Rice University All Comers Track Meets

RICE UNIVERSITY All Comers Track Meets- 2012
THURSDAY NIGHTS
May 17th, May 31st, June 7th, June 14th, June 21st,  & June 28th


Holloway Field (Rice University Track Stadium)


Who: This meet is for everyone! They’ve had people from age 5- 80 run, Olympic Champions and world record holders to people who have never participated in a meet. 
For details see http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/rice/sports/m-track/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/All-ComersInfo.pdf

Tour de Bayou Begins!

2012 Tour de Bayou
Five Tuesdays at 6pm

HOUSTON, Texas (March 27, 2012)--The Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) and Finish Strong Sports continue to offer the cult classic Tour de Bayou cross country races.

For your running pleasure, the stages all start at 6:00 pm, are open to everyone, and are free of charge. Distances vary from roughly three miles to five miles. Runners may run any or all of the stages. Results will be posted for individual stages and cumulatively.

Stage 1: April 3	Spotts Park, near Memorial Dr & Heights Blvd
Stage 2: April 10	Dog Park, near Allen Pkwy & Montrose (AKA Over the River and thru the Woods)
Stage 3: April 17	White Oak Bayou, White Oak Ave @ Thelma
Stage 4: April 24	Ho Chi Minh, Memorial Park @ Rugby Field
Stage 5: May 1	Ho Chi Minh, Memorial Park @ Rugby Field

Note that this series has been rescheduled from Thursdays. It is now on Tuesdays.

For more information, email Roger Boak.

LAST CHANCE: HARRA Houston Marathon Slots Available

If you are interested in running the Chevron Houston Marathon, on Janaury 15, 2012, and have not registered, this may be your last chance. HARRA has 3 slots left. You must be an HARRA member. You must be registered by tomorrow night. If you qualify, first email Roger Boak, nboka.xc@gmail.com . If there are still slots left, he will give you instructions. HARRA has already purchased the entries, so you will be reimbursing us. Then you will be directed to the marathon website to give them all your information. THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT. LAST CHANCE, HURRY

Proposed Changes to Terry Hershey Park will Destroy Trails

A message from GHORBA (Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association):

GHORBA needs your help in a grassroots effort to save the forest and trails at Terry Hershey Park. We have recently learned that Harris County Flood Control District, through its Charting Buffalo Bayou Project, intends to implement a plan in which a number of detention basins will be built along the south side of the Bayou from Hwy 6 to Beltway 8. The detention basins will be 3-4 acres in size, possibly both wet and dry bottom.

To build such basins, all the trees will be clear-cut and large volumes of soil removed. This will result in much of the natural-surface trail we call the Anthills being destroyed. Moreover, the forested areas consist of old growth trees and are home to a diverse array of birds, insects and animals. This habitat will be lost and so will an important trail system utilized on a daily basis by hikers, runners, and riders, if the proposal is implemented.

The goal of our governmental entities, both city and county, in attempting to address flooding in Houston is both important and essential as this city continues to grow. However, it is our position, which is supported by many of the residents in the area, that we need to explore solutions which do not involve the destruction of a community asset. Neither the county nor city has engaged user groups and those affected by the proposal in the process.

Moreover, the little information provided by officials and groups involved in the project has been conflicting. We have heard the proposed project is either imminent (as in construction will start next year) or just something they are thinking about and we don't need to worry about.

Given the severe consequences, GHORBA believes it is time to be proactive in letting our representatives know how we feel about the loss of this park asset. Please consider signing the Save the Terry Hershey Park Forest Petition if you live in Houston. In addition, write your city council member, county commissioner or the mayor, and let them know how the this portion of the park is important to you and should be preserved for today and future generations.

For most of us, the ability to escape to our little piece of "green" space is what makes living in such a large city enjoyable, and we cannot avoid to lose more of it.

Thank you,

Bill Rustam
President of GHORBA

Jeff Jeansonne
Platform Virtualization Strategy
PSG Business Notebooks
(281) 514-9807

Mark Fraser Obituary in Houston Chronicle

Roberta MacInnis has written a very poignant obituary for our beloved friend Mark Fraser for the Houston Chronicle.

read it here

Memorial Service for Mark Fraser

A memorial service for Mark Fraser will be held at 6:30 pm on Monday, August 1, at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main, Houston 77004. Reception to follow.

Mark Frederick Fraser, 54, passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Houston. Dearly loved by many, Mark was always the one to show up when his friends and family needed help, and he always wanted to make us laugh. Mark was born in East Liverpool, OH, on September 2, 1956, to Fred and Margaret Ellen (Marge) Betz Fraser. He grew up in Wellsville and Calcutta, OH, where he played football and basketball and ran track. He attended the University of Houston and worked for Butcher Company and Swatzell Sales.

Mark was passionate about many things. An avid reader, he spoke with conviction and was a great storyteller. He conceived, wrote, produced, and directed the acclaimed Enron, the Musical, for which he appeared on national television. He was known to say, "I think of something impossible and crazy to do, and Janet helps me do it."

He was there when needed, lending his presence, expertise, humor, and tools to many a DIY project and to the many activities to which he gave his boundless energy. High among his passions was running, and he was an inspiration to others. He was Runner of the Year for three consecutive years in Bayou City Road Runners (BCRR), active in HARRA, the Houston Area Roadrunner Association, and wrote the monthly column, "Running Debate" for Texas Runner. Some of his proudest accomplishments were completing two grueling 100-mile races, the Leadville Trail 100 and the Arkansas Traveler.

Mark is survived by his longtime girlfriend Janet Schneider Sutton, daughter Traci Nicole Fraser, and father Fred Fraser, all of Houston, sons Michael Ferrill Reis and Timothy Robert Fraser of Minneapolis, MN, sister Karen Ann Sullivan and niece Joy of Scottsdale, AZ, 3 grandchildren, and many devoted friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Marge Fraser.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to Memorial Park Conservancy, Mark Fraser Fund, PO Box 131024, Houston 77219, 713.863.8403.

"My proudest running accomplishment is: Any day when I have a planned early run, and: it is very hot and humid, I did not get enough sleep, it is raining, or I am sore and tired. Then, I get up anyway, lace up my shoes and run. Any day that happens (which is a lot), I feel proud."

Mark was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Mark Fraser Honored by Will's Hills

THE MARK FRASER WORKOUT:

As many of you know, Mark Fraser did not shrink from rigorous training. (The guy did 100 mile races including the Leadville Trail 100 after all.) The only thing he liked better was making others suffer with him. He was a "regular" at "Will's Hills", an early morning training program run by Will Henderson. He designed a particularly heinous hill-laden workout so distinctive that it was named after him.

This morning, bright and early at Spott's Park, "The Mark Fraser Workout" was run by Will's Hills in honor of its namesake. A huge number of runners from BCRR and the Houston running community participated to pay homage to Mark. (I'm sure his memory is lingering all afternoon in the form of burning thighs and twitching calves ;-)

I'm sure Mark is smiling about this!