Training for a half or full marathon can look different depending on who you ask. For some runners, it’s about running a distance they’ve never covered before. For others, it’s about chasing a time or accomplishing a long-standing goal. And sometimes, it’s about finding a reason to get out the door.
Over the next few months, Houston Runner will be following a group of Houston-area runners as they train for the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon in January. Through the fall, we’ll check in on their training, challenges, milestones and everything that happens between signing up and standing at the starting line.
Sara Jackowski
For Sara Jackowski, the road to her first marathon started with a friend. Two years ago, a friend decided to start running, and Sara decided the best way to be supportive was to start running alongside her. “We did a lot of high-fives as we passed each other on loops,” she said.
After completing the Houston Half Marathon last year, Sara signed up for the full marathon almost immediately. She’ll turn 45 next year, and the timing felt right to take on something bigger.
“I decided that I wasn’t getting any younger and that if I was ever going to do it, now was the time,” she said.
Sara started training in June, although she restarted her training cycle this month. Her longest run so far has been seven miles, and her goal for January is straightforward: make it to the finish line.
Finding the time to get there may be her biggest challenge. Sara is a high school teacher, mom of twins and Girl Scout troop leader, so fitting long runs into an already packed schedule will take some planning. She’s also using the race as an opportunity to raise money for a good cause.
More than anything, she’s looking forward to being proud of herself when it’s over.
Bryan Miller
Bryan Miller has a very different goal in mind. The River Oaks runner has been running since 2001 and began focusing on distance running in 2025. Houston will be his second marathon, but this time there’s a specific number he has in mind.
Bryan is chasing a Boston qualifying time, with a goal of running 2:50 in Houston. The biggest challenge ahead may not be the distance, but staying motivated through Houston’s notoriously hot training weather.
For Bryan, though, the training journey itself is part of the fun. He’s particularly excited about documenting the experience and creating content throughout his marathon build-up.
Erica Trejo
The Pasadena-area runner began running in May 2025 with Bows On the Run Run Club, about a year and a half after the birth of her son. At the time, she was struggling with postpartum depression and knew she needed to find a way to get out of the house and move again.
Then she saw a flyer for one of the club’s Saturday meetups. It was billed as a mental health run, and Erica decided to give it a try. She met new people, found a running community and quickly discovered that running could become an outlet during difficult times.
Since then, she’s worked her way through 5Ks and 10Ks with friends. Now she’s ready for her biggest challenge yet: her first half marathon. Erica is currently in her third week of training and has already run eight miles without stopping. Her goal is to cover all 13.1 miles with little to no stopping.
Finding time for long runs will be her biggest challenge as a mother, especially when the only available window sometimes falls during the hottest part of the day. Fortunately, she has an encouraging partner helping make training possible.
When she lines up in January, Erica will also be running for the Home Base Veterans & Family Foundation. As a service member herself, the opportunity to raise money for an organization supporting veterans and their families makes her first half marathon even more meaningful.
For all three runners, the starting point is different. Over the next few months, we’ll see where the miles take them.
