Archive | September, 2014

VOTE: Best Race Medal for Week of September 8, 2014

VOTE: Best Race Medal for Week of September 8, 2014

Vote for the Best Race Medal for the Week of September 8, 2014(poll at bottom of the medal photos)

Run Woodstock Mellow Marathon & Hippie Half Marathon Medals
Mellow Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It FastRun Woodstock Half Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It Fast

Tupelo Marathon & Half Marathon Medals
Tupelo Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It FastTupelo Half Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It Fast

Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon Medal
Rock n Roll Virginia Beach Half Marthon Medal - 2014 - Run It FastRock n Roll Virginia Beach Remix - 2014 - Run It Fast

Bozeman Marathon Medal
Bozeman Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It Fast

The Oak Tree Half Marathon Medal
Oak Tree Half Marathon - 2014 - Run It Fast

Divas Half Marathon Medal
Diva Half Marathon - 2014 - Run It Fast

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

Yolanda Holder – Race Across USA

Yolanda Holder Chosen for ‘Race Across USA’

Yolanda Holder - Race Across USA

Meet RIF #319 Yolanda Holder, the “Walking Diva.” Power walker and Guinness World Record holder, Yolanda uses her unique form of racing to highlight the benefits of exercise. In the beginning, Yolanda was a race walker. Unlike power walking, it is judged for technique and form. She combined the two types of walking to create her own style of power walking. When asked about her definition of power walking, Yolanda replied, “Basically, power walking is your own style of walking. Pumping your arms as you walk creates more speed and power. There is no right or wrong way to power walk. It is an individual process.”

Yolanda’s first full marathon was the Portland Marathon in 1998. She chose the race because it was walker-friendly. In 1999, she completed several additional marathons and numerous 5k, 10k and half-marathons. To commemorate her 50th birthday, Yolanda wanted to complete 50 marathons. That year she not only reached her goal, but surpassed it. She finished 65 marathons in 52 weeks.

In 2009, Yolanda finished 77 marathons. At the end of that year, she researched Guinness Book of World Records to see what the record was for “Most Mileage Daily for 365 Days.” She learned the record was 100 marathons set in 2002 by an Italian. Yolanda decided to set out to break that record.

In 2010, she power walked 93 consecutive marathons on her quest and topped the Italian record with 106 marathons. By 2012, she beat her own record by competing in 120 marathons. Yolanda reached this milestone at the 26.2-mile Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in Las Vegas. When talking about participating in marathons and ultra marathons, Yolanda says, “I do it for the bling, my health is an added benefit.”

On September 2, 2013, Yolanda’s mother passed away of complications related to diabetes. She had already lost her father from the same disease. In honor of her mom, Yolanda was inspired to create an Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes. During that year, she walked 521 Miles in 15 days from Corona to Oakland and raised funds for American Diabetes Association.

Promoting the benefits of walking 30 minutes a day is very important to Yolanda. “I’m passionate about walking for health and hope to continue to inspire and motivate people of all ages to get out and get fit by doing whatever physical activity they chose,” she says. Yolanda states the benefits of those 30 minutes of physical activity includes lowering cholesterol, decreasing the chances of heart disease, and fighting obesity.

She says, “The hardest part of exercising is getting up to do it.”

Yolanda has a distinctive competitive style. She does not wear “walking” shoes. Her favorite brand of shoes is Skechers. She always wears skirts. She was racing in tennis skirts before running skirts became popular. Running skirts have many features, including pockets for gel packs and a music player, as well as compression shorts underneath. She always wears a hat. Different styles are worn by this diva, including caps and fedoras. In addition, she always sports hoop earrings and designer sunglasses.”I wear shades because I am cool like that! Who says you can’t look good while you exercise?” she asks.

Yolanda uses several techniques for mentally preparing for marathons and ultra marathons. She meditates about reaching the finish line and encourages herself by saying positive statements like, “I will do my best and I will have conquered all those miles when I am done.” At mile 23, when she is tired and enduring the pain of blisters, she convinces herself that she is having fun and she smiles. Visualizing the finish line and the medal around her neck also provides a great deal of encouragement.

Yolanda laughs as she tells of one of the pep songs she sometimes sings in her head during a race. “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don’t you wish your girlfriend was a marathoner like me?” She states that participating in long races are very spiritual experiences. “Talking to God for six hours gives you a lot of time to come up with multiple solutions to your problems” she shares. By the time Yolanda reaches the finish line, most of the other runners have already finished and there are only a few watchers left. When she hears those people cheering, she knows it’s for her.

She has been married to her husband for 31 years and is mother of two grown children. Her children share her drive to succeed. Son R.J. is a double major college graduate and daughter Tiffany is a missionary She has traveled all over the US to compete. As a member of Marathon Maniacs and the Legends of 100, Yolanda has competed at various races, including the New York and Boston Marathons.

Some of her latest accomplishments include competing in Anchorage, Alaska at the Six Days at the Dome, where she placed in the top three women and eleventh overall by power walking 400 miles. Yolanda also completed 311 miles in 10 days in the Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes Death Challenge from Corona to Las Vegas to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. Yolanda has completed 485 marathons in the last six years. By the end of this year, she wants to pass another milestone: finish 500 lifetime marathons.

Yolanda was honored to be chosen as one of the core team runners for the Race Across the USA event. She shares the race’s goals of raising awareness about childhood fitness as the run from coast-to-coast, beginning in January 2015. Even though she has been previously traveled to all 12 states that the race is passing through, she is looking forward to the whole journey which includes camping. She anticipates the opportunity to show how walking can improve overall health. Showing others how fitness can be fun is definitely one of her top priorities.

“You never know where walking will lead you, said Yolanda” There is a lot of truth in that statement. Just look at the Walking Diva. You can learn more about the Race Across the USA at http://raceacrossusa.org.

By ELISIA OWENS MUMFORD

Posted in Marathon, Running, Ultra Marathon0 Comments

Mellow Marathon Medal – 2014 – Run It Fast

Run Woodstock Mellow Marathon & Hippie Half Marathon Medals (2014)

Run Woodstock Half Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It Fast

Here are the psychedelic hippie medals from the Run Woodstock Mellow Marathon & Hippie Half Marathon that took place on September 6, 2014 in Pinckney, Michigan.

They are kinda far out, man!

Mellow Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It Fast

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[marathon medal photo (below) submitted by RIF #144 Trish Leonard – follow her on Twitter @runfreetri and half marathon medal (top) submitted by RIF #322 Jeff Van Demark – follow him on Twitter @66mustang16]

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

Marj Mictchell XR – Run It Fast

Run It Fast’s Extreme Racer Standings (August 2014)

Marj Mictchell XR - Run It Fast

Finally, the last summer month has passed, and we can begin to look forward to cooler temperatures. It has been an awesome summer of racing and I’m proud to see that Run It Fast members haven’t let the heat get in the way of their racing and training. But there are still a few months left in the year, and still a lot of really good races to participate in, like the Tunnel Hill 100 miler and 50 miler, the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon and RIF’s own Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond 40 milers.

It has been such an enjoyment to see the miles entered for the Extreme Racer competition, and be able to cheer everyone on from a distance. Not much has changed for the male leaders. RIF #121 Ed Ettinghausen is in the lead with 2584.8 points. RIF #1 Joshua Holmes is in second with 1205.3 points. RIF #279 George Southgate is in third place with 948.67 points.

For the females, there has been a bit of a shake-up. RIF #159 Diane Bolton has snatched the lead with 930.87 points. RIF #323 Jennifer Hatcher is not far behind with 804.2 points. RIF #287 Carol Earles has entered the top 3 at third place with 685.4 points.

The Extreme Racer standings through August are posted below.

Extreme Racer Top 10 Leaderboard:

1. Ed Ettinghausen – 2584.8 (RIF#121)
2. Joshua Holmes – 1205.3 (RIF #1)
3. George Southgate – 948.67 (RIF #279)
4. Diane Bolton – 930.87 (RIF #159)
5. John Kent Leighton – 861.1 (RIF #190)
6. Jennifer Hatcher – 804.2 (RIF #323)
7. Carol Earles – 685.4 (RIF #287)
8. Hideki Kinoshita – 647 (RIF #88)
9. Shane Tucker – 637.16 (RIF #337)
10. Heather Zeigler – 574.9 (RIF #246)

Extreme Racer Male Leaderboard

1. Ed Ettinghausen – 2584.8 (RIF #121)
2. Joshua Holmes – 1205.3 (RIF #1)
3. George Southgate – 948.67 (RIF #279)
4. John Kent Leighton – 861.1 (RIF #190)
5. Hideki Kinoshita – 647 (RIF #88)
6. Shane Tucker – 637.16 (RIF #337)
7. Bill Wells – 541.9 (RIF #327)
8. Denis McCarthy – 533.32 (RIF #263)
9. Jeff Le – 516.6 (RIF #248)
10. Jeff Liu – 545.4 (RIF #275)
11. Danny Staggs – 391.5 (RIF #186)
12. Rob Distante – 255.8 (RIF #259)
13. Ben Pennington – 207.6 (RIF #315)
14. Bill Baker – 160.6 (RIF #196)
15. Arland Blanton – 134.1 (RIF #290)
16. Eric Waterman – 133.33 (RIF #219)
17. Eric Spencer – 121.23 (RIF #320)
18. Nathan Bass – 106.8 (RIF #174)
19. Stephen Griffin – 88.9 (RIF #48)
20. Jeff Van Demark – 82.2 (RIF #322)
21. Robin Robbins – 59.8 (RIF #33)
22. Alex Barrientos – 41.7 (RIF #258)
23. Dennis Arriaga – 39.3 (RIF #140)
24. Brennan Thompson – 27.4 (RIF #274)
25. Jason Scott – 26.2 (RIF #265)
26. Steven Reagan – 16.2 (RIF #157)

Extreme Racer Female Leaderboard

1. Diane Bolton – 930.87 (RIF #159)
2. Jennifer Hatcher – 804.2 (RIF #323)
3. Carol Earles – 685.4 (RIF #287)
4. Heather Zeigler – 574.9 (RIF #246)
5. Robin Mancinelli –  555.6 (RIF #134)
6. Suzanne Michelson – 496.2 (RIF #280)
7. Belinda Young – 403.3 (RIF #358)
8. Christy Scott – 326.2 (RIF #231)
9. Donna England – 287.5 (RIF #277)
10. Alicia Eno – 263.9 (RIF #126)
11. Kim Crowe – 255.8 (RIF #245)
12. Julia Beavers – 213.8 (RIF #339)
13. Christy Bowers – 210.57 (RIF #60)
14. Marj Mitchell – 203.2 (RIF #4)
15. Amanda Staggs – 191.3 (RIF #210)
16. Amber Goetz-Bouchard – 172.8 (RIF #15)
17. Tiffani Glass – 139.4 (RIF #328)
18. Sue Stephens-Wright – 133.99 (RIF #321)
19. Michelle Lenahan – 114.8 (RIF #283
20. Shannon Miller – 111.6 (RIF #338)
21. Kristen Love – 26.2 (RIF #238)
22. Lisa Gonzales – 22.5 (RIF #5)
23. Natalie Torres – 13.1 (RIF #72)

Our leaders are neck-and-neck and knowing this bunch of people, anything can happen.

The winner of the drawing this month is RIF #4 Marj Mitchell.

[Extreme Racer points are rewarded per each racing mile completed. Example: marathon = 26.2 points, half marathon 13.1 points, etc.]

Learn more about RIF’s Extreme Racer!

Posted in Extreme Racer, Running, THE CLUB0 Comments

Bozeman Marathon Medal – 2014 – Run It Fast

Bozeman Marathon Medal (2014)

Bozeman Marathon Medal - 2014 - Run It Fast

Here is the colorful finisher’s medal from the Bozeman Marathon that took place on September 7, 2014 in Bozeman, Montana.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photo submitted by RIF #31 Elizabeth Rehmer – follow her on Twitter @turtlegirl00]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Marathon, Medals0 Comments

Diva Half Marathon – 2014 – Run It Fast

Divas Half Marathon Medal (2014)

Here is the beautiful and loud finisher’s medal from the Divas Half Marathon that took place on September 6, 2014 in Peachtree City, Georgia.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photo submitted by Joanna – follow her on Twitter @joannavagner]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Half Marathon, Medals0 Comments

Oak Tree Half Marathon – 2014 – Run It Fast

The Oak Tree Half Marathon Medal (2014)

Here is the finisher’s medal from The Oak Tree Half Marathon that took place on August 31, 2014 in Genesee, New York.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photo submitted by Bill Balfoort – follow him on Twitter @roc_runner]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Half Marathon, Medals0 Comments

Tupelo Marathon Medal – 2014 – Run It Fast

Tupelo Marathon & Half Marathon Medal (2014)

Here are the finisher’s medals from the Tupelo Marathon & Half Marathon that took place on August 31, 2014 in Tupelo, Mississippi.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[marathon medal photo submitted by RIF #4 Marj Mitchell – follow her on Twitter @marathonmarj and half marathon photo submitted by Daniel Butler – follow him on Twitter @RunDanRun26]

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

The 15 Best Ultramarathon Aid Station Foods

The 15 Best Ultramarathon Aid Station Foods

I have run 126 marathons and ultramarathons so far in my running career. I would estimate that I’ve grazed or passed by close to 1,000 aid station tables during those races. I’ve tried many foods that have worked and others that didn’t and made the race even more difficult.

Race directors can make or break a runner’s chances of reaching their full potential based on the time, money, and quality of food they put at their aid stations.

Here is a quick look at my all-time favorite aid station foods!

Top 15 Ultramarathon Aid Station Foods

  1. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Tomato Soup – For me it doesn’t get any better than this combo. This is like the surf ‘n turf of ultra food for me. So yummy and so many calories quickly. A good grilled cheese can soak up so much tomato soup, and they both go down so easily. A big calorie recharge that warms the soul during colder races at night.
  2. Fruit – It’s something that is better the hotter and longer the race. Watermelon or oranges are usually the most available fruits at aid stations. My favorite is chilled watermelon during a hot race. It’s extremely refreshing and tasty. Pineapple, cantaloupe, and oranges are a great, naturally sweet snack as well. Frozen oranges on a hot day can taste like sherbet.
  3. Boiled Salted Potatoes – Quick bite sized hit of sodium/salt and some carbs. Most ultras have these in bite sized chunks. Boiled potatoes are a solid and easy go-to that is easy on the stomach.
  4. Bean Burritos – This is my go-to food 50% of the time as it is. Tasty with lots of good calories and protein that can easily be eaten with one hand without getting too messy.
  5. Cheese Quesadillas – Pretty common at most aid stations, especially in the southwest and west coast. These are easy to make, handle and consume. Some are way better than others. The mexican grilled cheese (but not as golden)!
  6. Chicken Broth – Ton of sodium and salt. It’s extremely useful at night during a cold ultra to warm the soul and lift spirits. Without noodles it’s easy to drink. Cheap Ramen noodles can be nasty, especially when partially cooked. Good RD’s go for the real chicken noodle soup, not that college Ramen ish.
  7. Potato Chips – Salt, salt, salt! Grab a handful and take off! Dr. Karl Studtmann introduced me to the Lay’s Stax potato chips. The beauty of these is that you can grab 15-20 at once stacked together and eat them rather easily with minor damage to the roof of your mouth.
  8. Rice Krispie Treats – Electric Youth! Sweet & tasty with a bit of nostalgia of getting off the bus in 5th grade for a snack upon returning home after a long day of trading baseball cards. RKT are sweet but on the bland side of most sweets. They are easy and quick to consume.
  9. Gummy Bears/Worms – The Bernstein clan is great for a quick sugar kick. Throw several gummies in your mouth and suck on them for several miles for a sugar drain that is good for a super boost during a low spot.
  10. Double Stuf Oreos – As far as a quick fix, Double Stufs might be at the top of the list. Lots of sugar, chemicals, and often a perfect elixir to get that pick me up from a low or dark spot. If you ever do a race that has regular Oreos instead of Double Stufs then you should write a bad review about the race and never return!!! If you do a race and they have reduced fat Oreos then you can be sure that the RD is Jobie Williams! 😉
  11. Enchiladas – The Silverton 1000 Challenge (multi-day) had this mexican specialty last week. It was beyond good. I was instantly transported to Mexico City and had to stop long enough for another plate full before returning to el rastro. Kudos to RD Mark Hellenthal for this culinary treat.
  12. Brownie Bites – Cheap Costco aid station food, but it’s small, tasty and a lot of calories in just a bite (or two). Beware of the Brownie Bites in Colorado and Washington.
  13. Lasagna – Perhaps my favorite food of all-time when not racing, so when I see it during a race (usually a 100 miler or multi-day event) my eyes light up and stomach purrs. It’s very tasty, has a lot of calories, some protein, and a lot of carbohydrates.
  14. Cheeseburgers – Burgers are good almost every day of the year as it is. During a race they taste even better. They are a natural handheld (unless someone is going Atkins on it), and they easy to walk/run with while eating it.
  15. Chocolate – Chocolate is good for sugar boost, like most candy, and it’s good for a bit of caffeine jolt as well. My chocolate of choice is bite size Nestle Crunch bars.
These are some of the foods that I enjoy and that work for me. What foods bring the best out of you and help you during those low spots of an ultramarathon?

Posted in Running, Ultra Marathon3 Comments

Rock n Roll Virginia Beach Remix – 2014 – Run It Fast

Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon Medal (2014)

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon that took place on August 31, 2014 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photo submitted top by Darius – follow him on Twitter @dzoid11 and medal collection photo bottom submitted by Stephen – follow him on Twitter @stepheng73]

Posted in Bling, Featured, Half Marathon, Medals0 Comments


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