In 1987, a then record 2,849 runners crossed the finish line of the Houston Marathon.
The official recorded low temperature was 38 degrees and it never got warmer that day than 54 degrees.
While it was only the 15th Houston Marathon, it was - to that point - the fourth coldest on record.
Susan Rouse, who we profiled earlier today, was at the start ready to improve upon her debut time of 3:48:58 from the year before.
And whose marathon was it their first?
Our founder, coach and friend Bill Dwyer.
"It was 35 degrees and very windy," he said, much like it is going to be for Sunday's 50th running. "I was bit by a dog on my calf the day before."
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| Bill Dwyer running the 1987 Houston Marathon (Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer) |
It was his third marathon as his first two marathons were the original rendition of The Woodlands Marathon.
"I ran 3:11:35, which was a 13-minute PR," Bill stated. "Ultimately this would stand as my third fastest marathon with Dallas in 1988 and Houston in 1989 would be a little faster."
In the picture above, he said he's wearing the FM1960 Roadrunner's singlet, a Ten For Texas long sleeve cotton shirt and noted that it was his first time wearing tights for a race.
Nine Volte here.
As I started to write what you read above, and thinking about Susan's rich history with the race, I asked Bill a short while ago to document his history with the Houston Marathon.
He was gracious enough to do so.
This will be Bill's 36th year either running the race, volunteering or supporting runners - an incredible legacy of commitment to our community and what has turned out to become one of the top mid-major marathons in the world.
Here's his year-by-year history:
1987 - 3:11:35 First Houston
1988 - 3:21:35
1989 - 3:09:07 (3:08:54 on my watch...pre chip)
1990 - 3:30:47
1991 - 3:31:41
1992 - 4:03:13
1993 - 3:49:37
1994 - 3:59:08
1995 - 4:13:12
1996 - 3:29:31 (good year)
1997 - 4:45:52 (ran with friend)
1998 - Support runners (my small group in Spring)
1999 - Support runners (my small group in Spring)
2000 - Support runners (my small group in Spring)
2001 - Support runners (my small group in Spring)
2002 - 4:37:55 Team In Training Official Marathon - but supporting along the way as the 4:30 TNT pacer
2003 - 5:32:49 Team In Training Official Marathon - but supporting along the way as the 5:30 TNT pacer
2004 - 6:09:00 Official Time Limit Pacer. Stopped to help someone and ended up with marathon 14, but not recorded as official.
2005 - Support Team In Training
2006 - Support Team In Training
2007 - Support my small group (pre-Volte + Woodlands Fit + The Woodlands Running Club)
2008 - Support my small group (pre-Volte + Woodlands Fit + The Woodlands Running Club)
2009 - Support my small group (pre-Volte + Woodlands Fit + The Woodlands Running Club)
2010 - Support Strive Performance Coaching (Team Strive) + The Woodlands Running Club
2011 - Support Strive Performance Coaching (Team Strive) + The Woodlands Running Club
2012 - Volunteered at mile 13 Water Stop, where Dana-Sue Crews was the captain in support of Team In Training and the Bill Crews Remission Run 5K
2013 - Support Volte runners
2014 - Support Volte runners
2015 - Support Volte runners
2016 - Support Volte runners
2017 - Support Volte runners
2018 - Support Volte runners
2019 - Support Volte runners
2020 - Support Volte runners
2021 - Support Volte runners
2022 - Support Volte runners
Thanks Bill for all that you do for all of us!
And if you're reading this and running tomorrow, run strong and run with endurance and do well!
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