Celebrating your good work today, no matter the milieu or tableau. Mine just happens to have been running for the last 30 years. Athlete, coach, administrator, roughly in that order. But also, Teammate, mate, good mate.
I founded my very first running club in 1984, The Gulf Coast Wind Breakers. Fleet of foot, frequency of flatulence. Based out of La Porte, Texas, we eventually grew to 100 strong. In Joliet, IL from 1990-1992 and a member of the Prairie State Roadrunners. Returned to Houston and founded the Brazosport Area Road Runners Association (BARRA). BARRA still exists today and while the membership has declined from the 100+ of our heyday, the Good Work still continues in the races they conduct for the community. And now Team Nebraska from 2001-present.
Terlingua Track Club. The picture below is at the 1993 Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) Road Relay. I’m pretty easily spotted, haven’t really changed much have I? Always proud to wear the rabbit on my chest, I’ve still got my singlet as a treasure. Thanks to my good buddy Doug Storey (fourth from left, 2nd row, with blue headband) for sending this along yesterday. Brings back a ton of great memories of friends and competitions. And like Team Nebraska, you leave as a member in good standing and you are a mate for life.
Much or most of what I’ve done here in Nebraska stems from my combined experience from these other clubs I’ve been affiliated with. The similarity between each of them is that someone cared enough to do the Good Work necessary to create something special for their running community. So today, if you have that passion and vision and drive to serve your own slice of Nebraska’s running population, whether as a coach or administrator or a volunteer, I’ll be raising a pint later to toast you. I shouldn’t be the only one.
Alex Galbraith (2nd from right, front row) was the president of Terlinga Track Club for many years. He was also instrumental in helping me to get BARRA recognized as a top club in the Houston area.
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