The Power of E-Mail: Khobar makes the Chronicle
Sept. 28, 2005, 10:45PM
RUNNING NOTEBOOK
Hurricane or no, this was one race that went on as planned
Hardy souls show up to keep event streak intact
By ROBERTA MACINNIS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Maybe if Hurricane Rita had hit the area hard, the 137-race streak would have been broken. I wouldn't have bet on it, though.
The acolytes of the Run the Woodlands 5K, held the second and fourth Saturday of each month — without fail — have raced on Christmas and through Tropical Storm Allison. A breezy morning wasn't going to stop them. The seven-runner field wasn't even the smallest in race history, though 40 to 50 people typically show up.
"We subscribe to the loyalty that was put forth first by (founder) Don Drewniak, who was very, very devoted that the race (be) held religiously despite other obstacles," said Tom McDonough, one of Saturday's runners.
"We want to continue the tradition."
The participants — all regulars — ran at their own risk, since Luke's Locker, which has administered the event since Drewniak moved to Delaware last year, declined to accept responsibility in such uncertain conditions. The runners lobbied Luke's not to announce the race as "canceled" and then waived the $1 entrance fee.
Fortunately, McDonough said, aside from a lot of pine needles and cones and a large branch near the race start, the path was clear.
"It wasn't anything that caused anyone to change their gait, and the head winds weren't bad because the path is surrounded by heavy and thick foliage," he added.
A cold 28 degrees
McDonough, a veteran of 40 RTWs, as regulars call the event, said he'd rate 2004's 28-degree "bone-chilling" Christmas Day race as the one with the worst weather.
"As long as I can remember, in the small window between 8 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on second and fourth Saturdays since this has started, there has not even been a torrential downpour," he said, though it has rained heavily both before and after.
Russell Meyer won Saturday's race in 20 minutes flat, his third victory. Besides being the only participant to finish both first and last in an RTW race, he's the only runner who has been in the races held during Tropical Storm Allison (on June 9, 2001) and Hurricane Rita.
The other participants, in order of finish, were McDonough, Tom Hippe, Jim Braden, Lou Wilson, Debbie Tripp, Tom Pinney and his dog, Khobar.
Finally, victory
Tripp, the only woman to run Saturday, took her first victory in 48 tries. No women ran during the Tropical Storm Allison race, which had the smallest field — five runners.
The streak remains unbroken at 138. So what would it take for a Run The Woodlands race to be canceled?
"The apocalypse," McDonough said. "And I mean that in all seriousness."
I could already tell from the tone in his voice that he hadn't been joking.
Those who stayed
As residents cleared out in anticipation of Hurricane Rita last week, the area became so empty it was eerie. By Friday morning the only people on the streets were those with nowhere to go, people walking their dogs — and runners.
As is wont to happen in stressful times, everyone had either a wave or something to say.
"I see you're evacuating," joked a man as my husband and I ran past him.
"It's faster than driving," my husband joked back.
"That hurricane's got you running," teased another.
Later, as we stood in front of our house debating whether to board our windows or not, Steven Peppel, who lives next door, walked out of his condo and broke into a run.
I'd seen Steven running many mornings, but I hadn't known his name until he said, "Hi, neighbor!" as my husband, son and I walked into the foyer of a Boston restaurant last April, the day before the marathon.
We were surprised to see each other. My husband and I had called him Mr. Fit — one look and you'd know why — but I'd never thought of him as a runner.
"Got to get one more in," Steven said, smiling as he zipped down the street.
Now that's a runner for you.
Roberta MacInnis covers running for the Chronicle. roberta.macinnis@chron.com
RUNNING NOTEBOOK
Hurricane or no, this was one race that went on as planned
Hardy souls show up to keep event streak intact
By ROBERTA MACINNIS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Maybe if Hurricane Rita had hit the area hard, the 137-race streak would have been broken. I wouldn't have bet on it, though.
The acolytes of the Run the Woodlands 5K, held the second and fourth Saturday of each month — without fail — have raced on Christmas and through Tropical Storm Allison. A breezy morning wasn't going to stop them. The seven-runner field wasn't even the smallest in race history, though 40 to 50 people typically show up.
"We subscribe to the loyalty that was put forth first by (founder) Don Drewniak, who was very, very devoted that the race (be) held religiously despite other obstacles," said Tom McDonough, one of Saturday's runners.
"We want to continue the tradition."
The participants — all regulars — ran at their own risk, since Luke's Locker, which has administered the event since Drewniak moved to Delaware last year, declined to accept responsibility in such uncertain conditions. The runners lobbied Luke's not to announce the race as "canceled" and then waived the $1 entrance fee.
Fortunately, McDonough said, aside from a lot of pine needles and cones and a large branch near the race start, the path was clear.
"It wasn't anything that caused anyone to change their gait, and the head winds weren't bad because the path is surrounded by heavy and thick foliage," he added.
A cold 28 degrees
McDonough, a veteran of 40 RTWs, as regulars call the event, said he'd rate 2004's 28-degree "bone-chilling" Christmas Day race as the one with the worst weather.
"As long as I can remember, in the small window between 8 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on second and fourth Saturdays since this has started, there has not even been a torrential downpour," he said, though it has rained heavily both before and after.
Russell Meyer won Saturday's race in 20 minutes flat, his third victory. Besides being the only participant to finish both first and last in an RTW race, he's the only runner who has been in the races held during Tropical Storm Allison (on June 9, 2001) and Hurricane Rita.
The other participants, in order of finish, were McDonough, Tom Hippe, Jim Braden, Lou Wilson, Debbie Tripp, Tom Pinney and his dog, Khobar.
Finally, victory
Tripp, the only woman to run Saturday, took her first victory in 48 tries. No women ran during the Tropical Storm Allison race, which had the smallest field — five runners.
The streak remains unbroken at 138. So what would it take for a Run The Woodlands race to be canceled?
"The apocalypse," McDonough said. "And I mean that in all seriousness."
I could already tell from the tone in his voice that he hadn't been joking.
Those who stayed
As residents cleared out in anticipation of Hurricane Rita last week, the area became so empty it was eerie. By Friday morning the only people on the streets were those with nowhere to go, people walking their dogs — and runners.
As is wont to happen in stressful times, everyone had either a wave or something to say.
"I see you're evacuating," joked a man as my husband and I ran past him.
"It's faster than driving," my husband joked back.
"That hurricane's got you running," teased another.
Later, as we stood in front of our house debating whether to board our windows or not, Steven Peppel, who lives next door, walked out of his condo and broke into a run.
I'd seen Steven running many mornings, but I hadn't known his name until he said, "Hi, neighbor!" as my husband, son and I walked into the foyer of a Boston restaurant last April, the day before the marathon.
We were surprised to see each other. My husband and I had called him Mr. Fit — one look and you'd know why — but I'd never thought of him as a runner.
"Got to get one more in," Steven said, smiling as he zipped down the street.
Now that's a runner for you.
Roberta MacInnis covers running for the Chronicle. roberta.macinnis@chron.com
posted by WalkSports.com | 4:00 AM
1 Comments:
Way to go and push this one, Jon! Great read and great press!
-Jessica
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