Run It Fast’s ‘Race Across the USA‘ has moved into it’s seventh day. No one on any of these teams rested though, even after yesterday’s record setting day by all four teams.
The weekend was won by the Jeffrey Price Team. For the second day in a row they made up ground on the first place Suzy Michelson Team. The Jeffs compiled 461.61 miles over the two days with 190.95 coming today after their race high of 270.66 miles on Saturday. With this strong push they’ve gained 24 miles on The Suzys.
The Suzy’s still hold a comfortable overall lead of 150.65 miles. However, after smashing the first five days with the most daily miles every day, they’ve been beaten the last two days, and today two teams finished with more miles than they did. The resurgent Hope Shull Team tallied 178.74 miles today just edging the Suzys. The Suzys ended up with 175.03.
The Charlie Taylor Team had what they thought was a strong day, with 157.03, until they heard what the other three teams recorded for the day. They had the fourth most miles for the day, but they remain a strong hold of third place over the fourth place team.
Day 7 Mileage Results of the Race Across the USA
- Suzy Michelson Team – 175.03 miles (11.67 mi/runner)
- Jeffrey Price Team – 190.95 miles (12.73 mi/runner)
- Charlie Taylor Team – 157.03 miles (10.47 mi/runner)
- Hope Shull Team – 178.74 miles (11.92 mi/runner)
RIF’s Race Across the USA Overall Standings
- Suzy Michelson Team – 1,332.13 miles (192.85/day, 45.8% completed)
- Jeffrey Price Team – 1,181.48 miles (165.09 mi/day, 40.6% completed)
- Charlie Taylor Team – 1,012.67 miles (142.61 mi/day, 34.8% completed)
- Hope Shull Team – 914.33 miles (122.6 mi/day, 31.5% completed)
The four teams currently are split into three states. The Suzy Michelson Team, currently in 1st place, is already in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Jeffrey Price Team is in Shamrock, Texas and getting very close to the ‘Sooner State.’ Our third and fourth place teams, the Charlie Taylor Team and the Hope Shull Team, are still in New Mexico with the Chucks practically nestled up on the barbed wire of the Texas border.
Suzy Michelson Team: Any true criticism of this team would be nitpicking. They dominated this week with 1,332.13 miles over seven days. They have a 150 mile lead, and they have heavy hitters that would make the 1932 New York Yankees envious.
Today they had the third most miles with 175.03 but were just 15 miles off the top team of the day. They were led once again by the ‘Tullahoma Tornado’ Chris Clemens with 24.1 miles. He’s had a remarkable 172.86 miles since the start of the race a week ago, the most of any runner on any team. His main support today came from JR Reynolds with 20.41 miles, his third 20 mile day of the week.
Other strong efforts for the race leaders today came from Barry Reece (17.01 mi), Leslie Studtmann (15.25), and Kimberly Atkins (15.14).
Violeta Heisler, who has been burning the candle at both ends while working herself back into shape from an injury, rocked out with 29.09 miles for the weekend. So many stories like Violeta’s have uplifted and inspired so many people this week.
Suzy Team Data at a Glance
Place: 1st
Day 7 Miles: 175.03 (3rd)
Total Miles: 1,332.13
Top 5 SMT Runners (Day 7)
- Chris Clemens – 24.1
- JR Reynolds – 20.41
- Barry Reece – 17.01
- Leslie Studtmann – 15.25
- Kimberly Atkins – 15.14
Jeffrey Price Team: The Jeffs shoot 20-mile bombs out of a cannon day in and day out. Heather McComb finished her week of 20+’s with 21.04 miles. She had an astounding 148.08 miles this week. She has set the early tone, day in and day out. Tom ‘Stairway’ Orr took a step down today, but he still knocked out 20.37 miles. He finished the week with 141.7 miles, the biggest mileage week of his life. Heather and Tom have provided a consistent base every day that the team built on this weekend that led this team to the most miles of the weekend.
Karl Studtmann had a cool 20.53 miles after his 57.2 megatron bomb yesterday that reset the narrative of the race between the Jeffs and Suzys. Alfa Severino also contributed 20.01 miles.
Team captain Melissa Price finished the week with 15.01 miles topping off with the week with 102.96 miles. A epic week from this entire team, top to bottom. Can they keep it up and catch the leaders? Week two will tell a lot.
Jeffrey Team Data at a Glance
Overall Place: 2nd
Day 7 Miles: 190.95 (1st)
Total Miles: 1,181.48
Miles Back: -150.65
Top 5 JPT Runners (Day 7)
- Heather McComb – 21.04
- Karl Studtmann – 20.53
- Tom Orr – 20.37
- Alfa Severino – 20.01
- Alicja Miles – 16.30
Charlie Taylor Team: Today the CTT team got a major performance from Elva Matamoros with 32.02 miles. Those big miles gave her 90.53 miles for the week. Her miles were a major boost to the Chucks today after many members of this team were sore and hobbled today. The team also got help from Seth Crowe with 29.25 miles. Seth’s 131.1 miles easily made him the team’s MVP of the Week. Team captain Joshua Holmes rounded out his week with 21.7 miles.
The Chucks once again had everyone contribute and finished the week a perfect 105 for 105.
Charlie Team Data at a Glance
Overall Place: 3rd
Day 7 Miles: 157.03 (4th)
Total Miles: 1,012.67
Miles Back: -319.46
Top 5 CTT Runners (Day 7)
- Elva Matamoros – 32.02
- Seth Crowe – 29.25
- Joshua Holmes – 21.70
- Steve Acciarito – 13.13
- Aimee Shilling – 12.04
Hope Shull Team: Ultra veteran Ben Herron led a multi-faceted attack today for Hope’s team. He rolled off 32.42 miles, by far his most miles of the race to this point. He was joined by team captain Marylou Corino who nailed 25.0 miles, her third 25+ mile performance of the week. More help came from Cathy Downes with 20.16 miles which gave her an impressive 51.51 miles for the weekend. Arizona native Lori Robinson was also superb today with 20.22 miles making a strong two day contribution of 38.36 miles. Sherry Meador’s 15.08 miles topped off a nice weekend for her, and Jimmy Girten ran 10.07 miles today. His longest run since the inception of the iPhone.
The Hopes had 380.06 miles over the two day weekend. They have a lot of momentum going into the new week as they try to chase down the Charlie Taylor Team that is in front of them.
Hope Team Data at a Glance
Overall Place: 4th
Day 7 Miles: 178.74 (2nd)
Total Miles: 914.33
Miles Back: -417.8
Top 5 HST Runners (Day 7)
- Ben Herron – 32.42
- Marylou Corino – 25.00
- Lori Robinson – 20.22
- Cathy Downes – 20.16
- Sherry Meador – 15.08
- Suzy Michelson Team – Chris Clemens (24.10 mi)
- Jeffrey Price Team – Heather McComb (21.04 mi)
- Charlie Taylor Team – Elva Matamoros (32.02 mi)
- Hope Shull Team – Ben Herron (32.42 mi)
Top 10 Mega-Miles of the Day
- Ben Herron (HST) – 32.42
- Elva Matamoros – (CTT) – 32.02
- Seth Crowe (CTT) – 29.25
- Marylou Corino (HST) – 25.00
- Chris Clemens (SMT) – 24.1
- Joshua Holmes (CTT) – 21.7
- Heather McComb (JPT) – 21.04
- Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 20.53
- JR Reynolds (SMT) – 20.41
- Tom Orr (JPT) – 20.37
Top 10 Race Mile Leaders
- Chris Clemens (SMT) – 172.86
- Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 153.87
- Heather McComb (JPT) – 148.08
- Tom Orr (JPT) – 141.70
- Barry Reece (SMT) – 140.40
- David Nichols (SMT) – 131.15
- Seth Crowe (CTT) – 131.10
- Marylou Corino – (HST) – 125.60
- Alex Barrientos (SMT) – 120.78
- Thomas Fowler (SMT) – 120.02
Ben Herron (HST) is the ‘Race Across the USA’ – Peak Performer of the Day with his 32.42 miles.
Honorable Mention: Elva Matamoros (CTT) with 32.02 miles.
Daily Updates and Standings Archive
- Day 7: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Ben Hur-on
- Day 6: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Russell Branded
- Day 5: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Stairway to Heaven
- Day 4: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – 5 Nichols & 1 Penny
- Day 3: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Razing Arizona
- Day 2: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – Showdown in the Desert
- Day 1: Run It Fast’s Race Across the USA – And They Are Off…
