Two gay groups will have runners putting their best feet forward in this year’s Chevron Houston Marathon, formerly the HP Houston Marathon.

The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign will sponsor local Team HRC. Frontrunners Houston, a local group of gay runners and walkers, will also have members participating in the Jan. 15 26.2-mile Chevron Houston Marathon and 13.1-mile Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Marking its 34th year, marathon weekend consists of the marathon, half marathon, Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K and Texas Children’s Hospital Kids’ Fun Run.

“Houston is such an important city to the overall mission and success of the Human Rights Campaign,” says Mike Holloman, a member of the group’s board of directors and running team member.

The Human Rights Campaign, a national gay advocacy group, is sponsoring running teams across the country.

“We want to have as many people as possible running with the Human Rights Campaign equal sign on their shirts to show our commitment to equality,” Holloman says. “We also need people to come out to cheer us on as we strive to all finish the marathon.”

Holloman, 33, says about 50 people have signed up to cheer on the runners during the race. He says the group plans to host an after-race celebration at a local club.

Members have been training for the marathon since October. They’ve worked with trainers twice a week, building up endurance by gradually increasing running distance, he says.

Holloman, who stands 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 170 pounds, says he first ran in the marathon four years ago. He says it was hard getting his body use to running again.

“It’s a big challenge,” Holloman says. “I’m relatively in shape, definitely running helps.”

‘Very grueling’

Raul Martinez, who has been a member of Frontrunners Houston since 1997, will run in the half marathon. He says he’s not capable—mentally and physically—of running the full marathon.

“It’s very grueling,” Martinez says. “I can do the half marathon, but not the full.

“By the time I can’t take any more, it’s over. It takes a lot of mental power.”

Martinez, 41, says he regularly participates in triathlons. He doesn’t consider himself a fitness buff, but loves to stay active.

“It’s great exercise,” he says.

Martinez stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weights between 140 and 145 pounds. He says he joined Frontrunners so he could exercise with other Houston area gay athletes.

Martinez says having an exercise partner is important, especially when training for a marathon because it offers support and motivation.

“You just can’t do it yourself,” he says.

Martinez says training for the half marathon should begin at least 12 weeks before the race. For the full marathon, he says some runners start training a year in advance.

Martinez says he builds up endurance by training in increments. He starts off running for 10 miles, then increases to 12 miles, 15 miles and more. In the last month of training, he’s up to running around 20 miles.

‘Make it a priority’

Frontrunners’ members meet twice a week at Memorial Park for a three-mile trek through the area. There are about 15 members in the group.

Rick Potter says he joined Frontrunners as one of its inaugural members back in 1984. The Patricia Nell Warren novel “The Front Runner” inspired the club, which is part of the International Frontrunners group, an affiliation of gay running and walking clubs around the world.

The book about the relationship between an ex-Marine track coach and his Olympic athlete has sold an estimated 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 10 languages. It’s hailed as one of the 100 best gay and lesbian novels of all time.

The first club was formed in San Francisco in 1974. There are now 100 clubs in 15 countries throughout the world.

Potter, 57, will run the half marathon. The 5-feet, 10-inches tall computer analyst, who weighs 150 pounds, says he eats a diet high in carbohydrates before running and drinks a lot of water or sports drinks.

“Spaghetti and bread is good [to eat before a race],” Potter says.

Potter runs at night and on the weekends. He doesn’t let his busy schedule keep him from exercising.

“You have to make it a priority,” he says.

Frontrunners members David Brackus and Richard Peoples will run the full marathon. Members Reinel Solano and Al Salinas will join Martinez in the half marathon.

Running the full marathon with Team HRC is Alex Martinez, Bob Thornton, Carrie Arnett, Charles Buchanan, David Moga, Joe Hinojosa, Noe Bernal, Teffani Pope and Tim Surratt. Half marathon runners are 12-year-old Tommy Surratt and Sameer Bhasin.

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