New Year, New Results

With the bulk of our group getting ready for either the 45th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon or the 16th running of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in less two weeks, the volume of racing has lessened somewhat, but certainly not the quality.

And aside from founder Bill Dwyer directing The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K the first Sunday of each month, Juan Flores gets into the race directing act occasionally too.

A former harrier at Aldine ISD's MacArthur High School, Juan recently has been putting on alumni events - both cross country and on the track - at the high school to raise a few dollars for the Generals' current cross country team.

On Saturday, December 31, at noon, Juan produced a 3,200 meter race - officially known as the Winter 2016 MHS Alumni and Friends 3200 Fun Run - that gave medals to the top five men, women and youngsters 14 and under.

Both he and Marta Mixa participated.

Juan finished in 11:59 while Marta was second overall among all females in 17:53.

The next morning, on Sunday, January 1, Andrea Zapalac and Penny Garza ventured out to Sam Houston Race Park to help kickoff the Run Houston Race Series' third year of operation.

Andrea Zapalac
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Penny Garza
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Finding the weather a bit more to her liking than Galveston more than two weeks ago, Andrea posted a 10K time of 1:02:06 while Penny notched her second consecutive sub 29-minute 5K with a 28:33 performance.

Early afternoon on New Year's Day in Huntsville, Dana Formon and her husband Chris Shank participated in the Seven Hills Running Club's annual Resolution Run 10K and 5K club race.

Both fully recovered and rested from their efforts in Hawaii in December, Dana covered the 10K distance just under an hour in 59:35 while Chris finished the 5K in 33:16.

Nine Voltes - no, not the Nine Volte - raced the first The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K of 2017 at Barbara Bush Elementary School in The Woodlands.

Jerritt Park sparked the bunch by chasing everybody down with a 22:02 finish, besting Tim Russell to the finish line by 10 seconds.

Tim Russell was still all smiles after Jerritt Park chased all down.  Must have been the shirt!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Park's initial plan was to run the race with his son, Brayden.  However, the younger Park needed to stop after one loop of the parking lot at Bush Elementary as he had hurt his toe earlier in the day.

Dad then put together a last-to-first effort.

And by almost an equal margin of Park over Russell, Mayra Caamano led Keri Amador across the finish by nine seconds in 23:05.

Mike and Erica Coleman ran together for an equal 23:25 finish.

Mike and Erica Coleman making it look easy.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Layton Gill and Ray Hyde posted efforts of 26:04 and 27:04, respectively, while Mary Carter etched her name in the results by covering the course in 39:20.

Just 52 more weekends of racing until Christmas!