Fort Bend Fit – Chapter Coaches

Terrie Gorney

I am a Founding Member of Fort Bend Fit. I ran my first marathon in January 2000 after training with my best friend Jeanne. We wrote our own training program and after finishing the marathon “badly”, we decided to join a new training program the following year – FBF. My running immediately improved and I met the most amazing people. Since joining FBF, I have completed a lot of marathons including several 50Ks, two 50 milers, The Rocky Raccoon 100 mile endurance race (twice), and the 2006 Boston Marathon – after qualifying with my FBF friends.

I completed my most recent 100 miler with my Co-Organizer Azam Syed in 2021. This will be my 23rd season with FBF and 20th season as Head Coach. My personal motto: Life is not about what happens to you, it’s about your reaction to each happening.

Azam Syed

A colleague of mine gave me a training plan that helped me finish my first half marathon. I was unable to walk for three days after the race.  I thought that was it for running. Fortunately,  I went out to cheer for another colleague running the Houston Marathon, the following year. Watching from the sidelines, I could not believe people of any age, any shape or form could run a marathon so much better than I ran my half marathon. I decided I need to figure this thing out. I joined FBF, it was 2015.

Since joining Fort Bend Fit I have completed 10 Full Marathons, including back to back marathon weekends in Washington DC (Marine Corps Marathon) & New York (New York City Marathon). I have run in many countries and climates but the highlight of my relatively short running career has been completing my one and only 100 miler ultramarathon with my co-organizer and twin, Terrie Gorney.

Running has been in my DNA since high school. In high school I ran cross country and in my junior year I finished in the top 50 in the state meet. I tried running in college on the cross-countryteam, however that was a whole another level that didn’t interest me.

Several years went by where I really didn’t want to run much, however in the summer of 1993 I decided to get serious about running again. I trained and ran my first marathon in Houston 1994. After finishing my first marathon, I told myself that I would never run another marathon. It was so painful and bad experience.

Fast forward to 2012, I moved to Sugar Land from Katy, via Dallas, and my very good friend Brian Stonesifer invited me to run Saturday’s just short distances. Shortly after that, Brian convinced me to try training to run a marathon with Fort Bend Fit (FBF). Since then, I have consistently run two marathons a year, including Houston and various destination marathons.

Running provides me with so many benefits mentally and physically. Running is that one activity I can do where mind clears, I gain focus, and physically challenge myself. It also provides me with a positive focus and drive.

I am so honored to be this years fall marathon coach for the 4thyear. I try to bring my positivity and drive to those training fall marathons. I am so proud of each runner in FBF.

Assistant Coaches:  Tamara Flores, Jorge Alba, Joe Turner

I have been a runner since I was 28 years young, however the furthest I had run was a 10K. I am also a teacher. Every year in class I would tell my students that someday I would run a marathon. In 2013, one of my student’s parents approached me. She shared that her daughter had told her of my goal. She then challenged me to bid on a silent auction item which included a FBF training membership and an entry into the USA Fit Marathon at my school’s spring carnival. She boldly told me that I wasn’t getting any younger. She did not let me forget, so on the night of the carnival, I bid the minimum bid and left to complete my volunteer shift. At the end of the night, I was congratulated for winning the bid. Thus, in 2013 I began my marathon journey.

I remember feeling nervous and excited. Fort Bend Fit welcomed me with open arms. I fell in love with the Fort Bend Fit family and the training program. I completed my first marathon in 2014 and was hooked. Since then, I have completed 12 full marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2017 and countless halves. FBF will help you reach your running goals and challenge you to move beyond.

Whether you are training for your 1st marathon or 100th, I look forward to running with you. So, come join our family. You won’t regret it.

I grew up in the area of Houston formerly called Camp Logan, and ran the Memorial Park Loop as a kid “for fun”. I attended Hogg Middle School in 1982 and was on the track team where I ran the 1600 and 1600 relay, but did not continue running in high school. It was not until 2013 (and I was 43) when I began running again. I completed my first marathon in Houston in 2014. My second marathon was the Chicago Marathon in 2014, and that is where I became a member of Team RMHC, supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities, and discovered the World Marathon Majors. Since then, I have run 27 marathons globally, and have completed 5 of the 6 World Major Marathons. (Chicago, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, and London).

I joined Fort Bend Fit in 2021 with the goal of qualifying for Boston, and did so in one season of training. Being a member of this run group kept me accountable, pushed my limits, and gave me a reason to want to help others achieve their goals no matter their age or run experience.

Now that I have qualified for Boston, I hope to achieve my goal of becoming an Abbott 6 ⭐️ World Marathon Major Champion in 2023. After that, who knows? Maybe one of those 50 or 100 milers I hear Terrie talking about. 😊

Mary Beth Bartkus

I’m looking forward to running with the yellow group this year!!

Donna Crawley

I have always enjoyed exercising but had not run much mileage or any races until my friend, Dianna Ramirez, joined FBFIT. She told me how the group felt like family along with how much she learned about hydration and fueling. It sounded interesting so I joined in 2016. Dianna was right. I immediately began learning how to increase mileage slowly along with staying hydratedand fueling properly. During one of the first runs through Oyster Creek Park, I didn’t know which way to go and Mary Beth Bartkus (current head coach yellow group) joined me and got me back to Star Cinema. She has gotten me through so many runs since that day. This is normal for FBFIT members to look out for one another. Thanks to FBFIT, I have completed 2 full marathons and many half marathons. My favorite distance is the half. I love the social part of FBFIT and how it really is like a big family who cheers each other on and is happy to celebrate the achievements of one another. I am proud to be part of this amazing group.

I started running as a kid and was no good at it back then.  I was the clumsiest kid in school. One of my 4^th grade teachers continuously told me I would never run a mile within the 45 minute class time.  That sticks in your head when you are little. Through-out high school my parents always forced me to run 3 miles a day at 5 a.m. before I ever started school.  I swore I would never run one more mile after I left their house! I started my first real job after college when I was 25 and joined their running team. I was once again running and now no longer living with my parents.  One of my coworkers soon asked why I had never run a marathon if I ran 9 miles daily.

I became a member of FBF in 2002.  I never did anything more than 3 miles on a treadmill before the start of my divorce in 2000.  My attorney’s assistant told me to meet her over Thanksgiving weekend…she didn’t show and I ended up walking 12 miles in the wrong shoes and socks…on the levees!  I was hooked.

In January 2002, I had completed my first Full Marathon at Disney World at the age of 50 with the Leukemia group, in honor of my Mother, and wanted to continue my training in the fall.  I knew only one FBF member at the time (Tessy Phillips) but was welcomed with open arms by many which I now call my Running Family. You will understand the Family part when you join us for Saturday breakfast at Skeeter’s! The following year I became Assistant Coach for the Orange Group with Terrell Smith, along with assisting Jeanne Megna with Registration. Four or five years ago, when Jeanne decided to summer in Minnesota, she asked me if I would like to take charge of Registration while she was gone…BIG shoes to fill but I said a BIG Yes!

Kevin ran his first marathon at Houston in 2001 after training with Fort Bend Fit during its inaugural year. Since then he has finished more than 35 races of marathon or longer distance including Ironman Florida and Bandera 100k. He prefers trail ultras to road marathons but holds a special place in his heart for Houston. “You never forget your first time.” His desire is to run trails with his friends and help them achieve their running goals. As FBF’s trail coach, Kevin has led folks on many exciting adventures. Ask him what craziness he is cooking up for this year..

Fort Bend Fit is pleased to recognize Kevin as their 2009 Road Warrior

I started marathon training with my running buddy Terrie in 1999.  We completed the 2000 Houston Marathon with the knowledge that our
neighbors were betting against us finishing.  That is all it took for me to finish knowing that someone thought I couldn’t…. oh and there was a “finishers” shirt waiting for me.  I convinced Terrie to join FBF in the inaugural summer of 2000.  It was one of the best decisions ever as we both found our “running family”, friends that may as well be family. I have been an assistant coach and in charge of registration/administration forever. The past few years I have been spending time in Minnesota, but still do some admin work where ever I am :). I have done numerous marathons/1/2 marathons, 50 K’s, etc. I am married to a great guy, and have 2 daughters and a son-in-law, 2 beautiful granddaughters, as well as 2 scottie dogs, and 2 granddogs named Winston and Houston.   We all do races together, even Winston joins us occasionally!

Fort Bend Fit has changed my life, and I know that it will changes yours too!!