The picture of my first race award hangs on the wall like an old memory

Going Down Slow, a book of running adventure, is available on paper or tablet from the usual sources. But you can read the prologue free here.

You won’t catch me rhapsodizing about running. You may not even ever hear me say I like it. I’m not sure I do. It’s severe and it trades in misery. It’s the price I pay for living. It’s just what I do. I reckon I’ll keep it up until they scatter my ashes. My super-heated molecules will mix with the air, become part of it and circle the globe. You might run down the road and breathe a bit of me. It may give you strength.
Runners say the difference in a jogger and a runner is an entry form; a runner competes in races. By that definition, I became a runner in April of 1998 at the age of fifty-seven, after being a jogger for eighteen years, where I routinely logged six miles a day. I didn’t know why I did that. I had the vague idea it was good for me somehow. After writing two books about running, I still don’t know why I do it.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

This is the medal for the Ragnar Relay Florida Keys that was held on January 4-5, 2013 from Miami to Key West, Florida.

This was a relay race of 197 miles for teams of 6-12. You can check out the series here: Ragnar Relay

Here is another photo of the relay medal:

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[Medal photos submitted by Larry Keister, follow him on Twitter @royalkeister and Winey and We know It, follow them on Twitter @WineyatRagnar]

This is the buckle for the Across The Years 24/48/72 Hour endurance race that took place from December 29, 2012 to January 1, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The race is held on a 1 mile loop and runners do as many laps as they can during their event. They can choose to run the 24, 48, or 72 hour race. Runners who hit 100 miles during the endurance run receive this very cool buckle.

Congratulations to RIF #1 Joshua Holmes who completed 100.8 miles in 19:49:35 and PRd by over 90 minutes! Woo!

Across The Years 2012/2013 Results

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes.  Follow him on Twitter @bayou]

This is the medal for the Inaugural New Years Race Half Marathon that was held on January 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

Very sparkly and shiny bling for this night race in downtown LA! Here is another view of the medal:

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[Medals submitted by Raquel Perez, follow her on Twitter @KickingRox and by RIF #5 Lisa Gonzales, follow her on on Twitter @runlikeacoyote]

Georgia native Joe Fejes, who has had an amazing year of races, concluded 2012 with the best performance ever in the 23-year history of the Across The Years 72-Hour race.  The race takes place in Phoenix, Arizona and as the title hints at it starts in 2012 and finishes early in 2013.

Fejes won the event in setting the all-time course record by putting down 329.64 miles during the 72-hour event.  Last year he ran 280.30 during ATY.  It was only the third time that a runner had surpassed the 300 mile mark during the event.

Second place finisher, Eoin Keith, also surpassed the 300 mark become the fourth runner ever to do so with a total of 300.24 miles.

Third place went to (RIF #121) Ed ‘The Jester” Ettinghausen with 263.4 miles.

First place female went to Vikena Yutz, who set an all-time record for the women, with 254.05 miles. She shattered the previous mark by 4 miles.

Second place female went to Charlotte Vasarhelyi with 250.9 miles. Third place female went to Jennifer Bradley with 204.71 miles.

2012 Across The Years 72-Hour Results

1. Joe Fejes – 329.64 miles
2. Eoin Keith – 300.24 miles
3. Ed Ettinghausen – 263.4 miles
4. Vikena Yutz – 254.05 miles (F)
5. Charlotte Yasarhelyi – 250.9 miles (F)
6. George Biondic – 247.75 miles
7. Anthony Culpepper – 216.26 miles
8. Shashanka Karlen – 207.86 miles
9. Jennifer Bradley – 204.71 miles (F)
10. Mark Dorian – 201.56 miles
11. Ryan Weidert – 200.51 miles
12. Ed Compton – 200.51 miles
13. Phil Nimmo – 200.51 miles

The Across The Years 48-Hour race was won by Volodymyr Balatskyy with 207.86 miles. Second place male went to John Geesler with 167.97 miles and third to Davy Crockett with 135.43 miles.

Top female for the ATY 48-Hour was Shawna Wentlandt with 137.52 miles. Second place female was Jill Hudson with 131.23 miles. Third place female with to Tammy Massie with 129.13 miles.

2012 Across The Years 48-Hour Results

The great Ian Sharman won the Across The Years 24-Hour race with 109.18 miles. Second place went to Jesse Sjoberg with 106.03. Third place male was Brian Recore with 102.88 miles.

The ATY 24-Hour female winner was Debbie Leftwich with 106.03 miles. Susan Kramer came in second place with 101.83 miles.  Third place went to June Gessner with 100.78 miles.

2012 Across The Years 24-Hour Results

Congrats to all of the runners who put down miles at Across The Years!

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had just 18 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 (Jan 5-6, 2012)

Storified by Joshua Holmes· Fri, Jan 04 2013 09:58:17

These are the medals for the New Years Double races that took place on December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2013 in Allen, Texas.

The New Years Double features a marathon, half marathon, and a 5K on both the 31st and the 1st. When you run a race on either day you get the appropriate medal for the day (the smaller ovals in the photo above). If you run a race on both days (any combination), then you get the larger plate as well to hold the other two medals making one BIG Challenge medal (5 1/2 inches).

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[Medal photo submitted by JessicaRuns. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRuns]

These are the medals for the Brazen New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day races that were held on December 29, 2012 and January 1, 2013 at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley, California.

The Brazen New Year’s Eve/Day races feature a 5K, 10K, and a half marathon on both days. Run any single race and you’ll get the appropriate medal for the day (upper right and left corners in the photo above). If you do any combination of races on both days, then you also get the center piece so when they are put together, they make one big medal! Loving these challenge puzzle piece medals. Very cool!

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #140 Dennis Arriaga.  Follow him on Twitter @dennarr]

This is the medal for runDisney’s Castaway Cay 5K.

The Castaway Cay 5K is held during Disney cruises that stop at Castaway Cay. The race is free…well, except for the price of the cruise…but you get a bib and a medal and can buy a shirt if you would like one. Plus, there’s the whole getting to run on a tropical island thing!

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[Medal submitted by RIF #207 Jorge Angel. Follow on on Twitter @777jaah]

This is the medal for the Biggest Loser Half Marathon that was held on December 30, 2012 in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Cool how the medal’s ribbon is a measuring tape to tie in with the show.

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[Marathon medal photo submitted by RIF #192 Leigh Marsh. Follow her on Twitter @MsPrincessLeigh]