Run It Fast®

This is the finisher’s medal for runDisney’s Tinkerbell Half Marathon that was held on January 19, 2014 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

Fun set of wings!

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[medal photo submitted by RIF #10 Dianna Seda. – Follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Women Rock 10K that took place on September 21, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.

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[medal photo submitted by RIF #10 Dianna Seda. – Follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda]

This is the medal the finishers of the Big Cottonwood Marathon & Half Marathon received on September 14, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is a big medal and it’s a spinner! They take Go Big seriously. 🙂 Here are a few more pics of it from RIF #10 Dianna who PRd the half marathon and from RIF #1 Josh who PRd the marathon.

Congrats Dianna and Josh! Way to Run It Fast!

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[medal photos submitted by RIF #10 Dianna Seda – follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda, and by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes – follow him on Twitter @bayou]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Chicago Half Marathon that was held on September 8, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.

Here are a few more pics of this great medal, including one from Bob Kibble who completed his first half marathon there! Congrats Bob!

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[medal photos submitted by RIF #10 Dianna Seda – follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda, and by Bob Kibble – follow him on Twitter @Bobs1stMarathon, and by Daniel Schell – follow him on Twitter @thedanielschell]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Fort 2 Base 10 Nautical Mile that was held on August 25, 2013 from Fort Sheridan to Naval Station Great Lakes in Chicago, Illinois.

Beautiful medal. I love the “Train-Race-Conquer” on the banner.

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[medal photo submitted by RIF #10 Dianna Seda. Follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda]

RIF #10 Dianna Seda

This week’s Run It Fast – The Club profile is #10 Dianna Seda. The picture above is Dianna with one of her coaches. You’ll have to read her profile to see the reason for that. So check it out!

Meet Dianna:

INFO
Name:  Dianna Seda
RIF #:  10
Blog:  http://diannaseda.wordpress.com/  (Goal for 2013 is to post more!)
Twitter:  @DiannaSeda
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/dianna.seda
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/diannaseda

STATS
Years Running: Been long distance running for the last 3 ½ years. However, have run consistently since I was 14!  <–Gasp! Let’s not do any math here!
Favorite Race Distance: Half Marathon
Favorite PR: 2:12:30 at Chicago Half Marathon 2012
Favorite Race: Hot Chocolate 15K in 2011
Favorite Bling: Love them all! Especially proud of Chicago Half Marathon 2012 which was my 1^st 13.1!

Next Races: So far…Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Soldier Field 10, Rock-n-Roll Chicago Half Marathon & Fort 2 Base (10 Nautical Miles) Year is still young, more to sign up for!
What Makes You FEEL Fast?:  When running the same race, when I realize  that my time has gotten better from one year to the next makes me feel GREAT!!!

FUN RUNNING QUESTIONS

Why did you start running?
When I was 14, my dad had asked my brother to go on a run with him. My brother said no and I remember very vividly how disappointed my dad looked so I spoke up and said I’d go. I lasted a whole quarter of a mile! I thought I was gonna just die! It hurt to breathe, I had a cramp in my side and I remember thinking “people really do this for fun?!” But, I stuck with it. I got stronger. I had some really good conversations with my dad. Over time, I found that I just enjoyed how a good run made me feel.

Who inspires your running and why?
My family inspires me to run.  They have all grown up knowing that I run. My girls find races for me to do. Last fall, they realized that a local zoo was having a fun run.  I had no idea until they pulled up the website and said, Go for it, Mommy!  It was certainly one of my more interesting runs, check out this crazy course that was mapped out on an app while I ran!

If you could go for a run with any famous person (living or dead), who would it be and why?
This is really going to sound goofy but quite honestly, I would just love to run with Forrest Gump! To have the ability and the time to just run and run sounds pretty great to me. No limitations on time, just free to go.

What’s the most beautiful place that you’ve run?
There are actually 2 places that I have found absolutely beautiful when running and those are San Diego and Sunset Beach, FL. In both places, I found myself running for miles along the water with no destination in mind just the peacefulness a runner gets when your mind and body are in tune with your surroundings.  There is just something magical about running in a warmer climate by the water. So far, nothing quite compares to it.

Have you ever worn a costume during a race? What was it and for what race? If not, would you?
Yes! I just dressed up in a Santa costume for the Santa Hustle 5K in Chicago. It was certainly one of the funnier races that I have run. It was a little chaotic and rather hard to find friends amongst 8000 Santas! I would certainly wear a costume again for a race but note to self, leave the beard at home!  Hot, hot, hot!

How many pairs of running shoes do you have and which pair are your favorites?
Currently, I have 6 pairs of running shoes.  I’m a girl, I love shoes and I don’t care if I don’t need them, I must have them! However, my current favorite is my Brooks. The 1^st time I put them on, they just felt right. I was able to get a 10 mile run in and my feet felt great!

Why do you race?
I race to feel stronger and to challenge myself to do better.  Even with all of the races that I have done over the years, I still get those pre-race jitters. Lots and lots of adrenaline pumping…but, crossing that finish line is the best feeling.

What running moment are you most proud of?
I have to say that I am the most proud of the fact that I didn’t let myself get intimidated by attempting to run my 1^st half marathon. While a lot of folks here are ultra marathoners, I firmly believe you are a runner no matter what the distance as long as you do it.  To think that only a little more than 3 ½ years ago, the farthest I had run was 4 miles. When I crossed the finish line knowing that I just completed 13.1 miles, I cannot even describe the elation and pride I felt in myself. On top of this, the race had provided a service where you could be tracked in real time. My 5 year old daughter sat and watched the computer screen for 2 hours while mommy’s little dot ran. When I realized how important it was to her that her mommy could do that, it made all the training worth it.

Finally, let me know if there’s anything else you would like the rest of the club to know that we didn’t cover in the questions.
Since joining the RIF community, I have met so many wonderful runners across the world. To be a part of a group that is so encouraging and welcoming is wonderful.  In the past, I would generally sign up for a race last minute, but it has inspired me to look ahead at what I might accomplish.. I have even started investigating races around the country. Would love to run a race in another city!  Hoping to meet some of my fellow RIF’rs in the near future!

***

Love the reason Dianna had to start running and the reasons she has to keep running. Just like the example her father set for her, she is setting a great example for her daughters. What’s even better is that they have become a part of her running, whether it’s by helping her find fun races or by cheering her on. She’s also right about one very important thing. It doesn’t matter if you run marathons or ultras. In fact, you don’t have to race at all…@bayou might get me for this but yeah, I said it! 😉 Do whatever makes you happy and whatever keeps you running. If that means 3 miles or 100, it’s up to you. Just run! 🙂

Thanks for sharing Diana! Good luck at the Shamrock Shuffle and 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 Dianna Seda]

This is the “medal” for the Hot Chocolate 15K that was held on November 4, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.

A mug is totally appropriate for this run. Even better would be if it were filled with hot chocolate and marshmallows at the finish line!

*Update* What do you know…it was! Here is a photo of Dianna drinking her hot chocolate as she enjoys the view of the Sears Tower.

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[medal photo submitted by RIF Member #10 Dianna Seda. Follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Chicago Half Marathon that took place on September 9, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.

Congrats to Run It Fast – Club members (RIF #10) Dianna Seda, who ran her first half marathon at Chicago, and (RIF #180) Brian Gardner who set a new PR at the race.

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[medal photo submitted by RIF Member #10 Dianna Seda. Follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the  Soldier Field 10 Miler that took place on May 26, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.

This one kinda smells Irish!

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[Medal submitted by RIF #10 Dianna Seda. Follow her on Twitter @DiannaSeda]