Volte Ran Before Turkey Day Cometh

Even though the number of races dwindles on the weekend before Thanksgiving, leave it to some of our Voltes and friends to find places to either get out and run or kick the tires on their distance training.

Jerritt and Brayden Park and Volte friend Mark Amann kicked off Saturday, November 20 racing in the Nike Cross Regional South Community Run 5K, which was part of the NXR South Regional held at Bear Branch Sports Park.

Their race was even webcast across the Internet!

But former The Woodlands High School harrier and current University of Arkansas-Little Rock sophomore Spencer Cardinal got most of the attention with a commanding, decisive overall win.

Brayden covered the distance for the first time at Bear Branch - after many middle school races for McCullough Junior High - in 18:46.  

He'll step up to the distance in high school competition next fall for The Woodlands.

In a field with other post-collegians, Jerritt, who ran for Slippery Rock University, did well with a time of 20:21.

Volte friend Mark Amann, who lettered a year for Sam Houston State University, was third overall in 17:02.

On an eat, drink and be merry Saturday, we had three participate in the Great Houston Pie Run, just inside the loop in Houston.

Happy for running and pie both!  Great job at the Great Houston Pie Run!
(Photo courtesy of Mike Kuykendall)

Christopher Branch was the first overall master in the 10K in 42:39 while Judith Albarran was the third overall female with a nice time of 46:27.

Christopher Branch working on more "V" salutes than Mork!  Wait, that was a double V!  :-)
(Photo courtesy of Mike Kuykendall)

This is what third place overall looks like!  Great job Judith Albarran!
(Photo courtesy of Mike Kuykendall)

Mike Kuykendall got more than a post-race pie as a treat as he continues to steadily come back from an injury recording a 5K mark of 32:39 to grab second in his age group.

The drink part of the equation came in Shiner as Volte friends Erin and Jimmie Gowton took part in the 10th annual Shiner Beer Run.

The event, which now features a marathon to go with its original half marathon, 10K and 5K, saw the couple running in the 10K which Erin finished in 54:24 and Jimmie in 1:00:54.

And the merry came at the City of Conroe Turkey Trot 5K, one of the original races at the start of the Montgomery County Triple in 2006, when Volte friends John Slate and Ken Johnson both left Carl Barton, Jr. Park with first place age group awards.

John won his division in 24:57 while Ken took his in 45:18.

On Sunday, Sunday 21, the Murillo family ruled the HMSA Classical 5K in downtown Houston.

Gus took first overall in 18:20 while Juan and Luis ran together in 19:57 where they both won first place in their respective age groups.  Their father, Jose, was first in his division in 24:13.

Volte friends Kahn Grice and Sabina Lorca ran in the La Porte By The Bay Half Marathon.

Kahn was third in his division in 1:44:04 while Sabina pounded out an 8:24 per mile pace for a time of 1:50:09.