Run It Fast®

The Boston Athletic Association is offering runners of the 2012 Boston Marathon, to be held Monday April 16, 2012, a deferment for automatic entry into the 2013 Boston Marathon due to projected high temperatures for Monday morning.

Temperatures for Boston are forecasted to reach the mid to high 80’s.

“For many people, running the Boston Marathon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” B.A.A. executive director Tom Grilk said on Saturday. “We don’t want people to feel they have to run, because perhaps it’s not the wisest decision under these conditions.”

It’s a nice gesture (and smart legal move) from the B.A.A. that hopefully some runners with medical and heart issues will take advantage of. However, I don’t expect many will due to having already trained hard for this 2012 Boston Marathon and the many non-refundable travel expenses they’ve already made.

(Pierre) D’Hemecourt (race medical director) said to runners with underlying medical issues, such as a cough or a cold or a recent stomach virus that left them dehydrated: “Please don’t run the marathon on Monday.”

“This will be a day where you get hot and dehydrated and may have heat problems,” d’Hemecourt said. “If you do run, run slow. This is not a personal best day. Take breaks to walk and recognize any heat problem symptoms.”

B.A.A. also announced that the couse will be open an extra hour to give runners more time to finish the race safely.

Grilk said the course will be kept open for an extra hour — until 6 p.m. — to discourage runners from over-exerting themselves.

“It allows for an additional 2 minutes per mile to slow down and be sensible about it,” he said. “Be part of what could be a well-remembered experience, but do it in a way that is careful. Ultimately it is an individual sport and individual decision, but we want to make sure we provide people with the comfort of knowing they can make the decision.”

All runners, running Boston and any race or training run, should be familiar with signs of heat stroke.

Those who do run, race officials warned, should be alert to the symptoms of heat stroke: confusion, headaches, nausea, vomiting and excessive fatigue. d’Hemecourt said runners experiencing any of those should stop running and walk to the nearest aid station to be evaluated.

The B.A.A. medical staff also warned runners not to drink too much water, which can also be dangerous. They should drink when thirsty and take slightly more water than they normally do when they train.

“Personal responsibility has to happen on Monday,” race director Dave McGillivray said.

We all hope that the B.A.A. will have a safe and successful 116th Boston Marathon on Monday.

To those that are running, be smart, listen to your body, and pay attention to the heat stroke warning signs.

Remember those that have passed away during marathons and half marathons in the past year in lot less severe weather.

UPDATE: Latest BAA Press Release: “Only the fittest runners should consider participating.” (Full Story)

Here is a look at the elite runners taking part of the 2012 Boston Marathon on Monday according to the Boston Athletic Association.

John Hancock’s 2012 Elite Boston Marathon Field

MEN

Name  (Country)                                          Personal Best
Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya)                                2:03:02 (Boston, 2011) CR, WB
Gebre Gebremariam (Ethiopia)                2:04:53 (Boston, 2011)
Levy Matebo (Kenya)                                    2:05:16 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Wilson Chebet (Kenya)                               2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (Kenya)        2:05:52 (Boston, 2010)
Laban Korir (Kenya)                                    2:06:05 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Wesley Korir (Kenya)                                  2:06:15 (Chicago, 2011)
Bernard Kipyego (Kenya)                           2:06:29 (Chicago, 2011)
David Barmasai (Kenya)                            2:07:18 (Dubai, 2011)
Dickson Chumba (Kenya)                         2:07:23 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Josphat Ndambiri (Kenya)                         2:07:36 (Fukuoka, 2011)
Peter Kamais (Kenya)                                 2:07:37 (Xiamen, 2012) CR
Mathew Kisorio (Kenya)                              2:10:58 (New York, 2011)
Frankline Chepkwony (Kenya)                  2:10:59 (Nairobi, 2011)
Jason Hartmann (USA)                              2:11:06 (Chicago, 2010)
Michel Butter (Netherlands)                       2:12:59 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Antonio Vega (USA)                                     2:13:47 (Boston, 2010)

WOMEN

Name  (Country)                                          Personal Best
Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia)                      2:19:31 (Dubai, 2012) CR, NR
Galina Bogomolova (Russia)                   2:20:47 (Chicago, 2006)
Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia)                           2:21:59 (Frankfurt, 2011) CR
Caroline Kilel (Kenya)                                2:22:36 (Boston, 2011)
Sharon Cherop (Kenya)                             2:22:42 (Boston, 2011)
Ashu Kasim (Ethiopia)                               2:23:09 (Xiamen, 2012)
Firehiwot Dado (Ethiopia)                         2:23:15 (New York City, 2011)
Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia)                        2:23:19 (New York City, 2011)
Rita Jeptoo (Kenya)                                    2:23:38 (Boston, 2006)
Agnes Kiprop (Kenya)                                2:23:54 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Caroline Rotich (Kenya)                            2:24:26 (Boston, 2011)
Georgina Rono (Kenya)                             2:24:33 (Eindhoven, 2011) CR
Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia)                 2:25:12 (Frankfurt, 2005)
Genet Getaneh (Ethiopia)                          2:25:57 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Tatyana Pushkareva (Russia)                  2:26:14 (Boston, 2010)
Diana Sigei (Kenya)                                    2:26:53 (Dubai, 2011)
Nadezdha Leonteva (Russia)                   2:31:57 (Moscow, 2011)

CR=Course Record
WB=World Best
NR=National Record

[source: BAA]

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 73 of you responded!

Good luck to you all this weekend and Run It Fast!

Joshua Holmes – Just some short recovery runs.

Lisa Gonzales – I’m hitting the local trails. Maybe up a mountain. Probably.

Kevin Ronayne – long runs on portions of the Boston Marathon course Saturday & Sunday

ashley hook – Boston Marathon!

Erica Meier – Big House Big Heart race in Ann Arbor, MI

JenniLoLo – running my 1st half marathon on Sunday after just beginning running in January — Go! St. Louis

Chad Dawson – #bostonmarathon !

J.R. Jamison – — in training for the #indymini. Long training run in store for me tomorrow. Beautiful weather for it here in the Midwest.

LG – 4/14 EAV 5k & pub crawl in atlanta, ga

Erin Manzo – Not racing this weekend, but running around my neighborhood in sunny Orlando, FL.

dricks gonzales – 21k for earth run here in PI

Kwame Robert – Highbanks trails @CbusMetroParks

Tianna Marshall – Nike She Runs LA 10k

Bryan Beavers – Racing Redbud Classic 10K in Oklahoma City Sunday

Kinetic Family – we’re running in the @VancouverSunRun 10K this Sunday

tlcesq – Hoping to run a 5k on Sat

Dani Obregón – 5K in Jackson, TN. Will @bayou join me? #runitfast

Jog Planet – Inaugural Austin 10/20! Ten miles with 20 bands

Hedzer – rotterdam marathon 🙂

Kay-Cee vd Parre – Running a 5k race in Rotterdam on sunday

brad dixon – presidio 10 miler

Angie Gerber – Final 21 mile training run in Portland, OR. Taper starts Monday!

joey – training run around cronulla! 15kms in preparation for the Great Ocean Road Half Marathon!

Kiki – I’m doing the Tomorrow’s Children 5K in Frankfort, KY.

Josh Gambill – 4/14 Winona Lake,IN 30mile trail. My first ultra!! Wish me luck!

Mands! – Cigna 5k in pittsburgh!

Amber Goetz – running @ Burlington, NC for the #TwitterCharityRun – U pick the distance & send the ‘registration fees’ to charity of choice 🙂

Brandon Sherrill – my first 10k in Davidson, NC!

Lisa Edwards – I’m running Tough Mudder in Ohio with my cousins Saturday morning!

Katie Maas – 8 mile training run in prep for Sunburst Half Marathon in June!!

sylvia – das laufen ist ein Lebenselexier.

Lindsay Edwards – Home meet at The University of Tampa Saturday night!! Go SPARTANS!!

Julie Vilord – the Boston Marathon!!!

Ace – Getting chased by Martians in the invasion of races, better not get probed! #RIF108

elizabeth v rehmer – skiing/biking/running in red lodge mt at the Grizzly Adventure Race

Shane Huff – Running our kick off event for Sunrise Tri Club, a duathlon, 1.5m run/ 11m bike/ 1.5m run!! Here goes nothing!

Dennis Arriaga – Presidio 10 Miler in San Francisco!

Meredith – Benicia Run for Education 10k in Benicia, CA

Rachel Weinthal – More Half Marathon in Central Park, NYC!

Andrew Hall – no place special, but I’ll be running you can bet on that.

Renee Dudley – doing the Dallas marathon on Sunday. Correction- BEASTING it on sunday.

MissisB – 10km around Putney on Saturday and Richmond Park 10km race on Sunday 🙂

Brian Price – I’m running the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: Greater Fort Worth 5K tomorrow. Gonna be fun!

Nova Physiotherapy – Lung Run – Halifax NS

titeyogarunner – into the mud for 42km up and down the hills

Emily Conley – Muir Woods trail marathon SF, Ca.

Donica’ Beckett – I’ll be at the @sistersnetwork Stop the Silence Run/Walk Sat!

Sarah Malaney – 12 miles on the bottom roads in Quincy with the #BTGTraining Group! Can’t wait!

Steve Houston – half-ironman in Clermont FL.

Jenn – Running GO STL half marathon 🙂

jea – 13mi LR prep for @kdfrunner Louisville Mini

Jared Friesen – back to back runs, 20 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. First 50 miler in July!

Domenick P. Addesi – Walk + Run Against Hunger 5K in Philly at the Philadelphia Art Museum

Michelle Walker – I am pacing the Southern Indiana Classic Half Marathon in Evansville, IN!

Coloradodrew – Veda Earthday 5K this Sunday

Scott Stader – fellow #RIF‘er Jonathan Harrison and i will be running the Boston marathon! And maybe a local Jtown 5k tomorrow b4 we take off

Icar Hiponia – earth run on sunday 🙂 21k

Casey – I’m running the XTERRA Lake Las Vegas 21K trail run on Sunday.

Drew Michaels – Running the Hogeye Marathon in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Larissa –  @morefitnesshalf in NYC! #cantwait

Angela Rojas – University of Texas!!!

Mary Williams – No matter how slow you go, you’re lapping everybody on the couch! “Girls On The Run” tomorrow in Durham, NC #getupandmove

MarathonJunkie™Engle – sorry 4 not responding. I’ve been flying. I’m gonna run Gansett and Boston. If I can find one on Sunday, I’ll run it, 2 err…3.

Aron Lanie –  #stepupforsoldiers combat #mudrun in #Wilmington NC

y2kemo – I’m running the April Showers #Anywhere5K on Saturday. A free virtual race.

Melvin Owens – Denton county 5K!

Natalie Torres – I am hoping 2-3 miles through the neighborhood will help me bounce back from this cold.

Crystal – boston marathon!!!!!!

Michelle Mitchell – Kirzhach Half Marathon -Kirzhach Rus (starts where Gagarin was killed runs back to town) 2 hours out of Moscow-hellaciously hilly

Rigo Tellez – I’ll be running the Summerlin half-marathon tomorrow here in Las Vegas

Eric Secker – Rock the Parkway half in Kansas City

Robin – Running Boston!

Gavin – Vienna marathon for me on Sunday

—–

University of New Hampshire student Thomas ‘Tom’ Gounley will run the Boston Marathon on Monday while juggling bean bags during the race….the entire race.

Gounley ran the race last year in 2:56:05. It will be interesting to see how fast he will be running the race this year while juggling.

He decided to juggle bean bags instead of balls so he wouldn’t have to go chasing the balls if/when he were to drop one.

Of course he has coined a term for running while juggling – JOGGLING!

Best of luck to Tom, his bags, and everyone running the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Here is a quick and simple elevation chart graphic for the Boston Marathon course.

The course has an overall negative gain. It starts at 490 feet in Hopkinton an finishes at 10 feet above sea level at Copley Square.

The biggest rise during the race comes between mile 20 and 21 which is commonly referred to as Heartbreak Hill.  The 88 ft climb is not much to the experienced marathoner, but most marathoners running Boston have spent too much energy earlier on in the race and fall face first into the Heartbreak Hill (Wall).

[source: Boston.com]

Scott and Mindy Williford at Fenway Park the day after The Boston Marathon, 2011

Introduction: The e-mail message arrived as a complete surprise from Scott Williford. I’d known him briefly ten years ago and by first name only, when he occasionally repaired my bicycle at the local shop where he worked part time while attending Tennessee Tech. The message was about him and his wife Mindy, whom I’d known for an equally brief interval, and separate from him before they were man and wife.

I’d met Mindy at the gym. I knew she was a student with athletic skills and that she was an expert whitewater paddler who’d been mentioned in a book on that subject. During our short acquaintance she went running with me one day.

Ten years passed, and Scott sent me the message. I’ve since learned they’ve been very successful. Scott owns a sales agency with four employees that represents cycling and running gear across several states. Mindy is the CFO of a hedge fund, and – ever the athlete – she rides her bike to work more than she drives the car. They live in Chattanooga with their cat Leo.

Scott’s message was poignant and expressive and it astonished me. It’s a story about: endurance sport, a small kindness, awakening and transformation, and success. Above all, I think, it’s a love story. It’s pasted below unchanged. My title was his subject line.

Read the complete story from Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

Veteran marathoner Nadia Ruiz Gonzales has run 74 marathons to date.  She ran her first marathon at the age of 14-years old at her hometown Los Angeles Marathon.

Here is a look at some of her favorite marathons that she has run from the West Coast all the way to Europe.

Nadia’s Top 20 Most Favorite Marathons:

20. Rock’n Roll New Orleans Marathon – (Website)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Race Date: 2/13/11
2011 Finishers: 3,140
2011 Race Temps: 40F/55F
2011 Results: 3:20:48 BQ, 54th total

Looking for a fun city on a fun weekend full of beaded necklaces, boas, masks, drinks, and more? New Orleans is the place to be during Mardi Gras! The race offers a flat course with several turns, cool temps, and typical Rock’n Roll pre and post race support providing very favorable conditions for PR attempts but watch out for uneven roads at times. I enjoyed this race with friends and hitting a PR made it even sweeter!

19. Extraterrestrial Midnight Marathon & 51K – (Website)
Race Location: Rachel, NV
Race Date: 8/14/11
2011 Finishers: 173
2011 Race Temps: 50F
2011 Results: 4:37:08, 1st FOA 51K

Starting at midnight, the marathon and 51K ultra start at the infamous black mailbox outside of Area 51 for a point to point scenic course in the desert. You run under a full moon and star lit sky going slightly uphill continuously for the first 13 miles then rolling hills thereafter. Be aware the RD from Calico Racing does charge extra for glow in the dark items, required reflective tape, and shuttle bus ticket from Vegas. 1st overall award was a glass bottle of salts. Still very entertaining race with neon lit runners and alien themed. Don’t get abducted!

18. Red Rock Canyon Marathon – (Website)
Location: Red Rock Conservation Area, NV
Race Date: 3/5/11
2011 Finishers: 175
2011 Race Temps: 35F/50F
2011 Results: 3:38:59 BQ, 2nd FOA, 55th total

Another race from Calico Racing as it offers an absolutely gorgeous out-and-back course at elevation with views of red rock formations but be prepared for a large amount of hills on the roads! I love scenic courses so here is one that the views and hills will not disappoint. Watching the sunrise over the horizon is as breathtaking as they get.

17. Pasadena Marathon – (Website)
Location: Pasadena, CA
Race Date: 5/15/11
2011 Finishers: 868
2011 Race Temps: 57F/61F
2011 Results: 3:20:04 PR, BQ, 59th total

With slight hills on this road race, the course meanders throughout the beautiful homes and greenery of Pasadena with some beginning miles around the Rose Bowl Stadium. The course is not your typical PR flat course but I was well trained for hills that spring season so I earned my PR that day. If you like a small, very well organized marathon, this is a great one! Check their FB fan page as they often offer contests for free VIP entries.

16. Malibu International Marathon – (Website)
Location: Malibu, CA
Race Date: 11/15/09
2009 Finishers: 330
2009 Race Temps: 50F/69F, windy
2009 Results: 3:38:01 BQ, 7th FOA

Point to point course begins in Camarillo and ends in Zuma Beach: first 10 miles are flat through the fields of Camarillo then the remaining 16 miles are along the beautiful CA coastline on PCH with possible strong headwinds and significant rolling hills. Beautiful beach marathon with a large towel and reusable lunch bag for finishers. Since its inaugural year in 2009, I have returned every year and the race continues to grow in participation where marathon participation was almost 500 in 2011.

15. Bermuda Marathon – (Website)
Location: Hampton, Bermuda Island
Race Date: 1/18/09
2009 Finishers: 76
2009 Race Temps: 60F
2009 Results: 3:58:11, 22nd total

Take a vacation during Bermuda’s low season off the east coast and enjoy the beauty of the island’s two-loop course through its neighborhoods all along the shoreline. The locals are friendly and very welcoming to tourists. They also offer their Bermuda Triangle Challenge for runners interested in racing three days for extra bling!

14. Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon – (Website)
Location: Two Harbors-Avalon, Catalina
Race Date: 3/10/12
2012 Finishers: 382
2012 Race Temps: 50F/70F
2012 Results: 5:16:32 pacer, 3rd Div.

Starting in Two Harbors and finishing in Avalon, you will run on trails through the hilltops of Catalina with miles of ocean views. Offering over 3,500′ of elevation gain, the course is enough to challenge any runner but merciful so you can enjoy the beauty of the island. Generally the rule of thumb is add about 1hr +/-15min to your regular road marathon time to predict a finishing time on Catalina. Watch out for buffalo!

13. Bellingham Bay Marathon – (Website)
Location: Bellingham, WA
Race Date: 9/26/10
2010 Finishers: 401
2010 Race Temps: 62F, light rain
2010 Results: 3:38:48 BQ, 48th total

Commented by many reviews as “the most beautiful marathon in the Pacific Northwest,” you will run along the beauty of Bellingham Bay, San Juan Islands, with mountain views running on roads, bridges, and a touch of trails. A wonderful variety of beauty with slight hills definitely a favorite of mine.

12. Napa Valley Trail Marathon – (Website)
Location: Calistoga, CA
Race Date: 3/29/08
2008 Finishers: 45
2008 Race Temps: 40F/55F
2008 Results: 3:40:13, 1st FOA

Capped at 300 participants for the full, half, and 10K, the Napa Valley Trail Marathon offers a challenging yet rewarding course on a single track in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Surrounded with lush greenery all around and running streams as your soundtrack, the course does require hill preparation for a great experience! Even though I twisted and sprained my ankle in the second half (grade I sprain), it was sweet to cross the finish line for my first win in this intimate, friendly marathon.

11. Nike Women’s Marathon – (Website)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Race Date: 10/16/11
2011 Finishers: 6,322
2011 Race Temps: 64F/69F
2011 Results: 3:37:29 BQ, 65th total

With an entry via lottery only and a very large female representation, this race offers many nice perks such as a four day Expotique with several fun free vendors, finisher’s Tiffany’s necklace given by firemen, and a hilly course finishing at the beach offering something slightly different than the San Francisco Marathon. Very large event with most of the participants in the half marathon so be prepared for large crowds but still very fun.

10. Napa Valley Marathon – (Website)
Location: Napa, CA
Race Date: 3/4/12
2012 Finishers: 1,794
2012 Race Temps: 39F/68F
2012 Results: 3:22:47 BQ, 72nd total

Named the world’s best little marathon, it had made many top lists such as Top 10 marathons worth traveling for, Top 100 road races in North America, and it sure made my Top 20. In it’s 34th year, it still takes care of their runners with cool swag of giving runners a duffle bag, tech shirt, spinner medal, and a great post-race festival with warm soup, massages, showers, & more. If that doesn’t excite you, the beautiful, peaceful course through the vineyards of Napa are certainly a plus. Net downhill course but do be aware of the continuous, gradual uphill in the last 10K. This race closes every year so sign up early.

9. Barcelona Marathon – (Website)
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Race Date: 3/7/10
2010 Finishers: 4,054
2010 Race Temps: 45F/60F
2010 Results: 3:37:52 BQ, 38th total

Traveling internationally for me is such a treat and to be able to combine it with a marathon makes it even more memorable. Europe travel in the spring is in its low season and much more affordable plus you will find favorable cooler racing temps. The course travels through many tourists sights in Barcelona so you get a great taste of the city. Enjoy a paella de Mariscos, great bottles of wine, and make it a vacation to remember! Note: European marathons tend to have fluid stations only every 5K.

8. Walt Disney World Marathon – (Website)
Location: Orlando, FL
Race Date: 1/9/11
2011 Finishers: 13,522
2011 Race Temps: 44F/49F
2011 Results: 3:23:01 BQ, 52nd total

Want to be a kid again and run through multiple magical kingdoms as the sun rises before the crowds hit the amusement parks? The race is a hefty price tag but travel to Orlando in January is in it’s low season so why not. Enjoy the magic of the race with the half, full, or be Goofy and do both! Always sells out so sign up early.

7. San Francisco Marathon – (Website)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Race Date: 7/31/11
2011 Finishers: 5,920
2011 Race Temps: 57F/60F
2011 Results: 3:35:06 BQ, 61st total

Want a marathon in the summer with almost guaranteed cool race temps and an early 5:30am start? SFM is the only race where it shuts down the Golden Gate just for its runners. The first half is hillier than the 2nd half but it isn’t as bad as SF could be. I personally love running on the Golden Gate, Embarcadero, Golden Gate Park, and other SF hot spots so I’ve ran this race for 5 consecutive years. It’s definitely a favorite and an excuse to have some seafood in SF.

6. Pikes Peak Marathon – (Website)
Location: Manitou Springs, CO
Race Date: 8/21/11
2011 Finishers: 728
2011 Race Temps: 68F/60F
2011 Results: 8:41:47, 62nd total

As “America’s Ultimate Challenge,” it fulfills its name. Claimed as the most difficult marathon in the US if not the world, the race begins at 6,300′ elevation climbs for 13 miles to the summit at 14,115′ and then you have to run back down. Ask any mountaineer, the mountain at that elevation controls the day so be prepared for anything and to have slower than normal mile splits. Add anywhere from 2-3hrs to your regular road marathon time. I was on target for a 2hr addition but when a hail storm hit the summit, the boulders became slippery, and I sprained my ankle at Mile 18. I hopped to the finish and grateful that I did. I love mountains!

5. Boston Marathon – (Website)
Location: Boston, MA
Race Date: 4/19/10
2010 Finishers: 22,588
2010 Race Temps: 42F/52F
2010 Results: 3:28:32 BQ, 40th total

Down to the Top 5! It’s many runners’ dream to qualify and run the infamous Boston, and it definitely delivers a memorable experience. Marathon Monday is a holiday for Bostonians, and they welcome the running community with full energy. It is full of excitement, cheer, emotion, and thrill from the moment you start to the moment you finish. I’ve been very fortunate and grateful to qualify every year for the past 13 years; however, travel to Boston during this race weekend is sure to surprise you with its prices. Fortunately with friends to share the experience, I will be returning anxiously for a 3rd year in 2012. Work for it friends. It’s worth it at least once!

4. ING NYC Marathon – (Website)
Location: New York City, NY
Race Date: 11/6/11
2011 Finishers: 46,795
2011 Race Temps: 40F/65F
2011 Results: 3:39:37 BQ, 66th total

As one of the largest marathons of the world, the unheard of energy of this race is in great competition with Boston. I was pleasantly amazed with the great organization of this race as it runs through the five boroughs of NYC. Don’t look for your fastest time here with the multiple bridge crossings and so much excitement to absorb in this amazing race! It’s NYC!

3. Rome Marathon – (Website)
Location: Rome, Italy
Race Date: 3/22/09
2009 Finishers: 11,010
2009 Race Temps: 39F/55F
2009 Results: 4:01:21, 25th marathon

Passing through over 20 tourist sites in Rome, some course highlights are running through the Vatican City, Pantheon, Fountain de Trevi, but most notable is starting and finishing around the infamous Coliseum. The entire run is as majestic as they can get and listening to the spectators cheer you on in Italian makes the entire experience unforgettable. Nothing disappoints in Italy: it was the best pizza, best wine, best city, best gelato, and best company a runner can ever ask for earning the #3 favorite of marathons in my heart. Make it a week long vacation and you will not regret it.

2. Big Sur Marathon – (Website)
Location: Big Sur to Carmel, CA
Race Date: 4/25/10
2010 Finishers: 3,442
2010 Race Temps: 49F/70F
2010 Results: 3:45:08, 41st total

Beautiful, gorgeous, and breathtaking do not give the Big Sur Marathon justice how magnificent the course really is. It is the only marathon that closes down PCH for its runners from Big Sur to Carmel running along the jagged edge of the western world. You have miles of green beauty to the east and miles of blue beauty to the west. You will be mesmerized almost every step of the way especially when you run across Bixby bridge and listen to the echoing harmony of the pianist playing just for its runners. This is a must in a runner’s lifetime!

1. Los Angeles Marathon – (Website)
Location: Los Angeles-Santa Monica, CA
Race Date: 3/1/99
1999 Finishers: 16,861
1999 Race Temps: 55F/73F
1999 Results: 4:05:55, 1st marathon

And finally for #1, the world renown LA Marathon. Over the fourteen years of my running career, I have ran LAM every year and experienced several course changes, changes in management ownership, and a variety of weather conditions from scorching heat waves to the monsoon that hit LA in 2011. Now with a net downhill course still with several rolling hills, it runs from the Dodger stadium to the beach in Santa Monica. What brings me back every year? The memory of running 26.2 for the first time with my father: we ran our first together in 1999 and we continue to run the LA Marathon every single year. Then in 2012, it was the first time I ran a sub-3:20 earning myself a 3:18:17 PR. As they say, you never forget your first!

“I hope you enjoyed my Top 20 marathons. Continue to make your memories. Continue to make your heart beat with excitement for your races. Continue to make your journey yours! The world is our playground and I intend to keep playing as long as my legs will carry me.” – Nadia

Nadia’s Blog
Nadia’s Facebook Fan Page
Nadia’s Marathon Results

Honorable Mentions:
Carlsbad Marathon
California International Marathon
Philadelphia Marathon
Rock’n Roll Denver Marathon
Surf City Marathon

Here is a quick rundown of why Nadia runs and who inspires her:

When did you start running?
In middle school, my mom enrolled me in boxing so I can learn self defense. Yes, cool mom. 🙂 As part of training, the coach had us run and run some more in circles around the gym. It was then I learned I had a thing for endurance.

Did you start with races or just running recreationally or for school?
After middle school, my sister suggested I try out for the high school Cross Country team. Afraid and timid, I trained my first summer hard as a Freshman because it was a fear that I would be left behind. In our first school’s Cross Country meet, I came in first overall for our school. I was hooked. I remained undefeated at any long distance for four years at SFHS.

What distance(s) were your first races?
Standard distance in Cross Country was the 3 mile event. In Track & Field, I was placed in the 4x400m, 800m, 1600m, and 3200m. I was so hooked to the running high, I started running 5Ks and 10Ks on the weekends with my family as training to make myself a stronger racer. Ten years after graduating, my high school records for the 3 mile, 2 mile and 3200m still remain at SFHS.

Who inspired you or inspires you to run? Who got that ‘bug’ activated within you?
I first learned about running as a sport and the marathon distance as a 6th grader from my middle school math teacher who ran marathons for “fun.” Noticing my interest, my father took me with him to cheer on an Ecuadorian runner in the 1996 Los Angeles Marathon who went on the win the race making my dad be a proud Ecuadorian that day. Witnessing such amazing strength and will, I then decided as a little 12 year old girl that one day I would run the marathon to hopefully make my parents proud but most importantly prove to myself that I could do it. My father and I ran our first marathon together when I was 14 years old hand-in-hand crossing the finish line together… in tears. My parents had immigrated to this country with nothing leaving behind everything to allow for their children to seek greater opportunities. This was an opportunity I was taking to discover what I had inside me to run my first marathon. My father and mother to this day continue to be the largest source of inspiration for me.

How many marathons have you run?
After 13 years running, I have now completed 71 marathons as a 27 year old.

What is your fastest marathon to date? Fastest half marathon?
The past three years have been great racing years for me in running and triathlons where I have ran a 3:20:04 marathon PR and a 1:26:45 half marathon PR both in 2011. I hope and will work hard to surpass those marks this year.

How many states have you run marathons in?
I have ran marathons in 15 different states and 4 different countries. I hope to run marathons in as many countries as I can and in every continent.

Have you run an ultra marathon yet? If not, do you want or plan to?
I ran my first ultra in 2011 at the ET Midnight Marathon and 51K at Area 51, Nevada on 8/14/11. With a focused mind and the help of an ultra runner friend, I won first female overall at my first ultra despite how much it hurt my legs to go passed 26.2 miles. It was a great first experience!

What is your favorite race to date?
As many races as I have ran, it is always difficult to narrow it down to one favorite. I can say though my favorite top 5 marathons are: Los Angeles, Big Sur, Rome, ING New York, and Pikes Peak.

What is your dream race that you haven’t run but hope to one day?
The Antarctica Marathon. I’m wait listed for 2015. It is an absolute dream to run at the end of the world!

What shoes and gear do you run in?
I have tried a variety of brands. Currently, I run in Brooks.

What do you eat on race morning?
I have experimented with a variety of combinations and try to mix it up when I can to keep it exciting. I have had in the past: peanut butter and almond sandwiches, granola with almond butter, Greek yogurt with granola, oatmeal with apples, or bananas with honey.

Do you belong to any running clubs?
I am a part of an amazing online running community called the Marathon Maniacs member #1791, Tri Lunatics  #3 (site), and Run It Fast – The Club member #69 (details HERE).

What other runners do you look up to admire?
My father
My mother

Have you ever been seriously injured from running? If so did you have to take off a lot of time from it? How did you cope?
Thankfully, I have not been seriously injured but I did develop tendonitis of the knee once where I stopped running for 6 weeks. That taught me to not ignore what my body needs again. Too much, too soon, too fast is asking for trouble.

What advice do you have for someone looking to improve their time/speed in a half marathon or marathon?
Every little thing helps. If you want it bad enough, you have to adopt a marathon lifestyle. Love and listen to what your body needs and you can demand anything from it. Dream big.

What helpful tips can you give to the newbie runner that has no running experience and knows nothing about running?
The running community is one of the most welcoming groups you can find. No matter what distance, no matter what pace, always aim to have fun and you may just become a lifelong runner.

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• Nadia’s Marathon Results