Featured I.D. Gallery

Mary Duerbeck Houchin

Currently running in:

Trance 9

Cascadia 4

Podium Boy Short

Run Happy EZ T

Where do you live?: Henderson, NV

Day job: Asst. Coach, UNLV Cross Country

When did you become a Brooks I.D. Member?: January 2009

Date of birth: February 23, 1978

High School: Osage R-1 High School, Chamois, MO

College: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Personal Record(s): 5000m 16:23.31; 10,000m 33:53.52

Events Currently Training For: US 10K Trail Championships

Miles run/week: 70mpw

Favorite Brooks shoes and apparel?: Trance, Cascadia, Podium Boy Short, Element Short, Run Happy EZ T!

The best thing about being an I.D. Member (besides the discount): I feel fortunate to be a part of the ID group and have the opportunity to be connected to a community with so much shared enthusiasm for running.

When did you start running?: I began running as a junior in high school when a new teacher started a cross country team that fall. Although, my first memories of running are from when my older brother and I would race my dad down our farm road after finishing chores when I was a little kid. Despite getting lots of practice from having to chase after our cows through the pastures, I never won!

What challenges do you face as a runner?: I’ve had this weird injury for several years where I lose muscle coordination in my left leg when I try to race or do race-pace work on hard, even surfaces like the roads or track. BUT, I believe hope is a powerful thing and hopefully one day I’ll find an answer. Until then, I stay positive and work around my problem as best I can, finding places to train that don’t bring on my symptoms as much, and rough terrain races like cross country and trail competitions. I realize that even though I can’t race or train as optimally as I would like, I’m really lucky to still be able to run a lot and to have running be a part of my life!

What do you like to do when you're not running?: Honestly, I was bummed when I first moved to Las Vegas, having no idea that there was anything here besides the Strip. But, I quickly learned that this fabulous city is surrounded by mountains! I was thrilled. I really like to get out to the parks and explore, and then afterward check out Google Earth to figure out where I’ve been and where I want to go next! I’m always looking for new trails by researching maps and online documents, and trying to figure out how to connect routes to each other.

Favorite race: 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Kenya. I can make myself tear up just remembering Aron McGuire’s speech to us the night before the race, about how we all may have put on a lot of different uniforms over our careers as athletes, but there is nothing like the feeling of wearing the red, white, and blue when you toe the line…

Favorite run: You might have heard of Red Rock National Conservation Area outside of Vegas, but you may not have heard of the small town of Blue Diamond next to the park. This is a biking and running mecca for our area and I love the Cottonwood Trails here! With temps 10-15 degrees cooler than the city, a bit of elevation, nice soft dirt trails, plenty of hills, and even wild burros and horses--how could you not run happy?!