"The race is not always to the swift Fall 2009 but to those who keep on running." Jack Lippincott & Arlen R. Isham On a race day morning, the 2009 Chevron THE VIATOR VET - JACK L. Houston Marathon set new records in the 37thAnother running. Weather Record was in the mid 50’s with a light west breeze and clearing skies after some night rain showers. Well, boys and girls, our marathon has finally hit the “big time.” Just like Chicago, New York, and Boston - Houston now finds that it has many more The combined marathon and half folks who want to be part of our event than the organizers are willing to allow marathon race 18,604 registrants. into it. The new, larger limit is still primarily due to safety issues; and, only The marathon sold out by July 7, 2008. after the race is over can we know whether the additional 4,000 entrants will Some veterans were still surprised and be able to safely enjoy all of the special features of race day (and race had to work to get into the race. weekend) that we have come to know and love. Will the Expo now be like some kind of body-to-body Mardi Gras experience? Can the bag-check at the The marathon started 5,737 and 5,349 George R. Brown handle 22,000 folks’ belongings, and still let them get out finished. The Half marathon started to the starting line on time? What about the HEB feeding frenzy after the 8,700 and 8,334 finished. The 5 K finish? I don’t want to faint from hunger in a long line, while trying not to started 2,843 and 2,821 finished. collapse on my wobbly, hurting legs… Deriba Merga, Ethiopia, broke a 20 year Anyway; the sellouts over the last several years - at first only hours before the old record with his time of 2:07:52. race; then days before; and finally, last year, a couple of months before - have Teyba Erkesso, Ethiopia, broke the apparently created a sort of cachet to the Chevron Houston Marathon that women’s record and won the women's’ ultimately reached critical mass. People do not want to miss out on race with her time of 2:24:18. something that is seen as very “exclusive.” The CHM now has that reputation attached to it which, for good or ill, will probably never go away. Our half- Wilmer Bustillos won the Men’s master marathon sold out during July in less than a day; and, the marathon itself was with a time of 2:32:36. filled in just a few days. Next year, they may have to institute some sort of lottery system before the entry process, both to insure fairness, and to avoid Heidrun Diakourmopoulos won the (Continued on page 7) women’s master race in 2:59:00. Meb Keflezighl won the half marathon in Houston Marathon Veterans with a very fast time with a 1:01:25. January 18, 2009 (Continued on page 7) PAST & FUTURE January, 2001 Fastest 2001 Houston Veterans Race Calendar Marathon time The 29th annual Houston Marathon 20 + year group was lead by Clent 09-10 Houston Mar. kick off party with Compaq as this years sponsor. Mericle at an impressive 2:53:59. Clent 10-03 Race for the Cure 5 K There were more than 5,300 was also first the Men’s age 45-49 10-10 10 Miles for Texas participants with runners from 45 bracket. 10-11 Chicago Marathon states and many different countries. 10-17 Huntsville 1/2 Marathon 20 Year group was lead by Jim Healy at 10-17 Palo Duro Canyon 50 Miler/ 50 K Men’s winner was Christopher Ciamarra 4:04:38. 10-18 Tri Andy's Tri 300s/10mb/3mr at 2:29:27 after driving for two days 10-25 Warm Up Series Half Marathon from Pittsburgh and picking up his 15 Year group was lead by Kenneth 10-25 Marine Corps Marathon packet with one hour to spare. Ruane at 3:10:13. 11-01 New York Marathon 11-07 Rocky Raccoon 50 K/25 K Women's winner was Stacie Alboucrek, 10 Year group was lead by Kerry Staats 11-08 Ironstar Tri 1.2ms/59mb/13 mr Ft Lauderdale, Florida at 2:43:41. at 3:04:02. 11-08 Warm Up Series 25 K 11-15 San Antonio Marathon Men’s master winner was John Zuilhof Compaq provided new amazing 12-13 Warm Up Series 30 K with a time of 2:41:28. technology for this race 12-13 Honolulu Marathon 12-13 Dallas Marathon Women’s master winner was Miyo Much controversy about the 5:30 time 01-01 Texas Marathon 2010 Chun with a time of 3:10:32. limit as runners want the race time 01-10 Walt Disney Marathon 2010 extended. 01-17 Houston Marathon 2010 The last official Runner was at about 02-06 Rocky Raccoon 50 M / 100 M 5:32:31, placed at 3,982. NO MORE MAILING 02-13 Surfside Marathon 2010 02-14 Austin Marathon 2010 The Marathon had Pacers provided by OUT OF VETERANS 02-27 Cowtown Ft. Worth Mar. 2010 the veterans group for the fourth time in 02-27 Conoco 10K history. NEWSLETTERS 02-28 New Orleans Marathon 2010 SEE MARATHON 03-6/7 Texas Independence Relay There were 238 active veterans, 82 03- Bayou City 10K streaking. WEBSITE FOR THEM 05-15 Beach to Bay Relay Pacers Needed Upcoming Events We will need 2 Veterans Marathon Predictor Pacers at each time for the We will all miss Texas Trails in Take your 25 K time and 2010 Houston Marathon. December if they do not get a new multiply by 1.9. sponsor. Entry’s Refunded. Take your 10 mile time and Veterans, why not get a team together to Contact Arlen Isham do the Texas Independence Relay on multiply by 2.9. March 6 and 7. Several of you already 281-391-9019 are on teams, but a couple veterans www.runnersworld.com/ teams to compete with each other would www.harra.org/ INFORMATION CHANGES be great. www.runningnetwork.com/ www.rrca.org/ Address, Telephone Ski with Arlen Isham after the Houston www.runnertriathletenews.com/ "E" Mail, Etc. Marathon, Jan. 30 to Feb. 6, 2010, Ski 6 resorts in six day in Utah. www.50statesmarathonclub.com/ 281-391-9019 [email protected] Summit 14,000 foot mountains in Send to Arlen Isham Colorado with Arlen, July 24 to July 31, 25114 Derbybrook Ct. 2010. Katy, TX. 77494 Page 2 VETERANS PACE TEAM TO LEAD This year we will again be carrying red, Pace Team Stories 2010 HOUSTON MARATHON white, and blue balloons. You can pass 10th Year the balloons around to give the honor of helping leading your group to other Pace Team Leader Winners people some of the time. Who leads the Veteran’s Pacer King—John Yoder, 3 I look forward to hearing from you later Pace Team? this year if you are interested in leading seconds under his goal of 3:00 The groups are led by the Houston a particular time. with a 2:59:57 Marathon Veterans, both men & women with years experience running the HP I am extending the challenge early to be Team Winner was the 4:30 Houston Marathon. They’ll provide the closest to your goal and not go over. team of Kathryn White, Steve In addition, we hope our team will be runners with a unique opportunity to Murray, & Andrea Zepeda with interact face-to-face with Veteran’s more successful in being at least about 2 personnel as well as to experience the minutes around your goal, even if you go finish times of 4:29:37, 4:29:38 camaraderie of a team. The Veteran’s over. & 4:29:40. team leaders make sure everyone runs at the right pace and has a good time. This is very important. If you decide to 2009 Houston Marathon Pacer be a Pacer, you need to be committed to They’ll be each team’s personal coach, Stories cheerleader, and guru for the day. Some running very close to your predicted chant, some sing, and some may struggle pace. That means you almost have to cut your time from 15 minutes to 30 John Yoder -3:00 - I’ve come to realize just like you. But all of them are something, as I’ve grown older. My body experienced marathoners, who are minutes slower than you could do by not just can’t take a beating and recover as running Houston to help the members of pacing. quickly as it used to. In the past few years, the team achieve their goal time. I’ve decided to forgo “racing” three As I noticed from other Pace teams marathons a year and stick with racing two. Are we going to go out right around the nation and at Houston in I’ve also learned that for some reason, I on pace? 2007, the Pacers finished within 2 to 4 never do well on my own turf’s marathon, minutes of their predicted time. That the Chevron Houston Marathon. I’m always More or less. Some pacers go out a means if you lose your group, you stay pitifully out of shape in January no matter little slower the first half of the race and at your pace and pick up people later in how much I try not to be.