Amanda Fiser Age: 29 Hometown: Houston, TX "Running has always been a part of my life. My family would go for runs after dinner. Sometimes on the weekend my dad and I would throw on a pair of running shoes, find a trail, and talk about life's problems. While living in the Caribbean, I would
Olympians Hall and Keklezighi to be honorary starters HOUSTON – The 41st edition of the Chevron Houston Marathon Race Weekend features stacked fields in both the Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Adding an element of excitement to the weekend will be a $50,000 bonus that will be awarded should the world
Len Verhulst Age: 51 Hometown: Ripon, WI Half Marathons Completed: 1 Len Verhulst, of the fairly frosty Wisconsin, ran track in high school; so he and running have had a pleasant history. But he really began running seriously again about ten years ago. He left behind smoking and drinking for the pursuit of running. Verhulst ran his first marathon
Runner Profile: James Coligan Age: 39 Hometown: Houston, TX Running turned James Coligan’s life around and gave him renewed life. On August 23, 2010, Coligan changed his diet and began his new lifestyle. On that date, he weighed 367 pounds. By February 11, 2011 the scale read 223 pounds; two pounds below his target weight.
Yen Nguyen Age: 49 “Running is a privilege and one should embrace it while he or she can still run.” On January 26, 1996, Yen Nguyen ran her first marathon--the Houston-Tenneco Marathon. This January 15th will mark her 16 year anniversary of running her first marathon. “I did not know what the meanings of ‘endurance’
Michael Canle Age: 31 Hometown: Tomball, TX January 2010 was a breakthrough month for Michael Canle. Weighing in at 332 pounds, he knew he needed to make a change. His wife was six months pregnant with their first child. The realization set in that he was going to be a father in only a few
Growing up on a dirt road in rural West Virginia in a house with no TV, Clara Grandt was up and out early every summer morning with her five brothers and sisters to bike, hike to the tops of nearby hills, or swim in the creek. The only thing that would lure them back inside
Samantha Bivenour Age: 25 Hometown: Columbus, OH Occupation: Works for Lululemon Athletica Marathons Completed: 1 January 15th will be a significant day for Samantha Bivenour. She will be both celebrating her 26th birthday and running her second marathon. After completing the Chevron Houston Marathon, she will be one step closer to finishing her goals. Two
Leigh Spruell Age: 62 Hometown: Houston, TX "Running has been a part of my life--through snow, rain, heat, mountains, pregnancy, divorce, depression, anxiety, and the stress of raising three beautiful daughters! I have always found solace on the streets, during the early morning hours before work. When everything else was 'out of control', running was
Trae Morris Age: 42 Hometown: Houston, TX Occupation: Police Officer Trae Morris consistently heard comments about his weight, while on duty as a police officer. He was 42 and had spent 17 years as a police officer when he realized he was not nearly in the physical shape that he wanted to be. “I hated
