Volte Ends 2021 With A Bang; Rolling Into 2022!

Nine Volte's had a busy first quarter of 2022.

Time to try - with some of the sheer craziness out of the way - and close the gaps on Volte's result recaps.

Volte kicked off 2022 in grand fashion with some of our good folks ringing in the New Year picking up a shiny new belt buckle from the Snowdrop Foundation.

Juan Murillo and Mimi Torrez both participated in the Snowdrop 55-Hour Ultra.

Juan covered 115.99 miles while Mimi called it a day - and a night - at 100.11 miles.

It was Juan's third Snowdrop finish.  He ran 109.77 miles in 2019 and 107.012 in 2020, making 2022 a personal best at the event.

He also has two 100-mile finishes at Brazos Bend in 2016 and 2021 and his all-time personal best is a 130-mile effort at the 48-hour Jackalope Jam race in Cat Spring in 2017.

Meanwhile, Mimi was completing her second Snowdrop to go with the first one that she finished in 2018.  

Mimi also ran the Yeti 100 Mile Challenge Virtual to close out the 2020 calendar year.

There was one race after the BCS Marathon and Half Marathon and that was the Run The Woodlands 5K on Christmas Day.

Volte founder Bill Dwyer and Jon Walk -- aka as Friends of the Running Community -- hosted the last race of the Series' 22nd year to give the Fleet Feet staff a day off -- or to keep it from being canceled.

Gourav Kumar ran it in 27:18 while Waverly Walk also covered the distance in 33:03, while Volte friends John Slate and Vincent Attanucci ran it in 25:28 and 36:51, respectively.

Starting with the final Texas Marathon and Half Marathon ever to be produced by original race directors Steve and Paula Boone on New Year's Day.

The couple has purchased property just outside of Woodville, Texas and will be working to clear and develop the land.

They will work in tandem with the Knights of Columbus, who will be taking the race over in 2023 and beyond.

Three of our Volte athletes ran the Half Marathon.

Sandra Tezino led the way in 1:56:42 while Waverly Walk and Sherry Cameron ran the 13.1 miles in 2:37:32 and 2:46:46, respectively.  Cameron ran much of the way with Volte friend and former Battling Blogger of the Texas Republic TIR runner Edwin Quarles.

Sandra Tezino is all smiles after finishing the Texas Half Marathon on New Year's Day
(Photo courtesy of Jon Walk)

Volte friend David Keithley of the Seven Hills Running Club also ran the half, doing so in 2:24:11.

C. Stephenson-Lake, another one of our Volte friends, won the Texas Marathon in 3:44:58.

After leaving the company that took over the Run Houston Race Series and the Bayou City Half Marathon Series, Ron Stitt went out on his own and started up HTX Events.

His first race was the Vintage Park New Year's Day Classic 5K and 10K, in the aforementioned location.

Erica Sampson was the first overall female masters runner with a winning 5K time of 22:58 while Jane Campbell wasn't too far behind, winning her age group in 24:07.

Erica Sampson comes into the finish to start off the year with an overall Masters' win.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Many of our longtime Strike Force Racing friends also ran the 5K.

Scott Mayer led this group with a second-place age group finishing mark of 22 minutes even.  

Greg and Gena Alvarez ran together, doing so in 29:04.

Stopping the clock at 33 minutes even was Lynn Flora while Dee Akers ended her race after 35:19.

Second overall in the Vintage Park New Year's Day Classic 1K was Evie Campbell, who registered a time of 5:11.

Rounding out the pre-Chevron Houston Marathon events were a good small group for the first The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5Ks on Sunday, January 2.

Jerritt Park went unchallenged to pick up the overall win in 23:39 while Devyn Cook was the women's winner in 26:12.

Steven Sfeir beat Layton Gill to the finish line by 17 seconds in a time of 28:19 and George Rux brought all of our Voltes in 30:56.

The following weekend, George made his annual trip to Walt Disney World to run in their Series of races.

He started off Thursday with a leisurely 5K of 56:59, turned in a nice 10K time on Friday of 1:06:03 and then capped off his efforts with a 2:38:25 

That same Saturday, January 8, here in Houston, Volte friend Dr. John Slate of the Seven Hills Running Club won his age group at the Run Houston! Sam Houston Race Park 10K in 51:18.

Congratulations to all!