Here is the finisher’s medal from the Gladiator Rock ‘N Run that took place on December 8, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas.
What is the Gladiator Rock ‘N Run? From it’s website:
Dan Clark aka “Nitro” from the American Gladiators brings you the most insane one day event on the planet – The Gladiator Rock’n Run™.
The course challenges all participants to conquer extreme obstacles and harsh terrain, then to celebrate their conquests with a post race party filled with music, beer and food.
[Marathon medal photos submitted by RIF #89 Stewart Crouch. Follow him on Twitter @SWCrunner and by RIF #48Stephen G. Follow him on Twitter @stepheng73]
Here are the finisher medals from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon (below) that took place on December 2, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Solid medal from the Rock ‘n’ Roll series that is a bit similar to last year’s version.
[Marathon medal photo submitted by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes – Follow him on Twitter @bayou. Half Marathon medal photo submitted by Chris McCartney – Follow him on Twitter @mccartneycl12]
Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (Dec 8-9, 2012)
Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Dec 07 2012 11:23:41
@runitfast I will run 11 miles with @jdharrison37 at Union to train for Trail Of Fears Dec 22Marjorie Mitchell
I think I should be honorary VP of marketing @runitfast 2morrow. I’ll be wearing my #runitfast shirt calling times while 1700 runners run byCharmedTortoise
@runitfast Just some light training work in the Hollywood Hills. #runitfast #RIF1Joshua Holmes
@runitfast #celebrationintheoaks in #NOLA with my seven year old! It’s her first race! :)Robyn Diez
@runitfast Shelby Farms Eurocross 9k in Memphis Sunday #runitfastKristy
@runitfast I’ll be at @DallasMarathon, formerly know as Dallas White Rock Marathon. Hoping for good weather! http://pic.twitter.com/CpXS6gSONicholas L. Norfolk
Rocket City marathon road trip @KarhuRunning and @runitfast , marathon #80 for this girlAlicia Eno
@runitfast Montana!! first "long" training run for Snow Joke half in FEBelizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast Just have a 12 mile training run while in NOLA.Christy Bowers
@runitfast Running the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL Saturday and the Santa Hustle Half Marathon in Sevierville, TN SundayDanny Staggs
@runitfast Running 7 with the middle 5 at marathon pace Friday, 6 on Saturday, 10 on Sunday. Most around Lake Caroline. No racing.Nathan Bass
@runitfast Bryan/College Station Half Marathon.Stephen G
@runitfast our team will be running the Kiawah Island Half Marathon on Saturday!! Super pumped!Charleston Group Fit
@runitfast #TheSightings Santa 5K Fun Run in New Bedford, MA!! #runitfastDanielle
@runitfast running the @GladiatorRunbrandon harrist
@runitfast Dallas White Rock Half-marathonBekah Powell
@runitfast Brandeis university! Today starting at 5pm Brie Lynn
"@runitfast: Where are you running/racing this weekend? Responses posted in 2 hrs on RIF!" //Monterrey México marathonJuan P. Duran
@runitfast Running a @SpartanRace in Glen Rose #Texas. Traveled down from UtahDirt in Your Skirt
@runitfast NE Portland! 13.1 fundraiser with all of my favorite running friends!Angie Gerber
Malibu, California – MIM was my second marathon in my back to back marathon weekend. I was tired and my body was thrashed from the day before at the Catalina Eco Marathon (race report) where the big hills and drops had done a number on my legs. The progress my left knee, which had been recovering from a torn meniscus, took several backwards the day before on the island.
Run It Fast member Lisa Gonzales (RIF #5) picked me up early at my house to make the hourish drive over to Malibu where we parked near the finish line at Zuma Beach. From there you hop a bus for about an hour to where the race starts inland. Before the race I ran into Deo Jaravata, Nadia Ruiz Gonzales, and Yolanda Holder from the day before along with Maniac Rocky Morales and several other running friends.
I hate to complain or knock marathons, and this will be my only complaint about the Malibu Marathon, but the race was supposed to start at 8am and we didn’t end up starting til 8:30am because the RD’s made everyone wait for someone to arrive at the starting line for the race. A delay of that length can throw off many runner’s nutrition, race plan, etc. This race is big enough that it should have started on time.
Everyone shivered and waited hurdled together for the race to finally start and it finally did.
The first 10 miles take you from inland, through several turns around farmland, until you reach the Pacific Ocean at about mile 10. I struggled for those ten miles leading to up to the water. I was slugglish, tired, and my knee and feet were hurting from the day before at Catalina. But getting to where the water started was good mentally as nature’s beautiful scenery started to unfold in front of me with majestic mountains and hillside to my left and the endless ocean and beaches to my right. Somewhere around mile 15 a fellow runner pointed out dolphins jumping in the water to me. It was a truly wonderful site to witness during the middle of a marathon.
I had good and bad stretches over the last 16 miles of this race. I became stronger on the uphills as there were several long uphills as the race got closer to the finish. I was able to keep running up them and past many other runners as they walked and fatigued. I’d then float and speed down the downhills and straightaways as I started to count all the targets I was knocking off. I met a sweet woman over the past 3 miles that pushed me as I pushed her as we were eager to get to the finish and put this one in our race journals.
The medal was great and instead of a finisher’s tech tee like at most races they gave everyone a Malibu International Marathon beach towel which was a nice touch. The finish area had two food trucks and a live band as runners relaxed on the beach, in the water, and at the finish to watch the remaining runners came in.
I waited for Lisa to come in (that’s Deo above not Lisa) and she did with a smile as she had hit her pre-race target. We ate some food from one of the food trucks and then made the trek back home. I’m thankful for Lisa picking me up and dropping me off for this race. It wasn’t necessary on her part, but it made it easier on me having run and traveled to Catalina to race the day before.
Catalina Island, California – This was one of the most beautiful and challenging marathons I’ve done to date. It’s a bit of a hassle to get to as you have to take a hour long boat ride to get over to the island, but it’s well worth it. Enjoyed meeting Aaron Nowlin on the boat ride and discussing his upcoming 50-Miler. I also enjoyed meeting fellow Run It Fast member Nadia Ruiz Gonzales (RIF #69) before and after the race, Guinness record holder Yolanda Holder, and Maniac Deo Jaravata as well.
The race started with a 1,500 ft climb within the first 3 miles of the race that drained the hammys for the rest of the day. Once ‘atop’ Catalina the view continued to impress more and more as you could see almost the entire island at once. It was very windy in parts with 40 mph side-ways gusts, but I kind of like that type of extra added challenge that helps separate the field from one another.
I struggled at different points during the day as I felt a bit out of shape from not training much in the past three weeks since the Javelina Jundred. I did have some good stretches at different points though.
Different parts of the race included almost every type of trail imaginable which helped to battle the mental fatigue that can sometimes come from seeing the same thing over and over. Catalina had some really great running from mile 10 to 19 but then, oh then, mile 19…the Catalina Crush! The Crush was a straight climb/walk/crawl to heaven as the back of my legs and back ached and caused me to stop and let the throbbing relax before continuing my slow crawl to the top and to the rest of the marathon.
The last 3 miles of the marathon are a twisting trail dump back down 1,500 feet with the last 1.5 miles of those 3 being on asphalt as you re-enter the small town to finish right in front of the beachfront.
This race is not easy and not for everyone based on degree of difficulty but you won’t find a more beautiful trail marathon anywhere.
