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An elite field showed up in Huntsville, Texas this Saturday for the 2011 Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Race that included Scott Jurek, Anton Krupicka, Karl Meltzer, Liza Howard, Zach Gingerich and a young pup by the name of Ian Sharman, who not only won the race but set a course record by 32 minutes with a time of 12:44:33.

Liza Howard was the first female finisher with a blazing time of 15:33:09

Here is a look at the top finishers from 2011RR100:

Elites Scott Jurek and Zach Gingerich dropped out and did not finish RR100.

Here is a look at The 10 Best Marathons in Tennessee. The list is up for debate and based on some personal preferences and experiences. Feel free to drop a comment below with your thoughts on any of the marathons listed below or any that might have been omitted.

1. Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon (race website)- If you have never run a marathon then don’t dare attempt this one as your cherry-thon.  It is by far the best in Tennessee and the most beautiful, but it is extremely challenging with nearly 10,000 feet of ascents and the same amount of descents in the beautiful Harpeth Hills near Nashville.  The best race swag you will ever receive at any race (this side of a belt buckle) is at the Monkey.  Race participants in 2010 received a long sleeve personalized tech shirt, a tie-dyed Monkey t-shirt, and a beautiful wooden Monkey finisher’s medal.  And yet the post-race food buffet was even better than the race and swag combined. But this race fills up fast, like really fast, like 32 minutes fast.
2. St. Jude Marathon (race website)- The most meaningful marathon you can run in Tennessee and perhaps the United States. All of the proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital that treats children with cancer regardless of ability to pay.  The race is in early December and the weather is usually cold but good running weather.  It starts right outside of Auto Zone Park and finishes inside the stadium, after rounding the outfield warning track.  During the 26.2 miles you hit almost every major Memphis landmark including the Pyramid, Fedex Forum, Sun Studios, the Memphis Zoo, along with running through the St. Jude campus early in the race with several of the patients outside cheering you on. They will inspire you to run further and faster.  The race is a must-do for any Tennessean and highly recommended for out-of-staters as well.
3. Andrew Jackson Marathon (race website) – My hometown marathon so naturally it scores a bit higher with me than it probably would with others. The course is beautiful and rolling. Approximately 20 of the miles are out in the country, with the rest of the race in peaceful suburban neighborhoods with almost no traffic. It starts and finishes at Union University.  The field is usually small (less than 100), which I have come to enjoy, and most that run it have run it before at some point.  The AJM also includes a half marathon and 5K as well on race day. The finisher’s medal was actually a paper weight but aren’t all medals once they make it home?
4. Rock Creek Scenic City Trail Marathon (race website)- The only trail marathon to make this list. It is truly a great and peaceful run out in the woods of Chattanooga.  If you love the outdoors and endurance running then you won’t want to miss this beautiful trail run from the Rock Creek people.
5. Blister in the Sun Marathon (race website) – The toughest marathon in Tennessee due to three things: 1. heat, 2. repetition, and 3. hills.  The Blister lives up to it’s name as it takes place in early August which is a no-no for most Tennesseans to even run out to their car to grab their Marlboros.  Race day temps at the inaugural blister reached a blistering 89 degrees. The course at Cane Creek park in Cookeville consisted of 5 loops through a park before ascending a hellacious hill up and around Cane Creek elementary school.  The field in 2010 consisted of just 14 freaks, all with resumes that would easily have condemned the Bush administration if it had forced terrorists to attempt their feats.  Blister and Flying Monkey are by far the two toughest marathons in Tennessee.  The RD is a sub-3 hour freak so good luck beating him on his home course.
6. Southern Plunge Marathon (race website) – The inaugural Plunge in 2010 was surprising in how many things they did extremely well right off of the bat.  The Race Director put together an impressive logo that was then placed on top-notch Zorrel tech shirts and finisher’s medals.  The course was tougher than expected.  I had been told there was a small hill at mile 2. Well that was correct. It was the smallest hill that day.  The course had several climbs and the second half was rather taxing to most of the runners.  There is a rumor already circulating that the course will be changed for the second edition of the Plunge in 2011.
7. Knoxville Marathon (race website) – The best part of this marathon, especially for Tennessee Volunteer fans, is that you get to run the last 50 yard to the finish inside of Neyland Stadium.  The first half of the course is hilly, but it levels out a bit towards the end.  Nearly 700 people raced it last year.  The race t-shirt and medal were sub-par but that is nitpicking a bit.  There are better options to run a marathon in Tennessee, but if you are nearby Knoxville when this one is held you should check it out.
8. Country Music Marathon (race website) – One of the biggest half marathons in the United States, as well as one of the most overrated marathons in America. It’s a Rock N’ Roll series event which means it will be very large and populated. Usually there is around 26,000 runners for the half and just 4-5,000 for the full.  The best part of this race is the first half, even with the thick stack of people, where you run down Broadway and up Music Row.  After the 26,000 half marathoners divert off for the half finish the course gets extremely boring, hilly at points, and runs through the most industrial parts of Music City.  If you want to run in extreme weather this might be the right marathon for you.  In 2009, the marathon had temperatures in the mid 80’s and last year 75% of marathoners got diverted to a shortened finish (around 22 miles) due to tornadoes in the area.
9. Endorphin Marathon (race website) – One of the younger marathons on this list. It is located in Jackson, Tennessee and takes place around Labor Day each year.  The course is relatively flat and easy.  The field has grown each year and the swag is pretty impressive from what I’ve seen of it.  There is also a half marathon, 10K and 5K that takes place the same morning.  With a little bit more promotion and exposure this hidden gem of a marathon could become much larger and even rival Andrew Jackson.
10. Rutledge Marathon (race website) – If you have ever wanted to finish a marathon on a working-farm then this is the race for you.  The race is rather small but the race director does a very good job of making everyone feel welcomed and appreciated for coming out.  Rutledge is in east Tennessee so the course is one rolling hill after another, but the hills are minor and help keep the legs fresh throughout the race.

From time to time here on Run It Fast we feature races that we highly recommend because one of us have run the race before and had a great experience doing so.

The Strolling Jim 40 Mile Run in Wartrace, TN is one of these races. It’s an ultra marathon of 40 miles that is run entirely on paved roads.

The race is challenging and very hilly. The heat and humidity can also take a toll on you as the day progresses.  SJ40 usually comprises a collection of elite athletes, ultra veterans, and newbies to ultras.  There is always a friendly environment between all of the runners and you get a lot of bang for your buck with a pre-race pasta dinner and post race meal included.

The 2010 edition of ‘The Jim’ was won by 2007 Badwater champion Valmir Nunes, of Brazil, with at time of 4:44:43.  The last finisher crossed the line in 12:46:37. The race has no cut off and waits for everyone who wants to finish it.

The 33rd annual Strolling Jim takes place on May 7, 2011.  Signups are underway and the race will be capped at 250 runners (101 ran it last year).

Strolling Jim 40 Miler Website – (Sign Up at UltraSignUp.com) -$50 before Feb 28, $60 after

Race Director Mike Melton can be reached via email at mike@mcmelton.com

Strolling Jim 40 Mile Ultra Marathon Review

Here is a quick rundown of the male and female winners from the 2011 Half Marathon Championship in Houston on Saturday.

MEN
1. Mo Trafeh, 1:02:17
2. Ryan Hall, 1:02:20
3. Patrick Smyth, 1:02:32
4. Fasil Bizuneh, 1:02:47
5. Jason Lehmkuhle, 1:02:49

Ryan Hall was leading at the 13 mile mark before Trafeh unleashed a Michael Phelps like kick over the  last tenth of a mile to beat Hall by three seconds.  It was a tight finish among the top five with just 32 seconds separating the group.

WOMEN
1. Jen Rhines, 1:11:14
2. Serena Burla, 1:11:38
3. Nan Kennard, 1:12:03
4. Katie McGregor, 1:12:12
5. Tera Moody, 1:12:30

The women had a little more separation with Rhines winning by 24 seconds over Burla.  5th place finisher Tera Moody finished 1:16 behind Rhines.  The win for Rhines, a 3-time Olympian, was a personal record.

The same course will be used next year for Olympic Marathon qualifying.

Here is the official finisher’s medal from the 2011 Maui Oceanfront Marathon.  It is a beautiful and colorful piece much like the extremely scenic and beautiful course along the ocean.

The 2011 marathon was won by Justin Gillette in 2:35:39 (course record)

Maui Oceanfront Marathon Website

Here is a photo of the official medal, or is that finisher’s wood, from the 2010 Recover from the Holidays 50km trail ultra marathon that took place on December 31, 2010.

A very unique and desirable finisher’s medal for sure.

The race takes place in Huntsville, Alabama at the Huntsville Cross Country Running Park.

Recover from the Holidays 50km Website

Thanks to Chris Estes for sending in the photo of his newly acquired bling.

The Across The Years 72-Hour Endurance Race is over and Vikena Yutz was the female winner putting down 216.237 miles during the three-day race.  Not only was she the #1 female, but Kena placed sixth overall.

Second place female went to Joan Hellman with 200.082 miles and third to Iliana Dimitrova with 157.518 miles.

All of the ATY races take place in Buckeye, Arizona at the Nardini Manor each year.

Across The Years 72-Hour Female Results

1. Kena Yutz – 216.237 miles
2. Joan Hellman – 200.082 miles
3. Iliana Dimitrova 157.518 miles
4. Juli Aistars – 155.964 miles
5. Martina Hausmann – 153.168 miles

The 72-Hour male winner was George Biondic who covered an astounding 248.548 miles. Truly, a bionic man! Second place went to Andreas Falk and Ed Ettinghausen who both  did 238.607 miles.

Across The Years 72-Hour Male Results

1. George Biondic – 248.548 miles
2. Andreas Falk – 238.607 miles (tie)
3. Ed Ettinghausen 238.607 miles (tie)
4. Jeff Hagen – 222.762 miles
5. John Geesler – 217.791 miles

And here is a look at the results from the rest of the 2010 ATY races that took place from December 29, 2010 – January 1, 2011.

Across The Years 48-Hour Female Results

Across The Years 48-Hour Male Results

Across The Years 24-Hour Female Results

Across The Years 24-Hour Male Results

View All of the 2010 Across The Years Results

ACROSS THE YEARS Website

[image by: Ray Krolewicz]

Here is a photo of the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon medal from the 26.2 mile race that took place on January 9, 2011.

2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Results

Fredison Carneiro won the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon with a time of 2:21:14.  The first woman to cross the line was Leah Throvilson with a time of 2:42:10.

Here is a look at the top finishers from the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Florida.

Walt Disney World Marathon Men

1. Fredison Carneiro – 2:21:14
2. Michael Wardian – 2:27:39
3. Paul Nielson – 2:31:44
4. Timothy Chichester – 2:32:15
5. Mike Hensley – 2:32:28

Walt Disney World Marathon Women

1. Leah Thorvilson – 2:42:10
2. Karen Simmonds-Brady – 2:51:14
3. Jessica Crate – 2:51:53
4. Christa Stephens – 2:54:02
5. Jennifer Hanley-Pinto – 2:55:14

View Complete Results of All Runners from the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon

(and Disney Half Marathon)

Ultra marathon legend Scott Jurek discusses how he became interested in running, ultra marathons, and how he gets through such extreme races and distances with CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Scott has won Badwater, Western States several times, and almost every other endurance running race in the United States.

Follow Scott Jurek on Twitter

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