7hills.us



In Case You Missed It….

The quarterly club meeting was held on Thursday, January 15th at the new fire station on Veteran’s Memorial. Twenty-seven (27) members attended the potluck dinner. Fun, food and fellowship were enjoyed by all who attended. A short meeting was held regarding the following topics:

• Treasurer’s Report by True Cousin – the club’s 2008 ending balance is $2,819.90.

• SHRC joined the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA).

• Mark your calendars!! The Huntsville Half Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, October 17th. Committees were formed with the following members agreeing to assist:

Start/Finish

Aid Station Millie Langwell

Course Phillip Clark

Refreshments Vinessa Mundorff

Omega Delta Phi member, Michael Deane agreed to have his fraternity assist as needed.

• After several years of absence, the Charity Mile will be held in conjunction with the Lions Club Christmas Parade. Date, time, and details will be finalized at a later date.

• Volunteers are still needed for the Rocky Racoon aid station, on Saturday, Febuary 7th. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Norman Langwell at normanlangwelljr@.

Membership Update

The SHRC welcomes new members: Misty Baugh, Ashley Biscamp, Karen Fowler, Andie Ho, Douglas/Ginger/Shelby/Hunter Jaeger, Robin Kaitschuck, Vinessa Mundorff, Diane Rosales, and Charlotte Tomkavits.

Membership renewals include: Phillip Clark, True/Esther/Keanu Cousins, Ron and Mary Ann Davis, Michael Deane, Hans Jaeger, Sara Lange, Norman/Millie/ Colton/Chantel/Deanna Langwell, Felix Montelongo, Heidi Morse, Chris Wilson, and Lavonne Zaiontz.

Just a Friendly Reminder….

All race results should be emailed to zaiontz@. This will enable us to share your finish times in the monthly newsletter, as well as Ken’s “Running Shorts” column in The Huntsville Item.

Visit Seven Hills on the Web at Facebook

By Jon Walk

Facebook.  No, it isn’t one of those green boxes down the left-hand side of our club website and it also isn’t the name of the latest half marathon that I may happen to be running!

 It is, however, a very popular (and growing) social networking utility.

The Seven Hills Running Club does have a group set up for the Club on Facebook and currently, there are nine of our club members that have added the club as a “group” that they belong to.

 

How does this benefit us?

 

It gives us a completely different avenue to promote our club and its events -- and people do not necessarily have to be a member of Seven Hills Running Club to join.  (But then again, who wouldn’t join at 1985 prices?  You certainly can’t get gas at the same price from that era.)

 

When time comes for the Huntsville Half Marathon and 5K in mid-October, we’ll be able to establish an “event”, promote it, extend invites to runners on Facebook – and perhaps introduce more runners to the great, “out of the big city” half marathon that we all take a vested interest in. 

 

On the group’s Discussion Board, we can maintain a listing of every runner in the club that completed a marathon or half marathon this year – in separate entries - and have a cumulative list that grows through the year.

 

Basically, we can use Facebook to do a lot of neat, cool things and stay connected to fellow club members on a more regular basis.

 

You’re thinking that this is the (ha!) evil that is MySpace.  Seriously, it isn’t MySpace, but it is organized much, much better and is more geared toward adults.

 

If you’re inclined, Facebook is found at and once you join search for a club, put in “Seven Hills Running Club” and you’ll find us there.

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My Houston Marathon Experience

By Adrienne Langelier

After completing my first marathon just under a year ago, I, like many other runners, found myself hungry for more. Whether it is just to improve or to run an enjoyable course, I chose Houston to be the venue for my second go-round with this distance. I am always looking to drop my times, so a nice flat, fast course such as Houston was what I was looking for. After months of putting in 50-plus mile weeks, needless to say I was ready as I ever would be to tackle the 26.2 once again. What I got was more than I could have hoped for.

I also was honored to have a unique experience in being invited as a Local Elite for this race after meeting the qualifying standard at December’s Sugar Land 30k. This would allow me to basically rub elbows with some of the best runners in the country, or more so, the world for a weekend. And I thought receiving the invite itself was exciting…

I received my itinerary about a week prior to the race. It included cool perks such as dinners, a luncheon, a “special area” in the GRB, and an escort to the starting line. I recall feeling a bit like a star struck little girl sitting at Friday’s elite luncheon watching the likes of Colleen De Reuck, Brian Sell, and last year’s winner David Cheryot (just to name a few) making their way through the buffet line-too cool! Later that day after I picked up my packet I rode the elevator and had a brief exchange with the soon-to-be new course record holder and Olympic marathoner Deriba Merga. I think I asked him a dumb question along the lines about his readiness for Sunday-and apparently he was! After packet pickup I hit the expo for a couple hours and went over my race plan for the marathon. I was shooting for anywhere in the ballpark of 2:58 to 3:15. For some reason, a time of 3:05 became the expectation. All the while, my nerves were slowly beginning to take hold. I wanted to do well.

After a Saturday that seemed to take forever and a near-sleepless night, it was Marathon morning at last. I had several family members, all sporting shirts reading “Psych Ward” (I guess homage to my profession) making the early trip downtown with me. It was great having all the support of my family and club members. We arrived at the Convention center before 6 AM, as I was to be escorted to warm up at the start line at 6:20. Prior to that, my mother and I hung out in the Elite area as I stretched and tried to compose myself. Soon enough, my wave was called and I was on the verge of tears as I hugged my mom and told her I would see her in about three hours.

After warming up with the “giants” it was time to toe the line, and just like that, we were off. I kept reminding myself to stay on pace and not go out too hard (which has been an issue in my racing historically), and I halfway succeeded in doing so running a first split only 10 seconds faster than goal pace, which was not damaging to my performance. After the first few miles on through Quitman, I began to hit my groove and feel good. Each mile split was within one or two seconds of the previous, ranging from 6:50 to 6:56 for nearly the first half. My goal was to put in 6:55 to 7-minute miles. I could hear bands playing and see people colorful costumes as we turned down Studemont, but I did not take much in. The nerves were nearly gone I was more focused than I have ever been in a race-but that did not mean that I was not having fun. I was enjoying the rhythm that had come and happy to hitting my splits. The warmer weather did not seem to be a factor in my performance, from what I could tell.

I did encounter one mishap just after mile 9 when my finger slipped on my watch. I was not able to recover the race clock and had to start it over and use some “mental math” in some spots. Frustrating, but do-able. Soon enough, I arrived at miles 16 and 17 in the Galleria area; I kept wondering “how am I here already”? At this point I began to start passing some people, which provided an extra confidence boost. I recall telling myself: “you’re doing great, don’t change a thing about this race”. I did my best to honor that. After running through Memorial Park and the beginning of “the real race” at mile 20-plus I gained some momentum as I caught up with some of the pack that was originally ahead of me. It was down here that I began to see friendly faces from my TIR team and running clubs. While I still felt strong overall, I began to feel some fatigue-but I kept smiling. Bring on Allen Parkway!

As I made my way down probably one of the most dreaded points in the course, “God bless Huntsville” went through my mind. The elevation on this street felt like nothing compared to those “seven hills” I run on daily. I spotted many club mates on this portion cheering us on. Soon enough, and just as my legs began to abruptly double in weight, I ran through mile 25. Even though I was tiring and my pace fading a few seconds, excitement was building. I was about to beat my previous PR by a ton! All I had to do was hold on a little longer….

Right before the home stretch I could hear the crowd roaring. I was getting more tired by the minute, but got a little boost from the noise. A few minutes later, after passing my family and friends, I was there. As I crossed the finish line I read the clock and raised my arm skyward-3:05:24! I was as pumped as I was exhausted. While my goal of breaking 3:00 still eludes me, I nevertheless was thrilled. I went in, ran alongside (more like behind) some of the best and put together a sound, strong race, shaving 31 minutes off my previous time. This was also good for 5th in my age group, 15th for my gender and 152nd overall. No wall or freaky fog like the last time. I went in, rehydrated (I did drop a considerable amount of weight) found my family, and got a much-needed massage and meal. What a weekend! I admit I am sad that it is over. Everything I got to participate in and experience Friday through Sunday was awesome. The race committee did a great job, as everything seemed to run smoothly. This was my first Houston Marathon, and it likely won’t be my last, and I’m still smiling about it.

Influencing Others

By Ken Johnson

I run to stay healthy and be here for my wife and kids. I was in the Army for 22 and a half years and we always had to run. However, we never had to run more than two miles, which was the length of the run that was part of the PT Test. So, I developed a mental limit of two miles and became convinced that it was not humanly possible to run farther than that. I was stationed at Fort Hood in 1983 as a lieutenant colonel. Our division commander, a two-star general and a marathoner, told the senior officers in the division that after the next month’s staff meeting that he was going to take us out on a bus four miles and make us run back to the conference room. My God, four miles! That forced me out of my two-mile shell. I trained and I ended up making the four-mile run. I suppose that you can call the general’s order, “influence,” but in any case it got me going and I have not looked back since.

I never thought that my running or dedication to the sport would influence others. It has never been my intention, anyway. However, I have learned that runners influence others to take up the sport, more than we think. And, that’s good. It gives us one more reason to run.

Just over two years ago, I met Dave Nelson and his 15 year old daughter, Heather, from Houston at the Willis Wildkat 5K. He was wearing an old Huntsville Half Marathon T-shirt and that started the conversation. He had been training Heather and this was her first 5K. In the conversation, I mentioned my streak running and the U. S. Running Streak Association (USRSA). I never heard from them again until just over a year later. Dave sent me an email to tell me that they talked about streaking all the way home and decided to both start one that day. They had just completed a one-year streak and joined the USRSA. Since then, they both ran the 2008 Houston Marathon and the Sunmart 50K. At age 17, Heather is believed to be the youngest female to ever complete Sunmart. After two years, they still have their streak going and Heather is the youngest runner on the national streak list.

A few days ago, I received this email from Bridgette Collins, who worked for me about 15 years ago. I remember her well, but never could get her to go running.

Hi Ken,

You may not remember me (Bridgette Collins), but I was a correctional recruiter for you in Huntsville (TDCJ) a few years ago (probably around 1992 – 1993). I eventually relocated to Dallas and now I’m an Assistant HR Director for Dallas County.

Whenever I have to write a piece about how I became interested in running you always come to mind. I remembered that you had written a book, so I finally decided to google you to “thank you”. I’ve been a runner for well over 10 yrs. And, in my writings, I always cite a previous supervisor as the person responsible for introducing me to the sport during a conversation. That person is you. I didn’t just stop with the running, though. I became a personal trainer, and created a fitness organization to help others embrace running, and consequently have written two books. Both books are novels focused on the consequences of unhealthy lifestyle habits.

I’m sure through the years you’ve impacted thousands of lives; now you can add one more.

Thank you for planting a seed that has blessed me to bless others....

Bridgette L. Collins, fitness coach and author of

Imagine Living Healthier and Destined to Live Healthier



bridgettelcollins

“Discover the Power of a Lifestyle Makeover”

MAC Fitness

P.O. Box 542671

Grand Prairie, Texas 75054-2671

972-768-3488

I looked at Bridgette’s web sites and note that she runs regularly and has completed four marathons. I am humbled by the thought that I may have had something to do with getting her started. What is even more significant is the fact that she is, through her books and lectures, influencing many others and changing their lives.

You do not need to go down the potato chip aisle at Wal-Mart to realize that some people need to improve their health. As runners, who already know the benefits of living a healthy life style, we need to do everything we can to influence others to run and stay healthy.

Race Results

New Years Day Resolution Run, Huntsville, January 1

5K

Keanu Cousins 29:42

Ron Davis 30:47

Lavonne Zaiontz 30:58

Jan Parks 33:55

True Cousins 37:41

Ben Harvie 39:10

(started 16 minutes late)

Mary Ann Davis 39:27

1-Mile

Karen Fowler 23:40

Marilynn Johnson 23:40

Pam Smithwick 37:57

(started 16 minutes late)

Texas Marathon, Kingwood, January 1

Norman Langwell 4:35:26

Curtis Barton 4:50:04

Edwin Quarles 4:50:05

Jon Walk 5:43:23

Ken Johnson 6:06:58

First Light Half Marathon, Mobile, Alabama, January 11

Jon Walk 2:14:21

USAFit Marathon, Houston, January 11

John and Julie Loftus 7:18:24

Disney Marathon, Orlando, Florida, January 11

Mary Patterson 6:57:02

Mikki Novak 7:05:47

Houston Marathon, Houston, January 18

Marathon

Adrienne Langelier 3:05:24

(16th female of 1,894) - PR

Ben Harvie 3:05:29

(1st AG)

Brian Zemlicka 3:20:54

J. C. Guzman 3:38:58

John Slate 3:54:18

Edwin Quarles 4:11:43

Holden Choi 5:06:14

Norman Langwell 5:20:51

Jon Walk 5:34:37

Half Marathon

Leslee Jo Cade 2:27:46

John Loftus 3:28:26

Julie Loftus 3:28:27

5K

Cherish Spencer 28:22

Colleen Spencer 34:28

Note: IF WE MISSED ANY RACE RESULTS, PLEASE EMAIL TO zaiontz3@, SO WE CAN GET THEM IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER.

January 18 - Houston Marathon and Half Marathon

January 24 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

January 31 - Frost Your Fanny 10K, 5K Run or Walk, 9 a.m., Health & Kinesiology Center, SHSU, Huntsville.  $1 entry.  Register at the starting point.

January 31 - Bill Crews Remission Run, 5K, 8 a.m., Conroe

January 31 - Spectacle Spectacular 10K, 5K, 8 a.m., Angleton

January 31 - Rockets Run, 5K, 7:30 a.m., Houston

January 31 - Texas Med 5K, 8:30 a.m., Houston

February 7 - Bridge Fest 5K, Kingwood

February 7 - Buffalo Wallow 6K Cross Country, 8 a.m., Houston

February 7 - Team Tommy 5K, 8 a.m., Panorama Village (between Willis and Conroe)

February 7 - Christopher's 5K, 8 a.m., Houston

February 7 - The Texas Half, Half Marathon, 8 a.m., Dallas

February 7 - Falcon Flight 5K, 8 a.m., Richmond

February 7 - Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile & 50 Mile, Huntsville State Park

February 14 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

February 14 - Surfside Beach Marathon, Surfside Beach (2nd leg of Texas Marathon Triple)

February 14 - East Texas Ultra Runners 50K, 25K, Tyler State Park, Tyler

February 15 - Austin Marathon, 7 a.m.

February 21 - Park to Park Run, 5 miles, 8 a.m., Houston

February 21 - Run Wild Half Marathon, 7:15 a.m., Houston

February 21 - Galloway Fun Run, 10K, 5K, 8 a.m., Kemah

February 21 - Steps for Students 5K, 8:30 a.m., Houston

February 21 - See Spot Run, 5K, 8:45 a.m., College Station

February 28 - Sweetheart 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk, 2 p.m., Bowers Stadium parking lot, SHSU campus, Huntsville.  $1 entry.  Register at the starting point.

February 28 - Rodeo Run, 10K, 5K, 9:45 a.m., Houston

February 28 - Cowtown Marathon, Fort Worth

February 28 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

March 1 - Armadillo Dash, Half Marathon, 5K, College Station

March 1 - El Paso Marathon, El Paso

March 1 - Miracle Match Marathon, Waco

March 7 - Run for the Ring, 5K, College Station

March 7 - Toughest N' Texas Trail Runs, 50K, 20 mile, 10 mile, Waco

March 7 - Spring Fever 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

March 7 - Stride4Stroke 5K, 9 a.m., Houston

March 7 & 8 - Texas Independence Relay, Gonzales to San Jacinto, 200 miles, 40 legs, 8-12 person teams.

March 14 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

March 14 - Bayou City Classic, 10K, 8 a.m., Houston

March 15 - Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, Seabrook (3rd leg of Texas Marathon Triple)

March 21 - Lookin' Good Run, Houston

March 28 - Tyler Azalea Run, 10K, 8 a.m., Tyler

March 28 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

March 28 - Run for Nurses, 5K, 8 a.m., Bryan

March 28 - Scope Run, 5K, Houston

March 29 - Run the Traills, 3.5 miles, 2 p.m., Huntsville State Park, Nature Center.  Non-competitive.  Finisher medals.  Register at the starting line.  $3 race entry, plus park entry.  Register at the starting point.

March 29 - Angie's Half Crazy Half Marathon, 7 a.m., Houston

March 29 - Run for the Rose, 5K, 8 a.m., Houston

April 4 - Bellaire Trolley Run, 5K, 8 a.m., Bellaire

April 5 - Big D Texas Marathon, 8 a.m., Dallas

April 11 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

April 11 - Davy Crockett Bear Chase, Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Groveton

April 18 - Blue Bell Fun Run, 10K, 5K, 8:30 a.m., Brenham

April 18 - Step By Step 5K, Houston

April 18 - Rocky Hill Ranch Trail Run, 50 mile, 50K, 25K, Smithville

April 25 - Spring Fling 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk, 8 a.m., Bowers Stadium parking lot, SHSU campus, Huntsville.  $1 entry.  Register at the starting point.

April 25 - Run the Woodlands, 5K, 8 a.m., The Woodlands

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SEVEN HILLS RUNNING CLUB

P. O. BOX 6804-HUNTSVILLE, TX 77342-6804



Norman Langwell Jr., President Ken Johnson, Vice President

(936) 662-6986, nlangwelljr@ (936) 295-4291, 1941runner@

Lavonne Zaiontz, Secretary True Cousins, Treasurer

(936) 291-8667, zaiontz3@ (936) 295-0278, jogger71@

January 2009

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2003

Upcoming Races

(For a complete list of races, links to race web sites, online registration or a printable entry form, go to the SHRC web site and click on Race Schedule.)

Monthly Cub Run Set for

January 31st

The “Frost Your Fanny” 5K/10K will be held on Saturday, January 31st . The public is invited. The 5K (3.1 miles) and 1-mile races are available for runners and walkers. All races start at 9 a.m. at the Health and Kinesiology Center, SHSU, Huntsville. The entry fee for all races is $1. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided. The race is open to anyone who is sufficiently trained to safely complete the race. Participants may register at the starting line. Bring your family and friends!

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