Glenda Newman joins the Houston Marathon Foundation Board of Directors
The Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF) is a local nonprofit dedicated to advancing running as an element of a balanced, healthy lifestyle in Houston and beyond. The Foundation’s flagship We Run Houston after-school youth running program has connected more than 7,000 students across Greater Houston with school-based running clubs and the opportunity to experience a 5K or half marathon during Houston Marathon Weekend of Events. The HMF Scholarship has awarded $350,000 to local high school graduates who exemplify academic achievement, leadership, and personal connection to running. The Foundation also promotes hands-only CPR training within running communities, supports regional park and pedestrian trail development, champions aspiring U.S. elite professional runners through training funding, and continually seeks new opportunities to advance community-based initiatives connected to running.
With the appointment of Erica Serrano as President, Madeline Bunch as Vice President, and Brant Koch as Secretary alongside board members Sarah Logan and Robert Sawchuck earlier this year, the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF) is entering an exciting period of growth. Its newest board member, Glenda Newman, business development professional with the AmSpec Group, exemplifies the positive impact that the HMF believes running can have on individuals and the communities around them.
“I am thrilled to welcome Glenda to the Houston Marathon Foundation’s Board of Directors. Her enthusiasm for running, commitment to giving back, and passion for bringing people together make her a tremendous addition to our team,” says Board President Erica Serrano. “Glenda has a genuine connection to Houston’s running community and a heart for creating opportunities for athletes of all abilities. As we continue to grow the Foundation’s impact, I look forward to working with her to reach more communities and help ensure every Houstonian has the opportunity to experience the power of running.”
Finding Her Stride
Glenda has always been intrigued by running, although she didn’t always consider herself a runner. Her running journey began around 2014, and from the start, it was about more than the miles. When she decided to take on her first half marathon, she did so as a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization. Through that experience, she discovered that running for a cause beyond herself was the motivation she needed to take her training to the next level.
“That’s the ticket. Doing it outside of me. That’s what motivates me. That’s what keeps me going,” she reflects.
From there, running quickly became a source of confidence, connection, and purpose. Next came her first marathon, the Chevron Houston Marathon. Then came motherhood.
“After I finished my first marathon, I thought, well, if I can run a marathon, surely I can have a baby—and I did! And I thought, well, if I can do all of that, what can’t I do? Running really just gave me so much confidence to do things that I never thought I’d be able to do. But I always kept in mind this notion of doing it outside of myself.”
Community Across the Miles
Over time, Glenda became deeply involved in Houston’s running community through local running clubs and running as a guide for athletes with disabilities. Inspired by the diverse representation she saw in the Houston Marathon Committee’s Ambassador Program, Glenda decided in 2019 to push herself outside her comfort zone once again and apply to become an Ambassador. She was selected and served on the team from 2020 to 2022.
Although the pandemic and the virtual race experience in 2020 changed what those years looked like, they also positively challenged Glenda and her fellow Ambassadors to find new ways to foster connection. She helped establish small running “pods” and virtual communities, many of which eventually evolved into in-person running clubs after the pandemic.
Glenda stepped up to host a group in the River Oaks neighborhood, which has continued to thrive for over five years as the popular Fleet Feet River Oaks Run Club. She has also served as a Lululemon community ambassador and supported countless events and activations organized by and for Houston’s running community.
Her commitment to community also extends beyond running. Glenda is involved with Friends of El Salvador, an organization that supports El Salvadorian families through community-based resources and initiatives, including a local 5K. She is also passionate about helping others develop literacy skills and is a dedicated volunteer with the literacy program at her daughter’s school.
Running It Forward
As she joins the Houston Marathon Foundation Board, Glenda is especially excited to champion the We Run Houston Youth after-school program. She believes introducing children to running can have a lasting impact by teaching patience and perseverance, building confidence, and helping young people envision themselves in spaces they may never have previously imagined.
“Representation is deeply personal to me,” she shares. “I don’t know if I would have started running a little earlier if I had seen more women of color. Or moms. Whatever it looks like, representation is so important.”
She is also eager to explore additional opportunities to support athletes with disabilities and find new ways to channel her passion for encouraging and supporting others in the sport into meaningful impact through the Houston Marathon Foundation.
For Glenda, joining the Houston Marathon Foundation Board is ultimately about giving back to a sport that has given her so much.
“This sport, frankly, has given me so much. It would be a disservice for me to not give something back. And that is really my goal in this role—to give back to running what it has given to me.”
