Run It Fast®

Here is the finisher’s medal from the The Cowtown Half Marathon that was held on February 26, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas.

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[medal photos submitted by Alex Castillo. Follow him on Twitter @acast2377]

Here is the unique and pretty finisher’s medal from Disney’s Princess 1/2 Marathon that was held on February 26, 2012 at EPCOT.

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[medal photos submitted by Beth Lynch. Follow her on Twitter @bethlynch]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the 2012 LIVESTRONG Austin Marathon that took place in Austin, Texas on February 19, 2012.

Cool medal. Lot of detail and references to Austin. Stays true to the LIVESTRONG brand.

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[medal photo submitted by Aaron Johnstone. Follow him on Twitter @TexasRunnr]

Here is one of the best medals we’ve received so far this year. It’s the finisher’s medal from the 2012 Woolley Run 50K-Marathon-Half Marathon that took place on February 18, 2012 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

This race did a good job of not doing anything ass-backwards or did they…

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[medal photos submitted by Jack Curtis. Follow him on Twitter @JackCurtis_WA]

The Run It Fast Running Club

Run It Fast is a way of life for both beginning and veteran endurance athletes. RIF is open to everyone and is simply a motto for pushing past your own limits to go further, faster, and do more than you ever have before. Everyone’s ‘Fast’ is relative and 100% subjective.

As a part of the Run It Fast Running Club you will receive a Run It Fast tech shirt for joining. There is not a better way to receive encouragement at a race than to be sporting the RIF shirt. You will hear ‘Run It Fast’ at the exact moment your energy dips or you need that extra push to finish that race or set a new PR.

In addition, you will have access to Run It Fast coaches to discuss running your first 5K, half marathon, marathon, or ultra. You will also receive discounts on Run It Fast clothing/merchandise and to future RIF races, events, and non-RIF races where we can procure a group discount.

We are also working on creating a place on RunItFast.com for you to store your races and results in addition to a point system to rank runners to create end of the year awards based on total distance, speed, and other factors.

If you’ve wanted to be part of a national running community to encourage and be encouraged by others you will enjoy being a part of the Run It Fast Team.

Membership Pricing:
New Members: $35 (includes Run It Fast tech shirt & shipping)
Renewals $15 per year

First 150 to join will be entered into a drawing for a free Garmin 310XT GPS watch!

First member from each different state will be entered into a drawing for a Running Warehouse gift card!

Benefits: Run It Fast tech shirt, RIF membership card, becoming part of RIF community, discounts at various races/RIF events and running stores, access to RIF coaches, place to store and keep track of your races, discounts on RIF merchandise and gear, point scoring system for male and female runner of the year and other awards.

The sooner you join the lower your Run It Fast badge # will be.

*If you already have a Run It Fast shirt then please email RIF at RunItFast@gmail.com for a discount code to join (without shirt, unless you want another one).

Here is the colorful and very vibrant finisher’s medal from the 2012 Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Pete Half Marathon that took place on February 12, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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[medal photo submitted by BeardRunJax. Follow him on Twitter @BeardRunJax]

Competitor, the for-profit group that owns and puts on the popular, yet controversial Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon and 1/2 marathon races is not making too many new friends with the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Pete 1/2 Marathon that takes place this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida (event website).

The biggest complaint this time is the unexpected costs and inconveniences that runners anticipate encountering on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

Rock ‘n’ Roll events are pricey. For this 1/2 marathon it is costing runners north of $105.00 ($125.00 if you sign up at the Expo on Saturday).  That is a lot of money for a HALF MARATHON. Almost $10 bucks a mile! Ouch!!!

But no one is forcing runners to pay that much and Rock ‘n’ Roll/Competitor is having record turnouts across the country.  I have stopped running the more expensive races myself.  I did get into the 2012 Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon with some heavy discounts for $40.

I run lots of marathons and ultras. I try to have a simple formula on what I’m willing to pay for a race. I usually try to not pay more than $3/mile.  So roughly my limit for a 26.2 mile marathon is $78.60.  For an ultra-marathon it’s more like $2/mile (50 miler @ $100/limit or 100 miler @ $200/limit).

But normally I tend to try to stay away from RNR events, especially after the disaster on the Las Vegas strip this past December during the 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon (and Half Marathon).

So why exactly are RNR St. Pete runners upset according to WTSP 10 in Tampa/St. Pete?

In addition to the $100+ entry to run, runners are being charged:

• $15 to park at the Expo on Friday or Saturday to pick up their race bib
• $15 to park near the start of the RNR St. Pete 1/2 on Sunday
• $10 to get a shuttle ride from the finish line of the race back to their car or walking 45 minutes back (the race finishes 2.3 miles from the start).

To quote an agree Facebook poster, “That’s absurd!  Pay to run, pay to park, pay to get to start/finish.  Just raise the entry fee and quit nickel and diming everyone!”

And that pretty much sums it up! However, if you are going to run a RNR event or a race in a large city then you should be prepared for additional costs and inconveniences.

Rock ‘n’ Roll isn’t without its flaws though as was mentioned repeatedly here after the trainwreck that was Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas (see HERE).

Big events can be fun but the true beauty of running is often found at smaller races where you can actually run without obstruction and without stress.

Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Pete is expecting over 8,000 runners for the inaugural event.

Related: The Nightmare on the Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon Full of Sin

[RNR marathons run: RNR Las Vegas (2x), RNR Country Music (2x), RNR San Diego (very first marathon), RNR New Orleans]

[source: WTSP Tampa]

Here is our first look at the inaugural 2012 Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon finisher’s medal from the race that took place on January 29, 2012 in Anaheim, California at Disneyland.

Big and beautiful! Disney knows how to put together some bling when it comes to it’s series of races in Orlando and Anaheim.

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[medal photo submitted by Kiki. Follow her on Twitter @GLITZANDBLITZ]

Congrats to Kiki on finishing her first half marathon!!!

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 17 of you responded!

Best of luck to you all running this weekend and those running at the Olympic Trials in Houston as well.

Joshua Holmes – Training runs in Maui and maybe a small marathon before next weekend’s Maui Oceanfront Marathon. #runitfast

Frank Hostetter  – Resolution 5k/10k in Orange Park, FL

Lisa Gonzales – I’m running local trails and going to hit every hill I can find so I’ll be ready to smoke some boys in Feb! 😉

Marielle Genovesi – Gotham Cup college meet, The Armory in NYC#oneontastate

Maricel Bautista – I’m running the Resolution 10K Race tomorrow in Orange Park FL!

Scott Gorski – Samson Stomp – 5k, Milwaukee Cty. Zoo

Caitlin E. Brown – Phoenix Rock ‘n Roll!

Rebecca Elrod – The @TRAXRunning Frozen 4 in Bowling Green, KY. It looks like it could be a four-miler in snow… 🙂

elizabeth v rehmer – livingston my half marathon w-Nike+

Craig Brett – 11 miles of The Rough and Tumble. Mud and hills what more could you want.

Nolan Holloway – running stone mountain park. training for a 5k in Feb.

Karla Riemer – a snowy 12 miler in my hometown!

jufreeze – Either Georgia or South Carolina, not sure but at least 7 miles

Kristin Auci – Freehold NJ Winter Series 5K on Sunday

Monkey Trent – I’ll be running SwmpStomper 50+ k in Memphis’ Shelby Forest.

Gerard Pescatore – Icicle 10 Miler in Wilmington, DE on Sunday! Brrrrrrrr

Willie Way – LVTC Fund the Fund 10k, Saturday.

Here is a look at the 15th Anniversary Walt Disney World Half Marathon finisher’s medal from the race that was held on January 7, 2012 in Orlando Florida.

This medal is on the large side and is die-cut using the 0 in 2012 to double as Donald Duck’s eye.  It is the 15th anniversary medal of the Disney Half Marathon, and it’s obvious more went into the design than in previous years.

The race started and finished at EPCOT and included a tour around the Magic Kingdom and through the big castle along the way.

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More Photos of the Disney Half Marathon Medal