Bob Smeby has become one of the better runners in the Metroplex after switching from tennis in 1993. Bob said he had a difficult time keeping tennis rackets intact. So, looking for a less stressful sport without so many rules, Bob chose running because he enjoyed cross training when playing tennis. He won the Dallas Running Club's City Championship series in 2006 among his several achievements. He lists his top three highlights in running as the 100th Boston Marathon, being on the winning masters team HAZBENS at the Hood to Coast relays a few years ago, and breaking three hours in a marathon for the first time when the White Rock Marathon course was changed a few years ago to its present route.

Todd Reynolds, 39 in early 2007, began running when he was about 30. Todd said he started because his wife was participating in the Race For The Cure. He earned his first trophy at the Lake Benbrook Half Maraton in 1999 and said he has been hooked on running ever since. Appropriately, he won the Benbrook race in January. He plans to run his 40th marathon at Cowtown in February. His PR is 2:49.

Gary Anderson had been running only about four years as of Jan. 2007, and he has improved enough to be one of the top masters competitors. He has won the Lake Benbrook Half Marathon men's masters title, for example. He had torn his ALC in his right knee while playing soccer. He said he had long played team sports, but had not tried running except when playing soccer. He recuperated enough from his knee surgery to run his first half marathon six months after surgery, and ran his first marathon three months later. He ran a 3:18 in that first attempt to qualify for Boston. He had since run 17 marathons as of the 2007 Lake Benbrook Half Marathon.

David Cabral has been running in the D-FW area since the first Cowtown in 1979. when he ran the 10K. That remains his favorite distance. His first marathon was San Antonio in ``1991 or '92'' and he finished in 3:11. The Boston Marathon is his favorite marathon. He ran in the 99th Boston in '95, finishing in 3:03. Among his favorite races in the area (some no longer are conducted) include the Stockyard Stampede, Heat Rash Dash, Salty Seven and Torturous 20. As a board member on the Fort Worth Runners Club, he created the Three Amigos 4-Mile Run and the Mercury 10K. He is second vice president on the FWRC, and is charge of the races. In 2000, he started a partnership with the City of Fort Worth Teen Court, offering community service hours to youths. They help at several road races.