Waverly Walk - Complete 5-Mile Race History

48:07 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/23/17 (Age 22)
48:58.0 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/27/14 (Age 19)
50:06 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/28/19 (Age 24)
50:27.3 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/22/18 (Age 23)
50:40 - HCA 8K, Richmond, VA, 11/14/15 (Age 20)

50:45.4 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M, 7/4/17 (Age 22)
51:02 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/28/24 (Age 29) - Four days after running the Tulsa Marathon
51:16 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/23/23 (Age 28) - 53:07 for 5.18 miles / 10:15 page
52:33 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/25/21 (Age 26)
52:44 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/28/13 (Age 18)

53:07.9 - Texas Bud Heat Wave 5M, 7/4/19 (Age 24)
53:11 - Independence Day 8K, 6/30/18 (Age 23)
54:00 - Ohio Michigan 8K, 7/9/15 (Age 20)
54:12 - Run Thru The Woods 5M, 11/24/22 (Age 27)
54:43 - Chevron Jingle Bell Run 5M, 12/14/14 (Age 19)

 54:57.2 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M, 7/4/16 (Age 21)
55:25.0 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M, 7/4/15 (Age 20)
57:17 - Chevron Jingle Bell Run 5M, 12/15/13 (Age 18)
1:00:34 - Chevron Jingle Bell Run 5M, 12/10/06 (Age 11)
1:02:44 - Chevron Jingle Bell Run 5M, 12/12/05 (Age 10)

Thanksgiving Day Racing

2024 - Finish line and awards announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2023 - Finish line and awards announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2022 - Finish line and awards announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2021 - Finish line and awards announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2020 - No Thanksgiving Day racing due to COVID-19.

2019 - Athens Turkey Trot Family Fun Run 5K (Athens, TX) - 30:31.52
2018 - Finish line and awards announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2017 - Finish line and awards announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2016 - Ran Lake Jackson Turkey Trot 10K (Lake Jackson, TX) - 59:50.59
2015 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 51:18

2014 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 49:16.23
2013 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 52:44 (52:50 with Waverly)
2012 - Finish line announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2011 - Covered Run Thru The Woods 5M for the Conroe Courier.
2010 - Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (New York City, NY)

2009 - Promoted the Bill Crews Remission Run 5K at Run Thru The Woods 5M.
2008 - Finish line announcing at Run Thru The Woods 5M. (Confirmed from blog.)
2007 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 49:03
2006 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 51:36.25
2005 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 48:21.3

2004 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 49:45.1
2003 - Ran Run Thru The Woods 5M (The Woodlands, TX) - 1:00:08.8

Waverly Walk - Complete Marathon History

4:45:26 - 12th annual Legacy Capital The Woodlands Marathon - 3/4/23 (The Cheesecake Factory)
4:51:23 - Chevron Houston Marathon, 1/14/18 (Pappasito's)
5:02:26 - Tulsa Route 66 Marathon, 11/24/24 (The Cheesecake Factory)
5:17:21 - Marine Corps Marathon, 10/27/19 (The Cheesecake Factory)

The Woodlands Marathon Race Day Temperatures (2012-2022)

2012 (March 3) -- 57 degrees (7:02 a.m.) / 63 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2013 (March 2) -- 40 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 54 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2014 (March 1) -- 66 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 82 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2015 (February 28) -- 39 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 56 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2016 (March 5) -- 50 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 74 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2017 (March 4) -- 56 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 64 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2018 (March 3) -- 51 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 73 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2019 (March 2) -- 55 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 69 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2020 (March 7) -- 44 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 61 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2021 (March 6) -- 51 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 68 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

2022 (March 5) -- 68 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 81 degrees (12:53 p.m.)
2023 (March 4) -- 47 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 70 degrees (12:53 p.m.)
2024 (March 2) -- 56 degrees (6:53 a.m.) / 69 degrees (12:53 p.m.)

Source:  wunderground.com

Waverly Walk - Complete Half Marathon History

By Time
2:06:47 - 3/6/21 - 10th annual The Woodlands Marathon, The Woodlands, TX - 14
2:11:35 - 10/9/16 - 4th annual Hokie Half Marathon, Blacksburg, VA - 6
2:11:47 - 2/8/20 - 6th annual Katy Half Marathon, Katy, TX - 12
2:12:47 - 2/3/18 - SAGU Half Marathon, Waxahachie, TX - 8 (Adjusted time as course map was printed as 13.25 miles and time was 2:14:12)
2:13:57 - 1/3/21 - 4th annual Canton Half Marathon, Canton, TX - 13
2:16:36 - 10/28/17 - 39th annual Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, TX - 7
2:18:41 - 1/14/24 - Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 26
2:19:29 - 10/13/24 - BCS Oktoberfest Half Marathon, College Station, TX - 28
2:19:37 - 1/1/20 - Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood, TX - 11
2:20:21 - 3/25/23 - Bearathon Half Marathon, Waco, TX - 22
2:20:31 - 1/1/15 - Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood, TX - 2

2:21:10 - 4/16/23 - Vintage Park 13.1 Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 23
2:21:15 - 10/31/21 - 15th annual Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 17
2:22:52 - 10/16/21 - 42nd annual Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, TX - 16
2:23:08 - 12/10/23 - Baylor Scott & White Health BCS Half Marathon, College Station, TX - 25
2:24:45 - 3/2/24 - 13th annual The Woodlands Half Marathon, The Woodlands, TX - 27
2:26:07 - 4/10/21 - Blue Bell Fun Run Half Marathon, Brenham, TX - 15 (Ran with Dad)

2:26:31 - 10/30/22 - 16th annual Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 21
2:27:24.50 - 8/4/19 - 3rd annual Canton Half Marathon, Canton, TX - 10
2:31:44 - 3/14/15 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon, Seabrook, TX - 3
2:33:31 - 4/16/16 - Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Half Marathon, Roanoke, VA - 5
2:35:57 - 8/8/15 - 14th annual Lynchburg Half Marathon, Lynchburg, VA - 4
2:36:52 - 3/5/22 - 11th annual The Woodlands Marathon, The Woodlands, TX - 19
2:37:16 - 9/23/18 - 6th annual Hokie Half Marathon, Blacksburg, VA - 9
2:37:32 - 1/1/22 - Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood, TX - 18
2:37:53 - 10/29/23 - 17th annual Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 24
2:47:28 - 10/15/22 - 43rd annual Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, TX - 20
2:54:06 - 1/15/06 - Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 1

By Date
2:54:06 - 1/15/06 - Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 1
2:20:31 - 1/1/15 - Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood, TX - 2 (Two minute stop at halfway)
2:31:44 - 3/14/15 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon, Seabrook, TX - 3
2:35:57 - 8/8/15 - 14th annual Lynchburg Half Marathon, Lynchburg, VA - 4
2:33:31 - 4/16/16 - Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Half Marathon, Roanoke, VA - 5
2:11:35 - 10/9/16 - 4th annual Hokie Half Marathon, Blacksburg, VA - 6
2:16:36 - 10/28/17 - 39th annual Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, TX - 7
2:12:47 - 2/3/18 - SAGU Half Marathon, Waxahachie, TX - 8 (Adjusted time as course map was printed as 13.25 miles and time was 2:14:12)
2:37:16 - 9/23/18 - 6th annual Hokie Half Marathon, Blacksburg, VA - 9
2:27:24.50 - 8/4/19 -3rd annual Canton Half Marathon, Canton, TX - 10
2:19:37 - 1/1/20 - Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood, TX - 11
2:11:47 - 2/8/20 - 6th annual Katy Half Marathon, Katy, TX - 12
2:13:57 - 1/3/21 - 4th annual Canton Half Marathon, Canton, TX - 13
2:06:47 - 3/6/21 - 10th annual The Woodlands Half Marathon, The Woodlands, TX - 14
2:26:07 - 4/10/21 - Blue Bell Fun Run Half Marathon, Brenham, TX - 15 (Ran with Dad)
2:22:52 - 10/16/21 - 42nd annual Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, TX - 16
2:21:15 - 10/31/21 - 15th annual Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 17

2:37:32 - 1/1/22 - Texas Half Marathon, Kingwood, TX - 18

2:36:52 - 3/5/22 - 11th annual The Woodlands Half Marathon, The Woodlands, TX - 19
2:47:28 - 10/15/22 - 43rd annual Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, TX - 20
2:26:31 - 10/30/22 - 16th annual Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 21
2:20:21 - 3/25/23 - Bearathon Half Marathon, Waco, TX - 22

2:21:10 - 4/16/23 - Vintage Park 13.1 Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 23
2:37:53 - 10/29/23 - 17th annual Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 24
2:23:08 - 12/10/23 - Baylor Scott & White Health BCS Half Marathon, College Station, TX - 25

2:18:41 - 1/14/24 - Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX - 26
2:24:45 - 3/2/24 - 13th annual The Woodlands Half Marathon, The Woodlands, TX - 27
2:19:29 - 10/13/24 - BCS Oktoberfest Half Marathon, College Station, TX - 28

My Fourth of July Races (2003-2023)

2003 - Run Wild 5K (Houston, TX)
2004 - Run Wild 5K (Houston, TX)
2005 - Stu's Country Mile 5K (Centerville, TX)
2006 - Didn't race.
2007 - Lander Half Marathon (Lander, WY)
2008 - Stu's Country Mile 5K (Centerville, TX)
2009 - East Montgomery County YMCA Fourth of July 5K (Roman Forest, TX)
2010 - TWRC Sunday Night 5K (The Woodlands, TX)*
2011 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2012 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2013 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2014 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2015 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2016 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2017 - Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M (Baytown, TX)+
2018 - Old Jo's Firecracker 5K (Saint Jo, TX)
2019 - 50th anniversary West Texas Running Club Firecracker 10K (Brownfield, TX)
2020 - Firecracker 5K (Mexia, TX)
2021 - The SHARK Run 5K (Orange Beach, AL)
2022 - Patriot 5K (Trophy Club, TX)
2023 - Coolest 5K in Texas (Fort Davis, TX)
2024 - Stu's Country Mile 5K (Centerville, TX)

*Volunteer +Race Announcer

2024 Races - 16

January
1/  1 - Spindle Tree parkrun 5K #103 (Magnolia, TX) - 30:34.21 // 9:48.36 - 10:03.84 - 10:07.76 - 34.25 - [1st AG]
1/  6 - Spindle Tree parkrun 5K #104 (Magnolia, TX) - 29:56.41 // 9:54.40 - 9:47.68 - 9:41.21 - 33.12 - [1st AG]
1/  7 - Bridgeland 10 Five-Miler, Cypress, TX -- 49:46.20 - 21.52 offset = 49:24.28 - 9:30.86 - 9:49.28 - 9:49.14 - 10:03.90 - 10:11.50 - [3rd AG]
1/21 - Houston Friendship 5K, Houston, TX -- 29:22.06 - 9.97 offset = 29:12.09 // 14:25.62 - 14:46.47 [2nd AG]

March
3/16 - 12th Annual Doug Sibley Memorial Scholarship Fun Run 5K, Omaha, TX -- 29:37.86 = 9:04.14 / 9:39.52 / 10:54.20 (last 1.1) - [8th OA; 1st AG]

3/23 - 2nd Annual Mont Belvieu Spring Sprint 5K Fun Run, Mont Belvieu, TX -- 29:35.18 - 8.73 = 29:26.45 / 8:59.40 (to turnaround) - 9:01.33 (back to "finish line extended" - 11:25.72 (last 1.1) - [1st AG]

April

4/  6 - Bellaire Trolley Run 5K, Bellaire, TX (29:42.36 = 9:15.87 - 9:40.00 - 9:51.65 - 54.84)

4/13 - Spindle Tree parkrun 5K #118 (Magnolia, TX) - 30:11.94 // 9:56.89 - 9:52.44 - 9:48.213 - 34.48

4/21 - The5K (Houston, TX) - 28:07.06 - 2.84 miles (Waverly) - 6:48.25 - 7:04.35 - 7:09.91 - 7:04.55 // 9:54/pace - 30:46 5K equivalent - 64 turns

May
5/27 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K (Huntsville, TX) - 8:48.38 - 9:43.91 - 11:09.40 = 29:41.69

June
6/15 - Holland Corn Festival 5K (Holland, TX) - 5.20 (offset) - 9:17.63 (mile 1) - 5:13.69 (to 1.55) - 5:27.48 (to 2.1) - 10:16.01 (last mile) = 30:19.71 (gun) - 30:14.51 (chip) - [1st AG]
6/29 - City of Mathis Freedom Fest 5K (7.22 offset - 9:18.08 - 5:21.04 (14:39.12 out) - 4:27.27 (9:48.31 mile 2) - 10:57.91 (last 1.1) - 30:11.52 (gun) - 30:04.30 (chip) - [3rd AG]

July

7/  4 - Stu's Country Mile 5K (Centerville, TX) - 30:49.69 - 3.15 miles - 9:47 per - 30:25 equivalent

September
9/21 - 14th annual Woodforest Charity Run 10K (Conroe, TX) - 9:52.62 - 9:30.01 - 10:10.70 - 10:29.30 - 9:56.04 - 13:28.17 = 1:03:26.84

October

10/  5 - 23rd annual Husky Hustle 5K (Houston, TX) - 5.16 (offset) - 9:33.27 - 9:37.30 - 9:40.60 - 35.19 = 29:31.52 minus 5.16 = 29:26.36

10/  6 - TWRC Sunday Night 5K with Waverly (The Woodlands, TX) - 10:19.67 - 10:31.92 - 10:29.14 - 57.09 = 32:17.82

Neches Labor Day 5K Recap

The alarm went off at 3 a.m. Monday morning.

However, the gas receipt up at the 7-Eleven at the corner of Holzwarth and Spring Steubner was stamped 3:23 a.m - and this included loading all of my announcing equipment into the car.

It would be less than three and a half hours until the start of the Kids K for the 2nd annual Neches Labor Day 5K, produced by a newer race production, the 3 Bros Running Company - some 101 miles away.

Like I shared in an earlier Facebook post, co-owner Jeremy Fermo had reached out recently to see if I was still race announcing and we talked about their event at length.

Not that I'm adverse to work, but as I've gotten older - and hopefully wiser from experience, I've learned where to attempt to minimize stress at.

My biggest question was:  "Is there power in the park?"

Jeremy was certain that there was.  

I just simply like to not have to deal with a generator unless I absolutely have to anymore.  I'm not naturally mechanically inclined and it is a variable that I like to eliminate, where possible.

He had also indicated that they would have their speakers out so it was such that I really didn't have to even bring my equipment, which was nice.  I could just bring mine along.

But the biggest factor of all?  It is nice to be in a position these days that I don't have to do any of this.

I can choose to, and I did.

Why?  Sometimes I'm not even sure.

I've known Jeremy and Willie (William) Fermo since their days running the races in the Golden Triangle put on by the Jameses, but there wasn't any special incentive to do this.

I had asked Waverly if she was interested in running it, and she decided that she wanted to have a day where she could sleep in.  You can't blame a busy, active 29-year-old young lady for that - at all.

I think it is the challenge of doing - in this case, working - a new race.

I've done many.

Some people don't thrive in situations when the playbook doesn't cover all of the possibilities that may occur, but that's where my experience - or at least I like to think so - kicks in.

I like to think that I've seen it all - or most of it.

And I've always believed that I prepare better than anybody else out there, but even once I parked my car in the park at 5:15 a.m. or so I needed to walk the grounds a bit - since I had never been to the Park - to see how everything was going to flow.

A lot of the feedback that I receive from people when I announce is, "You have a great voice."  

God has certainly blessed me with a little bit of talent, that I'm grateful for, but it is the ability to execute the race plan - and adapt in the middle of it, if necessary.

That's really the biggest talent that I bring to a race's table, so to speak.  

But it doesn't hurt when all of that is also tempered with an understanding of how to do things through the lens of good, effective public relations.

If something goes awry, which nothing did this morning, can you communicate around it so that nobody is or very few people are aware of what might be going on behind the scenes.

Like I said, experience pays off here.

Fortunately, this morning, it was clear where the start/finish line was - and a good friend, Jerry Fuqua, with Run Houston Timing, was in the process of setting everything up there.  

Jerry - and his wife, Theresa, the head cross country and track and field coach at Houston Christian University, are legends in our Houston sports community.

A majority of the activities centered around a pavilion there in Port Neches Riverfront Park and Jeremy and Willie had speakers there for the post-race award ceremonies - and what turned out to be pre-race activites too.

In our original discussion, Jeremy was going to take one of those two and carry it to the start, to announce from.

After cofirming that power - in the pavilion - was just a long extension cord plus away, using my equipment was about removing a variable in the equation.

Setup went quick and I was talking no later than 6:10 a.m. with the first pre-race activity happening at 6:40 a.m. in some words from their affiliated charity.

It was the largest race in their company's short three-year history, and the pavilion provided a captive location for the president of the charity to speak from.  

Before I arrived, I thought it was something that we might do at the start/finish line, but it really worked out well in the pavilion.

I had spoken with the individuals with the organization - ASK (Adaptive Sports for Kids'), which is based in Nederland - and they said they might need about five minutes to communicate their mission so we didn't have to go on the hard 6:40 a.m. mark, but backed off a little bit - enough to allow us to be able to move right into the pre-race warmup by one of their sponsors, HotWORX.

We then had enough time to get all of the kids - and the parents running with them - to the start line, and begin their race on-time - complete with Jeremy firing a starter's pistol used in high school and college cross country races - provided by Jerry.

In between the end of the Kids K and the start of the 5K, here comes one of the owners of the Legacy Capital The Woodlands Marathon, Danny Golden, who was there with his girlfriend.  

He was the last person I expected to see there, but certainly a very welcome sight.  

(Like I've heard many times, he said when he made it to the grounds that he had heard the voice before!)

One of the things that I do constantly is announce the time whenever I speak and what the times of the next events are in the race timeline.

The benefit to that?  A lack of chaos getting people - in today's case - to the start line.  

We had a flag presentation and the National Anthem scheduled at 7:25 a.m. - for a 7:30 a.m. start - and while I was talking, wrapping up the kids race and making more pre-race announcements, I saw the individuals involved in those activities and went to visit with them.

Kendra Queen sang the National Anthem and wow!, what a powerful and beautiful voice.  

She did an amazing job, but so too did the daughters of the Hensley family, who are key leaders in the Sea Rim Striders running club, based in Beaumont.

I just had one of the two daughters' names in my pre-race information from Jeremy, but I got both of their names and their Boy Scouts Troop number too - and was able to remember them.  (I am getting older!)

But the older of the two girls had such poise.  

She fully understood about presenting and retiring the colors, which I like to properly do at races, because I don't believe enough Americans fully understand and respect those protocols, and they did an admirable and fantastic job, including the older daughter guiding the younger one to dip her Texas flag to the U.S. flag.

The rest of the day - the race and the awards ceremony - went well.

My final preparation was a bit late on Sunday mid-afternoon to find out who was timing and to try and get a bib list, and in my busyness, I failed to ask it earlier.

But before I had Waverly print and laminate my race information and bring it to the late afternoon worship service we both attended, I went through the Track Participants function of the Run Signup page to get a good number of names and bib numbers which allowed for me to announce about half of the runners' names as they came to the finish line.

All in all, it was a good day, but with the early wake-up call, and after getting some Whataburger in Beaumont before driving back, I was wiped after I got home at about 12:15 p.m.

The most important thing is that, I've learned, I like doing the things that I do when I don't have to, but isn't that how it is with a lot in our life?

Could I execute if I had to?  

Sure, but when it is something I elect to do, that makes it all the more enjoyable.

And on some of these things that I do, when you decide to some of those opportunities up, there are others who want to scoop them up from you - and you'll never get them back if you change your mind.

Race in 207 Texas Cities or Towns and 102 Texas Counties ... And Counting!

2003
1.  Houston - 24-Hour Fitness 4-Miler (1.  Harris County)
2.  Round Rock - Round Rock Express 5K (2.  Williamson)
3.  The Woodlands - Run The Woodlands 5K #89 (3.  Montgomery)
4.  Dallas - Comcast State Fair of Texas 5K (4.  Dallas)
5.  Austin - IBM Uptown Classic 10K (5.  Travis)
6.  Beaumont - Christus Health 2nd annual Great Pumpkin Race 5K (6.  Jefferson)

2004
7.  Angleton - Angleton Noon Lions Spectacle Spectacular 10K (7.  Brazoria)
8.  Kingwood - Lake Houston YMCA Bridgefest 5K
9.  Galveston - 5th annual Mardi Gras Beach Run 10K (8,  Galveston)
10.  Tyler - Azalea Run 10K (9.  Smith)
11.  Sugar Land - Sugar Creek Blvd. Mile (10.  Fort Bend)
12.  San Antonio - Carrabba's Classic Half Marathon (11. Bexar)
13.  Fort Worth - Fort Worth Runners Club Three Amigos 4 Mile Run (12.  Tarrant)
14.  La Marque - Webster Bicycle Duathlon #3
15.  Arlington - August Gusto 5K
16.  Keller - Run In The Dark 5K
17.  Brenham - Brenham Hillacious Cross Country Open (13. Washington)
18.  San Marcos - 1st annual San Marcos Running Club Country Roads 10K (14.  Hays)
19.  Helotes - Texas MedClinic Helotes Half Marathon
20.  Clear Lake - 2nd annual United Space Alliance Space City 10 Miler
21.  Huntsville - 26th annual Huntsville Half Marathon (15.  Walker)
22.  La Grange - 1st annual Best Little 10K in Texas (16.  Fayette)
23.  Flower Mound - Flower Mound Metric Half-Marathon

2005
24.  Waco - Bearathon Half Marathon (17. McLennan)
25.  Bellaire - Bellaire Trolley Run 5K
26.  College Station - GLOW (Giving to Light Others' Way) 5K (18.  Brazos)
27.  Wharton - StraightWay Family Fun Run 5K (19.  Wharton)
28.  Centerville - Stu's Country Mile 5K (20.  Leon)
29.  Seabrook - Maribelle's On The Bay 5K
30.  Cypress - League Play Grill Semi-Annual 5K
31.  Deer Park - Goblin Gallop 5K
32.  Pearland - Jingle Jog 10-Miler

2006
33.  Surfside - Surfside Beach Marathon
34.  Pasadena - Run For Life 5K
35.  Alvin - Beneezy Purple Monkey 10K
36.  Willis - Wildkat 5K

2007
37.  New Braunfels - River Road Run 12-Miler (21.  Comal)
38.  Webster - Yuri's Night 5K
39.  Conroe - YMCA Trail Run 5K
40.  Bremond - Polish Pickle Run 5K (22.  Robertson)
41.  Fort Davis - Prude Ranch Races Half Marathon (23.  Jeff Davis)
42.  Oak Ridge North - Oak Ridge 5-Miler
43.  West - West Fest Kolache 5000
44.  Caldwell - Kolache Krunch 5K (24.  Burleson)

2008
45.  Texarkana - Run The Line Half Marathon  (25.  Bowie)
46.  Aledo - AdvoCats Run Walk or Crawl 5K (26.  Parker)
47.  Pilot Point - Four-Alarm Chase 5K (27.  Denton)
48.  Temple - Scott & White Community Wellness Half Marathon (28.  Bell)
49.  Lampasas - Toughest 10K in Texas (29.  Lampasas)
50.  Milano - Nowhere 2 Run 10K (30.  Milam)
51.  Marathon - Marathon 2 Marathon (31.  Brewster)
52.  Lufkin - Stay On Track Fun Run 5K (32.  Angelina)
53.  Livingston - Jingle Bell Run 5K (33.  Polk)

2009
54.  Roman Forest - East Montgomery County 4th of July Race 5K
55.  Irving - Heels and Hills and Him Half Marathon
56.  McKinney - Firefighter 10K (34.  Collin)
57.  Dime Box - Mini Marathon 10K (35.  Lee)
58.  Corpus Christi - Harbor Half Marathon (36.  Nueces)
59.  Tomball - Woodforest National Bank 5K
60.  Missouri City - Scanlan Elementary 5K
61.  Richmond - Resolution Run 5K

2010
62.  Kemah - Galloway Gallop 10K
63.  Orchard - Pamela's Race 10K
64.  Bryan - Downtown Derby 5K
65.  League City - Summer Kick-Off Fun Run 5K
66.  Humble - Woodcreek Middle School 5K

2011
67.  La Porte - Sylvan Beach Duathlon

2012 
68.  New Caney - El Chupacabra de Houston 10K
69.  Rockwall - Patriot Half Marathon (37.  Rockwall)
70.  Texas City - Funfest By The Bay 10K
71.  Crosby - Firecracker 5K
72.  Port Neches - Sea Rim Striders Summer Series Run #5
73.  Sealy - 5 Alarm 5K (38.  Austin)
74.  Navasota - Blues Capital of Texas 5K (39.  Grimes)
75.  Lubbock - Panhandle Half Marathon (40.  Lubbock)
76.  Port Arthur - Sabine Causeway Bridge 5K

2013
77.  Diboll - New Year's Resolution 5K
78.  Point Blank - Run For The Governor's 5K (41.  San Jacinto)
79.  Crawford - Chisholm Trail Half Marathon
80.  Fairview - Fairview Half Marathon
81.  Kosse - Kosse Greyhound 5K (42.  Limestone)
82.  Harker Heights - Race to Read 5K
83.  Nacogdoches - Freedom 5K (43.  Nacogdoches)
84.  Georgetown - Vern's No-Frills 5K
85.  Salado - Midnight Madness Down Main 5K
86.  Lakeway - Be Healthy Lake Travis Day 5K
87.  Hamilton - Dove Festival 10K (44.  Hamilton)
88.  Mansfield - Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Run With Heart Half Marathon
89.  Cedar Park - Run Free Texas 80's 8K Community Race
90.  Boerne - Fabra Elementary Howl at the Moon 5K (45.  Kendall)
91.  Seguin - Seguin Police Moonlight Run 5K (46.  Guadalupe)
92.  Kyle - Kyle-O-Meter 5K

2014
93.  Bandera - Cowboy Capital Stampede 10K (47.  Bandera)
94.  Cleburne - 4th annual Camp Fire Chicken Run 5K (48.  Johnson)
95.  Corinth - Corinth PD Foot Patrol 5K
96.  Highland Village - Running Moms Rock 5K
97.  Carrollton - Carrollton Runners Club 5K
98.  Muenster - Germanfest 15K (49.  Cooke)
99.  Abilene - Summer Solstice 3-Hour Endurance Run (50.  Taylor)
100.  Moulton - Moulton Jamboree 5K (51.  Lavaca)
101.  Bay City - Respect 5K Honoring Heroes (52.  Matagorda)
102.  Bastrop - Burning Pine 10K (53.  Bastrop)
103.  Glen Rose - Tour de Glen Rose Half Marathon (54.  Somervell)

2015
104.  Benbrook - 27th annual Lake Benbrook Half Marathon
105.  Baytown - 5th annual Jail Break Run Half Marathon
106.  Woodville - Dogwood Dash 5K (55.  Tyler)
107.  Santa Fe - 8th annual Chelsey's 5K Run For Kids
108.  Crystal Beach - Texas Crab Festival 5K
109.  Spring - LinksRun 10K - Cypresswood Golf Club
110.  Millsap - Ticket Lady Trot 10K
111.  Franklin - 1st annual Franklin FFA Glow Run 5K
112.  North Richland Hills - 1st annual NRH Road Runner 5K
113.  Anthony - Anthony Flying Horse Half Marathon (56.  El Paso)

2016
114.  Rockport - 28th annual Whooping Crane Strut 10K (57.  Aransas)
115.  Silsbee - 3rd annual Autism 5K (58.  Hardin)
116.  Fredericksburg - Fredericksburg Wildflower Run 10K (59.  Gillespie)
117.  Graham - Run For The Children 10K (60.  Young)
118.  Falfurrias - 4th of July Stars and Stripes 5K (61.  Brooks)
119.  Longview - Up And Away 5K (62.  Gregg)
120.  Clute - Mosquito Chase 5K
121.  Lantana - Run Lantana 10K
122.  Alice - Jim Wells County - VFW Post 8621 10-Miler (63.  Jim Wells)
123.  Harlingen - 3rd annual Harlingen Half Marathon (64.  Cameron)
124.  Lake Jackson - 4th annual Lake Jackson Turkey Trot 10K
125.  Needville - Brazos Bend Marathon
126.  Mission - Resolution Run 5K (65.  Hidalgo)

2017
127.  Grapevine - Bold In The Cold 15K
128.  San Angelo - Shannon Trail Race Series #3 15K (66.  Tom Green)
129.  Kingsville - Ties and Tennis Shoes 10K (67.  Kleberg)
130.  Victoria - Citizens Medical Center Run Against Cancer Half Marathon (68.  Victoria)
131.  Ennis - 19th annual Ennis Polka Fest 10K (69.  Ellis)
132.  Burnet - Rogue Trail Series - The Ranch 10K (70.  Burnet)
133.  Sulphur Springs - Milk Run 5K (71.  Hopkins)
134.  Jacksonville - Tomato 5 - Tomato Fest 5K (72.  Cherokee)
135.  Lumberton - Sea Rim Striders Summer Series Run #3
136.  Zapata - 5th Annual PFC Ira "Ben" Laningham IV 5K (73.  Zapata)
137.  Hico - Old Settler's Run To Remember 5K

2018
138.  Waxahachie - SAGU Half Marathon
139.  Buda - Run For The Love It 5K
140.  Smithville - Stampede In The Park 5K
141.  Killeen - 32nd annual Silver Classic 5K
142.  Shenandoah - David's Dream Run 5K
143.  Stephenville - Autism Awareness Puzzle Run 5K (74.  Erath)
144.  Eastland - Eastland Glow Run 5K (75.  Eastland)
145.  Dublin - 18th annual Dublin Irish Stampede 10K
146.  Frisco - Hotter 'n Firecrackers 5K
147.  Saint Jo - Old Jo's Firecracker 5K (76.  Montague)
148.  Port O'Connor - 6th annual Firemans 4 Race (77.  Calhoun)
149.  Eagle Pass - Stars and Stripes 5K (78.  Maverick)
150.  Center - What-A-Melon Crawl 5K (79.  Shelby)
151.  De Leon - Watermelon Crawl 5K (80.  Comanche)
152.  Bonham - Sweatin' For The Vets 5K (81.  Fannin)
153.  Palestine - Paint Palestine Pink 10.5M (82.  Anderson)
154.  Plano - Holiday Hustle 8K

2019
155.  Lockhart - 13th annual Lockhart Kiwanis 5K Stampede (83.  Caldwell)
156.  Taylor - 2nd annual Taylor Veterans 5K Beer Run
157.  Rollingwood - RW5K Life Is Good In The Wood
158.  Katy - Cow Patty Classic 5K
159.  Bellville - Faith Academy Bellville Knights Run 5K
160.  Queen City - Project Graduation Diploma Dash 5K (2.2M) (84.  Cass)
161.  Gatesville - Cen-Tex Crime Stoppers Donut Dash 5K (85.  Coryell)
162.  Leander - Old Towne 5K
163.  Pflugerville - Deutschen Pfest 5K
164.  Gustine - Larry Don's 7 & 7K
165.  Alpine - Alpine Cowboys Home Run 10K
166.  Clifton - 6th annual Clifton Legacy Park 5K Glow Run (86.  Bosque)
167.  Brownfield - 50th anniversary WTRC Firecracker Run 10K (87.  Terry)
168.  DeCordova - DeCordova Dash 5K (88.  Hood)
169.  Quitman - Miss Ima 5K (89.  Wood)
170.  Canton - 3rd annual Canton Half Marathon (90.  Van Zandt)
171.  Woodway - TUFF ENUFF 5K Trail Run
172.  Midland - Face the Race 5K (91.  Midland)
173.  Athens - Athens Turkey Trot Family Fun Run 5K (92.  Henderson)
174.  Grand Prairie - Chocoholic Frolic 10K

2020
175.  Copperas Cove - 5K Run to the Polar Bear Plunge
176.  Mexia - Firecracker 5K
177.  Mingus - C.A.R.E.'s "Run 4 The Rescue" 5K (93.  Palo Pinto) 

178.  Golden - Golden Sweet Potato Festival 5K

179.  Midlothian - Run For Your Bones 5K

180.  Lott - Falls County 4-H Livestock Judging Stampede 5K (94. Falls)

181.  Chilton - Great Pumpkin Chase 5K

2021
182.  Louise - Steps For Steven 5K
183.  Valley Mills - Mission 5K Fun Run
184.  Port Bolivar - Texas Crab Festival 5K
185.  Schertz - Cibolo Crossing Stampede 5K

186.  Grandview - Zebra Dash 5K

187.  Windthorst - 41st annual Windthorst Dairy Derby 5K (95.  Archer)
188.  Stockdale - Watermelon Crawl 5K (96.  Wilson)

2022

189.  Trophy Club - Patriot 5K
190.  Balch Springs - Spring The Springs 5K

2023
191.  Mineola - Spring Fling 5K

192.  Ellinger - Tomato Trot 5K

193.  Burleson - 2nd Annual Rise Up for Fitness Family 5K

194.  Manor - Manor Community 5K (but was really a 3K!)

195.  Maxwell - Coco Brothers' Memorial 5K
196.  Denton - Pioneer Power 5K
197.  Comanche - Salt, Lime and Finish Lines 5K
198.  Canyon - 13th annual Canyon Cross Country Club Scholarship Run 5K (97.  Randall)

199.  El Paso - Homerun for the Homeless 5K
200.  Bullard - American Warrior 5K
201.  Orange - Dean Granger Memorial 5K
202.  Cuero - Turkey Trot 5K (98.  DeWitt)
203.  Poteet - 4th Annual Día De Las Fresas Run/Walk 5K (99.  Atascosa)

2024
204.  Omaha - 12th Annual Doug Sibley Memorial Scholarship Fun Run 5K (100.  Morris)
205.  Mont Belvieu - 2nd Annual Spring Sprint 5K Fun Run (101.  Chambers)
206.  Holland - Holland Corn Festival 5K
207.  Mathis - City of Mathis Freedom Fest 5K (102.  San Patricio)

2023 Texas Fourth of July Races / 2024 Preview

Fourth of July, of course, is fast approaching and many choices out there where to choose to race at - and there are many quality, proven races close to home.

Of course, the biggest race in the state each year since the Texas Heat Wave moved to Mont Belvieu in 2018 has been Gary Mulvihill's Run Wild 5K in Houston.

After race director Robby Sabban brought back the original Baytown Bud Heat Wave 5M in 2011, the two races battled it out each year for the majority of the years between then and 2017.

Last year, Run Wild 5K was the King of the Mountain.  Texas Bud Heat Wave was second with its two events and Liberty by The Lake in The Colony was third.

My first Fourth of July race as a new runner in '03 was Run Wild and twice in those early years, I also ran Stu's Country Mile (it's a 5K) up I-45 to Centerville.

I announced, of course, for many years the Baytown Bud Heat Wave, but since 2018, I've now had the chance to race in Frisco, Saint Jo (near the TX/OK border), Brownfield, Mexia (COVID year), Trophy Club and Fort Davis.

Frisco had a 4th of July Eve night race that competed for the "King of Texas" title (around 900 finishers in 2022), but it looked as if it stopped last year and a new event is in place for this year.

GREATER HOUSTON

863 - Run Wild 5K, Houston, 7/4

424 - Michelob Ultra 5K, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (1 - 695 combined)

385 - Firecracker 5K, College Station, 7/4

271 - Texas Heat Wave 5M, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (1)

260 - Independence Day 8K, Houston, 6/24 (2 - 424)

178 - 50th Annual BASF Firecracker 4M, Lake Jackson, 7/4 (7 - 216)

164 - Independence Day 5K, Houston, 6/24 (2)

74 - Stu's Country Mile 5K, Centerville, 7/1 (9 - 85)

38 - 50th Annual BASF Firecracker 2M Walk, Lake Jackson, 7/4

11 - Stu's Country Mile 1M, Centerville, 7/1

TEXAS

433 - Up and Running 4th of July 5K, El Paso, 7/4

406 - Independence 4K, McAllen, 7/4

397 - Liberty By The Lake 5K, The Colony, 7/1 (6 - 523)

397 - SARR Freedom Day 4-Miler, San Antonio, 7/4

310 - Let Freedom Run 5K!, Schertz, 7/4

308 - The Patriot Run 5K, The Trophy Club, 7/4

288 - Flag Run 5K, Boerne, 7/4

272 - CCRR (Corpus Christi Road Runners) 4M for the 4th, 7/4

260 - Freedom Fighter 5K, Tyler, 7/4

255 - Keller Firecracker 10K, Keller, 7/3 (7 - 334)

248 - We Run Texas 5K, Mansfield, 7/4

242 - Rowlett Freedom 5K, Rowlett, 7/4

205 - Liberty Run 5K Run, Denton, 7/1

195 - Cox Running Club 4th 5K, Fort Worth, 7/4

180 - Fireman's 2 Mile Walk, Port O'Connor, 7/1 (3 - 270)

162 - City of Edinburg Firecracker 5K Run, Edinburg, 7/1

155 - Arlington Independence Day Parade Firecracker 5K, 7/4

150 - Bastrop Stampede 5K, Bastrop, 7/1

150 - Popsicle Run 4 Miler, Kyle, 7/4 (4 - 202)

145 - Coolest 5K in Texas, Fort Davis, 7/4

139 - Trinity 5000 Summer Series Week 6, Fort Worth, 7/7

136 - Corinth PD Foot Pursuit 5K, Corinth, 7/7

136 - Old Jo's Firecracker 5K, Saint Jo, 7/4

126 - Liberty By The Lake 10K, The Colony, 7/1 (6)

116 - Edragon SA 5K Summer Series Race #4, San Antonio, 7/2

116 - Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, Granbury, 7/1

107 - El Chupacabra de San Antonio 5K, San Antonio, 7/7 (5 - 188)

113 - WTRC - Firecracker Run 5K, Brownfield, 7/4 (11 - 240)

111 - Leon Valley Historical Society Pioneer Firecracker 5K, Leon Valley, 7/4

104 - WTRC - Firecracker Run 10K, Brownfield, 7/4 (11)

98 - Freedom 10K, Bulverde, 7/4 (9 - 121)

90 - Fireman's 4 Miler, Port O'Connor, 7/1 (3)

81 - El Chupacabra de San Antonio 10K, San Antonio, 7/7 (5)

79 - Keller Firecracker 10K, Keller, 7/3

76 - VARRA Firecracker, 5K, Victoria, 7/4

52 - Popsicle Run 3K, Kyle, 7/4 (4)

48 - Firecracker 4M - Fort Worth, Haltom City, 7/4 (10 - 77)

43 - Firecracker Family 5K Run, Laredo, 7/3

36 - Firecracker 5K, Odessa, 7/1

36 - Firecracker 5K Evening Run, San Marcos, 6/29

29 - Firecracker 8M - Fort Worth, Haltom City, 7/4 (10)

23 - Freedom 10K, Bulverde, 7/4 (9)

13 - WTRC - Firecracker Run 1M, Brownfield, 7/4 (11)

11 - Fun Fit Family 5K, Floresville, 7/1

Safe travels and great running wherever you choose to run/race at!

All-Time Memorial Day Races

I started running in 2003 and have been involved in the sport in one capacity or another ever since.  

This is a "best to my knowledge" list of all of the Memorial Day races that I've participated in over the years:

2003 - Unknown

2004 - 2nd annual Race For the Pennant 5K, Houston, TX with Waverly (Her first 5K in 43:11.9)

2005-2009 - Unknown

2010 - Part of race crew for Capital of Texas (CapTex) Triathlon, Austin, TX

2011 - Unknown

2012 - Patriot Half Marathon, Rockwall, TX (2:35:23)

2013 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (31:09)

2014 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (34:48.77 with Waverly)

2015 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (33:36 with Waverly)

2016 - 36th annual Boalsburg Memorial Day 3.8M, Boalsburg, PA (41:36.83)

2017 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (31:00.57; Waverly - 30:10)

2018 - Joshua House Memorial Day 5K, Tyrone, PA (30:07.39)

2019 - Announced inaugural Memorial Day 10K/5K, Houston, TX

2020 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (30:34.63)

2021 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (30:44.25)
2022 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (33:54.21)

2023 - Spectated Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX
2024 - Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K, Huntsville, TX (29:41.69)

Ironman Texas 2024: Event Report

Saturday was the 13th year that the race has been held in The Woodlands and I've been fortunate to be at each one.

The first four years or so, I carried a press credential and then through last year, I worked at Barry Blanton's "Some Like It Hot!" run aid station No. 8 announcing the names of athletes coming in and out of the station.

Once Barry passed the aid station into capable hands, it presented me with the opportunity to get out all over the run course - basically the majority of two loops, walking in reverse and at runners as they moved forward.

It allowed me to be able make eye contact, if they so choosed, clap my hands, cheer them on and wish them well as they competed.

Athletes - as mostly the case - took a beating on the bike course, which today, once again, was very, very windy, and then it was pretty humid on the run until getting into the 7 p.m. hour.

I went to the gym to work out at 6:15 a.m. so I didn't get tied up in the traffic near 99 and Holzwarth going back to my house, which is about a mile south of Springwoods Village.

After going home, I positioned myself near that 99 and Holzwarth intersection like I did last year for when the cyclists turned right on to the feeder road for the Grand Parkway.

I not only cheered runners on for three hours, but also told runners to stay in the left-hand lane once they made the turn as law enforcement moved vehicles heading west onto 99 to the right-hand lane.

While I stayed a little longer than I wished, by communicating with athletes, I was able to allow the two officers who were working the insection on the north side of the bridge to more focus on moving traffic instead of trying to tell the cyclists where to go, as there was also only one volunteer there.

Good work complete, I went home, showered and then made my way to the Ironman run course.

I started the same place I have in the past and I had an immediate compliment on the work that I've been doing to drop some weight and inches from Denise Powers.  Thank you.

As at that time there were really only the professional athletes on the course, I was able to easily navigate my way to the first stop:  Hippie Hollow!

I immediately was welcomed by Peter Bardenhagen, had a chance to visit for a little bit with Marck and Lisa Henthron, saw Will Featherston briefly and had a chance to chat for a few with the mayor of Hippee Hollow, T.J. Fry.

Off I went, past a bunch of team tents near the Riva Row boathouse and I saw and chatted with Mark Whittemore and his wife for a few minutes.  

He said that Russell Meyer with The Woodlands Running Club was running the next run aid station, right before you went into East Shore.

Visited with Russell for a few and kept moving all the way through East Shore, up along side The Woodlands Parkway (on the pathway) until I got to Panther Creek drive where The Woodlands Christian Academy cross country and track and field coach Tom Earle had a group of eighty - that's right, 80! - youngsters that included a mix of athletes and a member of the school's Interact Club.

Tom is one of the top-notch cross country coaches among private and parochial schools in the state as well as in our local area.

While I was out there - and making a Facebook Live post of the activity, Kate Looney ran by the aid station.  She was the first of many athletes that I was looking for.

At some point, maybe out along Lake Woodlands, on the way to North Shore Park, I saw Derek Cooper, who is one of a handful that have completed every single Ironman Texas.

Eventually, I was getting closer to a full, complete loop when Michelle Truesdale caught my attention as she waiting for one of her athletes, Kate Looney, and she was telling me how she and another athlete were battling it out for third place (spoiler alert:  Kate finished second in her F40-44 division.)

Great, fun conversation with Michelle until - right on cue - Kate came rolling in.

There's a point coming out of transition that athletes, as they start their run, have to do an out-and-back along The Waterway heading towards Lake Woodlands and then climb up a grass incline, and this is where for the first time I saw Todd Cooper.

Last year, Todd had an issue with his eyes, where he was forced to not be able to make a go of it, and he fell out of the survivor game for finishing every Ironman Texas, but he was in for No. 12 on this Saturday.

So probably about 3 p.m. or so, I had made a complete loop of the run course - minus the little bit that goes out onto Timberloch and loops back to along The Waterway - and the crowds were starting to build all along the course.

I made it back to Hippie Hollow, part 2 and Bret Strong said "Hello!" and commented about how he had been following along in my posts as far as my recent weight loss.

Stayed for just a few and didn't make it far as I saw HTX Runs race director Ron Stitt and Valhalla's Lars Finanger near the Valhalla and Valykrie Racing tents near the Riva Row Boathouse.

More great weight loss conversation as Lars was asking me questions and sharing with Ron and me about his father's recent 80-pound weight loss and how Lars had sold him on the benefits of walking, given that his Dad's knees had been giving him problems.

As I was making my way through East Shore, round 2, Dawn English hollered at me, as she was waiting on one of her athletes, and while we were chatting, up came Peggy Yetman, who wasn't competing, having done the 70.3 in Galveston three weeks earlier.

I know at some point in time I saw Michael Wardian, who had finished second at the first year of The Woodlands Marathon in 2012, and maybe one of The Woodlands Marathon race directors Danny Golden, but what I remember most about making the turn on to the course at Panther Creek in the middle of my second loop was having Chuck Engle's wife, Sommer, stop me and asked me if I had seen Chuck.

I told her that I hadn't and I said that after looking at the Tracker before that I thought that maybe he had a rough time and decided to hold back and run with her, but it wasn't to be.

I had made it all the way to North Shore Park and as I was following through the course in the Park, I saw and chatted for a few minutes with John Zepeda of Johnny Z's Powerhouse Racing.  Such a great guy and we talked about his business which was expanding and I learned a lot about HIROX, a kind of new fitness competition like CrossFit and DECA.

On my way out of the park and as I was starting to cross the bridge is when I saw Scott and Tarrah Mayer, who were heading towards the run aid station just on the west side of the park along Lake Woodlands.

I knew that they were going to be working the late shift, but we really had a good conversation. 

I'm always glad to see Scott and Tarrah.  They're sweet people, even for Scott being a Michigan fan!  :-)

When I do stuff like this, I never really pay attention to taking care of myself.  I could feel myself starting to get dehydrated. 

I drank some water from the water fountain in the Park and in between there and HEB a little later, I wondered if that had been a bad decision on my stomach.

I've been saying that my diet hasn't necessarily gotten as clean as it could, but that I was doing a good job of getting my calories to a place that would foster some weight loss with the fitness work, but I grabbed a Mountain Dew - one of my few vices - and a bag of Funyuns (just 300 calories), but it hit the spot and gave me enough energy for the next four hours or so.

I went all the way to close to run aid station eight.  

No, actually, I went all the way there because I saw Marta Mixa there and wanted to make sure I said "Hello!"  She's been a consistent friend to Waverly and me for many, many years.  Sweet lady!

In the loop that I had finished I saw Kate two more times before she went in to finish and by the time I got there (to just short of run aid station eight), I saw Derek as he was getting ready to go in and make it No. 13 for his career at Ironman Texas.

Oh, how could I forget, while I was looking for Chuck earlier, I had seen Nancy Goodnight, the only female to do all Ironman Texas races, and local triahlete Michael S. Dwyer, a dentist from The Woodlands.

Speaking of Chuck, I had learned from Sommer that she had found him in the Med tent.  Always tough to hear your friends had a rough day out on the course.

(I did see late Saturday night or early Sunday morning that local good guy (and Penn State grad) Joe Chevalier got run off the bike course on the Hardy Toll Road by a large pack of age groupers riding together.)

In this time frame, I also saw Reggie Bruhn, who was going in for yet another finish.  I had seen him a number of times on the course.  Our most fun story over all of this time is when I showed up at Ironman Waco to support a few folks and him seeing me there.  

So after seeing Danny Golden heading into run aid station 8, and Michael Wardian coming out of it to make his way to the finish line, I had six athletes left to stay with and follow:

+ Danny Golden

+ Nancy Goodnight

+ Todd Cooper

+ Lauren Hoffart, who had run with Volte - Bill Dwyer's group - for a few years

+ Michael Dwyer

+ Chuck Engle's wife, Sommer 

And I stayed down near the old Anadarko building that entire time until all of them had come through to head to the finish.

(Learned at breakfast this Sunday morning at Whataburger with Bill before the Vintage Park Half Marathon that Michael - no relation - was the only finisher in M75-79 and is on his way to Kona for the men's world championship in October.  Good for him!)

In that time of supporting all of these folks, I had a chance to visit for a little with local photographer Scott Flathouse and triathlete Ben Proko, who sat this Ironman Texas out for the first time after doing the first 12. 

Great insightful conversation with Ben about he came to the decision to stop and not just do the race another year "just to finish".  He had gotten a lot of joy of knowing that one of his coached athletes nailed their plan on the bike - his strength - to finish in 11:11 on Saturday.

Shortly after, a group of Volte athletes were finishing up having dinner at Landry's.  All of them had run the Boston Marathon - the Monday before.  Rob Gay caught my attention and I went over and talked with him, Jane Cardnell, Roger King and Robert King.  Great people.  Talented athletes.

When Sommer made it there the last time, I asked if she was going to run or walk to the aid station where the turnaround was and she was going to powerwalk it in, I decided to go with her as I would be able to make my exit from there.

My sole purpose of doing what I did was to just cheer people on, meeting them face-to-face where they were.  It is the least that I could do.

Not every person engaged and I get that as I often just give people a thumbs up when I'm running a race and they cheer.

But out of it, I realized how greatful I am of all of the relationships and friendships that I had and have developed over the years, and how many people appreciated me for who I am and what I've contributed in our communities.

Not everybody - as there were a trio out there on Saturday (oddly, but not oddly, enough all congregated in the same place) - though sees it the same way, and that's OK.

Plus there were three additional folks registered - two that I know - that were no-shows, and I was grateful that they had made a decision not to compete.

That's my report about my small contribution.

I almost had decided to do a 5K and go to a baseball game and not even go out, but Ironman Texas - for us locally - kind of sucks you back in for all of the reasons above.

I was fortunate enough in 2010 to write the story in the Conroe Courier that broke the news ahead of the announcement - and giving many triathletes big hotel discounts before hotels raised their rates - and in the end, I'm glad that I'm now able to say I've been out there for all 13.

The Woodlands Marathon Finishers Numbers (2012-2024)

Marathon
2012 (March 3) -- 1,009 (589 men / 420 women)
2013 (March 2) -- 917 (592 men / 325 women)
2014 (March 1) -- 1,230 (717 men / 513 women)
2015 (February 28) -- 894 (539 men / 355 women)
2016 (March 5) -- 880 (546 men / 334 women) +
2017 (March 4) -- 932 (585 men / 347 women)
2018 (March 3) -- 784 (502 men / 382 women)
2019 (March 2) -- 897 (596 men / 301 women)
2020 (March 7) -- 894 (596 men / 298 women) ++
2021 (March 6) -- 915 (618 men / 297 women)
2022 (March 5) -- 791 (521 men / 270 women)
2023 (March 4) -- 822 (564 men / 258 women)
2024 (March 2) -- 853 (570 men / 283 women)

+ includes five handcyclists and wheelchair athletes
++ includes 12 AWD athletes (10 men and two women)

Marathon Relay
2012 -- 72 (54 four person / 18 three person)
2013 -- 55 (49 four person / 6 two person)
2014 -- 71 (45 four person / 26 two person)
2015 -- 70 (59 four person / 11 two person)
2016 -- 140 (112 four person / 28 two person)
2017 -- 122 (108 four person / 14 two person)
2018 -- 118 (110 four person / 8 two person)
2019 -- 81 (66 four person / 15 two person)
2020 -- 97 (86 four person / 11 two person)

Half Marathon
2012 -- 3,103 (1,249 men / 1,854 women)
2013 -- 3,447 (1,455 men / 1,992 women)
2014 -- 3,905 (1,668 men / 2,237 women)
2015 -- 3,066 (1,384 men / 1,682 women)
2016 -- 3,306 (1,506 men / 1,800 women)
2017 -- 3,437 (1,542 men / 1,895 women)
2018 -- 2,998 (1,437 men / 1,551 women)
2019 -- 3,324 (1,612 men / 1,712 women)
2020 -- 3,006 (1,474 men / 1,532 women)
2021 -- 1,992 (1,032 men / 960 women)

2022 -- 2,848 (1,440 men / 1,408 women) ++

2023 -- 2,688 (1,405 men / 1,283 women) +++
2024 -- 2,497 (1,182 men / 1,135 women) ^

++ includes 19 AWD athletes (8 men and 11 women)
+++ includes 
^ includes 19 AWD athletes (10 men and 9 women)

10K
2021 -- 524 (204 men / 320 women)
2022 -- 710 (293 men / 417 women)
2023 -- 712 (291 men / 421 women)
2024 -- 685 (271 men / 414 women)

5K
2012 -- 684 (210 men / 474 women)
2013 -- 914 (347 men / 567 women)
2014 -- 942 (359 men / 583 women)
2015 -- 791 (317 men / 474 women)
2016 -- 900 (334 men / 566 women)
2017 -- 932 (388 men / 544 women)
2018 -- 972 (352 men / 620 women)
2019 (February 23) -- 656 (262 men / 394 women)
2020 (February 29) -- 795 (341 men / 454 women)
2021 (February 27) -- 363 (169 men / 184 women)
2022 (February 26) -- 388 (184 men / 204 women)
2023 (February 25) -- 562 (259 men / 302 women)
2024 (February 24) -- 524 (241 men / 283 women)

2K
2019 -- 397 (201 men / 196 women)
2020 -- 397 (211 men / 186 women)
2021 -- 148 (68 men / 78 women)
2022 -- 227 (107 men / 120 women)
2023 -- 307 (145 men / 162 women)
2024 -- 254 (129 men / 125 women)

Sources:  nolimitstiming.com (2012-2016), mychiptime.com (2017-2024).

The Woodlands Marathon - All-Time Sub 3-Hour Marathons (2012-2024)

All-Time Sub 3-Hour Marathons

2012 - 21

2013 - 24

2014 - 18

2015 - 21
2016 - 23
2017 - 31

2018 - 10
2019 - 20
2020 - 25
2021 - 96
2022 - 25
2023 - 50
2024 - 37

TOTAL - 401

Blue Bell Fun Run Finishers Numbers

Race Dates
2023 (March 25) - 3,685 timed finishers

2022 (April 2) - 2,945 timed finishers
2021 (April 10) - 1,185 timed finishers
2020 (April 18) - No race; COVID-19 pandemic
2019 (April 13) - 2,988 timed finishers
2018 (April 14) - 3,182 timed finishers
2017 (April 8) - 2,830 timed finishers
2016 (April 9) - 2,911 timed finishers
2015 (April 11) - 3,733 timed finishers
2014 (April 12) - 3,966 timed finishers
2013 (April 13) - 4,013 timed finishers
2012 (April 14) - 3,729 timed finishers
2011 (April 9) - 2,895 timed finishers
2010 (April 17) - 2,173 timed finishers
2009 (April 18) - 866 timed finishers
2008 (April 12) - 966 timed finishers
2007 (April 14) - 939 timed finishers
2006 (March 25) - 851 timed finishers
2005 (April 16) - 857 timed finishers
2004 (April 24) - 351 timed finishers
2003 (March 22) - 936 timed finishers

Half Marathon Finishers
2023 - 570 (295 men / 274 women / 1 non-binary)
2022 - 417 (192 men / 225 women)

2021 - 159 (75 men / 84 women)
2020 - No race; COVID-19 pandemic
2019 - 491 (208 men / 283 women)

2018 - 409 (157 men / 252 women)

10K Finishers
2023 - 701 (429 men / 271 women / 1 non-binary)
2022 - 565 (206 men / 359 women)
2021 - 285 (109 men / 176 women)

2020 - No race; COVID-19 pandemic
2019 - 515 (186 men / 329 women)
2018 - 611 (235 men / 376 women)
2017 - 654 (276 men / 358 women)
2016 - 739 (284 men / 455 women)
2015 - 1,129 (423 men / 706 women)
2014 - 1,026 (402 men / 624 women)
2013 - 967 (394 men / 573 women)
2012 - 1,183 (464 men / 719 women) and 10 relay teams
2011 - 919 (386 men / 533 women) and 23 relay teams
2010 - 830 (362 men / 468 women)
2009 - 348 (173 men / 175 women)
2008 - 451 (214 men / 237 women)
2007 - 442
2006 - 377
2005 - 367
2004 - 97
2003 - 356

5K Finishers
2023 - 2,162 (813 men / 1,340 women / 9 non-binary)
2022 - 1,722 (650 men / 1,072 women)
2021 - 741 (263 men / 478 women)
2020 - No race; COVID-19 pandemic
2019 - 1,776 (680 men / 1,096 women)
2018 - 1,894 (683 men / 1,211 women)
2017 - 1,771 (622 men / 1,149 women)
2016 - 1,874 (695 men / 1,179 women)
2015 - 2,191 (807 men / 1,384 women)
2014 - 2,436 (891 men / 1,545 women)
2013 - 2,489 (888 men / 1,601 women)
2012 - 2,160 (785 men / 1,375 women)
2011 - 1,680 (614 men / 1,086 women)
2010 - 1,165 (422 men / 743 women)
2009 - 459 (217 men / 242 women)
2008 - 515 (200 men / 315 women)
2007 - 444
2006 - 418
2005 - 429
2004 - 225
2003 - 519 (100 with times)

Kids 1-Mile Finishers
2023 - 252 (119 boys / 133 girls)
2022 - 241 (110 boys / 131 girls)
2021 - No race; Inability for children to have COVID-19 vaccination protection
2020 - No race; COVID-19 pandemic
2019 - 206 (87 boys / 119 girls)
2018 - 268 (140 boys / 128 girls)
2017 - 405 (202 boys / 203 girls)
2016 - 298 (151 boys / 147 girls)
2015 - 413 (186 boys / 227 girls)
2014 - 504 (213 boys / 291 girls)
2013 - 557 (261 boys / 296 girls)
2012 - 386 (179 boys / 207 girls)
2011 - 296 (140 boys / 156 girls)
2010 - 178 (83 boys / 95 girls)
2009 - 59 (33 boys / 26 girls)
2008 - Unknown
2007 - 53
2006 - 56
2005 - 61
2004 - 29
2003 - 61

Sources:  mychiptime.com and run-far.com (2004-2023)

Everybody Can't Be A Friend

I had a new Facebook follower yesterday and he had indicated that he made a comment on a post that I had made.

I thought it was here, but it was actually on a comment that I made on a post in a specific parkrun race.

Nevertheless, I checked the comments here.

I never receive any notifications, so I didn't know that there were many out here to approve.

I approved all but these two - and obviously:

I think the majority of people think that everybody out there likes me.  They don't.

Everybody expects me to be the compliant individual for all of eternity.  Sometimes you reach a limit of what you'll tolerate until it is time to make a change.

I've walked away from a few situations; however, I spoke the truth about what transpired to cause those departures when asked about them.

All of those situations included some lack of adequate, timely communication.

And in those situations that I did leave, those that were affected were never any worse off.  There are other talented people other than me out there who stepped in and filled the roles that I performed.

At the end of the day, I don't even know if what I've shared and those comments are related.  I hope not, but if they are then I know who to avoid - and for my daughter as well too.

Top USA parkrun Female Times by Current Event through 2/4/2024

16:06 - Makayla PEREZ, Riverside, Grand Rapids, 10/28/2023

16:17 - Lauren HURLEY, South Boulder Creek, 9/11/2021

16:45 - Ekaterina SHABALINA, Clermont Waterfront, 4/1/2023

16:50 - Nina ZARINA, Anacostia, 10/23/2021

16:58 - Reilly KIERNAN, Jamaica Pond, 4/2/2022

17:04 - Lindsey SCHERF, Durham NC, 12/26/2015

17:09 - Becca KAWAOKA, Renton, 2/18/2023

17:11 - Margaret LUDICK, Eagan, 9/28/2019

17:18 - Nina ZARINA, College Park, 7/31/2021

17:45 - Alyssa FOOTE, Rock Creek Trail, 1/7/2023

17:57 - Nina ZARINA, Byxbee, 10/5/2019

17:58 - Nina ZARINA, Fletcher’s Cove, 3/7/2020

18:01 - Sarah PAQUET, Perrigo, 2/25/2023

18:05 - Paula PRIDGEN, Little Sugar Creek Greenway, 6/10/2023

18:20 - Johanna WILSON, Cornerstone Lakes, 12/9/2023

18:21 - Allie SCHAICH, Northside Beltline, 10/5/2019

18:26 - Liz OZEKI, Kensington, 3/11/2023

18:26 - Jordan WALLACE, Bear Creek Greenbelt, 8/5/2023

18:28 - Dasha VORONTSOV, Howard Temin Lakeshore Path, 8/26/2023

18:29 - Stoya LAYDEVANT, Spindle Tree, 3/18/2023

18:29 - Mary ECCLES, Danehy Park, 11/25/2021

18:33 - Caitlin MCQUILKIN-BELL, Depot Park, 10/12/2019

18:35 - Claire OXLADE, Delaware and Raritan Canal, 3/26/2022

18:35 - Avery HARTLEY, Ed Austin Regional, 7/29/2023

18:36 - Nina ZARINA, Roosevelt Island DC, 1/25/2020

18:39 - Sarah PAQUET, Des Moines Creek, 7/1/2023

18:44 - Bella BOGGS, Charleston, 6/3/2023

18:46 - Sarah PAQUET, Fort Ward, 1/7/2023

18:53 - Alison MATTHEWS, Terry Hershey, 5/6/2023

18:56 - Kate VAN JAARSVELD, Weedon Island Preserve, 9/30/2023

18:59 - Andrea TAYLOR, Courthouse Lake, 5/20/2023

19:05 - Mary TERHUNE, Livonia, 8/12/2017

19:16 - Adayaleise TRUMPOWER, Mansfield OH, 10/1/2022

19:21 - Ariel RAUPAGH, Lillie, 8/10/2019

19:26 - Kristin LAYNE, Aspen, 9/9/2023

19:27 - Sydney LARKIN, Joe Creason, 4/16/2022

19:38 - Rita MOORE, Exploration Place, 9/30/2023

19:38 - Petra SISKA, Himmel, 3/18/2023

19:41 - Jodie CLOUSER, Leakin Park, 11/11/2023

19:42 - Rachel NORTHUP, Deep Run, 10/2/2021

19:43 - Michelle KRUSE, Canyon Rim Trail, 11/12/2022

19:46 - Joey KEY, Winthrop Trailhead, 11/23/2023

19:47 - Kristjana COOK, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, 9/2/2023

19:48 - Sheila SNYDER, Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation, 11/11/2023

19:48 - Emma Catherine BRAMLEY, Eastern Trail, Biddeford, 12/23/2023

19:54 - Charlotte JACOBS, Peace Valley, 1/6/2024

19:55 - Reagan SMITH, Third Creek Greenway, 7/8/2023

20:11 - Anoushka FREEMAN, Evergreen, 9/16/2023

20:12 - Karen HOLLAND, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, 10/1/2022

20:25 - Natalie BOWMAN, Umstead Park, 3/25/2023

20:30 - Lex YOUNG, Mary S. Young, 1/6/2024

20:40 - Issy ALLEN, City Park, Iowa, 11/11/2023

20:44 - Emma FISHER, Riverside Park, 10/29/2022

20:51 - Megan LINDSTEDT, Rec Plex North, 9/28/2019

20:58 - Jackie WILSON, Warren County Armco, 7/8/2023

21:06 - Rylie TOWNS, Osborn MetroPark, 7/15/2023

21:11 - Neva HIPPERT, Creekside, 11/24/2022

21:26 - Katryn YOCUM, Susquehanna Riverwalk, 4/2/2022

21:26 - Sarah WOODYEAR, Lackawanna Rail Trail, 11/25/2023

21:30 - Tillie CLARK, Heritage Harbor, 10/7/2017

21:57 - Emily SAUS, Sippo Lake, 12/4/2021

22:12 - Kay URBAN, Merrymeeting, 10/8/2022

22:12 - Grace KIM, ITC Community Sports, 8/5/2023

22:13 - Natalie CONRAD, Kingston Park, Cottage Grove, 9/16/2023

24:54 - Sachiko TSUBOUCHI, Canton Lower Rouge Trail, 2/10/2024

United States parkrun Week 6 Milestone Report - 2/10/24

OFFICIAL Milestones
25 parkruns (31)

Anacostia - Bipin BADHE, VM50-54

Anacostia - Shelley FOLK, VW40-44

Baltimore and Annapolis Trail - Vincent GLORIOSO, VM40-44

Byxbee - Claire BAILEY, SW25-29

Canton Lower Rouge Trail - Fulchand SHENDE, VM55-59

Creekside - Allison MILLS, VW40-44

Creekside - Moriah MILLS, JW10

Danehy Park - Jordan SALVATORE, VM35-39

Delaware and Raritan Canal - Mamiko SOLOMON, VW50-54

Depot Park - Samuel FESSAHAYE, SM18-19

Depot Park - Kimberly MITCHELL, VW40-44

Durham NC - Jeffrey WALES, VM65-69

Durham NC - Elena POPOWITCH, VW45-49

Ed Austin Regional - Gisela ESCOBAR, VW50-54

Ed Austin Regional - Terry FARRIS, VM55-59

Evergreen - Sue MAYER, VW55-59

Evergreen - Sean MAYER, VM55-59

Exploration Place - Chris CAVANAUGH, VM65-69

Fletcher’s Cove - Dimitrios DRAKOPOULOS, VM35-39

Himmel - Daniel MARRONE, VM40-44

Himmel - Scott SALESKA, VM60-64

Kensington - Rob FREEMAN, VM50-54

Little Sugar Creek Greenway - Johanna TOLMAY, VW35-39

Mansfield OH - Michelle GOWER, VW35-39

Merrymeeting - George ALEXANDER, VM65-69

Northside Beltline - Glenn CARTLEDGE, VM65-69

Rock Creek Trail - Mary MIDDENDORF, VW40-44

Roosevelt Island DC - Reena SHAH, VW35-39

Sippo Lake - Richard STRAIN, VM55-59

Spindle Tree - Andrew DAVIDSON, VM60-64

Umstead Park - Tony HUANG, VM45-49

50 parkruns (12)

Clermont Waterfront - Heike NEUMANN, VW50-54

College Park - Andrew FELLOWS, VM65-69

Danehy Park - Mindy KENT, VW50-54

Deep Run - Oliver KOSSACK, JM10

Depot Park - Megan EIDE, VW40-44

Ed Austin Regional - Michael HAIGHT, VM70-74

Fort Ward - Helena SOOMER LINCOLN, VW50-54

Livonia - Jim ZITTEL, VM60-64

Rec Plex North - Elyse CARMICHAEL, JW15-17

Rec Plex North - Robert AULTHOUSE, VM75-79

Renton - Lizzie LEE, VW65-69

Spindle Tree - Canh TO, VW55-59

100 parkruns (2)

Des Moines Creek - Mellow DETRAY, VW45-49

Peace Valley - Jim CONNAUGHTON, VM60-64

250 parkruns (1)

Bear Creek Greenbelt - David John MCADAM, VM55-59

UNOFFICIAL Milestones

125 parkruns (2)

Jamaica Pond - Elliot FRANK, VM75-79

Lillie - T. Charles YUN, VM50-54

Livonia - Geno TOKARZ, VM55-59

150 parkruns (2)

Jamaica Pond - Tom FORD, VM55-59

Weedon Island Preserve - Janet PETERSON, VW60-64

175 parkruns (2)

Deep Run - Randy PURYEAR, VM65-69

Livonia - Guy BARDSLEY, VM65-69

225 parkruns (1)

Weedon Island Preserve - Tim HART, VM50-54

325 parkruns (1)

Livonia - Chris WALKER, VM35-39

United States parkrun Week 6 By The Numbers - 2/10/24

Total Events:  65

Competed Events:  64 (Aspen will not run again until April)

Total Finishers:  3,209

Unknown:  167

Female:  1,340

Male:  1,688

Names, but No Gender:  14

First Timers:  534

New PB!:  457

Females By Category

JW10:  26

JW11-14:  37

JW15-17:  26

SW18-19:  14

SW20-24:  64

SW25-29:  95

SW30-34:  133

VW35-39:  124

VW40-44:  152

VW45-49:  160

VW50-54:  151

VW55-59:  117

VW60-64:  98

VW65-69:  80

VW70-74:  45

VW75-79:  11

VW80-84:  7

Males By Category

JM10:  49

JM11-14:  70

JM15-17:  52

SM18-19:  18

SM20-24:  87

SM25-29:  107

SM30-34:  159

VM35-39:  148

VM40-44:  169

VM45-49:  161

VM50-54:  177

VM55-59:  171

VM60-64:  120

VM65-69:  93

VM70-74:  59

VM75-79:  34

VM80-84:  8

VM85-89:  6

Women's Top 20 by Time

1.  20:22 - Lindsay MCCLELLAND, VW35-39, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

2.  20:31 - Katie SIMISTER, SW20-24, Roosevelt Island DC

3.  20:49 - Rachel HENKE, VW45-49, Danehy Park

4.  20:58 - Taylor LEIS, SW30-34, Courthouse Lake

5.  21:31 - Sara KATO, SW25-29, Byxbee

6.  21:34 - Sally GLAVEN, JW11-14, Anacostia

7.  21:35 - Philippa FRIZZELLE, SW25-29, Danehy Park

8.  21:49 - Britt JOHNSON-BROACHE, VW40-44, Durham NC

9.  21:49 - Eva THEN, SW20-24, Jamaica Pond

10.  21:52 - Lily CONNORS, SW18-19, Livonia

11.  21:56 - Katherine WERRY, SW25-29, Danehy Park

12.  21:57 - Jess HEYWORTH, SW30-34, Clermont Waterfront

13.  22:05 - Michele GURNSEY, VW40-44, Renton

14.  22:07 - Liz OZEKI, VW35-39, Kensington

15.  22:10 - Leah MITCHEM, VW45-49, Weedon Island Preserve

16.  22:17 - Chloe GLARE-CONTI, VW40-44, Byxbee

17.  22:20 - Christine KUKICH, SW30-34, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

18.  22:25 - Channing LYNCH, SW25-29, Joe Creason

19.  22:27 - Natalie CONRAD, SW30-34, Weedon Island Preserve

20.  22:27 - Devon BOYLE, JW15-17, College Park

Men's Top 20 by Time

1.  17:14 - Omar MOHALLIM, JM15-17, Delaware and Raritan Canal

2.  17:16 - Ryan WANG, JM15-17, Delaware and Raritan Canal

3.  17:26 - Kevin CAMP, VM35-39, Anacostia

4.  17:32 - Jim DAHLEM, VM45-49, College Park

5.  17:35 - Brian GAUL, SM25-29, Byxbee

6.  17:35 - Ishaan KUNDAPUR, JM15-17, ITC Community Sports

7.  17:36 - William ORNDORFF, SM30-34, Deep Run

8.  17:41 - Aki TSUCHIDA, SM20-24, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

9.  17:45 - Clark RIDGE, VM40-44, College Park

10.  17:47 - Trevor POST, SM30-34, Renton

11.  17:51 - John LEHR, SM20-24, Perrigo

12.  17:53 - Daniel GOLDBERG, JM11-14, Jamaica Pond

13.  18:02 - Santos AGUILAR, SM20-24, Clermont Waterfront

14.  18:03 - Miles CHAN, SM25-29, Byxbee

15.  18:05 - Andrew KIRK, VM35-39, Deep Run

16.  18:08 - James GAO, JM15-17, Delaware and Raritan Canal

17.  18:13 - Adrian WONG, VM35-39, Jamaica Pond

18.  18:20 - Dylan POE, SM20-24, Warren County Armco

19.  18:21 - Andrei RIDZEL, VM35-39, Kensington

20.  18:30 - Xiaolin DENG, VM45-49, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

Women's Top 20 by Age Grade

1.  88.75% - 25:56 - Susan Mary WALKER, VW70-74, Clermont Waterfront

2.  82.11% - 29:32 - Francine LEPAGE, VW75-79, Kingston Park, Cottage Grove

3.  81.97% - 23:40 - Shauna DIXON, VW60-64, Depot Park

4.  80.64% - 23:04 - Kristin CHURCHILL, VW55-59, Howard Temin Lakeshore Path

5.  80.03% - 33:18 - Barbara BETTLER, VW80-84, Clermont Waterfront

6.  78.19% - 27:08 - Claire MC MANUS, VW65-69, Jamaica Pond

7.  77.33% - 30:48 - Sharon JOHNSON, VW70-74, Clermont Waterfront

8.  77.13% - 21:34 - Sally GLAVEN, JW11-14, Anacostia

9.  76.32% - 27:48 - Deborah COHEN, VW65-69, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

10.  76.30% - 20:49 - Rachel HENKE, VW45-49, Danehy Park

11.  76.23% - 27:50 - Lizzie LEE, VW65-69, Renton

12.  76.03% - 25:31 - Susan CHESSER, VW60-64, Durham NC

13.  75.97% - 24:50 - Susan VARGA, VW55-59, Creekside

14.  75.91% - 28:51 - Cathy HARTMAN, VW65-69, Clermont Waterfront

15.  74.85% - 24:51 - Betsy MURPHY, VW55-59, Bear Creek Greenbelt

16.  74.60% - 26:46 - Brenda EAST, VW60-64, Clermont Waterfront

17.  73.65% - 20:22 - Lindsay MCCLELLAND, VW35-39, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

18.  73.54% - 27:09 - Eve FINGERETT, VW60-64, Charleston

19.  73.42% - 24:20 - Jeanette MILLER, VW55-59, Clermont Waterfront

20.  73.41% - 30:50 - Diane KUKICH, VW70-74, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

Men's Top 20 by Age Grace

1.  85.16% - 19:53 - Henry WIGGLESWORTH, VM65-69, Fletcher’s Cove

2.  83.18% - 23:11 - Richard WEINBERG, VM75-79, Durham NC

3.  82.14% - 21:00 - Maurice POINTER, VM65-69, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

4.  81.46% - 17:32 - Jim DAHLEM, VM45-49, College Park

5.  80.75% - 17:14 - Omar MOHALLIM, JM15-17, Delaware and Raritan Canal

6.  79.31% - 17:53 - Daniel GOLDBERG, JM11-14, Jamaica Pond

7.  78.98% - 30:46 - Paul HARGRAVE, VM85-89, Depot Park

8.  78.69% - 17:45 - Clark RIDGE, VM40-44, College Park

9.  78.51% - 20:47 - Kevin DAMANDA, VM60-64, Kensington

10.  78.51% - 20:47 - Steve HOWARD, VM60-64, Byxbee

11.  78.47% - 18:30 - Xiaolin DENG, VM45-49, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

12.  78.45% - 19:25 - Kevin DOWNIE, VM50-54, Fletcher’s Cove

13.  78.42% - 26:11 - Jason PAGE, VM75-79, College Park

14.  78.28% - 20:29 - Max JENSEN, VM60-64, Perrigo

15.  78.19% - 17:16 - Ryan WANG, JM15-17, Delaware and Raritan Canal

16.  77.91% - 17:35 - Ishaan KUNDAPUR, JM15-17, ITC Community Sports

17.  76.64% - 28:07 - James CARLTON, VM80-84, ITC Community Sports

18.  75.63% - 18:36 - John HENRY, VM40-44, Delaware and Raritan Canal

19.  75.62% - 17:26 - Kevin CAMP, VM35-39, Anacostia

20.  75.18% - 18:52 - Matt PERKINS, VM45-49, Kensington

Top 25 Most First Finishes in the parkrun USA through 1/1/24 Event

Men
125 - Philip MOLLOY

112 - Thomas PREISS

111 - Joshua STYRON

80 - Clark RIDGE

76 - Juan LEG

64 - James COCHRAN

60 - Daniel LEWIS

58 - Luiz PRESTES

57 - Andreas HEILMANN

56 - Jeffrey BOERNER

53 - Greg KRATHWOHL

53 - Jonathan HERMANSEN

49 - Chris ADAMS

44 - Jon FULWIDER

44 - Travis BOLTJES

41 - Andrei RIDZEL

41 - William ORNDORFF

40 - Jeremy ARGUELLES

40 - Sean ABRAHAM

39 - Ted POULOS

38 - Andrew TOBBEN

38 - Dylan HUNTER

37 - Andrew JOHNSTON

36 - Charles AGBENAZA

35 - Benn THOMAS

34 - Tyler CHENHALL

33 - Alan DIXON

32 - Greg NANCE

32 - Jason HECT

31 - Sam PHIPPS

30 - Jon LANE

30 - Michael ROGERS

Women

82 - Emily SAUS

79 - Katie HIRSCHE

67 - Fiona GREEN

59 - Karen CRANE

58 - Charlotte HOLMES

50 - Dorothy LAGG

49 - Audrey PERLOW

49 - Megan KUBEK

48 - Claire WIGGLESWORTH

47 - Kelly CROPP

46 - Kerstin FAGERSTROM

45 - Verity BREEN

42 - Britt JOHNSON-BROACHE

40 - Jessica MATHESON

38 - Nancy HENRY

35 - Eve FINGERETT

33 - Kay STARR

33 - Lindsey MCGLINCH

32 - Alison MATTHEWS

32 - Caitlin CUSLIDGE

32 - Cindy CONANT

32 - Laurel PARK

32 - Sarah PAQUET

32 - Tina SERGENTI

31 - Sara WILLIS

31 - Win PERSINA

30 - Jennifer MILLER

30 - Liz OZEKI

29 - Allyson SERRAO

29 - Elizabeth SHERIDAN

29 - Elyse CARMICHAEL

29 - Olivia HARWOOD

27 - Alyssa JAMIESON

27 - Grace KIM

27 - Margaret TAYLOR

27 - Vicky DOUXMONT

26 - Audrey DUNN

26 - Jenni JACOBSEN

26 - Lindy HEFFERNAN

26 - Michele GURNSEY

26 - Sharon GALLANT

26 - Shauna DIXON

25 - Cindy PETERS-FREEMAN

25 - Sachiko TSUBOUCHI

24 - Alexis HILL

24 - Julia KENNEY

24 - Lia WEINER

24 - Lin LASCELLES

24 - Mellow DETRAY

23 - Clemency TILLEY

23 - Sarah DARNELL

23 - Stephanie EVANS

23 - Victoria SWEPSON

23 - Xinyi GE

Top USA parkrun Male Times by Current Event through 2/4/2024

14:32 - Jonathan GLEN, Clermont Waterfront, 5/6/2023

14:51 - Ryan EILER, Jamaica Pond, 9/16/2023

14:57 - Paul MARTELLETTI, College Park, 8/5/2017

15:23 - Miles SMITH, Byxbee, 9/18/2021

15:26 - John KAVULICH, Rock Creek Trail, 10/21/2023

15:30 - Colin MONAGHAN, Perrigo, 9/23/2023

15:33 - Brian RICH, Fletcher’s Cove, 7/13/2019

15:39 - Nathan JONES, South Boulder Creek, 4/27/2019

15:40 - Luke HICKMAN, Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation, 7/8/2023

15:42 - Ethan CLARY, Durham NC, 10/5/2019

15:46 - Nicolas CROUZIER, Anacostia, 12/23/2023

15:49 - Jake ENGLISH, Cornerstone Lakes, 8/26/2023

15:49 - Dezmond CUTTER, Peace Valley, 12/2/2023

15:52 - Luke GREER, Little Sugar Creek Greenway, 9/10/2022

15:53 - Alex LOPER, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, 8/20/2022

15:53 - Csobán BALOGH, Kensington, 12/23/2023

15:53 - Peter AVENT, Terry Hershey, 1/25/2020

15:53 - Michael MACDONALD, Weedon Island Preserve, 1/18/2020

15:54 - Scott GREEVES, Third Creek Greenway, 4/30/2022

15:57 - Paul MARTELLETTI, Leakin Park, 7/29/2017

16:02 - Jeremy RIEHM, Mansfield OH, 9/21/2019

16:06 - Ben REYES, Spindle Tree, 3/11/2023

16:09 - Bryce MERRIMAN, Exploration Place, 7/29/2023

16:12 - Michael DIXON, Delaware and Raritan Canal, 11/6/2021

16:12 - Tom BEAN, Roosevelt Island DC, 4/15/2017

16:13 - William APPMAN, Bear Creek Greenbelt, 5/28/2022

16:13 - Andrew COGGINS, Danehy Park, 10/2/2021

16:15 - Ryan BAZZLE, Charleston, 10/1/2022

16:17 - Ryan ARCHER, Northside Beltline, 3/19/2022

16:18 - Chris GILL, Eagan, 4/9/2022

16:18 - Ben FINDLAY, Howard Temin Lakeshore Path, 10/22/2022

16:19 - David NOGLE, Courthouse Lake, 3/12/2022

16:23 - Lincoln WILLIAMS, Joe Creason, 8/6/2022

16:24 - Andy COLEY-MAUD, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, 4/22/2023

16:27 - Jonah BARBER, Himmel, 12/16/2023

16:29 - Robert EVESON, Des Moines Creek, 1/20/2024

16:33 - Bradley MANKUS, Ed Austin Regional, 7/29/2023

16:33 - Alex BOBOWSKI, Lillie, 7/24/2021

16:33 - Justin WATSON, Rec Plex North, 9/28/2019

16:34 - Andy MERRILL, Depot Park, 1/22/2022

16:39 - Justin SCHEID, Evergreen, 7/22/2023

16:39 - Anders HIGGS, Renton, 9/18/2021

16:41 - Devan BAILEY, Deep Run, 7/15/2023

16:41 - Alexander BRAUER, Livonia, 7/6/2019

16:41 - Simon COLE, Merrymeeting, 10/29/2022

16:43 - Ian TURNER, Susquehanna Riverwalk, 10/9/2021

16:46 - Blake WHALEN, Sippo Lake, 12/28/2019

16:50 - Ryan STUTZ, Riverside Park, 8/12/2023

16:52 - Matthew WILBER, Lackawanna Rail Trail, 2/3/2024

16:57 - Jonny REEP, Heritage Harbor, 10/8/2022

17:01 - Colton BLACKBURN, ITC Community Sports, 9/23/2023

17:02 - Cole VANDENBERG, Canton Lower Rouge Trail, 7/22/2023

17:03 - Ian TROMBLEY, Warren County Armco, 11/11/2023

17:08 - Nicholas LUEDTKE, City Park, Iowa, 10/28/2023

17:13 - Jarrod HOOPER, Eastern Trail, Biddeford, 6/24/2023

17:24 - Jack ZINK, Umstead Park, 9/16/2023

17:28 - Oliver GRIFFIN, Kingston Park, Cottage Grove, 8/12/2023

17:29 - Leo COOK, Mary S. Young, 1/6/2024

17:33 - Ryan GOLDSTEIN, Fort Ward, 1/28/2023

17:41 - Oliver WARBURTON, Canyon Rim Trail, 9/3/2022

17:42 - Tyler MITCHELL, Creekside, 9/25/2021

17:43 - Jake SHAVALIER, Riverside, Grand Rapids, 12/23/2023

17:53 - Hamish BAYLIS, Aspen, 5/27/2023

18:29 - Ian DELONG, Winthrop Trailhead, 11/23/2023

18:42 - Nick O'BRIEN, Osborn MetroPark, 12/30/2023

United States parkrun Week 2 By The Numbers - 1/13/24

Total Events:  65
Competed Events:  43

Total Finishers:  2,002

Unknown:  48

Female:  858

Male:  1,094

No Gender:  2

First Timers:  310

New PB!:  212

parkrun Top 20

1.  163 - College Park

2.  136 - Clermont Waterfront

3T.  104 - Depot Park

3T.  104 - Roosevelt Island DC

5.  100 - Durham NC

6.  96 - Byxbee

7.  77 - Rec Plex North

8.  75 - Fletcher’s Cove

9.  73 - Little Sugar Creek Greenway

10.  68 - Kensington

11.  62 - Weedon Island Preserve

12.  58 - Perrigo

13.  52 - Jamaica Pond

14.  51 - Ed Austin Regional

15.  49 - Delaware and Raritan Canal

16T.  47 - Himmel

16T.  47 - Terry Hershey

18T.  42 - Bear Creek Greenbelt

18T.  42 - Deep Run

18T.  42 - Livonia

Men's Top 20

1.  17:14 - Shay JOYCE, VM35-39, Clermont Waterfront

2.  17:27 - Andrei RIDZEL, VM35-39, Kensington

3.  17:36 - Lucas TAM, JM15-17, Byxbee

4.  17:38 - Jim DAHLEM, VM45-49, Kensington

5.  17:43 - Kevin CAMP, VM35-39, Anacostia

6.  17:52 - Phil TOSTESON, SM30-34, Umstead Park

7.  18:00 - Hayden TAM, SM20-24, Byxbee

8.  18:01 - Paul DOBSON, VM55-59, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

9.  18:17 - Gaurav JAIN, VM40-44, Byxbee

10.  18:18 - William ORNDORFF, SM30-34, Deep Run

11.  18:26 - Jason HECT, VM50-54, Perrigo

12.  18:29 - Reece TIMMINS, SM25-29, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

13.  18:31 - Clark RIDGE, VM40-44, College Park

14.  18:40 - Aidan RIVERS, JM15-17, Spindle Tree

15.  18:52 - Jonah BARBER, SM20-24, Himmel

16.  18:56 - Jack NEBBIA, JM15-17, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

17.  18:57 - Richard GREWELLE, SM25-29, Byxbee

18.  18:57 - Vladislav MAKARENKOV, SM25-29, Ed Austin Regional

19.  19:00 - Ian BURKE, SM30-34, Renton

20.  19:05 - Mani BRAITBERG, SM18-19, Himmel

Women's Top 20

1.  18:49 - Brennan LIMING, VW45-49, Durham NC

2.  20:47 - Hanna WARREN, JW15-17, Clermont Waterfront

3.  21:16 - Audrey DUNN, JW15-17, Depot Park

4.  21:19 - Channing LYNCH, SW25-29, Renton

5.  21:38 - Sara KATO, SW25-29, Byxbee

6.  21:50 - Britt JOHNSON-BROACHE, VW40-44, Durham NC

7.  21:57 - Clemency TILLEY, SW30-34, Jamaica Pond

8.  22:03 - Sarah DARNELL, JW11-14, Bear Creek Greenbelt

9.  22:11 - Sarah-Jo SINNOTT, VW35-39, Jamaica Pond

10.  22:13 - Daria TROSHANOVA, VW35-39, Perrigo

11.  22:14 - Rachel HENKE, VW45-49, Danehy Park

12.  22:27 - Deborah NICOL, SW30-34, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

13.  22:34 - Ali BURKE, SW25-29, Renton

14.  22:49 - Leah MITCHEM, VW40-44, Weedon Island Preserve

15.  23:09 - Ariane WILLIAMS, SW20-24, Spindle Tree

16.  23:21 - Taylor ROTHERMEL, SW25-29, Kensington

17.  23:23 - Cynthia KEEN, VW40-44, Little Sugar Creek Greenway

18.  23:24 - Stella MCVICKER, JW11-14, Terry Hershey

19.  23:25 - Keiko NAKASUKA, VW40-44, Jamaica Pond

20.  23:28 - Lily CONNORS, JW15-17, Livonia

2024 Aramco Houston Half Marathon - 15 or More Finishes

These runners finished the 2024 Aramco Houston Half Marathon on Sunday, January 14, 2024 and this list reflects their current number of career finishes at the half marathon distance.

-22-
2:04:00 - Scott Zarley, 64, Killeen

-21-

1:48:52 - Ann Wacker, 65, Seabrook

1:54:34 - John Polisini, 70, Houston

2:58:55 - Carol Madrid, 66, Friendswood

3:12:13 - Catherine Usry, 68, Pasadena

-20-
2:40:32 - Alan Hopkins, 56, Houston

3:07:48 - Angela Hemmen, 42, Colorado Springs, CO

3:07:48 - Mark Hemmen, 78, Spring Branch

3:24:28 - Randall Koenig, 68, Katy

-19-
2:38:26 - Darrell Nichols, 70, Crosby

3:14:04 - Nancy Ordonez, 58, Houston

3:27:51 - Jill Tischbein, 64, Kingwood

-18-
1:32:45 - Russell Meyer, 54, The Woodlands

2:00:45 - Robin Holcomb, 57, Montgomery

2:11:17 - Laurel Kirkland, 61, Houston

2:11:58 - Laura Kohlmaier, 56, Houston

2:21:47 - Antonio Moreno, 59, Humble

2:26:40 - Jennifer Pao, 52, Sugar Land

2:50:05 - David Cook, 57, Houston

3:11:48 - Kathy Haeckler, 69, Crockett

3:12:15 - Sarah Ellis, 34, Austin

3:17:21 - Catalina Garcia, 52, Houston

3:17:26 - Mike Schroeder, 63, Fort Worth

3:39:29 - Ron Shaver, 72, Porter

3:50:34 - Keith Cox, 66, Sugar Land

-17-

1:52:48 - Daniel Hu, 63, Houston

1:55:32 - Stephen Cavanaugh, 42, Bellaire

2:10:33 - Elizabeth Benson, 56, Lumberton

2:16:12 - Garth Beinart, 48, Bellaire

2:26:05 - Rhonda Hunt, 65, Houston

2:31:33 - Jennifer Nitschmann, 63, League City

2:33:43 - Jennifer Chalfant, 49, Magnolia

2:36:11 - David Brackus, 59, Houston

2:39:05 - Mary Anne Ramos, 64, Rosharon

2:40:06 - Jesus Jijon, 67, Houston

2:43:01 - Ned Graber, 72, Houston

2:55:16 - Anita Balderas, 57, Houston

3:01:29 - Debby Currin, 72, Humble

3:10:50 - Walter Wolff, 59, Houston

3:21:29 - Debra Witges, 69, Houston

3:29:54 - Lena Adams, 74, Houston

3:35:49 - Vernita Harris, 65, Houston

-16-
1:52:31 - Greg Hatch, 53, Brenham

1:58:52 - Chris Stacy, 68, Houston

1:59:49 - Simon Mayer, 47, Houston

2:00:50 - Michael Yong, 58, Houston

2:04:51 - Peter Koops, 56, Houston

2:09:27 - Rusty Lacy, 60, Sugar Land

2:10:33 - Melissa Elijah, 57, Tomball

2:10:43 - Dana Dilbeck, 51, Spring

2:15:14 - Debra Sukin, 53, The Woodlands

2:22:46 - Susan Gutkowski, 61, Hempstead

2:28:52 - Berna Blott, 56, Houston

2:29:44 - Paul Green, 60, Pasadena

2:34:12 - Theresa Sauls, 60, Houston

2:34:18 - David Clarke, 48, Jersey Village

2:34:58 - Gail Edmonson, 61, Katy

2:37:35 - Concepcion Paulino, 59, Spring

2:40:06 - Janet Clark, 64, Sugar Land

2:41:46 - Dona Dietlein, 68, New Iberia, LA

2:45:19 - Franz Grunenberg, 53, Houston

2:47:44 - Vincent Aurelio, 51, Houston

2:49:01 - Sandy Payne, 55, Tiki Island

2:49:04 - Vickie Rickman, 70, Seabrook

2:52:03 - Debbie Hunt, 58, New Braunfels

2:58:04 - Steve Fanos, 68, Houston

3:05:58 - Gloria Hinton, 69, Bandera

3:06:19 - Pankaj Desai, 73, Sugar Land

3:26:11 - Michael Martin, 65, Crosby

3:32:35 - Jannelle Prieve, 43, Richmond

3:38:28 - Florie Bici, 59, Houston

3:56:23 - Michael Lacy, 53, Houston

-15-
1:48:51 - Brian Remark, 47, Pearland

1:50:25 - Tim Cordingley, 57, Houston

1:54:28 - Collin Cox, 49, Houston

2:00:25 - Shantanu Swadi, 55, Cypress

2:04:34 - Juan Reynado, 44, Houston

2:08:10 - Will Whitley, 65, Cypress

2:08:41 - Jennifer Madsen, 47, Houston

2:12:19 - Teresa Ramirez, 63, Houston

2:13:35 - Carolyn Stone, 51, Houston

2:15:36 - Ann Kampschmidt, 60, Houston

2:17:52 - Rob Scott, 59, McQueeney

2:20:11 - Chris Black, 49, Fulshear

2:22:13 - Ines Nemoto, 58, Houston

2:22:18 - Roxanne Worley, 53, Houston

2:22:20 - Ronald Day, 73, Richmond

2:25:29 - Jan Cohen, 60, Houston

2:26:35 - Steven Myles, 45, Houston

2:29:17 - Evanthe Collins, 50, Fresno

2:31:49 - Jan Whitehead, 65, Houston

2:35:32 - Jennifer Lightsey, 51, Katy

2:39:05 - Jocelyn Aventurado, 53, Richmond

2:50:35 - May Ng, 63, Sugar Land

2:51:35 - Eric Stewart, 60, Cypress

2:51:46 - David Kreiner, 68, Houston

2:54:24 - Pamela Holmes, 65, Austin

2:56:03 - Elizabeth Myles, 46, Houston

2:58:30 - David Wood, 50, West Columbia

2:59:36 - Dan Jaeger, 79, Humble

3:00:23 - Jean Valka, 62, Houston

3:01:22 - Julie Baucum, 68, Houston

3:02:13 - Dana Blankenship, 61, Houston

3:03:39 - Dean Hunt, 64, Houston

3:08:58 - Rosa Bryant, 76, Sugar Land

3:10:49 - Lorri Wolff, 58, Houston

3:19:56 - Christine Henry, 51, Pearland

3:20:02 - Arthur Hernandez, 65, Houston

3:22:20 - White Jee, 70, Sugar Land

3:27:01 - Patricia Chesnick, 65, Houston

3:29:43 - Gwendolyn Gallien, 71, Missouri City

3:42:47 - Dorota Jankovsky, 65, Houston

3:45:19 - Herman Vacca, 86, Houston

3:48:42 - Sai Sreerama, 57, Houston

3:56:48 - Stacey McHenry, 48, Humble