Our Volte Got Charged at Houston

Here at Volte, yes, we strive for results, but it is never ever at the sake of another teammate or competitor.

We celebrate our accomplishments, yet with the largest shaker of humility we can get our hands around.

If you’re a runner in these parts, the Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon are what you focus on.

You want to perform well on your home course – and, of course, in front of friends and family.

Great organization, great crowds and an overall solid experience await a participant in all three events, including the ABB 5K.

And the new courses played to pretty favorable reviews.

Hard to believe that all of those prayers on the Elysian Street bridge over the years – regardless who was actually casting them -- were finally heard.

So, we sent 34 of our athletes to the combined start line – and we saw 22 marathon and 12 half marathon finishes on a great day for racing.

Twelve of our runners – seven in the marathon and five in the half marathon – were making their first appearances at Houston in their respective events.

Leading the first-timers (at Houston, that is) – for the men and the ladies – in the marathon were Randy Harris and Mayra Caamano – and both did so in impressive fashion.

Mayra Caamano's toes point to Boston
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

They ran the new routes in 3:17:37 and 3:27:22, respectively, to earn one of six (6) trips to Boston from the group on the morning.  Both also scored personal bests.

It was Jill Tresaugue’s first marathon ever.  She received some team assistance for about six miles from Anita Werner and posted a very well-done 4:12:47 debut effort.  Jill had run three previous Aramco Houston Half Marathons.  The day before, her son, Ryan, 10, won his age group in the ABB 5K with a sub 20-minute showing of 19:45.

Other first-time Chevron Houston Marathoners included JC Morrell (5:04:58), Juliee Sparks (3:45:43), Naika Vargas (4:09:16) and Nicole Mikelonis (5:25:26).

When Tony Allison crossed the finish line in 4:06:02 – for his 30th Houston Marathon finish – he was rewarded by not having to ever pay to run the race again!  Congratulations!

Joining Allison in the Veterans category was coach Rich Cooper as he covered the 26.2 miles in 5:15:26 for his 11th Houston Marathon.

It was Cooper's 16th Chevron Houston Marathon event overall as he has also completed five Aramco Houston Half Marathons.

Volte friend Andy Brock made his 10th straight Chevron Houston Marathon a successful one with his 7th sub 4-hour finish in 3:58:53.

If you had taken 12 minutes off your time from the year before, you'd be responding like Michelle McGill was too.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Two races away from Veteran status are Michelle McGill and Joe Martinez as they both finished their eighth straight Houston Marathon in 3:34:59 and 4:29:37, respectively.

Michelle lopped off more than 12 minutes from her time last year – 12:37, to be exact – and more than an hour from her first Houston Marathon in 2007.

That 4:43:05 finish was pretty far from her BQ – and PR – seven years later.

Also making an arduous journey from his debut Houston Marathon of 3:43:53 four years ago was Derek Bailey.

No port-a-can in sight, just a sub 3-hour finish - his first - for Derek Bailey.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

And he was finally rewarded with his first-ever sub 3-hour marathon finish of 2:59:09 to lead Volte on the morning.

Joining him in the BQ category – also with huge improvements over their previous Houston Marathon finishes – were Mike Coleman and Kate Looney.

The duo recorded personal best finishes of 3:13:26 and 3:17:08, respectively.  It was Mike’s fourth Houston Marathon and far from his previous times of 3:37:14 last year and 4:04:35 in 2011.

Kate’s first of three Houston Marathons came two years ago in 3:40:19 – now improved by more than 23 minutes.

Three of our ladies also posted personal bests.

Kelley Davis lowered her 2013 time by more than eight (8) minutes with a time of 3:51:31.  She was followed by Amber Brock and Ruth Perez in 4:25:29 and 5:03:51, respectively.  It was Perez’s third Houston Marathon (to go along with five halves) while Davis, Brock and Kacey Bryant were completing their second CHM.

You might as well call it a "Touchdown" with that snazzy time, Kelley Davis.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Bryant swallowed nearly 19 minutes from her time last year as she nailed a time of 4:25:32 – down from 4:44:20 in the cold and the rain a year ago.

Tom Ninke finished his second CHM in 4:24:28 – five minutes and 27 seconds better than 2011, while Paul Vita and George Roffe both finished their 4th CHM.  Paul took a little over 23 minutes off of last year’s time for a showing of 4:47:42 while Roffe broke the tape in 5:31:28.

Volte friends finishing the marathon included South Coast Endurance’s Bert Blevins (3:37:09; 2nd Houston), Team in Training’s Chad Giardina (3:53:05; 2nd Houston and first since ’05), Gary Kroll (3:58:47; 3rd straight Houston and 16:47 off previous Houston Best) and The Woodlands Running Club's Jim Braden (4:32:30).

Jim won his 75-79 age group while becoming the 5th male ever to finish the marathon at the single age of 78 – and second fastest behind Tyler’s Harold Wilson who finished in 4:17:49 two years ago.

It was also Braden’s 11 straight Houston event finish – 8 marathons and 3 half marathons – and his 16th career Chevron Houston Marathon finish.

In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, five of our Volte athletes were doing the race for the first time – and Juan Flores led the way for us all.

Juan posted a solid 1:27:40 to lead both our men and women.  Randy Smith followed in 1:41:49 -- his third straight Aramco Half finish.

Todd Snider paced Tabitha Young – both first-timers – the entire way as they crossed the line in 2:23:26 – a new overall PR for Tabitha.

Like Tabitha, Kelly Green ran the Aramco Half for the first time and posted a personal best – of 2:49:34 – in the process.

Colleen Sager was the remaining first-timer with her 2:13:50 finish.  (Her husband, Brandon, who races under the Finish Strong Coaching colors, was also running his first Aramco Houston Half after four straight CHM appearances. )

Leading the ladies was Rachael Wilcox-Pereira in 2:01:04 (her third AHH finish) followed immediately by Katie Marshall (2:07:36; a personal best and almost five minutes better than last year) and Michell Bradie (2:15:28; 4th straight AHH).

Tracy Raborn, Tom and Tammy Ninke get dialed in before their respective races.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Tracy Raborn and Tammy Ninke both finished their third Aramco Houston Half Marathon, doing so in 2:19:43 and 2:22:18, respectively.  Raborn shed nearly 20 minutes from her 2:39:05 finish a year ago.

The “Wow” factor belonged to Alfredo Gonzalez as his 2:36:18 time was light years better than his 3:04:49 and 3:22:48 finishes in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Well done, Alfredo!

Our Volte friends were busy getting after it in the Aramco Houston Half too.

Obsie Birru high-steps her finish in the USA Half Marathon National Championship.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Obsie Birru competed in the USA Half Marathon National Championships and posted a time of 1:21:59.

Kate’s husband, Bob Looney, followed in 1:27:24 – his third straight AHH finish and six minutes and 17 seconds better than last year.

South Coast Endurance’s Krista Blevins was second in her 40-44 age group for the second straight year as she ran 1:29:42 as she is focusing on late June's Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake.

Krista also won her age group in 2011.

Finish Strong’s Jeanette Hagelskaer ran her second AHH in 2:08:03.

Barry Blanton’s group is full of seasoned Aramco Houston Half Marathon veterans, all except Ginger Chiles.

Ginger debuted at the AHH in 2:21:37 while Hollie Quigley was running her fourth – and first since 2010 – as she covered the 13.1 miles in 2:12:42.

Jim Chiles led the way with a time of 2:10:38 for his ninth finish.

Barry’s wife, Fran, followed in 2:11:25 for her 8th AHH finish while Barry himself ran his best of five Aramco Houston Half Marathons in 2:17:43.

Deena Johnson got her seventh Aramco Houston Half finish in 2:32-even.