We are a long distance running group training program. We can help you go from the couch to a marathon, as well as shorter distances in-between. Unlike other programs, we meet multiple times during the week and your individual goals and experience are always considered. Gotta Run Distance Program is operated right here in Katy. In fact, most of our group training runs and workouts will take place in and around the Cinco Ranch area. Our training methods loosely follow the Brooks/Hanson Distance Project training plan.
Alain Ducante head coach/ Organizer |
To say I really like to run would be an understatement. I completed my first Full in 1988, it was then called the Houston Tenneco Marathon. Since that time, I have completed dozens of full marathons, a handful of half marathons and too many 5Ks and 10Ks. I also completed 4 Texas Independence Relays, in March of 2013 I did it solo, running/walking all 200+ miles, from Gonzales, TX to the San Jacinto Monument in just over 75 hours. Lucky for me, some members of the Gotta Run family came out and paced me to the finish. In 2014 I completed the Texas IRONMAN in the Woodlands.
My coaching style varies based on each runner's experience level. I am an understanding and flexible person, yet I can also be one of the toughest around, probably due to the years I spent in the U.S. Marine Corps. I started this program to show others that running is fun and I will always approach it as such. I am humbled by the title of coach: it is one that I tirelessly try to earn every single session. I am available via email (gottarunkaty@gmail.com) or on my mobile (713-505-3342) if you have any questions. |
Andrea Witte Lead Runner |
Running is my way of staying alive and feeling young. I had always been very active as a kid and in school, but when you become an adult, it is harder to find the time and the outlets. I had a friend introduce me to cycling in my 20’s and participated in many organized rides, including the MS 150 multiple times.
In 2004, while trying to balance the glorified tasks of motherhood, I realized that time was a precious commodity and that running took up a lot less time and equipment than cycling. The furthest I had run was a 10k, so I joined a running group and decided to jump right into marathon training. I finished my first marathon in Houston in January of 2005. I was hooked! Over the years, I’ve traveled to Chicago and Disney World to run their marathons as well as running Houston a couple of more times. My attention span (like many runners!) is short and I enjoy finding and meeting new challenges. I’ve run two 50K trail runs in Huntsville (the old Sunmart runs) and participated in 2 Tough Mudders (what was I thinking?!). After working as support for years with Texas Independence Relay, I finally got to run in it for the first time in 2015 and finished for the second time in 2016. I’ve also dabbled in the sport of triathlon…as much as I consider myself a non-swimmer, I put my big girl swimsuit on and completed Ironman Texas in 2011. I was able to combine my love of running and passion for helping others by working at Luke’s Locker Katy for 6 years. Between the training I received through Luke’s and my own training/race experiences over the years, I feel as if I have a lot to share with others. I have learned to Never say Never - I will always be pushing myself to new limits and hope to encourage others around me to do the same. The icing on the cake…I am married to someone just as crazy - Scott Witte, who has been by my side for all of the above and then some! We’ve got two awesome kids, Connor & Lauren, who are both great cheerleaders for mom & dad, all while pursuing their own love of sports! I have trained with many “groups" over the last 10+ years, but not until GottaRun, have I ever been part of a running “family”. Now, let’s go GET IT! GET IT! GET IT!! |
Becky Smith lead Runner |
"IF I CAN RUN, ANYONE CAN! I was 39 when I decided to get 'fit' before my 40th. I thought a half marathon would help me achieve that but I knew I needed a group to keep me motivated to meet my goal. Since I had never run or been an athlete of any kind before, running was a struggle but I finished my first half marathon. Since then, I have done many 1/2's and one full marathon. I'm turning 50 this year so I'm thinking about doing a 50k. Terrifying but they say if our dreams don't scare us then they aren't big enough.... So I guess I'm on the right track!
One of the many things I love about running..., whether you are a beginner or an elite, we all are striving to meet a new goal time or distance and we all benefit from the support and encouragement of this group. It’s not easy but it’s so exciting when all your hard work pays off. There's nothing like the feeling when you cross the finish line, especially when you have your running buddies there cheering you in. I am so thankful for my running family, y'all inspire me! |
Charlotte Harris lead Runner |
I started running when I was in junior high and I guess you could say I’ve been running ever since. Initially, my running took place through school and whatever sport I was playing – volleyball, basketball, tennis and track. From there, I went to the University of Southern Mississippi on a full volleyball scholarship. Once out of school, I began running on my own and started to appreciate the sense of freedom that came with it, along with the ability to be outside and to simply enjoy the views.
Eventually, my hobby became a passion. I joined my first running group and set a goal to complete my first marathon, which I accomplished in 2004. Over the years, I’ve competed in races of all types – 5k, 10k, 25k, 30k, 50K, half, full and a few Tough Mudders. In October 2016, I added “ultra” to my list by tackling and completing the Trans-Pecos Ultra – a 170 mile self-supported, multi-stage race in Big Bend Ranch State Park. Along the way, I’ve come to appreciate and value the personal connections running has brought me – with a group of people who share the same passion, drive and commitment. Running has also been a catalyst for other things. In 2012, I hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro – 19,341 feet to be exact – with running playing a key role in my training. So what’s next? Well, I know running will continue to be part of my life and that it will lead me to new experiences and friendships. Perhaps the writer J.R.R. Tolkien stated it best: “Not all who wander are lost.” |
Emma Jeter Lead Runner |
Ten years ago I was a slightly over-weight mother of 1 who had never worked out a day in her life. I had happily gained 50 lbs pregnancy weight and couldn’t afford to join a gym. I decided to start running since it’s a free sport!! I signed up for my first marathon in 2014 in secret. I didn’t want to tell anyone just in case I couldn’t finish. I trained in California and ran the Carlsbad marathon. I ran with my friend Tanya and we had a great race. We read scripture and prayed our way through. It was fabulous. I loved it. I ran it again the following year. I am now a homeschooling, Jesus loving, mother of 3 loud and energetic kiddos who never give me a moments rest. Running is my sanity. It gives me some adult alone time. I enjoy my kid free running time. It’s also the only time I get to see my friends!! I prefer to run long miles vs short and fast miles but am working on my speed. In 2015 I found trail racing and found that I loved it. It is a less intense running experience and I love to be out in the woods. I ran the Habanero 100k and also Snowdrop 55 in 2015. Snowdrop has a special place in my heart and I will run it again this year. It has taken me a long time to think of myself as a runner. I’m really just a mum who likes to run. Running has brought many things to me, including sanity, peace, and the ability to have the extra slice of cake. Mostly though I love the friends that I have made through running. Runners are transparent, honest and genuinely caring and some of my very best friends."
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Janelle Williams Lead runner RRCA Certified Coach Social Coordinator |
I grew up in a running house; my dad first ran Boston when I was 3 so running and marathons have always been a part of my vocabulary. My family moved to Alaska when I was 12 and during Junior and High School, I did the obligatory cross country running that a daughter of a marathoner would do. Though my first sport of choice in those days was cross country skiing! By skiing and running as a child, I gained a deep appreciation for the outdoors, nature, and fresh air.
In my 20’s, I struggled with knee issues, was very out of shape, unhappy & rarely ran. By the time I was 31, my husband and I, along with our first daughter, moved back to Alaska, and I had to have knee cartilage replacement and knee cap realignment surgery. I was told my skiing and running days were behind me but I could start walking. At that time my 3 year old was no longer napping but I needed a break. Every day at nap time, we would go for a walk in the neighborhood; she would nap, I would get some quiet. A year later our second daughter was born and I was determined not to go on medication for post-partum depression. Every day we would drop off the oldest at preschool then we took advantage of the Alaskan mid-day light. One day the little one started screaming like nothing else. Being nearly 2 miles from the car, I ran the last mile back. That one mile allowed me to fall back in love with running! I have lost over 80 pounds since then and enjoy finding the inner confidence that was lost in my younger years. I can now be found running, biking, or swimming most days and love that my family is out there too! My husband, Jonathan, is also an avid biker, triathlete, and member of Gotta Run. Our daughters, nine & five, are no longer in the stroller but riding their bikes or running with us. They love Coach Alain and his HIIT workouts and have no qualms about telling us to ‘Get it’! Running has renewed my spirit and takes me on adventures I would have never dreamed of. I have also found that I love to cheer others on to reach their goals and enjoy the sport! While running may be a solo endeavor, the support of community makes it an amazing journey! |
John Mckinzie Lead Runner |
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift". Steve P.
For me that gift is health. I used to take health for granted. It took two heart attacks and other health issues for me to get the hint that I needed to do something quick and it needed to be something that I liked. Through running and eating better, I lost over 125 pounds, completed four full marathons, and countless other types of runs. At one point, I joined "another" running group in 2010 & met a lot of dear friends, but something was missing. It was too routine. I got bored, and wanted to quit. Then I joined Gotta Run, and wouldn't you know, first training run, BAM! I broke a bone in my foot. I was fuming. So ready to quit. I thought, "If I quit now, nobody would care. Ever. Except me, and I would always remember." I was wrong. I felt so much support from everyone, but especially Coaches Alain and Becky. No way I was giving up now, no matter how hard it gets. And I have never been happier! When Alain asked me if I was interested in becoming a lead runner, after the initial shock of course, I said yes. There was no way could I say no. My mantra now is "Always help someone. You may be the only one that does". |
Karen Braddock Lead runner Dietician |
Why do I run? Up until my 30's, I had a love/hate relationship with running. Loved the whole idea of running but after the first mile, what is that saying? "Never trust mile 1"...well I did. So from high school track, through my 20's I considered myself a seasonal runner. When all conditions were right, I'd go for a run. Then about a year after my 2nd son was born I began having panic/anxiety attacks. I totally understood what was happening to me because this disorder runs deep in my family. So while sitting in a doctors waiting room, fully expecting to begin the lifelong search for the right medication to help me, I picked up a Runner's World magazine. In it was an article about running and panic disorder. Could the fix really be that easy? That week I began running and every word in that article rang true for me. The more I ran the better I felt, and the better I felt the more I wanted to run! Since then, I've completed numerous 5 & 10K's, 8 half marathons, and 2 full marathons. I would've never had the confidence to do this had I not met Alain and joined his GottaRun family. I do not run for PR's or a chance at a podium, although the medals are nice! Running is my time. My time to clear my head, resolve issues, catch up with friends and/or to not think, just be in the moment."
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Marisa Mireles lead runner |
I’m what some might consider the class clown, or the class pill (depends on who you ask). The most important thing is that I love to run!!! I love the feeling of just me and the wind, or rain or scorching heat in the summer time. I use it to reflect on who I am as a wife, a mother and a friend. Everyone has their outlet and over the last 2 ½ years, this has become my outlet. I had never run more than 3 miles in any given time in my life, I was a relay runner in junior high and high school, but the idea of running high mileage scared me, boy, if I knew then what I know now. I met Alain in 2012 and he has changed my life for the better. Alain and his program have pushed me to my limit, giving me encouragement and confidence in myself. My outlook on life now is, if I can run 26.2 miles, I can do anything. I’ve done a lot of research on distance runners and love to read that we are an “elite” group, and it’s true. I remember that every time I hit a wall or every time I start to doubt myself as an athlete. Since 2012 I’ve completed 3 half marathons, 1 full marathon and various other races and charity runs. I will run Chicago in 2015 and look forward to another great season. I’ll be encouraging, positive and when you need it, I’ll be your entertainment. I do have a tendency to “get lost” on the trails, but always find my way back. Looking forward to another great season with GottaRun.
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Steve Tise Lead Runner |
"It's a treat being a runner, out in the world by yourself with not a soul to make you bad-tempered or tell you what to do." This quote by Alan Sillitoe is so true. Being a runner is
a treat, considering that only 0.5% of the US population has completed a Marathon. I first started in 2004 with the MS 150 (Bike from Houston to Austin), then got the Triathlon bug and that lead into running. I have completed the Houston Marathon, countless half’s, and other 5k / 10k / 25k runs, trail runs, 8 Triathlons (Sprint and Olympic), and the MS150 5 years straight. Gotta-Run / Run-Fit is not only a great training group for every level, but a great group of individuals. These individuals encourage each other, praise each other and when we fall down, we pick each other up. We hope that this program will push you to the next level as you develop your skills and friendships. |
Tom Fons Advanced lead runner |
I started running in 1993, and with few exceptions have run consistently ever since. (I think "Advanced Lead Runner" means I am old!) Like many I was sedentary and looking to lose a few pounds and get in shape. Twelve months later I finished the 1994 Houston Marathon (in 4:44 back when the cutoff was 5:00!), and since then have finished Houston Marathon eleven times, the Half Marathon six time, as well as countless other races. I have a 3:34 marathon PR set in 2000, a 1:37 Half-Marathon PR set in 2004, and a 19:45 5k PR. I also hold a “running streak” of at least one mile a day for 801 straight days from Nov. 2006 to Jan. 2009. Recently, I added “UltraRunner” to my resume finishing the Brazos Bend 50 Miler in 2015, and the Snowdrop 55 (100 miles Solo) in 2016. Hopefully, I can share what I have learned in 20+ years on the road to help others who love our sport. I recently have passed on my love of the sport to my teenage daughter. She regularly earns age group awards in races from 5k to the ½ Marathon and also runs Cross Country and Track at Tompkins High School.
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