Twenty-year-old Merima Mohammed of Ethiopia overcame leg problems and cold, wet conditions to run the second-fastest ever women’s race at the 2013 Chevron Houston Marathon. Mohammed ran the first half of the race with Buzunesh Deba (ETH) and Meskerem Assefa (ETH) and that pack stayed together through 33km, when Mohammed made a strong move and…

Twenty-two year old Bazu Worku of Ethiopia ran away with the men’s title at the 2013 Chevron Houston Marathon. Worku, who had been running in a pack of nine early in the race, came through the half at 65:25 with five others. But by 25km, he had opened up a 50 second lead over Solomon…

Jenel Ed Age: 28 Occupation: Admissions Counselor at HBU Hometown: Richmond, TX Marathons completed: this will be her first For Jenel Ed, her reasons for running are “less visible to the eye” because they’re beneath the surface of things. However, the positive outcomes can be seen clearly in her life. She says “there are things…

Eder Reyes Age: 28 Hometown: Houston, TX Marathons: His first This year’s Chevron Houston Marathon is special to Eder because he “will be running his first marathon alongside his three uncles.” He and his uncles have already successfully completed two races together, both of which were half marathons. Their first half marathon was last year’s…

David Odom Occupation: Technical Specialist Age: 55 Hometown: Cypress, TX Marathons: More than 28 David began running again in his mid-40′s, as a way to lose weight and regain his previously held good fitness. Though he and running’s relationship truly started back in his high school years in order for him to feel like he…

James Oltman San Antonio, TX Running for James Oltman has been a long process that started in 2010. Oltman had issues with his weight; he was 281 pounds and only 5’10. “I was tired of never being taken seriously either in social settings or professional settings,” said Oltman. “I knew a needed to make a…

Pamela Gray Verhulst Hometown: LaCrosse, WI Occupation: Director of Health & Wellness//Associate Faculty at University of Phoenix-Wellness, Nutrition, Health//Assistant Men’s and Women’s Track Coach – NCAA Ripon College//and Doctoral Learner – Sports Management/Leadership at United States Sports Academy Pamela Gray Verhulst has numerous accomplishments; not only in her running career, but she has also overcome health setbacks,…

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…

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…

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’…