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Lemi Berhanu Hayle Wins 120th Boston Marathon (Results)

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Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu Hayle easily won the 120th Boston Marathon on Patriot’s Day with a time of 2:12:45. Hayle’s powerful close over the last 5K left last year’s winner Lelisa Desisa nearly a minute back

Desisa finished in second place in 2:13:32. Yemane Adhane Tsegay passed Wesley Korir to claim third place in 2:14:02. Korir finished fourth in 2:14:05.

2016 Boston Marathon Top 10 Male Results

  1. Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia) – 2:12:45
  2. Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) – 2:13:32
  3. Yemane Adhane Tsegay (Ethiopia) – 2:14:02
  4. Wesley Korir (Kenya) – 2:14:05
  5. Paul Lonyangata (Kenya) – 2:15:45
  6. Sammy Kitwara (Kenya) – 2:16:43
  7. Stephen Chebogut (Kenya) – 2:16:52
  8. Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:18:05
  9. Getu Feleke (Ethiopia) – 2:18:46
  10. Zachary Hine (USA) – 2:21:37

Congrats to Zachary Hine on being the first finisher from the United States. He finished in 2:21:37.

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Ethiopia’s Atsede Baysa surprised almost everyone by winning the 120th Boston Marathon. She was the top female to finish after passing Tirfi Tsegaye in the last 10K and just getting stronger and stronger until she reached the finish line. She beat Tsegaye by 44 seconds.

Tsegaye finished in 2:30:03. Third place went to Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) in 2:30:50.

2016 Boston Marathon Top 10 Female Results

  1. Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia) – 2:29:19
  2. Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia) – 2:30:03
  3. Joyce Chepkirui (Kenya) – 2:30:50
  4. Jelena Prokopcuka (LVA) – 2:32:28
  5. Valentine Kipketer (Kenya) – 2:33:13
  6. Flomena Cheyech Daniel (Kenya) – 2:33:40
  7. Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) – 2:33:56
  8. Fate Tola (Ethiopia) – 2:34:38
  9. Neely Spence Gracey (USA) – 2:35:00
  10. Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia) – 2:37:31

Congrats to Neely Spence Gracey on being the first female finisher from the United States. She ran a strong race and finished in 2:35:00 with a big gap over second American, Sarah Crouch.

Posted in Boston Marathon, Marathon0 Comments

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120th Boston Marathon Live Coverage (2016)

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Refresh for Updates

Kenneth Williams finished the Boston Marathon in 4:57:51. It’s about Kenneth’s 14th Boston Marathon finish. Congrats, Kenneth! #RunItFast

RIF’s Linzie Starr finished the Boston Marathon in 5:19:43. Congrats!! #RunItFast

Run It Fast’s Angie Whitworth Pace finished the Boston Marathon in 4:28:30. Congrats, Angie!!! #RunItFast

Run It Fast’s Kendra Fields Schoffstall finishes the Boston Marathon in 4:38:36. Congrats, Kendra!! #RunItFast

He did it! RIF #33 Robin Robbins finished the Boston Marathon in 4:12:11. Congrats, Robin! Dreams do come true with a vision and hard work. Proud of you my friend! ‪#‎HylandsFYFL‬ ‪#‎RunItFast‬

Legendary RIF member Dallas Smith, at 75 yo, finishes another Boston Marathon. This one in 4;07:25. #RunItFast

Run It Fast’s Aimee Shilling finishes in 3:53:03. Congrats, Aimee!

Run It Fast members Cary Morgan finishes 3:46:05 and Jen Metcalf finishes in 3:54:36.

Run It Fast’s Kevin Gerteisen finishes in 3:47:30.

Run It Fast’s Nadia Ruiz finishes in 3:35:43.

Run It Fast’s Michelle Bischoff finishes strong with a time of 3:34:11. Congrats, Michelle! #RunItFast

RIF’s Linzie Starr hits halfway in 2:19:03. Projected for a 4:42 finish.

Run It Fast’s David Dye finishes in 4:01:03.

Run It Fast’s Dean Karnazes finishes in 3:48:58.

Mas Korima’s Patrick Sweeney finishes in 3:23:13.

#HylandsFYFL Robin Robbins hits halfway in 2:00:28.

Run It Fast’s Tim Christoni finishes the Boston Marathon in 3:11:39.

RIF Angie Whitworth Pace hits half in 2:08:55. Tim Christoni is at 40k and close to a finish.

RIF Roy Tamaz 1:54:15 half marathon split.

Run It Fast member rundown:

  • Robin Robbins 10K in 56:07
  • Dallas Smith 10K in 53:57
  • Angie Whitworth Pace 15K in 1:26:27
  • Jen Metcalf 15K in 1:21:20
  • David Dye 25K in 2:03:01
  • Michelle Bischof 15K in  1:15:08
  • Aimee Shilling 15K in 1:15:16
  • Roy Tamaz 15K in 1:19:47
  • Tim Christoni 30K in 2:13:20
  • Kendra Fields Schoffstall 10K in 58:11
  • Kevin Gerteisen 25K in 2:05:21

Congrats to the top 3 men and women:

Men

  1. Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia) – 2:12:45
  2. Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) – 2:13:32
  3. Yemane Adhane Tsegay (Ethiopia) – 2:14:02

Women

  1. Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia) – 2:29:19
  2. Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia) – 2:30:03
  3. Joyce Chepkirui (Kenya) – 2:30:50

Tsegay takes Korir for 3rd place. Korir finishes in 4th.

Desisa, last year’s champ, finishes in 2nd place.

Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia) WINS the 120th Boston Marathon in 2:12:45. Hayle is just 21 years old.

Men: Hayle has a dominating lead. It’s been a coronation jaunt for him the last few miles. He will win the Boston Marathon.

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Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia) is the female winner of the 120th Boston Marathon in 2:29:19 in a remarkable come from behind win.

Less than a mile left for Baysa and she is in control and will win the Boston Marathon barring an absolute disaster. She’s left the field and Tsegaye far behind.

Baysa is in a solid lead now by about 10 seconds. She is looking strong and getting stronger as she passes 40k.

The women are neck in neck now between Tsegaye and Baysa.

Tsegaye is currently leading the women with about a 5 second lead over Joyce.

Run It Fast’s David Dye has hit the half way point in 1:39:57.

Top 3 women through 35k

  1. Tirfi Tsegaye 2:04:19
  2. Joyce Chepkirui 2:04:29
  3. Valentine Kipketer 2:04:40

Run It Fast’s Robin Robbins has been spotted before the start of his race. He’s part of the Hylands Find Your Finish Line team. Robin’s journey and story to get to this race is quite amazing.

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Mas Korima’s Patrick Sweeney hits the half way point in 1:25:35 wearing Luna sandals and a kilt.

At the half way point the top men stand as:

  1. Yemane Tsegay – 1:06:45
  2. Getu Feleke – 1:06:46
  3. Lemi Hayle – 1:06:46

At the half way point the top three women stand as:

  1. Tirfi Tsegaye – 1:15:33
  2. Valentine Kipketer – 1:15:34
  3. Joyce Chepkirui – 1:15:34

Wind currently at 10mph

Late start to our 120th Boston Marathon live coverage. Someone had to get the kids ready for and to school this morning.

Posted in Boston Marathon, Marathon0 Comments

Joshua Holmes Running in Simi Valley – Run It Fast®

Conservation of Our Land for Trail Runners

Joshua Holmes Running in Simi Valley - Run It Fast®

Conservation of our Land and Water

I’ve been blessed to run challenging races in National and State Parks in some of the most beautiful parts of the United States. In doing so I’ve seen sunrises, sunsets, mountains, canyons, rivers, and wildlife more beautiful than my most vivid imagination.

I’m never going to agree fully with every action of any president, but I’m thankful for the actions President Obama has taken to protect more land and water than any president in U.S. history.

I hope his successor will value conservation just as much as President Obama no matter the letter that might appear next to his or her name. Let’s also do our part to protect and keep clean our deserts, forests, oceans, and mountains.

And the best way to conserve our health is to get out, be active, run, hike, and swim in these beautiful places.

Follow me on Instagram at @JoshuaHolmes

#FindYourPark#ActOnClimate #thanksObama@whitehouse #conservation #RunItFast

Posted in Running, Trails0 Comments

Teal Clark Extreme Racer Small Collage – Run It Fast

John Leighton Wins Run It Fast’s 2015 Extreme Racer (Final Standings)

John Leighton 2015 Extreme Racer Champion Collage - Run It Fast

RIF #190 John Leighton, the Susan Lucci of the Extreme Racer challenge with several runner-up finishes, is Run It Fast’s 2015 Extreme Racer of the Year with 1,706.27 points. That’s over, 1,700 miles of racing that covered several states.

“All they found of John back in Ohio was a muddy set of running clothes, a bar of soap, and an old pair of Hokas, damn near worn down to the nub. I remember thinking it would take a man six hundred years to race as far as he did. Old John did it in less than three hundred sixty-five days..

John ran, walked, and crawled to freedom through seventeen hundred race miles of sh!t smelling foulness I can’t even imagine, or maybe I just don’t want to. Seventeen hundred miles… that’s the length of 29,920 football fields, just shy of 9 million feet.” – JohnShank Redemption

John had just enough points, with a final push on the last day of the year, to eclipse RIF #279 George Southgate who finished in second place for the year with 1,592.2 points.

Third place once again this year went to RIF #1 Joshua Holmes with 1,456.2 points.

Congrats to John on being the Run It Fast’s 2015 Extreme Racer of the Year!

Extreme Racer Final Top 10 Leaderboard
1. John Kent Leighton – 1,706.27 (RIF #190)
2. George Southgate – 1,592.2 (RIF #279)
3. Joshua Holmes – 1,456.2 (RIF #1)
4. Mark McCaslin – 1,314.1 (RIF #486)
5. Steven Smith – 1,269.1 (RIF #387)
6. Teal Clark – 1,217.5 (RIF #473) – Top Female
7. Patricia Klein – 1,201.6 (RIF #450)
8. Diane Bolton – 1,160.46 (RIF #159)
9. Carol Earles – 1,049.7 (RIF #287)
10. Deo Jaravata – 1,029.7 (RIF #333)

Teal Clark Extreme Racer Small Collage - Run It Fast

Congrats to RIF #473 Teal Clark on finishing 2015 with the most points of any female competing in Run It Fast’s Extreme Racer with 1,217.5 points.

Second place female goes to RIF #450 Patricia Klein who had a very strong finish to the year with a total of 1,201.6 points.

Three-time Extreme Racer female winner, RIF #159 Diane Bolton, finished with 1,160.46 points for third place barely edging out RIF #287 Carol Earles who finished in fourth with 1,049.7 points.

Congrats to Teal, Patricia, and Diane on their hard work and extreme racing in 2015!

Extreme Racer Women’s Leaderboard
1. Teal Clark – 1,217.5 (RIF #473)
2. Patricia Klein – 1,201.6 (RIF #450)
3. Diane Bolton – 1,160.46 (RIF #159)
4. Carol Earles – 1,049.7 (RIF #287)
5. Marylou Corino – 1,027.9 (RIF #410)
6. Cathie Johnson – 843.8 (RIF #507)
7. Heather Zeigler – 832.18 (RIF #246)
8. Andrea Kooiman – 672.1 (RIF #404)
9. Angie Whitworth Pace – 645.1 (RIF #447)
10. Suzanne Michelson – 580.5 (RIF #280)
11. Amanda Staggs – 563.6 (RIF #210)
12. Cheryl Bryll – 557.9 (RIF #432)
13. Lisa Van Wolde – 505 (RIF #469)
14. Alicia Eno – 445.6 (RIF #126)
15. Tiffani Glass – 403 (RIF #328)
16. Belinda Young – 361.4 (RIF #358)
17. Jamila Williams – 353.7 (RIF #459)
18. Nicole Eldridge – 347 (RIF #446)
19. Leslie Harwell – 339.1 (RIF #417)
20. Christy Bowers – 338.01 (RIF #60)
21. Aimee Shilling – 310.7 (RIF #418)
22. Christa Baker – 283.2 (RIF #436)
23. Lisa Gonzales – 273 (RIF #5)
24. Kim Crowe – 271.9 (RIF #245)
25. Christy Scott – 265.4 (RIF #231)
26. Jennifer Hatcher – 255.1 (RIF #323)
27. Marj Mitchell – 224.8 (RIF #4)
28. Audrena Liu – 212 (RIF #463)
29. Erin Goetz – 164.7 (RIF #443)
30. Shannon Miller – 123.1 (RIF #338)
31. Ines Cooper – 120.5 (RIF #448)
32. Julia Beavers – 94.2 (RIF #339)
33. Donna Dworak – 92 (RIF #310)
34. Heather Shoemaker – 91.7 (RIF #44)
35. Katy Cook – 57.9 (RIF #510)
36. Michelle Bischof – 52.4 (RIF #285)
37. Sue Stephens-Wright – 26.2 (RIF #321)
38. Helen McMullin – 26.2 (RIF #390)
39. Debra Jacildo – 22.2 (RIF #98)
40. Martine Kincade – 18.6 (RIF #260)
41. Laura Ann Evanoika – 13.1 (RIF #433)

Extreme Racer Men’s Leaderboard
1. John Kent Leighton – 1,706.27 (RIF #190)
2. George Southgate – 1,592.2 (RIF #279)
3. Joshua Holmes – 1,456.2 (RIF #1)
4. Mark McCaslin – 1,314.1 (RIF #486)
5. Steven Smith – 1,269.1 (RIF #387)
6. Deo Jaravata – 1,029.7 (RIF #333)
7. Shane Tucker – 1,024.1 (RIF #337)
8. Ed Ettinghausen – 966.34 (RIF #121)
9. Troy Johnson – 870 (RIF #506)
10. Brian Recore – 673.2 (RIF #395)
11. Denis McCarthy – 628.8 (RIF #263)
12. Ben Herron – 578.1 (RIF #408)
13. David Essary – 435.7 (RIF #475)
14. Jeff Liu – 403.2 (RIF #275)
15. John Sotomayor – 402.2 (RIF #393)
16. Arland Blanton – 295.8 (RIF #290)
17. Chris Baker – 283.2 (RIF #437)
18. Michael Dasalla – 280.3 (RIF #411)
19. Jeff Van Demark – 279.1 (RIF #322)
20. Jeff Le – 183 (RIF #248)
21. Rick Glass – 168.3 (RIF #401)
22. Nathan Bass – 157.9 (RIF #174)
23. Charlie Taylor – 157.2 (RIF #353)
24. Winston Trice – 126 (RIF #29)
25. Stephen Griffin – 97.9 (RIF #48)
26. David Mickelsen – 92.5 (RIF #164)
27. Dennis Arriaga – 63.1 (RIF #140)
28. Mark Ogletree – 41.7 (RIF #247)
29. Robin Robbins – 35.64 (RIF #33)

Congrats to everyone who submitted Extreme Racer points in 2015. So many great runners from The Club did amazing races all over the globe. Thank you to everyone who participated.

All-Time Records
1,000 Point Extreme Racer Club

1. Ed Ettinghausen – 4,803.8 (2014) – Overall Winner
2. Steve Hughes – 2,742.4 (2012) – Overall Winner
3. Diane Bolton – 1,961.9 (2012) – Female Winner/2nd Overall
4. David Wingard – 1,928.3 (2013) – Overall Winner
5. John Kent Leighton – 1,910.9 (2013) – 2nd Overall
6. Joshua Holmes – 1,834.7 (2013) – 3rd Overall
7. Diane Bolton – 1,783.45 (2013) – Female Winner
8. John Kent Leighton – 1,706.27 (2015) – Overall Winner
9. John Kent Leighton – 1,703.8 (2014) – 2nd Overall
10. Joshua Holmes – 1,652.1 (2012) – 3rd Overall
11. John Kent Leighton – 1,648.88 (2012)
12. Joshua Holmes – 1,644.4 (2014) – 3rd Overall
13. George Southgate – 1,592.2 (2015)
14. George Southgate – 1,524.04 (2013)
15. Diane Bolton – 1,486.56 (2014) – Female Winner
16. Joshua Holmes – 1,456.2 (2015)
17. George Southgate – 1,452.6 (2014)
18. Carol Goslin – 1,388.8 (2013)
19. Mark McCaslin – 1,314.1 (2015)
20. Carol Earles – 1,284.19 (2013)
21. Steven Smith – 1,269.1 (2015)
22. Teal Clark – 1,217.5 (2015) – Female Winner
23. Patricia Klein – 1,201.6 (2015)
24. Carol Goslin – 1,188.3 (2012)
25. Jennifer Hatcher – 1,187.2 (2014)
26. Diane Bolton – 1,160.46 (2015)
27. Hideki Kinoshita – 1,153.8 (2012)
28. Denis McCarthy – 1,117.36 (2013)
29. Carol Earles – 1,049.7 (2015)
30. Steven Lee – 1,044.4 (2012)
31. Deo Jaravata – 1,029.7 (2015)
32. Shane Tucker – 1,024.1 (2015)
33. Marylou Corino – 1,027.9 (2015)
34. Kerri Haskins – 1,026.5 (2013)


Extreme Racer Winners By Year

2015 – John Leighton (Final Standings)
2014 – Ed Ettinghausen (Final Standings)
2013 – David Wingard (Final Standings)
2012 – Steve Hughes (Final Standings)

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

For more information on Run It Fast – The Club and to join then click HERE!

Posted in Extreme Racer, THE CLUB2 Comments

Ryan Hall USA Flag Marathoner

Fastest U.S. Marathoner Ryan Hall Retiring from Racing

Ryan Hall USA Flag Marathoner

Ryan Hall, who holds the fastest U.S. marathon time ever recorded in 2:04:58, is retiring from competitive racing at the age 0f 33 according to a detailed article about his career in the N.Y. Times.

The reason is due to extreme fatigue and chronically low testosterone which is limiting Hall to minimal training.

Hall, 33, who was one of the last remaining hopes for an American front-runner in this summer’s Olympic marathon, is succumbing to chronically low testosterone levels and fatigue so extreme, he says, that he can barely log 12 easy miles a week.

Most fans of the sport always felt Hall was on the verge of that major marathon win, but it never transpired as his body seemed to break down often and limit his training.

“I’ve explored every issue to get back to the level I’ve been at, and my body is not responding. I realized that it was time to stop striving, to finally be satisfied and decide ‘mission accomplished.’ ”

Hall is at peace with his decision according to his wife, fellow runner, Sara Hall. The couple recently adopted four Ethiopian sisters.

We wish Ryan and his family the best of luck in his retirement. He’s one of the most well-known U.S. marathoners of all time and a great example to many young runners that they too can become a great American long distance runner.

Posted in Marathon, Running0 Comments

RIF Extreme Racer Banner 2015 Winner

Run It Fast’s Extreme Racer Standings (thru November 2015)

John Leighton Winter Run - Run It Fast

The conclusion of November brought the Run It Fast – Extreme Racer standings into an extremely tight competition as the top three overall were separated by less than 42 points with John Leighton leading the way with 1,458.67. Following closely in 2nd was George Southgate with 1,427.1 points and in Joshua Holmes in 3rd place with 1,417.5 points.

When we look at the women’s side we have a new leader as well as Arkansas native Teal Clark takes over the pole position with 1,124.1 points. Diane Bolton, last year’s Extreme Racer top female, moves into 2nd place with 1,077.06 points. Patricia Klein drops to third with a staggering 1,069.4 points to round out an extremely competitive leaderboard amongst the women.

With one month to go…actually just a couple more weeks left in the year…it will be interesting to see who can knock off more race miles while finishing their races. DNF miles do not count towards ER points. Will John and Teal be able to hold on to their top spots or will George, Diane, or Patricia be able to over take them? We will know soon enough.

Thank you to all RIF members who have submitted race points throughout the year.

Here is a look at the full standings:

Extreme Racer Top Ten Leaderboard
1. John Kent Leighton – 1,458.67 (RIF #190)
2. George Southgate – 1,427.1 (RIF #279)
3. Joshua Holmes – 1,417.5 (RIF #1)
4. Mark McCaslin – 1,314.1 (RIF #486)
5. Steven Smith – 1,269.1 (RIF #387)
6. Teal Clark – 1,124.1 (RIF #473)
7. Diane Bolton – 1,077.06 (RIF #159)
8. Patricia Klein – 1,069.4 (RIF #450)
9. Shane Tucker – 1,024.1 (RIF #337)
10. Marylou Corino – 972.1 (RIF #410)

Extreme Racer Women’s Leaderboard
1. Teal Clark – 1124.1 (RIF #473)
2. Diane Bolton – 1077.06 (RIF #159)
3. Patricia Klein – 1069.4 (RIF #450)
4. Marylou Corino – 972.1 (RIF #410)
5. Carol Earles – 956.3 (RIF #287)
6. Cathie Johnson – 811.4 (RIF #507)
7. Andrea Kooiman – 672.1 (RIF #404)
8. Angie Whitworth Pace – 645.1 (RIF #447)
9. Heather Zeigler – 622.58 (RIF #246)
10. Amanda Staggs – 563.6 (RIF #210)
11. Suzanne Michelson – 541.2 (RIF #280)
12. Cheryl Bryll – 531.7 (RIF #432)
13. Lisa Van Wolde – 505 (RIF #469)
14. Belinda Young – 361.4 (RIF #358)
15. Tiffani Glass – 359.6 (RIF #328)
16. Nicole Eldridge – 347 (RIF #446)
17. Leslie Harwell – 339.1 (RIF #417)
18. Christy Bowers – 317.42 (RIF #60)
19. Aimee Shilling – 310.7 (RIF #418)
20. Christa Baker – 283.2 (RIF #436)
21. Kim Crowe – 271.9 (RIF #245)
22. Christy Scott – 265.4 (RIF #231)
23. Lisa Gonzales – 260.6 (RIF #5)
24. Jennifer Hatcher – 202.7 (RIF #323)
25. Alicia Eno – 195.2 (RIF #126)
26. Marj Mitchell – 172.4 (RIF #4)
27. Erin Goetz – 164.7 (RIF #443)
28. Shannon Miller – 123.1 (RIF #338)
29. Ines Cooper – 120.5 (RIF #448)
30. Julia Beavers – 94.2 (RIF #339)
31. Donna Dworak – 92 (RIF #310)
32. Heather Shoemaker – 91.7 (RIF #44)
33. Katy Cook – 57.9 (RIF #510)
34. Michelle Bischof – 52.4 (RIF #285)
35. Sue Stephens-Wright – 26.2 (RIF #321)
36. Helen McMullin – 26.2 (RIF #390)
37. Debra Jacildo – 19.1 (RIF #98)
38. Laura Ann Evanoika – 13.1 (RIF #433)

Extreme Racer Men’s Leaderboard
1. John Kent Leighton – 1458.67 (RIF #190)
2. George Southgate – 1427.1 (RIF #279)
3. Joshua Holmes – 1417.5 (RIF #1)
4. Mark McCaslin – 1314.1 (RIF #486)
5. Steven Smith – 1269.1 (RIF #387)
6. Shane Tucker – 1024.1 (RIF #337)
7. Ed Ettinghausen – 966.34 (RIF #121)
8. Deo Jaravata – 964.2 (RIF #333)
9. Troy Johnson – 837.6 (RIF #506)
10. Brian Recore – 673.2 (RIF #395)
11. Denis McCarthy – 628.8 (RIF #263)
12. Ben Herron – 578.1 (RIF #408)
13. David Essary – 435.7 (RIF #475)
14. Jeff Liu – 373.9 (RIF #275)
15. Arland Blanton – 295.8 (RIF #290)
16. Chris Baker – 283.2 (RIF #437)
17. Michael Dasalla – 267.2 (RIF #411)
18. John Sotomayor – 252.2 (RIF #393)
19. Jeff Van Demark – 230.5 (RIF #322)
20. Jeff Le – 183 (RIF #248)
21. Rick Glass – 168.3 (RIF #401)
22. Nathan Bass – 157.9 (RIF #174)
23. Charlie Taylor – 157.2 (RIF #353)
24. Winston Trice – 126 (RIF #29)
25. Stephen Griffin – 97.9 (RIF #48)
26. David Mickelsen – 92.5 (RIF #164)
27. Dennis Arriaga – 63.1 (RIF #140)
28. Mark Ogletree – 41.7 (RIF #247)
29. Robin Robbins – 35.64 (RIF #33)

Things have been interesting all year and the standings have never been constant. The last 3 months will no doubt see many changes and many more numbers added to this already impressive roster of miles. This club continues to inspire all kinds of people all over the world. Keep racing, keep running, keep being awesome!

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

Posted in Extreme Racer, THE CLUB0 Comments

Bart Yasso and Patricia Klein – Run It Fast

Run It Fast’s Extreme Racer Standings (thru October 2015)

Bart Yasso and Patricia Klein - Run It Fast

The year is winding down and the standings through October are pretty close on both sides of the gender coin for Run It Fast members. The overall leader is Joshua Holmes with 1,377 points while the current top female is Patricia Klein with 1,024.1 points.

After Holmes, Steven Smith is in 2nd place with 1,269.1 points and in third is John Leighton with 1,259.57 points. Fourth male is the ever steady thoroughbred known as George Southgate with 1,217.2 points.

On the women’s side after Klein, we have Teal Clark of Arkansas with 976.9 points in 2nd place and Diane Bolton in 3rd with 940.76 points. Forth female is Canadian Marylou Corino with 864.9 points.

These standings should change often until the end of the year when we will crown a new Extreme Racer.

Extreme Racer Top 10 Leaderboard
1. Joshua Holmes – 1377 (RIF #1)
2. Steven Smith – 1269.1 (RIF #387)
3. John Kent Leighton – 1259.57 (RIF #190)
4. George Southgate – 1217.2 (RIF #279)
5. Patricia Klein – 1024.1 (RIF #450)
6. Teal Clark – 976.9 (RIF #473)
7. Mark McCaslin – 969 (RIF #486)
8. Ed Ettinghausen – 966.34 (RIF #121)
9. Diane Bolton – 940.76 (RIF #159)
10. Shane Tucker – 924.1 (RIF #337)

Extreme Racer Women’s Leaderboard
1. Patricia Klein – 1024.1 (RIF #450)
2. Teal Clark – 976.9 (RIF #473)
3. Diane Bolton – 940.76 (RIF #159)
4. Marylou Corino – 864.9 (RIF #410)
5. Carol Earles – 864.6 (RIF #287)
6. Cathie Johnson – 811.4 (RIF #507)
7. Andrea Kooiman – 642.8 (RIF #404)
8. Heather Zeigler – 622.58 (RIF #246)
9. Angie Whitworth Pace – 602.7 (RIF #447)
10. Lisa Van Wolde – 505 (RIF #469)
11. Cheryl Bryll – 479.3 (RIF #432)
12. Amanda Staggs – 470.7 (RIF #210)
13. Suzanne Michelson – 446.4 (RIF #280)
14. Belinda Young – 361.4 (RIF #358)
15. Nicole Eldridge – 347 (RIF #446)
16. Leslie Harwell – 339.1 (RIF #417)
17. Tiffani Glass – 291.6 (RIF #328)
18. Christa Baker – 283.2 (RIF #436)
19. Christy Bowers – 277.82 (RIF #60)
20. Christy Scott – 265.4 (RIF #231)
21. Aimee Shilling – 226.9 (RIF #418)
22. Kim Crowe – 218.3 (RIF #245)
23. Lisa Gonzales – 215.1 (RIF #5)
24. Jennifer Hatcher – 202.7 (RIF #323)
25. Alicia Eno – 195.2 (RIF #126)
26. Marj Mitchell – 172.4 (RIF #4)
27. Shannon Miller – 123.1 (RIF #338)
28. Ines Cooper – 120.5 (RIF #448)
29. Erin Goetz – 110.5 (RIF #443)
30. Julia Beavers – 94.2 (RIF #339)
31. Donna Dworak – 92 (RIF #310)
32. Heather Shoemaker – 91.7 (RIF #44)
33. Michelle Bischof – 52.4 (RIF #285)
34. Sue Stephens-Wright – 26.2 (RIF #321)
35. Helen McMullin – 26.2 (RIF #390)
36. Debra Jacildo – 19.1 (RIF #98)
37. Laura Ann Evanoika – 13.1 (RIF #433)

Extreme Racer Men’s Leaderboard
1. Joshua Holmes – 1377 (RIF #1)
2. Steven Smith – 1269.1 (RIF #387)
3. John Kent Leighton – 1259.57 (RIF #190)
4. George Southgate – 1217.2 (RIF #279)
5. Mark McCaslin – 969 (RIF #486)
6. Ed Ettinghausen – 966.34 (RIF #121)
7. Shane Tucker – 924.1 (RIF #337)
8. Troy Johnson – 837.6 (RIF #506)
9. Deo Jaravata – 655.7 (RIF #333)
10. Brian Recore – 573.2 (RIF #395)
11. Denis McCarthy – 550.2 (RIF #263)
12. Ben Herron – 520.9 (RIF #408)
13. Jeff Liu – 373.9 (RIF #275)
14. David Essary – 333.3 (RIF #475)
15. Arland Blanton – 295.8 (RIF #290)
16. Chris Baker – 283.2 (RIF #437)
17. Michael Dasalla – 256.2 (RIF #411)
18. John Sotomayor – 252.2 (RIF #393)
19. Jeff Van Demark – 230.5 (RIF #322)
20. Jeff Le – 183 (RIF #248)
21. Rick Glass – 168.3 (RIF #401)
22. Nathan Bass – 157.9 (RIF #174)
23. Charlie Taylor – 157.2 (RIF #353)
24. Winston Trice – 126 (RIF #29)
25. Stephen Griffin – 97.9 (RIF #48)
26. David Mickelsen – 92.5 (RIF #164)
27. Dennis Arriaga – 63.1 (RIF #140)
28. Mark Ogletree – 41.7 (RIF #247)
29. Robin Robbins – 35.64 (RIF #33)

Things have been interesting all year and the standings have never been constant. The last 3 months will no doubt see many changes and many more numbers added to this already impressive roster of miles. This club continues to inspire all kinds of people all over the world. Keep racing, keep running, keep being awesome!

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

Posted in Extreme Racer, THE CLUB0 Comments

Larry Johnson 93-94 Teal Hornets Warmup Jacket

Hot or Not? 2016 Boston Marathon Jacket Getting Heat

2016 Boston Marathon Jacket

Adidas released photos for the 2016 Boston Marathon runner’s jacket today and most on social media weren’t taking too kindly to the Faberge egg like colors (albeit with some humor).

https://twitter.com/SharpEndurance/status/672451182263046144

They remind me of the 1993 Charlotte Hornets warmup jackets that Larry ‘Grandmama’ Johnson and Alonzo Mourning used to wear.

Larry Johnson 93-94 Teal Hornets Warmup Jacket

See?? I think the Hornets might have a beef with Adidas and Boston copying their early 90’s teal jackets.

2016 Boston Marathon Jacket Model

Well on the bright side at least the Boston Marathon jacket will match Adidas’ new shoe they just released:

Remember it’s just a jacket and that there are many runners who BQ’d but were locked out with the cutoff this year for getting into the race. They would love this ‘ugly’ jacket.

Posted in Boston Marathon0 Comments

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Goodyear 1/2 Marathon Race Report from the Ground and High Above

Goodyear Half Chris Baker with Blimp - Run It Fast

Goodyear ½ Marathon and 10 km Race Report from the Ground and High Above

As Christa and I were on our drive up to the Creemore Vertical Challenge (25 and 50km race near our home in Toronto), last weekend we got the word from Run It Fast #1 that we could go to Akron and ride in the Goodyear Blimp while the Goodyear ½ Marathon was going on. As the week progressed we found out that due to additional video equipment onboard only one of us would be able to go up. Christa pitched the idea of her running the race, while I was high above in the blimp. The race organizers went for the idea and the following article is our race review from the ground and high above! Below is our views on this fun race from high above and running on the ground.

Getting There

Given the 6:30 am start, we left our home in Toronto Canada after work at 5:15 pm on Friday night and arrived in Akron at about 11 pm. We were barely able to put our heads down, when our 3:45 am wakeup call came. Christa had to meet race organizers before 5 am at the start, while I had to drive out to Goodyear Launch facilities 20 minutes from the race course before 5:15 am.

Goodyear Half Marathon Christa Baker with Goodyear Blimp - Run It Fast

Christa Pre-Race

We arrived at the race start so I could pick up my race kit before 5am. Getting to the start was quite easy since there were roads still open and the race start was in the parking garage so you just drove in and parked. I went to pick up my race kit which included a t-shirt, bag, towel and Goodyear blimp magnet. The bag drop was just a few feet away where they were ready to take my stuff.  They already had clear plastic bags to put your stuff in – you didn’t even have to worry about this part.  So far I was really impressed. Did I mention how easy it was – I guess that’s what happens when you are the first runner to arrive! Since I had a couple hours to kill I decided to walk around and familiarize myself with the start line and all that was available to the runners.

First off to make every runner happy there were tones of port-a-potties set up in different locations around the start line. This made it very easy when the crowds started to arrive as you never really had to wait that long. The finish line was already all set up with ice, water and Gatorade which was great but I also notice there was a band setting up, 3 food trucks and a beer tent not to mention a few other vendors setting up. I could tell there would be a good party going on at the finish.

Twenty minutes before the start I met up with another RIF member – always nice to meet new friends! We chatted for a bit and then I lined up in my corral which was easy to find because they had tons of signs. The pacers had already started lining up in their timing slots. That’s when I noticed that the blimp had started to circle the start line. It was exciting to see because I knew Chris was up there – what an opportunity. I asked one of the ladies beside me to take my picture with the blimp in the background, I wanted a picture of Chris and I at the start – when I told them that my husband was up in the blimp they instantly knew why I was so excited. It was about at this point that the announcer came on saying that the race start would be delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy traffic arriving for the race. Then we were off!! Time to burn some rubber!

Chris Pre-Race

Arriving at the Goodyear Airship facilities I could see the Blimp in the distance. Once signed in, I met the other 3 gentlemen that had been invited to report on the race. Also on the Blimp were our pilot and a video technician from Goodyear. We took off about 6:10 am and we were over the Goodyear facilities where the start finish line was in about 10 minutes. Having run in many races, I am usually part of the masses lining up behind the start line. I was able to look down and see the nearly 3000 people in the Half and 10 km taking their positions. One problem, cars were still trying to come off the highway and make it to the parking lot. One of the race committee members was onboard the blimp and radioed down to ground that these people would not make it to the start by 6:30 am. There was a 15 minute delay to the start of the race. Traffic cleared quickly and at about 6:45 am the race was on.

Christa During the Race

There was a bottle neck right at the start line because they forgot to move the Goodyear race car off the course before the race; but we got passed it pretty quick which was good. I quickly started following the 2:05 pacer who introduced himself as Dave. He was from Akron and seemed like he knew what he was doing telling us that we were going a bit fast off the get go and needed to take it easy as we settled into our pace. He also seemed to know the course pretty well telling us about the next hill coming up. He was friendly and knowledgeable just what you need in a pacer. I felt like we were in good hands.

Since the race started at 6:45am the heat wasn’t a factor until later on near to the finish which was great. A lot of the course was shaded because of the time of day, but it did end up getting pretty warm near the end of the race. The course went out and came back past the start finish where I stopped to take a picture of the Goodyear race car. How often do you get to be this close to a race car? We then went into the Goodyear training ground where they do all the testing and training for the Goodyear blimps. Normally this is closed to the public so this was a lot of fun to be behind the scenes. We went headed down by the derby track where they hold the derby races in Akron.

The aid stations, provided water and Gatorade, where well staffed with friendly volunteers and approximately 3k apart. Some of the aid stations offered gels and they even had a spray station where runners got sprayed down with water as they ran by. We went through various parts of the city ranging from subdivisions to busier main streets; traffic was not an issue since all the main streets were closed off to traffic with police monitoring so no one would get hurt.

The rest of the race flew by with many parts of the course lined with people eager to cheer us on to the finish. The last part of the race took us around the Goodyear race track where you looped around to the finish line. During the whole race the Goodyear blimp was circling the course which gave us the feel that we were competing at a major sporting event.

Goodyear Half Chris Baker with Blimp Pilot - Run It Fast

Chris During the Race

It was quite the site to see runners quickly spread out and a lead pack formed immediately. Our pilot followed the race leaders and we snapped quite a few pictures from high above in the Goodyear Blimp. Since I am not from the area it was hard for me to keep track of who the leaders were, since I didn’t know the course route. Even though we were only 1000 feet off the ground, the trees lining the streets made it hard to see runners at all times. Given that there was a 10 km race along with a ½ marathon, it didn’t take long to see the lead 10 km runner enter the Goodyear Test Track (about 1.5 miles from the finish) and see that he had a commanding lead. As he ran the last mile, he was gaining a bigger margin between him and the second place runner. Up in the blimp we estimated that the winner finished in about 33 minutes. It was hard to track the lead ½ marathon runner as they would have encountered traffic from the slower 10 km runners when they merged. We finally found him and estimate he finished in about 1:09.

As we were in the blimp, I was wondering what I would write about. Anyone who has read any of my previous race reports knows I don’t like to focus on me and I want to provide the reader with information they will be able to use when deciding if they want to run this race in the future. I know it would be hard, 1000 feet up in the air, but as the morning went on I got some great (at least I think they are great) ideas to cover.

First of all, the roads looked very wide and I don’t think crowding on the course was an issue. There is nothing worse than a race, with skinny narrow roads where hundreds of runners bottleneck up. That can really impact your pace and race. Given the size of the roads, the runners spread out quickly.

Second of all, I saw a couple of the water stations and they seemed long. This is great, as runners can go further down the water station where it isn’t crowded to grab their drink. Given the heat and humidity that was expected Saturday, a 6:30 start was a great idea. The course seemed to be shaded in a lot of spots so for much of the race I thought this would offer relief to the runners. From above, the course looked fairly flat too. No major hills that I could see. I loved the idea of running 1.5 miles around the Goodyear test track. It looked hot and open, but having the ability to run in what is normally a restricted area has always been a positive in a race for me. (Being a big sports fan, I have always remembered my finish on Ford Field in Detroit, finishing at center ice at Copps Coliseum, where an AHL Pro team plays and running on the Formula One track in Montreal).

With the ease of parking in the Goodyear parking lot right at the start line, from above it looked like a great race. I know Christa’s report will echo the same opinion from the ground!

Goodyear Half Aerial Race Photo - Run It Fast

Christa Post Race

The finish was very well organized with cold water and Gatorade being handed out by volunteers as well as ice cold towels. They were so refreshing and a major perk because of the heat. All race participants had 2 food tickets and got one free beer. They had 3 food trucks at the finish, offering half pints of Stricklands chocolate and vanilla ice cream, Eddies Famous Cheesesteak sandwiches and Galley Boys from Swenson’s which has been featured on the food network. Beer was free for all runners and they had a variety of Bud, Shock top and a local IPA which was a nice surprise. They also offered live music the whole time during the post-race party which ended at 11am. This gave all participants an opportunity take part in the festivities. All in all I really have no complaints about this race. The organizers did a fantastic job and put on an amazing event. I would highly recommend this race or any other race in the series to anyone who wants to enjoy a great race and be well taken care of from the start to beyond the finish.

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Chris Post Race

We continued to circle the start/finish area until about 9:20 am. This gave finishers a chance for photo ops with the blimp and I understand the award ceremonies wanted to have photo ops with the blimp. We could see some of the slower runners still out on the course, while some of the 10 km and faster ½ marathon finishers were already in their cars and leaving the race site. It was very relaxing in the blimp, comfortable seats and open windows to take some pictures. It really was perfect area to view a race from. The pilot was extremely friendly and gave us a lot of information about the Goodyear Blimp program. The blimp is fairly quiet and we could hear the announcer below us. If you ever get the opportunity to ride in the blimp then you should. It is an amazing experience. We landed back at the launch site, with some Boy Scouts looking on. The pilot showed off some of the blimps capabilities (the new one can do a complete 360 while hovering in the same spot, something the older models could not do). I jumped in my car after a few more photos and drove back to the race site to meet Christa. I found her right beside the finish line. It was a unique feeling, to see the same finish area from the ground, where only 45 minutes before I had seen it from the air. It was a lively atmosphere, with a band still playing, beer being given out (yes Christa saved me a beer ticket) and food being handed out. I was a little jealous of the medal she received as it was quite cool. I wish I could have been up in the blimp and then ran the race. Maybe next year, I will come back to Akron and run the ½. If it wasn’t for the 5 hour drive it would be on my list in 2016. I will have to see if I can make it fit my schedule.

 

Overall Conclusion

From the time Chris was put in contact with the organizers to getting my feet back on the ground, communication was excellent and all the little details were taken care of. From what we both experienced, our opinion is that this race series is going to continue to grow as the attention to detail is not an accident. The runners are taken care of and for the price of the entry fee, it’s a great value. Thanks again to Run It Fast, Goodyear and The Rubber Running Series for a once in a lifetime experience.

Chris and Christa Baker (August 2015)

Posted in 10K, Half Marathon, Race Reports, Running0 Comments

‘The Rock’ – Marylou Corino’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2015)

‘The Rock’ – Marylou Corino’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2015)

Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde Finish Vol State 500K First Females - Run It Fast 2015

The Rock

“We were born to blaze new trails and roads, partake in great adventures, take daring risks, be God strong and foolishly courageous. “Let faith not fear be your compass” and so began on Thursday July 9th, 2015 at 7:30am, a journey of a lifetime, a journey to the rock.

Just before the Last Supper, Greg Armstrong and his beautiful wife Shelley spent almost 2 hrs with Lisa Van Wolde and I, going over the route, showing us maps and providing us with amazing insights about the race. We greatly appreciated them graciously giving their time to help us, newbies to Volstate. People like them truly make our sport the best in the world. At the LAST SUPPER, we met Lazarus Lake (the Race Director), got our shirts and went over a few rules. Things were becoming real and nerves were beginning to form.

Vol State 2015 Run It Fast Members Ferry

The next day, we were to meet at 7am at the Dorena-Hickman ferry. I, of course wanted to be there super early for fear of getting caught in morning rush hour traffic or lost. Lisa just shook her head at me. There is no traffic in Hickman Kentucky, none what so ever and getting lost was unlikely. Needless to say we were the first ones there. Due to high water levels, we had a 20 minute virtual ferry ride (which entailed standing for 20 minutes ) and then off we went.

We made it through Hickman Kentucky with relative ease and passed the Tennessee State Line. We would be in this wonderful “state on the sun” ( our new name for it ) for a good part of our journey.

Josh Tyner Vol State 500K with Marylou Corino and Lisa - Run It Fast

We were quite charmed by the little towns we were passing and were greeted by a few Run It Fast® members. Thank you Josh and Jamie! It was great to see them out there! ( a special thank you to Jamie’s wife for allowing us into her work to cool off). It was on our way from Martin to Dresden where we caught our first glimpse of heat and humidity. It seemed like the state road was freshly paved and that steam was rising from the ground. It was also the middle of the afternoon which probably didn’t help matters. Our focus changed quickly however because it was here were we first experienced the warmth and kindness of the people of Tennessee. This was to continue through the duration of our journey. Many handed us popsicles, freezes, water, ice and although we had crew, these were still uplifting moments. We made sure to tell every person we met that there were runners doing this on their own and to please find as many of them as they could.

Vol State Day 2 Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde

Our goal was to reach 9o miles (the town of Lexington) in the first day. That was our plan ( silly naïve Canadians- throw away the plan right Joshua Holmes? ) We didn’t quite make it there. Our total distance for day one was 76 miles. We knew after day one that our goals from then on would be the following a)not to plan b)survive the heat, c)keep moving forward, and d)listen to our bodies and enjoy this tremendous experience as it was already shaping out to be.

On day two, we made it to Lexington but not before passing some pretty towns, in particular Hungtindgon. In Lexington, we rewarded ourselves with sonic slushies and sweet tea. These two things were to be a staple for the remainder of this “ vacation on foot” as some people have called it. Once we turned left out of Lexington we knew we would be on the US 412 for roughly 95 miles until we hit Colombia. For a moment that seemed quite daunting but we knew it was the only way to get to the rock. We passed many towns on this long stretch of road including Parsons where we enjoyed a nice dinner listening to live music. We made the trek through the town of Linden at night and this seemed to be just one never ending climb with really no shoulder to run/walk on. We made it to the other end of town and took a much needed nap in the car. We ended day two with another 65 miles for a total of 141 miles.

Lisa Van Wolde and Marylou Corino Day 3 Vol State 500K Waterfall - Run It Fast

It was much hotter on day three and day four and it was starting to show. These two days were our low mileage days but included some incredible moments. We reached the halfway point ( 157) where we enjoyed a beautiful waterfall.

Marylou Corino Vol State 500K Bench of Despair 2015 - Run It Fast

We made a concentrated effort to look at the miles we covered and not the ones we still had yet to do. We hit the famous “Bench of Despair” which made us quite emotional. The store owners left a barrel of ice and water bottles and markers to sign our names and times on the bench which we gladly did.

The next 7-8 miles were quite beautiful and went by rather quickly. It was also on this road where a family left lawn chairs, an umbrella, food, shirts, salt pills and a number of different items for volstate runners. Again, one can’t help but get emotional at such a selfless act of kindness. We were going through a particularly hard, hot, humid, and hilly stretch into Lewisburg. We jokingly said that we could cross off running on the sun from our bucket list. We honestly felt like our skin was going to peel off. I remember making very small conversation with Lisa at which point she turned me and said “Mare I flatlined 3 hills ago” and that summarizes how we felt at times. Oddly enough, our skin didn’t peel off nor did we flatline. Day 3 and 4 saw us do 44 and 49 miles respectively for a total of 234 miles by the end of day 4.

The start of day 5 brought us to see our fourth sunrise. As the sun rose, so did we. It rejuvenated us. It was a new day, a new dawn. We had made it through yet another day in the Volstate. We also found this on the start of day 5 and were wondering if by using it we would get to the rock faster.

Day 5 Vol State 500K Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde

Running highs were amplified but so were the lows at Volstate. We embraced the highs, became humbled with the lows and moved one foot in front of the other. We thoroughly enjoyed running to the town of Wartrace and from there to the US41. It was early in the morning, quiet, scenic and peaceful, just us and the road. The miles flew by during this section and we both could say we were in a dream like running state. I had never felt that before. I made sure I was present for every step because I knew deep down, I was probably never going to feel that again. It was along US41 where Whitney, a runitfast member came to see us bringing with her strawberry popsicles and some much needed salt pills. Thank you! The end of Day 5 saw us climb 3 miles up Monteagle. We stopped at the top, lay on the floor and admired the sky full of stars trying to absorb this whole experience. We ended day 5 with 44 miles and a total of 278 miles. In the last five 5days, we spent approximately 2 hours out of the sun each day and rested on average between two to three hours at night. This strategy worked for us for every time we hit the road we felt re-energized and ready to move sometimes slow, sometimes slower but always forward.

We woke up on day 6 knowing that we were going to make it to the rock. We made it through Tracy City, Jasper and Kimball where we saw Lazarus, Steven ( who had finished Volstate the day before),
Bill ( who crewed Steven but always made sure we were okay when he saw us, Thank you Mr. Baker! ), John ( two time Volstate finisher- uncrewed) and Sue ( women’s record holder for Volstate!) Seeing them made us smile. We were near the 300 mile mark at this point.

Marylou Corino Vol State 500K Resting in Alabama - Run It Fast

We made it to the bottom of the Mountain, dug deep and began our 6 mile climb into Alabama through the cornfields to the rock.

Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde Finishing the 2015 Vol State 500K - Run It Fast

We had done it. 5 days , 8 hours , 6 minutes and 52 seconds later, we had made it.

There are so many people that were instrumental in our success. A special thank you to both our husbands who entertained the thought of us participating in this race and for taking care of things back home while we were away. To our crew. Alissa, Nikki Laura Lee and Bill. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel towards you and all you did for us over the 5 days, stopping every 3 miles, cooling us down, getting us food, being patient while we tended to our feet and just being positive and encouraging. We will forever be appreciative. ( I think Bill was taking the picture!)

Vol State 500K 1st Female Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde - Run It Fast

To all of you that came by to visit, to those at home cheering for us, and sending us positive vibes, Thank you! We used that to fuel us and keep going. A special mention to Joshua Holmes for believing that I could finish this race when I asked him about it back in December. Thank you. It was everything you said it would be and more. To God, who shined his light on us every day we were out there. Congratulations to all Volstate finishers this year and to those who didn’t finish, congratulations for having the courage to tow the start line. A special congratulations to my running partner and great friend Lisa who not only completed her first multiday but was “officially” the first female to touch the rock. I would not have had it any other way.

Vol State 500K Lisa Van Wolde and Marylou Corino with Lazarus Lake in Kimball 2015 - Run It Fast

This race enters your blood and becomes part of who you are. It touches your core and captures your soul. One lives so much in those 314 miles that it undeniably leaves its mark on you permanently. We are definitely not the same people that started the race. It is an experience that develops your character but at the same time reveals it. It tested our limits and in the process, made us go beyond them. The journey inspired us, brought us to your knees and at times made us feel broken physically, mentally and spiritually BUT it didn’t defeat us. Somehow ,somewhere , someway along this journey we become MORE stubborn and relentless than the VOL STATE and step by step we overcame and made it to the rock.

Marylou Corino (RIF #410)
July 9-15, 2015
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Vintage Vol State 500K Race Reports

Day-by-Day Vol State 500K Recaps

Historical Vol State 500K Results

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Posted in Race Reports, Running, Ultra Marathon, Vol State1 Comment


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