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]

Marathoners cast in metal run through Stockholm

Marathoners were streaming into the west side of the stadium. They would run a partial lap around the track before ending their 26.2-mile journey at the finish line I’d just crossed.
I wanted to have one last look. I glanced back down the track at the finish line fifty yards behind me, up at the expectant faces looking down from the stands. The people in those stands in 1912 had watched Jim Thorpe win two Olympic gold medals—later stripped from him for having played two seasons of semi-professional baseball. The decision was controversial and the medals were restored after his death.
I turned to walk through the archway. On the wall high above, a staff held out the Swedish colors, a yellow cross on a sky-blue background. The flag whipped and snapped in the wind.
I ambled through the archway, clutching my plastic blanket and finisher’s medal. On this June day the Stockholm Marathon had for me already become history, my 3:26:44 finish converted to mere blips on a computer disk. I was dismayed at what had happened. Once again the awful distance had declared its mystery, sprung its trap.
My legs hurt.
I walked a short ways to a soccer field and stopped in front of a blue-eyed blond girl, exemplar of Scandinavian beauty. She looked up and, noticing the tiny American flag printed on the corner of my bib, spoke in perfect idiom:
“Did you run good?”
“I did the best I could.”
“That’s the best!”
Then she went to work with her knife, reclaiming the timing chip.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had just 11 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (Feb 9-10, 2013)

Storified by Joshua Holmes· Fri, Feb 08 2013 10:03:08

RIF #173 Mark Watson

This week’s Run It Fast – The Club profile is Mark Watson #173. Mark has been running only a year and has already completed 4 marathons and 4 ultras and has one heck of a February planned! Check it out!

Meet Mark:

INFO

Name: Mark Watson
RIF #: 173
Twitter: @counselor_89    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/counselor.mark

STATS

Years Running: 1 year  (this time).  I have run in past but have a passion long distance running this time. I have always been active whether it be biking and/or gym.  
Favorite Race Distance: marathon/ 50k
Favorite PR: Trail of Fears 43 miles (10 loops)
Favorite Race: Chattanooga 7 Bridges marathon (grew up there so it was great to run in my hometown with old friends)
Favorite Bling: Mtn Mist 50k, hand painted stone plaque
Next Race:  Jackass 50k, Mercedes Marathon, New Orleans Marathon (3 weekends back to back to back).  Going to be a true test of my endurance but looking forward to it !

FUN RUNNING QUESTIONS

Why did you start running?
I joined a gym in Jackson TN in May of 2011.  In Feb 2012 some guys at the gym invited me to run in a 5k (Shamrock Shuffle at JCS).  I did it in 28:40.  A few weeks later I was asked if I wanted to run a half marathon (AJM) and ran it in 2:12.  Been hooked on distance running ever since! And I haven’t ran a ½ marathon since either.  My first marathon was 8/5/12 (Blister in the Sun in Cookeville TN). That is when I first met Josh (RIF #1) and some other RIF members. I really didn’t “plan” on getting into running like I did.  But I am definitely “all in” now.

Who inspires your running and why?
Arthur Priddy (RIF #179) and Billy Cannon (RIF #169) are who I typically run with and the camaraderie is inspiring.  Also my daughters inspire me.  They are 16 and 17 years old.  I have had them since their mother and I split up in 2001 and for the most part been a single father the whole time.  They are my biggest fans.

What is the strangest/funniest thing you’ve ever seen while running? 
I was running at night and the only light was my head lamp.  I heard hoof sounds and then suddenly saw about 8 deer right in front of me !  I scared them and they ran in all different directions (at least it sounded like they ran in all different directions). Then one brushed against me as it ran by and scared me to death !  It is funny now but at the time it was scary. Hence, the nickname “Hirsch” (German for deer).

What’s the most beautiful place that you’ve run?
Trails near Seattle, WA. Also Colorado National Monument Park (near Grand Junction).  The trails in WA were beautiful!  Ferns everywhere, huge trees all around, beautiful greenery.  Colorado was simply majestic.  The high desert mountains (although very cold) were an awesome site.

Which of your running routes makes you the happiest and why?
My favorite route in Jackson, TN are the trails at Union University.  I enjoy trail running much more than road running.  I love being out in nature away from the traffic and loudness.  I wish we had more options in this area as far as trails to run on. It definitely would have helped  get in better shape for Mtn Mist 50k !  It is pretty flat here and the long hill climbs at Mtn Mist were something I was not prepared for ! I grew up in Chattanooga, TN and was very active in the outdoors and athletically growing up.  Wish we had trails like that in West TN (of course that is impossible).

Why do you race?
I race to push myself and get faster/ stronger.  I race because there is no better feeling than knowing you left it all out there on the course.  I race for the rush it gives me and the exhilaration is like a drug to me.

Big races or small races? And why?
Large races are my least favorite because of all the people at the starting line and it is hard to get in position and get on pace initially. But I like larger races because there are so many people hanging around afterwards.  Small races are awesome especially if in my local area because I typically know so many of the entrants and the social aspect is fun.

What was your biggest “don’t” of a race?
Don’t start out too fast ! I have been guilty of this on numerous occasions.  St Jude marathon was where this cost me the most.  I went out thinking I could improve my PR by 25 min. Instead I was over my PR by 25 min by the time I finished.

What running moment are you most proud of? 
Finishing Mtn Mist 50k on 1/26/13  (by far the hardest course I have ever ran!).  There were miles of uphill climbs, even a cliff climb.  There were big rock, little rocks, lots of mud and the trail was pretty treacherous most of the way. As much as I was cussing the course, I WILL do it again next year !

Finally, Mark had this to share:
Finding this group has been inspiring to me and it has definitely helped me push myself further than I imagined I could.  Reading posts on Facebook and on twitter from RIF members is beneficial.  Also the support I receive on my posts on Facebook and twitter are awesome! There are RIF members that I have actually never met in person that offer support as if we were face to face.  No better feeling than knowing your efforts are being cheered on by others.

I went from running a 5k to a marathon in 5 months.  I have done 4 marathons, 4 ultras, and numerous 5k and 10k’s. I am registered for 2 marathons and 1 ultra in February.  I plan on doing Savage Gulf trail marathon in March.  I would do at least 2 marathons or ultras a month if I had the money! One of my goals this year is to finish a 50 mile race. I simply love running and can’t wait to see what the rest of this year holds. Yes, I am hooked and I am loving every minute of it !

***

Congrats to Mark for coming such a long way in such a short time! For sure what he said about having a group of supportive runners around helps make it easier to go farther and faster. Finding a group to encourage you and push you can make all the difference, not to mention it’s fun hanging out with other runners who speak your language. 🙂 Not everyone needs to have a group to push themselves but running can be such a solitary sport that it’s sometimes nice to share a run or two with other people. For those of us who can’t make group runs because of time/scheduling conflicts, the great news is that you can get that same kind of support from on-line running friends thru Twitter, Facebook and clubs like Run It Fast. Like Mark said, you may not have met in person…yet…but the support and cheers are awesome!

Thank you for sharing Mark! Good luck with the Jackson Jackass 50K this weekend and your marathons too!

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 Mark Watson and Joshua Holmes]

Here is a compilation of twenty very different and diverse runners that you should be following on Instagram. They are runners of all levels from all over the world. They all have very lively Instagram feeds and are worth a follow.

If you have someone you believe we should have included then drop a comment below with your suggestion and we’ll check them out.

1. Steve Clemons (@vo2_max)

Trail runner and adventurer living in paradise (Hawaii) and sharing his world and his travels with his family through envy inducing photos.

2. Melissa Middleton (@melissamiddleton)

Talented ultramarathoner who always has her iPhone in it’s holster and ready to capture that perfect nature shot during one of her intense ultramarathons.

3. Joshua Holmes (@joshuaholmes)

Extreme ultrarunner and founder of Runitfast.com that Instagrams frequent photos of his training, racing, children, friends, travels and interesting people he meets from across the globe.

4. Catra Corbett (@dirtdiva33)

Hot body, extreme-inked runner whose Instragrams are as fun and colorful as her skin and adventures.

5. Scott Jurek (@scottjurek)

One of the greatest ultramarathons of all-time. He uploads beautiful photos of his mountain runs and food, but Scott doesn’t Instragram all that much. Just 106 photos in the past 56 weeks.

6. Ashley Ringo Walsh (@ashruns100s)

Many beautiful photos of the unique and scenic places that Ashley runs in the deep South. She Instragrams a lot and rarely disappoints with her steady stream of uploads.

7. Carlos Henrique Silva (@carlossilva07)

International runner from San Paulo, Brazil. His photos show a lot of life, fun, run, and beautiful sights from his native Brazil.

8. Cecilia Santos (@ceci_run)

Inked Puerto Rican ultramarathoner from North Georgia that runs challenging races, lives a diverse life, and has the coolest ‘ULTRA’ tattoo on the planet.

9. Andy Baldwin (@drandybaldwin)

Dr. Andy from ‘The Bachelor’ fame shows he’s not just a pretty face but very serious about charity, health, being fit, and endurance sports in his Instagram photos.

10. Norma Bastidas (@ultrarunwild)

Accomplished ultramarathoner who posts tons of inspirational message-grams mixed with some training and race photos.

11. Gary Robbins (@garyrobbins)

Canadian ultramarathoner who is a multiple winner of the extremely tough HURT 100 ultramarathon in Honolulu. Beautiful photos from snow-capped mountains to tropical beaches can be found in his feed.

12. Leigh Marsh (@msprincessleigh)

Disney princess masquerading as a runner. Leigh’s photos are fun and filled with lots of bling and tiaras. Guaranteed to make you smile when you see how happy she is running.

13. Ian Sharman (@sharmanian)

Super speedy (sometimes costumed) marathoner and ultra runner sharing fun pics of running, costumes, travels, his pups, and beer & food.

14. Lisa Gonzales (@runlikeacoyote)

RIF #5 and regular contributor to Run It Fast who races often and posts amazing photos from all over Southern California. Easily the most skilled photographer on this list.

15. Josh Cox (@josh_cox)

An elite marathoner with an eclectic mix of Instagrams that are all over the map with no real pattern or recognizable rhythm, but that will suck you in and have you hitting that like/heart button on the next one of his that pops up.

16. Pavement Runner (@pavementrunner)

Bay Area runner sharing sights, music, and motivations as he runs this year (2013 miles in 2013) in and around San Francisco, CA.

17. Naresh Kumar (@iamarunr)

A combination of the adventure of Indiana Jones, mixed with the heart of Gandhi, combined with the daring antics of Evil Knievel and his Instragrams reflect just that.

18. Colin Cooley (@runwicked)

Wicked SoCal boy with a lot of sun, surf, run, and fun pics.

19. XPlantRunner (@xplantrunner)

Runner with a heart transplant who is using his second chance to do a little trail running and share his adventures on the trails around England’s Lake District.

20. Krissy Moehl (@krissymoehl)

Ultra runner and race director who shares lots of trail and race pics that make you want to sign up for a race immediately!

You can follow Run It Fast on Instagram @RunItFast to see photos of runners we admire, Run It Fast-Club members, and repost of the best running photos we come across.

We also feature other runners on Instagram on our feed, who tag their running photos with the hash tag #runitfast, to help us find their photos.

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had just 13 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (Feb 2-3, 2013)

Storified by Joshua Holmes· Fri, Feb 01 2013 11:16:16

Claire Squires died during the last miles of last year’s London Marathon to the shock of many. She was just 30 years old. Now we know that she had a banned stimulant in her water bottle that might have contributed to her death.

Her boyfriend, Simon Van Herrewege, said that Squires started the race carrying a water bottle with a powder called Jack3d. The powder is one of many commercially available powders that contain methylhexanamine, which is commonly known as DMAA. DMAA was initially used as an ingredient in nasal decongestants, but is most often marketed as an energy-boosting stimulant.

Read more HERE at Runner’s World.

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had just 25 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (Jan 26-27, 2013)

Storified by Joshua Holmes· Fri, Jan 25 2013 10:54:22

This week’s Run It Fast – The Club Profile is #89 Stewart Crouch. Stewart is not only speedy but he has a LOT of self control. You’ll have to check out Stewart’s profile to see what I mean. Ha! 🙂

Meet Stewart

INFO

Name: Stewart Crouch
RIF #: 89
Twitter: @swcrunner
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ANGrunner

STATS

Years Running:    35
Favorite Race Distance:  Half Marathon
Favorite PR: 5K 
Favorite Race:    Houston Marathon / Half Marathon
Favorite Bling:    Boston Marathon
Next Race: Boston Marathon
What Makes You FEEL Fast?:   When I can hang with the young pups! : )

FUN RUNNING QUESTIONS

Why did you start running? 
Because I wasn’t growing fast enough to play football.

Who inspires your running and why?
Everyone,  People that I know set goals for themselves and I see them go through the ups and downs of training.   Seeing them accomplish their goals makes me want to push myself even harder and set new goals for myself.

If you could go for a run with any famous person (living or dead), who would it be and why?
Sebastian Coe – He was my high school inspiration.

What is your favorite go-to pre-race meal?
Night before I eat Spaghetti and in the morning before a race a banana and oatmeal.

What is the thing you splurge on after a race?
Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream – From the little creamery in Brenham, Texas.

How many pairs of running shoes do you have and which pair are your favorites? 
10 pairs of shoes, 4 still in the box.  My favorite shoe is Saucony Fastwitch 4.

Why do you race?
I like to race to see where I stack up with other runners and I love to compete.

Big races or small races? And why?
Both – I like to do big 5K/10K races because there is more competition  and makes you push yourself harder.

With his kids and Robin (on his right) at a 5K

What was your biggest “don’t” of a race?
Don’t go out too fast.

What running moment are you most proud of? 
The first moment was in high school when  I broke the mile record that had been standing for over 10 years.  Recently, it was being able to run 51 miles in the Trail of Fears which is my longest run to date.

At the Houston Half Marathon

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I cannot believe he has four brand new pairs of shoes and they are still in the box! No way could I do that. I don’t have the self control for that! 😉 Seriously though…I think it was interesting that Stewart started running because he couldn’t play football yet he’s been running for 35 years. He obviously found out he was good at it and he must enjoy it, right? It’s kind of funny how things work out that way. You can apply that to running itself. Maybe you are good at sprinting because you are Bolt fast (I wish!). Or maybe you excel at long distances because you have great endurance. Or maybe your running “thing” is trails or cross country because you’re fearless. There are so many options we have with running that we can continue to grow and not be bored for decades. If you aren’t having fun or you’re in a rut with your running, try something else. You never know what hidden talents you might have. I’m glad Stewart found out running was one of his talents!

Thank you for sharing Stewart! Good luck at Boston! 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 Stewart Crouch]