August 2008
Hello Striders!
The hottest month of the year is now behind us. Yeah, right! As we all know, August can prove to be just as nasty as July. Please take care of yourselves in this heat!
Although hot, July was full of fun as usual. We kicked off with the race of the quarter: Run Wild 5k. Of the approximately 50 Striders who ran, 11 placed in their age groups and there were also some PR’s set! Striders rock!
Mid-July approached with a new novelty run: A North/South, East/West Relay. Even with the humidity, race times were at a prime, and the breakfast tacos made it all worth it. Also, we got to celebrate Alison Stewart’s entrance to a new decade and age bracket with cake, candles, AND a letter from the Queen of England. Thank you to Helen Grant for organizing more fun for the Striders.
July ended with a wet, muddy, yet fun Run with the Prez at Memorial Park. Matt Wright and Chris Cornell led us through the Ho Chi Minh Trails as Hurricane Dolly’s outerbands made it more challenging for us than usual but the Striders are die-hards. Everyone stuck around in the pouring rain afterwards for liquid refreshments and catching up on the happenings. The Striders run these trails weekly while it is still light out, so join them at 7:15 every Wednesday across from the aquatic center for a change in your running routine. I am looking forward to my run out there again on Aug. 27!
August will be the month of more changes, including our marathon training programs. Kicking off on August 9 with a time trial and orientation is our very own SMART and SMART Lite! These FREE marathon and half-marathon training programs are redesigned by fellow Strider Heather Thompson. For SMART vets, Heather has several changes in the program, so be sure to attend the orientation. For SMART virgins, be prepared for a tough but rewarding program. By following this workout schedule, you will run a strong marathon in January. For those who are particularly fond of the half marathon, such as myself, we now have a dedicated SMART Lite program. The top weekly mileage for SMART Lite will be 32 miles, so it is perfect for 1st timers, old timers, and those who just love the half. The SMART Lite program will begin at the same time as the SMART program and will spend the first 5 weeks building a base. To view schedules and to fill out your information sheet for Heather, please click here. For more information on SMART and SMART Lite, please click here. We will see you on August 9!
I’m looking forward to seeing all of you at our formal meeting on August 12, 7:00 p.m. at The New York Pizzeria downtown. This meeting will be a dedicated planning session for the Half Marathon and will focus on how you can volunteer for the Koala/Luke’s Houston Half Marathon on October 26th. Our new race directors, Stacy Stepler and Lisa Ruthven will be calling on all Striders to help in the preparation as well as the race itself. This event is the reason why we are able to reap so many benefits each year, so please join us to find out what you can do to help keep the Striders the best club around. Just think, FREE pizza and a chance to do something for the community!
If you haven’t marked your calendars yet, be sure to do so for the formal meeting on November 11, 2008 at the Heights Fire House. Our distinguished speaker this year will be Olympic Runner and Motivational Speaker, Suzy Favor Hamilton. That evening, Suzy will be sharing her story as a runner, along with training and motivation tips for all. Just in time, as we will be in prime racing months and marathon training. Suzy is a 7-time US National Champion, a 3-time Olympian, and she has nine NCAA titles under her belt. She has made special accommodations for us so we need to give her a huge Strider welcome! To learn more about Suzy, check out her website.
If you enjoy racing in the heat of Houston’s summer, please check the race calendar for races in August.
As I sign off, please remember that I run at Memorial Park on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Come out and join me!
Happy Running!
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The Striders continue to get our evening group run fix! All Houston Striders, their guests, and anybody who turns up are invited to join the SMART Club Runs.
