Run It Fast®

Arizona is on fire as the four teams in the Run It Fast ‘Race Across the USA‘ blazed across ‘The Grand Canyon State’ razing up ruts of asphalt on their way towards Flagstaff and beyond for one team.

The story of the day came from the back of the field as the Hope Shull Team laid down 149.88 miles after their lackluster 94.79 miles the day before. The 149.88 also topped their Day 1 mark of 108.5 miles. HST had the second most team miles for the day. This team was led by Kit Brazier and team captain Marylou Corino. Brazier’s miles from the day before came in after check-in last night. So they were included in today’s total along with another big run she put down. They totaled a whopping 39.65 miles.

Marylou put down two 15 spots today for 30.39 miles. One of the highest single day totals of the event. It was an inspirational push that has inspired her team to realize that they have a chance in this contest.  Hope’s team finished the day a few miles past Kingman, Arizona having been led by two queens.

The double-headed dragon performances from Marylou Corino and Kit Brazier are the ‘Race Across the USA’ –  Peak Performances of the Day.

The Jeffrey Price Team was strong once again today. They were down a bit mileage from yesterday’s high, but they topped their Day 1 total by a couple of miles. They had a large number of runners knock out double digit runs. Their biggest drama today was fighting each other to get out of the van, and back on the road, each runner wanting to pound more pavement. This team is really pushing each other at a very high level.

The break out star of the entire race so far has been JPT’s Tom Orr. Tom’s been building a mileage stairway to heaven over the first three days with totals of 16.09, 18.39, and 20.29. He is the ‘McFeely-Good’ story of the race so far.  ‘Double-Dime’ Heather McComb once again knocked out 20+ miles. Over the first 3 days of the event she has 65.24 miles. Karl Studtmann was strong again today running 20.16 miles, while, at the same time, taking 17 telemedicine calls (and nine from Leslie).

The team camped out atop Bill Williams Mountain in Williams, Arizona tonight at 6,765 feet. The West Tennesseans on the team kept referring to it as Mt Everest. JPT’s biggest mistake of the day was letting David ‘Smokeless’ Oglesby attempt to build the campfire. After a ‘loud’ text message from his wife Melissa, back in Tennessee, ‘500K Dave’ finally relented and let Donna Burns get the fire going. Jeffrey’s team finished the day with 144.16 miles, 2nd place overall and built upon their lead over third.

The Charlie Taylor Team had participation from all 15 members again today. The only team to have ‘perfect attendance’ over the first three days. The team had no massive-mile stars today, but everyone was solid with five reaching double-digits led by team captain Joshua Holmes‘ 13 miles. They finished the day with 112.5 miles just short of Seligman, Arizona. The team is healthy and sticking with their consistent, all-hands-on-deck approach. They remain in third place overall.

The Suzy Michelson Team fell off slightly today, but they still put down the most miles of Day 3 with 160.2 miles powered by five 20-mile days from Barry Reece, Captain Shane Tucker, Alex Barrientos, David Nichols, and led by Chris Clemens‘ 25.77 miles. Reece hit the 20-mile mark for the 3rd consecutive day. Kimberly Atkins added a half marathon+ after her 26.22 miles yesterday. This team has the most heavy hitters. If they can stay healthy, they will be tough to beat.

The team finished the day in Winslow.  A few minutes later, Mission Control received the following message from Clemens:

“Well, I’m a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
And such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford
Slowin’ down to take a look at me”

Captain  Tucker made sure to pay for the rooms in cash and not put a credit card down for incidentals.

Hopefully the team is taking it easy, having a good night on the town, and safely asleep by now.  The SMT may lose, or they might win, but it’s sure they will never be here again.

The Suzy Michelson Team remains in the overall lead with 534.01 miles covered for the race.

Day 3 Mileage Results of the Race Across the USA

• Suzy Michelson Team – 160.2 miles (10.68mi/runner)
• Jeffrey Price Team – 144.16 miles (9.61mi/runner)
• Charlie Taylor Team – 112.5 miles (7.50mi/runner)
• Hope Shull Team – 149.88 miles (9.99/runner)

RIF’s Race Across the USA Overall Standings (thru Day 3)

1. Suzy Michelson Team – 534.01 miles (178.00/day, 18.4% completed)
2. Jeffrey Price Team – 449.25  miles (149.78 mi/day, 15.5% completed)
3. Charlie Taylor Team – 392.9 miles (130.97 mi/day, 13.5% completed)
4. Hope Shull Team – 352.72 miles (117.57 mi/day, 12.1% completed)

 

Team Mileage Leader of the Day

• Suzy Michelson Team – Chris Clemens (25.77 mi)
• Jeffrey Price Team – Heather McComb (21.1 mi)
• Charlie Taylor Team – Joshua Holmes (13.0 mi)
• Hope Shull Team – Kit Brazier (39.65 mi)

Top 10 Mega-Miles of the Day

1. Kit Brazier (HST) – 39.65
2. Marylou Corino (HST) – 30.00
3. Chris Clemens (SMT) – 25.77
4. Heather McComb (JPT) – 21.10
5. David Nichols (SMT) – 20.53
6. Tom Orr (JPT) – 20.29
7. Shane Tucker (SMT) – 20.25
8. Alex Barrientos (SMT) – 20.23
9. Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 20.16
10. Barry Reece (SMT) – 19.98

Top 11 Race Mile Leaders

1. Barry Reece  (SMT) – 69.0
2. Chris Clemens (SMT) – 66.32
3. Heather McComb (JPT) – 65.24
4. Kit Brazier (HST) – 57.89
5. Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 56.78
6. Alex Barrientos (SMT) – 55.56
7. Tom Orr (JPT) – 54.77
8. Thomas Fowler  (SMT) – 54.23
9. Marylou Corino – (HST) – 52.5
10. Randy Broadway (HST) – 50.0
11. Kimberly Atkins (SMT) – 49.91

Daily Updates and Standings Archive

• 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…

The Run It Fast ‘Race Across the USA‘ relay continued to move eastward on Day 2 with the Suzy Michelson Team starting the day with a comfortable lead over the Jeffrey Price Team. But is that how the day ended? Who made it to Arizona and who didn’t? Who was the star performer of the day? All those answers await you below!

Day 2 saw 56 of the 60 runners put down a total of 596.0 miles. Amazingly that is 30 miles more than these four teams aggressively, on fresh legs, put down yesterday on Day 1. Every runner on the Charlie Taylor Team and Suzy Michelson Team once again put down miles today maintaining ‘perfect attendance’ of their team members over the first 48 hours of the race.

The Charlie Taylor Team’s Seth Crowe left the Crowe’s Nest late, last night for a run, only to return home, and leave it for four more runs today. Amidst cold temps and rain, Seth kept Crowe, Crowe, Crowe’ing his leggy-boat aggressively down the street. A throw-back Flintstonian who easily averaged more miles with his legs today than his beat-up Chevy pickup can garner coasting downhill with a full load.

A man on a mission with five runs of of 10.07, 10.31, 12.0, 3.0, and 2.01 for a total of 37.39 miles. Seth is the Race Across the USA Performance of the Day.

Kimberly Atkins impressed her team (SMT) and competition by walking 26.22 miles today in the brrr, brrr, bodiddley, frigid cold. An impressive feat for sure.

While Georgia native Heather McComb (JPT) knocked our her second consecutive 20+ mile day with 24.12 miles for a total of 44.14 miles over the first 2 days. Barry Reece (SMT) did the same as well with 22.0 miles (49.02/2 day total).

Other big mile stars from Day 2 included Chris Clemens (SMT) 25.55 mi, Randy Broadway (HST) 21.0 mi, and 8x Badwater 135 veteran, Karla Kent (JPT) 22.58 mi.

Day 2 Mileage Results of the Race Across the USA

• Suzy Michelson Team – 184.84 miles (12.32mi/runner)
• Jeffrey Price Team – 162.9 miles (10.86mi/runner)
• Charlie Taylor Team – 153.47 miles (10.23mi/runner)
• Hope Shull Team – 94.79 miles (6.32mi/runner)

RIF’s Race Across the USA Overall Standings (thru Day 2)

1. Suzy Michelson Team – 373.81 miles (186.91mi/day, 12.8% completed)
2. Jeffrey Price Team – 305.19 miles (152.60mi/day, 10.5% completed)
3. Charlie Taylor Team – 280.4 miles (140.20mi/day, 9.7% completed)
4. Hope Shull Team – 202.84 miles (101.42mi/day, 7.0% completed)

The Suzy Michelson Team kept unleashing big run after big run and made it to Needles, AZ before midday. They kept the pedal down with three team members going for 20+ miles and a total of seven in double digits. They gathered 184.84 miles on Day 2, almost matching their impressive Day 1 total of 188.97. The Suzy’s have now set their sight on making it to Flagstaff, AZ tomorrow. If the lactic acid in their legs and the high altitude getting to Flagstaff doesn’t slow them tomorrow then nothing might.

A member of another team was peddling a rumor around that Chris Clemens was trying to talk his team into a ‘quick’ detour north of Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon for a quick R2R2R out and back. Whether true or fake news, SMT captain Shane Tucker will use his school room laser focus and discipline to keep his team on track.

The Jeffrey Price Team was one of two teams to put down more miles on Day 2. JPT ended the day with 162.9 miles, which topped their Day 1 total by over 20 miles. They kept thinking they could see the SMT far in the distance, and it kept them a churning. However, that dry arid air, and desert landscape was likely creating a mirage that didn’t match reality, because they finished the day in a strong second place with 305.19 miles but a big 68.62 mile gulp behind the SMT.  They did increase their lead over the third place team by +9 miles.

Team Note: Aaron Braunstein has been placed on the Disabled List with a calf issue. His status is Day-to-Day.

The Charlie Taylor Team spent most of the day with bedazzled eyes after Seth Crowe put down his 5-run performance of 37.39 miles. But later in the afternoon, the team kicked into gear as every member once again put down miles including strong double digits from Steve Acciarito, Tiffani Glass, Jeremy Reed, Elva Matamoros, and Joshua Holmes. The team’s strength so far has been it’s consistency and snacks. Steve has taken it upon himself after his morning runs to make sure everyone’s nutrition is on point. He has dubbed himself the ‘Snack Coach.’ Say what you will but multiple cups of chocolate pudding has kept this team from boinking and also from putting down more miles than they need to this early. Luckily the team RV is always nearby as the desert is barren and mostly treeless during this stage of the race. They finished the day with 153.47 miles, a +26 mile jump over yesterday. This gives them a total of 280.4 miles solidly ahead of the HST and still within reach of the JPT.

That leaves the Hope Shull Team. Let’s just say the Cracker Barrel hangover is not a myth. The HST was sluggish from the start today. Some pundits worried HST would come out too aggressive today trying to chase down the other teams to try to erase the early deficit they amassed yesterday. By 10am, no one had that worry any more. By noon, team captain Marylou Corino said something that we can’t repeat here. But she theorized that if they stopped for lunch at the Cracker Barrel, in Needles, Arizona, that it would somehow reverse the curse, hangover, or whatever. She was probably just hungry. The team did bond over lunch, soothed some egos, and put down respectable miles in the afternoon. This included double digits from Ben Herron, Rachael Anderson, Randy Broadway, and Marylou. They only ran with 12 runners today and that for sure played a factor. They finished the day with 94.79 miles and are a good bit back of the pack, but there is thousands of miles of race to go. Their stated goal is to make it to Kingman, AZ tomorrow night.

Team Mileage Leader of the Day

• Suzy Michelson Team – Kimberly Atkins (26.22 mi)
• Jeffrey Price Team – Heather McComb (24.12 mi)
• Charlie Taylor Team – Seth Crowe (37.39 mi)
• Hope Shull Team – Randy Broadway (21.0 mi)

Top 10 Mega-Miles of the Day

1. Seth Crowe (CMT) – 37.39
2. Kimberly Atkins (SMT) – 26.22
3. Chris Clemens (SMT) – 25.55
4. Heather McComb (JPT) – 24.12
5. Karla Kent (JPT) – 22.58
6. Barry Reece (SMT) – 22.00
7. Randy Broadway (HST) – 21.0
8. Tom Orr (JPT) – 18.39
9. David Nichols (SMT) – 17.75
10. Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 16.35

Top 10 Race Mile Leaders

1. Barry Reece  (SMT) – 49.2
2. Thomas Fowler  (SMT) – 46.2
3. Heather McComb (JPT) – 44.14
4. Chris Clemens (SMT) – 40.55
5. Seth Crowe (CTT) – 39.46
6. Karl Studtmann (JPT) – 36.62
7. Jeremy Reed (CTT) – 36.31
8. Kimberly Atkins (SMT) – 36.25
9. Alex Barrientos (SMT) – 35.33
10. Randy Broadway (HST) – 35.0

Daily Updates and Standings Archive

• 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…

The Run It Fast ‘Race Across the USA‘ relay got off to an amazing start today. It was almost as if all four teams were shot out of a cannon from the Santa Monica Pier towards the East Coast.

All four team’s eager to run in the newly minted ‘smog-less’ Los Angeles air, took off like 7-year old’s at a 5K with ill-regard to pacing or exactly where they were headed (more on that below).

Day 1 saw a remarkable 57 of the 60 runners put down a total of 566.24 miles. Every runner on the Charlie Taylor Team and Suzy Michelson Team put down miles today.

Jeremy Reed, of the Charlie Taylor Team, set the tone immediately, not just his team, but everyone in the race, when at 12:01 am he laid down a strong 12.0 mile run. He followed it up later in the day with a 11-mile piece.

But the big-mileage stars of the day were Barry Reece (27.02 mi) and Thomas Fowler (31 mi) from the Suzy Michelson Team.

Other heavy hitters from day one included Alex Barrientos (SMT – 20.05 mi), Jeremy Reed (CTT – 22.11), Heather McComb (JPT – 20.02), and Karl Studtmann (JPT – 20.27).

Our youngest runner, Juleann Roberts (HST) put down 7.02 miles.

RIF’s Race Across the USA Standings (Day 1)

1. Suzy Michelson Team – 188.97 miles (12.6mi/r)
2. Jeffrey Price Team – 142.29 miles (9.49mi/r)
3. Charlie Taylor Team – 126.93 miles (8.46mi/r)
4. Hope Shull Team – 108.05 miles (7.20mi/r)

Now the good stuff. Where exactly are the teams after Day 1?

Well, they might be at a convenient care by Thursday, but the Suzy Michelson Team, with smoke still on their soles, is currently at 188.97 miles. They are halfway between Barstow, CA and Needles, AZ resting at a Motel 6 for the night. No word yet if they set an alarm or not.

Next down the road is the Jeffrey Price Team at 142.29 miles. They are about 15 miles past Barstow on I-40 with hopes to get to Needles tomorrow and close the gap with the SMT.

The Charlie Taylor Team currently sits in 3rd, with 126.93 miles, and is also sitting at a honky-tonk in Barstow just as Charlie would have insisted. They appear to be well lubricated for the road ahead tomorrow. No word if they will start back from the honky-tonk around 3am or attempt sleep somewhere.

If the Hope Shull Team is telling their family and friends they are in fourth place then they are probably be congratulated proudly by them for being in 4th. Hopefully, they didn’t finish the sentence with, “…out of four teams.”

More detail could be added, but to get straight to the point for Hope’s Team, a wrong turn just off the I-10 ‘mare’ miles into the race led to a quick detour to Gus’s Fried Chicken. Once there the team refueled on chess pie, sweet tea, and chicken. They also used the opportunity to study the map and refocus on how to get back on the correct route. They did finish the day strong and made up a good bit of lost time. They finished the day with 108.05 miles and are near Bell Mountain which is just past Victorville, CA. Victorville is the site of the first Cracker Barrel in CA that opened just two years ago. Marylou insisted the team finish with a team meal there before retiring for the night a couple miles on down the road.

Team Mileage Leader of the Day

• Suzy Michelson Team – Thomas Fowler (31.01 mi)
• Jeffrey Price Team – Karl Studtmann (20.27 mi)
• Charlie Taylor Team – Jeremy Reed (22.11 mi)
• Hope Shull Team – Kit Brazier (18.24 mi)

Top 10 Mega-Miles of the Day

1. Thomas Fowler – 31.01 (SMT)
2. Barry Reece – 27.02 (SMT)
3. Jeremy Reed – 22.11 (CTT)
4. Karl Studtmann – 20.27 (JPT)
5. Alex Barrientos – 20.05 (SMT)
6. Heather McComb – 20.02 (JPT)
7. Kit Brazier – 18.24 (HST)
8. Tom Orr – 16.09 (JPT)
9. Chris Clemens – 15.00 (SMT)
10. Randy Broadway – 14.00 (HST)

A long way to go, but it was a wonderful start to the Race Across the USA Relay.

Run It Fast’s ‘Race Across the USA’ kicks off at midnight on April 13, 2020. It will pit four teams comprised of 60 Run It Fast members racing each other across the United States. The race starts on the Santa Monica Pier in California, just outside of Los Angeles, and will go all the way to New York City.

The teams will cover the 2,907 miles by team members submitting their day running/walking/hiking miles to their team captain daily. This will be done via screenshots of their Strava/Garmin/GPS from an outside run or via a photo of their treadmill displaying the appropriate data.

The four teams are named after Run It Fast members that passed on from us way too soon. It’s a simple way we can help remember them and keep their legacy close to us.

Race Across the USA Team Names

• Charlie Taylor Team
• Hope Shull Team
• Suzy Michelson Team
• Jeffrey Price Team

Team Rosters for the Run It Fast’s ‘Race Across the USA’

Participant Rules:

• Can start Monday 4/13/2020 at 12:00 A.M. of the time zone you are currently residing in.
• No less than 1.0 mile for any outing. You can submit as many runs/walks/hikes you want a day that you do. Each one just must be at least 1.0 miles.
• You MUST have GPS (prefer Strava/Garmin) and send a snapshot of each run/walk/hike to your team captain within 24 hrs. If you happen to forget to turn in your miles you have 48 hrs to get them in before those particular miles expire. Treadmill miles count too and just need a snapshot sent as well. 
• Map will be updated 1x per day with all team progress.

Any other rules that need to be created or issues that arise will be decided and agreed upon by the four captains.

A big thanks to all these runners taking part, and a special big thanks to the captains:  Shane Tucker, Marylou Corino, Melissa Price, Joshua Holmes, and Jill Williams, who is our Mission Control helping keep us straight with all the numbers and logistics.