The 2nd Annual Texas Independence Relay was held on March 7 and 8 and several Huntsville runners participated to help celebrate Texas Independence Day. This is a 203.2-mile relay race from Gonzalez to the San Jacinto Monument. It traces the battle for Texas independence, ending at the site of General Sam Houston’s defeat of General Santa Anna.
A total of 150 teams, mostly from 8 to 12 runners each, finished the race. One team included Governor Rick Perry. Teams started with cannon fire at intervals from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7. Each team ran as a group for little over a mile around Gonzales. Then, team members took turns to complete the 40 legs required to reach the San Jacinto Monument.
Individual legs ranged from 2.3 to 8.8 miles. The towns along the course included Shiner, Moulton, Flatonia, Columbus, Wallis, Simonton, Fulshear, Houston and LaPorte.
Huntsville runners included Adrienne Langelier, an elite runner, who was the 15th place female in the Houston Marathon in January, Norman Langwell, president of the Seven Hills Running Club, Katy Lampson, Natali Davis, a Sam Houston State University student from Gonzalez and Ken Johnson. They ran as part of a 11-member team with other runners from Spring, The Woodlands, Irving and Lufkin.
The team finished in 32 hours, 14 minutes and 5 seconds. While they finished in 115th place of 150 teams, they report that they had a great time.
Basically, runners spend the weekend in a van with virtually no sleep, irregular meals and other sweaty runners. Runners faced strong winds, heat and humidity and night runs along the highway. Langelier says, “I was thinking at several junctures how well we can actually perform, given we’ve gotten no sleep, questionable nutrition, and a van seat for a bed — but we do. I think the spirit trumps fatigue under these circumstances.” Lampson, who ran the race last year, says, “It’s sweaty, smelly and exhausting, but hands down, my best race experience. I can’t wait until next year!”
Individual results, in total miles run and time:
Katy Lampson, 33, 18.07 miles, 3:28:30
Ken Johnson, 67, 18.20 miles in 3:28:38
Natali Davis, 19, 18.51 miles in 3:24:59
Norman Langwell, 37, 21:01 miles in 4:07:25
Adrienne Langelier, 26, 21.11 miles in 2:32:12
Other race results:
Sunday, Seabrook Marathon (26.2 miles)
Ken Johnson, 67, 5:50:15
Upcoming races:
March 21 - Ronald Run for a Reason, 5K (3.1 miles) and 1-Mile Run or Walk, 8 a.m., Health & Kinesiology Center, SHSU campus.
March 29 - Run the Trails. 3.5 mile non-competitive run or walk on the trails at Huntsville State Park. 2 p.m. at the Nature Center.
To obtain more information on these races, visit the Seven Hills Running Club Web site at http://www.7hills.us and click on Race Schedule.
Running Shorts
March 17, 2009
Running the Texas Independence Relay
- Running Shorts
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Running: a good sport for the whole family
A family that runs together, stays in better physical condition together.
Running is one of those sports that the whole family can participate in. Family members can support and encourage each other and all reap the benefits the sport has to offer. -
Running hills is actually good for you
Huntsville has plenty of hills. That can be good or bad, depending on your perspective. As runners, we complain about the hills and many of us try to avoid them when we are out on our training runs.
- Plenty of Huntsville runners in Houston races
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Now is the time to start making running resolutions
It’s January. We ate too much over the holidays and know that we need to lose that extra weight and improve our health. This should start with healthy eating and an exercise program. Above all else, quit smoking and using other tobacco products.
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A few helpful tips for safer running during the winter
With fewer daylight hours during the winter months, many of us have to change our running habits and schedule. If work and/or school forces you to run in the dark, here are some tips to make your runs safer:
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Seven Hills Running Club elects new officers
The Seven Hills Running Club of Huntsville elected new officers for 2009-2010 at a recent meeting.
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Downhill Dash to precede Christmas Parade
Some of you may remember the Charity Mile, a one-mile race down the Huntsville Christmas Parade route just before the start of the parade.
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Give your body enough fuel for the long run ahead
Now that cooler weather is here, many of us are doing longer training runs and longer races. As we increase our distance, it is important that we fuel our bodies accordingly.
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Several runners on hand for Huntsville Half Marathon
Nearly 500 runners and walkers from 60 different cities and several states were in Huntsville for the 31st Hillcrest Huntsville Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk on Saturday.
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Deadline quickly approaching for Hillcrest Huntsville Half Marathon
The early entry deadline for the Hillcrest Huntsville Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk is Saturday. The entry fees go up after that.
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