Run It Fast’s ‘Race Across the USA‘ continued across three states on Thursday. Our race leaders, the Suzy Michelson Team, blazed an amazing mid-week total of 201.62 miles that took them a third of the way across the Volunteer State. It might be the final blow that the competition might not be able to come back from. Second place for the day went to the Charlie Taylor Team with 144.06 miles after a slow start to the day. They were followed closely by the Jeffrey Price Team with 141.24 miles. The Hope Shull Team put down 129.00 miles as they had a solid day.

Let’s get into the stats, standings, and recaps from the road…

Day 11 Mileage Results of the Race Across the USA

• Suzy Michelson Team – 201.62 miles (13.44 mi/runner)
• Jeffrey Price Team – 141.24 miles (9.42 mi/runner)
• Charlie Taylor Team – 144.06 miles (9.60 mi/runner)
• Hope Shull Team – 129.00 miles (8.60 mi/runner)

RIF’s Race Across the USA Overall Standings 

1. Suzy Michelson Team – 2,071.22 miles (188.29/day, 71.3% completed)
2. Jeffrey Price Team – 1,767.07  miles (160.64 mi/day, 60.8% completed)
3. Charlie Taylor Team – 1,649.72 miles (149.97 mi/day, 56.8% completed)
4. Hope Shull Team – 1,379.34 miles (125.39 mi/day, 47.5% completed)

Suzy Michelson Team: Another blazing day for the Suzy Team with their second highest daily miles for the race. They did it on a day when the two teams behind them had sub-par days as well. They were led by Dresden, TN legend JR Reynolds who pieced together several runs for 34.05 miles. JR has been strong throughout this race just months after knee surgery. He has 139.61 total miles for the race. The Sultans of Swat brought a lot of asphalt kickers to join JR today that included Alex Barrientos, with a big 33.38 miles, along with Barry Reece (27.55), Chris Clemens (26.39), and David Nichols (22.83).

The most heroic performance of the day, for the Suzys, came from Kimberly Atkins who had to go to the ER. She passed a kidney stone into her bladder. She then went home and did 8 miles to help the team out. This team is full of crazed addicts.

This team is less than 840 miles from the finish in New York City. They went over 2,000 miles today and the race is theirs to lose. Earlier today they passed Lebanon, Tennessee, where their own Jeff Lea calls home.

Suzy Team Data at a Glance
Place: 1st
Day 11 Miles: 201.62 (1st)
Total Miles: 2,071.22
Top 5 SMT Runners (Day 11)

1. JR Reynolds – 34.05
2. Alex Barrientos – 33.38
3. Barry Reece – 27.55
4. Chris Clemens – 26.39
5. David Nichols – 22.83

Jeffrey Price Team: One of the secrets to the success of the JPT is that they know they are starting the day with an automatic 40-45 miles from Heather McComb and Tom Orr. Neither disappointed today as Heather, true to her nickname ‘Double-Dime,’ put down 20.52 miles and Tom added a cool 20.70.

A rising star on the team this week is California native Alfa Severino who contributed 17.40 miles. Karl Studtmann had 16.68 miles and John Leighton added 11.15 miles.

The team finished in 3rd again for the day by just a couple of miles. They are poised to have a big weekend. It might be too late to catch The Suzys, but I expect another strong charge at them this weekend.

The Jeffs are currently at the Madison Light Missionary Baptist Church in Madison, Arkansas.

Jeffrey Team Data at a Glance
Overall Place: 2nd
Day 11 Miles: 141.24 (3rd)
Total Miles: 1,767.07
Miles Back: -304.15
Top 5 JPT Runners (Day 11)

1. Tom Orr – 20.70
2. Heather McComb – 20.52
3. Alfa Severino – 17.40
4. Karl Studtmann – 16.68
5. John Leighton – 11.15

Charlie Taylor Team: A late day surge got the Chucks over the 100-mile mark for the day and near their daily average. Today they had 144.06 total team miles. This team is gritty and grinds out what they can every day, often going out for one more run when they think they have nothing left.

Today, they were led by Steve Acciarito with 24.35 miles. Steve has had a huge week. Elva Matamoros added 18.55 miles and has 144.73 miles for the race. Seth Crowe, in between filling prescriptions, pieced together 16.29 miles. Tiffani Glass followed yesterday’s 25-miles with 14.22 today.

The team finished second for the day, a handful of miles ahead of the Jeffs. They have made up some ground on the Jeffs this week. Can they continue to make a push for 2nd place? We will have a better picture of the odds of that reality after the weekend.

The Chucks are in Conway, Arkansas, the birthplace of NBA legend Scottie Pippen. They hope to make it to Memphis tomorrow if all goes well.

Charlie Team Data at a Glance
Overall Place: 3rd
Day 11 Miles: 144.06 (2nd)
Total Miles: 1,649.72
Miles Back: -421.50

Top 5 CTT Runners (Day 11)

1. Steve Acciarito – 24.35
2. Elva Matamoros – 18.55
3. Seth Crowe – 16.29
4. Joshua Holmes – 16.0
5. Tiffani Glass – 14.22

Hope Shull Team: Team Captain Marylou Corino got her team over their daily average today with a solid 129.00 miles. They were led by Kit Brazier’s 22.41 miles. It’s Kit’s 6th performance of 20 miles or more in 11 days. Randy Broadway showed up for work with 18.02 miles. Marylou added 15.2 miles.

Jimmy Girten was a beast today for the team with 16.34 miles. His highest output of the event and in many months. It’s good to see Jimmy G running well.

The Hopes are literally stuck in Shawnee, Oklahoma after a round-robin buffet at Cracker Barrel, WhataBurger, McAllister’s Deli, and Chick-fil-A.

Hope Team Data at a Glance
Overall Place: 4th
Day 11 Miles: 129.00 (4th)
Total Miles: 1,379.34
Miles Back: -691.88

Top 5 HST Runners (Day 11)

1. Kit Brazier – 22.41
2. Randy Broadway – 18.02
3. Jimmy Girten – 16.34
4. Marylou Corino – 15.2
5. Cathy Downes – 8.40

• Suzy Michelson Team – JR Reynolds (34.05 mi)
• Jeffrey Price Team – Tom Orr (20.70 mi)
• Charlie Taylor Team – Steve Acciarito (24.35 mi)
• Hope Shull Team – Kit Brazier (22.41 mi)

Top 10 Mega-Miles of the Day

1. JR Reynolds (SMT) – 34.05
2. Alex Barrientos (SMT) – 33.38
3. Barry Reece (SMT) – 27.55
4. Chris Clemens (SMT) – 26.39
5. Steve Acciarito (CTT) – 24.35
6. David Nichols (SMT) – 22.83
7. Kit Brazier (HST) – 22.41
8. Tom Orr (JPT) – 20.70
9. Heather McComb (JPT) – 20.52
10. Elva Matamoros (CTT) – 18.55

Top 10 Race Mile Leaders

1. Chris Clemens (SMT) – 275.61
2. Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 233.56
3. Heather McComb (JPT) – 229.52
4. Tom Orr (JPT) – 223.13
5. Barry Reece  (SMT) – 222.89
6. David Nichols (SMT) – 216.56
7. Alex Barrientos (SMT) – 206.49
8. Jeremy Reed (CTT) – 199.82
9. Seth Crowe (CTT) – 197.82
10. Marylou Corino – (HST) – 195.80

J.R. Reynolds, with his 34.04 miles for the Suzy Michelson Team, is the ‘Race Across the USA’ –  Peak Performer of the Day.

Daily Updates and Standings Archive

• Day 11: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Popeye Jones
• Day 10: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Rise of the Chucks
• Day 9: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Jeremy’s Calling
• Day 8: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Lt. Dan Taylor
• Day 7: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Ben Hur-on
• Day 6: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Russell Branded
• Day 5: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Stairway to Heaven
• Day 4: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – 5 Nichols & 1 Penny
• Day 3: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Razing Arizona
• Day 2: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Showdown in the Desert 
• Day 1: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – And They Are Off…

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