Today is National Running Day – a whole day to celebrate the sport we love! Although I think every day should be National Running Day, it’s actually held on the first Wednesday in June.

We asked Run It Fast readers how they planned to spend the day and these are some of the ways our readers responded:

• Racing!
• Running! Of course. Everything from regular runs to tempos, speed work, long runs, and hill repeats.
• Club runs  and running store group runs.
• A Hasher’s Run where runners who may or may not be wearing red dressing will be running to and toasting their love of running at local bars.
• One selfless follower is taking care of the kids so her husband can run. <– fantastic way to encourage a runner.
• And best of all, celebrating the day with a first run back from injury.

These are just a few of the awesome ways you could celebrate your love for running. Don’t forget to share that love with family and friends and maybe next year, we’ll have more runners celebrating the day!

You can also check out these 10 tips from the National Running Day website for some additional ideas.

Whatever you do, we hope you have fun and Run It Fast!

Run It Fast – The Club (JOIN TODAY)

[badge via the National Running Day website]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon that took place on June 3, 2012 in San Diego, California.

With Rock ‘n’ Roll medals it’s usually hit or miss. The RNR SD Half Marathon medal is a hit with it’s vibrant colors and calming sailboats and palm tree.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by RIF #15 Amber Goetz (@am3erkgb), Scot Britton (@scotbritton), Kevin Erickson (@MapleLeaf99), and Jenna Green (@jjgreens)

West Liberty-Salem (Ohio) high school runner Meghan Vogel won the 1,600 meter race at the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) state track meet on June 2, 2012.  However, her most impressive feat of the day was stopping during the 3,200 meter race to help injured opponent Arden McMath, who was severely hurt, hobble across the finish line.

A West Liberty-Salem runner helps carry a struggling Arlington runner who collapsed just short of the finish line at the DIII 3200 meter race at the OHSAA state track meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus on June 2, 2012. The West Liberty-Salem athlete finished first in the 1600 meter race earlier in the day. She was running in last place in the 3200 meter race when she approached her opponent struggling to pick herself up from the track on the home stretch. Without hesitation, she scooped her competitor up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. As the crowd roared, the incredible sportsmanship continued to the finish line…

Often we get too caught up in the competition to remember our fellow competitors during a race.  Meghan’s sportsmanship is a prime example to many of us, much older, that we should never be too consumed with ourselves to help out an injured or struggling competitor.

Meghan’s story reminds me of Chris Estes stopping at mile a mile short of the Strolling Jim 40 Miler to help a runner who had collapsed and fallen over a guardrail (full story).

I’ve found out that the longer the event, the friendly runners are and more willing to help one another out. This is one of the reasons I love running ultras.

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Navy Ten Nautical Miler that took place on June 3, 2012 in Millington, Tennessee.

Run It Fast – Club member Victor Fleitas also submitted his first place age group medallion that you can see below.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by RIF #21 Victor Fleitas. Follow him on Twitter @lawyerrunner]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Lewis & Clark Half Marathon that took place on June 3, 2012 in Bozeman, Montana.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by RIF #31 Elizabeth V. Rehmer. Follow her on Twitter @turtlegirl00]

Here is the impressive finisher’s (sub-24 hour) belt buckle from the Old Dominion 100 Mile Cross Country Run that took place on June 2, 2012 in Fort Valley, Virginia.

Beautiful buckle with a nice bronze-like finish.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by Mike Jones. Follow him on Twitter @mikejonesM]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Iron Horse Half Marathon that took place on June 3, 2012 in Simsbury, Connecticut .

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by RIF #129 Rob Bedini. Follow him on Twitter @BrnxBmbr17]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Minneapolis Marathon that took place on June 3, 2012 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by Dustin Washam. Follow him on Twitter @washamrunning]

Angela stands relaxed on Broad Street, Cookeville, TN, August 11, 2006

Note: As the title’s present tense suggests, this story about Angela Ivory was written when she was running and feeling well, back in 2006 after she’d fought breast cancer to a sulking standstill and after she’d run a marathon in each of the fifty states plus D.C. She would repeat that running feat and set a new and harder goal. It seemed a happy time for her. She had been free of cancer for two years. We know now, of course, cancer eventually came back. This story was written as a feature for the Herald-Citizen newspaper. It was reprinted in three running magazines and has since been adapted as a chapter in my recent book Going Down Slow. On the sad occasion of her death Thursday, May 31, I dug the story out. As we mourn her death maybe it can serve as a vivid reminder of the full, vibrant life Angela managed to live during her forty-four years.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (June 2-3, 2012)

Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Jun 01 2012 11:50:09