Sienna Running Club - Sugar Land Magazine

HeALtHy Fort Bend FAmiLieS
src president, Pete Jacobs
at a race in Las vegas
Sienna
Running Club
Fort Bend Running Group
Helps Athletes of All Levels,
While Promoting Health, Friendship,
and Community Service
Written by lesley Clinton
Select Photography by Suzi Issa
dana Barger and christopher
McMinn enjoy a mid-winter run arburn cain takes a water
break to rehydrate
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sienna running club members, christopher
McMinn, arburn cain, dana Barger, Pete
Jacobs, angie Jacobs, and kristi norris
angie Jacobs
during src’s
saturday run

“
Sugar Land runners of all ability levels can now kick-start their
workouts and get community support with the Sienna Running
Club (SRC). A sub-chapter of the Road Runners Club of America,
the SRC got up and running in summer 2010 when eight neighbors
with a passion to run joined together. “I have been running
in the neighborhood for five years,” says Matt Sasso, a Sienna
Plantation resident and co-founder of the SRC. “I kept passing the
same people. We started running together casually, and over time,
we started to think about how we could establish a community of
runners.”
Hitting the Ground Running
The founding members figured it might take a while to build up
club membership, so they were shocked and delighted when over
100 attendees showed up for the organization’s kickoff party in
August. Sienna Plantation resident and SRC president, Pete Jacobs
says, “We wanted to create a platform to share our enjoyment of
the sport, help others meet their goals, and give all of us runners
in the community a way to get together and support each other.”
Sasso explains that the founders initially spent much of their
energy drafting the mission and bylaws, obtaining insurance, and
seeing to various logistical details. “Pete Jacobs did an outstanding
job creating the website,” he adds. The club has gone strong ever
since, showing that Fort Bend residents value fitness, camaraderie,
and community service.
Running provides an endless list of
challenges and goals that are
fun to go after.”
-Pete Jacobs, SRC president
Supporting Fort Bend Fitness
Club treasurer, Brigid Ashcraft admires SRC for providing
residents with support to get out and exercise. She also notes
the group is great at helping members strive to reach their goals,
whether those goals include walking two miles, training for their
first 5K race, or attempting their first marathon. Sasso agrees, saying,
“Sometimes it takes a little more motivation to get out there
in the Texas heat and humidity. If you know two or three people
are waiting there for you, you are a lot less likely to skip a run or
put it off until later.”
Both Sasso and Jacobs observe that conversing with someone
during a run can really make the time fly. For this reason, the club
holds a run every Saturday morning with different pace groups
to accommodate runners at various levels. “We run all over the
Sienna community,” says Sasso. “The neighborhood has big, wide
sidewalks, and people can come here to get in some hill work on
the train bridge.” SRC members have even completed a marathonlength
run within the Sienna Plantation neighborhood.
Strengthening a Community
Those hooked on running often cite its personal, social, and
physical benefits. “Running provides an endless list of challenges
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Tips
for Beginning
Runners
Set a running goal, like being able to
complete a 5K.
Set aside time to run several times a week,
even if you have to wake up early.
Choose a shoe made specifically for running,
based on how it fits.
Wear weather-appropriate, breathable clothing
that allows you to be visible to others.
Don’t skimp on stretching, but if you don’t
have time for it, start with brisk walking,
easing into a jog.
Start out by walking, then run for intervals
with breaks, until you can run for longer
periods of time.
Stay hydrated by taking water breaks.
At the end of each workout, be sure to
cool down and stretch.
After runs, consume high-energy foods
to refuel your body.
Take a day off when needed. Beginners are
advised to not run every day.
- Adapted from the Road Runners Club of America website, rrca.org
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“
src co-founder, Matt sasso
enjoys a weekend run in
sienna Plantation
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There is no need to feel like you are not fit
enough or fast enough. We have walkers and
runners of all abilities, and all are welcome. ”
-Brigid Ashcraft, SRC member
and goals that are fun to go after,” says Jacobs. “Working for and
achieving goals is fulfilling.” He adds, “And I have learned that running
is far from simple and boring.” He welcomes the many lessons
learned about balancing the physical, mental, dietary, and recoveryrelated
aspects of running. Jacobs also enjoys the more relaxing facet
of the sport - the chance to bond with fellow runners. People who
run together, he explains, often meet for happy hours, take weekend
trips, and gather to celebrate success with one another.
Ashcraft offers her own praise of the sport. “I love running, because
it is a time to be outside with nature, a time to pray, a time to reflect,
a time to let whatever stress I feel take a back seat, at least for the duration
of my run, and a time to enjoy the conversation and laughter
of others,” she says.
SRC seeks to strengthen connections among area residents by holding
social events at various places in Fort Bend County, including
Sienna Grille and La Escondida. Members also apply their energy to
volunteer efforts, such as assisting with the Scanlan Oaks Elementary
5k Community Run, which will be held later this year.
Realizing Your Running Goals
SRC members have already drawn inspiration from the experiences
they have shared with one another over the past few months. “There
is no greater satisfaction than seeing someone run or walk their first
mile,” says Ashcraft. “The sense of accomplishment that the person
feels, and should feel, is amazing.” Jacobs, Sasso, and Ashcraft have
all witnessed people accomplish things they never thought they
could before while running with SRC. “Every week when we finish
a run, there are people who are running further and faster than they
ever thought possible,” says Jacobs. He has gotten used to hearing the
phrase, “I can’t believe I just did that!”

Ashcraft urges anyone who is interested to give SRC a try. “There is no
need to feel like you are not fit enough or fast enough. We have runners
and walkers of all abilities, and all are welcome,” she says. And if you
worry that your schedule won’t allow enough time to join, Jacobs also
has encouraging news for you. “Many people would be surprised to
know how little time it takes,” he explains. The most time-consuming
commitment, the long run on Saturday morning, is finished by 8 am.
Jacobs adds that running two to three times during the work week is
possible for just about anyone if they are committed.
The sienna running club
meets every saturday
morning for a long run,
as well as several times
during the week
The only requirement for membership is to be 18 years or older.
Sasso invites Fort Bend residents to check out the SRC website
and Facebook page. “Find out about the good we’re doing,” Sasso
suggests. “And see what events are coming up.” Visit siennarunningclub.net.
You might find the support you need to train for a half
marathon or 5K. And a few months from now, you might be the one
saying, “I can’t believe I just did that!” SLM
LESLEY CLINTON is a Sugar Land resident, wife, mother, and runner.
She’d love to run with SRC some time.
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