in Keller, Texas.  Of course, Paul has volunteered 40 times, including 13 as run director and 17 as results processor.

Terry Hershey parkrun #50 Notes

These are some notes that I compiled from the results of the parkrun at Terry Hershey Park on Saturday, December 21, 2019:

+  Saturday, December 21, 2019 was Terry Hershey parkrun's 50th race.  Of the 28 USA parkruns who have had 50 races, the 75 finishers was the fifth highest ever.  (In case, you're wondering, 93 is the mark, set by College Park two years ago, when they hosted their 51st race.)

+  The 15 volunteers Saturday were the most ever, surpassing the 14 the race had the week before.  (Only Jamaica Pond and Kensington had more volunteers for their 50th race, 23 and 17, respectively.)

+  First finisher Peter Lawrence ran his first parkrun ever, finishing in 16:56, just eight seconds off of Andrew Johnston's event record of 16:48.  Johnston, who has won 30 Terry Hershey parkruns, was second in 17:01.

+  First female finisher Alison Matthews won her fourth race - in four tries - at Terry Hershey with a personal best time of 20:14.  Two of those four wins, she was the first finisher for the entire race.

+  Third place finisher Edward Katz joined us on Saturday after running the Jamaica Pond parkrun in Boston six times since 11/2/19.

+  John Yoder, who finished fourth overall, is one finish shy of his 25th Terry Hershey parkrun.

+  Charles Tremlett, sixth in 20:41, completed his 15th parkrun for 2019, including 13 at Cornwall, NZ and the other at Taupo, NZ.

+  Darren Oxspring completed his 25th career parkrun - all this year, with 24 coming at Terry Hershey and the other finish was at Torquay, Australia.

+  Oxspring and Francis Ogbonna, who finished immediately behind him, both earned a new personal best for their second consecutive race.

+  Peter Haasz, 14th overall, like Katz, joined us after running six Parkville, Australia parkruns since 10/26/19.

+  Andrea Williams, who ran her 20th Terry Hershey parkrun on Saturday, is just four away from 50 career parkruns.

+  Six consecutive runners - in places 22 through 27 -- ran new personal bests -- Isaac and Jesse Harvey, Mark Coleman, Barry Tyther, Clint Hutchinson and James Barry.

USA parkrun Male First Finishers with 10+ Wins through 12/22/19

79 - Thomas PREISS (18:47.0) - 76 at Livonia and one each at three others

61 - Philip MOLLOY (18:51.0) - Durham NC

55 - Unknown ATHLETE (20:51.6)
52 - Luiz PRESTES (17:24.2) - 51 at Clermont Waterfront and 1 at Renton
51 - Greg KRATHWOHL (16:38.2) - Crissy Field

49 - Clark RIDGE (18:10.5)
40 - Jonathan HERMANSEN (19:22.3)

37 - Joshua STYRON (20:02.9)
36 - Jon FULWIDER (21:59.2)
31 - Juan LEG (26:16.0)
30 - Travis BOLTJES (16:44.1)
30 - Andrew JOHNSTON (17:26.5)

26 - Benn THOMAS (17:54.0)
25 - Donlon MCGOVERN (20:21.6)
22 - Sam PHIPPS (17:57.2)
22 - Dylan HUNTER (20:07.6)
22 - Ted POULOS (21:01.2)
22 - Lynn BOVEN (23:59.0)
21 - Jeremy ARGUELLES (17:46.1)
21 - Colin PHILLIPS (19:32.0)
21 - Timothy HOWSE (19:53.6)
20 - Kevin GROGAN (18:33.3)

19 - Andreas HEILMANN (17:49.3)
19 - Bill AKINS (19:53.9)
18 - Tim WHITCOMBE (17:55.9)
18 - John WOODMAN (17:57.7)
18 - Todd LYTLE (18:05.6)
18 - Will ERICSON (19:01.1)
18 - Alexander BRAUER (19:46.3)
18 - Charles ROBERTS (23:26.2)
16 - Robert EVESON (17:14.5)
16 - David ARMET (20:41.4)
15 - Alan DIXON (18:50.0)
15 - Matt PERKINS (18:56.4)
15 - Max JENSEN (19:24.0)
15 - Thor NEWSOME (19:28.0)
15 - Alan KELLY (19:49.7)

14 - Max METCALFE (18:48.1)
14 - Kai PAYNE (21:21.4)
13 - Tom BEAN (15:49.6)
13 - Tyle STELZIG (17:49.5)
13 - Shawn HOWSE (18:18.8)
13 - Mark LUTTERMAN (23:00.0)
12 - Scott ANDERSON (17:11.7)
12 - Neil GUERTIN (17:51.3)
12 - Michal SWEPSON (18:44.0)
12 - Howard FROST (19:20.9)
12 - Lokesh MEENA (19:20.9)
12 - Matthew BALL (20:19.3)
11 - Crispin FLOWERDAY (18:44.0)
11 - Christopher L SPEERS (19:34.4)
11 - Wade SMITH (28:08.2)
10 - Alexander SABIROV (18:14.5)
10 - Barton BECHARD (18:32.1)
10 - Lance DOHERTY (18:52.0)
10 - Nate LECKBAND (19:00.2)
10 - James COCHRAN (22:33.4)

Source:  parkrun.us
Compiled December 23, 2019

USA parkrun Average Number of Finishers as of 12/23/19

Average number of finishers per United States-based parkrun, through races of the weekend of December 21-22, 2019.

101 - College Park (MD)
92 - Clermont (FL) Waterfront
89 - Jamaica Pond (Boston, MA)
87 - Rec Plex North (Pensacola, FL)
80 - Crissy Field (San Franicsco)

61 - Roosevelt Island DC (Arlington, VA)
58 - Fletcher's Cove (Washington, DC)
58 - Terry Hershey (Houston, TX)
56 - Byxbee (Palo Alto, CA)
55 - Lillie (Ann Arbor, MI)

49 - Sippo Lake (Canton, OH)
47 - Perrigo (Redmond, WA)
44 - Delaware and Raritan Canal (Somerset, NJ)
44 - Eagan (MN)
43 - Kensington (MD)

41 - Depot Park (Gainesville, FL)
41 - Renton (WA)
40 - Livonia (MI)
39 - Charleston (WV)
38 - Des Moines (WA) Creek

35 - Deep Run (Richmond, VA)
35 - Mansfield OH
33 - Rock Creek Trail (Portland, OR)
32 - Weedon Island Preserve (St. Petersburg, FL)
30 - Durham NC

28 - Himmel (Tucson, AZ)
28 - South Boulder (CO) Creek
27 - Anacostia (Washington, DC)
27 - Howard Temin Lakeshore Path (Madison, WI)
26 - Leakin Park (Baltimore, MD)

26 - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller (Woodstock, VT)
23 - Northside Beltline (Atlanta, GA)
23 - Oak Grove (KY)
22 - Joe Creason (Louisville, KY)
22 - Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation (Cleveland, OH)

15 - Third Creek Greenway (Knoxville, TN)
14 - Heritage Harbor (Ottawa, IL)
14 - McAllister (Lafayette, IN)
12 - Mountain Goat Trail (Sewanee, TN)
10 - Bear Creek Greenbelt (Keller, TX)

7 - Aspen (CO)
3 - Moberly

Source:  parkrun.us
Compiled December 23, 2019

2019 Races

January
1.  Brazoria County Running Community 5K, 1/5 (Lake Jackson, TX) - 30:25.45* (missed a turn)
2.  TWRC Sunday Night 5K, 1/6 (The Woodlands, TX) - 29:17.53 / 29:05.63
3.  parkrun 5K #1, 1/19 (Houston, TX) - 28:27.88
4.  Young Life Run With Endurance 10K, 1/26 (Lumberton, TX) - 56:30.75
5.  Miracle Match Marathon 10K, 1/27 (Waco, TX) - 1:00:37.10

February
6.  Run For Wellness - Heights 5K, 2/3 (Houston, TX) - 27:58.38
7.  TWRC Sunday Night 5K, 2/3 (The Woodlands, TX) - 28:40.57
8.  17th annual Bearkat Bash 5K, 2/9 (Klein, TX) - 28:13.71
9.  3rd annual Miles for Meals 5K, 2/9 (Conroe, TX) - 28:14.80 (Ran proper course)
10.  Terryhershey parkrun 5K #5, 2/16 (Houston, TX) - 28:50.26
11.  Mainland Mardi Gras Fun Parade 5K, 2/16 (Texas City, TX) - 29:14.23  1OA!
12.  Rodeo Clown Roundup 5K, 2/17 (Houston, TX) - 29:56.49

March
13.  Revel Kulia Half Marathon (Kona, HI), 3/9 - 1:58:51 (Downhill HM PR)
14.  Spring ISD Fun Run, 3/23 (Spring, TX) - 24:46.57 (2.82 miles; 2AG; 8:47 pace)
15.  Third annual Tiger Spirit 5K, 3/30 (Conroe, TX) - 27:36.28 (3AG) - 2.99 FC watch / 3.04 mapmyrun
16.  First Responder Half Marathon, 3/31 (Waco, TX) - 2:19:04

April
17.  Run The Ramps 5K, 4/5 (College Station, TX) - 32:07.86
18.  Run For Wellness - Heights 5K, 4/7 (Houston, TX) - 28:50.61
19.  TWRC Sunday Night 5K, 4/7 (The Woodlands, TX) - 28:59.01
20.  13th annual Lockhart Kiwanis 5K Stampede, 4/13 (Lockhart, TX), 4/13 - 29:09.46
21.  2nd annual Taylor Veterans 5K Beer Run, 4/13 (Taylor, TX), 4/13 - 28:59.38 (probably short)
22.  RW5K Life Is Good In The Wood, 4/26 (Rollingwood, TX) - 29:13.56
23.  5th annual Cow Patty Classic 5K, 4/27 (Katy, TX) - 28:51.24 (3.16 miles?) 1AG

May
24.  Faith Academy Bellville Knights Run 5K, 5/4 (Bellville, TX) - 29:40.13 (3.17 GPS) - 4th OA of 7, XC
25.  Project Graduation Diploma Dash 5K, 5/4 (Queen City, TX) - 20:47.08 (2.2M GPS)
26.  TWRC Sunday Night 5K, 5/5 (The Woodlands, TX) - 29:20.55
27.  Cen-Tex Crime Stoppers Donut Dash 5K, 5/18 (Gatesville, TX) - 31:14.82 (8 OA, 5th male, 2 AG)
28.  Old Towne 5K, 5/18 (Leander, TX) - 30:47.69
29.  Deutschen Pfest 5K, 5/19 (Pflugerville, TX) - 30:57.10
30.  Larry Don's 7 & 7K, 5/25 (Gustine, TX) - 42:15.47 (4.23 miles per Steve Allen)
31.  Alpine Cowboys Home Run 10K, 5/25 (Alpine, TX) - 1:07:56.04

June
32.  Run Thru The Village 5K, 6/1 (Spring, TX) - 34:42.87 (with Waverly)
33.  Run For Wellness - Heights 5K, 6/2 (Houston, TX) - 30:08.67
34.  TWRC Sunday Night 5K, 6/2 (The Woodlands, TX) - 30:03.33
35.  Calder Twilight 5K, 6/7 (Beaumont, TX) - 29:35.45
36.  Run The Woodlands 5K, 6/8 (The Woodlands, TX) - 31:00.56
37.  6th annual Clifton Legacy Park 5K Glow Run, 6/8 (Clifton, TX) - 29:14.88 (2.97 miles per Steve Allen)
38.  Sun & Ski Sports Flash Mob Race Series #3, 6/20 (Houston, TX) - 31:31.52 (2.95 miles)
39.  Terry Hershey parkrun 5K #23, 6/22 (Houston, TX) - 30:27.52
40.  Leakin Park parkrun 5K #103, 6/29 (Baltimore, MD) - 34:21.70 (with Waverly)

July
41.  50th anniversary WTRC Firecracker Run 10K, 7/4 (Brownfield, TX) - 1:04:57.55
42.  DeCordova Dash 5K, 7/6 (DeCordova, TX) - 30:03.06 (2.98 miles per one runner's Garmin)
43.  Run For Wellness - Heights 5K, 7/7 (Houston, TX) - 30:26.75
44.  TRWC Sunday Night 5K, 7/7 (The Woodlands, TX) - 30:48.81
45.  South Boulder Creek parkrun 5K #72, 7/13 (Boulder, CO) - 33:27.80
46.  Miss Ima 5K, 7/20 (Quitman, TX) - 30:14.47
47.  2nd annual Howl At The Moon 5K, 7/20 (Waco, TX) - 30:49.59

August
48.  Canton Half Marathon, 8/4 (Canton, TX) - 2:27:24.50
49.  TUFF ENUFF 5K Trail Run, 8/17 (Woodway, TX) - 40:56.88
50.  Friday Night Lights 2M, 8/23 (The Woodlands, TX) - 20:00.63
51.  Terry Hershey parkrun 5K #32, 8/24 (Houston, TX) - 30:14.50
52.  Run For Wellness - George Bush Park 5K, 8/25 (Houston, TX) - 30:03.93
53.  Run For Their Lives 5K, 8/31 (Ebensburg, PA) - 32:30.43 (~3.5 miles)

September
54.  Labor Day Pump and Run 5K, 9/2 (Tipton, PA) - 32:44.16

October
55.  Anacostia parkrun 5K #92, 10/26 (Washington, DC) - 33:10.36

November
56.  Charleston parkrun 5K #74, 11/2 (Charleston, WV) - 32:10.80
57.  South Belt 5K, 11/9 (Houston, TX) - 31:11.62
58.  Terryhershey parkrun 5K #43, 11/9 (Houston, TX) - 32:42.44
59.  Face The Race 5K, 11/16 (Midland, TX) - 32:41.60 (likely 3.25 miles)
60.  Athens Turkey Trot Family Fun Run 5K (Athens, TX) - 30:31.52
61.  Friends of the Running Community 5K #1 (The Woodlands, TX) - 30:49.35

December
62.  TWRC Sunday Night 5K, 12/1 (The Woodlands, TX) - 30:24.08
63.  Communities In Schools Wonderland Run 5K (Waco, TX) - 30:06.76
64.  Chocoholic Frolic 10K (Grand Prairie, TX) -- 1:00:43.44 (might be a little short)
65.  DHS Cross Country Boat Parade 5K (Delcambre, LA) -- 25:33.38 (2.64 miles) - 30:04 5K equivalent
66.  Bonfire Festival 5K (Lutcher, LA) -- 30:14.65
67.  Clermont Waterfront parkrun 5K #318 (Clermont, FL) -- 30:15.90

Four Years of NXR South Championship Races

2016-2019
Brady Laboret, Lucas Lovejoy
Carter Betts, Fayetteville

Grace Litzinger, Fayetteville (AR)

Gracie Hall, Cedar Park
Isabelle Brown, Baton Rouge (LA) St. Joseph's Academy
Johnathan Flint, Flower Mound
Jordan Mathis, Austin Vandegrift
Rachel James, Humble Kingwood
Shelby Spoor, Coppell

2015-2018
Alex Maier, Lewisville Flower Mound
Cambria Clark, Comal Smithson Valley and Keller
Camren Fischer, Fayetteville
Grace Custer, Spring Branch Stratford
Lauren Hendry, Baton Rouge (LA) St. Joseph's Academy

Top Texans at the Boston Marathon, 2001-2019 (Women)

Women's Open

2001 - 3:11:02, Christine Agnew, 30, Houston
2002 - 3:09:16, Colette Medlock, 26, Tyler
2003 - 3:07:02, Kristin Walter, 20, Austin
2004 - 3:08:43, Sarah Wheeler, 24, Houston
2005 - 3:00:10, Maureen Sweeney, 27, Houston
2006 - 2:46:30, Melissa Christian, 29, Dallas
2007 - 2:46:28, Lori Sitch Zimmerman, 36, Cedar Creek
2008 - 2:55:28, Becky Angeles, 31, Nevada
2009 - 2:57:28, Patricia Vargas, 37, Ennis
2010 - 2:44:01, Melissa Christian, 33, Dallas
2011 - 2:37:32, Caroline White, 25, Wichita Falls
2012 - 3:01:24, Marnie Staehly, 34, San Antonio
2013 - 2:52:59, Briseida Ramos, 29, Dallas
2014 - 2:53:43, Anita Quirino, 31, San Antonio
2015 - 2:46:44, Liza Hunter-Galvan, 45, San Antonio
2016 - 2:53:27, Karen Lockyer, 38, Tyler
2017 - 2:48:48, Nora Colligan, 34, Austin
2018 - 2:57:26, Krysten Tucker, 30, Austin
2019 - 2:40:26, Dawn Grunnagle, 41, Dallas

Women's Masters

2001 - 3:17:14, Alice Pruitt, 41, Fort Worth
2002 - 3:06:42, Barbara Stoll, 40, Houston
2003 - 3:11:47, Allison Willbern, 42, Houston
2004 - 3:31:05, Julie Luft, 41, Austin
2005 - 3:19:27, Nancy Dasso, 40, Austin
2006 - 3:15:09, Caroline Chamness, 40, Kingwood
2007 - 2:56:03, Heidy Lozano, 44, Houston
2008 - 3:08:22, Angie Song-Rooney, 40, El Paso
2009 - 3:15:28, Cheryl Tulkoff, 43, Austin
2010 - 2:59:01, Heidy Lozano, 47, Houston
2011 - 3:14:13, Stacy Jessen, 41, Austin
2012 - 3:18:20, Laura Bennett, 44, Houston
2013 - 2:57:48, Laura Bennett, 45, Houston
2014 - 3:06:30, Rachel Hanson, 40, Flower Mound
2015 - 3:08:09, Donna Mills-Honarvar, 40, San Antonio
2016 - 2:55:15, Megan Skeels, 42, Aledo
2017 - 3:20:06, Lilia Vazquez, 53, Houston
2018 - 3:06:11, Rachel Fox, 44, Flower Mound
2019 - 3:07:10, Cheng Wod, 44, Houston

Source:  www.baa.org

Top Texans at the Boston Marathon, 2001-2018 (Men)

Men's Open

2001 - 2:43:47, David Ray, 33, Denton
2002 - 2:35:15, Michael Rosenthal, 31, Austin
2003 - 2:39:45, David Ray, 35, Denton
2004 - 2:51:12, Jonathan Swanson, 36, Gaiensville
2005 - 2:39:48, Ryan Gorman, 24, Irving
2006 - 2:27:17, Keith Pierce, 25, Denton
2007 - 2:41:23, Craig Ottman, 24, Fort Worth
2008 - 2:37:59, Craig Ottman, 25, Keller
2009 - 2:39:43, Giovanni Pipia, 31, San Antonio
2010 - 2:28:42, Drew Bean, 21, Orange
2011 - 2:27:36, David Rodriguez, 28, Corpus Christi
2012 - 2:39:52, Ashish Patel, 30, Austin
2013 - 2:29:20, Jared McNeil, 25, Fort Worth
2014 - 2:34:08, Zachary Cater-Cyker, 29, Houston
2015 - 2:31:18, Logan Sherman, 29, Dallas
2016 - 2:21:37, Zachary Hine, 28, Dallas
2017 - 2:25:06, Keith Pierce, 36, Lewisville
2018 - 2:37:14, Samuel Berger, 24, Dallas
2019 - 2:26:51, Gabe Cuadra, 29, Houston

Men's Masters

2001 - 2:43:26, Stephen Jayson, 48, Stockdale
2002 - 2:43:29, Greg Floyd, 44, Dallas
2003 - 2:45:15, David Dunn, 42, San Antonio
2004 - 2:43:26, Mac Allen, 46, Austin
2005 - 2:51:05, Mac Allen, 47, Austin
2006 - 2:45:06, Mac Allen, 48, Austin
2007 - 2:47:07, James Cleary, 43, Austin
2008 - 2:42:27, John Hill, 41, Kingwood
2009 - 2:51:32, Andreas Oberschilp, 41, San Antonio
2010 - 2:21:15, Reuben Chesang, 47, Allen
2011 - 2:44:38, Charlie Hennessey, 51, Amarillo
2012 - 2:46:43, Brian Haskett, 40, Tomball
2013 - 2:43:02, Chris Stelzer, 40, Houston
2014 - 2:45:37, John Yoder, 43, Houston
2015 - 2:43:56, Ariel Galvan, 49, San Antonio
2016 - 2:40:34, Derek Zelazny, 43, Dallas
2017 - 2:48:41, Jim Moore, 45, Austin
2018 - 2:45:49, David Zuniga, 41, Mission
2019 - 2:38:16, David Zuniga, 42, Mission

Source:  www.baa.org

Finish Line Sports Sugar Land 30K Top 10 Times (2001-2018)

Overall Male Open
1:37:30 -- Alfred Kiplagat, 2017
1:38:32 -- Alfred Kiplagat, 2016
1:40:15 -- Paolo Natali, 2014
1:40:20 -- Patrick Rotich, 2010
1:40:37 -- Henry Lelei, 2017
1:41:00 -- Calum Neff, 2014
1:41:41 -- Gannon White, 2002
1:41:45 -- Sean Wade, 2002
1:42:01 -- Ryan Smith, 2013
1:42:17 -- Sammy Kiplagat, 2012

Overall Male Masters
1:46:52 -- Wilmer Bustillos (43), 2008
1:47:38 -- Peter Lawrence (41), 2013
1:48:51 -- Jon Butler (44), 2006
1:49:01 -- Peter Lawrence (40), 2012
1:49:26 -- Peter Lawrence (42), 2014
1:49:52 -- Wilmer Bustillos (42), 2007
1:49:58 -- Todd Gilbreath (41), 2006
1:50:14 -- Joe Melanson (46), 2001
1:50:27 -- Michael Defee (40), 2014
1:50:35 -- Gerardo Mora (43), 2009

Overall Female Open
1:50:43 -- Rachel Booth, 2011
1:54:19.9 -- Melissa Fairey, 2019
1:55:15.5 -- Melissa Fairey, 2018
1:56:04.5 -- Allie Schaich, 2018
1:57:15.9 -- Lauren Smith Stroud, 2019
1:58:39.7 -- Lauren Smith Stroud, 2018
1:59:06.1 -- Bree Schrader, 2018
1:59:55.6 -- Cali Roper, 2017
1:59:56.2 -- Heidy Lozano (43), 2006
1:59:56.8 -- Peggy Yetman, 2007
2:00:11 -- Bree Schrader, 2017
2:00:56 -- Adrienne Langelier, 2009
2:00:56.3 -- Kim Lowry, 2018
2:01:35 -- Virginia Jones, 2013
2:01:51 -- Julie Mosier, 2001
2:01:56 -- Anngela Caron, 2013
2:02:27 -- Christie Lammers (46), 2002

Overall Female Masters
1:59:57 -- Heidy Lozano (43), 2006
2:02:27 -- Christie Lammers (46), 2002
2:03:59 -- Heidy Lozano (47), 2010
2:04:49 -- Heidy Lozano (42), 2005
2:05:02 -- Laura Bennett (44), 2012
2:05:10 -- Susan Walters (45), 2009
2:05:29 -- Laura Bennett (42), 2010
2:05:30 -- Heidy Lozano (45), 2008
2:06:29 -- Laura Bennett (43), 2011
2:07:02 -- Susan Walters (41), 2005

Finish Line Sports Sugar Land 30K Winners (1988-2019)

Men's Overall

2019 - Craig Nowak, 1:45:01.7
2018 - Frank Dougherty, 1:45:50.4
2017 - Alfred Kiplagat, 1:37:29.8
2016 - Alfred Kiplagat, 1:38:32*
2015 - Maximo Mendoza, 1:48:43
2014 - Paulo Natali, 1:40:15
2013 - Ryan Smith, 1:42:01
2012 - Sammy Kiplagat, 1:42:17
2011 - Joe Thorne, 1:42:23
2010 - Patrick Rotich, 1:40:20
2009 - Ryan Smith, 1:49:18
2008 - Luis Armenteros, 1:43:55
2007 - Cole Dailey, 1:48:50
2006 - Brett Riley, 1:44:48
2005 - Luis Armenteros, 1:45:18
2004 - Brett Riley, 1:46:37
2003 - Luis Armenteros, 1:45:49
2002 - Gannon White, 1:41:41
2001 - Gannon White, 1:44:26
2000 - Gannon White, 1:44:16
1999 - Rudy Rocha, Jr., 1:39:35
1998 - David Washburn, 1:49:12
1997 - Joe Flores, 1:42:16
1996 - Justin Chaston, 1:41:14
1995 - Vince Dietsch, 1:44:42
1994 - Mark Prinzel, 1:46:01
1993 - Vince Dietsch, 1:40:34
1992 - Jon Warren, 1:36:52
1991 - John Zuilhof, 1:43:16
1990 - Jim Thorpe, 1:42:40
1989 - Rafael Colmenares, 1:35:02#
1988 - David Washburn, 1:37:49

Women's Overall

2019 - Melissa Fairey, 1:54:59.9
2018 - Melissa Fairey, 1:55:15.5
2017 - Cali Roper, 1:59:55.6
2016 - Elizabeth Sauvageau, 2:03:16
2015 - Stacy Holden, 2:10:57
2014 - Amber Brunmeier, 2:05:52
2013 - Virginia Jones, 2:01:35
2012 - Virginia Jones, 2:04:58
2011 - Rachel Booth, 1:50:43*
2010 - Heidy Lozano, 2:03:59
2009 - Adrienne Langelier, 2:00:55
2008 - Heidy Lozano, 2:05:29
2007 - Peggy Yetman, 1:59:54
2006 - Heidy Lozano, 1:59:56
2005 - Heidy Lozano, 2:04:48
2004 - Sheila Carmody, 2:08:14
2003 - Susan Walters, 2:08:45
2002 - Christie Lammers, 2:02:27
2001 - Julie Mosier, 2:01:51
2000 - Joy Smith, 1:58:56
1999 - Jessica Armenteros, 2:04:58
1998 - Bridget Degan, 2:01:45
1997 - Kimbberly Markland, 1:56:17
1996 - Melissa Hurta, 1:58:04
1995 - Donna Sterns, 2:06
1994 - Patty Valadka, 1:58:57
1993 - Donna Sterns, 1:58:32
1992 - Carol McLatchie, 1:53:59#
1991 - Bridget Degan, 2:02:07
1990 - Donna Rickenbacker, 1:58:57
1989 - Donna Roark, 1:57:00
1988 - Teresa Villasenor, 1:58:44

Men's Masters

2019 - Craig Stelzer, 1:54:19.4
2018 - Peter Lawrence, 1:51:12.8 (Third overall; Michael Defee, 1:51:13.6)
2017 - Peter Lawrence, 1:54:03
2016 - Peter Lawrence, 1:52:05 (Third overall; Michael Defee, 1:52:28)
2015 - Michael Defee, 1:54:32 (Third overall; Peter Lawrence, 1:57:35)
2014 - Peter Lawrence, 1:49:26
2013 - Peter Lawrence, 1:47:38
2012 - Peter Lawrence, 1:49:01
2011 - Wilmer Bustillos, 1:50:43
2010 - Manfred Roenz, 1:57:51
2009 - Gerardo Mora, 1:50:35
2008 - Wilmer Bustillos, 1:46:51*
2007 - Wilmer Bustillos, 1:49:49
2006 - Jon Butler, 1:48:51
2005 - Francisco Perez, 1:50:47
2004 - William Bosking, 1:55:24
2003 - David Washburn, 1:54:01
2002 - Rich Fredrich, 1:53:07
2001 - Joe Melanson, 1:50:14
2000 - Rich Fredrich, 1:51:39
1999 - Joe Flores, 1:47:04
1998 - Bernie Weber, 1:51:19
1997 - David Washburn, 1:45:25
1996 - Matt McMenemy, 1:52:04
1995 - Joe Melanson, 1:52:42
1994 - Mickey Vann, 1:50:17
1993 - Mark Hunter, 1:44:37#
1992 - Gene Timberlake, 1:51:43
1991 - Bill Roach, 1:55:39
1990 - Bob Wolfe, 1:45:06
1989 - Bob Wolfe, 1:45:51

Women's Masters

2019 - Jackie Tobin, 2:13:11.4
2018 - Patricia Shaffer, 2:13:28.2
2017 - Patricia Shaffer, 2:20:28
2016 - Allyson Serrao, 2:16:08
2015 - Sherry Scott, 2:27:59
2014 - Barbara Stoll, 2:16:49
2013 - Lisa Thompson, 2:16:11
2012 - Laura Bennett, 2:05:02*
2011 - Laura Bennett, 2:06:29
2010 - Laura Bennett, 2:05:29
2009 - Susan Walters, 2:05:08
2008 - Barbara Stoll, 2:08:42
2007 - Anna Sumrall Helm, 2:25:33
2006 - Susan Walters, 2:08:24
2005 - Susan Walters, 2:07:01
2004 - Joy Smith, 2:08:57
2003 - Suzanne Day, 2:13:58
2002 - Barbara Stoll, 2:07:44
2001 - Allison Wilbern, 2:18:11+
2000 - Regina Schuetze, 2:15:50
1999 - Christie Lammers, 2:09:28
1998 - Regina Schuetze, 2:11:19
1997 - Donna Sterns, 2:08:14+
1996 - Janet Northrup, 2:15:16
1995 - Nancy Prejean, 2:10:44
1994 - Kathy Barton, 2:01:19+#
1993 - Nancy Prejean, 2:05:49
1992 - Nancy Prejean, 2:08:45
1991 - Nancy Prejean, 2:09:46
1990 - Joyce Gaskin, 2:13:29
1989 - Shirlie Lindsay, 2:10:21

Men's PC

2019 - Jeff Chaffin, 1:06:22.2
2018 - Bennie Perez, 1:25:17.3
2017 - Bennie Jose Perez, 2:24:52.9
2015 - Jeff Chaffin, 1:28:35.1
2014 - Jeff Chaffin, 1:21:55.6
2013 - Jeff Chaffin, 1:23:50.0

Women's PC

2019 - Adessa Ellis, 1:15:10.7

Blind Runner
2019 - Kellie Dewveall, 3:47:17.2
2018 - Kellie Dewveall, 3:35:10.0

+ Part of a Warm-Up Series Sweep
* Current Course Record (2004-2016)
# Event Best Since 1988

Galveston Daily News Press Run Finishers Numbers

2012 - 5K 151
2013 - 5K 115, 10K   65, Kids 16
2014 - 5K 230, 10K 127
2015 - 5K 188, 10K 117, Kids 1K 24
2016 - 5K 207, 10K 117, Kids 1K 30
2017 - 5K 122, 10K 43, Kids 1K 12 - moved to Oct. 28 due to cancellation during Hurricane Harvey
2018 - 5K 144, 10K 80, Kids 1K 17 - return to traditional second Saturday in September date
2019 - 5K 191, 10K 80, Kids 1K 13 - moved to Oct. 26

La Porte By The Bay Half Marathon Finishers History

2019 - 1,163 (527 men / 636 women)
2018 - 1,398 (507 men / 791 women)
2017 - 1,588 (649 men / 939 women)
2016 - 1,746 (689 men / 1,057 women)
2015 - 1,647 (687 men / 960 women)
2014 - 1,367 (624 men / 743 women)
2013 - 1,321 (590 men / 731 women)
2012 - 1,222 (591 men / 631 women)
2011 - 890 (421 men / 469 women)
2010 - 653 (353 men / 300 women)

Rungirl 13.1 Half Marathon Five Years or more Legacy Finishers (2010-2018)

- 9 -
Catherine Lightfoot
Donna Settle
Jessica Baxter
Sabrina Behrens

- 8 -
Caroline Allbritton
Lauren Cavazos

- 7 -
Cindy Jantowski
Earin Persson
Jennifer Trotter
Kristi Powitzky
Melanie Kerschbaum
Ruth Perez

- 6 - (23 total)
Brigette Breaux
Cristina Uribe
Elizabeth Smith
Georgia Polley
Joyce Gorman
Kaylin Olson
Keisha Benjamin
Keisha Williams
Mary Krebs
Rafaela Pickett
Tamra Hatch

- 5 - (49 total)
Ashley Moorman
Cathy Blayney
Cherish Thompson
Cheryl Brand
Cindy Beaty
Crystal Goode
Germana Dorsey
Ivone Bruno
Janet Blackburn
Jean Valka
Jennifer Dewhirst
Jessica Whitfield
Jill Tischbein
Karen Lemker
Kat Nguyen
Kim Johnivan
Laura Conner
Laura Yaffee
Lisa Earehart
Lynn Baker
Michelle Bell
Michelle Roenz
Reyna Merritt
Shannon Small
Tonya Jacks
Vicky Jones

County List as of December 28, 2018

Top Texans at 2019 NYC Marathon

M1819 - 2:54:44 - Andrew Baird, 19, Plano
M2024 - 2:57:34 - Mason Murray, 23, Dallas
M2529 - 2:16:10 - Joe Whelan, 28, Spring Branch
M3034 - 2:43:12 - Chris Fyock, 30, Lubbock
M3539 - 2:56:20 - Richard Garcia, 38, Fort Worth
M4044 - 2:49:25 - Marc Bergman, 40, Austin
M4549 - 2:57:14 - Toru Sekino, 49, Plano
M5054 - 3:05:34 - Rob Buwalda, 52, Plano
M5559 - 3:15:17 - Peter Beauvais, 58, Desoto
M6064 - 3:17:49 - Rich Fredrich, 62, Katy
M6569 - 4:15:37 - Doug Beagle, 69, Houston
M7074 - 4:37:35 - Charles Tair, 73, Houston
M7579 - None
M8084 - 8:00:26 - Thomas Heaney, 80, Dallas

F1819 - 4:46:50 - Aurelia Han, 19, Carrollton
F2024 - 4:19:27 - Isabella Mozdzierz-Monico, 24, Austin
F2529 - 3:10:22 - Bree Fontenot, 25, Spring
F3034 - 2:53:28 - Brooke Bible, 31, Austin
F3539 - 2:54:48 - Katherine Gwyn, 39, Austin
F4044 - 3:10:07 - Amie Smith, 41, Austin
F4549 - 3:02:17 - Rachel Fox, 46, Flower Mound
F5054 - 3:17:24 - Lisa Warechowski, 53, Midland
F5559 - 4:08:12 - Elaine Kasper, 56, Austin
F6064 - 4:01:42 - Lynn Bucknall, 60, Austin
F6569 - 4:25:30 - Billie Melanson, 66, Orange
F7074 - 5:42:10 - Jo May, 71, Houston

MWheelchair - None
MHandcycle - 2:17:26 - Rick Weisbrod, 70, Cypress
FHandcycle - 2:34:31 - Adessa Ellis, 42, Sugar Land

Top Houstonians at 2019 NYC Marathon

M1819 - 6:07:36 - Carson Zellers, 19, Houston
M2024 - 3:04:42 - Ajay Nair, 22, Sugar Land
M2529 - 2:49:42 - Brent Williams, 27, Cypress
M3034 - 2:57:50 - Daniel Chidester, 32, Katy
M3539 - 2:59:18 - Mark Heider, 38, Spring
M4044 - 3:04:45 - Bearden Coleman, 43, Houston
M4549 - 2:59:03 - Mark Coalmer, 49, Cypress
M5054 - 3:17:49 - Garrett Rychlik, 52, Cypress
M5559 - 3:15:23 - Subbu Venkat, 55, Houston
M6064 - 3:17:49 - Rich Fredrich, 62, Katy
M6569 - 4:15:37 - Doug Beagle, 69, Houston
M7074 - 4:37:35 - Charles Tair, 73, Houston
M7579 - None
M8084 - None

F1819 - 6:07:22 - Avrey Looser, 18, Houston
F2024 - 5:47:24 - Madison Zellers, 23, Houston
F2529 - 3:10:22 - Bree Fontenot, 25, Spring
F3034 - 3:10:36 - Marcy Wilkins, 30, Houston
F3539 - 3:18:33 - Kristin Kabay, 37, Houston
F4044 - 3:21:42 - Erika Park, 44, Houston
F4549 - 3:29:53 - Marcela Jaramillo, 46, Spring
F5054 - 3:30:20 - Kellie Metcalf, 53, Houston
F5559 - 4:18:49 - Elizabeth Brovarone, 57, Humble
F6064 - 4:54:42 - Elvia Mariela Corbet, 60, Houston
F6569 - 4:25:30 - Billie Melanson, 66, Orange
F7074 - 5:42:10 - Jo May, 71, Houston

MWheelchair - None
MHandcycle - 2:17:26 - Rick Weisbrod, 70, Cypress
FHandcycle - 2:34:31 - Adessa Ellis, 42, Sugar Land

Toughest 10K Galveston Finishers History

2019 - 1,217 (491 men / 726 women)
2018 - 1,555 (610 men / 945 women)
2017 - 1,748 (651 men / 1,097 women)
2016 - 1,826 (695 men / 1,131 women)
2015 - 1,666 (638 men / 1,028 women)
2014 - 1,551 (621 men / 930 women)
2013 - 1,418 (578 men / 840 women)
2012 - 1,462 (619 men / 843 women)
2011 - 686 (298 men / 398 women)

Former Top Performers of The Woodlands Marathon (and Half) Compete Well Internationally on Sunday

Over the weekend, a number of former top performers of The Woodlands Marathon and its companion half marathon competed well internationally.

Austin’s David Fuentes, who was second in the inaugural The Woodlands Half Marathon in 2012 in 1:07:09, is a member of Team USA’s Mountain Running team that raced at the NACAC Mountain Running Championships, which were held 30 minutes outside of Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico on Sunday.

Team USA’s men took the silver and Fuentes placed seventh overall in the 12th Carrera Cerro Gordo, which “offered a challenging course with over 2,000 feet of climbing from a starting elevation of 7,000 feet to nearly 8,700 feet at the high point — the turnaround point — on an out and back course covering 12 kilometers of trail,” according to Nancy Hobbs’ report for the American Trail Running Association.

Fuentes said on his Instagram account that “the altitude, the mud, the ascents and descents made for an incredible race.

He added that he “red lined hard in the first two miles climbing to ~8,700 feet, got passed by basically everyone, but clawed my way back and took some serious risks on the downhill for seventh.”

At the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday in Canada, 2013 sixth-place The Woodlands Half Marathon finisher Enoch Nadler was ninth overall with a personal-best 2:13:04, that lowered his previous best of 2:17:06 at April’s Boston Marathon by more than four minutes.

It was his third career marathon, according to a Facebook post by Ricky Quintana, who also reported that Nadler improves to having the 27th best qualifying time (up from 72nd best) of all current qualifiers for the United States Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta next February.

2018 The Woodlands Marathon champion Calum Neff also spirited away a new personal record as he nearly went sub-2:20 on Sunday with a 25th place overall finish of 2:20:44 – a two-minute, 15-second improvement.

He told Jarrett LeBlanc in a comment on a post on his athlete Facebook page that “the fitness is there, fueling (was) on point and (that he) just needs the legs a little more conditioned (for) Tokyo, March 1.”

Neff added on his own post-race post that “my hamstrings were the governor today, firing from 31 kilometers onwards, meaning that I was fairly comfortable throughout the race and unable to push to the full extent until the end where I was flying.”

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon was where he set his world record for pushing a stroller during a marathon with his daughter, Aley.

Etaferahu Wodaj Temesgen, then 23, won the 2013 edition of The Woodlands Half Marathon in an event record that still stands today in 1:13:18.

On Sunday in Toronto, she was eighth overall in the women’s marathon in a time of 2:27:21.

Last year’s The Woodlands Half Marathon winner Kinsey Middleton was 13th overall – and the third best Canadian – in a time of 2:34:36.

Waverly Walk - Complete 10-Mile Race History

1:44:29 - Memorial Hermann Ten For Texas, 10/12/19
1:47:02 - Genworth Virginia 10-Miler, 9/24/16 (10:14 / 53:17 / 1:36:20)
1:47:19 - Memorial Hermann Ten For Texas, 10/14/17
1:50:00 - Genworth Virginia 10-Miler, 9/23/17 ( 9:35 / 53:03 / 1:38:45)
1:51:01 - Genworth Virginia 10-Miler, 9/26/15 (11:15 / 55:52 / 1:39:57)
1:51:32 - Genworth Virginia 10-Miler, 9/27/14 (11:45 / 55:41 / 1:41:18)
1:51:33 - Memorial Hermann Ten For Texas, 10/13/18

15,000 Runners Crossed Fourth of July Finish Lines in Texas

Some 15,000 runners crossed a Texas finish line that was either Independence Day-themed or during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

And to no one’s surprise, the greater Houston area and the D-FW Metroplex accounted for just about 60 percent of those finishers – both areas accounting for more than 4,500 each.

Yet for another year, the Run Wild 5K, held just north of downtown Houston from Hennessy City Park and St. Arnold Brewery, produced Texas’ largest Independence Day-themed race with some 1,116 finishers.

It is the fourth straight year that the race has held the title after the then-Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5-Miler surpassed it by two finishers in 2015.

Additionally, it was the third straight year that the event surpassed 1,000 finishers – the only Texas race to do so on the Fourth of July weekend.

Last year, the race had 1,392 finishers, but was down 276 finishers this year.

Traditionally, when the Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday, as it did last year, finisher numbers are higher as fewer people are less likely to travel and take a long weekend.

What’s not known is whether this year’s decline was due to increased promotional activity from a second-year race, the TXU Energy Wings of Freedom 5K and 10K, that was held at another one of Houston’s popular breweries, Karbach Brewing Company.

After a low-key debut a year ago with 186 finishers in a timed 5K, Wings of Freedom added a 10K and saw 598 runners cross a common finish line – an increase of 202 in the 5K and an additional 210 in a new 10K race.

Bumping the Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5-Miler from the runner-up spot a year ago was the Independence Day 8K, located just west of Meyerland Mall in Houston, and it held on to its place as the second largest race by finishers at a single distance with 827 finishers – up 27 from 2017.

This year was the third year for the 8K, which is part of the Houston Running Company’s Houston Holiday Run Series.

But the Heat Wave, which moved to Mont Belvieu when the race’s primary sponsor Wismer Distributing moved its headquarters from Baytown before last year’s race, had the third most finishers of any event this year as the former bellweather 5-mile race and second-year 5K brought 839 finishers across its common finish line.

451 finished the Michelob Ultra 5K while 388 stopped the clock on the renamed Texas Bud Heat Wave 5-miler.

Last year’s combined 727 finishers – 429 in the 5-miler and 298 in the 5K – were likely lessened by threatening rains on race day a year ago.

The uptick at the 5K distance comes a large part from Running Alliance Sport including it as part of its Texas 5K Series.

The second largest event in Texas – with 903 combined finishers – was Five on the 4th in Dallas, which was produced by runDallas and the BMW Dallas Marathon.

Throw in the race’s untimed 2-miler and kids races, the event registered just under 1,200, according to race officials.

A five-miler only just a year ago with 508 finishers, that distance lost 31 finishers, but gained 426 finishers in the 5K.

It was a complete outperformance – a year later - of the Bud Heat Wave’s switch to a two-race event.

Third individually was Frisco’s Hotter ‘N Firecrackers 5K, which has more than doubled its numbers of timed finishers in the last three years.

Initially marketed as a glow run in 2015, the evening, night before the Fourth race dipped to under 400 finishers – 360 – a year later.

However, the flat course, even with its many turns, has sent the race’s numbers to 447 two years ago, 572 last year and 753 this July 3rd.

The fourth position of the weekend is actually held by a non-themed race – the Christmas in July 5K in Houston, which benefits – and starts and finishes in front of – the Salvation Army.

Produced by iRun Productions, the race grew by an exact 20 percent in terms of timed finishers from 433 to 521.  Held on Saturday, July 6 this year, the race features two long straightaways on the streets of downtown Houston.

Fourth and fifth as far as Independence Day-themed races belong to the San Antonio Road Runners Freedom Day Four Miler and Mission’s Stars & Stripes 5K.

The last five years, the Freedom Day 4-Miler has held positions of sixth, fifth, sixth, tied for sixth and fourth this year.

With its 505 timed finishers, the race was down a minuscule three from 2018 and has also seen 499 finishers in 2016.

Produced by Sole Racing, the Stars & Stripes 5K launched in 2016 with 474 timed finishers.

A year later, its 710 timed finishers made it the third largest in Texas behind the Run Wild 5K and the Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5-Miler.

However, the last two years has seen the race fall to 539 and 498 finishers, but still holding on to the fifth spot both years.

Four years ago, the largest event was the 30th annual Liberty By The Lake 5K and 10K in The Colony with its combined 991 finishers (753 in the 5K and 238 in the 10K), but it is down almost 38% since then with 616 timed finishers in the two races this year.

The West Texas Running Club held its 50th anniversary Firecracker Run in Brownfield on the Fourth of July.  Featuring a 10K, 5K and a timed one-mile kids’ run, the race is one of Texas’ oldest.

Up until last year, the 10K was a 10-mile race.  While the number of finishers increased from 45 to 71 a year ago, the distance only produced 68 finishers this year, including the author.

Running 5Ks with Miss Ima and the Dogs

Great trip this weekend.

There’s a really fine delicate balance that I go through:  As an introvert, I like my “me time”; however, there are also times that I enjoy connecting with others.

In running, I’ve long since surpassed my goals, which I think might have been to run a marathon at the beginning.

Now, running races is something that I just enjoy as something to do – and it has always been a catalyst for me to work out – hopefully, more consistently and regularly than the day before.

I started Saturday with the inaugural Miss Ima 5K in Quitman, the county seat of Wood County.  It was a race in Texas county #89 for me.

Race time was at 8 a.m. and I arrived from Van at about 7:20 a.m.

I parked in a lot along Highway 37 and away from the Wood County Arboretum, which was hosting the inaugural race.

I walked over, got my packet, took some pictures around the grounds, went back to the car and then to the restroom before ambling back toward the start.

There were approximately 25-30 runners for this first race.

You could see where the finish line was as there was already a clock positioned there, but the start line – which was marked by flour or chalk – was a tenth of a mile back (or in this case, to the right).

I always have a tendency to give first-year race some slack, but there was no need to here with the two gentleman that were in charge.

One of the two said that he had measured the course twice with a wheel – and that it should be spot on (distance-wide)!  And I strongly believe that it was.

It was an out-and-back course that took us south out of the Arboretum grounds on McAllister Street (which was a flat, smooth concrete street) before making a right-hand turn on to Richards Street.

Then we made another right onto Clark Street, which reminded me a lot of the race a few years ago I ran in Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs.

I passed the mile 1 marker at 9:27.06 and there was a water station in the vicinity, which I bypassed.

We then took a left onto Bermuda St. / Highway 182 and stayed on the shoulder, going over Dry Creek, before turning around and heading back.

On the way out, we ran down a hill that we started to come back up after passing mile 2.

My time was 15:04.81 to the turnaround (at 1.6 miles) and 19:09.81 through two miles.

However, with the uphill, I couldn’t pull it all together to get under 30 minutes.  Mile three was 10:17.79 followed by my best sprint, covering 47.88 seconds over the last tenth of a mile.

I was twelfth overall in 30:14.47.

For traveling and it being a bit humid out, I’ll take it.  I just want to be back under 28 – and maybe 27 – again once we get to cooler weather later in the year.

I left as soon as I finished.

I got a quick bite to eat in Mineola, then drove back to the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Van, showered and hit the road.

I made stops at the following museums along the way:

Van Area Oil & Historical Museum (Van, TX) - Outside only.
No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum (Terrell, TX)
Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum (Ennis, TX)
Ellis County Museum (Waxahachie, TX)

Before visiting the one in Ennis, I was still pretty hungry and wasn’t looking for a big meal, but I found a local place:  Bailey’s Café.

When I went inside and got the menu, the portions were really geared toward dinner, so I chose a sandwich, but still left feeling stuffed.

I ended up making it to Waco a little after 6 p.m. where I checked into the Courtyard by Marriott near Indian Springs Park where the second annual Howl At The Moon 5K would start and finish.

I did the race a year ago, and was fortunate enough to fit it into the schedule again this year.

My favorite Waco native, Nancy Goodnight, was down here in the greater Houston area riding the Katy Flatland 100 today so I didn’t get to see her as I normally do.

I was already pretty beat so I set the alarm for 9 p.m. – as I was close enough to walk to and from the start – and took a short nap.

I got up, walked over and got my packet, which was a medium shirt (that went to Waverly, my daughter) and a bib, and came back to the hotel until about 9:50 p.m. before making my way back to the start.

Just before the start, a woman noticed that I was wearing my 2013 Blues Capital of Texas 5K tech shirt from a race in Navasota and she and her husband noted that they both had done the race in 2012 (and had the grey shirt, which I also have.)  That race might have gone on for another year, but is no longer held.

This race, though, also got started right on-time.

We crossed north across the Brazos River and the Suspension Bridge and then ran all the way past McLane Stadium -- #goflames, veered to the right over the pedestrian bridge to University Park.  There we made a left down to in front of the Rayborn building then turned around and came all of the way back.

Mile 1 - 9:54.61
To Turnaround - 5:33.96 (15:28.57)
Back - 15:21.02
Total = 30:49.59

The first mile appeared to be marked just before the pedestrian bridge, which came in at 9:54.61.  Given the humidity, I kind of didn’t care what my time was.

At the turnaround, my watch showed 15:28.57.

As I usually fade a little bit on the back half, I thought that I might be in for an over 31-minute showing.  However, the way out seemed to be a bit more uphill than the return.

I made it back in 15:21.02 – to keep it underneath a 10-minute per mile pace – for an overall time of 30:49.59

But, man, was it humid.

I grabbed a bottle of water and started to walk back to the hotel.  Once there, I put both rooms in my hotel room down as low as they could go – temperature-wise, showered, dried off and was getting ready to do some work on my computer and I was still sweating!

Got a pretty good night’s sleep, filled up with gas, got breakfast and made it to College Station by 9:45 a.m. for this morning’s worship service at Central Baptist Church.

It is the second time that I’ve had the chance to visit this church.  If I lived in the area, I might attend there on a regular basis.

On the way home, I texted Waverly and we agreed to have lunch at Crave, a new hot dog and BBQ place near Spring Steubner / Kuykendahl and 99.  The food was excellent, but the turnaround time – 16-17 minutes – caused for people to not only stand to wait to get their food but also a place to sit.   Best to go here at an off-hour.

What's In Your Running Weekend?

I have a massive spreadsheet that contains all kinds of cool things.

From a running perspective, I can tell you the following:

+  I’ve run a race in 88 different Texas counties.

+  I’ve run a mile or more in 122 different Texas counties (34 more).

+  I’ve run a race in 167 different Texas cities, towns or census-designated places.

+  I’ve run a mile or more in 220 different Texas cities, towns or … you get it.

+  And, finally, a race in 178 other North American cities or towns.

Cool stuff.

Five months ago, I made a plan to fly to Amarillo today and catch “new to me” minor league ballparks in Albuquerque and Amarillo while running a mile in as many different Texas counties in the Panhandle that I could.

(Actually, the ballpark in Amarillo is brand new this year.  The Sod Poodles.  Really.)

That is when I thought my current work project would have moved into a different phase and being mobile on a Friday would have been OK.

However, as the week went on – and flying on Southwest (with the ability to cancel and bank the money), I decided that wasn’t going to be the wisest move and that proved to be true.

The bigger question, though, was:  What was I going to do this weekend?

Granted, the number of races were fewer – and I even looked at if there were some options on Southwest to fly somewhere Friday evening and back Sunday night, using some of the Southwest money I have banked.  (Four flights.  Sigh.)

I considered running a 5K in Leonard, northeast of McKinney, and then driving to Amarillo to see a Saturday night baseball game.

It was just the drive back that was a little daunting for even me.

So I settled on the following:

+  The inaugural Miss Ima 5K in Quitman, which is the county seat of Wood County.  It is an 8 a.m. start and will represent a race in Texas county #89.  (Secret:  #90 will happen in two weeks.)

+  Will try to get in three or four museums while moving towards Waco.  Right now, I have targeted museums here in Van and then in Ennis and Waxahachie.  (Will dig a little bit more after I write some more.)

+  All the way getting to Waco where I’ll run the 2nd annual Howl at the Moon 5K that starts and finishes at the Suspension Bridge along the Brazos.  It is a 10 p.m. start so I’ll spend the night there.  (I ran this race last year and I hope it isn't short again.)

+  Then get up and drive an hour and a half for church at Central Baptist Church in College Station – and their 9:45 a.m. service.

The two races will be my 46th and 47th for the year.

I left Spring at about 4 p.m., made the proverbial stop at Buc-ee’s in Madisonville and grabbed a bite to eat in Athens before going through Murchison and Ben Wheeler to get to the hotel here in Van.

I stayed here at this Fairfield inn last year when I did Rob Goyen’s new TROT race just north of Tyler and Waverly and I will be back here in two weeks as we’ll rest for the Canton Half Marathon on Sunday, August 4.

Really nice facility that’s been open for less than two years and hasn’t taken on wear and tear from being right off of Interstate 20.

So until tomorrow, have a great Friday night.

Thursday Night Spring Diversion: 4 Miles on the Spring Creek Greenway

Well, I'm going to revert back to my blog for awhile and stay off of most social media.  I think.

That's the plan.

I had a situation today that rattled me a little bit - which I won't go into, but I believe it is - once again - time to take some steps back from my involvement.

I won't stop running and working out.  Although a picture here and there will still bother me a little bit, I've done pretty good to keep the 30 pounds that I've lost in the last year off here in 2019.

I've been using Instagram recently as bit of a long form, but I'm just going to process life on the run here the best way I know how.  Besides, not too many people come here any way unless I explicitly post a link.

I'll just say this:  Life can be tough at times when you're an introvert and alone.

I admit that generally I like to be in control of my environment.  If I want to engage with somebody, I will.  And I don't like if somebody gets in my personal space without my permission.

I had that happen here recently at a running event and when I had my first chance to leave, I took it - because I was made to feel uncomfortable.

The first running club that I was ever a member of was the Houston Striders and in 2004, a year after I started to run, I wanted to get to meet people.  And the club was part of a gateway to the larger greater Houston area running community and beyond.

The Striders, first through John DiMarco and now via Chadwick Holmes, Hans Wong and Keith Willhelm, have re-embraced me as their finish line announcer for the Houston Half Marathon and 10K - presented, of course, by Koala Health and Wellness Centers.

They had a social run this evening at 11 Below Brewing Company that I wanted to go to near Willowbrook Mall, but I was feeling a little bit down, took a short nap at the end of the work day (I work at home) and it got to a point to where traffic getting there would have been a beast.  Ah, not for me.

Instead, I went to Dennis Johnston Park, which sits right off the Spring Creek Greenway, at about 6 p.m. this evening.

The last time I ran towards Interstate 45 to the west, I saw a copperhead in the middle of the trail after about two miles.  Therefore, I decided to head east.

I walked to the 13.0 mile marker and started to run.  While in the mid-nineties, the shade actually made it feel not that hot.

I went two miles in 21:11.68 - a comfortable 10:36 per mile pace.

I walked to the next tenth of a mile marker and back, taking 3:29.63.

And then started to run back.

On the way, I came up along a gentleman who told me that he had his 52nd birthday today.

Normally, I don't engage, but we were running about the same pace and it would have been hard to get too far ahead of him without saying something.

Earlier, a couple of bikes had gone by and only one had acknowledged that it was passing with a verbal "on the left".

I thanked the cyclist and told him that he was the first one today that had done that.

As I came up behind the man, I remarked about that and he was in hearty agreement that there were bikes that would come right up on him when he was running there on the trail.

We had a good conversation to the 13.0 mile marker.

His name was Michael and he shared that he was training for the Houston Half Marathon in late October.

He was doing 11 10K's and one half marathon this year and he already had six 10K's in the book and planned to do two in September and two in November, booked around the half.

I asked him which 10K he did in June - as he had related a story from that race - and he said the Run Houston Clear Lake.

I told him that I know or have worked with most of the race directors in town and acknowledged that Ron Stitt and company put on good races.

I finished the return in 21:06.41 - again, a nice 10:33 pace.

After being down in the dumps a little while earlier, I was encouraged and as I walked back to my car - being a believer, I realized that God put that man in my path to encourage me with conversation when I wasn't feeling so great.

When I made it to the parking lot, I was dismayed seeing a couple of cyclists - one who was riding a recumbent bike - that had blown by us earlier.  I wanted to engage, but I didn't.

While we were out there on the trail, there was a Harris County Constable riding in a cart and I saw him as he was walking back to his truck.

I thanked him for being out there, even though it's his job to patrol the park.

I asked him if there really were many issues out there and he said that there was often something always going on, but that it was primarily kids close to where homes backed up to the trail.  I asked him if they saw any activity coming up from the creek and he said that they hadn't.

We also had a good conversation and again I felt as if God put me in a place to be encouraged by the interaction of a complete stranger even.

I measure my running on a 25th to 24th basis (will explain another time) -- and I'm at 63.931 miles for the cycle with six days to go.  I'll probably get a little over 80, but we'll see.

If you happen to see this on Thursday, have a great Friday and weekend ahead.  I have an idea where I'm going to run a race at this weekend, but I'll know for sure tomorrow.

Texas' Largest Independence Day-Themed Races - 2016

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 this year:

911 - Run Wild 5K, Houston, July 4
826 - Baytown Bud Heatwave 5M, Baytown, July 4
560 - Freedom 5K, Sugar Land, July 4
530 - Liberty By The Lake 5K, The Colony, July 2
499 - SARR Freedom Day 4 Miler, San Antonio, July 4
474 - Stars & Stripes 5K, Mission, June 28

360 - Hotter 'N Firecrackers 5K, Frisco, July 3
339 - DRC Independence 5K, Dallas, July 2
333 - 10th annual Up & Running 4th of July 5K, El Paso, July 4
267 - Liberty Run 5K, Denton, July 4
246 - Patriot Run 5K, Trophy Club, July 4

236 - DRC Independence 10K, Dallas, July 2
224 - Dow Firecracker 4, Lake Jackson, July 4
222 - Rowlett Freedom 5K on Main, Rowlett, July 4
221 - CCRR Four on the Fourth, Corpus Christi, July 4
216 - 8th annual Firecracker 5000, Fort Worth, July 4

208 - Popsicle Run 4-Miler, Kyle, July 4
186 - Red, White and Blue 5K, McKinney, July 2
178 - Independence Run 5K, Deer Park, July 2
177 - Let Freedom Run! 5K, Schertz, July 4
176 - Firecracker 5K, Lago Vista, July 2

169 - Liberty By The Lake 10K, The Colony, July 2
150 - Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, Granbury, July 4
133 - 4th of July Celebration 5K, San Antonio, July 4
132 - WTRC Firecracker Run 3M, Brownfield, July 4
114 - DAV Stephenville Firecracker 5K, Stephenville, July 4

103 - Old Jo's Firecracker Run 5K, St. Jo, July 4
100 - Shiner Half Moon Holday 5K, Shiner, July 2
  94 - Run For Wellness 5K - Heights, Houston, July 3 (held on same weekend)
  92 - Independence Run 5K, Deer Park, July 2
  84 - Independence Day 10K, Rancho Viejo, July 2
  78 - Dow Firecracker 4 Two-Mile, Lake Jackson, July 4

  75 - Stu's Country Mike 5K, Centerville, July 4
  74 - 4th of July Stars and Stripes 5K, Falfurrias, July 2
  66 - 1st annual Freedom Run 5K, Snyder, July 4
  64 - Popsicle Run 3K, Kyle, July 4
  58 - Freedom 5K, Nacogdoches, July 2

  43 - WTRC Firecracker Run 10M, Brownfield, July 4
  40 - Shiner Half Moon Holday 10K, Shiner, July 2
  24 - 1st annual Freedom Run 5K, Snyder, July 4
  12 - Rainbow Dash 1M, San Antonio, July 2
    9 - Good Night Loving Celebration Fun Run 5K, Crane, July 2

    6 - Good Night Loving Celebration Fun Run 1M, Crane, July 2
    3 - Good Night Loving Celebration Fun Run 3K, Crane, July 2

Texas' Largest Independence Day-Themed Races - 2019

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 2019:

1,116 - Run Wild 5K, Houston, 7/4 (495 men / 621 women), down 276 from 2018
827 - Independence Day 8K, Houston, 6/29 (328 men / 499 women), up 27 from 2018
753 - Hotter 'N Firecrackers 5K, Frisco, 7/3 (322 men / 431 women), up 181 from 2018
505 - San Antonio Road Runners Freedom Day Four Miler, San Antonio, 7/4 (206 men / 299 women), down 3 from 2018
498 - Stars & Stripes 5K, Mission, 6/29 (153 men / 345 women), down 41 from 2018

477 - Five on the 4th 5M, Dallas, 7/4 (235 men / 242 women), down 31 from 2018
451 - Michelob Ultra 5K, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (164 men / 287 women), up 153 from 2018
451 - Liberty By The Lake 5K, The Colony, 7/4 (210 men / 241 women), down 97 from 2018
426 - Five on the 4th 5K, Dallas, 7/4 (193 men / 233 women), new distance for 2019
394 - Patriot 5K, Trophy Club 7/4 (198 men / 196 women), down 27 from 2018

388 - Texas Bud Heat Wave 5M, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (202 men / 186 women), down 41 from 2018
388 - TXU Energy Wings of Freedom 5K, Houston, 7/4 (184 men / 204 women), up 202 from 2018
370 - First Colony Community Association Freedom 5K, Sugar Land, 7/4 (183 men / 187 women), complete 2018 results unknown
368 - 13th annual Up And Running Fourth of July 5K, El Paso, 7/4 (186 men / 182 women), down 24 from 2018
355 - 11th annual Firecracker 5000, Fort Worth, 7/4 (182 men / 173 women), up 96 from 2018

340 - Liberty Run 5K Run, Denton, 7/4 (170 men / 170 women), up 5 from 2018
340 - Freedom Fighter 5K, Tyler, 7/4 (143 men, 197 women), up 63 from 2018
332 - Run For The Blue 5K, Dallas, 7/6 (154 men / 176 women / 2 unknown)
281 - Cox Running Club 4th 5K, Fort Worth, 7/4 (128 men / 153 women), up 103 from 2018
277 - Rowlett Freedom 5K on Main, Rowlett, 7/4 (116 men / 161 women), down 3 from 2018

250 - Corpus Christi Road Runners Four on the Fourth, Corpus Christi, 7/4 (101 men / 149 women), down 16 from 2018
240 - Midland Freedom Run 5K, Midland, 7/4 (108 men / 132 women)
229 - Dow Firecracker 4M, Lake Jackson, 7/4 (107 men / 122 women), down 15 from 2018
210 - TXU Energy Wings of Freedom 10K, Houston, 7/4 (129 men / 81 women), new distance for 2019
200 - Popsicle Run 4M, Kyle, 7/4 (86 men / 114 women), up 25 from 2018

191 - Pioneer Firecracker 5K, Leon Valley, 7/4 (61 men / 130 women), 2018 results unknown
188 - Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, 7/4, Granbury (86 men / 102 women), down 4 from 2018
182 - RUN, White & Blue 5K, Bastrop, 6/29 (76 men / 106 women), new race for 2019
165 - Liberty By The Lake 10K, The Colony, 7/4 (103 men / 62 women), down 33 from 2018
165 - WTRC Firecracker Run 3M, Brownfield, 7/4 (62 men / 103 women), up 41 from 2018

162 - Run White and Blue 5K, Rancho Viejo, 6/29 (92 men / 70 women), new race for 2019
149 - Flag Run 5K, Boerne, 7/4 (69 men / 80 women), 2018 results unknown
148 - Firecracker Flight Austin 5K, Georgetown, 7/6 (51 men / 97 women)
146 - Memorial Villages 5K, Houston, 7/4 (89 men / 57 women), up 55 from 2018
138 - Firecracker 5K, Mexia, 7/4 (58 men / 80 women), up 64 from 2018

133 - Coolest 5K in Texas, Fort Davis, 7/4 (46 men / 87 women)
129 - Firecracker Flight 4M, Arlington, 7/6 (40 male / 89 female), up 14 from 4M in 2018
128 - 7th annual Fireman's 4 Race (2M Walk), Port O'Connor, 7/6, up 10 from 2018

123 - Shiner Half Moon Holiday 5K, Shiner, 7/6 (41 men / 82 women), up 2 from 2019
122 - Firecracker 5K, Lago Vista, 7/4 (53 men / 69 women), no change from 2018

121 - 10th annual Old Jo's Firecracker Run 5K, St. Jo, 7/4 (42 men / 79 women), up 13 from 2018
110 - City of Del Rio 4th of July 5K Color Run, Del Rio, 7/4 (56 men / 54 women)
104 - Stu's Country Mile 5K, Centerville, 7/4 (32 men / 72 women), up 48 from 2018
102 - Firecracker Flight Austin 10K, Georgetown, 7/6 (41 men / 61 women)
81 - Firecracker 5K Evening Run, San Marcos, 6/27 (29 men / 52 women), down 28 from 2018

79 - Firecracker 5K, Greenville, 7/4 (32 men / 47 women), down 23 from 2018
76 - Firecracker Flight DFW 10K, Arlington, 7/6 (32 men / 44 women), up 13 from 2018
72 - 3rd annual Freedom Run 5K, Snyder, 6/29 (24 men / 48 women), up 38 from 2018
72 - 7th annual Fireman's 4 Race (4M), Port O'Connor, 7/6 (23 men / 49 women), up 18 from 2018
68 - WTRC Firecracker Run 10K, Brownfield, 7/4 (41 men / 28 women), down 3 from 2018

60 - Stars and Stripes 5K, Eagle Pass, 7/7 (35 men / 25 women), down 8 from 2018
58 - Fitness Today & Cisco Chamber of Commerce Red, White and BOOM 5K Color Run, Cisco, 7/4 (36 men / 34 women), up 12 from 2018
58 - Midland Freedom Run 10K, Midland, 7/4 (35 men / 23 women)
55 - Popsicle Run 3K, Kyle, 7/4 (19 men / 36 women), down 19 from 2018
34 - Dow Firecracker 2M Walk, Lake Jackson, 7/4 (4 men / 30 women), down 11 from 2018

29 - Stars and Stripes 1M, Eagle Pass, 7/7 (10 men / 19 women), down 25 from 2018
26 - Stu's Country Mile Kids 1K, Centerville, 7/4 (9 men / 17 women), up 7 from 2018
26 - WTRC Firecracker Run 1M, Brownfield, 7/4, up 4 from 2018
19 - Freedom Fest 5K, Mathis, 6/29, down 34 from 2018
10 - 3rd annual Freedom Run 10K, Snyder, 6/29 (4 men / 6 women), down 7 from 2018

10 - Firecracker 1-Mile Walk, Mexia, 7/4 (5 men / 5 women), down 4 from 2018

Non-Themed Races Held During Same Time

519 - Christmas in July 5K, Houston, 7/6 (190 men / 329 women), up 86 from 2018
127 - Superhero Mug Run 5K, Harker Heights, 7/6 (49 men / 78 women)
112 - Run For Wellness - Heights/White Oak Bayou 5K, Houston, 7/7 (57 men / 55 women), down 16 from 2018
75 - deCordova Dash 5K, deCordova, 7/6 (31 men / 44 women)
48 - Terry Hershey parkrun #25 5K, Houston, 7/6 (25 men / 23 women)
13 - Miles for JOYE 5K, McKinney, 7/6 (10 men / 3 women)
11 - Miles for JOYE 1M, McKinney, 7/6 (2 men / 9 women)

Notes
1.  The Firecracker 5K in College Station, produced by the BCS Marathon, is an untimed race; therefore, it is not included.  (Facebook post says "all 300+ of you".)
2.  The Christoval VFD Firecracker 5K/1M had "a record number of participants - 300+ - in our run/walk/ride."  Pictures on the VFD's Facebook page showed that the race was manually timed.
3.  Appeared to have been approximately 50 starters - from pictures at the VFW Post 8621 Facebook page - at the VFW Post 8621 Independence Day 5K in Alice.
4.  Likewise for The Longhorn Association Fun Run 10K/5K in Gordon (Palo Pinto County), according to pictures from the Longhorn Association Facebook page from Lily Cormack Photography.
5.  Looks like the Independence 5K/10K in Deer Park is no more.  145 combined finishers for 2018.
6.  Looks like the Freedom 5K/10K in Cedar Park is no more.  127 combined finishers for 2018.
7.  Looks like the Dallas Running Club Independence 5K/10K/1M is no more.  505 combined finishers for 2018.

Four Races on the Fourth of July Weekend

Haven’t written in a while, which means:  I’ve been busy.

I got away last Wednesday and Thursday to run in the 50th anniversary West Texas Running Club Firecracker 10K in Brownfield, Texas, just southwest of Lubbock.

It was a race in my 87th different Texas county.  Just 167 to go, ha!

It is also the second year that I haven’t announced a race on the Fourth of July after doing so for seven years at the then-Baytown Bud Heat Wave.

Last year, I ran in Saint Jo, just west of Muenster, and the night before, I ran a race in Frisco.

I ran OK on Thursday.  Just under 1:05 on a course that was a little hilly in the first and last half mile on the out-and-back course.

Also, at the 3.1-mile turnaround, there was a downhill followed by an uphill to the turnaround.

The biggest challenge of the morning was a 20-minute late start.

One of the presumed West Texas Running Club members said that they didn’t have – for a while – the lock to their club trailer and that set a delay in motion.

I can live with that.  Very plausible.  That stuff happens.  I knew when the kids fun run, which was a mile with a half mile out and back course, was pushing at and a little over 8:00 a.m. that the main events – a 3-miler and a 10K – weren’t going to start on-time.

However, the club went through a prolonged set of announcements, including the history of the race, the starting of the club, course records, etc., as well as a costume contest.

Really, and totally, inexcusable.

If you’re going to open up your race to outside members and run the race on public roads, get the race started as quickly as possible – as long as course control is in place.

I guess what could I expect for a $15 non-members entry fee.

They had a nice T-shirt for sale – commemorating that it was the 50th anniversary race.  You’re thinking:  Who buys a T-shirt?  Well, if the price is right … it wasn’t.

I thought I had seen on their Facebook page that they were $15.  I carried a $20 bill from my car, but when I asked, it was $25!  (It was definitely $25 there too when I went back and double-checked.)

Brownfield sits at 3,310 feet above sea level and in the first two miles I could certainly feel it.

As well as it warming up after being delayed 20 minutes at the start.

Here’s how it went down:

Mile 1 - 9:58.95
1-1.5 - 5:24.81
1.5-2 - 5:09.78 (10:34.59)
2-3.1 - 11:18.47 (10:16 pace); Uphill at the end.
3.1-4.2 - 11:30.01 (10:27 pace); Downhill out of the turnaround.
4.2-4.7 - 5:27.49
4.7-5.2 - 5:35.75 (11:03.24)
5.2-5.7 - 5:18.50
5.7-6.2 - 5:13.79 (10:32.29)

Total = 1:04:57.55

I flew back Thursday afternoon, then made the decision on Friday to go to deCordova, Texas, which is just east of Granbury in Hood County.

I was able to use hotel points to stay at the Hampton Inn in Cleburne, where it was going to be a short half hour to the race site.

One of the reasons why I even knew about the race - officially the deCordova Dash 5K - is because one of my favorite timers, Race Day Event Services out of Hamilton, regularly sends a weekly e-mail with its upcoming races.

The race was run in deCordova Bend Estates, and they were celebrating their 50th anniversary with a 5K.  I don’t know if they’ve run this in the past.  I didn’t even think to ask.

The Estates are gated and after pulling up on race morning and letting the guard know that I was there for the race, I thought to myself, given the roads I was driving over, that it was going to be a hilly race.

I parked and it overlooked the start and a lake in the center of the Estates.

I had a good long visit with H.B. Wise of Movin’ Pictures before the race and chatted with Kate Denning of Race Day Event Services.

She does a really good job announcing.  Great voice.  Incredible, natural enthusiasm.  Skilled communicator.  And I told her that she could very well do just that if she ever wanted to.

There were some opening ceremonies and we got started on-time.

Straight shot out with the lake to our left and then we took a right – straight up a hill for about the next four minutes.

It finally leveled out, but it put me into oxygen debt in a hurry.

It wasn’t completely hilly as we ran the cart path between holes 10 to 18 of the Estates’ golf course, but it certainly wasn’t a walk in the park either.

We had a big 100-foot long uphill right before we made it back out to the road and shortly we got the opening hill back and left-hand turn to the finish, but then you were spent.

According to one runner’s Garmin, the course was approximately 2.98 miles, and here is how it played out:

Mile 1 - 10:07.93
Mile 2 - 10:13.99
Last .98 - 9:41.14 (per runner's Garmin)

Total = 30:03.06 (10:05 per)

On a race like this, I took some solace that it was a finish in another county.  Glad that I have multiple goals.

I had originally thought about going to the Texas Air Hogs game, an independent minor league baseball team in Grand Prairie that plays in the American Association.  However, I wanted to run the Run For Wellness 5K along the White Oak Bayou Sunday morning – and I didn’t want to be dragging coming in after midnight on Saturday night.

So I took in three museums on the way home.  (Almost made it four as I stayed in Cleburne a bit too long in the morning, but the door to the Railroad Museum was inadvertently locked.)

I saw the Cell Block Museum in Hillsboro, the History of West Museum in West and the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum.

The next morning, I was up and out of the house by 6:30 a.m. to head to downtown Houston.

I visited with series founder Kelly Juerden-Ramey for a little bit before the race.

If you’ve never done a free Run For Wellness 5K, you should.  And if you can donate when you register or make a contribution, the Houston Wellness Project would appreciate.  While the races on the first and fourth Sunday mornings of each month (except December) are free, there are some associated expenses for timing and permitting at one of the locations.

There were a little over 100 runners for the race and the course is an out-and-back on the White Oak Bayou trail.

The humidity was overbearing; therefore, I didn’t try to overdo it.

I was 14:45.31 on the way out for 1.55 miles, but I could just feel that a sub-30 with the return wasn’t going to be in the cards.

In February, I went 27:58.38.  April, 28:50.61.  And last month, 30:08.67.

By November, I’ll be running 40-minute 5Ks if I keep this up.

Regardless, I could feel it on the return, which I covered in 15:41.44 for a total time of 30:26.75.

For the second straight month, I did the Run For Wellness-The Woodlands Running Club double.

Volte Endurance Training founder Bill Dwyer, in his former role as the club president of TWRC, started a once-a-month Sunday Night 5K at Barbara Bush Elementary in The Woodlands.

Its been going on since 2009!

Until a new road was built which allowed cars to cross the original course twice, it used the same course as the long-standing Run The Woodlands 5K.

This month’s race was held at 7 p.m. to help deal with the heat a little bit.

There was a good group of about 20 runners, mostly regulars who attend month-after-month.

Missing probably his first-race ever was Bill.  (Actually, there was one time he couldn’t hold it.  So this was the first time the race was held, but he was not able to be there.)

Volte coach Layton Gill and one of our excellent female runners in the community, Mayra Caamano, led the race in place of Bill.

It is always a quandry for me right up until race time as to if I’m going to race it or run it.

Invariably the choice is to race it as much as I can.

And I run the original course as somebody who’s been doing Run The Woodlands 5K since 2003 (when I started to run).  Plus the mile markers are still painted on the ground for the old course.

I thought I ran pretty controlled, given the weather conditions, but I posted a time of 30:48.81.

Sure, it was under 10 minutes per mile, but my goal in the summertime is to break 30 minutes.  Here is how each mile looked like:

Mile 1 - 9:35.71
Mile 2 - 10:05.92
Mile 3 - 10:12.84
Last .1 - 54.34

Total = 30:48.81

Faith Craig asked me after the race, “Isn’t this like the fourth race you’ve done this weekend?”

I confirmed that it was indeed true and that – I had nothing better to do.

Then again, it's not a bad hobby either.

Green 6.2 All-Time Winners

10K
Men's Overall
2010 - 38:15, Steve Morrell, 47, Houston
2011 - 30:38, Sesar Figueroa, 26
2012 - 33:19, Stuart Harwell, 28
2013 - 32:42, Abinet Adraro, 25, Houston
2014 - 29:50, David Fuentes, 27, Austin
2015 - 30:23, Haron Lagat, 31
2016 - 32:58, Michael Gillis, 28
2017 - 38:26, Eric Grissom, 37
2018 - 32:20, Sean Wade, 52, Houston
2019 - 33:52, Rick Hawley, 22, The Woodlands

Women's Overall
2010 - 43:46, Leah Critchley, 27
2011 - 36:22, Raquel Tidwell, 23
2012 - 43:56, Maria Gonzales, 17
2013 - 41:13, Victoria Webster, 28, Houston
2014 - 35:48, Amy Shackelford, 26, San Antonio
2015 - 39:37, Irene Kimaiyo, 33
2016 - 40:18, Kylee Studer, 35
2017 - 39:10, Lauren Ross, 26
2018 - 40:36, Kirsten Stefan, 44
2019 - 37:18, Flora Lai, 40

Men's Masters
2010 - 43:57, Doug Beagle, 60
2011 - 36:16, Andrew Sharenson, 40
2012 - 39:59, Cornelio Garibay, 43
2013 - 37:56, Steven Karpas, 47
2014 - 30:49, Sammy Kiplagat Cheptoo, 40, Houston
2015 - 40:24, Jose Reyes, 48
2016 - 39:04, Joel Martinez, 43
2017 - 40:37, Jose Guerrero, 40
2018 - 38:17, Masashi Hirano, 47
2019 - 39:21, Raul Valdez, 46 (Warren Prelle, 43, Houston had chip time of 38:28, but gun time was 39:54)

Women's Masters
2010 - 45:57, Jackie Connelly, 46 (3rd overall)
2011 - 47:16, Hilda Gonzalez, 48
2012 - 45:16, Rose Rhoton, 48
2013 - 45:27, Casey Brand, 40
2014 - 41:19, Kirsten Stefan, 40
2015 - 40:44, Kirsten Stefan, 41
2016 - 42:20, Naomi Whymant, 46
2017 - 41:00, Kirsten Stefan, 43
2018 - 46:21, Kristine Hilger, 44
2019 - 43:52, Casey Brand, 46, Houston (Peggy Yetman, 50, Spring was third overall in 37:32).

5K
Men's Overall
2016 - 17:14, Caleb White, 29
2017 - 20:01, Lucas Wolf, 16
2018 - 19:41, Lucas Wolf, 46
2019 - 18:52, Alexander Campbell, 30, Houston

Women's Overall
2016 - 21:02, Jennifer Brown, 39
2017 - 22:48, Brianna Gallaher, 15
2018 - 20:23, Kelly Ivanova, 34
2019 - 20:52, Danielle Olszeski, 32, Houston

Men's Masters
2016 - 19:57, Stephen Henry, 48
2017 - 23:16, Bartenderx Oropeza, 41
2018 - 22:35, Larry Smith, 57, Freeport
2019 - 19:43, Ernest Bartenderx Oropeza, 43, Houston

Women's Masters
2016 - 22:01, Kristine Hilger, 42
2017 - 27:36, Rachel Clary, 55
2018 - 26:51, Lisa Icke, 51
2019 - 23:10, Mary Storms, 41, Houston

Sources:  eztoregister.com (2010-2013), mychiptime.com (2014-2019)

Green 6.2 Official Finisher Numbers

10K
2010 - 228
2011 - 664
2012 - 1,210
2013 - 1,763
2014 - 1,763 (783 men / 980 women)
2015 - 1,237 (548 men / 689 women)
2016 - 1,105 (429 men / 686 women)
2017 - 807 (333 men / 474 women)
2018 - 917 (354 men / 563 women)
2019 - 967 (397 men / 570 women)

5K
2016 - 342 (125 men / 217 women)
2017 - 381 (142 men / 339 women)
2018 - 610 (185 men / 425 women)
2019 - 517 (183 men / 334 women)

Sources:  eztoregister.com (2010-2013), mychiptime.com (2014-2019)

Zachary Cater-Cyker Marathon History - Houston, TX

3:08:22 - Rock 'N' Roll San Antonio Marathon, 11/16/08
3:00:31 - Boston Marathon, 4/20/09
3:18:10 - ING New York City Marathon, 11/1/09
2:49:45 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/17/10
2:50:18 - Boston Marathon, 4/19/10
3:56:06 - Big Sur International Marathon, 4/25/10
2:55:35 - Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 10/10/10
2:38:58 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/30/11
2:48:34 - Boston Marathon, 4/18/11
2:38:08 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/15/12
2:40:17 - Boston Marathon, 4/16/12
2:39:03 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/13/13
2:32:21 - Boston Marathon, 4/15/13
2:42:12 - ING New York City Marathon, 11/3/13
2:32:29 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/19/14
2:34:08 - Boston Marathon, 4/21/14
2:47:29 - Boston Marathon, 4/20/15
2:41:41 - Boston Marathon, 4/17/16
2:32:54 - Big Cottonwood Marathon, 9/10/16
2:37:42 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/15/17
2:36:48 - Boston Marathon, 4/17/17
3:22:20 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/14/18
2:48:58 - Boston Marathon, 4/16/18
2:42:54 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/20/19
2:35:00 - Boston Marathon, 4/15/19

Revel Kulia Half Marathon Race Report

The crazy idea of breaking two hours in the half marathon came to the surface once Revel announced that it had created its inaugural Kulia Marathon and Half Marathon to be held on the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

Did I think that I could break it on a flat course?  At some point, possibly.

Doing the math, I know that you have to hold a 9:14 pace the entire way and not until late November was I able to even do that for a 5K.

And, actually, even that was an error.  (I really needed a 9:09 per mile!)

However, I thought that it was possible.  Why?

Well, I do my best racing in the winter time, regardless of what my weight was or is.

When I ran Revel’s Mount Charleston Half Marathon, located on the outskirts of Las Vegas, I had a certain time improvement from times that I had recently produced before that race.

2:16:17 - 11/13/16 - Harlingen Half Marathon, Harlingen, TX – 126
2:19:06 - 11/25/16 - The Waddle Half Marathon, Dallas, TX - 127 (Basically flat)
2:13:05 - 1/29/17 - USA Fit Half Marathon, Sugar Land, TX – 128
2:15:44 - 2/25/17 - Citizens Medical Center Run Against Cancer Half Marathon, Victoria, TX – 129
2:06:09 - 4/29/17 - Revel Mt. Charleston Half Marathon (Downhill), Las Vegas, NV – 130

Somewhere in here, I figured that I had experienced an eight percent difference in times from a flat course to a downhill course.

Therefore, I needed to run a half in less than 2:10 to even have a shot at breaking two.

And let me be blunt, if I achieved it – it would be - a “downhill PR”.

Early last year, I had a physical and my glucose was a bit elevated at 144 (you like it to be under 99) and my hemoglobin, taken three months later, was 6.6 (and this needs to be under 6.0).

So some lifestyle changes were in order.

I cut out as much sodas as I could and made my snacking options as those items that had the least amount of sugar – and I started to eat lunch when I was out on the road traveling.

That is something that I had always struggled with – thinking that I couldn’t do it under the watchful eye of the client that I was doing consulting work for.

The first sign that a sub 2 effort was possible – after committing to the race in mid-September shortly after it opened – was the Nutrabolt Oktoberfest Half Marathon in College Station.

A cool day, I put out a 2:12:49 on a course that had a significant number of turns and some inclines in the middle-to-late parts of the race that my legs knew about the most.

I would have the chance to get in state #46 for half marathon in early November when I ran the Colt State Park Half Marathon in Bristol, Rhode Island and posted a time of 2:15:02.

A double-loop course that had some rollers in it let me know that I was still in the same ballpark as the effort two weeks earlier in Aggieland.

The progression continued at the Waco Zoo Stampede 10K in Waco with a 59:07 on a course that was just a small bit short, but the big surprise came on the Sunday after Thanksgiving with a 28:24 Run For Wellness 5K out at George Bush Park.

Not even well-rested after broadcasting three basketball games at Houston Christian High School in the late afternoon and early evening, I drove to Tyler for the inaugural Tyler Half Marathon on Sunday, November 2 and posted a 2:11:14 on a course that definitely wasn’t flat.

So what was a completely flat course?  The Santa Hustle Half Marathon in Galveston. 

That would be my test to see if sub 2 was a real chance or not, and it didn’t hurt that the price on that race was right too.

Even on a day that wasn’t necessarily in my weather wheelhouse, I notched a flat course PR of 2:06:58 and I started to get excited that sub 2 in Hawaii was indeed possible.

The excellent racing continued into early February with a bevy of low 28-minute 5K’s and a 56:31 10K in Lumberton, but danger lurked.

I started having some knee issues, however, especially on the outside of my right knee.

The only difference – other than the confirmed drop of weight of 28 pounds from the year before – was that I was back in dress shoes, which I hadn’t been in three months.

Plus I’ve never been a high mileage person because I never thought my body could handle it, given that I weighed 252 in early January 2018.

So in the month of February, I ran a lot less during the week – and being in the bitter cold of the northeast (Philadelphia / New Jersey) for work didn’t help things.

In the last week or two, I still was only able to really run a couple of times a week; however, I changed my thinking going into this past Saturday to the fact that if I hit it, great.

If not, it was still state #48 with New Jersey and California to obtain.

The event advertised a descent that dropped 2,505 feet for the half marathon – nearly a half a mile.

After going to packet pickup on late Friday morning, I decided to drive the course – something that I haven’t done since the Little Rock Marathon in March 2006.

And, actually, for once, I was glad that I did.

My reconnaissance proved to be right on race day.

The first five miles were definitely screamers.

The next five had six inclines or uphills, whatever your definition is of them.  I likened the course – in a different sense – to the 3M Half Marathon in Austin – a “net downhill” course.

After that, if you had enough in the tank, it was reasonable that one could hammer the last three, especially the final mile.

Even at 2,644 feet above sea level, race morning it was about 50 degrees.  I had a long-sleeve shirt over my Liberty University racing shirt and I wore the gloves that they provided in the packet pickup bag.

I took a chance that I think might have paid off well and that was that I slipped towards the front of the pack.

We started in the left lane of a two-lane road and I was just 10.44 seconds across the line after the gun went off.

I knew in talking to some of the Revel staff while out at the start that there was about 400 or so registered in both races so it should have allowed everybody to run their own race.

Pre-race, I had two strategies:  1.) put the hammer down and go for broke or 2.) enjoy the day and simply get state #48.

A number of Volte Endurance Training athletes were there, another to do the half and a couple to run the marathon.

Gabby Brockett, who was running the half and was there on the trip with her husband and son, was planning to just enjoy the day.

I would decide completely after mile 1.

The first mile was a little bit of a very slight incline, but I thought it was just a stretch to be able to figure out how you and your legs felt.

In the middle of that first mile, I had a sign that I didn’t stretch – and my right hamstring started to announce its presence.

Mile 1 came through in 8:42.32.

Although there were no markings on the road that might have come during the certification process, the mile markers seemed right.

The second mile had a bit of a pronounced downhill before making the right-hand turn on to Hawaii 19 that would take us 11 more miles to the finish.

We ran in a very-wide left-hand shoulder and I posted an 8:56.94 second mile.

Again, knowing that I had to have 9:14 or better, I realized that I was putting a little time in the bank, but it certainly wasn’t going to be a lot to spare.

I knew that I needed to make a little hay in the next three miles and I did.

Mile 3 – 8:29.45
Mile 4 – 8:49.82
Mile 5 – 8:35.37

And then the inclines started to come.

The next three miles had the following splits:

Mile 6 – 8:51.51
Mile 7 – 9:03.79
Mile 8 – 9:03.93

However, I knew the next two – as we came into Waikoloa Village – were going to be a challenge, especially as a lot of the wind had subsided and temperatures became a bit known.

The mile 9 marker came up just on the south side of the Village and it was the first mile split that was over 9:14 – 9:27.45.

I didn’t panic, but I knew that I didn’t have a ton of gas in the tank as I hadn’t covered the full 13.1-mile distance since late December – and my mileage wasn’t any more than 10-15 the past four weeks.

The tenth mile, which included the biggest incline of them all, revealed a split of 10:13.45.

My watch basically showed 1:30 at that point with a 5K to go.

I realized that it wasn’t going to be easy to make sub 2, but I was also mentally prepared to accept if I didn’t make it.

Mile 11 wasn’t a pronounced downhill; however, it yielded a 9:39.41 split.

There was still a chance.

I figured I had banked 21 seconds, but really it was over the 9:14 – and I wasn’t in a space to try and do the math completely from the 10:13 split.

I thought that the last two miles were screamers, but it was basically only the last mile.

I think – although I could be wrong – that the last aid station came in mile 12.

That split was 9:24.01 – again seven seconds over the 9:14, but 36 seconds under 10 minutes a mile.

At that point, I started to taste it.

Mile 13 was 8:35.04 and the last tenth of a mile was a 10-minute per mile pace of 59.58 (but again, the markers could have been slightly off too).

Twice on the course, I had started to cry thinking about my sister and my grandfather primarily, as I do in many races, but also about my great aunt Phyliss Walk, who passed away less than two weeks ago in our hometown of Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

I almost did so again shortly after finishing, but was just really happy that things all came together to have a really nice race – and to hit a goal that I thought was reasonably possible.

Shortly after I finished, I realized that Gabby hadn’t taken it easy and crossed in 2:06:05.

Good for her.  She later told me that her flat course PR was either 1:56 or 1:58.

The two Volte marathoners didn’t have the days that they were looking for – Leanne Rosser just missed a Boston Marathon qualifying time with an otherwise fine effort of 3:56:51 while Marta Mixa, who at one point was forced to stop in the first half of the race, crossed in 5:44:26.

I saw Houston’s Candace Caesar, an athlete with Team Catapult, before the race as we waited to board school buses to shuttle us to the start line.  She finished the half marathon in 2:51:54.

I knew that the Marathon Junkie – Chuck Engle – was running, but didn’t see him until he approached the finish line.  Chuck was fourth overall and second Masters in 2:56:28.

So what’s next?

I seriously doubt that I’ll head back to doing marathons, even though I have 34 states covered in my 54 finishes.

I have two states to finish in half marathons – New Jersey and California.  I’m currently looking at options on how to complete those – in addition to whatever else I can squeeze in on a trip to do so.

If you read this far, thanks as always for your support and encouragement.

Running keeps me generally healthy physically, but as importantly, it shapes a positive mental health outlook – even when everything in my life might not have gone the way that I originally desired them to have been.