A Christmas Picture from Karen Bowler in the UK

There are a lot of runners who I look up to for not only their ability, but more importantly their humility, friendliness and support as an individual. One of those people is the Striders' Karen Bowler.

Karen is pictured here (last on the right) with members of her UK club team, the Hailsham Harriers, that finished 3rd this past March in the SEAA "South of England" championship of the AAA England "Hastings" Half Marathon Championship. (She got her medal over the Christmas break as she headed back to Houston the day of the competition in England.)

Karen reported that her two teammates are 22 and 35, edging her out by a year. Karen's 56 and had a sterling 2005 season. She belted out the best 2005 time (3:27:24) by any female aged 50 or better at any Texas marathon (hp Houston Marathon), was fifth in her age division (55-59) this fall at the Chicago Marathon and then earned invited runner status at this year's Chevron Houston Marathon with her 30K performance a few weeks ago in the Houstonian Lite 30K in Sugar Land.

In the competition in March, Karen finished third in the 50-59 age group in the SEAA championships with a time of 1:38:06.