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2010-11 Group
Training Programs
Securely sign up on-line for any of our group training programs or run coaching services.
On-line registration

Marathon - 1/2 Marathon
Weekend Program
Sat Long Run Support
Registration Open Thru Sep 30th
Season Runs Thru Feb 13, 2011
Cost: $160.00

Designed for those who cannot to commit to mid week training but want a weekend only program that includes essential long run support. This includes an 8 month marathon or half marathon training program with weekly Saturday long run support. Our Weekend Warrior Program provides more than adequate coaching to get you to the finish line. For a detailed list of what is included or to register on-line check out the link below.

More Info - Register On-line

Marathon - 1/2 Marathon
"Essentials" Program
Sat Long Run Support
Wed Track & Hills
Registration Open Thru Sep 30th
Season Runs Thru Feb 13, 2011
Cost: $240.00

For runners that want more coaching support than just the Saturday long run. Our "Essentials" program includes 8 months of our marathon or half marathon training program with weekly Saturday long runs, a 12 week season of Wednesday hill workouts and a 12 week season of Wednesday speed/track workouts. All of the "Essential" running tools to take you to the next level. For a detailed list of what is included or to register on-line check out the link below.

More Info - Register On-line

Marathon - 1/2 Marathon
"Excel" Program
Sat Long Run Support
Mon Track & Hills
Wed Track & Hills
Registration Open Thru Sep 30th
Season Runs Thru Feb 13, 2011
Cost: $310.00

Our best value for those that can commit to a comprehensive running program. This includes 8 months of our marathon or half marathon training program with 24 weeks of both Monday and Wednesday hills and track/speed workouts. Everything you need to "excel" and maximize your training and racing performance. For a detailed list of what is included or to register on-line check out the link below.

More Info - Register On-line

"Essentials"
Interval Training
Wed Hills & Speed
Training Starts July 12th
Ends December 22nd
Registration Open Thru July 21st
Cost: $160.00

This program offers 24 weeks of Wednesday am or pm interval training workouts. The first 12 weeks are hill training workouts on Buffalo Bayou. The second 12 weeks are speed training workouts alternating between track work on the Lamar High School Track and speed play workouts on the outer trail at Memorial Park. Great for pure short distance road racers, triathletes or marathoners or half marathoners preparing for the Houston Marathon. This program can be purchased separately or is also included in our "Essentials" marathon & half marathon program. 12 weeks of hills or track can also be purchased separately (scroll down for those options). For a detailed list of what is included or to register on-line check out the link below.

More Info - Register On-line

Hill Interval Training
 12 Weeks - $85
Summer or Fall Season

US Marathon Olympic Gold medalist, Frank Shorter, once said that hill training is "speed work in disguise" . In our opinion hill training is the missing link that most runners need to take their running to a whole new level. Mimicking hilly terrain during training physically and mentally prepares runners for what they may face on the race course and can help improve race times from the 5K to marathon distance and beyond. This program can be purchased separately or is included in our "Essentials" or "Excel" marathon & half marathon program. For a detailed list of what is included or to register on-line check out the link below.

More Info - Register On-line

Speed Interval Training
 12 Weeks - $85
Summer or Fall Season

Do you have the need for speed? Who doesn't and honestly the only way you will run faster is to practice running faster in a controlled environment. Improved times with various interval distances on a 400 meter track improves turnover, form, power and can really help bring those race times down. This program can be purchased separately or is included in our "Essentials" or "Excel" marathon & half marathon program. For a detailed list of what is included or to register on-line check out the link below.

More Info - Register On-line

In Flight Blog
Tune In & Tune Up
Coach Michael is finally breathing some much needed life into the In Flight Blog. Whether you train with us or not every runner world-wide is welcome here as Michael shares running and marathon training tips. He will also cover the Houston and International running and racing scene.

In Flight Running Blog


Metabolic Testing
RMR & VO2 Max
Call 713-523-2577
To Book Your Testing
Whether you are looking to loose weight or increase peformance, metabolic testing can help you reach your goals. Our resting metabolic rate tests rates your metabolism and gives you a gauge of how many calories per day that you need to maintain or lose weight. Our VO2 - anaerobic threshold tests let you know your true heart rate zones to get the most out of your fat burning ability while you do your cardio workouts. Runners and cyclists can also take their sport and racing to the next level by getting heart rate zones to help with realistic heart rate training goals. Check out the links below for more info or to book your test on-line. Call us at 713-523-2577 if you have questions about testing and how it can benefit your fitness goals.

More Info

Recommended Reading
Run Fast by Hal Higdon

Whether you are a beginner road racer or shooting for a new personal best, this book does a great job of breaking down training schedules and drills to run smarter and prepare for race day.

  More book reviews

 

In Flight Running
Houston Run Coaching, Road Racing, Marathon & Half Marathon Training Programs
2010-11 Recommended "Race of the Month" & "Long Run Road Trip" Series
Houston Marathon & Half Marathon Training Races & Events

Registration Now Open For Our 2010-11 Marathon & Half Marathon Program.
New Members Will Continue To Be Accepted Through August 31st or Until 350 Cap Is Reached

Instead of using HARRA's (Houston Area Road Runners) Houston Marathon warm up series of races to help prepare for the marathon, In Flight Running hand picks our own recommended list of warm up races or creates our own long distance training runs for our group. Not that we have anything personal against any of the Houston warm up races but honestly we have lost way to many runners to injury on some of the longer distance races like the 25K and 30K. Many are run on very harsh concrete surfaces which seem to wreck havoc on the bodies of many local runners. Seasoned veteran runners may be able to tolerate these races without injury problems but first-time marathoners and half marathoners should be aware of the risk involved. Better to be safe than throw weeks of your training away on a warm up race that may thwart your chances of getting to the start line of your goal race.

Below is a list of In Flight Running's recommended Houston area warm up races for marathoners and half marathoners. We recommend these races to our members and any other Greater Houston area runners who are training for the Houston Marathon or Half Marathon. We have picked what we feel are the best run races and those that fit great with the Houston or San Antonio Marathon or Half Marathon training schedules. Many are great holiday races that do not conflict with the all important Saturday or Sunday group long run. Race dates and times may change as we get updates from race directors so bookmark this page and check back often for a great series of races that will get you warmed up for your big long distance race goal.

Heights Run 5K
In Flight Time Trial #1
Houston Heights Blvd
Saturday June 5, 2010 - 7:30 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
Guaranteed to be a steamy race every year the Houston Heights Run is one of our favorites and used as our first time trail test of the marathon training season. Run one week following our first long run of the season on May 29th we encourage all of our runners to run this first race of the season to see where they are with their training and use this race time to determine pace per mile speed for the variety of different weekly runs on their marathon or half marathon training schedule.

 

Run Wild 5K
In Flight Time Trial #2
Houston Uptown Park Plaza
Sunday July 4, 2010 - 7:30 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
What better way to celebrate our country's independence than to put on a pair of running shorts and run wild through Houston's Uptown Park. One of the steamiest races of the year and another well organized race from Run Wild Chip Timing. This race is a great chance for Houston Marathoners and Half Marathoners in training to get one of their first gut checks early in the Houston Marathon training season and the race date does not conflict with the standard Saturday long run.

Houston Dynamo Go For Goal 5K
In Flight Time Trial #3
Houston Downtown George R Brown Convention Center
Saturday July 24, 2010 - 7:30 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
This inaugural race looks like a good one even if you are not a soccer fan. Orange fever has taken over Houston over the past couple of years so it is great to see the Houston Dynamos get in on the running scene. The 5K Run is competitive and chip timed. The fun run is non-competitive and all kids who participate in the children's race will receive medals. The Dynamos anticipate more than 1,000 participants in the first year of the race. Participants will receive an official race t-shirt and two tickets to the Dynamo game versus the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, July 31. There will be a post-race festival and awards ceremony immediately after the race with food, drink, and live entertainment. Proceeds will go to Dynamo Charities and its beneficiaries.

Lazy Crazy Days of Summer 5K
In Flight Time Trial #4
Houston Downtown Aquarium
Saturday August 7, 2010 - 7:15 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
An out and back course ran from the Houston Downtown Aquarium on Memorial Drive. This is always a hot race run during the dog days of summer but another great test for our runner's to guage their 5K improvement after about 10 weeks of training. Extra mileage for runners who need more than 3 or 4 miles on their schedules is offered afterwards with out and back routes from the race site on the Buffalo Bayou trails.

Sand Crab Beach 5K/10K
In Flight Time Trial #5
Galveston Texas - Far East Beach
Saturday August 14, 2010 - 9:00 PM
Race Website & Sign Up
With In Flight's continued partnership with RunInTexas.com we are thrilled about this new summer race on Galveston Island. This is a night time beach run that will be run on the sand of far east beach. The course will be lit with tiki torches and offers both beer and BBQ to runners and guests (non runners pay a nominal fee for food and drink). This weekend we will offer our usual long run in Houston in the morning or offer this night time getaway option in Galveston. For those that need more than the 10K mileage that this race offers we will polish off the remaining miles the next Sunday morning on Galveston's seawall. We encourage all Houston area runners and In Flight team members to support this race as a great way to give back to the City of Galveston who is still struggling from the lingering affects of Hurrican Ike.

Toughest 10K
In Flight Time Trial #6
Kemah Texas - Boardwalk
Saturday September 18, 2010 - 8:00 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
We love Kemah so much that we run our annual Kemah Seabrook long run road trip here every summer and have now added this featured 10K race that falls perfect on most winter race training schedules. A great tune up for the Houston Marathon or Half Marathon or other winter races like Dallas, New Orleans or Austin. Plenty of parking at the Kemah boardwalk and plenty of yummy food to endulge in after the race. A nice challenging race with an out and back over the Kemah bridge twice. This race started three years ago to aid Hurricane Ike victims and lives on by raising money for other worthy Gulf Coast charities. This year's race benefits The Bridge Over Troubled Waters charity which offers support, provides safety and helps prevent domestic and sexual violence." Come on out and join us for a trip over the Kemah bridge.


United Space Alliance 10 Miler & 2 Person Relay
In Flight Time Trial #7
Clear Lake City - University of Houston Cleare Lake Campus
Sunday October 10, 2010 - 7:00 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
Run around one of Houston's only major bodies of water in this well run race. One of the HARRA warm up series races this race allows marathoners to tackle that first double digit race (10 miles) while half marathoners can team up and tackle almost half a marathon (5 miles). Perfect for all runners and a required training race for our group.


Koala Wellness Luke's Locker Half Marathon & 2 Person Relay
In Flight Time Trial #8
Downtown Houston - Sam Houston Park
Sunday October 24, 2010 - 7:00AM
Race Website & Sign Up
Managed by the Houston Striders running club this race is the best run local race in Houston and a staple on the training schedule for anyone training for the Houston Marathon or Half Marathon. This official HARRA warm up series race originates from Downtown Houston like most but portions of it are run on asphalt which make it a little less harsh than the other HARRA warm up races. We require our runners to run this race as it is truly the first official gut check for anyone who wants to get to the start line of the Houston Marathon or Half Marathon. This race offers a 2 person relay so those training for the marathon can run the full race (13.1 miles) while those training for the half marathon distance can tackle half of this race distance (6.55 miles) for a perfect training distance in race conditions.


San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon & Half Marathon
San Antonio, Texas
Sunday November 14, 2010 - 7:30 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
This weekend we offer a Houston long run on Saturday, November 13th or for those who are running the San Antonio Marathon or half marathon we head west down I45 for the 3rd annual San Antonio Rock n Roll Marathon & Half Marathon. This is our flagship fall race and also a great warm up race for those training for the Houston Marathon in January 2011. Last year this race was cursed with very hot temperatures so we are hoping for a much cooler race in 2010. In it's first year San Antonio Rock n Roll became the largest Texas road race ever and the biggest inagural Marathon ever. Managed by Competitor racing this race like any of the Rock n Roll or Country Music series are the best run in the country with bands at every mile marker on the course to keep you rockin to the finish line.

TXU Energy Turkey Trot 5K/10K
In Flight Time Trial #9
Houston, Texas - Uptown Park
Thursday November 25, 2010 - Thanksgiving - 8:00 AM
Race Website & Sign Up
This holiday tradition is a perfect opportunity for all of our runners to conquer a mid week training run in race conditions. We have all runners (marathoners nad half marathoners) run the 10K distance as another tune up for the Houston Marathon & Half Marathon. This race has become huge and after working through some growing pains has become a great holiday race. Get your cardio in early and avoid that Turkey day guilt. Fair warning on parking which can be total chaos. Arrive very early to avoid the mess and the stress.

Dallas White Rock Half Marathon & 5 Man Marathon Relay
Sunday December 5, 2010 - 9:00 AM Half - 8:00 AM Relay
Race Website & Sign Up
The last in what we call the Texas 3 Step (Houston Koala Half, San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon & This Race). In fact most Houston Marathoners could run all three of these Texas Half Marathons and be in great shape to run the Chevron Marathon in January. This is our marathoner's last chance to see what they are made of before tapering down mileage for the Houston Marathon about 6 weeks later. Runners training for the Houston Half Marathon can race in a 5 man relay of 5.24 miles per leg.

Houston Downtown YMCA Jingle Bell 5 Miler
In Flight Time Trial #10
Downtown Houston - Allen Parkway
Sunday December 12, 2010 - 2:00 PM
Race Website & Sign Up
Your last chance to race before the Houston Marathon & Half Marathon, this race has regained it's old luster as a holiday family tradition with over 3,000 runners and growing each year. Please note the unusual start time, mid afternoon on a Sunday and plan accordingly. Put your jingle bells on and run this one hard as it is all down hill from here to the start line of the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon about a month later. Bring the kids as this race also had one of the best children's races in the Greater Houston area.