Run It Fast®

Here is a look at the list of all of the elite runners that will be running at the 2011 Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 9, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.

Many are looking at American Ryan Hall to put down a spectacular time and perhaps win it all after he set the U.S. marathon record earlier this year at the Boston Marathon.

RELATED: Ryan Hall Nude in ESPN’s ‘Bodies We Want 2011’ Issue

Check back on Sunday for results from the Chicago Marathon

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 39 of you responded!

The most popular race this weekend is the flat and fast Chicago Marathon.  However, you guys are running some very cool races and training runs all over the globe this weekend.  Best of luck to all of you! Run It Fast!!!!

Joshua Holmes – @bayou – Short runs in prep for 4th 100 miler next weekend.

Sara – @sarakschroer – last longish run (taper week for full marathon on 10/16). 8mi planned along the SoCal shoreline!

Johnny Luciano – @RunJohnnyRun99 – disney xc classic

Lisa G. – @its_elleG – 8 mile training run for ING Miami

Brad Dulay – @braddulay – 20 Miler in James Morris Park during my trip to Suburbia

Humberto Vazquez – @jhvv99 – 10k Sportcity , San Pedro N.L. , México

Tracy Pellizzari – @pizzalarry – Portland Marathon!

Anders Edström – @anders_edstrom – #Sweden #Gävle tomorrow intervalls, sunday distance 10-15km

Rew Landells – @RewMdS – taking part in the Nottingham, Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest on Saturday, good bit of training and fun!

Alen Zelenika – @alenAdepto – Zagreb halfmarathon

Luciana Oliveira – @luciana_lf – in the Aclimacao park, Sao Paulo, Brasil.

Katie – @WillRace4Carbs – Denver Rock n Roll Half marathon!

Laura Raeder – @LauraRaeder – bloomingtom/normal IL

Massiel Sanmartin – @massielSm – Running 11 miles as part of 1/2marathon training around Turtle Creek Dallas Tx

Dwight Williams – @dwighty_boy – Chester marathon Sunday

Luciana Oliveira – @luciana_lf – At Aclimacao Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Troy Eldredge – @troyeldredge – Army Ten Miler!

Dean – @deanlu1 – 15 miles on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Maureen Mackenzie – @memobe – Valley Harvest Marathon in Nova Scotia

Dana Flosi – @pixiedustgirl79 – Chicago Marathon!!

Ani – @goldylocks_a – running 10K Ashford, Kent.

Tim McWilliams – @timw95 – running the Portland Marathon in the rain.

Casey – @caseycanrun – Anthem Great Pumpkin 5K in Reston, VA

Ryan Price – @PTwebprofits – Regent Park, London!

Joseph House – @House_0911 – running Chicago Marathon

Susan Eastman – @FITchatblogger – Running at least 7-8 miles Saturday in Centerville MA area; kayaking on Sunday

Jamie Bodner – @PinnacleGym – running trails at Kennesaw Mtn, in Kennesaw GA lots of deer to spot and b-e-a-utiful weather!

Alexa B. Hüni – @maxcima – Running my first marathon in Munich on Sunday!!!

Leanne Burgess – @LeanneBurgess24 – Running on Sunday….. Liverpool Marathon !!

Affinity Home Design – @REMODELING_PDX – running the Portland marathon on Sunday.

Romana DL – @Romana40 – 10K race in Sant Andreu de la Barca #Barcelona #Spainhoping reach category podium W40-45 🙂

Frank S. – @WCPrairieBoy – the @VictoriaMarathn Sunday Oct. 9th

Seven Races – @7races42011 – last fast run on Sunday before the STWM on 16th! Resting & relaxing next week.

Lourdes Hagar – @lulihagar – #chicagomarathon

Mike Stout – @mikebstout – Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita, KS!!!

Julie – @ROJRunning – Jack O Lantern Jog 5K. The best race in Akron, OH all year!

Robyn Wilson – @bobbiwilson – the chicago marathon!

GA Running Club – @GARunningClub – 10 for Texas (The Woodlands, TX) on Saturday!

Jessie O. – @AdkRunner – Windsor Vt for the @harpoon_brewery Oktober festival!

Lisa Gonzales – @runlikeacoyote – I’m hoping I’ll be able to run this weekend. If I do, it’ll just be in the neighborhood. Crossing my fingers.

Houston marathoner Suzy Seely recently became the second woman to run a sub-4 hour marathon in all 50 states.

She finished the Casper Marathon in Wyoming to reach 50 states but had to go back to New York to run a sub-4 hour marathon there to reach the historic milestone.  Seely had run and finished the ING New York City Marathon there back in 1997 but it took her over 4 hours. She ran the marathon that day with her daughter.

How she became interested in running a marathon in all 50 United States:

Seeley, who was named an “outstanding marathoner” in 2005 by marathonguide.com, has now run 161 marathons. She undertook the 50-state effort at the urging of Steve and Paula Boone, the Humble couple who founded the 50 States Marathon Club (website). But it wasn’t until Seeley had completed more than 30 that she started to take it seriously.

So on Sunday, Suzy ran the Wineglass Marathon in Corning, NY in 3:22:16 to reach the sub-4 hour, 50 state feat.

Suzy is now part of the prestigious 50Sub4 Marathon Club (website).

Seely’s PR is a 3:14:52 at the 2006 Austin Marathon.

Congrats to Suzy on an amazing accomplishment.

Read More on Suzy Seely

[hat tip to Chuck Engle]

Elite marathoner and devout Christian Ryan Hall is nude as can be in ESPN’s 2011 ‘Bodies We Want‘ issue.

In the photo, Hall is seen running nude through the woods while displaying his perfect form that led to his fastest U.S. marathon time ever at the 2011 Boston Marathon.

The issue often ruffles up feathers and creates controversy for the athletes included in the spreads.

I have to admit that Hall is one of the last athletes I expected to see baring all for the camera in the 2011 edition.

You can view Hall’s perfect naked running form through the woods HERE at ESPN (SFW).

You can view all of the 2011 ‘Bodies We Want’ photo spreads HERE at ESPN.

Other athletes including in the ‘Body Issue’ include: Hope Solo, Blake Griffin, Jose Reyes, Alicia Sacramone, Steven Jackson, Gretchen Bleiler, Zera Zvonareva, Belen Mozo, Sylvia Fowles, Natasha Hastings, Julie Chu, Jon Jones, Apolo Anton Ohno, Sergio Martinez, Ryan Kesler, Stephanie Gilmore, Jeremy Campbell, Suzy Hotrod, Kelly Kulick, Louie Vito, and Helio Castroneves.

Here is a well done video about the Mountain Mist 50K trail ultramarathon that takes place in Huntsville, Alabama.

The MM50K is advertised as ‘Alabama’s Toughest Trail Run!’

The next edition takes place on January 28, 2012.

Registration opened on Oct 1st and over 300 people have already signed up.  At the time of this posting just 37 spots remain available.

Mountain Mist 50K Trail Website

Mountain Mist 50K Registration via Ultra Signup

Singer David Cook, who won the 7th season of the reality singing contest American Idol, has announced that he plans to run the 2012 Los Angeles Marathon.

David is running to raise money for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC²).  Cook lost his brother Adam to brain cancer back in 2009 at the age of 37-years old after a 11-year battle with the disease.

You can DONATE to his cause HERE!

The 27th L.A. Marathon will take place on March 18, 2012.

Los Angeles Marathon Website

Here is the extremely impressive finisher’s medal from the 2011 Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon (website) that took place in Winchester, Tennessee on October 1, 2011.

This piece of hardware is massive, thick, and so gangsta that I’ve had four West Coast rappers contact me about purchasing it.  One went as far as to offer his ’68 Caddy and catalog of 13 unpublished 2Pac recordings.

2011 Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Results

Photos Below Show the Impressive Size of this STP Bling

[STP Bling images by Joshua Holmes. You can follow him on Twitter @bayou]

The 2nd Annual Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon took place earlier today in Winchester, Tennessee.

It was chilly at the start and windy throughout, but the race conditions overall were great.

2011 Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon Finisher’s Medal (Perhaps the best of 2011!)

Here is a look at the top male and female finishers from the full and half marathon events:

Top Male STP Marathon Finishers

1. Matthew Lawhern (Seymour, TN) – 2:53:02
2. Jeff Mires (Greenville, IN) – 2:57:52
3. Josh Hite (Cookeville, TN) – 3:02:08
4. Michael Bennett (Locust Grove, GA) – 3:08:21
5. Bill Menees (Madison, TN) – 3:31:06
6. Christopher Rayder (Collierville, TN) – 3:32:20
7. Tony King (Athens, AL) – 3:34:13
8. Christopher Leburn (Columbus, MS) – 3:35:12
9. Franklin Margaritha (Willemstad) – 3:35:16
10. Joshua Holmes (Jackson, TN) – 3:40:15

Top Female STP Marathon Finishers

1. Charlene Kevin (Oxford, MS) – 3:33:09
2. Kerrie Sijon (Greer, SC) – 3:37:26
3. Malinda Honkus (Knoxville, TN) – 3:41:17
4. Susanna Rains (Athens, GA) – 3:51:43
5. Jane Reneau (Madison, AL) – 4:03:17
6. Pamela Hall (Madison, GA) – 4:04:42
7. Kerry Demler (Tanner, AL) – 4:06:42
8. Chelita McBurney (Clarksville, TN) – 4:11:00
9. Heather Shoemaker (Alpharetta, GA) – 4:11:09
10. Donna Thackwray (Morganton, NC) – 4:29:36

View List of All Marathon Finishing Times

Top Male STP Half Marathon Finishers

1. Brad Chronister (Tullahoma, TN) – 1:15:49
2. Eric Charette (Huntsville, AL) – 1:16:26
3. Rodney Walker (Ooltewah, TN) – 1:30:01
4. Lee Golden (Murfreesboro, TN) – 1:31:14
5. Sean Donahue (Winchester, TN) – 1:36:56
6. Ben Boggess (Elora, TN) – 1:37:08
7. Brian Wooldridge (Franklin, TN) – 1:38:29
8. Dean Bentley (New Market, AL) – 1:40:13
9. Terry Quillen (Tullahoma, TN) – 1:40:44
10. Steve Blume (Brentwood, TN) – 1:40:55

Top Female STP Half Marathon Finishers

1. Chelsey Morris (Decherd, TN) – 1:37:36
2. Mary Doman (Washington, D.C.) – 1:39:09
3. Lisa Logan (Ringgold, GA) – 1:39:26
4. Racheal Mason (White House, TN) – 1:39:36
5. Samantha Wyatt (Decatur, AL) – 1:39:51
6. Victoria Youngblood (Nashville, TN) – 1:40:45
7. Michelle Hawkersmith (Winchester, TN) – 1:43:27
8. Kari George (Nashville, TN) – 1:43:29
9. Angel Stroop (Estill Springs, TN) – 1:44:34
10. Amanda Clifton (Shelbyville, TN)  – 1:47:00

View List of All 1/2 Marathon Finishing Times

Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Website

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 32 of you responded!

Where You Are Running This Weekend:

Joshua Holmes – @bayou – Southern TN Plunge Marathon in Winchester, TN

Rocio Martinez – @rociomartinezg – the next! 9.10 the international marathon in buenos aires! Good luck everybody!

Mari Hansen – @MariHansen – don’t know but it will finally be OUTSIDE!!! Can’t wait!

Kevin Leathers – @kevinleathers – Tour d’Esprit 24 Hour Run!

Adam Trausch – @atrausch – Warrior Invite!

Sylvia Jiminez – @sylchichi – 8k race against breast cancer

Casey – @VivaRunVegas – I’ll be supporting my husband who is racing the St George Marathon. I didn’t get picked on the lotto for the 2nd time!

Nicholas Flom – @nflom09 – Twin Cities Marathon

Nancy Waggoner – @nlwdreamer – Devil Mountain 50 mile in Pagosa Springs, CO.

Alen Zelenika – @alenAdepto – Nike We Run Zagreb @jarun, Zagreb, Croatia

Veronica – @duncandesign – Probably on & around the #BostonMarathon route from Newton to Boston!

Larae – @LaraeTX – I’m running in Belton, Tx at the UMHB Cru 5K Sat Oct 1

Bill – @billrbrown – Twin Cities 10K!!

JKL – @JamieKL – Manhattan Beach 10k!

Jeremy Holley – @jeremy_ms – I’m running the Corinth Rotary 5K on Saturday in Corinth, MS. My first race since June 4.

Kevin Wiens – @kwiens4 – I’m running in Calgary XC trail race on Saturday (includes 2 river crossings). Should be great

Naomi Pipes – @NaomiPipes – #SusanGKomen #RacefortheCure 5K in Houston.

Andrew McGuire – @WTGWTG1911 – racing the beautiful Bridge to bridge event in San Francisco on Sunday

Jamie Yardley – @yadman00 – running in Great Edinburgh Run on Sunday

Lisa Trevino – @malzabarea – Odessa, TX

Heather Weins – @Runsforfood – The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday.

Kristine K. McGilvray – @kkolzing – I’ll be running my last “long” run (easy 10 miler) before #ChiMarathon next weekend! #chicagomarathon

Miriam Ferrari – @admiradora – This wk I`m running in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, over the 32th Street.

Patrick McGilvray – @patrick_mcg – 10-miler this Sunday. Last significant run before #ChiMarathon!

Dean – @deanlu1 – Long run – Rehoboth Beach, DE !!!

Ashley Hart – @World_to_Dust – 16 miles along the Erie Canal bike path

JJ Frankleman – @jjfrankelman – 12 miler to prepare for my Oct. 29th half marathon!

Meyer – @florencemeyer – running 10km in Paris for #odyssea with 9 colleagues!

Laurie – @LZalac – 18 mile training run in Savannah!

Wrytersview – @wrytersview – First run in new neighborhood. Be making up my route as I go.

Jordan Lee – @JoJo_runnr – running @STG_Marathon by this time tomorrow I will have my BQ!!

Scott Stader – @ScottStader – how bout the Stader double! Shelby Bottoms 15k in Nash on Sat and Music City Half on Sun – also in Nashvegas

Shoe company Reebok International Ltd. has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission for misleading advertising and claims.

The company will give refunds to customers who bought the RunTone running shoes($80-100/pair), EasyTone running shoes, and EasyTone flip flops ($60/pair).

The FTC found that Reebok couldn’t back up the claims they were making about the shoes (and flops):

The FTC said ads for the shoes claimed that a special technology in the sole featured pockets of moving air that created “micro instability” that toned and strengthened muscles as a person walked or ran.

In ads that began appearing in 2009, Reebok said walking in the shoes had been proved to provide 28% more strength and tone in the buttock muscles compared with regular walking shoes, 11% more in the hamstring muscles and 11% more in the calf muscles, the FTC said.

The agency’s investigation found Reebok was unable to back up those claims, Vladeck said.

Customers can apply for a refund on the FTC website. The size of the refund will depend upon how many apply for it.  So if you are the only one to apply for it then you won the lottery. 😉

Reebok has agreed to the settlement but stands by it’s product and will continue to produce it:

“Settling does not mean we agree with the FTC’s allegations; we do not,” Reebok said. “We have received overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from thousands of EasyTone customers, and we remain committed to the further development of our EasyTone line of products.”

Reebok can’t make any more health claims about the shoes unless they can back it up with scientific data.

Where was the FTC back in the 80’s and 90’s when Nike was claiming that it’s Air Jordan and various Air models would help Joe White-boy be able to jump 5-feet off the ground and be able to dunk?

What do you think? Did you ever own or try out the Reebok RunTone running shoes?