The last two weeks across the fruited plain has certainly been exciting. Red states. Blue states. We’ll hear for the next 60 days about the candidates for President skipping certain smaller states for those with more mathematically favorable electoral vote counts. But in marathoning, there’s no skipping the smaller states. Like a baseball player, you have to touch them all.
Gary Van Kuiken did and Lou Wilson soon will. I think it certainly would be apropos to chant “Run, Lou, Run” at next weekend’s membership social instead of “Drill! Baby! Drill!”
But the Labor Day (first celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City) weekend inspired for other reasons.
There were excellent performances from our high schoolers – and a couple of – ah – post-graduates, let’s say, in the Open Race – at Friday Night Lights high school cross country meet at Bear Branch Sportsfields on Friday and ended with a hairy showing at Rob Fleming Park at the south end of The Woodlands.
In between, club members ran their first race ever, won a race for a purple monkey, grabbed hardware (including two Attanuccis and three Esselborns – a TWRC full house), checked off another state, continued to prepare for IM Arizona, volunteered in the chutes, ran with 14,000 in the capital city, rocked ‘n’ rolled with 16,000 lovers (well OK, runners) in Virginia and one even ran to nowhere.
Proving once again that we have a diverse group – and a prelude of the great performances yet to come throughout the fall and winter.
THIS WEEK’S RUNNING SAFETY TIP (Courtesy of the RRCA)
2. Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Include any medical information.
THIS WEEKEND’S TRAINING RUNS
Saturday, September 6 (Trail) -- Jones State Park, meet at 242 & Greenbridge by 6:30 a.m. Run by 6:45 a.m. (See Trail Runs below)
Sunday, September 7 (Road) – Starbucks/Jamba Juice in Market Street, 6:45 a.m. for 6 & 10 milers; 6:00 a.m. for the 16-mile group
THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS
Jerilyn Hayward (September 6), Chloe Manchester (September 6), Ed Steele (September 6), Nancy Prejean (September 7), Jae Green (September 9)
LAST WEEKEND’S RACE RESULTS
Friday Night Lights Open Race (Untimed, 2.1-mile cross country)
Bear Branch Sportsfields, The Woodlands, TX, August 29, 2008
Andrew Perry – 11:53 1st overall, Jacob Mazone – 12:05 2nd overall
(eDeerTracks thinks we saw Sharon Morin out there too)
Friday Night Lights HS Girls A Race (2.1 mile cross country)
Bear Branch Sportsfields, The Woodlands, TX, August 29, 2008
Adrienne Langelier – 40:29 1st overall, Michael Attanucci – 45:00 1st AG, Vincent Attanucci – 46:34 3rd AG
No Where 2 Run 10K
Milano, TX, August 30, 2008
Jon Walk – 1:05:44 3rd AG
Nike Human Race 10K
Austin, TX, August 31, 2008
Kerri Snyder – 49:17, Kristin Collins – 56:41, Rick Ryals – 1:03:58, Jon Walk – 1:11:51, Najat Shayib – 1:19:43 1st ever race, Donna Ryals – 1:29:58
(Tough 10K course; More difficult than the annual Austin American-Statesman Cap10K.)
Summer Time Blues Triathlon (500m swim, 15-mile bike, 3-mile run)
Freeport, TX, August 31, 2008
Vivian Corliss – 1:45:03 2nd Athena
The Austin Triathlon - Olympic (1500m swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10k run)
Austin, TX, September 1, 2008
Michael Collins – 2:22:41, Buck Snyder – 2:27:00, Don Cole – 2:32:48, Greg Alvarez – 2:49:31, Tammie Manchester – 2:58:02, Scott Farrand – 3:07:31, Gena Alvarez – 3:08:49
Fired Up 5K
Sugar Land, TX, September 1, 2008
Chris Esselborn – 17:53 2nd AG, Eugene Esselborn – 19:04 1st AG, Dick Esselborn – 23:31 1st AG
(Maria told us Tuesday night that she was out to cheer on Dad and her brothers!)
3rd annual The Woodlands Adventure Race
Rob Fleming Park, The Woodlands, TX, September 1, 2008
Mark Cahill and son; Bill and Dylan Crews; Dana-Sue and Morgan Crews; Ron and Chloe Manchester; Jon Walk and Bill Dwyer (Double Bigfoot Thunder)
If we missed your result, please e-mail us at bdwyer2@comcast.net. Additionally, if you run at an out-of-town race, also drop us a line so we can include your result.
Trivia Question: Who were the fastest Montgomery County runners at the 2008 Chevron Houston Marathon earlier this year?
*** One Week to the Membership Social … Next Item Up! ***
*** Three Weeks to HARRA Cross Country Relay …. See Below! ***
Membership Social: The club will have its third general membership meeting on Sunday, September 14at 5:00PM and our own Coach Green will be our featured speaker offering tips on successful marathon training. President Tony Allison advises that at least one order of business will be conducted at the meeting and that will be to vote on an amendment to the By-Laws that would authorize the board to elect up to two additional board members in addition to the coaches’ representative. These additional board members would have limited voting power, but would serve as critical resources for the club as it continues to grow in numbers and activitiies.
Location: Town Hall Texas, 12194 Sleepy Hollow, Conroe, TX 77385
Bring the kids and let them run around, paddle boat, or fish (bring your own gear). We will also be holding a shoe drive so bring in your used running shoes to donate. We are having a buffet style dinner with the club providing water, tea and brisket. We are asking members to bring finger foods, side dishes, and desserts. To assist with what to bring, we are asking for the following using the first letter of your last name: A-F Finger Foods G-M Side Dishes N-Z Desserts The facility is BYOB and you may bring in your own additional beverages of choice.
Directions: Research Forest to Tamina by Home Depot, continue on Tamina, cross over RR tracks, turn right on Main Street, turn left on Sleepy Hollow, drive approximately 2.8 miles. Town Hall is on your right (look for the sign). Don't forget to visit the club website for information on runs and club news: www.thewoodlandsrunningclub.org
Enjoying eDeerTracks?: We hope you are. It is a new member benefit to your TWRC membership. The TWRC membership year, of course, started on Tuesday, July 1 and corresponds with the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) membership year. TWRC memberships are one-year memberships that expire on June 30. Annual dues are $20 for an individual and $25 for a family. A membership application can be found on page 2 of the most recent August 2008 edition of “Deer Tracks” that can be found on the club website underneath the “Newsletters” tab at http://www.thewoodlandsrunningclub.org/. Don’t run the risk of missing out on this weekly source of information … besides belonging to a group of pretty cool people!
Long Runs?: You bet, TWRC has them! JoAnn Blakeley graciously coordinates these and they’re typically early on Sunday mornings and at a location to satisfy that caffeine fix after the run. If you have a question about the long runs, please e-mail JoAnn at joann_blakeley@sbcglobal.net. Here is September’s list of scheduled runs:
Sept. 7 (Sun) – Starbucks/Jamba Juice in Market Street, 6:45 a.m. for 6 & 10 milers; 6:00 a.m. for the 16-mile group
Sept. 14 (Sun) – Starbucks in the new Wal Mart parking lot on Woodlands Parkway & 2978 (closer to Branch Crossing and the Parkway intersection), 6:45 a.m. for 6 & 12 milers, 6:00 a.m. (“ready to run”) for the 18-mile group
Sept. 21 (Sun) – Starbucks – Research & New Trails, 6:45 a.m. for 6 & 10 milers; 6:00 a.m. for the 16-mile group
Trail Runs: Susie Schreiber usually gathers a group together every Sunday morning. Her weekly reminder e-mail that announces the meeting location and time and where the group will usually goes out on Thursday evenings or during the day on Fridays. Most weeks, the group gathers at the Exxon station on Greenbridge & 242 to run at Jones State Park. To get on Susie’s trail runners e-mail, please contact her at susieschreiber@lukeslocker.com.
Join HARRA: TWRC will attempt this year to field more competitive teams in HARRA’s Fall Series of races (see below). For the club to score points in the inner-club competition, members have to also be HARRA members. More information can be found in the May and June editions of “Deer Tracks”. There is a paper membership application on page 4 of the May 2008 edition of “Deer Tracks” and online membership can be accomplished at http://www.harra.org/.
HARRA Fall Series:
Sep. 27 (Sat) Tornados Cross Country Relay (4 runners; 2 miles each); Houston, 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 12 (Sun) United Space Alliance 10-Miler; Clear Lake, 7:00 a.m.
Dec. 14 (Sun) Sugar Land Lakes of Williams Ranch 30K; Sugar Land, 7:00 a.m.
XC Relay, Three Weeks Away!: Stephen Smith, our TWRC Team Racing Coordinator, reports that the first event of the Fall HARRA team competition series is the Cross Country team race at 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27 along the sides of Buffalo Bayou near Memorial Dr and Shepherd. This race is run as four person teams. The teams compete in the following categories: Open Male, Open Female, Masters Male (all 40+), Masters Female, Mixed Open (2 male+2 female). Mixed Masters (2+2), Senior Male (all 50+), Senior Female, Veteran Male (all 60+), Veteran Female.
Since the teams need to register as a team, I will be happy to assist in helping put together the groups of four. Or you can put together your own team and keep me out of the loop. If you want my help, just send me an email expressing your interest. I will then *try* to put you in contact with three others, but please remember that I cannot manufacture runners if I end up with an odd number. For the teams that are formed, it will then be up to the four of you to register and arrange to get to the race on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept 27.
(Stephen forgot to mention that one of the benefits of this race is that the Tornados bring free beer for the end of the race! Additionally, while all members of the team need to be a HARRA member before the start of the race for TWRC to score HARRA Club and Team points, you do not HAVE to be a member of HARRA to run this race. TWRC’s target should be ten (10) teams. This is what the Bay Area Running Club brought out last year.)
MontgomeryCounty Triple: The Fall ’08 version is once again taking shape! Its creators – Friends of the Running Community - are hoping that the turnout for the third annual Runfest will be greater than the first two years. The City of Conroe has announced its 4th annual Turkey Trot 5K to once again be the day after Thanksgiving – Friday, November 28 - at Conroe’s Carl Barton, Jr. Park. In fact, a few of our members – Joseph Mazone, Jacob Mazone, Mike Mendeck and Stephen Smith – can be seen on the cover of the City of Conroe’s Parks and Recreation Playbook: http://www.cityofconroe.org/images/stories/parks/downloads/playbook.pdf
The third and final race, which also includes the immensely popular Turkey Day classic, “Run Thru The Woods”, will be announced at a later time – and there’s even talk of a Fat Ass 50K, which includes one of old The Woodlands Marathon courses -- on Sunday, November 30. Stay tuned!
Want To Run This With Me?: In the face of $3.50 (down from $4) per gallon of gasoline, this section is for club members to indicate their interest in perhaps getting a group of runners to go run particular races. Our first participant is Najat Shayib, who is looking for other club members that might be interested in going to ROC Fun Run 10K in Kemah on Saturday, September 27.
If you’re interested in doing either one of these events with Najat, please contact Bill Dwyer at bdwyer2@comcast.net and he’ll put you in touch with her or others who express their race interests here.
Oct. 4 (Sat) – West Texas Crossroads Marathon, Odessa - $70 until race day (NEW)
Oct 18 (Sat) - Marathon 2 Marathon, Alpine - $65 until October 1, 2008
Oct 26 (Sun) – Miracle Match Marathon, Waco - $65 by September 8, 2008
Nov 9 (Sun) – Fort Worth Marathon, Fort Worth - $85 until October 30, 2008 (2nd YEAR)
Nov 16 (Sun) – Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon, San Antonio - $110 through November 9, 2008
*Use the code “SOLDOUT” for a $10 discount off of either of their races*
Dec 7 (Sun) – Fiesta Marathon, McAllen – $60 through November 1, 2008
Dec 14 (Sun) – Nexbank White Rock Marathon, Dallas - $90 through January 31, 2009
Jan 1 (Thu) – Texas Marathon, Kingwood - $45 through October 2, 2008
Jan 18 (Sun) – Chevron Houston Marathon, Houston (SOLD OUT)
Feb 14 (Sat) – Surfside Beach Marathon, Surfside Beach - $50 early registration is currently in effect
Feb 15 (Sun) – AT&T Austin Marathon, Austin - $100 through September 30, 2008
Feb 28 (Sat) – Cowtown Marathon, Fort Worth - $70 through February 2, 2009
March – El Paso Marathon, El Paso – Registration Not Open
Mar 15 (Sun) – Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, Seabrook – Registration Not Open
Apr 5 (Sun) – Big-D Texas Marathon, Dallas - $65 through January 17, 2009
Apr 11 (Sat) – Davy Crockett Bear Chase, Groveton - $45 through September 27, 2008
Courtesy of The Woodlands Running Club
(If you copy and share this with non-members, please including the heading and the courtesy line immediately above.)
Financial Consulting: Because of the current economic conditions, club member (and one of Houston’s faster masters runners) Jacob Mazone has offered TWRC members two (2) hours of complimentary consulting in the areas of retirement planning and investment advice." Jacob’s direct line is (281) 362-4737 or email at jacob.mazone@ms.com.
Next Two Months Local Race Calendar:
Sep. 6 (Sat) Bearkat Bash 5K; Klein High School; Klein, 7:30 a.m.
Sep. 13 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #208; Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1, 8:00 a.m.
Sep. 27 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #209; Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1, 8:00 a.m.
Sep. 27 (Sat) Fall Fun Run 10K/5K; (Seven Hills RC club race); SW corner of West Hill Mall; Huntsville, $1, 8:00 a.m.
Oct. 18 (Sat) Ten For Texas 10-Miler; Market Street; The Woodlands, 7:30 a.m (Registration is Open!)
Oct. 25 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #211; Barbara Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1.
Nov. 8 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #212; Barbara Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1.
Big Events TWRC Members Are Training For: Here’s your place to tell us what marathons, half marathon, ultramarathoners or beer runs that you’re training for. Let’s us hear from you! (We tend to randomly peruse race web sites; however, if we miss you, please don’t be offended. Just drop us a line! We want people to know what you’re planning on racing – and after the race, the membership would love a race report for Deer Tracks.)
Montana Marathon: Billings, MT; September 21, 2008 (Lou Wilson)
Hamptons Marathon: East Hampton, NY; September 28, 2008 (Lou Wilson)
Mount Rushmore Marathon: Rapid City, SD; October 4, 2008 (Lou Wilson)
Portland Marathon: Portland, OR; October 5, 2008 (Russell McCoy)
Ford Ironman World Championship: Kona, HI; October 11, 2008 (Dana Lyons)
Heartland 100: Cassoday, KS; October 11-12, 2008 (Lynnor Matheney)
Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Chicago, IL; October 12, 2008 (Mary Kerschbaum, Patrick Morein)
Siouxland Lewis & Clark Marathon: Sioux City, IA; October 18, 2008 (Lou Wilson)
Nike Women’s Marathon: San Francisco, CA; October 19, 2008 (Kristin Collins, Susie Schreiber)
Ford Ironman Florida: Panama City Beach, FL; November 1, 2008 (Dan Jordan, John Laskowski)
ING New York City Marathon: New York City, NY; November 2, 2008 (JoAnn Blakeley, Sarah Broyles, Don Cole, Carrie Davies, Sharon Griggs, Bernhard Skarpeid, Johanne Skorve, Mark Whittemore)
SunTrust Richmond Marathon: Richmond, VA; November 15, 2008 (Lou Wilson)
Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon: San Antonio, TX; November 16, 2008 (Misty Baugh, Sarah Broyles, Bill Crews, Bill Dwyer, Karen Felicidario, Kelley Golden (debut), Kevin Golden, Joey Krivi, Katy Lampson, Kim MacDougal, Donna Ryals, Najat Shayib, Richard Tramm, Debbie Tripp, Jon Walk)
Rock ‘N’ Roll Half Marathon: San Antonio, TX; November 16, 2008 (Leslie Alli, Althea Caldwell, Fran Blanton, Barry Blanton, Judy Blevins, Chad Broyles, Mary Kerschbaum, Todd Kerschbaum (debut), Susan Meyer, Corina Privett, Kim Rawls)
Ford Ironman Arizona: Tempe, AZ; November 23, 2008 (Bruce Cobb, Michael Collins, Kim Hager, Buck Snyder, Susan Rouse)
Texas Marathon: Kingwood, TX; January 1, 2009 (Jon Walk)
Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon: Houston, TX; January 18, 2009 (A complete list appears in the August edition of Deer Tracks)
Western States Endurance Run: Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA: June 27-28, 2009 (Rick Cook)
2008 Remaining Local Race Calendar:
Nov. 15 (Sat) 5K Turkey Trot; Spring Baptist Church Klein Campus; Spring, $10 before November 2.
Nov. 22 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #213; Barbara Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1.
Nov. 27 (Thu) 19th annual Run Thru The Woods 5-Miler (3-Mile Teen/1-Mile Kids); Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion; The Woodlands, 7:45 a.m. (Part of the Montgomery County Triple)
Nov. 28 (Fri) 4th annual City of Conroe Turkey Trot 5K (1-Mile Family Mile); Carl Barton, Jr. Park; Conroe, 8:00 a.m. (Part of the Montgomery County Triple)
Nov. 29 (Sat) Leftover Turkey Run 10K/5K; (Seven Hills RC club race); SW corner of West Hill Mall; Huntsville, $1, 8:00 a.m.
Coach Dana Fossmo at Willis High School tells us that the third annual Willis Wildkat 5K will be on either December 13th or December 20th.
Dec. 13 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #214; Barbara Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1.
Dec. 27 (Sat) Run The Woodlands 5K #215; Barbara Bush Elementary; The Woodlands, $1.
An excellent race calendar can be found at the website of our friends from Huntsville with the Seven Hills Running Club. It can be viewed at this link.
Our Board: Tony Allison is our President in our third year of operation. Bill Dwyer is the Vice President and President-Elect. Kerri Snyder is the Secretary, Pam Meaux is the Treasurer, Tracy MacEwan is our Registrar and Dan Green is our running coach.
Courier of Montgomery County: Read Jon Walk’s local running column in the Courier (most) every Tuesday. If you need to know where the best locations are to pick up a copy, please drop us an e-mail.
Trivia Answer: The Woodlands’ Jason Johnston, 33, defeated Conroe’s Alex Zuniga by 57 seconds with his 2:50:01 showing. Our own Buck Snyder was the third fastest Montgomery County runner in 2:53:40. On the women’s side, Nancy Prejean outlegged two runners whose combined age wasn’t as old as she was. Prejean, 62, ran an impressive 3:31:55 while Tricia Tatsch, 31, and Nicole Richardson, 27, finished in 3:32:50 and 3:35:46, respectively.
