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.

2019 The Woodlands Marathon Double

The following 155 athletes completed The Woodlands 5K Run on Saturday, February 23, 2019 and are registered to compete in either the Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon, the Houston Methodist The Woodlands Half Marathon or the Marathon Relay:

Half Marathon (103 runners)
Adela Allec, Tomball
Alan Pate, Magnolia
Alan Wilson, Spring
Alejandro Domenzain, The Woodlands
Alison Story, Conroe
Alvaro Carbajo, Conroe
Amanda Lopez, The Woodlands
Amanda Miller, Richmond
Amy Jackson, Spring
Anahi Campos, Conroe
Anette Jensen, The Woodlands
Ashley Major, Spring
Avya Sisco, Magnolia
Bartenderx Oropeza, Houston
Bobbie Petersen, Conroe
Brandy Sambirsky, Spring
Brooke McCoy, Montgomery
Cesar Argueta, Cypress
Christina Harughty, Montgomery
Cynthia Biehle, Spring
Damon Foy, Tomball
David Brown, Cypress
David Keithley, Huntsville
Debra Sukin, Spring
Denise Powers, The Woodlands
Denise Smith, Houston
Devan Atkinson, Magnolia
Dorien McGee, Spring
Elias Rodriguez, Conroe
Elizabeth Ramirez, Spring
Emmett Gott, Spring
Eric Thomas, Spring
Erica Alston, Splendora
Erika Lawton, Spring
Heather Stanley, Spring
Heidi Hassan, Cypress
Horacio Espinoza, Houston
Jackie Maerz, Spring
Jason Davis, Spring
Javier Williams, Spring
Jeffrey Custer, Conroe
Jennifer Garcia, Spring
Jennifer Hartsock, Cypress
Jennifer Rodriguez, Spring
Jerritt Park, The Woodlands
Jesper Skov, Houston
Jessica Estrada, Willis
John McGowan, Spring
Juan Lecanda, Tomball
Julie Bonner, Cypress
Kara Lewis, Montgomery
Katelyn Hunt, Conroe
Kathy McWilliams, The Woodlands
Kelley Kyle, Conroe
Kenward Sims, Montgomery
Kyle Quinn, Spring
Leslie Pallotta, Spring
Linda Mireles, Cypress
Lindsay Beaton, Dickinson
Louis Hebert, The Woodlands
Lucy Gomez, Spring
Malia Payne, Conroe
Marcela Jaramillo, Spring
Marco Vazquez, Spring
Mariana Sanchez-Williams, Spring
Marta Mixa, Conroe
Martha Contla, The Woodlands
Marty Cochran, Conroe
Maya Zani, Spring
Michael Walsh, Houston
Michelle Alvarez, Houston
Michelle Mouton, Spring
Nilay Dinc, Spring
Oscar Estrada, Willis
Paola Zapata, Spring
Paul Phelps, Spring
Rachel James, Montgomery
Rachel Langille, The Woodlands
Rajesh Ameen, Sugar Land
Rajesh Vinna, Spring
Ravi Kongara, Pearland
Renee Roker, Cypress
Richard Salazar, Spring
Rick Sanders, Spring
Robert Rausch, Richmond
Rod Booher, Conroe
Roosevelt Johnson, Houston
Rosalina Barragan, Houston
Salvador Ceballos, Montgomery
Sarah Howard Alvarez, Hockley
Sean Sipko, Spring
Shannon Hill, Conroe
Stacy Smith, Spring
Stephanie Schlueter, Spring
Susan Moore, Spring
Susana Flamenco, Magnolia
Taylor Sharp, Conroe
Travis Dreibelbis, Spring
Trina McCollum, Cypress
Valerie Ferdin, Corpus Christi
Varun Reddy Desi Reddi, Houston
Vicky Gillmor, The Woodlands
Victoria Santos, Houston

Marathon (21 runners)
Amanda Kelly, Tomball
Bernardo Rocha, Houston
Chris Vasquez, Spring
Christopher Kelly, Spring
Danielle Cureton, Spring
Danielle Skelton Reeves, The Woodlands
Gabriel Belforti, The Woodlands
Hai Nguyen, Spring
Jake Goldstein, Magnolia
Johanna Chesser, Rosenberg
Juan Sorto, Houston
Leslie Pavlock, Magnolia
Lillian Evans, Waller
Linda McCall, Conroe
Nicky Massey, Spring
Oscar Fumero, Spring
Ronnie Harris, The Woodlands
Sally Redmon, Conroe
Sonia Carr, Conroe
Stephanie Weiss, Tomball
Val Parreno, Houston

4-Person Marathon Relay (31 runners)
Alicia Anderson, Conroe
Alicia Yarborough, Spring
Annie Baugh, Richmond
April Baugh Chears, Richmond
Candice Marcella, Katy
Carla Domogalik, Spring
Cecilia Sarabia, Houston
Cheryl Carter, Spring
Chris MacGregor, Houston
Deanna Lewis, Sugar Land
Heather Cridland, Spring
James Spencer, The Woodlands
Jerry Reimer, Spring
Keri Amador, Spring
Latrenda Haywood, Houston
Lori Bode, Katy
Maryann McMeel, Spring
Melanie Reid, Missouri City
Melissa Holloway, Spring
Myra Walker, Beasley
Nancy Fink, Montgomery
Ranak Amin, Spring
Ronald Thomas, Pearland
Scott Floco, Conroe
Sheri Robinson, Magnolia
Stacey Spears, Katy
Stacy Fellers, Magnolia
Steven Ramos, Houston
Tamzin Bianchi, Spring
Troy Herrera, Spring

Sources:  mychiptime.com, The Woodlands Marathon Management

Texas Endurance Sports Entities: 10,000-Plus Facebook Followers

40,825 - Chevron Houston Marathon
37,581 - The Cowtown Marathon
33,525 - Austin Marathon
29,952 - runDallas [Dallas Marathon]
22,751 - Ironman Texas

21,687 - Mid Valley Events
20,763 - Luke's Locker [Dallas, TX]
19,194 - Trail Racing Over Texas
18,930 - BCS Marathon + Half Marathon
18,404 - Run In Texas

17,202 - Austin Fit Magazine
15,295 - Statesman Capitol 10,000
13,756 - Bayou City Triathlon Series
13,251 - Run Project [Dallas, TX]
12,896 - The Texas Independence Relay

12,491 - Tejas Trails Races
12,199 - Run On!
11,464 - Dallas Running Club
10,614 - The Woodlands Marathon
10,610 - Dallas Athletes Racing

10,480 - Run Houston Race Series
10,453 - Fort Worth Running Company
10,434 - DORBA - Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association

Original research by Walk Sports Services.  Researched on February 20, 2019.  May not be complete.  Any omissions are unintentional.

February 2-3, 2019 Races vs. 2018 - By Official Finishers

Hot Chocolate 15K / 5K Houston
2019 - 1,833 (15K), 1,537 (5K)
2018 - 1,341 (15K), 1,055 (5K), 44 (15K diverted)

Katy Half Marathon / 5K
2019 - 1,799 - 1,085 HM / 594 5K / 45 HM Relay / 75 Kids 1K
2018 - 1,635 - 1,194 HM / 354 5K / 56 HM Relay / 54 Kids 1K

Tex Med Run 10K / 5K
10K
2019 - 94 (51 men / 43 women)
2018 - 143 (74 men / 69 women)
5K
2019 (February 2) - 301 (141 men / 161 women)
2018 (February 3) - 257 (115 men / 142 women)

Surfside Beach Marathon
Marathon
2019 (February 2) - 44 + 15 early
2018 (February 24) - 41 + 14 early
Half Marathon
2019 - 221
2018 - 173
5K
2019 - 146
2018 - 117
Kids Race
2019 - 15
2018 - 22

Piney Woods Trail Fest
50K
2019 - 18
2018 - 14
20M
2019 - 32
2018 - 25
10M
2019 - 110
2018 - 53
5K
2019 - 81
2018 - 33

USA Fit Marathon
Marathon
2019 - 100 + 54 early start + 6 handcycle
2018 - 111 + 38 early start + 4 handcycle
Half Marathon
2019 - 431 + 7 handcycle
2018 - 591
5K
2019 - 536
2018 - 532

Run For Wellness - Heights 5K
2019 (February 3) - 167
2018 (February 4) - 168

ChocoLoco 10K / 5K Finishers Numbers

10K
2019 (January 12) - 137 (62 men / 75 women)
2018 (January 21) - 202 (77 men / 125 women)
2017 - 240 (89 men / 151 women)
2016 - 161 (60 men / 101 women)

5K
2019 (January 12) - 596 (187 men / 409 women)
2018 (January 21) - 417 (143 men / 274 women)
2017 - 504 (161 men / 343 women)
2016 - 444 (149 men / 295 women)
2015 (January 24) - 431
2014 (January 25) - 430
2013 (January 26) - 478

Source:  Run Wild Sports Timing (eztoregister.com)

Texas Med Run 10K / 5K Official Finishers Numbers (2005-2019)

Tex Med Run 10K / 5K Official Finishers Numbers
Houston, TX

10K
2019 - 94 (51 men / 43 women)
2018 - 143 (74 men / 69 women)
2017 - 132 (55 men / 77 women)
2016 - 93 (56 men / 37 women)
2015 - 125 (70 men / 55 women)
2014 - 135 (63 men / 72 women)

5K
2019 (February 2) - 301 (141 men / 161 women)
2018 (February 3) - 257 (115 men / 142 women)
2017 (February 11) - 188 (79 men / 109 women)
2016 (February 6) - 164 (79 men / 85 women)
2015 (February 7) - 167 (76 men / 91 women)
2014 (February 8) - 276 (132 men / 144 women)
2013 (February 9) - 1,268 (489 men / 779 women)
2012 (February 11) - 1,190 (567 men / 623 women)
2011 (February 12) - 1,004 (420 men / 584 women)
2010 (January 30) - 1,069 (421 men / 648 women)
2009 (January 31) - 701 (310 men / 391 women)
2008 (January 26) - 460 (205 men / 255 women)
2007 (January 27) - 198 (106 men / 92 women)
2006 (January 28) - 505 (229 men / 276 women)
2005 (January 29) - 302 (124 men / 178 women)
2004 - Results unavailable
2003 - Results unavailable

Sources:  mychiptime.com (2018-2019, 2007-2016), runsignup.com (2017), athlinks.com (2005-2006)

Miracle Match Marathon (2004-2018) - Five or more Marathon Finishes

12 - Angela Tortorice

9 - Caleb Marcinkovich
9 - Michael Digennaro

8 - David Emerson
8 - Maggie Mount
8 - Pompilio Romero
8 - Rene Villalobos

7 - Christopher Doe
7 - Cliff Burgess
7 - Jim Reeve
7 - John Slate
7 - Paul Movroydis
7 - Sergio Leonardi

6 - Bob Simon
6 - David Johnson
6 - David Rodriquez
6 - Elizabeth Mendiola
6 - Frank Bireley
6 - Hilary Grant
6 - Janice Jones
6 - Jeff Venable
6 - Maria Martinez
6 - Mitch Deskins

5 - Cathy Nevans
5 - Christopher Rodriguez
5 - Greta Knoll
5 - Kyle Threlkeld
5 - Rebecca Gartrell
5 - Ruel Sword
5 - Sam Orr
5 - Steve Grady
5 - Terri Brewen

Source:  marathonguide.com

Miracle Match Marathon - 2019 Challenge of the Phoenix Finishers

*Completed two races in 2018

5K - 10K (7)
Becky Luvene
Carol Kimmel*
Jane Casey
Kanesha Moore*
Philip Ballmann*
Rebecca Taormina
Rocky Gonzales*

5K - Half Marathon (46)
Ace Wigley
Adam Sieberg
Angela Poucher*
April Schafer
Becky Antunes
Becky Phillips*
Bethany Gray
Bonnie Reyes*
Boyd Lee
Carl Rinker
Cary Bogan
Crystal Mortensen
Danny Rager
David Thomas*
Elijah Parsons
Gina Ford*
Holly Stump
Jeffrey Outlaw
John Bowman
Joshua Bogan
Kate Healy
Kaytlyn Greene
Krisann Kent*
Lenore Hennie
Lisa Hoerster*
Luke Valdez
Michael Herrera
Michele Lander
Mike Seiler
Monica Rohre*
Natalie Oyler
Nicole Schwartinsky*
Peggy Smith
Peter Chang
Regina Adams
Richard Cofsky
Richard Garcia
Robert Brown
Robert Sorter
Samuel Hoerster
Scott Morgan
Serenity Rose
Shayleen Martin*
Soubanh Manivanh
Stephanie Gaston
Wyndi Kadlacek*

5K - Marathon (12)
Alvin Montgomery
Amy May
Brent Peterson
Guadalupe Moreno
Jana Dvorsky
Jason Book
Kachy Gaytan
Lynzee Clark*
Marco Romero
Nancy Romero
Norma Branscum
Suzanne Book

Sources:  miraclematchmarathon.com, rrptiming.com

Miracle Match Marathon - 2018 Challenge of the Phoenix Finishers

5K - 10K (7)
Dawsen Holly
Kathy Wardlaw
Kelli Schlueter
Kirsten Vandyke
Lisa Hoerster
Rocky Gonzales
Venita Fisher

5K - Half Marathon (53)
Angela Poucher
Ann Garrett
Ashlyn Jennings
Becky Phillips
Beverly Carey
Bonnie Reyes
Carol Kimmel
Chris Earles
Christopher Hardt
Danielle Kelley
David Oyler
David Thomas
Destiny Kelley
Devon King
Dominique Brown
Donna Finto
Erin Busby
Gina Ford
Jennifer Baker
Jennifer Good
Jenny Hering
John Rentmeesters
Kacy Brown
Kanesha Moore
Korin Hardt
Krisann Kent
Leonna Putnam
Lester Sander
Lola Garcia
Lou Ann Sanders
Lynzee Clark
Marighny Dutton
Mark Parker
Mary Wolf
Matthew Clark
Matthew Rafalski
Merci Moore
Michelle Harrold
Monica Rohre
Nancy Haden
Natalie Prater
Nicole Charbonneau
Nicole Prater
Nicole Schwartinsky
Nikki Morris
Pete Boulette
Philip Ballmann
Ratonia Mcclement
Sara Athey
Scott Frasard
Suzanne Dillon
Vance Hale
Wyndi Kadlacek

5K - Marathon (5)
Antonio Romero
Arturo Sanchez
Guadalupe Moreno
Joaquin Gonzalez
Will Telfer

5K - Ultra Marathon (6)
Allyson Bayer
Erik Archer
Jacob Cortez
Josh Berman
Shayleen Martin
Susan Dumas

Sources:  miraclematchmarathon.com, rrptiming.com

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Run With Heart - Finishers Numbers (2013-2019)

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Run With Heart Half Marathon
Mansfield, Texas

Half Marathon
2013 (September 14) - 298 (145 men / 153 women)
2014 (October 11) - 239 (107 men / 132 women)
2016 (January 30) - 212 (104 men / 108 women)
2017 (January 28) - 175 (92 men / 83 women)
2018 (January 27) - 129 (73 men / 56 women)
2019 (January 26) - 136 (75 men / 61 women)

5K
2014 (October 11) - 431 (173 men / 258 women)
2016 (January 30) - 498 (189 men / 309 women)
2017 (January 28) - 488 (190 men / 298 women)
2018 (January 27) - 363 (137 men / 226 women)
2019 (January 26) - 337 (147 men / 190 women)

2.45 Mile
2013 (September 14) - 515 (182 men / 333 women)

Sources:  mychiptime.com (2013-2017), coxracingservices.com (2018-2019)