Get Active! Fun Running and Cycling Events to Kick Off 2011!

2011 is here!  What is your plan for the new year?  Let’s make this decade an active one!  There are a lot of great fun family and competitive athletic events in the Houston area during the first few months of the new year.  And what a great way to build memories with your family and friends!   I ran the Half Marathon at the Texas Marathon in Kingwood on 1/1/11 and set a personal record!  Before you get too impressed…I am NOT fast!  There were plenty of folks who finished before me, but I’m thrilled to say that I got up very early on New Years Day, drove to Kingwood and finished 13.1 miles much faster than I did 3 years ago before I was 40! 

So if you want to live a healthier life (and who doesn’t?)  Join me in a little challenge!  Pick an event or two (or more!) from the following list and take the next step to a healthy and active new life.  Whether you are a super competitive athlete or just regular everyday busy person (like me), there’s something here for everyone.  Come on, it will be fun!!  What do you say?

Surfside Shuffle - January 15, 2011 at Surfside Beach TX
5K, 10K & Kids’ Run on the beach!

USA Fit Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K – January 16, 2011 in Sugar Land TX
Everyone is welcome to participate.  Finish time for the marathon is a full 8 hours.

Gateway Academy Gryphon’s Flight Bike Ride - January 16, 2011 in Hockley TX
25 Mile & 40 Mile rides benefiting Gateway Academy.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Brazos Bend Keep On Truckin’ Trail Races - January 16, 2011 at Brazos Bend State Park in Needville TX
Half Marathon, Marathon & 50K Ultra on trails through the park!  8 hour time limit on all events.

Dawson Winter Dash 5K & Family Fun Run - January 22, 2011 in Pearland TX
Benefits the Dawson High School Eagle Band and Catalyst Color Guard.

Rockets Run 2011 – January 22, 2011 at Toyota Center in Houston TX
2 Mile Walk, 5K Fun Run, and Kids 1K.

Frost Ur Fanny Duathlon - January 23, 2011 at Bear Creek Park
3 Mile Run, 15 Mile Bike, 2 Mile Run.  Individual & Relay competitions.

Frost Bike 50 Bike Ride – January 23, 2011 in Cypress TX
17 Mile, 45 Mile, and 55 Mile routes.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Texas Children’s Hospital 3K & 1K Kids’ Fun Run/Walk - January 29, 2011 in Houston TX
Open to everyone in grades K-8 (ages 5-15 years) including children with special needs.

Bike Through The Forest – January 29, 2011 in Kingwood TX
12 Mile, 25 Mile, 33 Mile and 46 Mile rides.  A BP MS 150 Recommended Ride.

Chevron Houston Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K - January 30, 2011 in Houston TX
Host of the USA Half Marathon Championships and the 2012 US Olympics Team Trials Marathon.

Puddle for the Ducks Bike Ride – February 5, 2011 in Katy TX
30 Mile, 37 Mile, 48 Mile & 70 Mile rides departing Sun & Ski Sports at Katy Mills Mall.  Benefits Ducks Unlimited.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

The Bill Crews Remission Run - February 5, 2011 in Conroe TX
5K, 1 Mile Kids Race, and 1 Mile Family Walk.

Golden Girls Gold Rush Cycling Classic - February 6, 2011 in Montgomery TX
25, 44, & 65 Mile routes.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Major Taylor Commemorative Ride - February 6, 2011 in Houston TX
35, 50, & 72 Mile rides benefiting the Houston Bicycle Museum.

Texas Med 5K Fun Run/Walk - February 12, 2011 in Houston TX
Benefits the Hospital District’s Mammography Services.

Piney Woods 10 Mile and 5K Trail Run - February 12, 2011 in New Caney TX
Run through the trails at Lake Houston Wilderness Park.

Pedaling the Prairie - February 12, 2011 at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead TX
24 Mile, 45 Mile, 55 Mile & 71 Mile routes benefiting Faith West Academy in Katy.  A BP MS 150 Recommended Ride.

Jail Break Run 1/2 Marathon - February 12, 2011 in Baytown TX
Benefits the Baytown Municipal Police Officers Association and the Marcus Lee Zaruba Criminal Justice Foundation Scholarship.

Run Away With My Heart Trail Run - February 12, 2011 in Spring TX
5 Mile Run, 3 Mile Run/Walk, and a 1 Mile Kids Run.

Counseling For A Cure - February 13, 2011 in Clear Lake TX
5K and 1K Family Fun Run at UH Clear Lake.  Benefits Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Ride to the Rescue - February 13, 2011 in Manvel TX
33 Mile, 43 Mile and 60 Mile routes.  Benefiting animal rescue groups.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Humble Lions Club Bike Ride - February 19, 2011 in Humble TX
25 Mile, 46 Mile, 55 Mile rides.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon & Half Marathon - February 20, 2011 in Galveston TX
No time limit on the Half Marathon.  6 Hour time limit on the Marathon.

Bulldog Bike Ride & Pancake Breakfast – February 26, 2011 in Waller TX
25 Mile, 32 Mile & 50 Mile routes.  Benefits Waller Jr High.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run - February 26, 2011 in Houston TX
Kick off the Houston Rodeo by running down the parade route (before the horses).  5K & 10K.

Surfside Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Crazy Hard 50K - February 26, 2011 at Surfside Beach
Starts and ends on the beach!

Gator Ride - March 5, 2011 in Baytown TX
33 Mile, 43 Mile, 51 Mile & 62 Mile routes.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.  + a 6.2 Mile Family Ride! 

Continental Airlines Cycling Classic - March 6, 2011 in Montgomery TX
25 Mile, 47 Mile & 67 Mile rides with hills.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Brookwood Benefit Bike Ride - March 12, 2011 in Brookshire TX
28 Mile, 42 Mile, 54 Mile & 70 Mile routes.  Benefits The Brookwood Community.

Bayou City Classic 10K Run & Walk - March 12, 2011 in Houston TX
Special categories for participants in costumes and centipedes (6 attached runners)!

The Great Escape Bike Ride – March 13, 2011 in Pearland TX
Details to be announced soon.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

B-geO Magnolia Miles Bike Ride - March 19, 2011 in Magnolia TX
30 Mile, 41 Mile & 71 Mile routes.  A BP MS 150 Recommended Ride.

Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon & Half Marathon - March 19-20, 2011 in Seabrook TX
Run the Half Marathon or the Marathon, or take on the Pelican Challenge by running the 1/2 on both Saturday and Sunday.  And then there’s the Trail Challenge: run the 1/2 Marathon on Saturday and the full Marathon on Sunday!  You can also compete as part of a relay team.

Galveston Beach 5K Run & Eco Duathlon - March 26, 2011 in Galveston TX
2 choices here:  a 5K Run or a Duathlon featuring a 2 Mile Run, an 8 Mile Bike, and another 2 Mile Run!

Schlumberger Education Expedition – March 26, 2011 in Missouri City TX
A BP MS150 Recommended Bike Ride benefiting Fort Bend Education Foundation.

Bluebonnet Express - March 27, 2011 in Waller TX
30 Mile, 54 Mile, 68 Mile, and 75 Mile rides.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Angie’s 1/2 Crazy 1/2 Marathon – March 27, 2011 in Clear Lake
Participate as an individual or as part of a relay team.  Time limit is 4 hours.

Gateway to the Bay Triathlon Festival – April 2-3, 2011 in Kemah TX
Choose from a Sprint Distance Triathlon:  500 Meter Swim, 12 Mile Bike, 3.1 Mile Run or an Olympic Distance Triathlon:  1,500 Meter Swim, 24.85 Mile Bike, 6.2 Mile Run.

Gateway 5K & Kids 1K – April 3, 2011 in Kemah TX
Enjoy the hype and fun of the Triathlon Festival without competing in a triathlon!

Gran Fondo: Texas TMCO – April 3, 2011 in Hockley TX
25 Mile recreational ride for all ages, and 42 Mile, 100K, and 100 Mile rides.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Katy Ram Challenge – April 9, 2011 in Katy TX
12 Mile, 35 Mile, 46 Mile, 62 Mile & 74 Mile routes.  Benefiting Mayde Creek High School’s Mighty Ram Band.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Lonestar Triathlon – April 10, 2011 in Galveston TX
A long distance triathlon:  1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike, and 13.1 Mile Run.

Space Race – April 11, 2011 at Gulf Greyhound Park in Houston TX
20 Mile, 40 Mile, 62 Mile, 78 Mile and 101 Mile routes!  A BP MS150 Recommended Bike Ride.

BP MS 150 Bike Ride – April 16-17, 2011 departing Rhodes Stadium in Katy TX
The Granddaddy of local fundraising bike rides!  Ride from Houston to Austin to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Hippity ROC Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk – April 23, 2011 in Cypress TX
5K is open to everyone ages 5+.  Half Marathon has a time limit of 3.5 hours.  Benefits Run Over Cancer.

Green 6.2 – April 23, 2011 at Town & Country CityCentre
An eco-friendly 10K Run/Walk and Kids 1K Fun Run.

Step By Step 5K & Kids 1K – April 30, 2011 in Houston TX
Benefits Trinity Lutheran School.

Whew!  That’s quite a list for the first 4 months of 2011!  So which one(s) will you pick?  Did we miss any?  If so, leave a comment and let us know so we can add to the fun!  Have a healthy 2011!!!

Profile on Katy Business: Fort Bend TaeKwonDo

The kids have been back in school for a couple of weeks now and as we all settle into our new routines, it’s time to start thinking about new activities.  Whether you want to get in shape, find something to keep the kiddos busy, or start a new family adventure, Fort Bend TaeKwonDo can help!

Fort Bend TaeKwonDo

Located on South Mason Road just North of the Westpark Tollway (FM 1093), Fort Bend TaeKwonDo offers martial arts training for everyone ages 3 and up.  From personal experience I can tell you that TaeKwonDo is a great family activity!  My entire family took TaeKwonDo lessons when I was in Junior High, one brother was in Elementary School and one brother was in Preschool.  My parents saw it as a healthy activity that we could all participate in together.  For them it was a great way to relieve stress and squeeze some exercise into hectic schedules while developing a common interest with their children.  As kids we learned focus and self-control while having a great time and building confidence.  I highly recommend the sport of TaeKwonDo.  I’m sure that the lessons we learned through our experience in the studio helped us in school and helped define who we are now as adults.  And mine is not the only family who enjoyed TaeKwonDo together…

Lou, Ellie & Carol Anatrella

Meet the Anatrella family, owners of FortBend TaeKwonDo.  Head Instructor Carol Anatrella began practicing TaeKwonDo in 1997, earning her Black Belt in 2002.  She is now a 4th Degree Black Belt and a Senior Certified Instructor.  Lou Anatrella joined his wife in the sport in 2003 and received his Black Belt in 2005.  Their daughter, Ellie, is a Sophomore at Seven Lakes High School.  She took up TaeKwonDo in 2002 (at age 7), received her Black Belt in 2004 and now holds a 2nd Degree Senior rank.  Ellie Anatrella is recognized as a Junior Certified Instructor.  Their son Jonathan, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, earned his 1st Degree Black Belt before retiring from the sport.  He recently became an Eagle Scout. 

As a team, the Anatrella Family’s goal is to help Katy Area families grow stronger.  Fort Bend TaeKwonDo is a Nationally Certified School featuring a family-focused, positive atmosphere.  They offer classes six days a week with special times for children, teens, adults and families.  And if you want to get into shape but aren’t crazy about the idea of sparring as part of your training, check out their KicknFit program…”a lighter version of TaeKwonDo with all of the fun and none of the contact”!

As they say at Fort Bend TaeKwonDo:  “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great!”  What are you waiting for?  Fort Bend TaeKwonDo is located at 6840 S Mason Rd.  Their phone number is 281.599.3331.  You can also learn more about them by visiting their website:  FortBendTKD.com.  Tell them you read about them on GetToKnowKaty!

UPDATE 09/21/2010:  Congratulations to Ellie Anatrella…She is now a 3rd Degree Black Belt!!

Profile on Katy Business: Athletic Nation

Travel to the corner of Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Mason Road and you will find Athletic Nation, a full-service fitness and nutrition education facility staffed by experienced, licensed personal trainers who believe in one-on-one attention.  And they have an interesting story on what brought them here…

Will Denyko, Owner: Athletic Nation

Owner Will Denyko is an 11-year veteran of the U.S. Army who served in Iraq.  His post-military career began in oilfield services during which time he found himself moving through New Mexico, Louisiana and Texas including the Houston area.  It was during this time that Will began to gain weight.  When he had trouble physically fitting into areas that were required for his work on oil rigs, he knew he had to make a change.  Through months of research, Will learned to change his nutritional habits and began to exercise.  As his health and physical appearance improved, friends began to ask him for guidance and advice.  Will saw an opportunity to help others change their lives, and decided to pursue formal education to become a personal trainer. 

While he was working as a professional fitness trainer at a large national gym, Will met fellow trainer (and Mayde Creek alum) Adrian Gonzalez.  Will and Adrian share the belief that working with a personal trainer should be about more than just a 20 or 30 minute appointment running through exercises.  They started Athletic Nation to provide personal attention to each client, to learn their goals and their history in nutrition and fitness…to answer questions and provide guidance…to teach proper form and nutrition.  Denyko and Gonzalez believe that time spent with clients in one-on-one counseling is critical to success.

The Athletic Nation model is based on what Will and Adrian believe are the “3 Keys to Success:  Dedication, Motivation & Determination”…all things that folks tend to apply to the education and

Adrian Gonzalez, General Manager: Athletic Nation

career facets of their lives, but often forget in regard to their health.  So what can you expect when you walk in to Athletic Nation?  personal consultation with a Certified Fitness Professional, nutrition education, fitness assessments, 2-3 weeks of foundation building followed by re-assessments…a full, truly customized fitness program based on mini-goals and progress.

Perhaps Will says it best, “It’s not a body style change, it’s a lifestyle change”.  

Are you ready to change your life?  Athletic Nation is located at 2944 S Mason, Suite F, Katy, TX 77450 (in the Compass Bank strip center at Cinco Ranch Blvd).  Call them at 281.693.3656 or visit their website:  http://www.athleticnationhtx.com.