Run It Fast®

This is the medal for the Paramount Ranch Trail Half Marathon that was held on December 15, 2012 in Calabasas, California.

This trail race takes place on an old western movie set so the cowboy boots fit this race perfectly. It’s a fun medal with a cool design!

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[Medal submitted by RIF #5 Lisa Gonzales. Follow her on on Twitter @runlikeacoyote]

This is the medal for the ZombieRunner Bay Trail Run Marathon that was held on December 15, 2012 in Palo Alto, California.

Congratulations to RIF #140 Dennis who completed his 1st marathon there!

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #140 Dennis Arriaga.  Follow him on Twitter @dennarr]

RIF #186 Danny Staggs

This week’s Run It Fast – The Club profile is #186 Danny Staggs. Danny is another one of our newly minted ultra runners. He just completed his first ultra at the Black Diamond 40 Mile on Black Friday and came in 4th! What a great ultra debut!

Meet Danny:

INFO
Name: Danny Staggs
RIF #: 186
Facebook: Danny Staggs

STATS
Years Running: 12
Favorite Race Distance: Marathon
Favorite PR: Oct. 2009 Louisville Marathon 3:43:44
Favorite Race: Loonies Midnight Marathon. This was my hometown’s first marathon and I just happened to be co-race director. I also ran in it and had a blast.
Favorite Bling: Little Rock Marathon. The medal is huge with a spinner in the center. It was so heavy I didn’t leave it around my neck for very long.

Next Race: Rocket City Marathon Dec 8, 2012
What Makes You FEEL Fast?: When it’s warm enough I like to run without a shirt. I always feel faster even though I may not actually be faster.

FUN RUNNING QUESTIONS
Who inspires your running and why?
My wife and daughter are my greatest inspiration. They have always been very supportive of me even before they began running. Years ago they would call me crazy for training in nasty weather and such, but now they run and participate in races and understand why I was always out there pushing myself.

Which of your running routes makes you the happiest and why?
I love training on the Loonies Marathon Course. It brings back memories of the Marathon training runs we held leading up to the race. We would invite other runners to come and train on the course. It also brings back memories of the race itself which was so much fun.

What is the thing you splurge on after a race?
I always enjoy a big hamburger as a reward.

Why do you race?
The number one reason I race is for the sense of accomplishment I feel after I’ve pushed myself to my limits both physically and mentally.

Big races or small races? And why?
Small races without a doubt. The pre race logistics are much less stressful in smaller races.

What is the one piece of running gear you can’t leave the house without?
Since I’ve been running in them I would have to say my Hoka shoes.

What’s your pre-race routine?
Wake up two hours before the race, eat breakfast which usually consists of oatmeal, yogurt, banana with peanut butter and pop tarts. I then take a shower and relax as much as possible before the race. I always like to get to the race at least thirty minutes prior to start time.

What running moment are you most proud of?
Running with my wife and daughter in a 5K race this past spring and crossing the finish line together. Words can’t describe the feeling.

Finally, Danny had this to share with the RIF readers:
I started running in the spring of 2000 as a way to lose weight and better my overall health. When I first started running regularly I was 40 pounds heavier and felt sluggish most of the time. My first race was a 5K in the summer of 2000 and I was hooked. I completed my first Marathon in April, 2001. Since then I’ve completed 46 Marathons and one Ultra Marathon along with numerous shorter distances. Most of my Marathons have taken place in the last 3 years with 15 of them in 2012. My current goal is to complete 50 Marathons before I reach age 50. If my body holds up I should easily reach that goal soon.

If I could give any running advice I would say to just stick with it. It’s not always easy and setbacks such as injuries will occur. It’s easy to get frustrated when things are not going as planned and things may not always fall into place like we hoped they would but if you continue to set goals and keep reaching for them amazing things can happen in your life. The people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made through running are better than any award I will ever receive.

***

Danny wasn’t kidding when he said his wife and daughter support his running. They crewed for him at the Black Diamond 40 Mile and they were a great help to all the runners. Danny must have really encouraged his daughter, Amanda, as well because she just became a member of Run It Fast – The Club (RIF #210) too! Welcome Amanda!

It’s kind of funny that I had planned to post Danny’s profile this week on RIF. Sometimes, we get a message from an unexpected source and the advice that Danny shared in his last paragraph was something I needed to hear this week. It’s a good reminder we can all use at times in our running careers. Things won’t always be perfect but I guess that’s what makes it so satisfying when we do reach our goals, whether it’s your 1st marathon or your 46th. Thank you Danny for sharing that and letting us interview you.

Good luck at Rocket City this weekend and on your quest to do 50 by 50. I have no doubt you will 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 Danny Staggs]

RIF #181 Donna as an honorary Hatfield at the Hatfield McCoy Marathon

Time for another Run It Fast – The Club profile! This week, we are spotlighting RIF #181 Donna Pittman. I met Donna at the Flying Monkey Marathon earlier this month and we got to run for a little while together which I really enjoyed. The Flying Monkey Marathon is hard enough but Donna had a little mishap during it that made it even more challenging but she survived…I mean, finished and got her first Monkey kill. Read her “don’t” below to read all about it!

Meet Donna:

INFO
Name: Donna Pittman
RIF #: 181
Blog: www.themommyminute.blogspot.com
Facebook: Donna Johnson Pittman

STATS
Years Running: 5.5 years
Favorite Race Distance: 13.1
Favorite PR: Kentucky Derby Marathon
Favorite Race: Oak Barrel Half Marathon
Favorite Bling: Hatfield-McCoy Marathon finisher’s plaque in a mason jar.
Next Race: My first trail marathon at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky on March 9.
What Makes You FEEL Fast?: Finishing strong and when I do tiny races and come out with an age group placement.

FUN RUNNING QUESTIONS
Who inspires your running and why?
The members of this RIF Club inspire me daily. I love how so many are “outside the box” runners completing extreme challenges in terms of distances, back-to-back races, running on trails and up mountains. You all search out adventure, not just another 5K PR, and I need more people like that in my life.

What is the strangest/funniest thing you’ve ever seen while running?
The strangest thing I’ve ever DONE on a run was at the Run Under the Stars in June of this year. I guess because it is a night race or because I overloaded on sodium, my feet swelled to the point that my shoes no longer fit by mile 13. I had huge blisters and all my toenails hurt. I thought I was going to have to finish in flip flops. Then I figured if MY shoes didn’t fit, why not try someone else’s? My friend James had already run about 20 miles in his shoes and was switching to fresh ones. So, I put on his hot, sweaty men’s shoes three sizes too big and completed my first 50K in them. My friends said I looked like I was running in clown shoes, but hey, whatever works.

Which of your running routes makes you the happiest and why?
My happy place is the Bicentennial Trail in Ashland City, TN. It is 17 minutes from my house. On one side, it is a four-mile paved path along the river. There is an old wooden bridge to cross and even a little waterfall in one spot. The other side is a dirt road/trail along the river for a few miles, then I follow the road through a campground, beside a little beach, and past Cheatham Dam. It’s where I discovered long-distance running. The first time I ever ran 13.1 miles was there. 6. Have you ever worn a costume during a race? What was it and for what race? If not, would you?

Why do you race?
Well, certainly not to win! I love being a part of the community of runners. That camaraderie is my favorite part. I talk to people in port-o-john lines. I initiate conversations on the course. I stay afterwards just hanging out. I enjoy spending time with my old friends and make new ones. In two of my five marathons, I’ve made a friend around mile 13 and stayed with him/her until the end. We shared our life stories (at my pace, we are talking for 2+ hours….), but most importantly, we shared the suffering. Suffering shared is so much better than suffering alone. I do races for fun, mostly, but a few times a year, I go all out to see what my body can do. I’ve only “left it all out there” a couple of times though. I need to do that more often.

What was your biggest “don’t” of a race?
Falling down at the 10.7 mark of the Flying Monkey Marathon is my biggest “don’t.” I had never fallen on pavement or a trail before. One minute I was talking to Lisa Gonzales, the next minute I was looking at sky. I stepped in a pothole in the asphalt, rolled my left ankle, and went down hard on the right side. I sprained my ankle and my wrist. Then I had to run 15.5 more miles. But, I figure the Monkey was going to hurt anyway…..

What running moment are you most proud of?
The race I’m most proud of is the April 2012 Kentucky Derby Marathon. I trained hard, studied the course, and wrote a detailed race plan of what pace when. I even wrote my goal splits in Sharpie on my arm for miles 13, 16, 20, 23, and 25. I executed my plan exactly, ran negative splits, and finished 3 minutes ahead of my “best-case scenario” goal. It was a nine-minute PR, and I definitely left it all out there. Those last couple of miles hurt, but were my fastest of the day.

Finally, we asked Donna if there was anything else she would like the rest of the club to know and that is what she had to share:
When I started running in 2006, I absolutely fell in love. Running changed my life. I knew I had to share this amazing experience with others, so I became a RRCA certified running coach. Over the last three years, I’ve coached aspiring runners ages 5-12, led two Couch to 5K training groups, and have helped 122 runners and run/walkers cross their first half-marathon finish line. As a coach, I’ve discovered that most people just need someone to believe in them. I love sharing my passion with others!

***

Donna said she admires RIF – The Club members for being ” “outside the box” runners ” but I think she shows a lot of that herself…like wearing “clown shoes” so she can keep running at the Run Under The Stars race (a timed, loop race). She also obviously has a LOT of determination to not quit after spraining her ankle while running the Flying Monkey. She passed me later on in the race and I had no idea that she was hurting like that! I admire Donna for her guts, her outside the box thinking, and her willingness to help other runners and give back! Thanks for sharing Donna! Good luck with your next race and…Run It Fast!

I am seeing an awesome trend while doing these profiles of Run It Fast – The Club members. So many of them are helping others and giving back to the running community and I think that’s what makes it such a great club. It is so cool to have so many supportive and encouraging runners help each other and push each other to be the best we can be!

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 Donna Pittman]

This is the medal for the Inaugural Black Diamond 40 Miler that was held on Black Friday, November 23, 2012 in Jackson, Tennessee.

So cool that the medal has a map of the route on it. Love it! This is a photo of the back of the medal and the award that RIF #1 Joshua Holmes won for winning the race. Congrats Josh!

Check out the full results here: Inaugural Black Diamond 40 Miler + Relay Results 

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[Medal photos submitted by RIF #1 Joshua Holmes.  Follow him on Twitter @bayou]

This is the medal for the San Dimas Turkey Trot 10K that was held on November 24, 2012 in San Dimas, California.

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[Medal submitted by RIF #5 Lisa Gonzales. Follow her on on Twitter @runlikeacoyote]

This is the medal for the Kaiser Realty Coastal Half Marathon that was held on November 24, 2012 in Orange Beach, Alabama.

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #192 Leigh Marsh. Follow Leigh on Twitter @MsPrincessLeigh]

This is the medal for the Big Sur Half Marathon that was held on November 18, 2012 in Monterey Bay, California.

Beautiful ceramic medal!

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #140 Dennis Arriaga.  Follow him on Twitter @dennarr]

RIF #159 Diane Bolton has raced her way into 2nd place in the Run It Fast – Club Extreme Racer standings!  The women are slowly but surely gaining on the men as they now hold 6 of the top 10 spots on the Leaderboard. The men better step up!

RIF #194 Steve Hughes extended his lead even further during the month of October to keep his commanding lead (1832.4 points) in the standings. RIF #159 Diane Bolton is in 2nd place (1322.71 points), and RIF #190 John Kent Leighton is now in 3rd (1304.58 points).

The Men’s Leaderboard is the same as the Overall Leaderboard for the first two spots with RIF #1 Joshua Holmes in 3rd (1286.8 points) to round out the top 3.

Diane is leading the women and she is followed by RIF #124 Michelle Walker in 2nd (618.1 points) and RIF #44 Heather Shoemaker in 3rd (544.4 points).

The race for places 2-4 is pretty close so check back next month to see what happens! In the meantime, here is the complete standings through October 2012:

Top Ten Leaderboard
1. Steve Hughes – 1832.4 (RIF#194)
2. Diane Bolton – 1322.71 (RIF#159)
3. John Kent Leighton – 1304.58 (RIF#190)
4. Joshua Holmes – 1286.8 (RIF#1)
5. Hideki Kinoshita – 1075.2 (RIF#88)
6. Michelle Walker – 618.1 (RIF#124)
7. Heather Shoemaker – 544.4 (RIF#44)
8. Nadia Ruiz Gonzales – 509.1 (RIF#69)
9. Shannon Burke – 498.93 (RIF#171)
10. Laura Raeder – 461.8 (RIF#20)

Men’s Leaderboard
1. Steve Hughes – 1832.4 (RIF#194)
2. John Kent Leighton – 1304.58 (RIF#190)
3. Joshua Holmes – 1286.8 (RIF#1)
4. Hideki Kinoshita – 1075.2 (RIF#88)
5. Scott Stader – 427 (RIF#40)
6. Alvin Lee – 381.6 (RIF#30)
7. David Wingard – 365.4 (RIF#101)
8. Danny Staggs – 322.3 (RIF#186)
9. Rick Thiounn – 299.9 (RIF#111)
10. Rick Jarvis – 296.8 (RIF#18)
11. Jason Howard – 295.1 (RIF#150)
12. Daniel Escue – 230.95 (RIF#187)
13. Mark Watson – 230.7 (RIF#173)
14. Chris Estes – 226.2 (RIF#151)
15. David Donald – 203.96 (RIF#54)
16. Perry Ligon – 193 (RIF#146)
17. Jonathan Bobbitt – 180.6 (RIF#3)
18. Wade Anderson – 170.6 (RIF#22)
19. Dennis Arriaga – 156.96 (RIF#140)
20. Kevin Leathers – 143 (RIF#12)
21. Trent Rosenbloom – 141.6 (RIF#57)
22. Nicholas Norfolk – 139.01 (RIF#116)
23. Greg Smith – 118.2 (RIF#168)
24. Mark Sikkila – 113.4 (RIF#108)
25. David Pharr – 102 (RIF#185)
26. Steven Reagan – 100.2 (RIF#157)
27. Robin Robbins – 98.8 (RIF#33)
28. Kevin Ronayne – 95.1 (RIF#11)
29. Nathan Bass – 94.8 (RIF#174)
30. James Krenis – 83.6 (RIF#67)
31. Naresh Kumar – 83.4 (RIF#2)
32. John Hudson – 79.6 (RIF#63)
33. Josh Liggett – 77.92 (RIF#147)
34. Brian Wooldridge – 74.8 (RIF#141)
35. Winston Trice – 72.8 (RIF#29)
36. Victor Fleitas – 71.12 (RIF#21)
37. Scott Lochridge – 65.5 (RIF#32)
38. Stewart Crouch – 64.8 (RIF#89)
39. JD Leman – 39.3 (RIF#139)
40. Scott Gatlin – 29.3 (RIF#80)
41. Scott Gorski – 25.5 (RIF#107)
42. Chris Nelson – 19.3 (RIF#135)
43. Patrick Johnson – 10 (RIF#87)

Women’s Leaderboard
1. Diane Bolton – 1322.71 (RIF#159)
2. Michelle Walker – 618.1 (RIF#124)
3. Heather Shoemaker – 544.4 (RIF#44)
4. Nadia Ruiz Gonzales – 509.1 (RIF#69)
5. Shannon Burke – 498.93 (RIF#171)
6. Laura Raeder – 461.8 (RIF#20)
7. Lisa Gonzales – 445.4 (RIF#5)
8. Emily Conley – 426.4 (RIF#24)
9. Mikki Trujillo – 369.7 (RIF#13)
10. Michelle Mitchell – 357.2 (RIF#133)
11. Robin Mancinelli – 337.6 (RIF#134)
12. Shannon McGinn – 333 (RIF#46)
13. Alicia Eno – 313.7 (RIF#126)
14. Leigh Marsh – 306.5 (RIF#192)
15. Marlene Deem – 212.6 (RIF#189)
16. Jennifer Whitley – 184.9 (RIF#160)
17. Donna Pittman – 147.2 (RIF#181)
18. Marj Mitchell – 123.6 (RIF#4)
19. Daniela Obregon – 107.7 (RIF#49)
20. Amber Goetz-Bouchard – 105.98 (RIF#15)
21. Christy Bowers – 105.3 (RIF#60)
22. Nicole Knutson – 104.8 (RIF#47)
23. Lisa Edwards – 58 (RIF#122)
24. Natalie Torres – 42.4 (RIF#72)
25. Meredith Yox – 34 (RIF#128)
26. Debra Jacildo – 17.39 (RIF#98)

Details on joining Run It Fast – The Club

[Extreme Racer points are rewarded per each racing mile completed. Example: marathon = 26.2 points, half marathon 13.1 points, etc.]

This is the medal for the 50th Annual JFK 50 Mile that was held on November 17, 2012 in Boonsboro, Maryland.

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[Medal photo submitted by RIF #134 Robin Mancinelli. Follow her on Twitter @robinmrr2]