H&FSM Poll
Event Forecast
| Thu Feb 09 @08:00PM - David Berkeley at Photobooth |
| Fri Feb 10 IMAGO Theatre in “ZooZoo.” |
| Sat Feb 11 2012 Auburn Masters SCY Invitational |
| Sat Feb 11 HeART-Beat Ball 2012 |
| Sat Feb 11 The Urban Market Houston Antique Show |
| The Games We Played |
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If being active is your goal, there is no shortage of recreational sports/fitness activities for you to choose. Maybe you want to do some mountain biking, or perhaps indoor rock climbing is more your speed. Along with old favorites like cycling and running, activities ranging from adventure racing to paintball are now vying for your time.  SO IT BEGINS
The inaugural issue featured, appropriately, a group of runners on the cover and a feature on Houston triathlete Charlie Clark. Other articles inside the 20-page newsprint tabloid focused on aerobics and tennis, which was still riding the crest of popularity that began in the 1970s before it leveled off and began dropping in the mid 1990s.
BODYBUILDING TAKES CENTER STAGE
Throughout the first year of the magazine, the sport of bodybuilding was featured on numerous occasions. The second issue of the publication included a feature story on local competitors Lawrence Story and Ronda Spurgeon, who recounted their introduction to the sport. Another article explained that Gold’s Gym was the training base for numerous Houston bodybuilders seeking their fame and fortune by pumping iron. AEROBICS, AND LOTS OF IT
When most people think of the mid-‘80s, aerobics classes, filled with Spandex-clad women (mostly) comes to mind, and the publication offered plenty of coverage. The November ‘85 issue included articles focused on so-called “Soft” aerobics (low-impact).
MEET YA AT THE AEROB-A-THON
Competitive aerobics, largely vanished from the scene today, was a huge sport by the time the fourth issue rolled out. In fact, the feature article focused on an Aerob-a-Thon event held at The Houstonian that attracted nearly 200 people. TENNECO HOUSTON MARATHON
By January 1986, the Tenneco Houston Marathon was celebrating its 14th year. The feature article predicted a field of “more than 5,000 runners” was expected. By the way, officials have capped the field for the 2011 marathon at 11,000 participants. OMG!
Aerobics and bodybuilding occupied even more of the focus of the magazine by early 1986. One of the most bizarre articles in the February ’86 issue detailed the growth of aerobics for men. It was a trend that, thankfully, never really took off! RUNNERS RULE
The May ’86 issue contained an extensive feature on Houston runners Donna Roark and Dave Odom. Roark finished seventh in the women’s division of the ’85 Tenneco Houston Marathon.
CHALLENGING SPORTS
For the June ’86 issue, the magazine focused its attention on the Houston Challengers, an athletic program for disabled athletes under the direction of Dave Stephenson. The issue also included a feature on Kyle Ditzler, an international-caliber swimmer-turned triathlete who did much of his training along Allen Parkway and in West University. HOOPS HEAVEN
An article detailing the fine art of playing pick-up basketball was one of the highlights of the July ’86 issue, along with features on late night aerobics classes offered at Fitness in Motion and a recap of the Crystal Light Aerobics Championships held at Town & Country Mall. WHAT THE HECK IS AN SPF?
In a true sign of the times, the magazine ran an article on the Tans of Texas contest in the August ’86 issue. The judging criteria for the contest examined “muscularity, stage presence and degree of tanning.” Winner Shannon Supak said, “My olive skin darkens easily. I just make sure I get a good base the first time out.”
TOE THE LINE The magazine marked its one-year anniversary in September 1986 with an article on the InterFirst Symphony Run, a 10K race that was the largest running event in the city at the time, with more than 7,000 runners. It was ranked the 25th largest run in the nation by Runner Magazine. |
