A running coach who died last month in a car crash will compete in spirit at this Sunday's Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.
Her friends are wearing her number and time tag, so that she can finish the race.
The marathon starts in Balboa Park at 6:15 a.m. Sunday. Many people will dedicate their run that day to Melissa Houston, a 40-year-old mother of two who was killed May 17 when her car crashed into the back of a semi-truck on State Route 163.
“I know that I'm going to be running with her, side by side,” said Samantha Greasley, Houston’s running partner.
Greasley is aiming to run this Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in 3 hours and 40 minutes – a time that her friend, Houston, set as a goal before she died.
“If I don't make that goal, I think she might be up there yelling at me. So I gotta make that goal. I will make that goal,” Greasley said.
Houston was a coach with Team in Training, a group that prepares runners for races and raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma.
“That's what Melissa was all about, her focus on other people,” Jason Weber, fellow Team in Training Coach said.
Jason Weber will be wearing Houston’s bib on Sunday. He said he’s planning to coach people throughout the race, just as Houston would have done.
“Go out and cheer people up with a goofy smile or a silly story to take their mind off of how much their legs hurt,” Weber said.
Friends say Houston was on track to run a personal record on Sunday.
She wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon again.
Greasley will wear Houston’s time tag so she can finish the race.
“I'm going to have mine on one shoe and hers on the other shoe and we're going to do every step together,” she added.
Friends say they've raised $30,000 for Houston's two children.
If you're interested in donating, you can go to her Facebook memorial page.
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