We are a group of runners who run in the Pasadena, TX area, although we do have members in the greater Houston area and other surrounding cities too. Our club was founded by Robert Lee Villarreal on August 10, 2013. He saw that there was a need for a running club in the beautiful city of Pasadena, TX, so on a Friday afternoon in 2013 without planning, he set out to recruit runners to join him for a Saturday run. He would go up to random runners/walkers and say, "Hi my name is Robert Villarreal. I have lived in Pasadena, TX most of my life and we have all of these beautiful parks and trails, but what's missing is a running club. I will be here tomorrow morning at 6:30 am and will set up a water cooler at the green tables, if you'd like to join." He went up to at least 30 people that day. Many walkers including runners told him that 6:30 am on a Saturday was too early to go running and that it wouldn't work, yet Robert refused to take No as an answer. The next day at 6:00 am, Robert was accompanied by his oldest daughter Phoebe to the park. On their way to the park, she asked, "Who's going to show up, Dad?" Robert told her "Runners are going to show up!" But truthfully he had no idea who was going to show up and to this day still doesn't know who's going to show up at each run. When they arrived at the park 6:30 am came and went, and at 6:35 am the first runner showed up in a Yellow Corvette. The driver was a lady that had told him No the prior day and she said, "Good morning! This is crazy, but I'm here!" Her name was Tracy. Then another runner showed up. His name was Miguel. He said, "I'm not a runner, but tell me what to do and I'll try." That day they ran around the park for a total of 3 miles. It even started raining in the middle of their run, but it was an awesome day to start a running club. Several Saturdays have come and gone and runners too, but despite challenges along the way, Pasadena Running Club is still in existence and growing. Our members have different fitness levels and running goals, but our goal to see a running club in our city unites us! Our saying is "Fitness Cometh!" "We Run Pasadena!"
And like Paul Harvey used to say, "And now you know the rest of the story..."
Robert
Runners left to right: Miguel, Tracy, and Robert
And like Paul Harvey used to say, "And now you know the rest of the story..."
Robert
Runners left to right: Miguel, Tracy, and Robert