CRE's Runners
We asked for your running pics and should've known that you guys would sprint them on over. Here are some real estate pros who make us consider putting down our donut and lacing up some tennis shoes. (We said consider... not do.)
Forget the finish line; M Kidd Properties’ Mark Kidd Jr was racing to the rest of his life. The entire four years they dated, he and now-fiancée Sarah met at Memorial Park before sunrise every Tuesday and Thursday to run together before work. They were both experienced half marathoners and decided to run one together. The couple met in Austin, so when they did the 2014 Austin Half Marathon in February, Mark brought a ring along. The two came up the last major incline to find both their families waiting. Mark got down on one knee, and they finished the final mile of the race together with visions of the altar dancing in their heads.
PMRG VP Doug Berry took up running as a way to stay fit after leaving bicycle racing (he has a State title in track cycling and went to the Olympic trials for it). He started with 5Ks and moved up through marathons, and just this year he took up triathlons (like the one pictured). He’s getting pretty good in them, earning second and third place in the last two. He runs three or four days a week, sometimes with his two kids in a jogger—nothing provides a better workout than pushing 100 pounds in front of you! If you’re looking for a glimpse of Doug, try the Cypresswood trails in Spring (he loves the thrill of having to jump over the occasional snake).
JLL research manager Graham Hildebrand and his daughter Isla did the Dad’s Day 5K (held every year around Father’s Day). Graham was well-prepared—chasing a two-year-old and five-year-old around seven days a week builds great stamina.
Kirksey showed off its own stamina in the Texas Independence Relay, whic includes 40 relay legs across a 200-mile course from historic Gonzales to the San Jacinto Monument. These brave souls started at 7:45am on March 29 and reached the monument at 1:15pm on the 30th, after running 29 hours straight through the day and night. (We knew architects were crazy, but cmon.) Maybe it was just research—the firm is designing the new Memorial Park Running Pavilion. Above, Kirksey’s Holly Gavenonis, Russell Wooten (team captain), Steve Durham, Lauren Haffner, Milton Pyron, and Danny Carrington were joined by Walter P Moore’s Dennis Wittry and a few family members and friends.
Transwestern’s Stefanie Lewis headed up to DC for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Stefanie trained with Team in Training, which covers your airfare and hotel if you meet your fundraising minimum. Stefanie proudly raised almost $4,000, solidly exceeding her goal. The race is unique—when you cross the finish line, an ROTC man in tux gives you a Tiffany necklace. This was Stefanie's first race, and it was a painful one; she hurt her knee the week before and it made her break down around mile four. Her whole family was there (including a sister who flew in from Japan), and she was embarrassed to pass them walking, so she gathered her fortitude and ran the last 5.1 miles without stopping. (It was horrible form, she tells us, but well worth it to see her family lose their mind with excitement to see her running to the finish.)
Team Skanska didn’t just join the nearly 3,000 runners and walkers at the Rise & Shine 5K—it won the award for best team spirit. The event benefits the Rise School, which provides early childhood education to children with Down syndrome and other development disabilities. Above are Rebecca Oliver, Jay Rogers, Laura Sunberg, Bill Horwitz, Dennis Yung, Jamila Martinez, Mayra Oliver, Lauren Webb, Andrew Yahner, Ben Llanas, Garrett Brown, Anna Roos, and Maria Aimone.
And we couldn’t resist sharing this piece of adorable: Emilia Conley and Holden Conley (children of Skanska project manager Scott Conley) “playing it safe” during the 5K.
