Komen Houston Race for the Cure Notes

While I was over in the San Antonio area (Helotes specifically) running about 10 minutes slower than last year in the TexasMedClinic Half Marathon, lots of area runners took part in Houston's Komen Race for the Cure.

The biggest news came from Webster's Gabriel Rodriguez leaving Colin Wolfe and Sean Wade in the dust by posting a 29- and 39-second win, respectively, over the duo. Rodriguez posted perhaps the second best local 5K time of the year (behind Wade's effort at the Bellaire Trolley Run 5K) with a blistering time of 15:01. (This certainly made up for not running tomorrow's Twin Cities Marathon, which Rodriguez cancelled from his calendar in mid-July. The marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota is a USA Olympic Trails qualifier.)

Gabriel's wife, Perla, easily won her 25-29 age group and finished 5th overall in a time of 20:28.95. Denton's Melissa Cook (originally from Flower Mound) won the women's division in 17:21. It was at least her 4th 5K win this year. She held off UIL 5A state cross country champion Erin Bedell from Plano in the St. Paddy's Day Dash Down Greenville 5K on March 12th in a time of 16:43. Her other two wins came on April 9th in the Camper Scamper 5K (17:31.1) and September 17th in Addison's Oktoberfest 5K (17:24.9).

Houston Strider Helen Grant, running on The British Society team, finished 3rd overall in 19:33.

Here are other notables (as I know them):

Vincent Attanucci - 20:44.05 (Run The Woodlands 5K regular who finished second in 50-54 age group)
Greg Birk - 19:30.10 (Kinkaid track and field coach with Sean Wade; ran La Luz and Mount Washington Road Race this year; 1st in 50-54 age group)
Jim Braden - 23:41.70 (Longtime Houston runner and RTW 5K regular who was the only one in his 70-and-over age group. Third 5K in last four weeks and all in upper 23-lower 24 range)
Cassie Cowan - 33:17.9 (taking it easy, I'm sure!)
Suzanne Day - 22:51.75 (Houston Harriers runner who finished 3rd in her 45-49 age group)
Anne Ekern - 20:24.65 (Houston Harrier who has won the RTW 5K recently, but finished 1st in her 35-39 age group today)
Joe Flores - 17:04.00 (One of Houston's top masters runners who will challenge for the 20K crown in two weeks. Was first in 45-49 age group)
Celeste Habiger - 23:22.20 (Houston Strider who finished 2nd in her 55-59 age group)
Helge Haldorsen - 23:37.20 (Houston Harriers runner who is a Run The Woodlands 5K regular with Anne Ekern)
Alan Hedengren - 16:30.00 (On The Run Racing team member who finished 4th overall and 40 seconds behind Sean Wade)
Richard Kerr - 44:51.70 (Recent finisher of the HEB Texas 10K Challenge for the third straight year - at 69!)
Ann Leoni - 29:14.45 (Run The Woodlands 5K all-time participant leader and also taking it easy!)
Eva Luckey - 21:57.05 (One of Houston's top veteran female runners)
Tracy MacEwan - 27:44.30 (The Woodlands Team in Training coach)
Roberta MacInnis - 24:26.20 (Houston Chronicle Running Notebook writer)
Mondragon Manuel - 33:18.35 (Cassie's significant other and fellow Strider)
Marcella Paull - 23:02.80 (Houston Strider who won her 55-59 age group)
Dalton Pulsipher - 27:50.75 (Was pacing Sophie Rydin as he has been in the upper 21s and lower 22s since August; )
Mike Rydin - 24:56.40 (Houston Strider)
Sophie Rydin - 28:06.15 (Excellent effort by fellow Strider and former Fall '04 PIMster)
Suzy Seeley - 22:22.00 (Bayou City Road Runner who won her 45-49 age group)
Debbie Tripp - 30:34.05 (Run The Woodlands 5K #138 winner; first time in 48 tries)
Denise Van Kuiken - 29:10.15 (Run The Woodlands 5K 20-race club member who was running with Leoni)
Gary Van Kuiken - 25:03.20 (Run The Woodlands 5K 10-race club member)

If I missed anyone, please let me know!