Run It Fast®

Huntsville’s Blake Thompson won the 34th Strolling Jim 40 Miler on May 6, 2012 with a winning time of 5:17:29 for the 41.2 mile course.

Thompson’s time was the slowest winning time in race history according to Race Director Mike Melton.  This was due in large part to the high temperatures and humidity that took a toll on all of the runners throughout the grueling hills of Wartrace, Tennessee.

Second place went to Strolling Jim veteran Dink Taylor (5:29:01) who has run 24+ Jims.  Third place went to ‘Bruce’ Sung Ho Choi (5:33:21) of Jacksonville, Florida.

Top overall female went to Huntsville native Kathy Youngren with a time of 6:04:35.

Second place female was Beth McCurdy (6:33:01) with third place female going to Kim Nosenchuk-Brooks (6:46:57).

Top 34th Strolling Jim Finishers

1. Blake Thompson – 5:17:29
2. Dink Taylor – 5:29:01
3. ‘Bruce’ Sung Ho Choi – 5:33:21
4. David Jones – 5:36:22
5. Tom Dolan – 5:48:59
6. Andy Bruner – 5:56:33
7. Kathy Youngren – 6:04:35 (F)
8. Christopher Cadotte – 6:10:11
9. Timothy Pitts – 6:11:19
10. Dwayne Satterfield – 6:14:00
11. Robert Youngren – 6:14:50
12. Carl Laniak – 6:25:40
13. Robby Callahan – 6:27:17
14. Evan Dare – 6:31:34
15. Beth McCurdy – 6:33:01 (F)
16. Gary Dawkins – 6:35:39
17. Hal McClure – 6:38:23
18. Orlando Baez – 6:45:20
19. Kim Nosenchuk-Brooks – 6:46:57 (F)
20. George Menyhert – 6:46:58
21. William Arnold – 6:51:34
22. Dana MacCorquodale – 6:58:37

One of the scarier and heroic moments of the race happened during the last mile when Chris Estes, who was on a 6:30ish finishing pace, jumped over a guardrail to help save a fellow runner who had fallen over the guardrail (full story).

[photo via Dink: Kathy Youngren, Blake Thompson, Dink Taylor]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Frisco Railroad Run – 50 Mile, 50K, Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 8K and 50K Relay – that took place on April 28, 2012 in Willard, Missouri.

Extremely beautiful medal with a lot of detail and pop to it. You won’t find many medals much better than this one.

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[Submitted by RIF #58 Eric Van Zee]

Leah Thorvilson destroyed the Frisco Railroad Run 50 Mile Race on April 28, 2012 in Williard, Missouri with a blazing time of 6:00:31.  Second place was a complete hour behind her.

Thorvilson’s time is believed to be a new course record and is easily the new female course record.

According to UltraRunning Leah’s time is the fourth fastest 50 miler by a female ever behind only Ann Trason, Donna Perkins, and Marcy Schwam.

Second place went to another female, Karen Plucinski, with a time of 7:00:44.

A dude finally placed in third with Pete Kostenlnick (7:16:51).

2012 Frisco Railroad 50 Mile Race Results

1. Leah Thorvilson – 6:00:31
2. Karen Plucinski – 7:00:44
3. Pete Kostenlnick – 7:16:51
4. Kyle Clouston – 7:48:53
5. Jeff Jones – 8:51:52
6. Ron Ayers – 9:03:23
7. John Allen – 9:05:41
8. Stacie Shaver – 9:19:17
9. Nick Haydn – 9:24:30
10. Cliff Ferren – 9:32:22

Leah is a member RIF #34 of Run It Fast – The Club. You can join the club and read more about it HERE.

Here is a rarity. It’s the finisher’s medal from the IAU 100K World and European Championships  that took place among the world’s best on April 21, 2012 in Seregno, Italy.

This beautiful medal was submitted by Run It Fast – Club member (RIF #132) Michelle Mitchell who ran a 9:17:05 (PR) 100K at this event. Her finish was good enough for 38th in Worlds and 25th in Europe.

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[Submitted by RIF #132 Michelle Mitchell. Follow her on Twitter @runnerchickey]

Vajin Armstrong won the American River 50 Mile Endurance Race on April 7, 2012 with a time of 5:53:14.

Rich Hanna was a relatively close second place finisher in 6:05:32. Third place went to Jacob Rydman in 6:10:09.

2012 American River 50 Mile Endurance Race Results

1. Vajin Armstrong – 5:53:14
2. Rich Hanna – 6:05:32
3. Jacob Rydman – 6:10:09
4. Chris Lundstrom – 6:16:40
5. Ellie Greenwood – 6:18:29
6. Chris Calzetta – 6:20:39
7. Rod Bien – 6:20:39
8. Erik Skaden – 6:25:51
9. Phil Shaw – 6:28:08
10. Christopher Wehan – 6:33:40

First overall female finisher was Ellie Greenwood (6:18:29) who was the 5th overall finisher as well.  She destroyed her competition with a winning margin of over an hour.

Jenny Hitchings claimed second place (7:21:24) and Ashley Laird took home third (7:24:48).

Full American River 50 Mile Endurance Run Results

Florida native Mike Morton coasted and glided to a new course record at the Umstead 100 Endurance Run on March 31, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina with a time of 13:11:40.

The Florida native crushed the previous course record set by Zach Gingerich in 2010 of 13:23:02.

Second place finisher Jim Sweeney (14:14:25) and third place finisher Mark Manz (14:16:25) were fast enough for the 5th and 6th fastest times in race history.

The female winner was Indiana native Traci Falbo who easily won with a time of 17:02:39.

Second place female was Allison Moore (18:45:02) with third place going to Beth McCurdy (19:11:28).

2012 Umstead 100 Mile Top 10 Results

1. Mike Morton – 13:11:40
2. Jim Sweeney – 14:14:25
3. Mark Manz – 14:16:25
4. Jonathan Allen – 15:19:53
5. Troy Shellhammer – 15:27:50
6. Chris Ramsey – 15:35:58
7. Garth Peterson – 16:48:01
8. Traci Falbo – 17:02:39
9. Greg Armstrong – 17:48:03
10. Darian Smith – 18:25:27

Complete 2012 Umstead Results

Congrats to all of the finishers and to all of those who ran far enough to earn 50-mile finishes.

[photos: Umstead/Ben Dillon]

The famed Barkley Marathons eat the young and old alike.  The 100-mile race consisting of 5-20 mile loops is considered the toughest race to finish in the world. It is the sick creation of race director Lazarus Lake.

This year was no different with the small exception that three people actually finished the race and Brett Maune (story) set a course record in finishing and winning the brutal race that takes place at Frozen Head State Park.

Above is a look at some of the Barkley swag from Naresh Kumar who competed at the race this year.  Along with the bib # you will see a map of the state park along with book pages. Each runner has to tear a corresponding page out of books places upon the course to prove they made it to those points of the race.  If they lose a page on the way back to race headquarters then they are disqualified.

Like Lake’s Last Annual Vol State 500K race there is no bling or medal for finishing this beast….just pride.

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[Submitted by Run It Fast Member #2 Naresh Kumar. Follow Naresh on Twitter @iamarunr]

Barkley Marathons, the toughest race you have never heard of had three finishers for the first time EVER. Until last year there were only 10 finishers in the 25 years of the race history. This year, the course record was shattered by Brett Maune who was the sole finisher at Barkley Marathons last year.

Brett Maune 52:03:08,

Jared Campbell 56:00:15,

John Fegyveresi 59:41:21

(Brett and Jared sharing a lighter moment at the Yellow Gate)

Photo Courtesy: Matt Hart :: Coaching Endurance LLC :: TrailRunner Mag’s Ask the Coach

Brett Maune from California crushes the Barkley Marathons course record in 52:03:08.  The previous course record was set by Brian Robinson in 2008 55h 42m 27s. Last year Brett M was the sole finisher with a finish time of 57:13:33. Also Brett Maune is also the only person to finish the Barkley twice. A legendary performance.

Jared Campbell and John Fegyveresi are still OUT THERE.

Photo Courtesy: Matt Hart :: Coaching Endurance LLC :: TrailRunner Mag’s Ask the Coach

The Jurassic Coast Challenge takes place “in Dorset, UK, 3 point to point trail marathons from Charmouth to Studland” on March 23-25, 2012.  Here is the finisher’s medal from that event.

Sounds like a pretty cool and challenging event.

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[medal photo submitted by N E. Follow N E on Twitter @naonope]