Volte Thankful To Be Active On Memorial Day Weekend

"No matter how you feel, live, or vote, there's no denying the sacrifices many have made so the rest of us can happily lose ourselves in a three-day weekend spending it however we choose."

This didn't come from some fancy, schmancy politician.

Rather from one of our Volte athletes that we believe sums up Volte's Memorial Day weekend of athletic pursuits so well.

Spanning the globe on Sunday, May 28, our reach was extended from Edinburgh, Scotland to Vallejo, California.

We're certain that Edinburgh was painted with Dodger Blue and Cougar Red as a result of the exceptional enthusiasm exuded by our sponsor Danny Braden of Fleet Feet Sports of Greater Houston.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, were overseas to take part in "the traditional distance of 42.195 kilometers" of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

"I must say it was a good day.  So proud of my wife," said Danny of her 6:41:42 finish while being the gentleman that he is without referencing his own 5:10:43 coverage of the course.

Back on American soil, Mike Kuykendall continued his build-up to Ironman 70.3 Georgia this September with a distance debut at the Silverlake Olympic Distance Triathlon in Pearland.

The race featured a one-mile open water swim, 18-mile bike and six-mile run.

Mike getting the work done on the bike in the beautiful Silverlake community in Pearland.
(Photo courtesy of Mike Kuykendall)

"I finished close to plan," said Mike of his 3:04:27 time.  "A couple of more Olympic distance triathlon races to work on technique and speed."

Being pregnant, Kate Semmelrogge Thomas admits that speed isn't necessarily in the books right now, but calls out an expansion in time when it's called for.

She competed in the Mare Island 5K in Vallejo, California.

"Another 5K in the books.  My official time was 41:11, but I lost three to four minutes waiting on a drawbridge to let a sailboat pass," she said.

And another first place finish.

"Turns out I was the only person in my age group.  First place again!" Kate added.

All about showing up.

Volte had a representative turnout at the Gleannloch 10K, 5K and 1-Mile race on Memorial Day in Spring.

The Volte team picture at Gleannloch on Memorial Day.
(Photo courtesy of Juan Flores)

"This race is getting a little better every year.  It has potential," said Volte founder Bill Dwyer.  "We had a small group and had a lot of fun."

Our athletes were five for five in the 10K race.

Robert Sweeney led Volte with a 45:10 first place age group finish.

Yaya Herrera and Lauren Hoffart joined Robert on the top spot on the podium of their respective divisions.

Yaya finished in 50:20 while Lauren stopped the clock in 54:32.

"I am so blessed to have an amazing group of friends to run with," said Lauren.  "If it weren't for them I don't know if this morning would have worked out the same."

Second-place age group finish for Judith; first-place effort!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Judith Albarran and Marta Mixa grabbed second place hardware with respective times of 53:54 and 58:04.

In the 5K, Jerritt Park captured first place in his age group in 20:22.

Laura Godfrey took almost 80 seconds off of her previous personal best at the distance with an impressive 21:44 finish.  She ran the BMI 5K two years ago in 23:03.

It earned her first place in her age group while Leanne Rosser took third in hers with a showing of 24:50.

Alfredo Gonzalez continues to be steady with a 38:27 performance.

In the untimed one mile, Brayden Park was fourth overall.

Volte friend Jon Walk took to the Texas highways over Memorial Day weekend and ran a race in his 69th and 70th Texas counties.

Saturday morning saw him competing in the 19th annual Ennis Polkafest Fun Run 10K where he ran the 6.37-mile course in 1:06 even.

He then traveled to Burnet, west of Austin, to do battle with a bunch of rocks at Reveille Peak Ranch as part of the Rogue Trail Series - The Ranch 10K.

Rocks hadn't formed at this point at the tough Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet.
(Photo courtesy of AzulOxVisuals, LLC)

"Hard way to get Texas county #70 in this morning," he said.  "Scenic? You bet. Challenging? That too. One of the toughest races that I've ever done. First 2.8 miles weren't that bad. The 2-2.3 miles (who knew the distance for sure) in the middle was lots of rock climbing. Humidity was high.

And he said his time was too.  1:44:45.  Ouch.

Jon and his daughter, Waverly, then went on Monday up to race with our friends with the Seven Hills Running Club at their Memorial Day 5K that started and finished in Ken Johnson's driveway.

Go Waves!
(Photo courtesy of Ken Johnson)

Dad didn't let the effects of two 10K's bother him much the first two miles, passing the marker in 19:49, but daughter - better at pacing - passed him shortly thereafter and finished in 30:10 while Dad was at 10 minutes per mile even in 31 minutes.

Waverly, who registered on Wednesday for her first marathon this January in Houston, ran the same course in 2014 in 34:49 and two years ago in 33:36.