---- SYLVIA SPANIHEL ----


Name: Sylvia Spanihel

Birthday: 4/6/52

Years running at the time of profile(2000): 22 years

Occupation: Operations coordinator for an oil trading and marketing company.

How many miles a week do you run? 15-35 - Depends on the time of year and if I am training for a marathon

How did you come to join Bayou City?: I was a member of Terlingua, but I was encouraged by friends to join Bayou City (John and Lynn Weiser and Ralph and Mary Feniello). I am glad I made the switch.

My proudest running accomplishment is: My first marathon (New York) in 1987. It was a great way to see the city. It was quite memorable.

My favorite training run is: Buffalo Bayou trail located downtown.

My favorite race is: Musuem of Fine Arts 5k in February. Usually it is the first race I do after the marathon. I am thankful it is only a 5k and the finish is not so far.

My best distance is: Half-marathon.

I run because: I love the outdoors. Running gives you time to clear you mind and relieve the stress of work.

My philosophy for life is: Live everyday to the fullest and enjoy the beauty of this world.

My next goal is: To run and finish the Houston 2000 Marathon.

Favorite training food: Grilled salmon, asparagus, pasta and a good chardonnay.

When I'm running I think about: I really don't enjoy running alone. I like to have a conversation while I am running. Running is some of the best quality time you can spend with your friends. There are not many interruptions.

The best running advice I could give would be: Try to stay injury free. Run in moderation.

People would be surprised if they knew I: was an avid surfer for several years. I spent a year in the early 70's living in Mexico in a small town by the Pacfic Ocean surfing everyday.

The top thing on my dream list is: To live a long healthly life

If I could have been anything, besides my current occupation it would be: A chef at a ski resort

Other hobbies besides running: Golf, skiing, hiking, cooking and gardening

I would love to spend the day with: My Uncle Jim who passed away several years ago.

The most embarrasing thing that has happened to me is: I don't embarrass very easily. If I did, I wound no longer be a member of BCRR and life would not be as much fun.

The most profound thing that has happened in my life is: being in love and married to John.

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[A final note from April Murphy] In 2003, Sylvia was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and fought an incredible fight during this illness. In her words..."I have tried to battle this disease like I am running a hard marathon". As someone who was with her from the diagnosis to the end, I have to say, she gave it her all to the very last moment. The incredible thing is that even at the end, she was asking for a laptop for the main purpose of doing some preliminary research for the BCRR ski trip...a BCRR social butterfly even in her last hours. She will be very much missed. We all have our "Sylvia" stories...she was a unique and colorful person. She will continue to live on as an integral part of BCRR through the wonderful (often hilarious) memories we have of her.

[A final note from John Gammill, her husband]

Top ten things about Sylvia:
>Her ability to make good things happen in all our lives.
>Her never-ending confidence in other people being better than they seemed to be.
>Her positive, productive, creative energy- she wasted little time or motion.
>Her love of people, which, of course, gave me a chance to be her friend and husband.  
>Her initiative. She not only got things done; she thought them up in the first place.
>A warm smile that lighted up everyone's life - again and again.
>A full loud voice that could fill a dance hall or a bowling alley when she wanted to….
>A warm nature that most people responded to immediately.
>A strong confidence that things could be worked out in life.
>An enduring faith in people and God; even if she could never be Pope herself. 

Top ten events in our lives together:
>Our wedding was the happiest day of my life. That was a big deal.
>Meeting her in the first place. Sylvia was an open book of good thoughts.
>Getting to know someone with her lovely energy and to see its effects on people.
>Traveling to places with her, just the two of us, and being so lucky to be with someone who could do magic in my life.
>Living a charmed life for years with someone who had a positive agenda everyday. What a gift to start each day with a "good news update" from someone who was always planning ahead.
>Getting those stupid cats when they were so small both would fit in one hand. She named them before she saw them: Puss and Boots. Both turned out to be male.
>Going through many years of "New York, New York" where it wasn't really a good party until Sylvia began high kicking and fell on her can.
>Seeing her garden as if she were Mother Nature herself. Her love of dirt and plants seemed perfectly natural and completely enjoyable to her. She was always helping something grow.
>Her joy with our friends and neighbors. It wasn't enough just to know someone, you had to get drunk with them and/or share some project with them - the more the better. 
>Having her in my heart and head, as I do now. After so many years of doing so many good things together, she's really never going to be that far away. Her love endures.

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