June Harris doesn’t know when to quit. I met her for the first time at the Chamber Veterans Day EXPO, and she had just run the New York Marathon race. But this was her third try, and the only successful one. In 2011 she went to New York to run, but became sick and couldn’t compete. So she went back in 2012, and then Hurricane Sandy hit, and the race was cancelled. So in 2013, she tried once again, and suceeded with a time of 4:53:46.
Harris is a devoted runner, having competed in 32 marathons and 6 ultras. This year she also ran the Houston Marathon for the 15th time, receiving a commemorative shirt for the accomplishment.
Harris started running marathons in 1999 in Houston, but has also run in Washington DC in the Marine Corps run 6 times, and last year ran in a marathon in Paris. Prior to 1999 she only ran 10K runs.
Her time this year in the Houston marathon was 4:56 and she noted that was not nearly as good as her best time, 4:37 several years ago.
To prepare for a marathon, which is 26.219 miles long, she goes into training starting in July through December, with paced running, and workouts in the gym 2 days a week. She also swims during this time.
Although running is an obvious passion for Harris, she also noted that it has the benefit of taking her to some exotic and beautiful scenes. As well as Paris, she mentioned that in 2008 she ran in China in a marathon known as the Great Wall race. It started in a small town about 3 hours outside Beijing, and continued on a route that took her up on the Great Wall twice, but otherwise on a roadway nearby. This year she is planning on a run in New Zealand, where she will fun a full marathon and take 2 loops around Rotoroura Lake, a well known landmark.
When Harris is not running she has her own business, representing the Halo Branded Solutions company, and sells promotional products.
She also keeps busy with other activities, including having served the Galena Park ISD as a school board trustee, and school board president. She is a member of the San Jacinto Pilot Club in North Channel, and also the Bay City Road Runners, and affiliate of the national Road Runners organization.