Start Line Stories with Houston’s Johnny Zarate

Four years ago, Houston runner Johnny Zarate was in the midst of a post-collegiate slump. He had just graduated from the University of Houston, was living in a new city, and found himself without a team.

The former college baseball player had been on teams his entire life, and he was feeling a little lost without one; so he went for a run one day, and then another the next day. He started out alone, but soon after, began running with friends from work. Their small group grew bigger, and as more miles were logged, Johnny started signing up for races. And two years after starting his running journey, Johnny found himself on the start line of his hometown marathon in Austin, Texas. 

Soon after that, Johnny founded a run club with his friends in Houston — called Everyday Hustle Run Club — and each Thursday, 200-250 Houston runners gather for their weekly run together. Now Johnny is part of a team again — and a big one at that — and he can’t wait to bring a contingent of Houston runners to the start line in Eugene in just 5 weeks. 

Read more about Johnny’s journey to the Eugene Start Line in his story below:

Name: Johnny Zarate

Age: 28

Where are you from and where is home now?

I’m from Austin, Texas and my home now is in Houston.

What’s your local run club or training group and tell us about it?

I founded a run club here in Houston called Everyday Hustle Run Club. We meet every Thursday and the concept around it is community based. I wanted to bring the Austin vibe to Houston. It was small at first, but got known around the area and now we host about 200-250 people every Thursday. It’s amazing to see people who started running through the run club about a year ago and now they’re doing 10ks and half marathons. We do all pace groups; we have walkers, we have people with babies in strollers, and we have people who are clocking a 5-minute-a-mile pace. 

Why Eugene 2026? 

I took a trip to Oregon for my birthday in October. We explored all over the state, and I saw everyone outside running and it was perfect, the weather was amazing, and I immediately looked up the Eugene Marathon when I got home. And then I got 12 of my run club members to come with me from Houston. 

Current Total Marathon Count:

6

Favorite road race or racing experience?

My friend came out with a hydration drink last year and he wanted to do something cool to launch it so he hosted an ultra-marathon. That was my first ultra! It was a 4.2-mile loop, last-man-standing, kinda race. By mile 38, I couldn't feel my legs, I thought it was horrible. But my mom and dad came from Austin to see my race and they gave me a little pep talk, and I completed the 50 miles. 

What kind of training plan are you following and do you have a specific goal on race day?

My training plan is to focus on mileage, getting up to 70-75 miles a week. And my goal is to go Sub 3 [hours]. That would be a huge PR! Right now my PR is 3:16.

Finish the sentence: What I love so much about running is _____

__ The Community. 100%! The interactions, the people. The community of running got me out of a super dark place. The joy that you get out of running together, with other people, is 100% what makes running great.

Why the marathon?

It’s a distance that you have to work for day in and day out. You have to become more disciplined and more focused, not just in running, but in life. It gives you a goal to reach everyday. Then you reach the race and you feel like it’s a test that you’ve studied for; you feel ready, you’re like: let’s do this with people you love and have some fun. There’s a group of us who’ve been grinding together here in Houston and we’re bringing that energy to Eugene.

What started your running journey?

It started when I stopped playing college baseball. I transferred to the University of Houston and I was in a little bit of a slump. After I graduated, I didn’t have anyone to hang out with, I didn’t have a team anymore. So I just started running and it got me out of a dark place. Then we started a group of us running together, it was just three of us at first, then 5, then 10; and as that group grew, I got my idea for the run club. 

Running has changed my life. Because of running, I’m looking forward to something today. I know I’m gonna hit 10 miles today and that’s not something I could have done four years ago.

How has running impacted your life?

Running has impacted my life so much! I can’t even go two days without thinking about running. I just can’t. Right now, at this moment, I was eager to get out of work because it’s nice weather in Houston, and I’m on my way to meet my friends to get 10 miles in. It’s not something I have to do, it’s something I want to do.

… 

If you see Johnny and his Houston crew in your start corral on race morning, wish them good luck, and follow Johnny’s journey to the start line on Instagram at: @johnny_zarate4 and @everydayhustlerunclub