Run It Fast®

Here is the unique and creepy finisher’s medal from the 2011 Cookeville Haunted Half Marathon that took place on October 22, 2011 in Cookeville, Tennessee.

A very cool medal….notice the swinging legs hanging off the knee joints?

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/HALF/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[submitted by the great Dallas Smith who set the Tennessee state record for a 71-yr old in the half marathon with a time of 1:36. He took nearly 8 minutess off the old time.. Follow him on Twitter @smithbend]

Many of you were busy over the weekend, and we have the bling to validate your claims.

Here is the 2011 finisher’s medal from the Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon & Half Marathon.

This race took place on October 23, 2011 in Pennsylvania.

Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon Website

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal photo submitted by Kevin Hunsicker. Follow him on Twitter @KevOCCRN]

Last year, the Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon took place in Winchester, Tennessee in early October. Not many knew much about the event, but those that showed up were more than impressed by the organization, bling, and swag from the 1st year race.

The half marathon had 150 runners while the full marathon had 48 finishers.  Race Director Whitney Franklin is expecting to build on those numbers for the 2011 version.

This year the full marathon course is suppose to be even faster (fewer hills) and the finishing bling (medals) for both races will be even better than the inaugural version.  We’ve been given a preview of the finisher’s medals and they are VERY nice.

Franklin added, “The course is not pancake flat, but it’s not extremely challenging either. It has a few rolling hills and is very scenic, especially around Tims-Ford Lake.”

Both races start and finish on the square in downtown Winchester.

Also, the Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon is offering all RunItFast.com readers a $10 discount for the race. Just use the code ‘RunItFast’ when signing up.

Run It Fast will also be giving all runners who sign up with the ‘RunItFast’ code a RunItFast.com running tech shirt as well.

REGISTER HERE

The race also offers prize money both to the top runners in the full and half races.

Marathon (Male and Female): 1st – $350, 2nd – $300, 3rd – $250
Half Marathon (Male and Female): 1st – $200, 2nd – $150, 3rd – $100

Top Masters and Grandmasters will receive prize money as well.

Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Website

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a 22-year old man died while running the 13.1 Chicago Half Marathon on Saturday in Chicago.

The weather reached the mid 80’s towards the end. Temperatures for the race started at 79 and rose to around 86.  The race provided over 10 water stations along the course.

The race started under a yellow flag ‘be cautious, drink water, and pace yourself,’ before turning to a red flag ‘where clocks were turned off,’ before the race was black flagged ‘race cancelled.’

11 runners were taken to local hospitals due to heat related problems.

The Chicago Marathon faced similar issues a couple of years back when that race was also black flagged. Organizers for that race where ill-prepared and didn’t provide nearly enough water for racers that day.

Our condolences go out to the friends and family of the runner!

We sit on Madrid’s Plaza Mayor drinking beer and eating blood sausage, Albino and I.

My overnight flight into Madrid arrived this Saturday morning. Albino drove down to meet me from his home in Burgos, a city in the mountains 150 miles north of here. After walking around Madrid a bit, we’ve landed here. It is a little chilly but pleasantly sunny this February afternoon.

We sit at a table outside, the busy plaza spread before us.

Sharing our table are Belen and Yeya, two young women Albino called a few minutes ago. They are his age, which is half my age. I’m too sleepy to care about that, having missed a night’s sleep on the plane. We order another round of beer, another plate of tapas. Belen puffs Marlboros, Ducados for Yeya. The marathoners abstain.

You could argue that Albino and I ought to not be here. We are scheduled to run the Barcelona Marathon. We should be resting, saving our energy for the big show. But then that’s not until next weekend. Meanwhile, we have business here.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

Actor/comedian Drew Carey finished the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon on Sunday morning with an unofficial time of 1:57:02 according to a tweet Carey sent immediately after the race.

Carey, a former Marine, has lost nearly a 100 pounds over the last couple of years after doctors told him he was going to die if he didn’t change his eating and exercise habits.  He trained hard for his first half-marathon as his finishing time shows.

Congrats to Drew on his first half marathon!  Hopefully he will continue to run and inspire others!

Read More About Drew Carey

I received an email this morning from Melinda Tate, the RD for The Middle Half (Marathon) in Murfreesboro, TN, that the race has less than 500 spots left for the popular half marathon that takes place on October 15th.

Less that 500 spots are available for The Middle Half which will be held Saturday, October 15, 2011.

Once the race sells out, the cap will not be increased and there is no waiting list.

REGISTER NOW

Thanks to those of you who have already signed up…it’s going to be a fun year!

Melinda Tate
Race Director

The course is extremely flat and a great one to set a PR on.

Estes better hop on this now to retain his title as the ‘Half King!’

UPDATE: THE MIDDLE HALF HAS SOLD OUT!!! (MAY 11, 2011)

The Middle Half Website

Here are few random photos I took during the 39th annual Andrew Jackson Marathon that took place on April 9, 2011 in Jackson, Tennessee.

It was an unseasonably hot day as temperatures started in the high 70’s and reached about 90 degrees for some of the finishers.

The AJM also hosts a half marathon and 5K during the same time.

The 26.2 mile race takes place on gentle rolling hills in the beautiful western Tennessee countryside.

Official Andrew Jackson Marathon Website

Comedian/Actor Drew Carey, currently the host of The Price is Right and Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza, will run the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon according to Runner’s World CRO Bart Yasso Facebook update.

UPDATE: SEE HOW FAST DREW RAN HIS FIRST HALF MARATHON

The Marine Corps Historic  Half Marathon takes place on May 15th in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

It is likely not so random that Carey has chosen to run the Marine Corps race.  Drew was in the U.S. Marine Reserves for six years starting in 1980.

After a health scare Carey become serious about his diet and exercise. He has since lost nearly 100 pounds.  He will look to inspire others to do the same when he runs his first half marathon in May.

Drew tweted via his Twitter (@DrewFromTV) back on March 14th that he was planning to run the Marine Corps Half Marathon.

Random Drew Carey Fact: He was born with six toes on his right foot.

Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon Website

Here is the finisher’s medal from the 2011 Oak Barrel Half Marathon in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

The race was won by George Heeschen (story/results).

Oak Barrel Half Marathon Website

[photo: Scott Stader]