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Here is a photo of the Huntsville 1/2 (Half) Marathon that took place on November 12, 2011 in Huntsville, Alabama.

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[Medal photo submitted by George Titsworth. Follow him on Twitter @titsworth]

Trent Rosenbloom, race director (RD) of the The Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon, sent us over a photo previewing this years finisher’s medal for the Flying Monkey.

The theme for this year’s Monkey marathon is ‘Think Monkey‘ and is emboldened on the bottom right hand corner of this years finisher’s wood.

The race will take place this Sunday on November 20, 2011 in Nashville’s Harpeth Hills.

The ‘Monkey’ is best known for it’s race swag.  I’ll try to post more photos of the swag as it is revealed.

Last Year: 2010 Flying Monkey Marathon Medal (Photo)

Follow the Flying Monkey Marathon on Twitter @HHFlyingMonkey

Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon Website

RELATED: Flying Monkey Marathon Named #1 Marathon in Tennessee

Here is the finisher’s medal for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon that took place on November 13, 2011 in San Antonio.

The medal plays up the Alamo which is San Antonio’s most popular tourist attraction.

This one isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s a very solid and well done medal.

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[Medal photo submitted by Aaron Johnstone. Follow him on Twitter @aarongeek. Additional photos submitted by Dana. Follow her on Twitter @DanaBoltz and by EH. Follow him on Twitter @Riva1968]

The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 in Fukishima created several nuclear meltdowns and radiation releases from the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

The ongoing nuclear/radiation disaster there in Japan is the largest since the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986.  (Read more on it HERE)

So much radiation and nuclear waste was leaked into the ocean and air.  The damage to the environment, human life, animals, and our food chain is still taking place.  The Japan government claims to be making progress but watchdog groups have caught the Japanese government in coverup after coverup.

The faux safety PR campaign in Fukushima is continuing with the Japanese government allowing and supporting the Ekiden ‘Let’s Die Together’ Marathon that took place on November 13th in Fukushima.

From #Radioactive Ekiden Road Race: Girls Are Running in Radiation Often Higher Than That in Front of J-Village:

J-Village is located just inside the 20 kilometer radius from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, and is the staging area for the plant work. Ordinary citizens cannot even enter (it is a “no entry” zone).

But the female athletes as young as 13 are running in the Ekiden Road Race in Fukushima City in the radiation often much higher than at J-Village. And the nation is supposed to cheer for the wonderful recovery of Fukushima Prefecture by watching these girls run.

Geiger counter readers all along the marathon route show extremely high radiation readings that have led to the cancellation of horse races to protect the lives of the thoroughbred horses:

One irony about the 1.41 microsievert/hour in front of the race track: he wryly and angrily notes that the race track is closed for this year, having canceled all races out of concern for the thoroughbred horses that are worth tens of millions of yen. The race track is doing the decontamination, replacing the turf for the horses. Yet, it is perfectly OK for all concerned to have underage girls run in the radiation.

The writer is sorry that he couldn’t have the event canceled. He is asking “What are we doing? Is this the “recovery” we want for Fukushima? Are we human, to allow this to happen? “

The Geiger readings that were taken along the course measured higher in many places than were recorded at the entrance to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant where the meltdown and cleanup work is ongoing and will be for decades.

Almost all of the girls in this race are junior high and high school girls, girls in their teens.

One of the leading Fukushima critics, Taro Yamamoto, put it this way, “I just don’t understand why they are forced to run there to spread propaganda that Fukishima is safe, even though it’s not.”

Sickening, disgusting, and discouraging to hear. One would hope that any government would put the well being of it’s citizens (especially minors) above good publicity and a dire attempt to make it’s country appear to be safe to inhabit.

This ill-planned marathon should come as no real surprise though. The Japanese government has been trying to cover up the severity of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant disaster since it happened.  The government’s lies to the Japanese people likely will cause terminal cancer and disease amongst many citizens that could have avoided the radiation if they had been properly advised.

Fukushima will never be the same! It’s time for the Japanese government to own up to that fact and start taking care of it’s people.

The Javelina Jundred 100 mile ultramarathon took place this weekend in Fountain Hills, Arizona.  Here is the unique 100 Mile Finisher belt buckle from the race.

Hal Koerner and Liz Howard both set male and female course records at Javelina this year. Hal won the race by running it in 13:47:46.

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[Buckle photo submitted by Robert Boluyt. Follow him on Twitter @Bateluer]

Too often those that bring home the trophies from a race are given all the praise when those that have done the more remarkable feat are further back in the pack.

Angela Ivory has completed over 300 marathons and ultramarathons.  She has completed six 100-mile ultras.  Her accomplishments will never make ESPN or Sports Illustrated, but that is only because we live in a world that judges any accomplishment by who is the first to come across the line.

Angela has been battling Metastatic Breast Cancer for quite some time.  I’ve been told it has now consumed most of her body.  She has been battling it for years, and the last two, I have known her.  I know her from running…really long distances.  I know her because she is one of the friendliest and nicest runners I’ve ever had the joy of competing with.  She has never mentioned one word about cancer to me, but I know.  I’ve known for about as long as I’ve known her.

Runners talk, especially about runners that we respect and do things that amaze and inspire us.  She has running friends that truly love , respect, and want to share her story.  That is how I know what Angela is battling.

Angela has continued to complete one ultra after another.  Her times might have slowed, but her indomitable will has risen to a level that perhaps only someone like Aron Ralston would understand.

In 2011 to date, Angela has completed 27 ultras and marathons. 297 of her 303 marathons/ultras have taken place since 2004.  You can do the math.

Angela’s last race was on September 24th.  The cancer and medications are really hitting Angela hard right now.  She is struggling to get enough oxygen into her lungs to do even the most simple things like walk a block.

But Angela is still going ham against her immune system and that bastard of a disease.  She is still prodding away one step at a time, but now her 100 miler is a simple 3-miler.

From Angela Ivory’s Most Recent Blog Post, ‘3 Miles a Day’ (Read Full Blog Post):

Yesterday, I could only walk the three miles. I had a fever and neck and shoulder pains. I was so cold on a bright, sunshiny day, even with a hat and two long-sleeved shirts. I saw runners out in shorts and short-sleeved shirts, and I envied their even pace and smooth strides. Surprisingly, the three mile walk was only about five minutes longer than the three mile run/walk the day before. The major goal is to finish the three miles under an hour. It’s not much of a goal, but it’s attainable and doesn’t stress me out too much. On Tuesday, I finished in 53 minutes, and on Wednesday, I barely made it in 58 minutes, picking up the walking pace in the last mile to my townhouse. I plan to get the three mile course I’ve mapped out under 45 minutes, and then I’ll do a 5K to truly see where I am.

I can run for a block before I get dizzy from lack of oxygen. It takes me two blocks to breathe comfortably and then I can run another block. I’m hoping that as my body becomes accustomed to surviving on less oxygen that I can run two blocks and walk one block for recovery. Ideally, I would love to get to the point where I can run a mile before taking a walk break. I’ve mapped out a pretty flat route, so that I won’t have the added challenge of tackling an uphill climb. That’s coming from someone who would use hills as speed work, because she hated running on a track for intervals. Wow! Things have really changed. Now I walk all hills, and I love 12 or 24 hour races on a track, because I’m only 1/4 mile from my drop bag and a camp chair, lol.

The best thing about my three miles a day routine is that I get to be outside. It makes me feel better mentally to be able to still move although I am incredibly slower. It’s raining and very cold today, but I don’t care. I’m still a runner at heart, so a little wetness and coldness are not going to scare me off. I’ll still be outside on a beautiful, rainy, and cold day, dressed like I live in Alaska, lol.

So many people in life don’t fight even when they have every advantage imaginable at their disposal.  Some people get punched once in the face and never get off the canvas.

Then there are the very rare people, like Angela, who do things that the most abled of us deem impossible or even foolish.

The men and women that win races, place, and take home cash deserve the praise and adoration they receive, but most often the person overcoming the most, climbing the biggest walls, battling the ugliest demons, or having their own Don Quixote moment are doing so near the back of the field in complete anonymity.

We all run for a reason, some of us from something, others of us towards something, and yet others of us to help overcome something.

What Angela has done and is continuing to do is an inspiration that we should all remember.  She can’t afford to take a day for granted, yet most of us do because we’re pathetic.

Be sure to take a moment at your next race to congratulate someone besides the winners on what they accomplished that day.

When you see Angela out there on the course give her a hug and thank her for how she has encouraged so many by her intense will.  Running binds us in such a tight and intricate way that the non-runner will never really understand.

And if Angela can continue to do three more miles with an evil, host invader claiming more and more of her body then your excuse better be damn good!

UPDATE: I’m sad to learn today that Angela is no longer with us. She was 44-years old. She showed all of us that knew her what bravery and courage is all about. (May 31, 2012)

Angela Ivory’s Race History

Angela Ivory’s Blog: ‘See Tiger Run‘

Here is the simple yet nice finisher’s medal from the 39th Harrisburg Marathon (2011).  It belongs to first time marathoner Kevin Hunsicker.

Kevin described his first marathon in this tweet:

“@runitfast VERY pleased! Wanted 4:00-4:20 and nailed it @ 4:06:36! LOVED overcoming physical and mental barriers to succeed!! First of many!”

Congrats to Kevin on his first mary! Way to Run It Fast!

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Harrisburg Marathon Website

[Medal photo submitted by Kevin Hunsicker.  Follow him on Twitter @KevOCCRN]

The inaugural Freedom Half Marathon took place on November 13, 2011 in Norfolk, Virginia.

This patriotic half-mary had an equally strong and patriotic finisher’s medal as you can see in the photo above.

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[Medal photo submitted by Darius Daniel. Follow him on Twitter @dzoid11]

Over 24,000 runners took part in the 2011 Oasis de Montreal Marathon this year. Here is the finisher’s medal from the race.

Oasis de Montreal Marathon Website

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[Medal photo submitted by Running Montreal. Follow them on Twitter @RunningMTL]

Elite runner Hal Koerner destroyed the old course record at the Javelina Jundred, just minutes ago, finishing the 100 (actually 101.4) mile ultramarathon in 13 hours 47 minutes and 46 seconds.

The previous course record was held by Dave James in 14:20:54 back in 2009.

Second place finisher Evan Honeyfield also beat the previous course record finishing in 14 hours and 1 minute.

Elizabeth ‘Liza’ Howard, who now has five 100 mile wins, blasted the JJ female record with a 15:47:00.  The previous record was held by Jamie Donaldson in 17:11:32.

Javelina Jundred 100 Results

1. Hal Koerner – 13:47:46
2. Evan Honeyfield – 14:01:00
3. Jay Aldous – 15:20:57
4. Elizabeth ‘Liza’ Howard (F) – 15:47:00
5. Mark Matyazic – 16:34:20
6. Jay Smithberger – 17:01:12
7. Justin Faul – 17:30:05
8. Bret Sarnquist – 18:21:42
9. Jay Danek – 18:28:12
10. Bradley Fenner – 18:37:26

The Javelina Jundred is a 6-loop course that takes place every year at McDowell Mountain Regional Park in Fountain Hills, Arizona.

Javelina Jundred Finisher’s Belt Buckle

BIG congrats to both Hal and Elizabeth on setting new course records.

Liz Howard’s Course Shattering Javelina Jundred Race Report

Koerner is a former Western States 100 Mile winner and has many victories under his numerous belt buckles.

Hal Koerner’s Race Rap Sheet

[Follow Hal Koerner on Twitter @HalKoerner]

[Follow Liza Howard on Twitter @LizaHoward1]