Friday, August 22, 2008

USA Fit Marathon and Half Marathon Announced

USA Fit, a HARRA-affiliated club, announced today the inaugural USA Fit Marathon and Half Marathon, which will jointly be sponsored by Luke's Locker and Koala Health & Wellness Centers, for Sunday, January 11, 2009 - a week prior to the Chevron Houston Marathon.

The USA Fit Marathon and Half Marathon will begin at 7:00 a.m. in Terry Hershey Park at 15200 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. Proceeds will benefit "Beyond the Finish Line, Inc."

Only 500 spaces are available for this special extended finish time race. USA Fit hopes, in the future, to be able to expand the entries for this race significantly, but says that this year they are mainly trying to accommodate those who either did not get into the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon, or those who cannot meet those events' respective 6-hour and 4-hour time limits for the marathon and half marathon.

The USA FIT Marathon's time limit will be eight (8) hours and a professionally managed race on certified 26.2 mile and 13.1 mile courses. There will be finisher's medals and t-shirts.

The course, which will be an "out and back" course that will provide lots of interaction between the participants, will be fully supported with fluids/aid stations, medical personnel, race numbers and official timing. USA Fit added that the atmosphere though will be informal and non-competitive. A two-wave start process is likely.

The entry fee for the marathon is $60 and $50 for the half marathon. Late registration begins after October 31, 2008, if all 500 slots are not filled by then, and will increase $15 for each event. Luke's Locker will host packet pickup at its stores (dates and times to be determined) in Houston, Katy and The Woodlands. USA Fit stated that the minimum age for the race will be 18 and there will be no baby joggers, strollers, or pets. There will be a bag check for participants.

The race website, http://www.usafitmarathon.com/, is to be available shortly, USA Fit announced, and will contain all race details. However, registration is open today here.

Posted by VP, Communications at 4:09 PM - Permalink - 0 comments

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Al Lawrence's Cofer Nabs 10th Leadville Trail 100

A year ago, the Al Lawrence Running Club's Chuck Cofer took advantage of "unseasonably moderate weather" to post a new personal record as he completed his ninth Leadville Trail 100 Miler in 23 hours, 14 minutes and 38 seconds.

This past Saturday and Sunday, the weather wasn't so kind -- with temperatures never pushing higher than 50 degrees over 10,000 feet above sea level.

However, it didn't deter the 57-year-old Cofer from posting an 18th place overall finish (and second in his age group) in 23:31:51 -- his second best time ever -- to become the 42nd individual in the 26-year history of the race to finish it 10 or more times.

For the second year in a row, Cofer, who was featured in the November 2007 edition of Footprints, set a new single-age mark as he lowered the 57-year-old record by 30 minutes and 22 seconds from Ted Bidwell's finish a year ago.

He also is now the owner of the second and third best 55-59 age group times in the event's history.

Posted by VP, Communications at 6:53 PM - Permalink - 0 comments

Memorial Hermann, CHM Announces Training Seminars

Let the experts in human performance from Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine, Kenyan Way and the Chevron Houston Marathon coach you on how to improve your endurance to get the most out of your performance. Whether you are running the EP 5K, Aramco Half Marathon or the Marathon -- for the first time or as an experienced runner -- these seminars will provide you with inside tips and techniques from the industry experts to boost efficiency in your performance while training.


Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to Noon
Training at the Correct Intensity
Learn how to train at the correct pace and intensity; about long runs, tempo runs, recovery runs, and intervals; and when to incorporate interval, fartlek and tempo training methods to increase your speed.

Running Techniques & Mechanics
There is an ideal style of running that helps reduce injuries and improves economy and efficiency -- The Wade Running Technique. Learn the methodology, and how to apply his technique to your run.

Sean Wade, 1996 Olympic Marathoner, 2003 Houston Marathon Winner & 2006 Masters Runner of the Year, is speaking on both topics.

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Avoiding Hydration Pitfalls: How to Customize Your Hydration Plan
John Cianca, M.D., medical director for the Chevron Houston Marathon

Understand how to ensure optimal hydration, recognizing the differences of hydrating too much versus too little and the dangers associated with both.

Training Your Stomach for the Marathon
Roberta Anding, M.D., sports dietitian for the Roger Clemens Institute

Learn how to "train your gut" for your best performance. Topics will include: ramping up your carbs, limiting fiber, avoiding common stimulants and the proper use of gels, goos and sports drinks.

The seminars are FREE. Space is limited. Call (713) 222-2273 to register today.

Posted by VP, Communications at 10:50 AM - Permalink - 0 comments

Monday, August 18, 2008

Tour de Art Run set for Friday, September 19

Posted by VP, Communications at 6:19 PM - Permalink - 0 comments

Coming in September's Footprints

Part of the annual HARRA membership includes a membership year subscription to Inside Texas Running, which contains our 10-times-a-year newsletter, "Footprints".

So what do you have to look forward to in Footprints this month?

1. Dr. Bob Hoekman's second column in a three-part series about Coffee and Health.
2. Feature on the Houston Striders' John Hill, who won the 2008 Chevron Houston Marathon Men's Masters title.
3. Luis Armenteros' first-hand account of his workout this August with Olympians Galen Rupp and Kara Goucher.
4. A question and answer with one of the new co-directors of Power In Motion.
5. Club reports or notes from or on 17 of HARRA's 24 affiliated clubs.

In those club reports, you'll learn who:

1. Ran in San Diego as a "Hunka hunka running love"!
2. Was judged as having the ugliest feet
3. Went where on their summer running vacation
4. Is admired for contributions to their club and the running community at large
5. Surprisingly showed up to race in Clear Lake this summer

All coming in the September issue of HARRA's Footprints!

Posted by VP, Communications at 4:15 PM - Permalink - 0 comments

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Braden, Courtright finish Pikes Peak Ascent, Marathon

The Woodlands Running Club's Jim Braden has done the hard stuff before.

With eleven (11) Ironmans and two Western States Endurance Run finishes to his credit, Saturday's 7,815 foot climb to the summit of Pikes Peak might have been the most difficult of his eight career finishes.

Braden, who will turn 73 on August 31, made the 13-mile Ascent in four hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds (4:08:37).

He won his age group by a sheer two minutes and finished before the race was called off early due to weather at the Summit being in the 30s with "fog, sleet, grapple and wind."

It was Braden's first Ascent in six years after tuning up last month with a 14.5-mile Vail Half Marathon finish (in 2:54:31) that included approximately 4,000 feet of climbing with elevations ranging from 8,200 feet to a high point of 11,653 feet.

Braden's account will be available in The Woodlands Running Club's September edition of "Deer Tracks" at http://www.thewoodlandsrunningclub.org/.

Houston Masters Sports Association's Clark Courtright, 48, meanwhile hasn't met a race that he hasn't enjoyed.

A day after Braden's climb to the top of Pikes Peak, Courtright crested the Summit in 5:09:20 before making the descent in 4:11:16 to post a 9:20:36 marathon finish on Sunday.

He was one of 631 runners who finished what is considered to be the toughest marathons in the nation.

Posted by VP, Communications at 11:59 PM - Permalink - 0 comments

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Berglunds Featured in Chronicle's Running Notebook

HARRA and Houston Striders members Ron and Karen Berglund, of Kingwood, were featured earlier today in Roberta MacInnis' Running Notebook column in the Houston Chronicle.

Please read the story here.

Posted by VP, Communications at 11:59 PM - Permalink - 0 comments