“The medal features “Scribbly,” the event’s running mascot-slash-graphic icon. Smaller versions of this 42.2K full marathon medal were presented to the half marathon finishers, relay teams and mini-marathon participants.”

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[medal photo submitted by Doug Russell (volunteer RD). Follow the race on Twitter @runQCM]

U.S. Olympian Ryan Hall Withdraws from 2012 ING New York City Marathon

                   Injuries Force Him Out of November 4 Race

New York, September 10, 2012- The 2012 ING New York City Marathon men's 
field will lose previously announced Ryan Hall due to a series of small but 
stubborn injuries, including plantar fasciitis and tightness in his legs, 
which have caused him to lose too much training time, it was announced 
today by New York Road Runners officials.

"I am very disappointed to not be able to run this year's ING New York City 
Marathon," said Hall, 29, of Redding, CA. "I was hoping that after some 
time off and treatment after the Games, the string of nagging injuries I've 
been dealing with this year would be behind me. After trying to run 
through, I came to the realization when keeping the big picture in mind, 
that I needed to take a longer break to let things heal and not rush the 
training. As much as I would love to still race after taking the break, my 
integrity will not let me show up to the line if I'm not fit."

Hall started the Olympic Marathon in London last month, but was forced to 
stop due to injury. The men's field features Hall's U.S. Olympic Marathon 
teammates Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman. Other top Americans include 
Jason Hartmann, Brett Gotcher, Nick Arciniaga, Scott Bauhs, Andrew Carlson, 
and Ryan Vail.

[press release]

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had 51 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

The Chicago Marathon has denied a request from 7-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong to run there in October.

The decision comes after a USADA ruling that stated Armstrong was guilty of using performance enhancing drugs for the past decade.

The USADA has stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France championships and banned him from all sports according to Runner’s World.

The road running community has been waiting to see if USA Track & Field, the national governing body for the sport, would enforce the ban on Armstrong. As a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency code, USATF is bound to enforce rulings by WADA and USADA.

The ban in other sports such as road running and triathlon has not been popular.

“It seems a little over the top to pursue him beyond the cycling arena to me,” said John Conley, whose company owns and operates the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon.

Do you agree with the decision of the Chicago Marathon to keep Lance Armstrong out of their race?

Do you believe Armstrong used blood doping or performance enhancing drugs during the marathons he’s run over the past few years?

This is the runDisney Coast to Coast Challenge Medal for 2012.

In order to earn this medal, runners must complete a half marathon or marathon on the east coast at Walt Disney World AND a half marathon on the west coast at Disneyland. You can run either coast first and you have options on each coast:

East Coast – Walt Disney World Half Marathon/Marathon, the Princess Half Marathon, and the Wine & Dine Half Marathon.

West Coast – Disneyland Half Marathon and the Tinkerbell Half Marathon.

Congratulations to Teal and Beth of @LifeisaRun who completed the Princess Half Marathon and the Disneyland Half Marathon this year to earn this awesome medal!

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[medal photo submitted by Teal and Beth. Follow them on Twitter @LifeisaRun]

This is the medal for the Tupelo Marathon that was held on September 2, 2012 in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Wild medal! Kind of scary and the motto is hardcore but I would run a marathon for this medal!

Here are a few more photos of some of the RIF – The Club members that were there, the back of the marathon medal, and the medal for the half marathon (actually 14.2 miles):

Love that the half marathon medal for this is a broken half of the marathon medal! Fun stuff!

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[medal and photo submitted by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes – follow him on Twitter @bayou and half marathon medal submitted by Leigh Eoff Marsh]

Runner’s World earlier today delved into the claim that Republican Vice President nominee Paul Ryan had run a sub-3 hour marathon.

Ryan made the claim to Hugh Hewitt in a radio interview that:

“Yeah, I hurt a disc in my back, so I don’t run marathons anymore. I just run ten miles or less.” When Hewitt asked Ryan what his personal best is, Ryan replied, “Under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something.”

WOW! Sub 3-hour marathon is really fast. Could we have a true Run It Fast VP? Well Runner’s World dug into the records of the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota where Ryan ran his only marathon.

The only results they could find where for a Paul D. Ryan, 20-years of old, from 1990. The time that ‘Paul D. Ryan’ ran that day? 4:01:25!

That’s not even sub-4 hour. Maybe Ryan was claiming 4:01:25 was his Eastern time zone finish and that since the race was in Minnesota it should be converted to 3:01:25 which is close to a sub-3 hour.

So what did Rep. Paul Ryan say when asked about the huge discrepancy?

“The race was more than 20 years ago, but my brother Tobin—who ran Boston last year—reminds me that he is the owner of the fastest marathon in the family and has never himself ran a sub-three. If I were to do any rounding, it would certainly be to four hours, not three. He gave me a good ribbing over this at dinner tonight.”

If I had run just one marathon and if it had been twenty years ago I’m not sure I would get my time right either, but I do believe I’d at least be in the right zip code.

Although it might be easy to ridicule Ryan over the flub, he should be praised for continuing to lead a healthy lifestyle. Reports have it that Ryan leads several other House members in P90X workouts most mornings before clocking in for work.

So how does Ryan’s marathon time stack up with other politicians over the years?

1. John Edwards – 3:30:18 (Marine Corps Marathon 1983)
2. Michael Dukakis – 3:31:00 (Boston Marathon 1951)
3. George Bush – 3:44:22 (Houston Marathon 1993)
4. Sarah Palin – 3:59:36 (Humpy’s Marathon 2005)
5. Paul Ryan – 4:01:25 (Grandma’s Marathon 1990)
6. Mike Huckabee – 4:37:29 (Marine Corps Marathon 2005)
7. Bill Frist – 4:54:36 (Marine Corps Marathon 1997)
8. Al Gore – 4:58:25 (Marine Corps Marathon 1997)
9. Tom Vilsack – 5:28:39 (Little Rock Marathon 2005)

Maybe one day we’ll have a highly elected official that has truly run a sub-3 hour marathon.

[source: Runner’s World and Wikipedia]

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had 51 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (September 1-2, 2012)

Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Aug 31 2012 19:28:06

This is the medal for the North Country Run that was held on August 25, 2012 in Wellston, Michigan.

The North Country Run includes a 50 Mile run, a marathon, and a half marathon. Check out the size of that medal! Love the detail on the medal too. This would be an awesome medal to earn.

Here’s a couple more photos of it and the race shirt:

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[Medals submitted by RIF #108 Mark Sikkila – follow him on Twitter @marksikkila and Kim LoBretto – follow Kim on Twitter @LoBrettoK]

This is the medal for the Santa Rosa Marathon and Half Marathon that was held on August 26, 2012 in Santa Rosa, California.

A cool, double spinner medal for this race. It pictures one of the many bridges the runners pass over on the course.

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[Medal submitted by Lisette Bovaird– follow her on Twitter @Under_4]