Rick Hood was born in Long Beach, California and grew up there and in Little Rock, Arkansas, with the advantage of two very loving families after parents split and later remarried. He and his brother also had a total of six step-sisters and one step-brother.

Eventually, after 26 years in the oil business, with the blessings of his three grown children (Troy, Miranda and Shelby), he found himself coaching and working as a store manager providing guidance and gear to runners and triathletes in Houston, Texas. His first “official” run was in 1999 with the Arthritis Foundation at the Dublin Marathon in Ireland at the young age of 46. Since then he has completed 17 marathons, 5 MS-150’s (180 mile bike ride from Houston to Austin), 4 Hotter-n-Hell 100’s (100+ mile bike ride around Wichita Falls, Texas, in August!), multiple other fun rides, and competed in quite a few fun runs and triathlons. These include a 50-mile ultra-marathon (which turned into a 53 mile run after missing the last turn in the dark), several half-Ironman triathlons and an Ironman triathlon. Before he “grows up,” he wants to do a 100 mile run.

The 2008 Little Rock Marathon will be Rick’s third one there (see photo finish with then Governor Huckabee as he set a new personal record in 2006). It will also be his 7th marathon this season.