Also see the  Schlumberger-Sema news website and  pictures (for SLB employees only).

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At 3:30pm before the run, I was given a Torch orientation in the HEB parking lot on the corner of Scott and Old Spanish Trail, about 2 miles from the actual run location.  I was grouped with about a dozen other Torch runners, including a gold medalist high diver, 3 individuals who had defeated cancer and were now excellent marathon runners, a navy seal instructor, several oil executives and/or community leaders, and several people who had been nominated for their Torch essays.  We were all dressed in the official Torch uniform - white pants, white long-sleeve shirt, white wind breaker, and optional white gloves and hat (no one wore the gloves or hat).  We boarded an official Torch bus at 5:30pm, and waited on the edge of the HEB parking lot.

Ten minutes later we saw the Torch slowly approaching from the west.  The bus driver slipped in front of the Torch vehicle entourage, and idled along with the other Torch support vehicles.  After about 5 minutes we dropped off the first Torch runner from our group, who then received the flame about 1 minute later.  Note - we each carried our own personal Torch, and consecutively transferred the Olympic Flame from person to person.  We were able to keep our Torch after the event (for $400, which Schlumberger kindly paid as the sponsor).  3 minutes later we dropped off our second runner, who received the flame accordingly.  I was the last runner of the group, and was dropped off at the start of my segment at 6:22pm.  I tossed my bag to a group Houston friends who had gathered at the start, and waited for the approaching flame to arrive.  30 seconds later a man with a key to my Torch fuel pulled up on a motorcycle and activated the Torch gas, which began to rush out from the tip....moments later the first vehicles in the entourage passed me and the Flame arrived, carried by the second-to-last man in my group.  He lit my Torch, and I started running at a 10-minute-per-mile pace behind the leading Torch vehicle - an RV modified to fit a platform of camera people and photographers on its rear.  There were floodlights pointing at me from various vehicles, so I could not see much aside from the RV directly in front of me.  I was surrounded by various security motorcycles, and was accompanied by a support runner, whose duty was to comfort and assist the Torch runners.  I could see a few of my friends running alongside the entourage, including Kirby (who did a great job of running backwards while holding a video camera steady) and Vic.  I waved to the groups of kids (and adults) who also ran alongside, and savored the moment.  Minutes later I reached the end of my segment, and lit the flame of the next Torch runner.  A motorcyclist arrived and extinguished my flame, and seconds later a different Torch bus picked me up.  We returned to the HEB parking lot, where I met Vic and Andy (with my bag and car keys).  We drove to my apartment, where the evening continued with a party and "Torch Celebration" along with many more of my Houston friends.  The party was highlighted by Kirby's Torch video, and many more *posed* pictures with the Torch.

Thanks again to everyone who came to see the run!