Marathon Team NAM offers a non-profit training program covering a six-month period leading up to the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon.

The Team trains on Saturday mornings at Meyer Park.  The program is open to participants in Harris and surrounding counties but primarily services runners in the northwest portion of the Houston metropolitan area, including Champions, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, Hempstead, The Woodlands, Magnolia, and Kingwood. Team members have come to training from as far as Baytown.

The program boasts the lowest registration fees for training programs of this type, with the fees going toward items consumed during training and the races, including Team breakfasts and a carbo-loading last meal before race day.  Furthermore during the Houston Marathon, Team racers are supported by pit crew at fuel stops typically staffed by friends and family.

Participants are expected to raise a nominal sum of pledge donations as part of their participation in the Marathon or Half Marathon although dedicated Team NAM members usually bring in higher pledge amounts.  The donations benefit the Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) which is a multiple program social services agency benefiting the local community, and it is supported by a number of different religious congregations and civic/social organizations.  NAM is one of the Houston Marathon RUN FOR A REASON charities.

The Team NAM marathon program caters to athletes of all skills and experience levels, from walkers and novice runners wanting to just finish a half marathon to seasoned marathoners seeking to set personal records or qualify for Boston.  Team NAM has coaching directed to maximum performance at any conditioning or fitness level.  Of course, Team coaches volunteer their time to Team NAM because of their love of the sport and dedication to NAM.

Team NAM also provides training in December and January free of charge to runners participating in the NAM 5k Challenge, a race within the EP5k (Houston's Fun Run) which is routed through downtown when the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon are underway.  Although not directly related in any way to the primary longer distance endurance training of Team NAM, NAM 5k Challenge runners are considered a part of the Team NAM program, serving identical aim to raise donations for NAM.

For queries, email

Some Team NAM members posed for picture in George R. Brown Convention Center before Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon, January 14, 2007