Archive | August, 2012

Paul Ryan Shirtless in Swimsuit – Marathon Claim

So How Fast Did VP Candidate Paul Ryan Run His Marathon?

Runner’s World earlier today delved into the claim that Republican Vice President nominee Paul Ryan had run a sub-3 hour marathon.

Ryan made the claim to Hugh Hewitt in a radio interview that:

“Yeah, I hurt a disc in my back, so I don’t run marathons anymore. I just run ten miles or less.” When Hewitt asked Ryan what his personal best is, Ryan replied, “Under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something.”

WOW! Sub 3-hour marathon is really fast. Could we have a true Run It Fast VP? Well Runner’s World dug into the records of the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota where Ryan ran his only marathon.

The only results they could find where for a Paul D. Ryan, 20-years of old, from 1990. The time that ‘Paul D. Ryan’ ran that day? 4:01:25!

That’s not even sub-4 hour. Maybe Ryan was claiming 4:01:25 was his Eastern time zone finish and that since the race was in Minnesota it should be converted to 3:01:25 which is close to a sub-3 hour.

So what did Rep. Paul Ryan say when asked about the huge discrepancy?

“The race was more than 20 years ago, but my brother Tobin—who ran Boston last year—reminds me that he is the owner of the fastest marathon in the family and has never himself ran a sub-three. If I were to do any rounding, it would certainly be to four hours, not three. He gave me a good ribbing over this at dinner tonight.”

If I had run just one marathon and if it had been twenty years ago I’m not sure I would get my time right either, but I do believe I’d at least be in the right zip code.

Although it might be easy to ridicule Ryan over the flub, he should be praised for continuing to lead a healthy lifestyle. Reports have it that Ryan leads several other House members in P90X workouts most mornings before clocking in for work.

So how does Ryan’s marathon time stack up with other politicians over the years?

  1. John Edwards – 3:30:18 (Marine Corps Marathon 1983)
  2. Michael Dukakis – 3:31:00 (Boston Marathon 1951)
  3. George Bush – 3:44:22 (Houston Marathon 1993)
  4. Sarah Palin – 3:59:36 (Humpy’s Marathon 2005)
  5. Paul Ryan – 4:01:25 (Grandma’s Marathon 1990)
  6. Mike Huckabee – 4:37:29 (Marine Corps Marathon 2005)
  7. Bill Frist – 4:54:36 (Marine Corps Marathon 1997)
  8. Al Gore – 4:58:25 (Marine Corps Marathon 1997)
  9. Tom Vilsack – 5:28:39 (Little Rock Marathon 2005)

Maybe one day we’ll have a highly elected official that has truly run a sub-3 hour marathon.

[source: Runner’s World and Wikipedia]

Posted in Celebrities, Marathon, Running0 Comments

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (September 1-2, 2012)

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (September 1-2, 2012)

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had 51 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (September 1-2, 2012)

Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Aug 31 2012 19:28:06

@runitfast Champions of Hope 5K in Jackson, TN and the famed Tupelo Marathon in Mississippi…the birthplace of Elvis Presley. #runitfastJoshua Holmes
@runitfast I’m running the Disneyland Half in Anaheim, CA! #animalracing #runitfastMinnie #5 #Half15Lisa Gonzales
@bayou @runitfast tupelo marathon on the horizon plus a local jtown 5k and maaaaybe Chickfila 5k on monday if I can walk after the Tup full!Scott Stader
@runitfast Tupelo Marathon on Sunday for #8 overall and the first in five years.Nathan Bass
@runitfast Tupelo Marathon.David W
RT @runitfast: Huge response on Twitter this weekend from where you are all running. This is the start of the fall running season. Enjoy …Amber Goetz
@runitfast Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon!Christy Bowers
@runitfast 22 miles livingston mtelizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast I’ll be running up a fire road in the Angeles National Forest–alone with my thoughts in a realm of awesome green mountains.Ed Ayres
@runitfast rock n roll va beachdarius
@runitfast Warrior Way 5K in Acworth, GA!Wyndy Greene Smelser
@runitfast 10k vineyard run in Geneva, OH on Sunday. Wife will run the 5kWilliam Jordan
@runitfast Disneyland Half in Anaheim, CA!!Beth Lynch
.@runitfast Saturday, FUNd Run 8k, raising money for little Jenoa. Jacksonville, FL. #runjaxE. Smith
@runitfast 10 mile run with @teamintraining at #Umstead in Raleigh!Kelly O’Doherty
@runitfast Labor Day 30k, Milford, MI (Saturday, not on Labor Day).Marcy Sacks
Del Valle High School! 3 miles! Varsity “@runitfast: Where are you running/racing this weekend? Responses will be posted tomorrow on RIF!!!”Sebas
@runitfast george square-glasgow! For junior great scottish run! #GSR2012Halle Stewart
@runitfast straight to the aviva to watch Notre Dame Navy. Go Irish.Finn
@runitfast midnight flight anderson, scT.J. Diggins
@runitfast We’re running Disneyland Half this weekend!!!!Teal & Beth
@runitfast International Marathon Mexico City !!Elizabeth Franco
@runitfast 18M Fri/Sat combined. Paint Creek 5M Bridge Run Mon. All mile donated to #MemorialRun. @agirlrunnerKevin Jones
@runitfast Disney :)Reese
@runitfast Yosemite!!California Footwear
@runitfast running the @TheDirtyDash on Saturday. Super excited!Pattie Benger
@runitfast depends how much debris is picked up here in New Orleans.Robyn Diez
@runitfast Running Tupelo MS 14.2 miler on Sunday and #thecolorrun 5k BHM on Monday #labordayLeigh Marsh
@runitfast Running the Disneyland Half Marathon on Sunday.Casey
@runitfast Running up Mt. Baldy on Labor Day’s race2thetop. Should be a sufferfest that’s well worth it.Chester Cabrales
@runitfast Vasona Lake Run (half marathon) [http://j.mp/OAXVmn] on Monday! RIF#140Dennis Arriaga
a good day: knowing that a bib pick-up is on the to-do list @runitfast…i’m pumped for the #leavenotracehalf tomorrow!Tim Crow
@runitfast I will be doing a mountain challenge half marathon RSA.Victor Vusi Radebe
@runitfast 12 miles in Allentown Trexler park? MaybeDavid Taylor
@runitfast Rock and Roll half marathon in Virginia Beach.Greg Smith
@runitfast 18 mile training run with my groupKristineN
@runitfast labor day run fort worth texas!Caron ET
@runitfast long training run in Milan, TN.Robin Robbins
@runitfast Running Only Half Crazy Half Marathon in Utah @ustrisportsJeremy Howlett
Long training run! RT @runitfast: Where are you running/racing this weekend? Responses will be posted in a couple of hours on Run It Fast!April Werling
@runitfast I am running the @RunRocknRoll #RnRVB half-marathon this Sunday! It will be rockin’ and rollin’ in Virginia Beach this weekend!Michael Redlich
@runitfast The Labor Day Half Marathon in sunny Redmond, WA.michael c. miller
@runitfast doing a 1 mile race in Knoxville!Brooke F
@runitfast A 10k race in Bedford in the UK.Martyn Fisher
@runitfast Under The Oaks 10k AND 5k, St. Simons Island, GAE.B.
@runitfast No races but getting some trails in at Camp Ockinickon in Medford, NJ.Eric Stanwood
@runitfast Running the inaugural Nuuksio Classic Trail Marathon in Nuuksio National Park, Espoo, Finland!Eero Kuusisto
@runitfast Dingle Ultra marathonGavin O’ Donovan
@runitfast Saturday-6.1k final in the Luzhniki summer cup Sunday 2 mi xc for a shakeout+ 20k or so 2nd workout in the eveMichelle Mitchell

Posted in Running1 Comment

hasherwholebloomingbunch

Shocking Scenes from a Red-Dress Run


The Westside Runners are different from any group that ever attracted my attention, let alone my participation. There are no officers, no bylaws, no membership list, no dues. And no one is taking names. We simply meet at six p.m. every Wednesday in the parking lot of Foothills Running Co. and go running. Running alone, together with the fellowship it provides, holds the group together. That’s it. Jennifer Hackbarth usually brings drinks. No committee makes recommendations; no one appoints a committee. Runners range from the very accomplished to the beginner.

“I’ve found out that when a man in a red dress runs into the street, the traffic yields.”

Occasionally someone throws out a suggestion, as Josh Hite did late in May. His idea: have a red-dress run, sometimes called a hasher run. We make decisions easily. And so on the sixth of June, we found ourselves in red dresses following Josh’s chalk marks.

The following is a story in pictures of that run – three miles, three bars, and a million laughs, the first ever red-dress run in Cookeville, Tennessee.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

Posted in Running0 Comments

Lean Horse Ultramarathon Medal – 2012 Run It Fast

Lean Horse 100 Sub 24 Buckle (2012)

This is the Sub 24 buckle for the Lean Horse 100 that was held on August 25-26, 2012 in Spearfish, South Dakota.

This is a beautiful buckle. It has amazing detail and I love the image of the horse!

This Sub 24 buckle was earned by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes who PR’d by over an hour and shaved almost 4 hours off his time from last year! He totally rocked it. Congratulations Joshua!

Below you will also see a photo of the finisher’s medal that was also given to Joshua and finisher’s of all of the ultramarathon races that took place at Lean Horse (100mi, 50mi, and 50k).

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Buckle submitted by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes – follow him on Twitter @bayou]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Medals, Ultra Marathon0 Comments

Patrick Henry Half Marathon Medal 2012

Patrick Henry Half Marathon Medal (2012)

 

This is the medal for the Patrick Henry Half Marathon that was held on August 25,2012 in Ashland, Virginia.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by RIF #168 Greg Smith – follow him on Twitter @drsmitty]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Half Marathon, Medals0 Comments

North Country Run Medal 2012_2

North Country Run Medal (2012)

This is the medal for the North Country Run that was held on August 25, 2012 in Wellston, Michigan.

The North Country Run includes a 50 Mile run, a marathon, and a half marathon. Check out the size of that medal! Love the detail on the medal too. This would be an awesome medal to earn.

Here’s a couple more photos of it and the race shirt:

 

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medals submitted by RIF #108 Mark Sikkila – follow him on Twitter @marksikkila and Kim LoBretto – follow Kim on Twitter @LoBrettoK]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Half Marathon, Marathon, Medals, Ultra Marathon0 Comments

Superior Man Traithlon Medal 2012

Superior Man Triathlon Medal (2012)

This is the medal for the Superior Man Triathlon that was held on August 26, 2012 in Duluth, Minnesota.

The medal is made from iron ore and is in the shape of Lake Superior. Very cool!

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by Erin Miller – follow Erin on Twitter @ez27onthego]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Medals, Triathlon0 Comments

Santa Rosa Marathon Medal 2012

Santa Rosa Marathon Medal (2012)

This is the medal for the Santa Rosa Marathon and Half Marathon that was held on August 26, 2012 in Santa Rosa, California.

A cool, double spinner medal for this race. It pictures one of the many bridges the runners pass over on the course.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by Lisette Bovaird– follow her on Twitter @Under_4]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Half Marathon, Marathon, Medals0 Comments

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (August 25-26, 2012)

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (August 25-26, 2012)

Where Run It Fast Readers Are Running This Weekend (August 25-26, 2012)

Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Aug 24 2012 10:01:44

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had 34 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

@runitfast Lean Horse 100 Miler in South Dakota. #runitfastJoshua Holmes
@runitfast we are racing in London this weekend 800 and 1500 metresThe Transformers ™
@runitfast Teays Valley WV, scheduled long run for marathon training #26.2Arrowood26.2
@runitfast 10 miles on Saturday and 7 on Sunday, both runs near Edinburgh.Allan Millar
@runitfast Cairo, WV Timmy’s Marathon!Laura Raeder
@runitfast me and the team are running all over the countyDoug Wilson
@runitfast pensacola fl. First official "long run" for my half marathon training. Gonna run more than written to make up for vacay break.Anna Miller
@runitfast Patrick Henry half marathon Saturday in Ashland, Virginia.Greg Smith
@runitfast the plan for Saturday morning is three loops of Memorial Park. Houston TX!Phil W.
@runitfast The Color Run, Milwaukee, Wis.!Jenny Zahn
@runitfast Superior Man half ironman distance in Duluth MNErin Miller
@runitfast My beautiful wife @amynmigriffith is running her 1st 13.1 in Santa Rosa on Sunday!Lee Beebe
@runitfast macon,gaMatthew Myers
@runitfast San Angelo, TX!Britni W. Bird
@runitfast Off Friday and then around twenty on Saturday on the road and 10 on the trails Sunday.Nathan Bass
@runitfast I have a big back-to-back weekend! 22 on Saturday and 20 on Sunday, both on trails. #runitfast #5 #thankgoodnessitwillbecoolerLisa Gonzales
@runitfast running the redmond watershed 10-mile trail run in redmond, wa. @nwtrailruns #greatfunmichael c. miller
@runitfast OrthoClassic 10k in Charlotte NC.Kim Williams
@runitfast The Crim in Flint, MI (10 miles)Marcy Sacks
@runitfast Annapolis Ten Miler!Alvin Lee
@runitfast 20 miles between Livingston and Bozeman Montanaelizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast Wausau, WI Inaugural Marathon with my 13-year-old daughter @kayleighwhipps Our #firstmarathon!Amy Auner
@runitfast Santa Rosa Marathon!Lisette Bovaird
@runitfast @hhFlyingMonkey Trying to train for the untrainable Flying Monkey… Jacksonville bridges – here I come!Jess
@runitfast Around the island of O’ahu! Gonna do some exploring.Dominique Lewis
@runitfast running in SF this weekend ! http://pic.twitter.com/xJ6aNERULuluSF
@runitfast I’ll be running 16 in San Francisco, starting in Golden Gate Park and letting adventure find me.Pavement Runner
@runitfast half marathon in PA on Sunday!Tabitha Reber
@runitfast Wanderers Half Marathon in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday Morning 7am.Robert Lofthouse
@runitfast – Running a "quarter marathon" (6.55 miles) as part of the Emerald City Quarter & Half Marathon events in Dublin, OH, on Sunday!Marti E
@runitfast 10K Dam run in Lake Lure North Carolina Tonight!!!http://www.setupevents.com/?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=2086Mark S.
@runitfast Recovery runs in the hills 1000m race next thursMichelle Mitchell
@runitfast Flyathlon run in the Indian Peaks wilderness in colorado. http://www.flyathlon.comAndrew Todd
@runitfast On Saturday, I’ll be at the @ArkansasUltras Mt. Nebo Trail Run. Nice view from the top. cc: @ArkansasOutside http://pic.twitter.com/LLl2tHS1Nicholas L. Norfolk

Posted in Running0 Comments

Brad Box 2012 Pikes Peak Marathon

Pikes Peak Marathon Race Report – Brad Box (2012)

PIKES PEAK MARATHON – August 19, 2012

Many of my past running journals were painfully long, going into every intricate detail of my subject experience.  With this entry, I want to hit the high points and hopefully preserve a great memory without writing a book.

My friend Karl Studtmann convinced me to register for The Pikes Peak Marathon.  He actually registered for me while Angie and the kids and I were on a spring break cruise.  Unfortunately, Karl suffered a knee injury and was unable to run the race.  As always, Karl was a great friend and support throughout the entire experience.  I know he was disappointed that he wasn’t returning to Pikes Peak in 2012, but he only expressed excitement for me and my chance to run this race.  He followed every detail of my training and advised me along the way.  He checked in with me right up til the night before the race and made the experience even more special

As with every such event there is lots of planning and discussion that went into it, not to mention a whole bunch of training.  For this event I trained differently in that in addition to trail work, I also did weekly treadmill steep incline workouts that were much tougher than I anticipated.  Once a week, I would put the treadmill on an 18% grade and then put in over an hour as fast as I could manage to go.  That workout is tougher than any speed work that I have ever done.  On the trails, I logged countless hours, and ran the marathon distance or farther 5 times between May and August.

Another friend, Josh Holmes was also registered for the race and with Karl out Josh split the hotel in Manitou Springs Co with me.  It was really nice to get to visit with Josh because we had never spent any one on one time together. We both arrived the day before the race (I flew in late because August 18, was my son Weston’s 13th birthday!!).  Nothing like 12 hours of altitude acclimation!  On my flight from Nashville to Denver, I spilled the drink of the guy sitting next to me and so I bought him a replacement.  He was so grateful that he started telling me that he was a digital artist and he gave me one of his signed art pieces.  Pretty cool!

I drove from Denver to Colorado Springs and then on to Manitou Springs.  When I drove into Manitou I could see Pikes Peak looming, glaring, intimidating.  I remember sending Karl a text and saying “OMG, What have you gotten me in to?”  What an incredible mountain.  Manitou Springs is an interesting little town.  It’s like you stirred Gatlinburg and an adobe village together in a bowl.

Josh and I met up and went over to the registration and then ate at the pre race pasta dinner.  We listened to the guest speaker, Bart Yasso give his talk.  Afterward we got to meet Bart and had our pictures made with him.  Bart is called the Mayor of Running and the Yasso 800s are named for him.

Josh and I made the ritualistic night before prep for the race and then I went to bed.  I slept surprisingly well considering that it was the first night at altitude and the fact that I had a race the next day.

On the morning of the race, we awoke at 5:00, ate a bit, and got ready and planned to walked mile to the starting line.  Interestingly when we made it to the street a race volunteer pulled over and offered us a ride.  Just as we got in the car, we saw two huge mule deer bucks, with giant racks still in velvet, just hanging out on the edge of the main drag through Maintou Springs.

We took pictures at the starting line and then waited anxiously for the start.  We had the first female marathon finisher to give the official start.  The first mile is on the roads but it is a pretty steep incline through the storybook little town.  Thereafter, you hit the trail and go up and UP AND UP!!  To say that I could feel the altitude from the start is an understatement.  Nevertheless I was proud of my time during the ascent.  The race is historic and it has numerous well know points: No Name Creek, John Barr Trail, Barr Camp, The A Frame, Cirqure, and of course a little spot called the summit which is over 14,000 feet up.

The scenery is breathtaking.  Another one of those places where you get a overwhelming sense of how our Creator made our world in a way that is far beyond what can imagine, describe or capture with a photo.

The vegetation changes as you climb and I wish I knew more about the flora and fauna to describe what I saw.  Initially, there is heavier vegetation and mainly fir trees.  Around 8000 feet or so, it seems to become more Alpine, and the evergreens are blended with Aspen trees.  After so many years of snow skiing, I kept having the urge to cut off the trails and start carving my way down the mountain through the trees.

I really surprised myself over the first dozen miles.  I was able to run pretty much whenever the traffic would allow me to do so and I was getting really excited about the time that I was making.  I felt good considering (considering that there is no oxygen).

I am not sure the altitude above which the trees can no longer grow, but the moment you breakout above the tree line, it is like being on another planet.  The Rocky Mountains have that name for a reason.  With no tree cover, the wind feels like its howling.  The temperature from 12,000 to above 14,000 feet stays in the 30s or below pretty much year round.  The view is indescribable so I won’t try.  I had to fight the temptation to look at the mountains and take my eyes off the trail.  I learned a month or so before the race that “God Bless America” was written from Pikes Peak, and now I know why.

The last two miles before the summit became a little frustrating because of the runner created bottle neck.  The elite runners, including the winner Killian Jornet, had reached the summit and were making their descent.  Uphill runners must yield to downhill runners, so despite the fact that I had the physical strength to run at miles 11-13, I was forced to hike or climb at a 20+ minute pace.  Thus, instead of reaching the summit in under 3:30 as I was thinking, I reached at about 3:50.

The summit was awesome, but candidly I regret that I didn’t stop and savor it a little more.  I looked around very briefly and then made the turn to start the descent.  Karl told me that I would immediately feel relief as soon as I started back down and he was right.  The mile below the summit is really a rock quarry and there is as much climbing as there is running.  Thereafter, the rocks and boulders are a little more spread out and running becomes easier.  At some point before I made it to the tree line, I met up with Josh.  He took a picture of me running down the trail above the tree line.  It will be one of my all time favorite running pictures.

Just after I reentered the tree line, a Texas A&M fan spoke to me.  I was wearing an official University of TN running team singlet, and I had people comment on it throughout the day.  This particular runner and I started talking about A&M joining the SEC and about the upcoming season.  I became so focused on our conversation that I didn’t focus enough on the trail.  I took a step onto a big flat boulder and my foot flew out from under me.  I went down hard and hit my head.  I was really shaken up and it took me a long period of limping, then hiking, before I could try to run again.  Even after I was able to run, I felt unsteady on my feet for most of the rest of the race.  I actually fell three more times.  Rocky mountain rocks are sharp, jagged, and generally unpleasant.  I looked a little like I had been through a meat grinder.  At every aid station from that point on, the EMTs and volunteers offered to treat my wounds.  I declined, the blood running down my legs were badges of honor.

As I came back down to 8000 feet or so, it became really hot.  I don’t know what the high for the day in Manitou was, but I was cooking for the last hour of the race.  When I came off the trail, there were tons of spectators cheering along the mile and a half to the finish line.  At one point I looked down and realized I was running about a 7 minute pace.  Nothing like fan support and a finish line to make you push.

After the race I had only a few minutes to savor the finish line festivities.  I had a flight from Denver to Orlando to make so I hitch hiked the three miles back to the hotel, jumped in the shower to scrub the rocky mountain gravel out of my wounds with a wash cloth, tied them up with bandanas because I had no bandages, and hauled it from Manitou back to Denver International.  I was communicating with Angie, and Karl and all sort of friends and family on the way back.  I remember Karl sending me a message, saying “good luck getting out of the car!”  He was right, and that proved to be one of the biggest challenges of the day.

All the falling, and unsteadiness probably cost me a half hour of race time, but I have no regrets.  PPM is a unique and special race.  It requires unique prep and planning, but certainly one of the most prized items on my running resume.

THANKS BE TO GOD!!

– Brad Box (2012)

Posted in Marathon, Race Reports, Running0 Comments


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