BCRR Weekly Update Jan. 15-21, 2024

 

Greetings Bayou City Road Runners The Word from the Bird ­ CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY! Better Late Than Never Edition ­

Houston Marathon Week Recap!   What a week!   PASTA PARTY - Thursday, Dec. 11th: BCRR participated in  a community-wide carbo-loading party organized by the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA). This low-cost event welcomed all members of the Houston running community to come together before the Chevron Houston Marathon Weekend. BCRR and the Striders were to sponsor Jordan Hasay as speaker for the event but, due to illness, local legend Cal Neff was conscripted to speak. He did  a fantastic job!    The event was well attended by BCRR members. There were runners from many clubs as well as unaffiliated runners. A great opportunity for runner harmonization.    Kudos to HARRA for organizing, but especially to all the BCRR members who volunteered for the event, particularly Susan Cita who single-handedly pulled all the food service together. Hans Wong and Chad Holmes started the ball rolling and arranged for the venue. BCRR Board members Anna Helm, Joel DuBois, David Piper, June Harris, and Kathi Mahon, procured and wrangled the very important Saint Arnold’s beer as well as other organizational details. Lisa Thompson helped arrange for our original speaker. And finally, everyone who helped set up and clean up: Allyson Serrao, Avi Moss, Amy Harris Tan, and others. (Sorry if someone left out). This event would not have happened without you!   BCRR runs this town!

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RACE DAY: Sunday, Dec. 14th: We gathered in GRB for our traditional "attaboys" and group picture and then we were off!     Congratulations to everyone who ran! Conditions were great for runners: Cool, although a bit windy.  There were many great performances (more about that next week).   Thank you to all who volunteered. Once again, BCRR had a lot of heavy lifters involved in key positions before, during, and after the race. Susan Cita organized personnel for all the fluid stations. She also organized the epic BCRR 20-Mile HOOPLA station. John Phillips was water station coordinator for several spots. Joe and Hope Sellers were official course officials involved in setting up areas of the course. Hope was also in charge of her HOOPLA station at Mile 8 on the half-marathon course. Joel DuBois, Anna and Tom Helm managed fluid stations, June Harris, Patrick Flaherty, Nancy Reuter, Terry Fanning, and others volunteered in various capacities along the course.   Several members volunteered before race day, such as Hans Wong, Chad Holmes and others who helped out at the hospitality area, or at one of the booths at the expo. (Apologies to those left off the list. Please reply to this email if you would like to be recognized in next week's email).   BCRR runs this town! ­

Congrats BCRR Local Elites! BCRR fielded two local elite runners in this year's events, Avi Moss and Allyson Serrao. Avi qualified with an excellent time and 1st place age-group placing in last year's marathon (M60: 3:12:10). Ally earned her spot in the HMSA 25K (F55: 1:52:06). Avi finished the marathon with a respectable 3:35:53 while battling the aftermath of a cold. Ally ran the half-marathon in 1:32:29 for a 2nd place age-group finish. Congratulations!   Learn more about the CHM Local Elite Program. Photo: M.Jamrich.   BCRR runs this town!

Share your training, race, or volunteer stories with BCRR! We know there are many achievements worth sharing that we missed, like the guy who just ran his 35th marathon or the woman who set a new single age record for the Houston Marathon at age 73. If you had a BQ or a PR or a WTF, we want to know about it!    We will have a special section in the next newsletter sharing your results, stories and photos. Please send to houstonbcrr@gmail.com

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BCRR Post-Race Party A great time was had by all at our annual post marathon party. Thank you Sue Leone and Alan Svoboda for opening your home and hosting this epic event! This is one of the highlights of the year!

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BCRR THIS WEEK:  Monday 7PM: Mellow Monday. We were too mellow (and cold) to run this week.   Wednesday 6:30PM: Wednesday Night Run from First Christian Church.  Valhalla afterwards. Feel free to wear your medal!   Friday 7PM: BCRR Happy Hour. Nettbar, 4504 Nett Street Houston, Texas, Happy Hour prices till 8PM!   Sunday 6:30AM: BCRR Long Run from the Tennis Center at Memorial Park. Breakfast at Whole Foods on Waugh.

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Calling All Volunteers! We need people to help with race day management at 2 upcoming races. These events are revenue-generating events for BCRR and we are contractually obligated to provide volunteers:   February 4, 2024, ~6AM: Rockets Run, Toyota Center. BCRR has provided course support for this race for 22 years! Joe Sellers is the course director. We need road guards and other positions of responsibility on the course. A few lucky people get to help on the floor of the Toyota Center with the cheerleaders/dancers. VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE 2 FREE ROCKETS TICKETS!   February 24, 2024, ~6AM: Darling Dash, Stude Park. BCRR has provided course support for this race for 20 years! Mike Mangan is the course director.   Please help us continue this tradition (and raise money for BCRR)! It only takes a few hours of your day and you will be giving back to BCRR and the running community!    email houstonbcrr@gmail.com if you can help!

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HARRA SPRING SERIES RACES

BCRR is a member club of the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) and participates in its competitions based on our members' performance in the HARRA Race Series.  Top runners in the individual categories receive cash awards. Rankings can be viewed on the HARRA Leaderboard. Your individual points also count for our club standings in the Interclub Competitions and are also used to calculate our BCRR Runner of the Year standings for end of year recognition..   Aramco Half: Jan 14, 2024 Law Week 8K: Feb. 17, 2024 Bayou City Classic 10K: Mar. 2, 2024 Bellaire Trolley Run 5K: April 6, 2024 Bayou Bash Relay (OUR RACE!): April 27, 2024 LP Run: TBA

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New Members   Welcome new member Santiago Velasquez   Know a running enthusiast or fan that would make a great addition to the club? Invite them to join us! We're always happy to welcome new members to BCRR!    ­

Happy Birthday!

This week's birthdays:    1/15: Tom Helm 1/16: Maggie Kirkpatrick 1/17: Steve Davis 1/18: Melanie Starman Bash 1/20: Tom Bongiorno (NAG*) 1/21: Beverly Handy (NAG*)   *NAG = New Age Group

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Happy Hour

Nettbar Join us Friday evening at Nettbar (4504 Nett Street Houston, Texas),  We will meet around 7pm.   HAPPY HOUR PRICING 4-8PM!   Post on Facebook if you will be early!

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Sunday Hydration Support Thank you to Scott Bounds and Peter Griffiths for setting out the water and Gatorade this coming weekend.                                               Who likes water during the Sunday long runs? Our Sunday morning hydration team could use a your help. Please contact Loris at Loris0105@yahoo.com for more information on how to volunteer!

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Weekly Club Runs

Mellow Monday 7 pm at Memorial Park Tennis Center for a 3 mile casual paced run around the Park and dinner to follow Wednesday Run 6:30 pm at First Christian Church for a 3-6 mile run around Rice University and Hermann Park followed by drinks at Valhalla Friday Speedwork 5:30 am at Memorial Park Running Center. Contact Peter Griffiths for more info Sunday Long Run 6:30 am at Memorial Park Tennis Center for a 10-12 mile supported run w/ water at 2 locations followed by breakfast at Whole Foods in Montrose (701 Waugh Dr Houston, TX 77019)