Lake Highlands iReporter

Welcome to “The Middle Of The Pack”! My name is Ken Lettre, and I will be your monthly running guide as we explore the fun and exciting world of running in North Texas and beyond.

The following is not an overstatement: The sport of running has literally saved my life. And if I can run, you can run!

Here’s how my personal running odyssey started: The company I was with at the time decided to go from requiring employees to wear suits five days a week to a “Casual Fridays” policy. That meant I had to buy a pair of khakis. My wife, Karen, and I went to a local department store where I tried on a pair of 36-inch waist pants.

They didn’t fit.

Next, I tried on a pair of 38s. They didn’t fit much better, but I bought them anyway because I simply refused to buy a pair of pants with the number “4” as the front number.

After making my purchase, I commented to my wife that these pants had to be sized wrong. Then, as only a loving wife could do, she stopped walking, paused for a few seconds, took a hold of my left arm, squeezed gently and said, “No, honey, these pants are not sized wrong. You’re fat.”

Simple. Succinct. Brutally honest.

Exactly what I needed.

She was 100-percent correct. There was no politically correct way of saying it — I was fat. My 5-foot-11-inch frame was literally weighed down with over 235 pounds of ‘stuff.’ I needed to do something, anything, to start losing the weight immediately.

The very next day, my wife and I joined a local gym. I got on a treadmill and quickly found that I couldn’t even walk a mile. Not even close. My total treadmill distance on that first day was one-quarter of a mile. I simply could not go any further. I wondered to myself, at 35-years young, how could I have let myself get so out of shape.

That day was my epiphany.

I returned to the gym everyday, slowly building both my stamina and endurance.
     First walking a half mile.
     Then running/walking (more walking) a half mile.
     Then a mile.
     Then running more than walking.
     Then a mile and a half.
     Then even more running than walking.
     Then two miles.
     Then three.

I was running!

With my increase in physical activity coupled with a vastly improved diet (sorry McDonald’s), I noticed myself changing for the better. I was in the midst of an amazing metamorphosis. I was losing weight and feeling the best I had in years.

From that moment on, I was hooked.

One of my most magical moments was in June 2010 when I visited Florida to see my dad for his 80th birthday and attend a family reunion. My parents had five children, and I was always their largest child growing up. (Let’s just say I did most of my back-to-school clothes shopping in the “husky” department at Sears.) When I arrived at the reunion, I took a quick glance at my siblings and it was clear that I was by far the most fit. And I smiled quietly to myself.

Since I first started, I have run a total of 15 full marathons and a whole bunch of 5Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks, and half marathons. Currently, I have the honor of coaching many local athletes before they run their first races, and I’ve recently become Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Certified as a running coach. Oh yes, I do love to run.

The purpose of this and future articles is simple: To encourage, inspire, motivate, and, most important of all, help readers learn to LOVE the sport of running as much as I do.

I will explore places to run around the greater North Texas area report on races I’ve attended, relate a few personal stories along the way, and discuss tips about how you too can be a runner. These articles are meant to be interactive, and I encourage you to ask questions and offer ideas for future article subjects.

My direct email address is TXMidPack@gmail.com. Send me a note, and let’s talk about running.

Until next time, I’ll see you out there. Run strong!

The largest garage sale in Lake Highland's will be going taking place on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, located at 9015 Plano Rd at McCree.

Come check out all that is being offered and possibly get lucky with a rare find!

Richardson Independent School District Athletic Director Rob Dubey was recently honored by the National Football Foundation's Gridiron Club of Dallas as the 2012 Athletic Director of the Year. Dubey has been affiliated with RISD in some form or fashion for 35 years.

Dubey was a coach before he was an athletic director, and his coaching credentials include stints at West Junior high, Richardson High School and Berkner High School. It was after serving as head coach at Berkner High School that Dubey ascended to athletic director of RISD.

Among his many credentials, Dubey has earned the Meadows Foundation Award, the Texas Excellence Award and is a three-time winner of the RISD Health Teacher of the Year award. As a football coach, he was named Dallas Cowboys High School Coach of the Week, District Coach of the Year and Metroplex Coach of the Year. Finally, he currently sits as president of the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association.

The Richardson Independent School District will soon be implementing a new system that will keep parents up-to-date in case of any emergencies like the tornado incident a few weeks ago. The school district will enable text/SMS messaging from their child's school to parents and guardians beginning on Friday, April 27.

The text messages will be part of the existing Blackboard Connect automated notification system that RISD uses to send telephone and email messages to parents. With this new system, parents and guardians will also have the option to receive an abbreviated version of telephone message as a text message.

On the afternoon of April 27, all parent and primary guardian telephones will be sent an initial confirmation text message from RISD. The message will notify parents that the text service has begun and any parents wishing to decline the service can follow simple reply instructions to opt out. Parents that wish to have the service will not need to do anything.

Normal message or usage rates may apply depending on the user's service plan. To receive text messages, the primary phone number on the file with the child's school must be enabled to receive text messages. If the phone number needs to be changed, contact the student data specialist at that child's school.

Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals and Tracy Jordan, Director of Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards program (DSM HSMTA) presented by Comerica Bank, today announced the awards finalists in a special appearance on WFAA-TV’s DAYBREAK.

Based on Broadway’s Tony Awards, the DSM High School Musical Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. If you love theatre, you do not want to miss this show!

Slated for Saturday, May 5^th at The Music Hall at Fair Park, top nominated schools will perform a number from their show, nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress will be showcased and the winners will be announced at the red carpet extravaganza as show biz professionals and celebrities come together to celebrate and spotlight excellence in area high school musical productions. Bring your cameras! The celebration begins at 6:00 p.m. with paparazzi at the red carpet reception. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

“This will be an exciting night, not only for DSM, but for the performers and their families,” Jordan said. “Thirty high schools participated in our first-ever musical theatre awards program. It was a diverse list of high schools from as far away as Granbury, McKinney, Corsicana and all across the Metroplex. The musicals were a wonderful mix from classic, like Red Oak High School’s Singin’ in the Rain, and dramatic, like Denton High Schools’ Jekyll & Hyde to Highland Park High School’s Once Upon a Mattress, a comedy.”

Tracy continued, “Due to the kind generosity of the many sponsors and underwriters, DSM will be awarding eight (8) $3,000 cash scholarships to outstanding participating students of the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year.

The process: Three judges visited each school and judged performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer. 

Ballots were submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton and the finalists determined.

Tickets are priced from $20 to $50. Visit the web site at: http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm or Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center or call (214) 691-7200 for more information

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The Nominees are (In alphabetical order by school):

Best Actor: Chris Willmer as Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Aledo High School, Javan Stalls as Jekyll/Hyde in JEKYLL & HYDE at Denton High School, Tanner Brodess as Bobby Child in CRAZY FOR YOU at Flower Mound High School, Zach Payne as Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Granbury High School, Doug Keffer as William Barfee in 25^th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Lake Highlands High School, Kyle Raper as Jonny in ZOMBIE PROM at Lewisville High School, Michael Williams as the Phantom in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at McKinney Boyd High School, Cam Wenrich as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO at Plano Senior High, Brandon Baker as Billy Crocker in ANYTHING GOES at Richardson High School.

Best Actress: Sara Driskill as Golde in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Aledo High School, Emily Pound as Lucy Harris In JEKYLL & HYDE at Denton High School; Emily Emmett as Polly Baker in CRAZY FOR YOU at Flower Mound High School; Landry McRee as Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Hebron High School, Samantha Meril as Christine in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at J.J.Pearce High School; Riley McRae as Christine in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at McKinney Boyd High School, Abbey Miller as Cinderella in CINDERELLA at Plano West High School, Emily Lyons as Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES at Richardson High School, Bailey Venable as Tracy Turnblat  in HAIRSPRAY at Waxahachie High School.

Best Musical:  Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, John Guyer High School for CHICAGO, Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Plano East High School for HAIRSPRAY, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES, Waxahachie High School for HAIRSPRAY.

Supporting Actor: Logan Rodgers as Motel the Taylor in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Aledo High School, Nathan Schafer as John Utterson in JEKYLL & HYDE at Denton High School, Dillon McDonald  as Lank Hawkins in CRAZY FOR YOU at Flower Mound High School, Raffi Andonian as Lefou  in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Hebron High School, Charles Harper as King Sextimus  in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Highland Park High School, Jordan Richardson as Raoul in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at J.J. Pearce High School, Jamison Williams as Seaweed in HAIRSPRAY at Plano East High School, Joseph Landry as Moonface in ANYTHING GOES at Richardson High School, Sterling Horning as Link in HAIRSPRAY at Waxahachie High School.

Supporting Actress: Aarin Ford  as Tzeitel in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Aledo High School, Kevyn Vermeire as Miss Adelaide  in GUYS AND DOLLS at Berkner High School, Chelsea King as Emma Carew in JEKYLL & HYDE at Denton High School, Kelly Bach as Patsy in CRAZY FOR YOU at Flower Mound High School, Maggie Lynn as Lady Larkin in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Highland Park High School, Becca Pogostin as Charlotta  in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at J.J. Pearce High School, Kayla Perkins as Charlotta  in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at McKinney Boyd High School, Courtney Morrison as Mrs. Potts  in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at North Mesquite High School, Allie Armstrong as Dorothy Brown in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE at Parish Episcopal High School, Kacey Kirk as Panny  in HAIRSPRAY at Plano East High School.

Featured Performer: Caroline Stella as Yente in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Aledo High School, William Harris as Nicely-Nicely in GUYS AND DOLLS at Berkner High School, Chris Peters as Sir Danvers Carew  in JEKYLL & HYDE at Denton High School, Jonah Kirby as BellaZangler  in CRAZY FOR YOU at Flower Mound High School, Caleb Massie as Lumiere  in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Hebron High School, Max Hodde as Piangi  in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at McKinney Boyd High School, Kaitlyn Brimager as Babette  in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at North Mesquite High School, Gabrielle Owens as Maybell  in HAIRSPRAY at Plano East High School, Grant Steiner as Sir Evelyn  in ANYTHING GOES at Richardson High School, Collin Stephenson as Wilbur in HAIRSPRAY at Waxahachie High School.

Direction: Aledo for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Berkner High School for GUYS AND DOLLS, Creekview for WIZARD OF OZ, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, John H. Guyer High School for CHICAGO, McKinney Boyd High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Plano Senior High School for CHICAGO, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES, Waxahachie High School for HAIRSPRAY.

Musical direction: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Creekview High School for WIZARD OF OZ, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, Highland Park High School for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, J.J. Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Lake Highlands High School for 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Plano East High School for HAIRSPRAY, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES, Waxahachie High School for HAIRSPRAY.

Choreography: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Creekview High School for WIZARD OF OZ, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Hebron High School for DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, J.J. Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, John H. Guyer High School for CHICAGO, Lewisville High School for ZOMBIE PROM, McKinney High School for FINIAN’S RAINBOW, Plano East High School for HAIRSPRAY, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES.

Scene Design: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, Granbury High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, J.J. Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Lake Highlands High School for 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, McKinney Boyd High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Red Oak High School for SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES, Waxahachie High School for HAIRSPRAY.

Costume Design: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Berkner High School for GUYS & DOLLS, Flower Mound vfor CRAZY FOR YOU, Granbury High School for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Highland Park High School for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, John H. Guyer High School for CHICAGO, Madison High School for BLOOD BROTHERS, McKinney Boyd High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Plano Senior High School for CHICAGO, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES.

Lighting Design: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Berkner High School for GUYS AND DOLLS, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, John H. Guyer High School for CHICAGO, Lake Highlands High School for 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, McKinney Boyd High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Plano East High School for HAIRSPRAY, Richardson High School for ANYTHING GOES, Waxahachie High School for HAIRSPRAY.

Stage Crew and Tech: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Berkner High School for GUYS AND DOLLS, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, Highland Park High School for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, J.J. Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, McKinney Boyd High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Plano East High School for HAIRSPRAY, Red Oak High School for SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, Waxahachie High School for HAIRSPRAY.

Ensemble: Aledo High School for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Berkner High School for GUYS AND DOLLS, Creekview High School for WIZARD OF OZ, Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, Hebron High School for DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, J.J. Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, John H. Guyer High School for CHICAGO, McKinney Boyd High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Plano East High School for Hairspray.

Orchestra: Denton High School for JEKYLL & HYDE, Flower Mound High School for CRAZY FOR YOU, J.J. Pearce High School for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Sunset High School for THE WIZ.