Embedded Files
Michele Genereux is my wife of 31 years. She has asked for my coaching advice, off and on, for the past 8 years. During this time, she has completed 8 x 50 milers, a 100K, and a 100 miler, as well as numerous 50K's and other trail races. Here she is after finishing Rocky 100 miler in 2021. Her time was 29:38
Alyssa Hayes has been crushing it this year. She ran a 1:40 half marathon at the Austin 3M, then ran a Boston Qualifying time of 3:27:50 in her first marathon at Mt. Charleston!
These are Franz Konczak's feet. They got him through a 50K, three different 50 mile races, and the Mohican 100 mile race in the past seven months. He finished Mohican in 28:19. I think he deserves a little rest, but look for him to continue to do amazing things!
Holly Stewart is a very accomplished marathoner and triathlete who has previously dabbled in trail racing. She recently completed the TransRockies 6 Day Stage Race in Colorado with her teammate / running partner, Analise "Pony" Thompson. They ran a cumulative 120 miles with over 20,000 feet of vertical gain over the 6 days! They made the podium, in a very competitive division, in every one of the 6 stages!
Alyssa Hayes just completed her second quad crushing marathon of the year at the Big Cottonwood Marathon in Utah. This race features 5K of descent and starts at 10,000 feet of elevation. Alyssa ran a super strong race and finished in 3:42.
Franz Konczak went back to Ohio in July to run the infamous Buckeye 50K. He finished 3rd in 4:57. He also has run three 30K night races around Texas this Summer. He took 6th at Pedernales Falls in 2:46, 1st male at Colorado Bend in 3:05, and 2nd male at Reveille Peak in 3:02!
Giana Ariel loves to travel to run different races around the country. She recently ran the Orca Half Marathon in Seattle and set a new personal best by over 20 minutes in a time of 2:13!
Kate Motsko is one of the most determined runners I have met. She recently completed the Cactus Rose 150 mile trail race for the second year in a row. She bested her time from last year by over 4 hours and finished in 42:13:19. She did this after suffering a serious injury earlier in the year and being sidelined from running for over 5 months. She was the overall winner at Cactus Rose 150 in an amazing performance!
Michele Genereux just completed the Cactus Rose 100 mile trail race this past weekend. This was a bit of a redemption race for her. We had attempted to run the Cactus Rose 100 together in 2020 to celebrate 30 years of marriage. She ended up dropping from that race at mile 72, but our marriage survived. She trained hard for this one, put her head down and got it done her way. She finished in 40:55:37.
Kathryn Schade just completed the Javelina Jundred 100K for the second time in four years. She showed incredible grit and determination in getting this done, but also improved her time by 1.5 hours. Not only that, Kathryn brought a smile to everyone's face by dressing in a full cowprint outfit and decorating her tent as #Moooville! Kathryn finished in 25:29!
Blaine Adams just completed the Javelina Jundred 100 mile race. He put in 4 solid months of training in the San Antonio Summer heat. He then executed a great race with patience and confidence. Blaine put the hammer down on his last 20 mile loop to go sub 24 hours with a time of 23:46!
Lily Vecino just completed the New York City Marathon in 6:15:05! She has numerous half marathon finishes, but this was her first full marathon. With her longest training run being just over 16 miles, she conquered new territory with every step after crossing the Queensboro Bridge! She paced herself well and demonstrated great perseverance!
Machelle Cochran-DeStefano has a long history of endurance running with numerous marathon wins. She has been fighting to run pain free for years and to maintain some joy for running after undergoing back surgery two years ago. She recently completed the Trivium 50K road ultra in 6:36:21!This is an extremely hilly course with over 3K of vert in the 50K. I believe Machelle is finding her path!
Francisco Garay took 2nd place in the Wild Hare Trail Races. It was cold, rainy, and a sloppy course as the day wore on. This was still a P.R. for Francisco and a sign that he has some fast times ahead!
Paige Craig just finished the 50K at the Wild Hare Trail Races. She took on this race in preparation for a longer race in a little over a month. The day was cold and rainy, but Paige has the best attitude for endurance running and she just embraced the day! She finished in 7:54:26!
Clint Oncken is preparing for a 100 mile trail race. I talked him into racing a 50K as part of his race prep and to test his conditioning. It turned out to be a cold and wet day, but he still set a 50K P.R. in 5:27:49 and took 3rd place! We talked about using the mantra of "smooth, relaxed, efficient" to pace himself. Clint stated that as the course got sloppier he changed his mantra to "victory over adversity". I love this kind of mental shift to find what will work in that moment. Clint's mantra is now on my mantra page!
Suzanne Barber has pushed herself through some difficult running goals this year. She recently took on the Disney Wine & Dine two course challenge. She ended up completing a 5K Friday, 10K Saturday, and a Half Marathon Sunday. She did a great job of setting a high goal and having a fun runcation!
Franz Konczak ran the Bandera 100K on 1/7/23 in a crushing 12:12:06. I think that Carlos Ray Norris may have a lot of belts (black ones), but he looks a little envious of the buckle Franz earned. Congrats Franz!
Alyssa Hayes and Jess Winnett are the epitome of trail sisters. They empower one another through their camaraderie on the run. They started the Wildcatter 50K together, worked through the highs and lows of a race that was tougher than it looked on paper, and finished it together in 7:31:57. Not only that, they took first place! Congratulations to both of you!
Paige Craig ran her first 50 mile trail race at the Big Bend Ultra on 1/15/23. I think she has a fantastic attitude about trail racing. She is positive, likes to challenge herself, and focuses on the experience above all. Paige finished in 13:31:02 and was the female Masters winner! Congratulations Paige!
Stefan Grater is a talented runner and athlete. He trained well for the Big Bend 50K on 1/15/23, then got sick about 10 days out. He felt well enough to run three days before the race, so he decided to go for it. He ran a great race and finished as the male Masters winner in 4:51:03! Congratulations Stefan!
Holly Stewart always seems to be having fun in her race photos. Is it a skill, is it natural, or both? Whatever the case, she ran with a positive attitude and natural speed to win the female 50K race at the Big Bend Ultra with a time of 5:37:45. Congratulations Holly!
Michele Genereux is a fan of the Big Bend Ultra 50 mile race. She has run it four times now. After taking a wrong turn last year she ended up dropping from the race after 35 miles of fun. She got her redemption this year by winning the female 50 mile race and finishing in 13:05:29. Congratulations Michele!
Clint Oncken ran his first 100 mile race at the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler. He trained incredibly hard over the past six months, then went out and executed flawless and consistent pacing that Nick Coury would be proud of! He finished 20th overall in a field of 400 runners in a time of 20:03:52. Amazing!
Franz Konczak finished his second 100K in a months time. This time he set a personal record at the Rocky Raccoon 100K with a time of 10:18:32. He finished 4th overall in a very competitive race!
Franz has continued to crush it in 2023 by finishing his third ultra in three months. He won this one at the J&J Trail Race and Trail Running Reunion 50 Miler in a time of 9:42!
Alyssa Hayes just cruised from Hopkinton to Boston in the 127th running of the Boston Marathon. I wish you could see her feet in this picture - they're floating inches off of the ground. She ran a strong race (3:43) in a crowd of 26,603 exceptional runners! Getting to Boston is definitely a lifetime achievement for many - I won't be surprised if she returns!
Matthew Allen put in four solid months of training in his relatively flat state of Kansas to get ready for the mountains and altitude of Ft. Collins, Colorado. He joined several trail running buddies from San Antonio, who now reside in Colorado, for the Quad Rock 25 mile Trail Race. Matthew (on the right) finished strong in 6:39 with his friend, Blaine!
Blaine Adams has been a busy guy since running the Javelina 100 in late October, but he loves trail running and loves being in the mountains. Now that he has moved to the Denver area and the snow is melting off the mountains, I expect he will be really getting after it. He started the season off by joining some old trail running buddies at the Quad Rock 25 mile Trail Race. He finished strong with Matthew in 6:39!
Marissa Adams just completed the TransRockies Run, which is a six day stage race in Colorado with 120 miles and 20,000 feet of elevation gain. Marissa has been running ultras for some time and was the first friend I knew who had finished a 100 mile race. She has never strayed far from the sport of ultra running, but I'm very proud of how hard she worked this Summer to get ready for this high altitude week! Congratulations Marissa on this special accomplishment!
Julie Schmal just completed the Capt'n Karl's 60K night race series. She finished 4th female at Pedernales, 1st at Muleshoe, 2nd at Colorado Bend, and 1st at Reveille Peak. If my calculations are correct, that's 148.8 miles in 35:23:37. Combine that with running in one of the hottest summers in Texas history + running at night on technical terrain = a very, very impressive collection of performances. Also, this was the 5th time that Julie has completed the Capt'n Karl's 60K night race series!!!!!(Julie is pictured with Race Director, PJ Izaguirre)
Clint Oncken had to endure a tough day at the Sky Island 50K. Sky Island is a trail race with tough technical terrain. Temps went from the low 70's at the race start to upper 90's by noon. Clint came in to the last aid station ready to drop from the race, but sat down, cooled down, allowed his heart rate to come down, then was able to take in some calories and finish the race. The more you race, the greater the odds that you will encounter a day like this. Ultra running is all about problem solving. Clint showed great patience and his perseverance paid off!
Mike Oakes just completed the Berlin Marathon. He ran for Team World Vision and raised donations both individually and through his church. He trained through some really intense heat and humidity in San Antonio this Summer, then got sick at the start of his taper - not ideal. Mike made a wise decision to focus on enjoying the race and experience vs. running for a specific time. There are many obstacles and limiting factors on some journeys, but finding a way to pivot and appreciate the experience can make all of the difference!
Jess Winnett recently completed the Marfa 100K bike race. I had nothing to do with helping Jess train for this race, but she has a great spirit for adventure and thought it sounded like a fun challenge to prepare for. She didn't know anybody else at the race, but went for the long ride, and a weekend of camping in Marfa, Texas. Inspiration is contagious; I can almost guarantee that there will be more than a few of Jess's friends at this event next year!Congratulations Jess!
Emmett Brumley completed the Cactus Rose 100 mile trail race in 39:56:31. It was a new course and the venue had to be changed the week of the race, but Emmett lined up with a positive attitude and there was never a question that he was going to get this finish! This unwavering and determined focus was the key to his success! Congratulations Emmett!
Paula Sanchez completed the Cactus Rose 50 mile trail race in 20:00:03.Paula did a great job of staying patient, took care of herself with a good hydration and nutrition plan, and focused on using this race as a building block towards longer races in her future! Congratulations Paula!
Julie Schmal won the Cactus Rose 50 mile trail race in 12:01:08 and was second overall. Here she is pictured with Tejas Trails Race Director, Chris McWatters minutes after finishing. Julie ran another incredibly consistent race with 25 mile splits of 5:58:57 and 6:02:11 - simply amazing! Julie used a mental strategy of dividing her race into thirds and focused on Composure, Confidence, and Competing! Congratulations Julie!(Julie is pictured with Race Director, Chris McWatters)
Alyssa Hayes decided to throw in a Hyrox competition in her training block towards an ultra marathon. She helps train other athletes for these Fitness Races, but hadn't tried one herself. Hyrox races consist of 8 x 1000 meter sprints, alternating with 8 skills, such as sled push, sled pull, rowing, skierg, burpee broad jumps, farmers carry with kettlebells, sandbag lunges, and wall balls. Most of the time, it's the workouts and prep races we do on the way to the big goals that become the most meaningful! Congratulations Alyssa!
Anneke Durkan just completed the McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50 miler in an outstanding time of 8:55:42. She finished 6th in a very competitive field with cash prizes on the line. This race has a lot of runnable terrain, but also goes over Thompson Peak at mile 31. Anneke paced herself brilliantly and set a new 50 mile P.R. for herself by an hour! Congratulations Anneke!
Kemper Dotson just recently completed The Circus 12 hour race. She had been training for a 100K trail race, but quickly signed up for The Circus when her goal race was postponed. She completed 43.5 miles in 11:46 and was 3rd overall! This was her own way of challenging herself and celebrating her birthday!Congratulations Kemper!
Brandon Ruiz just ran his first ultramarathon at the Hoka Bandera 100K and finished 10th overall in a time of 10:38:59. He had only run the 50k distance once before, and that was in a training run three weeks prior to the big race. He showed incredible strength, determination, and grit in tackling this challenge. I can't wait to see where his running journey takes him next! Congratulations Brandon!
Alyssa Hayes is always setting new goals and looking for unique challenges. This past weekend she ran the Hoka Bandera 50K and set a P.R. with a time of 6:06:31. When I suggested a conservative goal of seven hours, she told me that she thought she could go in six.... and that's what she did! Congratulations Alyssa!
Vic Guerra set some big goals in September, which he wants to accomplish before he turns 40 years old next month. His training ramp up has been spectacular! Last weekend he ran the Hoka Bandera 50K as a training run to prepare for his next race. In the process, he went out and crushed his 50K P.R. with a new best time of 5:37:05. Congratulations Vic!
I was given the opportunity to work with a few runners in preparing for the Hoka Bandera 25K Trail Race. There was minimal coaching involved, but more information sharing about the course layout, terrain, and ideas to help train for this event. One athlete whom I felt privileged to meet and help was TaMar Hicks. I learned that TaMar had a strong running background and has developed into an elite Spartan Race athlete. The multitude of Bandera rocks got to TaMar at mile six of the race, but despite rolling his ankle he was able to have a strong finish. I hope to see him at more trail races in the future! Congratulations TaMar!
Benjamin Morlang just completed the Chevron Houston Marathon this past weekend. This was his eighth marathon distance race in the past three years. He has a goal to complete two more this Spring, then possibly tackle some ultras! Congratulations Ben!
Vic Guerra just completed the 2024 Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Race in a time of 24:22. Vic had run a handful of 25k & 50k trail races over the past five years, but decided that he wanted to take on a bigger challenge to celebrate turning 40 years old. He built his aerobic base up starting in mid September and stayed dedicated to his training despite having to travel for work. The course got a couple inches of rain dumped on it the night before the race, so the conditions were sloppy and muddy. Vic ran a smart and strong race, took care of problems as they came up, and demonstrated pure determination! Congrats Vic!(Vic is pictured with his son)
Michele Genereux just completed the Rocky Raccoon 100K in a time of 20:15. Michele is my wife, so we have a running joke (pun intended) about her being one of the athletes I am privileged to coach. We say that there is an asterisk next to her name. She just asks me how long she needs to run for on weekends. Her work life keeps her busy, so endurance events are an escape for her. She enjoys her time on the trails, knows how to work through the miles, and knows how to get it done. Congrats Michele!
Jess Winnett is the kind of person who would have made your high school cross country team experience more fun. She is fun to run with, tells great stories, and is also a good listener. She has a lot of friends in the running community whom she has helped train for races. She also likes a good challenge herself, but doesn't shy away from running an event to support a friend or to just have fun. When Jess's friend, Liza, told her that she signed them up for the Mesa Marathon, there was no hesitation - Jess was in. Marathons are a fantastic challenge, whether running competitively or to support others. It's important to keep running joyful and a great way to do that is through friendships. Congrats Jess and friends!
Two weeks ago, Jack Bennett completed his fourth marathon at the 2024 Austin Marathon. It was his fastest marathon, as he ran a 4:19 for a 12 minute personal best. Jack has been committed to training and his fitness continues to improve. He has his sights on a much bigger goal race later this year, but sometimes the accomplishments along the way to a bigger goal are equally significant and important to acknowledge. Congratulations Jack!
Stefan Grater ran the Woodlands Half Marathon on 3/2/24 as a training race in preparation for the Boston Marathon. He ran a consistent and strong race, finishing in 1:34:37. He skipped the awards, but later found out that he placed 3rd in his age group in a very competitive field! Congratulations Stefan!
After Marissa Adams ran TransRockies last August, she dialed up her training for a big race. Unfortunately, that race was rescheduled twice and had a location change, which wasn't what Marissa had signed up for. She had to regroup, think about her running goals and what she wanted to accomplish. Her first stop was the Woodlands Half Marathon where she ran a consistent and strong race, finishing in 2:18:58! Congrats Marissa!
Jess Winnett ran the J & J 30 Mile Trail Race at Camp Eagle on 3/9/24. Camp Eagle is known for its' gnarly, rocky, technical trails and climbs. Jess knew that she was in for a challenge and the course didn't disappoint as she broke in some freshly cut trails. Jess finished 2nd female overall in a time of 7:43:12. Congratulations Jess!
Clint Oncken has a great work ethic when it comes to training. He ran some challenging, big races last year and started pushing towards other goals before he noticed something was missing. He recognized his need to dial it back and reconnect with what he loved about running. In time, he chose a technically challenging local race at Camp Eagle - The J & J 50 Mile Trail Race on 3/9/24. Clint ran an incredibly strong and steady race, finishing in 10:33:33 and taking 3rd male overall! Congrats Clint!
Anneke Durkan ran an outstanding race at the Prickly Pear 50K Trail Race on 3/10/24. She had previously won this race twice and had the course record of 4:43:36. Her goal was to improve her time by several minutes, but she ended up in a heated race and ran 15 minutes faster than her previous course record. Anneke ended up placing second with a time of 4:28:21, but it was a heck of a race and both women pushed one another to new personal records.Congratulations Anneke!
Katie Alexander ran the Prickly Pear 15K Trail Race on 3/10/24. Katie has run several trail races before, but she started training with more focus and it paid off. She jumped in with the first wave of runners and never took her foot off the gas, finishing 10th female in a time of 1:30:11. Congratulations Katie!
Alyssa Hayes participated in her second Hyrox competition on 3/16/24. She and her training partner, Amanda, finished 8th overall in a time of 1:08:04. They took nine minutes off of their time from their last competition in November. Congrats Alyssa and Amanda!
Kemper Dotson Completed the Prairie Spirit 100 Mile Trail Race on 3/23/24 in Ottawa, Kansas. She finished in a time of 29:13:56. It was a tough journey for Kemper to get to this finish line: she battled the mud and sloppy trails at the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler in February, only to miss the 80 mile cutoff by a few minutes. She had to recover from those miles and the disappointment, but also knew that the window was small to find another 100 miler that matched the terrain she had trained for. Kemper trained with all of her heart and approached this race with incredible determination, focus, and grit! Congratulations Kemper!
Marc Walker has been training consistently for 8 months. He has run numerous marathons, trail races, and one 50K which he hoped to improve his time on. He wondered about the miles beyond the marathon and how he would manage the aches, the boredom, and the fatigue. He wanted to challenge himself, but without the pressures of a race and cutoff times. He created a scenic route around Boerne that allowed him to refuel at home, had friends join in for different loops, and enjoyed having neighbors and friends waving and encouraging him on. I love a good do-it-yourself challenge and was totally thrilled to see Marc go after this one! He finished 50 miles in 13:11. Congratulations Marc!
Cecilia Vela started training to do a road marathon 10 months ago. She planned for several races, then had to cancel and start planning again. She settled on the Whiskey Basin Trail Half Marathon in Prescott, Arizona on 4/13/24. She said it was beautiful and involved technical trails and scrambling through boulders in some parts. This proved to be a much tougher challenge than a road half marathon, but Cecilia persevered and finished in 4:48. The only real disappointment was the empty whiskey glass at the finish. Congratulations Cecilia!
Stefan Grater just completed the Boston Marathon in a time of 3:53:43. This makes Stefan's marathon total somewhere around 20, although he has done Comrades Marathon twice, has completed numerous 50K's, 50 milers, and beyond. Stefan encountered a fateful hamstring injury three weeks before the race. He rested, treated the injury, and kept a fantastic attitude throughout the process. He went out strong, but knew by mile 11 what he had to do to finish and adjusted. Stefan commented that this was one of his proudest finishes. I am impressed by the flexible and grateful attitude Stefan carried and which made this race a special success! Congratulations Stefan!
Alyssa Hayes just ran the Jack And Jill Half Marathon in North Bend, Washington. Alyssa absolutely crushed this race and lowered her threshold pace by over 30 seconds after months of hot Texas Summer training. She set a new personal record by over 3 minutes with a finishing tome of 1:36:33! Congratulations Alyssa!
Anneke Durkan just completed the Oregon Cascades 100 miler in a time of 22:20. Anneke ended up placing 8th female in a very competitive field. I am very proud of Anneke for her patience and ability to problem solve throughout this race. She had to make adjustments to her nutrition and pacing, which helped her get the most out of herself and a fantastic result! Also, don't you think that the picture of her eating a pancake on the couch makes 100 milers seem cool and fun? Congratulations Anneke!
Dawn Folsom just completed her first road marathon at the Peacehealth Appletree Marathon in Vancouver, Washington. She ran an amazing and strong race, finishing in 3:30:03. In the process, she ran a negative split in the second half of the race, finished first female in the Masters Division, and was Fourth Female Overall. Her initial goal was to get a Boston qualifying time, which would have been 3:50. It's clear that she knocked out that goal quite handily! Congratulations Dawn!
Stefan Grater (left) and his brother, Gunter, trained for some high altitude adventuring in the San Juan Mountains. They covered 50 miles of the HardRock course in 2 days, going from the Lake City area to Telluride. They summited Handies Peak at 14,058 feet on the first day and over the notch at Kroger's Canteen on the second day. I believe that you could compare this effort with a Grand Canyon R2R2R crossing, except at much higher altitude! I think this was a really great adventure to share with a family member! Congratulations guys!
Benjamin Morlang just completed the Red feather Trail Jamboree 50 miler, Northwest of Ft. Collins, Colorado. Living in Houston has some distinct disadvantages when training for mountains, but Benjamin complimented his strength training by traveling to Huntsville and Bandera for trail time, as well as the Guadalupe Mountains for vert. Ben shared that the race was going fairly well until he got to the last aid station, learned that the course was slightly longer than 50 miles, and had to dig deep to get to the finish line ahead of cutoff. He did so and earned this great finisher award which was a jar of jam!Congratulations Benjamin!
Katie Alexander and two of her friends just completed the Kerrville Half Ironman Distance Triathlon as a relay team. Katie ran the half marathon, which started after her teammates completed the swim and bike legs of the race. It was 90 degrees when Katie started her leg, so she had to pace herself intelligently. We had talked about using this race as a training run and that was before we knew how hot it would get. I can't wait to see Katie crushing it as the weather cools a little! Congratulations to all three women of the "Tri-ing For A Break... From Our Kids" Team!
Alyssa Hayes just completed the Chicago Marathon in a time of 3:42:26. She ran a great race and outperformed my predictions after grinding through another Texas Summer of tough heat training. I know that she puts in a lot of hard work in her job as a coach and it seems impossible to calculate how much that counts. I believe that Alyssa is able to bring a little extra to the equation every time she races. Some people are better practice players and others just shine at game time. Congratulations Alyssa!
Clint Oncken completed the Cactus Rose 100 miler on 10/26/24 in a time of 30:52:39. He finished 7th overall. The race now starts at 4pm on Friday and runners must go through the night during the first 50 miles, leaving them sleep deprived as they face the heat the following day. Clint identified that he was contemplating dropping by mile 75, but took a short nap, ate a burger, and had his family and friends there to help him rally for his finish! Congratulations Clint!
This is my wife, Michele Genereux, after finishing the Cactus Rose 50 miler on 10/26/24. Cactus Rose is a washing machine style course with 25 mile loops which travel clockwise, then counter-clockwise. We crossed paths when she was at mile 22 and she was not having fun. I made some suggestions to help her stay focused on the goal of finishing, but what helped her get it done was making friends with a guy from Minnesota who was doing the 100 miler. She made it her mission to pace (Jack) to the finish and thereby guarantee her own finish. Congratulations Michele!
Sonya Alcocer-Charles ran the Recharge Trail Run 15K at Government Canyon State Natural Area on 11/2/24. She finished first in her age group and 6th female overall in a time of 1:41:15. What I appreciate is that Sonya runs with joyful energy - she exudes it! She is racing her way to bigger goals in 2025 and I can't wait to see it happen. Congratulations Sonya!
Jess Winnett finished the Wild Hare 50K on 11/16/24 in a time of 7:01:30. She was the second female overall and was closing on first, but ran out of real estate. In truth, Jess doesn't care as much about finish times or placement. She keeps signing up for Wild Hare because of the memories she has created there over six years. When you return to a race, year after year, you find a community, you make new connections, you work through the hard parts of the race and hopefully get the satisfaction of finishing. Maybe family and friends are there with you. New memories are created. Becoming a multi-year runner at the same race gives us a chance to self-reflect on how we change, but it's never a straight path - it twists and turns, much like Wild Hare. Congratulations Jess!
Sonya Alcocer-Charles completed the Rock & Roll Half Marathon on 12/8/24 in a time of 1:50:45. This was a two minute personal record for her, with her previous best being eight years ago. Sonya has a great history with RnRSA, having run it 14 times since 2008! On this day, she stepped into the idea that it was her time to do something special, she put in the work, and executed a great race. Congratulations Sonya!
Marc Walker ran theBCS Half Marathon on 12/8/24 with his son and Daughter in Law. He finished in 2:52. Marc identified ahead of time that he planned this as a fun family event, so there wasn't a smidge of performance pressure. It's a lot of fun to run a race where you can absorb all of the positive energy of the crowd, take in the sights, and be with family and/or friends. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it! Congratulations Marc and family!
Jess Winnett is a running coach with iRun Texas. She does a lot of her own training with her class members and finds ways to keep these people motivated, well trained, and engaged. Many of these individuals are not just class members, they are her friends. Several of them joined her in running the Tucson Marathon on 12/15/24. They agreed that Jess is selfless and rarely mentions her own goals. Jess ran a great race and PR'd with a time of 3:48:01. It was special to see her chase a goal time herself. Congratulations Jess!
Katie Alexander ran the Tucson Half Marathon on 12/15/24 and set a new personal record in a time of 1:56:07. Katie started training for this race in early May - she initially planned to run RnRSA, but didn't want to miss out on a fun trip with friends. Like everyone else, she struggled through the miserable Summer training and questioned how she was going to get faster as she succumbed to a lot of base building workouts. Katie has a fire inside to perform well. She trusted the process and improved her threshold pace by almost a minute during this race. As for her friends, she was there cheering each of them on as they finished their races. Congratulations Katie!
Oops, she dis it again! In less than two months since her finish at the Chicago Marathon, Alyssa Hayes ran an incredible race at the Tucson Marathon on 12/15/24. She improved her P.R. by six minutes and gave herself another Boston Qualifier with a time of 3:21:50. Alyssa wasn't sure she was going to be able to make the trip to Tucson until the last minute. She entered the race with no specific goals or expectations to stress over. She ran free. Congratulations Alyssa!
Ben Morlang completed the Bandera 100K at Camp Eagle on 1/11/25 in a time of 20:30:36. The venue change and new course provided a "next level" challenge for the runners. Ben encountered and unusual and difficult problem along the way: the hand warmer he was carrying got ripped open by a branch and some particles flew into his eye. This caused significant irritation and burning. Ben tried to clear his eye with eye drops at the aid stations, but the problem persisted. At the same time, Ben never waivered in his determination to get the 100K finish and new buckle. His eye is still healing, but his other eye is already looking ahead to other races. Congratulations Ben!
Katie Alexander just completed the Bandera 25K at Camp Eagle on 1/12/25 in a time of 4:46:41. She wasn't very excited about the venue change, but made the most of it by running the entire thing with 4 other friends. They made it look fun as they crossed the finish line together holding hands. Congratulations Katie!
Sonya Alcocer-Charles just completed the Bandera 25K at Camp Eagle on 1/12/25 in a time of 4:46:42. She wasn't very excited about the venue change, but made the most of it by running the entire thing with 4 other friends. They made it look fun as they crossed the finish line together holding hands. (Does this sound like the previous post? - Yup, they ran it together!) Congratulations Sonya!
Anneke Durkan just completed the Big Bend 50 miler on 1/19/25. She took first place female in a time of 8:36:06. This was another P.R. for Anneke, as she improved on her best by 20 minutes on a slightly longer course. The P.R. doesn't surprise me. Anneke is so dedicated to her training and I knew this course would suit her well. She had to work through an injury in early December and dial back the volume until a month out from the race, but then the green light was on. She paced herself perfectly and ran a great race! Congratulations Anneke!(Anneke is pictured with Race Director, Erik Stanley)
My wife, Michele Genereux, just completed the Big Bend 50K on 1/19/25 in a time of 7:37:12. And guess what? I ran the entire thing with her, although I think she tried to drop me at mile 18 when I stopped to get some rocks out of my shoes. This is one of her favorite races, but she was happy to be done after 50K this year. She has three 50 mile finishes here and a 35 mile DNF because of a wrong turn. It was chilly at the start, but turned out to be a great day on the trails. It was also a nice reminder to see how Michele knows how to get things done. Congratulations Michele!
Dawn Folsom just finished the Big Bend 50 miler on 1/19/25 in a time of 9:59:12. She was second female overall in what was her first attempt at the 50 mile distance. Dawn has just broken into ultra running this year and has shown that she has the strength and determination to do great things! She identified that her race wasn't perfect - she got off course a couple of times, but she stayed poised, backtracked, and continued to work through the miles. In doing so, she handled herself like an experienced ultra runner. Congratulations Dawn!
Marc Walker just completed the Big Bend 50K on 1/19/25 in a time of 7:25:01. This was a P.R. for Marc by over an hour! I'm not sure if Marc talked his friends into doing this race or how it was initially planned, but it seemed to work out well for all. I ran behind these guys in the early miles of the race and they all seemed to be having a great time. Marc identified that it was a first ultra for two of the guys in the group and all of them finished in great times! Congratulations on your race, Marc, and for introducing some friends to this great sport!(Marc is pictured on the left)
This past Saturday, Sonya Alcocer-Charles ran the Rocky Half Marathon Trail Race in Huntsville, TX and finished in a time of 2:29:30. Sonya had signed up for the 50k, but had been constrained by an injury for the past month. She decided that it would be smarter to see how much of the Half Marathon she could manage without pain. She was disappointed that she wasn’t running the 50k with several friends, but she ran a strong race and then was there at the finish line supporting all of her friends with their races. It can feel lousy when an injury, illness, or any variety of life stressors plays havoc on our training, plans, and races. Being able to make adjustments and accepting the situation seems to be a key part of moving forward. Sonya made the most of this situation by running what was reasonable and contributing to her friend’s experience! Congratulations Sonya!
Jess Winnett just completed the Rocky 50 miler in Huntsville, TX in a time of 11:12:45. The weather was a factor for all of the runners, but especially for the 50 milers, as the temperature reached the upper 80’s by mid afternoon. Jess ran an incredibly strong and consistent pace all day, as she was partially fueled by something that nobody else was aware of. Last Spring, Jess traveled to run a 50 mile race in another state. That particular race had extremely tight time cutoffs, which were enforced on her at mile 36.5. Most Ultra Runners will deal with a DNF (Did Not Finish) at some point, especially if they choose bigger and more difficult challenges. There are factors such as inclement weather, illness, injury, difficult terrain, getting off course, life stressors, tight time cutoffs, and the list goes on. Even when well trained, we can have a bad day. A DNF can create self doubt in the best of runners. If you have a DNF haunting you, just know that you’re not alone. And don’t stop challenging yourself. I applaud Jess for using her inner strength and this fuel to push to a great result! Congratulations Jess!
Hudson Moore just ran his first trail ultramarathon at the Rocky 50k in Huntsville, TX and finished in 6:19:22. Hudson is finishing up High School and preparing for College, but he has been chasing other challenges in his spare time. He had previously run several marathons and completed a DIY 50k a year ago. He took off with training from October through early December, then life got busy with exams, holidays, and trips. Hudson stayed focused on running his best race under the circumstances and had to face the added challenge of an unusually warm February race day. He performed extremely well! Hudson is very interested in this sport, enjoys a challenge, is highly motivated, and is a quick study. (He also knows how to spot an alligator just off the trails) I look forward to seeing what he does in the future! Congratulations Hudson!
Sarah Stone just started training last month with some fast goals in mind. Less than two weeks in, she asked what I thought about her running the Austin Marathon 5K race. My thought was “if you want to run it, I want you to run it “, plus we could use it as a benchmark of fitness. The race course was uphill for the first half, then downhill to the finish. Sarah ran it perfectly, picking up her pace with each mile. She finished in 23:44! I’m really excited for her and also excited to see where her racing goals take her this season. Congratulations Sarah!
This past Saturday, Anneke Durkan ran the Dos Senderos 50K trail race by Trail Roots. She placed first female and third overall in a time of 4:52:45. The race was held at Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort, TX. The trails were built by and for mountain bikers, so a lot of the grade on the climbs seem runnable. However, the technical nature of the trails requires quick feet and constant focus. Anneke demonstrated her range of skills, coming off a 50 miler P.R. and win at Big Bend six weeks ago, jumping into this quicker and more technical terrain, before she focuses on Summer training and the mountains. Congratulations Anneke! Well done!
This past Saturday, Richard McCue finished the Prickly Pear 50K in a time of 5:45:07. I have the privilege of coaching Rich as part of an opportunity through Band of Runners. Rich was in my group at the Band of Runners Camp this year, but even though camp I didn’t realize what a strong runner he is. I started helping him when he was already deep into training for this event and I was excited for him to have a good race day. Unfortunately, the weather forecast changed significantly and race day ended up being about 20 degrees warmer at the start than initially predicted. Still, Rich ran a great race and finished second in his age group. Congratulations Rich!
This past Saturday, Benjamin Morlang ran the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon and finished in a time of 4:53:53. This was a late decision to jump in this race, but Ben is gearing up for some big mountain races this Summer - what better way to get your long run done than join a fully supported course with the energy of a race! Ben ran a really consistent and well paced race too! Congratulations Ben!
This is Austin Bush. I initially met Austin at the Band of Runners Trail Camp in November and more recently have had the privilege of coaching him through Band of Runners. Austin’s longest run in the past was 12 miles. We have been talking about training for an ultra marathon, but have been working on building a strong base of fitness. After he completed several 8 mile runs, I suggested that he might try to do a DIY half marathon in the next month. Today he texted me ✅ done. Not only that, he did it pushing his adorable daughter in the jogger and finished it in 2:53! I absolutely love this kind of quest and accomplishment! Good on you Austin - way to aspire and inspire!
Kellie Fredsholm is another wonderful athlete whom I got to run with at the Band of Runners Camp this past year. I started coaching her through Band of Runners at the beginning of February. She was getting ready for the Prickly Pear 50k, then got sidelined with an injury. She has been working hard with a Physical Therapist and was cleared to start running again in the past two weeks. During that time, she completed her Virtual Prickly Pear 10k, then went and ran the Brazos Bend 10k this past weekend! It’s great to see Kellie back because she brings so much joy to everyone she runs with! Look out for Kellie knocking out some big goals this year! Congrats Kellie!
Michele Genereux, my wife, ran the Hells Hills 25K Trail Race this past Saturday and took first place Masters Female in a time of 3:11:05. My good friend, Chris Russell should have been a sports announcer or podcaster - he would have been the Howard Cosell or Dick Vitale of trail running. Chris used to say that winning the Masters award at a trail race at age 50 was like the guys jumping from the PGA to the Senior PGA and suddenly cleaning house of all the prize money. Michele did some of that at age 50, but she’s still doing it 10 years later! The women’s field had 12 out of 41 runners in the Masters category, so there was healthy competition. Michele was actually most excited about her owl for a prize. It even has a little spot for a birds nest in its belly. Congrats Michele!
This past weekend, Sarah Stone ran the Outlaw 10k, set a personal record, finished first in her age group, and was the fourth female overall in a time of 46:52. Sarah has had quite a journey to get here: she grew up playing competitive soccer and skiing. Running was a way to stay active in the past, but after running the Street to Feet 5k last year, she had the desire to do more. We initially met last March, but Sarah was bothered by some nagging injuries. We agreed to wait to begin training once these resolved. After multiple visits to various Ortho Doctors and Physical Therapists, one doctor suggested testing for autoimmune disorders. Sarah was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren’s Syndrome. She started treatment and began to feel good enough to train in January. She’s working to find a good balance on when and how much to push herself because she likes to run fast. When you go to a race and watch hundreds of runners, there are hundreds of stories that go with them. I asked Sarah if I could share her story because you never know who will be inspired or benefit from her example. I was inspired watching her race! Congratulations Sarah!
This past Monday, Dawn Folsom ran the 129th edition of the Boston Marathon. This was only her second road marathon. She qualified for Boston in September, then focused on training for a 50 mile trail race and did well at that race in January, then returned to the roads to prepare for Boston. Dawn’s initial goal was to have a good experience at Boston. She is always diligent about her training, so I knew she would be race day ready. About a month out, I noticed that Dawn was finishing every marathon pace interval stronger. We talked about some Ryan Hall tips for running this course and a strategy for her to improve on her first marathon time. However, Dawn completely blew away all race day expectations. She finished in 3:21:24, ran a negative split (second half of the race faster than the first), and improved on her previous best time by eight and a half minutes. Congratulations Dawn! You ran a fantastic race!
It seems like it was “Half Marathon Weekend” as there was a lot of racing and fun being had all over. Kevin Blanton ran the Hidden Hills Trail in Graham, TX., Matthew Allen ran the Pinckney Trail in Michigan, Anneke Durkan ran the Switchbacks Trail in Johnson City, TX., and Alyssa Hayes , Katie Alexander, Jess Winnett ran a DIY half in San Antonio with several other friends, which they dubbed the Topo Chico Half. Congratulations to all of you! A half marathon seems like the perfect distance to boost your endurance training and fitness, yet still have some of the day for family or a nap!
Kevin Blanton is an experienced trail runner, but hasn’t run any races over the last few years. He set a goal for early next year and has jumped in with both feet. He finished Hidden Hills Half Marathon three weeks ago in a time of 2:59:52, then took on Possum’s Revenge 17 miler this past weekend and finished in a time of 4:29:42. Both of these races were hilly and hot, which seems to be a predictable Texas trail race theme. It’s been fun to see Kevin progress back into racing shape so quickly. I’m looking forward to seeing more of it! Congratulations Kevin!
This past Saturday, Kellie Fredsholm ran the Desperado Gravel Run 20K with her husband, Peter, and finished in a time of 3:25:11. I imagine that it must have been a bonus to run this race after Kellie and her buddies in the Alamo City Trail Runners did some volunteer days to help get the trails and course race ready. Kellie described the race as challenging, rewarding, and fun! Congratulations Kellie!
This past weekend, Richard McCue ran the Great Springs Trail Race at Canyon Lake. He ran the 50K and finished in 8:37:46. A few weeks prior, Richard had taken on the 69 miler at Possum’s Revenge, but stopped at mile 34.5. He didn’t get any kind of breaks either day. Both days were hot and humid, which made for tougher miles and challenges cooling the body vs. blood getting to the muscles. Richard isn’t one to complain though. He’s an experienced ultra runner and he knows that Summers are tough in Texas. Congratulations on getting to the finish line Richard!
This past weekend, Richard McCue ran the SARR Texas Sun Showdown Half Marathon. This came one week after grinding out a hot and humid 50k at Canyon Lake. However, Rich put the hammer down on another hot day and ran his fastest half marathon in 12 years! He finished in 1:50:17. Congratulations Rich!
Running is often thought of as an individual sport, but Dawn Folsom has found a way to make it a team sport for the Summer. In the process, she has been doing some great speedwork as a precursor to Fall Marathon training. Dawn ran a couple of relays recently and her teams did quite well! At the Beach to Bay Marathon, she was on team Wolfpack Running. They finished first in the Masters 3 men/3 women division, in a time of 3:13:26. At the SARR Texas Sun Showdown Half Marathon, she was on team Tejas Runners. They finished first in the Open Co-Ed Division, in a time of 1:31:06. Congratulations on some speedy running and great teamwork Dawn!
Kellie Fredsholm has been working really hard over the past few months to get ready for a big race that is one month away. She’s been putting in a lot of time on her feet and asked about getting ready for night time running. On Saturday night, she ran the Capt’n Karl’s Muleshoe Bend 30k night race and paced herself beautifully to a 6:15:32 finish. Congratulations Kellie and keep up the great work!
I have had the privilege and pleasure to coach several athletes through Band of Runners. Andrew Edwards is one of these athletes who is preparing for a big race in the next month. This past weekend he ran an 8 hour race called Dawn to Dusk and accomplished his goal to get 6 loops and 28.15 miles in 7:39. Congratulations Andrew!
One of the things I love the most about the people I get to coach is that they love challenges of all shapes and sizes. A few weeks ago, Austin Bush entered a hot dog eating contest on a whim. 10 minutes of eating may not sound like an endurance event, but it’s a race! Austin didn’t know until the last minute that the hot dogs were a foot long and a quarter pound each, but he pulled out the win with 7 hot dogs and earned a cash prize! Congratulations Austin! So funny and so fun!!!
One week ago, Machelle Cochran-DeStefano decided to jump in the July 4th Rock It Half Marathon in Colorado Springs (at over 6,000 feet elevation). She managed the elevation well. Proof that training in the Texas heat and humidity does add to our fitness and tolerance. She finished in 2:16:12. Congratulations Machelle!
Anneke Durkan just completed the Cascade Crest 100 mile trail race in a time of 27:15:44. The race features 23k of elevation gain over the course of the loop. There are steep, technical sections, including a rope section. Fortunately, Anneke has been preparing herself over the past several years with other tough races and several hundred mile finishes. Anneke is originally from Washington State, so this was a bit of a homecoming for her. She identified the highlights for her included the incredible scenery of the Cascade Mountain Range, having the support of family, relatives, and friends, and having her trusty crew of Julia and Lance. Finally, she gave 5 stars to the race volunteers and support staff who made her feel cared for. It was a fantastic race and result - Congratulations Anneke!
This past Saturday, 8/2/25, Kellie Fredsholm finished the Badger Trail Race by Ten Junk Miles 100K in a time of 17:30:52. This was Kellie’s first 100K and first time running further than 50K. She trained hard for the past four months after rebounding from an injury in late February. She had a lot of positive support from her husband and family, her running buddies in the Alamo City Trail Runners, as well as all of her Band of Runners people! However, when it came to crunch time and Kellie was all by herself for hours, it was her own determination that got it done! Congratulations Kellie!
This past Saturday, 8/2/25, Andrew Edwards finished the Badger Trail Race by Ten Junk Miles 100K in a time of 20:09:00. It was his first 100K and first time going further than 28 miles! Andrew had anticipated a variety of aches and pains in going this distance and he was not disappointed. What impresses me is that Andrew stands at 6 feet, 3 inches & weighs in at 260 pounds. Imagine your favorite NFL tight end trying to run 62 miles - not likely. Andrew had his friend and training partner, Shane, also taking on the 100K. They initially planned to run together, but Andrew wisely decided to run his own race. He enjoyed the Band of Runners aid station support the most. He also identified that the satisfaction of completing this challenge is something that will stay with him much longer than the aches and pains. Congratulations Andrew!
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