Bayou City Road Runners
The Bayou City "Fun" Runners...
Formed in 1984, the Bayou City Road Runners (BCRR) has grown into a very unique and distinctive running club in Houston. Many club members are "serious" runners, some do it to control weight, some do it for fitness, some for the challenge, but one very common theme among BCRR members is "let's have fun". Members span the spectrum from among the fastest in Houston to, frankly, some of the best back of the packers. To be a member, you don't have to be fast, you don't have to run long distances, in fact
you don't even have to run, you just have to think that it's a good idea. And one other thing, you have to like purple, because that's the team color.
Parties, Gatherings, and Banquets...
The real reason many of us are members is the great social agenda. The basic weekly Wednesday evening gathering at Valhalla , a pub on Rice campus is the focal point for members. Rain or shine, all year long, members gather for beer, peanuts, pretzels and conversation after a run around campus or just after work. We have bimonthly Happy Hours around town and a regular Sunday morning post run breakfast. We party after almost every HARRA Championship race and sometimes for no reason at all. We have an annual Christmas Party, "Carbo Loading" dinner before the Houston Marathon, an "Awards Banquet" in May.
Road Trips...
Yes, there are road trips. We've sent groups to the Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Dublin, Berlin, and Warsaw Marathons as well as New York, Boston, Chicago, Austin and Dallas. We always have a number of teams running the Corpus Christi Relay Marathon every year. Trips are being planned for relays, more overseas marathons and races.
Running and Training...
Because we have members of all abilities its easy to find someone to train with. On Wednesdays there are at least two separate group of various speeds starting from Rice University. This is done so that no one has to go too far to get to Valhalla (beer) after the run. On Sunday mornings two groups start out from Memorial Park for longer runs. The time and distance of these runs vary depending upon the weather and the season. This one is usually followed by breakfast. We all do the best we can to participate in HARRA Championship races but that is certainly optional.
Power to the Purple...
BCRR is not without its running achievements. We've been the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) Club Champs for the Spring season 12 years running (1995 - 2006) and before that in 1992 and 1993. We were Master Men Champs: 1993, 1995 and Spring 2005 ? 2008; Master Women Champs: 1993, Spring 1994, 1995 and 1998, and Fall 2000 through Spring 2003, Fall 2005 and Spring 2006, Open Women Champs Spring 1993-1994, Fall 1999 and 2001, and Spring and Fall 2005. With the addition of the Veterans Division in 2005, we have been Veteran Men Champs Fall 2005 and 2007, and Spring 2005-2007. Veteran women have been champs Spring 2006, Fall 2007, and Spring 2008. Although we have had many exceptional runners,, don't get scared, and don't be too impressed. We'll be the first to admit, we did it because we had participation. Everyone contributed just by finishing. And talking about finishing, each year awards are given to BCRR members who have distinguished themselves through their running. The "Most Valuable Runner" awards are given at the End of Season "Awards Banquet" in May and are weighted toward participation in HARRA Fall and Spring Series Races.