Here are our RAS Ambassadors for 2024:
Julainne Mills – RAS Ambassador Coordinator
Excited to be representing RAS for a second year. My love for running started over 20 years ago while stationed in Mississippi with the Air Force. The local running club gave me a great support network and made it so much fun. I ran my first marathon in Huntsville, AL, and was hooked after that. I reached out to my father about joining me for some races and over the next two decades met up with him for father/daughter weekends to run 5k and half marathons. In total we’ve participated in over two dozen races together and I’ve run another 70+ races from 5k to full marathons since 2000. I have recently added swimming and biking to my regimen and participated in my first Olympic distance triathlon last year where I finished third in my age group. I find that running is not only a beneficial physical activity, but also allows me to clear my head and find moments of peace in hectic times. Running is a joy for me and I love to share it with my friends and acquaintances. I am thrilled to be a 2024 RAS Ambassador and sharing what these great races have to offer. Run Happy!
Melissa Bittick
Hi! My name is Melissa Bittick. I’m a married to my high school sweetheart and we have a 9 year old son and 11 year old daughter together. I teach spin classes and lead the run club at Lifetime Baybrook. I started running when my daughter was two. I couldn’t run for more then 2-3 minutes at a time, but gradually worked my way up to being able to run a 5K. From then, I was hooked! I worked towards being able to run a 10k, then took a couple year break while I had my son, then picked it back up in 2016. By 2017, I had found several run groups and learned how to follow training plans. I went from a casual runner to enjoying trying to run personal bests and take on new distances. I set the goal to run my first marathon and BQ, and in January 2018- I did it! Since then I’ve run 18 marathons and nearly 50 half marathons. I have a new goal to run either a half marathon or full marathon race in every state over the next 10-15 years. I’m also over halfway to becoming a 6 star WMM finisher with Berlin on the calendar for my 4th star and first international major marathon. However, some of my very favorite races are the Running Alliance Sport races! I’ve done the Seabrook Lucky Trails, 5K series and Bridge Series and they are all so much fun! The race directors do an amazing job with each of these races and I am so thankful to be apart of the RAS ambassador program again this year to share more about them. Our local running community is the best! The way that everyone encourages, motivates and inspires each other truly is special and I’m so excited to continue to be apart of it. Running is for everyone! Come join us 🙂
John Nguyen
I’m John Nguyen. I started running in 2009 to get in better shape. My first race was the Seabrook Lucky Trails Half in 2010. I have learned so much from running and have met so many great people along the way. I will be pacing at least 4 events this year. I currently run with the Urban Locos Runners. We are just a group of friends that love to spread positivity in our running community.
Sagirah Ahmed Norris
My name is Sagirah Ahmed Norris devoted mother/ wife and adaptive athlete. I have Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis that I treated with HSCT chemotherapy based stem cell transplant. I’ve been featured nationwide as I aim to bring HSCT into awareness for others with multiple sclerosis. I’ve embarked on going from cane to marathon only 9 months post treatment at a Mexico clinic in 2020. Working within the community as part of west end run club in the galleria, Texas Finisherz and Achilles Houston. Since then I’ve work hard on Abbott world majors marathons Boston marathon, London Marathon, New York Marathon and Chicago marathon, Berlin Marathon and 2024 Tokyo marathons. Im set to become the first PPMS athlete to earn the 6 star world majors title! Facebook/Instagram blog #MSSagirah I often repost MS focus materials as resources. I feel my calling is to support patients to seek healthcare advocacy. I’d like to showcase my use of my own advocacy within my health has influenced my ability to continue my marathon journey.
Becky Bethscheider
Hi, I’m Becky Bethscheider (aka RAS Bib Name: Hot Mess). I am married to my husband Brian for 22 years and mom to 2 wonderful kids, Gabriel and Genevieve. I am also Mimi to my 4 year old granddaughter Skarlett. I am a Paralegal/Office Manager to a Law Firm in Galveston for over 10 years. I fell in love with running after I ran my first 5k, the Mardi Gras Jolly Jester Jaunt 8 years ago, and have been running ever since. I came across Running Alliance Sport races at my local run club Gordon Street Tavern Run Club in Alvin, Texas and was hooked after I ran my first RAS race which was the Seabrook Lucky Trails. Next was the Texas Bridge Series and that was the beginning of a legacy. I believe this will be my 8th year to run this series and excited to make new memories and friendships. I am honored to be invited to be an ambassador for Running Alliance Sport! Come run with us and let this year be the year to get fit while having fun while running to raise money for a great cause, The Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
Elisabeth Bowman
Hi! I’m Elisabeth Bowman. I am married and we have a 15 year old daughter, a 6 year old son and a 4 year old son. I started running in 2022 when one of my friends invited me to join her in running her last Chevron half marathon. I had never ran a mile continuously in my adult life but decided to try out training for a 5K with Running Alliance Sport to see what it was like. I ran the St Thomas Family 5K and honestly loved the whole experience. Surprisingly, I placed 4th in my age group and was only 19 seconds away from 3rd. Immediately, I was hooked. I started my first half marathon training plan and found a running community at Lifetime Baybrook. The rest is history and now I have completed two full marathons, two half marathons, the bridge series, multiple 10Ks, 8 5Ks and long term my goal is to someday run in the Boston Marathon. The running alliance sport races are where I first fell in love with running and they are always my favorite events. I love the community we have created here. I am so excited to be a part of the ambassador program this year. I love encouraging others to take a leap of faith and try something out of their comfort zone. You never know when it might be your next thing!
Matthew Gonzalez
Hello everyone! I’m Matthew, I’ve been running for about 6 years now! I started in 8th grade, and joined the cross country team at Ross S sterling in Baytown. After a rough senior year, I took almost a full year away from running. I came back in December of 2022 with an ambition to see how far I could push my mind and body… So I made the decision to sign up for the Kingwood marathon Jan. 1st, and the rest was history! I now have 5 full marathons on my belt, and many more to come !! Thank you RAS for giving me the opportunity to be able to spread these amazing races ! See y’all at the start line!
Sylvia Jimerson
Hi all, Sylvia Jimerson here, a born and raised “boot chick” from north Louisiana who has lived in Houston since 2001. I keep busy by day working as Sr. Manager with Waste Management. My proudest role is being mother to three daughters ages 13, 15, and 28, and one son, age 22. My running journey began with Black Girls Run in September 2013 when I graduated from their WalkB4URun program. Since then, I have done numerous 5k’s, 10k’s, half marathons, and 1 marathon. I’m currently state chasing and have completed a half marathon in 27 of the 50 states plus DC. I have been an Ambassador with BGR! Houston since 2018. I love serving the running community and look forward to representing RAS in 2024!
Julian “Ricky” Martinez
Hey everyone, my name is Ricky Martinez. I started my running journey in 2021. I played sports in high school such as soccer, football, baseball and also surfing. Running was not fun but just came with the sports I played. In 2017 my father became ill with Alzheimer’s Dementia. All I knew was him to be a strong Army Veteran and extremely active. In 2021 he became bedridden, and I knew that I wanted to dedicate something to him, so I signed up for a 5K. The training process was hard because I didn’t know how to run so I went to the internet and invested in a treadmill. My first race was the Texas Bridge Series Race in Galveston and placed in the top ten in my age group I was hooked. Running is truly a hobby for myself and when I am not running, I enjoy coaching my local little league and spending time with my son Julian who is 10 and my beautiful wife Gilma who supports me at every race. I enjoy hearing everyone’s stories on how running has helped them and continue to be active in the running community. Beginner runner or an established runner, I am grateful for this opportunity to represent RAS as an ambassador and learn more about this fantastic organization that truly unites us all. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you all at the Races.
Julie Pennington
Hi! I’m Julie Pennington aka Jules 🙂 I am married to my best friend in the whole world & we have two littles, Asher (7) & Charli Grace (3)! I’m a spin instructor of 6+ years, an avid reader, world traveler & run coach for Life Time Baybrook. My running journey truly began almost three years ago when my best friend invited me to race the RAS Lunar Landing 5K, my first race ever! It was shortly after I had my baby girl & I remember being so nervous. Somehow, I allowed the nerves to fuel me and ended up getting 1st place in my age group. I couldn’t believe it! That was a huge turning point in my life, I realized I could have kids AND big dreams! Running had my heart immediately & the community is absolutely incredible. Now, six marathons & two Boston qualifiers later, running has taken me all over the world. It’s also allowed me to meet some of the most amazing humans! It all started with Running Alliance and I’m forever grateful. I love to encourage others & I’m so excited to be a part of the RAS ambassador team!
Danielle Walker
Hey everyone! I’m Danielle. I’m a mom of 2 little boys, Registered Dietitian, and Health Coach who loves to help inspire others to discover a healthier, happier lifestyle one step at a time. I grew up as a track and field athlete who later fell in love with all forms of fitness. I’ve recently discovered the joy in the journey of endurance training. I am so excited to be a part of Running Alliance Sport’s ambassador program to bring other runners together.
Jonathan Whitaker
My name is Jonathan Whitaker, and I started my running journey in February 2016. I had been a cigarette smoker since I was 13. I struggled quitting for years but I finally was able to quit at the age of 32 in July of 2015. Then in February 2016 we had a weight loss competition at work, so my wife encouraged me to run to win. I used an app C25K that taught me to run a 5k. I never thought I could run for more than 5 minutes. I smashed the competition. I fell in love with running during the weight loss competition and never looked back. Then things escalated pretty quickly. I ran my first official 10k in Kemah that year and then went on and completed the Texas Bridge Series. In 2017 I did the pelican challenge in Seabrook, the 5k series, and the bridge series again, and in 2018 I did my first marathon followed by another pelican challenge. I’ve done 8 marathons now in total including one in Austin, and Chicago plus 23 halves and countless 5K’s & 10K’s. I have a beautiful wife, Leslie, and two fantastic, brilliant children, Luke and Katelyn. I couldn’t do any of this without them and the friends I’ve made since this journey began. I feel every mile I run is towards a better, healthier version of myself. I hope to see you out there!