May Brings Beer, Brawts and Box of Rox to Volte and Friends

Beer, brawts and a box of rox.

That is what May handed to our Volte athletes and friends.

David Campbell signed up for … the box of rox, specifically Pandora’s Box of Rox held at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet.

Reveille Park Ranch is a bit of paradox:  beautiful, but body-bruising rocks.

Sure, there are trails and the race is put on by Tejas Trails, but interspersed among all trails are rocks that you don’t just run over.

They sort of run over you.

It is no place for screws to be loose as David took on the 50-mile race and finished in 10 hours, 38 minutes and 26 seconds, good for second in his age group on Saturday, May 5.

The Vita boys – Paul and his brother Mike – didn’t need any vitameatavegamin for their annual battle with the hills of the Steel City in the Pittsburgh Half Marathon the same day.

Mike led the way in 2:09:34 while Paul pushed through for a 2:29:31 finish. 

Below are their year-by-year results in Pittsburgh:

2018 – Mike 2:09:34, Paul 2:29:31.
2017 – Mike 2:02:49, Paul 2:24:49.
2016 – Paul 2:36:43.
2015 – Paul 2:07:06.
2014 – Paul 4:26:52 (marathon).
2013 – Mike 1:49:10, Paul 4:43:23 (marathon).

While Mike and Paul were surrounded by runners raising glasses of Yuengling and Iron City beers, Volte had a few and a crew of friends congregate at the home of St. Arnold’s for the Sanyo de Mayo 5K in Houston on Sunday, May 6.

Laura Hanyzewski led our Volte athletes in 25:27 while Jill Tresaugue was ten seconds behind.  Laura's husband Brian finished in 26:39.

Jill was in the middle of the five-member Tresaugue family 5K.

Ryan grabbed first in his age group in 18:04.  Jack was 12 seconds ahead of Mom in 25:25.

Husband Matt ran with their son Luke and finished a second apart in 27:59 and 28-even, respectively.

Volte friend Mike Menster was the first masters finisher in 17:58. 

Chris Weir was third in his age group in 18:26, while our friends at Fleet Feet – James Ingle and Mary-Ellen Wilderman-Hay – posted times of 21:23 and 23:51.

Tina Saims was third in her division, snagging a shiny PR of 23:58 to boot.  Husband Paul finished in 26:10, while Mary-Ellen’s husband, Brad, clocked a time of 29:37.

“Hot and sunny, but great party and awesome awards,” said Jill.

It was also hot, sunny and hot again in Waco for the Chip Gaines – wait, no, Silo District – Marathon that same morning.

Robert Dempsey survived a punishing course - in that runners were completely exposed to the elements the majority of the race.  He finished in 5:42:25.

Later that evening, and closer to home, nearly 10 Volte athletes ran The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K at Barbara Bush Elementary in The Woodlands.

Jerritt Park was the overall winner in 22:10 while Mayra Caamano was the first female finisher in 24:34.

Crystal Foody putting her feet down at the TWRC Sunday Night 5K
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Mayra’s daughter, Chloe Kramer, was next in 28:55, while Crystal Foody and Jimmy Baker stopped running after 33:32 and 36:27, respectively.

Jimmy Baker with his best, "Hey Bill!", as he starts the second loop in the parking lot.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Amanda Becker and Katie Gill ran together in a time of 37:47 while Alfredo and Letty Gonzalez walked the course together.

Volte friend Ken Johnson covered the distance in 41:29.

The following Saturday, May 12, Kristi Park ran the Women’s Quarter Marathon in MacGregor Park in Houston, which relocated from Katy and its much cooler January date.

“I finished in 58:47,” she said.  “A little slower than what I wanted, but still under an hour (for 6.55 miles) so I will take it.  It was humid.”

That’s why Mike Kuykendall, Dana Formon and Volte friend Nilay Dinc opted for a little water in their athletic pursuits on Saturday, May 12 when they competed in the CB&I Tri – The Woodlands Triathlon at North Shore Park.

“First triathlon of the season in the books and it was a fun one!” said Mike.  “With just three swims and one bike ride this year, I only wanted to finish.

“But it was a strong day and I threw down a time 22 seconds shy of my PR for the distance.  Go figure.”

He covered the 500-meter swim, 12.8-mile bike and five-kilometer run in 1:31:21.

Mike was in and out of the water in 14:49, on and off the bike in 42:07 and finished the run in 29:42.

Dana was close behind in time in 1:32:18, although the two started in completely different waves.

She swam the distance in 12:34, cycled the bike in 47:05 and ran the 5K in 28:37.

Nilay stopped the clock on the North Shore Park bridge in 1:42:37 – 14:44 for the swim, 47:51 for the bike and 35:25 on the run.

Saturday, May 19 was Marathon Day in Volte, USA.

Volte friend Reggie Bruhn ran the Green Bay Marathon in Wisconsin in 4:05:59 – his third of 2018 to go with the Chevron Houston Marathon in January (4:04:34) and The Woodlands Marathon in March (4:10:59).

Meanwhile, a little farther to the west, Stephen Lopez completed his 24th marathon in his 18th state when he finished the Fargo Marathon in North Dakota in 5:08:56.

Since Ironman Texas in May 2016, he has completed nine straight marathons in different states.

On Memorial Day, Dana Formon, also a Seven Hills Running Club member, ran in the Club’s monthly race, which was hosted at Volte friend Ken Johnson’s house in Huntsville.

Dana Formon gets a little air time at the Memorial Day 5K in the Timberwilde subdivision in Huntsville.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

She finished the Memorial Day 5K in 27:45.

Bill Dwyer and Seven Hills Running Club officer Darren Grant, who was returning from an injury, walked the one-mile course together.