Racing Through Texas: Meet Some of the Houston Teams Taking on TIR 2026

Every spring, a cannon blast signals the start of one of the most memorable Texan traditions in endurance running: the Texas Independence Relay. What follows is a 200-mile, overnight journey across the state where teams of up to 12 runners take on 36 legs from Gonzales all the way to Houston.

The course itself traces a path rooted in Texas history, loosely following the route of Sam Houston and his army during the Texas Revolution. Teams run through the day, through the night, and into the next morning: passing batons, sleeping in vans, and building great memories along the way. For so many teams, TIR isn’t just a race, it’s a yearly tradition.

Ahead of race weekend, we’re spotlighting a handful of Houston-based teams taking on the challenge: who they are, what their goals are, and what makes their team special.

Invicta Striders

Team Members: Jing Giardina, Regina Massingill, Lingquan Delloye, Isabel Beariault, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Coco Wallace, Sonia Verhagen, Sylvia Morgese, Sara Montejo, Mary Kate Ryan, Taylor Weingartner, Marieper Lyde

The Invicta Striders, representing the powerhouse women of the Houston Striders, are heading into the Texas Independent Relays with confidence. True to their name (Invicta = undefeated), this group blends speed, strategy, and strong team chemistry.

“Our team consists of some of the fastest women from the Houston Striders, and we hope to represent our club by delivering a winning performance in the women’s division this year. Our dynamic mix of new runners and veterans has helped us build the supportive team culture necessary for success.” Says team captain Regina Massingill.

Preparation has been focused and detailed. From building speed to dialing in race-day logistics, nothing is being left to chance. “Our team has been focusing on maintaining our speed in training so that we may deliver our best possible performance.” Says Massingill. “We are also taking steps to avoid common race weekend blunders: learning the route and downloading gpx, familiarizing ourselves with van exchanges, and having rest and fueling plans in place for downtime.”

And while the competitive fire is there, the team’s definition of success goes beyond the podium. “While winning is the ultimate goal, our top priority is to have a safe and fun weekend, hopefully with a few story-worthy experiences along the way.”

GGRC Purple Team

Team Members: Brad Ham, Bryan Novak, Chris Sliva, Ethan Varvelo, Freddy Arellano, Geovanni Monge, John Gignac, Juan Uribe, Quintin Moses (Musa), Rodney Ripley, Ruben Alejandro, Tim Whiddon

The Good Guys Run Club Purple Team heads into this year’s relay with a mix. “Our GGRC Purple team is unique this year because we have some seasoned TIR veterans and a good batch of freshmen,” said team member Chris Sliva. “Rodney Ripley will take on the course for his fifth year, and we have six first-timers joining us.” It’s a balance that brings knowledge of the race and the excitement of experiencing it for the first time.

In preparation, the team has kept things simple but intentional. “Our goal is to run a 6:30 average pace for the race and make sure everyone stays healthy,” Sliva said, noting that race-day conditions will play a big role early on. “Keeping the runners hydrated and cool during the first third of the legs is important.” While their training hasn’t been exclusively focused on TIR, the fitness is there across the board. “All of our runners have been actively training in some capacity for races, not necessarily just TIR, so everyone is in shape and ready to tackle the distance,” he said.

Beyond the pacing, Sliva emphasized the deeper motivation behind the team’s participation. “GGRC always loves to participate in this race for the community bonding and the competitive spirit that is at the core of our run club,” he said. “We hope to see this race become more popular and competitive every year so more people can experience it and understand why we keep coming back.” While competition is part of the thrill, the team still keeps fun and teamwork at the forefront. “There is a competitive drive in everyone on the team, so while everyone is here to have fun, everyone wants to race well.”

Barkada y Pamilya

Team Members: Angela Leong, Dani Moku, Daniel Dannug, Elex Nuon, Jorge Vega, Juan Ruiz, Karen Cais, Katherine McDonald, Kim Rich, Kristi Cater, Linda Nguyen, Nancy Vo, Sarah Nguyen, Tala Ku

Barkada y Pamilya returns to the relay this year with deeper meaning. “For the majority of us, this will be our farewell tour,” said team captain Angela Leong. “For a few, we’ve been running TIR for the past five years, and I’ve had the privilege of serving as team captain for the last four.” Established in decades-long friendships, the team’s name reflects who they are. “‘Barkada’ means friends and ‘Pamilya’ means family,” Leong said. “For us, running is more than just miles—it’s about the friendships we build and the family we become.” That sense of connection defines the team. “We laugh, bicker (hopefully no crying!), smile, share stories, push each other, maybe irritate each other—but most importantly, we create lasting bonds and celebrate together.”

That spirit carries into how they prepare and race. “Our key focus is finding the right balance among all our runners,” Leong said. “We recognize each other’s strengths and build a plan that keeps us connected and cheering each other on. Always be ready to pivot. No one is fast. No one is slow. No one gets left behind.”

For Barkada y Pamilya, success goes beyond the finish line. “It’s about the experiences along the way,” Leong said. “Staying together, lifting each other up, and creating memories.” Whether it’s the small moments or the big ones, the goal is simple: “Crossing that finish line having enjoyed the journey, still cheering, still smiling and together, that is SUCCESS for us.”

Night Herons

Team Members (All Four Houston Teams): Aaron Berg, Adam Robertson, Adrian Alvarado, Andrew Foederer, Andrew Shannon, Andy Le, Blake Mankin, Blake Norman, Bobby Mcillece, Callan Edquist, Chance Moore, Cody Foster, Cory Mizell, Daylan Rushing, Doug Woodcock, Fernando Benito, Garrett Nasrallah, Gustavo Raskosky, Hudson Hinze, Jairus Alexander, Jaren Salazar, Jay Mcillece, Jimmy Vaeth, Joel Gittemeier, John Evans, Jonathan Adams, Kevin Matthews, Kyle Ray, Logan Foederer, Luke Leibert, Luke Ruff, Luke Trotter, Marshall McCray, Matt Martone, Matthew Gullo, Max Kincheloe, Michael Zdenek, Nathan Byrd, Nick Cione, Peter Mahoney, Ryan Pontbriand, Ryan Tully, Scott Ashmore, Stephen Landes, Tony Leibert, Tyson Gaspard

The Night Herons return for their seventh year at the Texas Independence Relay with their largest group yet. “This is our 7th year participating in Texas Independence Relay. We will be bringing 6 teams this year: 2 from Night Herons – Dallas chapter and 4 from HQ in Houston,” said organizer Aaron Berg. “Last year we had 4 total teams blending some Dallas guys in with the Houston guys, so we are pretty excited to have such a large group this year.”

Beyond the numbers, the team is grounded in something deeper. “The Night Herons are focused on deep Christian community first and running second,” Berg said. “We are in each other’s lives, helping, encouraging, challenging, and just trying to love each other really well. Running is what we do as we gather together in community.” That approach carries into race strategy as well. “We attempt to evenly distribute runners by pace across our 4 Houston teams, so that we can have a little Night Heron race within the larger TIR race.”

Preparation has been a shared focus across the group. “One of our longtime Night Herons (Jay Mcillece) professionally coaches on the side and has created a training block specifically for TIR,” Berg said. “This is a fun few months that we all focus on training for the same race.”

Looking ahead, the goal is to stay competitive together. “In 2024, we had 3 teams that finished in 5th, 6th, and 7th place overall with average paces of 6:36, 6:38, and 6:39, respectively. Our teams were so close!” he said. “I would love to replicate this with our 4 Houston teams staying that close to each other for the entire 22 hours!”race.”

Too Legit Too Quit

Team Members: David Bernal – Driver, Cynthia Chevarria, Debi Dallmeyer, Leslie Kompelien, Jennifer Lilley, Chrissy Molloy, Sydney Rich, Carlos Paramo, Evan Poole, Hector Ornelas, Robert Molloy aka Van Dad (Driver), Sal Ruelas, Walter Enrique, Scott Nance

Too Legit Too Quit returns for its fifth year at the relay. “This is year five for team Too Legit Too Quit, however we only have four OGs from the original team,” said captain Hector Ornelas. “This year’s team will have six new members, two of which have never run TIR before.” Despite the evolving roster, the team’s identity hasn’t changed. “Our team culture is all about supporting each other and getting those kills,” Ornelas added.

With so many new faces, preparation has centered on making sure everyone is ready for the unique challenges of the race. “The main focus is making sure everyone is comfortable with their routes and prepared for the overnight legs,” he said which are key elements for a smooth and successful relay experience.

As for what success looks like, the goal is simple and grounded. “If everyone finishes at St. Arnold with zero injuries and tons of stories that will last a lifetime, that is success in my book,” Ornelas said.