One month out from the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, top qualifiers Ryan Hall and Desiree Davila shared updates on their training and outlook for the upcoming Trials during a media teleconference hosted by USA Track & Field. Davila's second place performance at the 2011 B.A.A. Boston Marathon of 2:22:38 gives her the fastest women's entry
Abby Crawford Age: 30 Hometown: Tyler, TX Occupation: Managing Director, Phoenix Institute Marathons Completed: 2 Abby Crawford has been running distances since she was in the fifth grade and hasn’t stopped. She accomplished her first major race in 2008, The Saint Louis Full, and continues to run half marathons and countless 5K, 10K
Janel Tortorice Age: 39 Hometown: Midtown, Houston Occupation: High School Physics Teacher and Anthropology Adjunct Professor Marathons Completed: 1 For many years Janel Tortorice was unable to run because she carried an extra 170 pounds of weight. In August 2005, she underwent gastric band surgery and has since lost all 170 pounds. Running
By Barbara Huebner On December 14, one month out from the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials, fastest qualifiers Ryan Hall (2:04:58) and Desiree Davila (2:22:38) spoke to the media via teleconference. Among the topics: How their lives have changed since the last Trials. For Hall, who set a Trials record (2:09:02) with his runaway victory, the
James Snell Age: 52 Hometown: Dallas, TX Occupation: Vice President of Real Estate Development Marathons Completed: 12 Although James Snell has been running for 19 years, he admits it did not really love running in those early years. At that time he said it was just a convenient way to stay in shape,
Kathy Skillern Age: 48 Deer Park, TX Occupation: First grade teacher Races Completed: 1 Marathon, 2 Half-Marathons At 43-years-old, Kathy Skillern was motivated to start her running journey. She was a mother, worked full-time and on medication for high blood pressure. She tended to deal with stress by eating and made the decision to
Gary Aultz Age: 57 Hometown: Houston, TX Occupation: Sales Representative for Office Product and Furniture Races Completed: 22 Marathons Gary Aultz will be running his twenty-third marathon in the memory of his father and brother. Aultz lost his father and brother to addictions, something he has to overcome in his life. Aultz was
Marissa McClellen Age: 31 Hometown: Dickenson, TX Occupation: Stay at home mom Marissa McClellen will be running the Aramco Houston Half Marathon with her husband on their seven-year anniversary. They will be running after losing a combined 200 pounds. Reaching the goal of running a half marathon is something they are proud to
Carl Carter Age: 31 Hometown: Little Rock, AR Occupation: Training Supervisor for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Races Completed: 1 ultra marathon 11 marathons and 5 half-marathons Carl Carter passed a “Little Rock Marathon” training billboard in 2005 and the rest is history. It was the starting line that gave him direction and focus in
Keather Kehoe was watching her husband complete a 5K race in 2007 when a family member challenged her by saying they didn’t think she could run a 5K. Kehoe picked a 5K race to run and started training in July 2007. Two years before, Kehoe started regularly working out with a trainer and lost 20 pounds. Those
