You can take the boy out of Texas (or the disco) but you can’t take Texas (or the disco) out of the boy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m 99% Nebraskan now. But this past weekend was a personal love fest of Texas sized proportion.
While wandering the massive expo I saw several people wearing “Run For The Arts” long sleeve t-s. When I would introduce myself they reminded me that it was their favorite race in Texas, and it has been 12 years now since it was last held. The expo is also the place to catch up with so many of my old friends/competitors/adversaries/colleagues. Reminisces of sub 34:00 10Ks (lucky to get you a top 20 finish by the way), epic marathon battles, relays run, races put on, beer consumed. And finding out who has passed, whose body has failed them- walking with a cane and doing water aerobics- or just fortunate enough to be still running even if it means a relative pedestrian pace compared to our glory days. And some still not slowing down, those are the marvels of our sport.
Reveling with my oldest and best buddies. Joel & Anita Moyer (RDs for the infamous Baytown Heatwave) where I learned the ropes of race directing. John Conley (RD Austin Marathon), who allowed me to shadow him in 1994 at his Sundown Classic 10K, my first introduction with a full international field, this led to the inaugural 1995 Run For The Arts. Cassandra Henkiel, winner of the first RFTA, Carmen Troncoso, a multiple time winner of the same race. Cassie is now a top 10 masters runner in the US, Carmen is destroying the 50+ ranks. Doug Storey, former elite athlete coordinator for the Houston Marathon and one of my fiercest rivals on the roads back in the 80s. Arturo Linaldi, perhaps the top elite agent in all of South America. Roger Boak, who has run 29 consecutive Houston Marathons. Keith & Kevin Hanson, who have been showing me the ropes of club administration since our trip to Vera Cruz, Mexico in 2000. We’ve made many international trips together, Kevin and I shared a cabin in Chiba Japan for a week, Keith and I dined at the famous Copa Cabana hotel in Rio de Janeiro. And they’ve always been gracious to share what makes the Hansons tick, what to look for in athletes as well as sponsors. Exchanging pleasantries with many of my former USATF national staff colleagues, not all of them are the turds they are made out to be.
The fact that Houston pulled off a first makes me proud. Hosting both the Men & Women on the same course on the same day. My old buddies Brant Kotch and Steven Karpas, a tip of the 10 gallon hat to both of you and the incredible staff you put together. Worth reminding you that they also put on the Houston Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K the very next day. For those that doubted Houston or its course, consider this:
50 sub 2:20:00 performances by the men, the most since 1984. The first time 4 men under 2:10:00 in a Trials race.
19 personal records set by:
Meb Keflezighi, 2:09:08
Dathan Ritzenhein, 2:09:55
Fernando Cabada, 2:11:53
James Carney, 2:12:23
Josh Cox, 2:13:50
Mike Morgan, 2:14:22**
Max King, 2:14:36
Michael Reneau, 2:14:37
Drew Polley, 2:14:58
Daniel Tapia, 2:15:28
Craig Leon, 2:15:42
Keith Bechtol, 2:16:02
Zachary Hine, 2:16:40
Allen Wagner, 2:17:16**
Adam MacDowell, 2:17:27
Donovan Fellow, 2:17:30
Chris Erichsen, 2:17:52
Jeff Jonaitis, 2:17:56
Josh Eberly, 2:18:35
The women had 5 under the 2:30:00 mark, another Trials first. The most sub 2:40:00 (41!), and an incredible 35 personal bests set including Shalane Flanagan‘s winning 2:25:38. 50 year old Linda Somers Smith set a new 50-54 age group national record with her 2:37:36, good for 28th overall.
Old buddy Fernando Cabada, Linda, and I share a shot of Don Julio celebrating his 7th overall finish. We would do another to toast his shiny new pr of 2:11:53!
Josh Cox also ran a pr of 2:13:50. Josh was once on The Bachelor but his real claim to studly fame are his wheels. Is Linda really blushing?
Some final thoughts manana….
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