WoodlandsFit Half Way There Party

I have always thought that the "Half Way There Party" that the USAFit programs have on the their schedule are a very good idea. You’ve survived the summer months of oppressive heat and humidity and now you’re faced with holidays and short daylight hours. The party gives everyone a chance to celebrate surviving the summer and to re-focus on the task at hand. I’ve attended a few of the WoodlandsFit versions in past years as a guest and they’ve been fun.

This year I’m a part of the celebration and have an opportunity to do something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. Our guest speaker tomorrow morning is Jeff Wells. Jeff is the Senior Pastor at WoodsEdge Community Church where I attend. My personal belief is that church is not the place to talk about running. When my daughter was running cross-country and track in high school she competed against one of Jeff’s daughters. At the meets we were both focused on supporting our kids.

Tomorrow morning we will have a question and answer format. I will introduce Jeff and then ask him a few questions….here is a preview.

Dan Green won the first Houston Marathon in 1972. (I’ll mention that Dan was one of the football coaches at Pearland at the time and that he had planned on running another event. Pearland made the playoffs and Dan had to change to the Houston Marathon…which he didn’t lead until mile 26) Many don’t know that a couple of Rice students, Jeff Wells and John Lodwick, also ran the race.

Q1 - Why did you run the first Houston Marathon, tell us about your experience ?

In 1976 Jeff won the Houston Marathon.

Q2 - What was winning the marathon in 1976 like ?

In 1978 Jeff finished 2nd at the Boston Marathon to Bill Rodgers in the closest finish to date (2 seconds). What many don’t know is that Jeff ran Boston in 1977 and led the race then faded back after heartbreak hill.

Q3 - What did you learn in 1977 at Boston, how do you refocus after an effort that doesn’t go well ?

Jeff became a Christian while at Rice University.

Q4 - What was your experience as a Christian while competing in college, while running for Nike, and what does it mean to you now ?

Rich Cooper, the WoodlandsFit organizer, will then continue the interview and then we’ll open it up to our runners and walkers.

Tomorrow will be a special day.


(Jeff did a sermon titled "The Real Marathon" that used his 1977 Boston experience on May 5 & 6th. You can listen to it here.)