Volte Covered All The Distances Last Week: 2.5K Swim to 50K Trail Run

"Cornucopia for $100, Alex."

"An abundant supply of good things of a specified kind."

"Well, Alex, that, of course, must mean Volte and friends' results!"

Yes, indeed, it is all good as we recap April's second full weekend of racing in Volte, USA.

Speaking of Alexander, we missed a result - or three! - from the first weekend of the month.

The Hyde family men took advantage of the opportunity made available to ExxonMobil employees and family on Saturday, April 1 to run in the ExxonMobil United Way 5K, which was held on the grounds of the company's world headquarters just south of The Woodlands.

And Alexander led by a mile - well, maybe almost two minutes.

While Dad (Ray) ran with brother Braeden for a solid time of 31 minutes and 49 seconds, Alexander took off and finished by himself in 29:55.

"It was first time Alexander ever ran a race of that length basically alone, which is pretty cool," said Mom (Carrie).

We couldn't agree more.

Getting ready for her debut Ironman next weekend here in The Woodlands with the seventh annual Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas, Landa Wright participated in another of a jewel of sporting events in our area -- the Snapping Tortuga Open Water Swim, held in Lake Conroe and produced by one of the nation's best swim coaches, Tim Floyd.

Last major swim preparation is complete as Landa is ready for Ironman Texas!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

She completed the 2.5-kilometer Open Water Swim in 1:09:36.

Landa will be wearing bib #933 in next Saturday's Ironman Texas.

Many Voltes and friends will be working at Barry Blanton's "Some Like It Hot!" aid station on the run course down near Landry's restaurant, raising money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

If you would like to put in about four hours helping your fellow endurance sports athletes out, there's still room available.

Click on the link below:
https://vmodcui.active.com/volunteer/jobs?eventGroupId=590004&jobGroupId=44803

It will take you to a screen for "Some Like It Hot", where you will see the three shift choices listed below:

Shift #1 -- 11:00a – 3:30p -- Help set-up and get to see the elite leaders! (no kids under age 10)
Shift #2 -- 3:00p – 7:30p – The busiest shift with lots of athlete traffic! (no kids under age 10)
Shift #3 -- 7:00p – 12:00 midnight – See the magic of the late finishers and help tear down!

Denise Powers and Kim Joyce conquered the Run The Woodlands 5K course by posting times of 27:06 and 27:29, respectively.

Denise was also the first overall female with a five-second personal best.  The two also won the post-race drawings which included $25 gift cards to Fleet Feet.

Trail racing adventures moved to Needville on Saturday, April 8 as Bonnie Scholz and Juan Flores led the Volte contingent - in addition to a solid group of Volte friends.

They all participated in the Brazos Bend trail races, produced by Trail Racing Over Texas.

The second overall woman, Bonnie knocked down the 50K in 4:35:49, improving her time from a year ago by nearly 52 minutes.

Bonnie's mouth is agape as she looks at the time on the clock!
(Photo courtesy of Michele Fregia)

In the 25 kilometer race, Juan was second in his age group in 1:52:02.

Just more than half dozen of Volte friends also ran the trails at Brazos Bend.

Age group bling for Juan and Bonnie at Brazos Bend.
(Photo courtesy of Michele Fregia)

Luis Murillo was second overall in the 50-miler in 7:09:57, while Alvaro Trejo finished his first 50 in 11:04:45 and Gary Knoll stopped the clock in 11:58:26.

Juan Murillo finished the 50K in 4:31:34 while Doug Spence did so in 8:40:16.  Doug, who lives in Houston, was part of Bill Dwyer's original Texas Independence Relay teams in 2008 and 2009.

Bonnie's sister, Michelle Fregia, covered the 25K in 3:24:29.

Jose Murillo ran the 10K in 54:26.

Sunday, April 9 brought more action for Volte athletes.

Rapha Machado and his wife, Juliana De Souza, got things started at the Paris Marathon in France.

When in Paris, you represent!  Juliana and Rapha pre-race all ready to go!
(Photo courtesy of Rapha Machado)

Saying it was "warmer and harder than I expected," Rapha completed the race in 4:12:10 while Juliana did in 4:52:13.

Brian Schultz finished his fourth marathon of 2017 and his 17th overall with a 4:40:57 finish at the Go! St. Louis Marathon in St. Louis, Missouri.

We had a big crew at the inaugural Vintage Park Half Marathon, produced by the Bayou City Half Marathon Series.

Rip Reynolds led us all with a 1:28:48 finish that put him at the top of his age group.

Robert Sweeney also grabbed a division award - second place - for his 1:37:47 showing.

Randy Smith keeping the pack behind him at Vintage Park.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Randy Smith and Jerritt Park followed with efforts of 1:52:23 and 1:58:06, respectively.

Notching almost a nine-minute PR was Penny Garza with her time of 2:30:50, better than her 2:39:40 at the Katy Half Marathon in February.

Mary Carter and Penny Garza all ready to race!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Mary Carter finished in 3:15-even.

Brayden Park was third in his age group in the Kids 1K in 4:15.

We sure hope Brayden took that to school last Monday for show and tell!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Former Volte coach Adrienne Langelier, running for Bayou City Elite, was the first overall female in the 5K in 19:23.

Volte friend Jon Walk made the drive to Layton Gill's stomping grounds to take part in the 35th annual Ponchatoula Jaycees Strawberry Strut 10K where he finished in 1:01:37 for a race in his 289th North American city or town.

If you're racing Green 6.2 in CityCentre on Saturday, Jon will be announcing there.