Owls on the run: Rice’s Houston Marathon history
Since 1972, runners have laced up to take on the Houston Marathon in the brisk chill of a January morning. Among them ran Rice students, faculty and alumni weaving their own history into the race one stride at a time.
Jack Lippincott ’70 ran his first Houston Marathon in 1975, beginning his streak of 50 consecutive Houston Marathons. Lippincott said that the records mark his streak at 43 races because only times under six hours are considered official. Regardless, Lippincott has completed more consecutive Houston Marathons than any individual in the event’s history.
“I jogged around the campus a few times per week, the whole time I was [at Rice],” Lippincott wrote in an email to the Thresher. “My best time at the Houston Marathon was 2:36:40, back in 1979. It has been a gradual slowdown since then, but I still love doing it — whether in the front, middle or back of the pack.”
In addition to record-holding streaks, Rice has had numerous Houston Marathon top finishers. A January 1976 edition of the Thresher spotlights Jeff Wells ‘76 winning the race, with his roommate John Lodwick ’76 placing second.
“Wells averaged a sizzling 5:15 per mile en route to the fastest time ever recorded by a native Texan, as well as the fastest time ever run by anyone in the Southwest,” the article reads.
Other Rice winners include Marty Froelick ’81 in 1985 and Sean Wade ’89 in 2003.
Jon Warren ’88, head coach of the men’s track and field and cross country teams, finished 11th in the 1997 Houston Marathon.
“It was a day where it was raining [and] sleeting, windy as can be,” Warren wrote in an email to the Thresher. “There was ice on all the bridges … ice in our hair (it froze) and in the folds of our clothes.”.
In addition to running, Warren said he has paced for elite runners and covered the race on local television. In 2012, he spectated when Houston hosted the Marathon Olympic Trials.
“It has been a wonderful and educational experience working with Channel 13 [as a race commentator],” Warren wrote. “[At] the trials in 2012, the women’s and men’s races were both great, and the entire experience the city put on was impressive.”
In recent years, Rice runners have enjoyed success. Becky Firth ’12, an All-American cross-country runner, placed third overall in 2017 as the top U.S. finisher and completed the 2020 half-marathon in under 70 minutes.
“When I was at Rice, I volunteered at the marathon … in the elite hospitality room and drug testing,” Firth said. “Even though I'm from Dallas, having been in Houston for almost 10 years and coming into my own as a runner in Houston, I felt like it was my hometown race. I felt so much support from the people on the sidelines and the people organizing the race.”
This year, runners braved bitter winds to finish the marathon. President Reggie DesRoches completed his fourth Houston Half Marathon.
“[The] race went really well, despite the cold and wind,” DesRoches wrote in an email to the Thresher. “This year was particularly meaningful because my three kids ran with us. The energy from the crowds, especially the support from the Rice community, made the experience even more special.”
For some graduating seniors, this year was their final chance to compete in the race as a Rice student. Sophianne Loh, a Sid Richardson College senior, ran her first marathon.
“This was my last chance to run the Houston Marathon,” Loh said. “So I was like, ‘Why not?’” I've run before in high school and had a good experience doing the half, so I just wanted to face the challenge and see if I could do it.”
Others commented on the marathon’s invigorating atmosphere. Claudia Sterling said the crowd’s enthusiasm energized her.
“My friends from Jones [College] came out and cheered and supported us,” Sterling, a Jones sophomore, said. “When I ran by, they had hot chocolate. So many people were around, so it was super energetic and a great time.”
Martel College junior Aman Chaudhary said the challenging weather brought runners closer together.
“Although the morale was down, I would say the companionship and the formed friendships throughout the way were probably the best part,” Chaudhary said. “Everyone’s struggling, and the pain isn't getting better, but we’re all still trying to push through and make it to the end.”
More from The Rice Thresher
A definitive ranking of O-Week themes
Rush season is upon us. For those of you who aren't friends with your college's coordinators, here is a ranked list of O-Week themes to help you start planning where to co-advise.
Dancing with the Owls
It can feel hard to fit in exercise as a student outside of joining an intramural sports team or running Baker 13 in an effort to recoup some high-school sprinter glory. However, though the dance community at Rice may be subtle, its offerings are vast and diverse.
Food for thought: Introducing college Food Ambassadors
If you have ever seen — and then promptly ignored — the QR codes posted around the Rice serveries that invite students to leave feedback, the purpose of the Food Ambassador program should be clear to you. While the QR code signs may fade to the back of one’s subconscious, a familiar face might have more success.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.