Steve and Paula Boone, Founders of Kingwood's Annual Metal Saw Texas Marathon
If you live in the Kingwood area, then you've seen Steve Boone jogging along the greenbelts, and across the bridge on Lake Houston Parkway. Steve has run 600+ marathons!
Recently, Steve and Paula were our guest speakers, and it was wonderful to hear they stories about everything they've done in the world of marathon running. Here's two local heroes that are known around the world, but many people don't know their story.
Steve is a marathon historian and founder of the 50 States Marathon Club with his wife, Paula. The goal of this group remains simple: Run a marathon in all 50 states. However, to join the group, a person has to complete at least 10 marathons. There are more than 3,500 members representing all 50 states, Washington D.C., and 12 other countries. People ranging in age from the early 20s to 90s are represented in the group.
January 1, 2016 will be the 17th Annual Texas Metal Saw Marathon in Kingwood which is an event founded by Paula and Steve.
HISTORY OF THE TEXAS METAL SAW MARATHON: Rick Worley was the reason for starting the Texas Marathon in 2000. He was working on setting a Guinness World Record for the most marathons on consecutive weekends when he ran 200 in 159 consecutive weeks. There was not a marathon being held during the Christmas weekend in 1999, which would have broken Rick's streak. They organized the Free Kingwood Marathon and held it on 12/26/99. Rick went to Ohio to run a series of marathons between Christmas and New Year's. He needed a marathon on New Year's Day and could only find a very difficult ultra marathon. They offered to organize another marathon six days after the Free Kingwood Marathon using the same course, with a new name, "Jammin' in January" and held it on New Year's Day. The race has been held on New Year's Day every year since then. Rick completed the Texas Marathon four times and participated in it every year until 2006 when he injured his ankle. He completed 299 marathons including at least four in every state and also at least one on six continents. Rick Worley was tragically killed in a traffic accident on 7/25/10. We send our love to Rick's family. We will miss Rick, his laugh and his love of friends, family and marathoning.
If you are interested in more information, please Click here to learn more about the Texas Metal Saw Marathon.