Race Review – 52nd Houston Half Marathon – Interview with athletes Glenna Toomey and Savanna Tryon of Boise, ID
[Author’ Note: While we finish a few more stories for various sites and zines, two intrepid members of my running club went and tore up the 52nd Chevron Houston Half Marathon. This club, the Boise Area Runners, has strong athletes across multiple disciplines – both breadth and depth in myriad outdoor activities – as well as an ironclad sense of camaraderie. Over the course of the year, some of them will travel the globe and report back on various runs, climbing expeditions, skiing trips, and other extreme outdoor adventures. In today’s edition two spirited, twenty-something speedsters, Glenna Toomey and Savanna Tryon check in with their hilarious hijinks, madcap misadventures, and rad results in the land of Astros, Rockets, George Bush and Megan Thee Stallion…]
JAY: Why Houston?
SAVANNA: We wanted someplace warm!
GLENNA: Well, that was her reason.
(Laughter)
GLENNA: (cont’d) This was my third time doing the race. And we have a friend who lived in Boise, but moved to Austin and joined a running group there. He and his club drive down for this race every year. So, we joined up with them, got to see our friend, and ran a big city race. It was a great time all around.
JAY: What prep work did you do regarding the race course?
SAVANNA: Glenna told me the course was pancake flat and that was a LIE!!!. It was a fluffy pancake.
JAY: A what?!
(Laughter)
GLENNA But it’s pretty flat…
SAVANNA: No, there was elevation! I had to go up that one hill at Mile 8!
GLENNA: I know, I know!!
[Author’s Note: The following graph shows a whopping 213 feet of maximum elevation change over the 26.2 miles…]
JF: How much major race experience do each of you have, and what goals did you set for yourselves for this race?
SAVANNA: This was my biggest race, the largest in terms of size. Before that was the Nashville Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I ran my previous PR there, and got to run the race with my Mom, my sister, and her husband
GLENNA: I ran the Boston Marathon in 2023. That was the most culturally significant race I’ve ever run, and the field is massive. It was so cool. My favorite part was mile 13 when you get to something called the Scream Tunnel; you can hear it from a mile away. It’s where Wellesley College is located, and it’s where just about all of the college kids come out and form this massive tunnel and SCREAM and SCREAM and SCREAM!!! And they offer you kisses.
JF How many kisses did you give out?
(Laughter)
GLENNA: (excitedly) I didn’t give out any!! I was going for time! I wasn’t going to stop for a kiss!
JF: Take us chronologically through about your training regimen, from signing up to race day.
GLENNA: Well, we both followed the exact same training plan because we trained together. We started in October, the week before I had a big test in actuarial science. We used plan a from “our buddy” Johnny Moeller. He’s a professional marathoner and Olympian. We just call him our buddy because we like to use his training methods; he puts them on www.trainingpeaks.com.He has plans set out with specific time goals. We picked the 1:25 mark for the 13.1 miles.
SAVANNA: (nodding) I stuck to it just about 100 percent. Really, like 98%; I did not stray. Mondays are days off, Tuesday are track days or hills.
JF: Where in the hills? Boise has so many options for terrific hill training.
SAVANNA: Military Trail. The hills there are strong. Wednesday is easy run, 6 miles or so, then Thursday was a long run…
GLENNA: Yeah like 9 miles-ish
SAVANNA: Friday is tempo run – intervals and such.
GLENNA: Or we would do a 10-mile steady-state run: not quite threshold pace but a little slower.
SAVANNA: Saturday is an easy 6-7 miles, and then Sunday was long run – we got up to 16 miles!
JF: On a scale of 1-10 how prepared did you feel for the race with that regimen?
SAVANNA: I’d say like a 9. He had a great mix of speed runs and long runs…
GLENNA: Yeah, we got up to a high mileage for a half, and so I didn’t get tired at all. We had great endurance.
JF: How were the Boise-to-Houston logistics for air transport? Ground transport? Getting around?
GLENNA: (rolls eyes knowingly): Ha! Getting there was easy.
SAVANNA: Flight to Dallas, and then Dallas to Houston
GLENNA: And then a rental car from there.
SAVANNA: Yes, but then the line at the rental car agency was huuuuuge.
GLENNA: Yes. Budget was the cheapest, so everyone had booked on Budget and there was a 2 hour line. So we cancelled that reservation and rebooked on Alamo.
SAVANNA: Yes, but then we couldn’t get into our AirBnb! We had them give us five or six different codes, and none of them worked. By then it was 10 pm, and we had been on the road since 10 am. Luckily it was NOT the night before race day.
JF: Was the place okay?
GLENNA: No, we’ve decided the whole place was haunted. For openers, all the codes started to work for everyone but me. Then the doors would randomly open. Then the faucets would turn on and off by themselves.
SAVANNA: But what convinced me it was haunted was how everything started getting better when Glenna started being nice to the ghosts.
JF: Well, that’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re in their space after all.
GLENNA: Yes, that’s always the story. That’s just how that works. So at first I was sure the ghosts hated me the most, because I couldn’t open any of the doors even after they worked for other people.
JF: You actually stayed the night there? In Scooby-Doo’s house? Glenna, your new nickname is Dangerprone Daphne.
SAVANNA: So, on Saturday morning we met our friend and his running group – Rogue Running. They’re from Austin but have a large national membership and lots of virtual members, and so many of them from across the country were in town for the race. We ran with a lady from Michigan that morning.
SAVANNA: We went to the expo on the day off as well.
GLENNA: Yes, the expo was massive. Tracksmith in particular was memorable as they had a big hipster VW bus all tricked out and a huge Brooks section.
SAVANNA: There were famous athletes there as well. Des Linden and Kara Goucher were there to make appearances or give lectures. They are former Olympians in the marathon. We didn’t get to see them; we just missed them.
JAY: Who did you get to see?
GLENNA: Nobody! We just bought some overpriced arm warmers.
JAY: Overpriced arm warmers?
GLENNA: Yes. It was cold! It was like 20 degrees, and we were thinking we’d be running in a crop top and shorts! We bought arm sleeves so we didn’t freeze the next morning and, of course, they were out in many places, so we had to hunt all over. I bought $50 arm sleeves!
SAVANNA: Mine were $30 actually
GLENNA: Yeah, but they were worth it.
SAVANNA: Totally.
JF: What is your typical night-before-race-day ritual, and did you deviate at all from the norm for you?
GLENNA: We ate sushi. Which is my usual pre-race ritual. There is a restaurant in Houston called Handies Douza specializing in gourmet hand rolls. We must have had five or six hand rolls each!
JF: Five or six each??
GLENNA: They were small; they weren’t like the big ice cream comes you see at garden variety places. These were more traditional in size, shape, and fillings. They were so good, we asked the sushi chef, “What’s the record for the most hand rolls eaten there?”
JAY: You sound like Larry Bird asking for the scoring record in the basketball gym he was playing in…
GLENNA: I was serious, and there was a number! As it turns out, they have a yearly hand roll eating competition, and the record is 36!
JF: Take us through the race as you experienced it.
SAVANNA: Glenna sounded awful when she woke up. So, I was really nervous, because my race plan was to follow Glenna.
GLENNA: I was sick leading up to the race and it peaked on race day.
JF: But that can work in your favor too. Arnold Palmer won his only U.S. Open in 1960 sick as a dog. And he had to walk 36 holes that Saturday.
GLENNA: Well maybe that’s true, because even though I didn’t hit my target time of 1:25, (I ran 1:29), but for how sick I was I had a better-than-decent race.
SAVANNA: I felt 100%, though nervous for Glenna. We started near the 2:55 marathon pacers, and I thought this might be too slow. But I have a bad habit of starting off too fast…always too fast…and Glenna kept me on pace for the first two miles, which we ran together. Then I sped up. I really don’t remember much of the rest of the first half of the race – I had made a friend and was chatting with them, but they were a marathoner and split off at the 8 Mile mark. But then at Mile 9 there was a roundabout, and Glenna and I saw each other, so we got to wave and give each other some encouragement. Then the wind kicked up, and miles 10-12 were the windiest of the whole race.
GLENNA: Yes, there were also 30-40 mile an hour wind gusts when we woke up that morning for a 7 am race start.
SAVANNA: Then the last few miles we emptied out into a chute that stretched a long way to the finish line.
GLENNA: Yes, and it was strange this year since when I ran that race before there were lots of spectators lining that tunnel, but due to the cold and wind this year there weren’t as many. I stayed at a 6:40 mile pace the whole race because I knew I wasn’t in a good place for a faster time. I held that pace till just past halfway, then fell off a little bit.
JF: How do you feel your game plan for the race worked out?
GLENNA: My thinking was that I really had to break 1:30 so I didn’t allow myself to slow down that much. I was also trying to figure out how far behind Savanna I was! Miles 10-12 were tough with that wind.
SAVANNA: To give you some idea of how bad the wind was, Connor Mantz slowed down a full 10 seconds per mile during that section. Even so the American half marathon records for both the men and women were broken! Connor Mantz ran the half in 59:17 and Weini Kelati in 1:06:09!
GLENNA: That was massive, truly amazing. He managed a 4:32 pace.
JF: What worked well about the whole trip – including the race – and what would you do differently next time?
GLENNA: Not get sick!
SAVANNA: Yes! Luckily she did not share her germs. I thought for sure I’d wake up sick on race day
GLENNA: But you hung out with me all week!
SAVANNA: I know that’s why!
(Laughter)
JF: Other than that?
SAVANNA: Not much – everything was perfect.
GLENNA: Yes, our plan worked really well.
SAVANNA: Yes, better than Nashville
JF: Why? What happened there?
SAVANNA: There was a fire alarm at 11:00 pm after I’d already been sleeping for two hours, and we had to stand outside for at least 30 minutes when we had to get up at 4 am. I thought I was gonna totally blow the race…but I didn’t.
JF: So I guess you’d recommend your itinerary and training plan to all the readers?
SAVANNA: Everything except getting out of town. We caught the beginning of Winter Storm Enzo!
GLENNA: Which we jokingly named Cold Front Enzo, because it got CHILLY!
SAVANNA: We had gotten back from after-race brunch and were watching the NFL playoff games when the local news came on. They had the Mayor on TV making an emergency announcement saying “We’re closing the airport on Tuesday,“ and we were supposed to be leaving on Tuesday.
GLENNA: And then the Mayor said, “Wherever you are at 6pm Monday night, prepare to stay there through Wednesday. Get your water get your food get your supplies.”
JF: Oh, lemme guess! “Bread and milk! Bread and milk!”
GLENNA: Right. So, then Savanna sprung into action saying, “Don’t worry! I thriiiiiiiive on this!”
SAVANNA: I ordered two pizzas and two dozen cookies.
JF: Total pro move…
SAVANNA: We had decided to finish our time in Houston with an exciting trip to the grocery store to get more food, but we woke up on Monday morning we found out the airline had rebooked our flight to Thursday! We thought NO THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK, so we figured out a plan to get out of Houston that day
JF: Okay, how?
SAVANNA: We drove two hours to Austin, and flew out of Austin, because all the flights out of Houston were booked! Everyone in the race was in the same boat. We had to drive to Austin, then fly to Portland, and then fly BACK EAST to Boise.
GLENNA: It was good we did, because it snowed five inches in Houston, and everything closed, even NASA, which we wanted to visit.
JF: What’s your next athletic adventure?
GLENNA: The closest adventure is the Tacoma Half Marathon, and that is May 4. May the 4th be with you! And then the full marathon in June 29 in Missoula. We’re doing it together.
SAVANNA: We only race together!
JF: You’re both in a running group. How much of a leg up does joining your local running club – no matter where it is – how much of an edge does it give a racer?
GLENNA: A lot.
SAVANNA: We both got waaaaay faster when we joined the club. I got faster chasing Glenna, and Glenna got faster chasing other people
GLENNA: Totally. When I first moved to Boise and before I joined Boise Area Runners, I had never run a sub-9-minute mile, and now I run sub-7 for a half marathon.
JF: Of all the sports you’ve played – team or otherwise – does any sport match running for the camaraderie among athletes?
SAVANNA: No, nothing. I played just about every sport someone can play in my life – basketball, softball volleyball, track, x-country – and long distance running builds the best relationships.
GLENNA: You really bond when you suffer together.
(Laughter)
JF: Three races around the globe you’ve run that you recommend to our readers.
GLENNA: Via Valais starts in Verbier, Switzerland and goes to Zermott – a 105 mile race! We did it together in 6 days (with our close friend Jenny!)
ST Yes, that’s number one!
GLENNA Then next, it’s Boston. If you get the opportunity to do that race, do it.
JF: And they do give out charity bibs too! So mere mortals like our readers can run it.
GLENNA: Exactly. That’s a great way for people to get in the race.
SAVANNA: My number 1 is Via Valais. Number 2 is Houston, because it was a fast course flat and a great PR course. And third is the Mt. Hood 50K It’s gorgeous and fast with not a ton of uphill.
JF: Three races high on your bucket list to run as soon as possible?
SAVANNA: Boston, of course! Western States 100 miles race in Sierra Nevada area of California, as well. And then UTMB Mount Blanc in France.
GLENNA: Yes, the race course goes through three countries. France, Italy, and Switzerland.
[Author’s Note: And it starts in Chamonix!! ***BONUS***]
RATE THE RACE (all ratings out of seven)
VALUE
GLENNA: The race entry fee was $170
SAVANNA: I thought it was fine.
JF: Did you get any swag for that price?
GLENNA: We got a finishers shirt and we got a coffee mug! And also, all the volunteers were great they. They knew what they were doing, the course was well marked, and you get to run with elite athletes from all across the world.
SAVANNA: They handed me an ice cream bar after the race – that was my highlight. Chocolate!
GLENNA: They rent out the convention center, so that was great because it was really cold, and we could stay warm before the race. That was key.
SIZE OF FIELD
GLENNA: 30,000 runners, 270,000 volunteers and spectators.
DIFFICULTY
GLENNA: The course? Not difficult at all. I’d say zero out of seven. We were trying to push ourselves and set PRs. It’s an easy course.
SAVANNA: I agree. (nodding energetically)
NATURAL SETTING
SAVANNA: Hmmm,,,2. It was pretty when the sun came up over the city, but other than that it’s urban running through down town
GLENNA: There is one part in mile 6 with old mansions – that was a great. But, yeah, 2.
WEATHER
GLENNA Cold but perfect. Great running weather. 5 maybe 6.
SAVANNA: Cold and windy. But yes, just what you want for a race day. I give it a 5 maybe 6.
JF: You can give 5.5 if you like…
BOTH: Yeah, 5.5
AFTER PARTY
SAVANNA: We went to brunch at a fantastic restaurant instead.
GLENNA: Yeah, the after party seemed pretty lame, because it was really cold.
SAVANNA: Our Airbnb was only a mile and half from the race, and it was just too cold for a party.
FUN
GLENNA: 7. We met so many great people, and got to experience it with friends
SAVANNA: Yes, 7 for sure. My favorite moment was finishing – my time was a two minute PR for me! That was a success.
GLENNA: Without the wind we would have been faster.
