Run It Fast®

This is the medal the finishers of the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon received on March 3, 2013 in Silverstone, United Kingdom.

The race takes place at the Silverstone motor racing circuit. Very cool they have the map on the back of the medal.

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[Medal photo submitted by Martyn Ewers.  Follow him on Twitter @martyngringo]

This is the medal for the Inaugural Asheville Marathon that was held on March 3, 2013 in Asheville, North Carolina.

Not only did the runners receive this wood medal but they also received a commemorative wine label for running this very cold and windy marathon around and through the beautiful Biltmore  House and estate.

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[Medal photo submitted by Elizabeth Sager.  Follow her  on Twitter @Liz_triathlete]

This is the medal the half marathon finisher’s received at the Semi Marathon De Paris that was held on March 3, 2013 in Paris, France.

Another interestingly shaped medal with some bold colors. I like it. And I like the trend of not just doing round medals.

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[Medal photo submitted by Runners Knees.  Follow on Twitter @RunnersKnees]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Tune Up Condesa 10 Mile that was held on March 3, 2013 in Mexico City, Mexico.

I like this medal. Interesting shape!

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[Medal photo submitted by Hector Ramirez.  Follow him on Twitter @HECTORRAMIREZDO]

This is the medal for the Hustle Up The Hancock which took place on February 24, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.

Runners received this for running up 94 floors to the top of the John Hancock Tower! Wow!

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[Medal photo submitted by constancegail.  Follow her on Twitter @constancegail]

This is the medal the finishers of the Woodlands Half Marathon received on March 2, 2013 in The Woodlands, Texas.

Unique and colorful medal!

[Medal photo submitted by RIF #48 Stephen G. Follow him on Twitter @stepheng73]

The Run It Staggs!

It’s a new year and a new chance for the Run It Fast – The Club members to race their legs off! They are off to a great start in 2013. 37 Club members submitted points and/or monthly miles in January (only points count in the standings so only 30 Club members are listed below)

2 familiar names are in the top 3 but…what’s this? We have a new contender in the mix! RIF #159 Diane Bolton is in the lead with 196.8 points, followed closely by RIF #186 Danny Staggs with 152.4 points in second, and RIF #190 John Kent Leighton in 3rd with 114.4 points.!

On the Men’s Leaderboard, Danny is in 1st, followed by John in 2nd, and RIF #1 Joshua Holmes in 3rd with 67.3 points.

On the Women’s Leaderboard, Diane is in 1st, followed by RIF #44 Heather Shoemaker in 2nd with 94.6 points, and RIF #220 Sandy Staggs in 3rd with 83.4 points.

Here are the full standings:

Top Ten Overall
1.   Diane Bolton – 196.8  (RIF #159)
2.   Danny Staggs – 152.4  (RIF #186)
3.   John Kent Leighton – 114.4  (RIF #190)
4.   Heather Shoemaker – 94.6  (RIF #44)
5.   Sandy Staggs – 83.4  (RIF #220)
6.   Carol Goslin – 71.7  (RIF #218)
7.   Joshua Holmes – 67.3  (RIF #1)
8.   Leigh Marsh – 61.7  (RIF #192)
9.   Laura Raeder – 52.4  (RIF #20)
10.   Rodrigo Jiménez – 51.31  (RIF #203)

Men’s Leaderboard
1.   Danny Staggs – 152.4  (RIF #186)
2.   John Kent Leighton – 114.4  (RIF #190)
3.   Joshua Holmes – 67.3  (RIF #1)
4.   Rodrigo Jiménez – 51.31  (RIF #203)
5.   Nicholas Norfolk – 48  (RIF #116)
6.   Mark Watson – 31  (RIF #173)
7.   Stewart Crouch – 29.3  (RIF #89)
8.   Chris Haynes – 26.2  (RIF #223)
9.   Nikiah Nudell – 26.2  (RIF #234)
10.   Josh Liggett – 16.2  (RIF #147)
11.   Kevin Brandon – 13.1  (RIF #214)
12.   Dennis Arriaga – 13.1  (RIF #140)
13.   Austin Coates – 13.1  (RIF #241)
14.   Billy Cannon – 10  (RIF #169)
15.   Anthony Ohrey – 10  (RIF #27)
16.   Kevin Ronayne – 5  (RIF #11)

Women’s Leaderboard
1.   Diane Bolton – 196.8  (RIF #159)
2.   Heather Shoemaker – 94.6  (RIF #44)
3.   Sandy Staggs – 83.4  (RIF #220)
4.   Carol Goslin – 71.7  (RIF #218)
5.   Leigh Marsh – 61.7  (RIF #192)
6.   Laura Raeder – 52.4  (RIF #20)
7.   Jennifer Whitley – 46  (RIF #160)
8.   Christy Scott – 40.3  (RIF #231)
9.   Lisa Gonzales – 32.86  (RIF #5)
10.   Alicia Eno – 29.3  (RIF #126)
11.   Marj Mitchell – 23.1  (RIF #4)
12.   Amanda Staggs – 13.1  (RIF #210)
13.   Jennifer Wood – 13.1  (RIF #243)
14.   Beth Hosick – 11.2  (RIF #219)

This year, we are going to be randomly selecting one club member each month who submitted points for that month for a little prize. The January winner is RIF #210 Amanda Staggs!

Details on joining Run It Fast – The Club

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

[photo from Amanda Staggs]

RIF #12 Kevin Leathers

This week’s RIF Club profile is Kevin Leathers #12. Kevin is not only a runner but also a coach and has a wealth of information to share. He doesn’t just practice what he preaches though. He has run over 20 marathons including Boston, NYC, Chicago, Disney,  and St. Jude and he has also been doing triathlons for over 28 years!

Check out Kevin’s profile:

INFO

Name: Kevin Leathers
RIF #: 12
Blog: www.CantStopEndurance.com
Twitter: @kevinleathers
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CantStopEndurance

STATS

Years Running: 34 years
Favorite Race Distance: This is an evolving favorite. In high school it was the mile. Now? The longer the better. All time fave? Marathon.
Favorite PR: St Jude Marathon 3:15:31
Favorite Race: Boston Marathon
Favorite Bling: A tie: Boston Marathon/ Ironman Finishers medal
Next Races: 3/2 Mississippi Trail 50 Miler, 3/17 Germantown Half Marathon, 3/31 Darwin Ultra, August: Leadville 100
What Makes You FEEL Fast?: Getting in the groove and flying though a track workout on target with that effortless flow.

FUN RUNNING QUESTIONS

Why did you start running?
I started running in high school cross country and was immediately hooked. It became a big part of my identity. We don’t run as a hobby or activity… we become runners. I’m still amused when people ask “do you still run?” Of course I do! It seems like the silliest question.

Who inspires your running and why?
The athletes I coach inspire me to be a better runner. In an effort to “walk the walk”, I have to race and train smart. Seeing runners of all shapes, sizes and talent push themselves and achieve their goals is amazing. I crave the magical feeling of reaching that finish line and hitting my goals. To be able to help others achieve that feeling… is very gratifying.

What’s the most beautiful place that you’ve run?
The Rocky Mountains. The high altitude trails around Leadville CO, the Colorado Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, Hope Pass… all simply breathtaking.

Which of your running routes makes you the happiest and why?
We are lucky in Memphis to have the Wolf River Trails and Shelby Farms with miles of singletrack, jeep road and paved greenways. I have been running some of those trails for 33 years. My best high school cross country races were in that park. I feel very at home and comforted on those trails.

What is your favorite go-to pre-race meal?
Plain pasta, red sauce, grilled chicken. Plain, simple. I don’t like to feel stuffed the night before.

What is the thing you splurge on after a race?
A cheeseburger and fries or a giant pizza!

How many pairs of running shoes do you have and which pair are your favorites?
I have a real “shoe problem” like many runners. I get great support from my local store sponsor, Breakaway Running, in addition to receiving shoes from various shoe companies to test and review. So maybe 30+? But I am currently rotating through the Hoka Stinson Evo & Hoka Bondi B for long runs and Brooks Pure Cadence for speedwork.

Why do you race?
The “test of self”. I love putting myself to the test and seeing if I have what it takes mentally and physically on race day. Whether its a 5K or a 100 miler, I get the opportunity too find out exactly what I am made of. The competitive side of racing is fun and exciting, but it really boils down to beating the voices in my head telling me to slow down or quit, and achieving my personal goals.

What was your biggest “don’t” of a race?
The biggest mistake runners make, including me, is going out too fast. This applies to every distance. There is a painful, directly proportionate price to be paid for starting out to fast.

What’s your pre-race routine?
Everything laid out/ packed the night before to reduce stress. Light breakfast, rice cake with peanut butter, banana and coffee. Always coffee.

What running moment are you most proud of?
Another tie: My marathon PR because there is such discipline, consistency and a bit of luck required to complete a marathon build injury-free. And then on race day you have to execute the plan physically and mentally. Finishing Leadville 100, but missing the belt buckle by 5 minutes. I learned a lot about myself during that 30 hours. The biggest lesson: never give up. And yes, I am going back for my buckle this year.

If you can’t run, you’re ________?
grumpy

By the way, Kevin is a Road Runners Club of America – Certified Running Coach and he coaches runners from beginners going for their first 5K to advanced runners. He also does coaching for charity teams as well:
Team McGraw – National Coach – training runners for events across the country who are raising funds for the Tug McGraw Foundation (TMF).
St. Jude Heroes – National Coach – coaches runners who combine their pursuit of a personal challenge with fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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You can check out more info about Kevin at his website or Facebook page listed at the top of his profile. I always enjoy reading his blog posts about his races because he goes into detail about what went right and what didn’t. It’s interesting to see his side of it since he’s a coach as well as a runner. But I had no idea he was harboring such a big “shoe problem” or that he is grumpy when he doesn’t run! I guess we can forgive him for these quirks considering all the great work he does with his coaching, especially the charity coaching, right? 🙂

Thanks for sharing Kevin and good luck at the Mississippi Trail 50! Run It Fast!

If you’d like to join Run It Fast – The Club or would like more information about it, please click this link:

Run It Fast – The Club (JOIN TODAY)

[All photos submitted by Kevin Leathers, Naresh Kumar, and Joshua Holmes]

This is the super sweet bling the finisher of the Women’s Half Marathon received on February 24, 2013 in San Diego, California.

This is a really pretty, shiny medal. They put a lot of thought into it and it has great detail! Love it!

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #105 Kathy Shirley, follow her on Instagram @ipoddess]

This is the medal the finishers of the half marathon received at the Meia Maratona Caixa Das Pontes that was held on February 24, 2013 in Pontao do Lago Sul, Brazil.

Very cool shoe shaped medal! You’d think there would be more of those for races. Love the tread on the back of the medal.

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[Medal photos submitted by Lilian Campos Soares, follow her on Instagram @liliancs74]