Run It Fast®

Here is a quick and simple elevation chart graphic for the Boston Marathon course.

The course has an overall negative gain. It starts at 490 feet in Hopkinton an finishes at 10 feet above sea level at Copley Square.

The biggest rise during the race comes between mile 20 and 21 which is commonly referred to as Heartbreak Hill.  The 88 ft climb is not much to the experienced marathoner, but most marathoners running Boston have spent too much energy earlier on in the race and fall face first into the Heartbreak Hill (Wall).

[source: Boston.com]

 

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 49 of you responded!

Good luck to you all this weekend and Run It Fast!

Joshua Holmes – Rest and recover from #Umstead100. Might ease back in with some elliptical

Lisa Gonzales – Doing a little trail running in my home town. #thankful

Peggy – #Hollywoodhalf this Saturday!

Camille Breckenridge – I’m running my second 5K this weekend in Sardis, MS. I’m hoping to beat my last time.

Arturo Moreno – Abe Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon in Springfield,IL

RunningMixes.com – taking this weekend off to go to our first Chicago Cubs game then Easter on Sunday! Are you going to run on Sunday?

HECTOR RAMIREZ – Orizaba Veracruz, Mexico !

Mrs. Kaci – Downtown Fairfield, Sat AM, Run For Good 5K!

Deloras Shubert – I’m running a half in Plainview Texas

Matt Johnson – @MRR_Siouxland #SpringThaw 10 miler!

Crystal – Cedro Peak! #Tijeras #NM

Chris Haynes – Oak Barrel half marathon, Lynchburg, Tennessee, this Saturday!

c c – I’m running the @RunUSHalf in San Francisco! Beautiful weather and beautiful city=beautiful run

Justin Barden – a 5k in Jackson, first short race in a while, looking forward to it

Jeff Thies – Arcadia Invitational!! I’m in the mens 3200 rated 2 and the seeded DMR where I’m doing the mile!!! so excited!!

Clint Randall – running up in Maine!

Lena Moman – Oakland hills, 15 mile training run. #running

Timothy Gore – traveling to Knoxville, TN and will run there

NaomiPipes – @MemorialPark #4theParks in Houston.

South East Striders – 10k in south east Kent with the ladies of @SEStriders

Michelle Mitchell – ez 2 mi xc race -Sri Chinmoy xc series (Moscow) followed by last long run b4 100k Worlds in 2 weeks

John O’Regan – 10K in Ballybunion, Co.Kerry, Ireland. Speed session during Ultra Taper.

Mario Luevanos – I’m going to be at the @HollywoodHalf Marathon, I really want that star and hoping to finish injury free!

Kiki – Running in the Bunny Hop 5K in Westerville, OH on Saturday morning. Sunday morning is my long run for my 1/2 marathon training.

Jade Blackford – Wichita, KS @EasterSunRun 🙂

Laura Raeder – Lincoln Presidential 1/2 marathon in Springfield Illinois. With brother in law…must beat him!

melissa reeves – Atlanta- Color Run!!

Kevin Ronayne – Training runs in the Boston area this weekend

Ed Roshitsh – Marin Headlands, San Francisco!

White Rock Lake – White Rock Lake in Dallas. Ready for Big D Marathon around the lake next week!

RuddyHajiMohammadAli – Stadium Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei Darussalam. Standard Chartered Run for a reason, seeing is believing.

Jay – round Scenic St Neots (UK).

Lauren S. – 48th annual Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon in Springfield, IL!!!

Michael Sullivan – Roanoke river run 5k

Frank Cepero – Running the Glass City Half oon the 22nd of April In Toledo

Stephen G – Muddy Trails Bash 10K

Ryan Malesevich – second half marathon in 7 days! South Shore Half Marathon in Milwaukee.

PedrosRevenge – the Aug!

Eric Steuck – Cobber track from MN running in lynchburg VA

Cameron Adamson – taper time boys! Boston 2012 sub 3 !

Larissa – along the Hudson!

Jess – SML 5k and 1 mile with my kids on Saturday a.m., Jacksonville. Shannon Miller’s organization is combating obesity in children.

Larry Keister – nothing fancy. just doing 13.1 around the neighborhood in prep for Kentucky Derby Festival mini-Marathon on 4/28

Angie Gerber – Another training run in beautiful Helvetia, OR. Ready for some hills!

The Mama Runs – just a training LSD run with my Sun am group at the Eau Claire #Running Room #runchat #runningaddict

Matt Ambos – running in the sting 5k! Going to go sub-22 for the 1st time!

Brendan Shearn – Arcadia invitational!!

Taylor Ray – Cumming ,GA! Gonna run my face off this weekend!!!

Deb – local trails….training

We are very sad to report that Micah ‘Caballo Blanco’ True was found dead today. The Silver City Sun-News is reporting that Caballo was found at 6 pm on Saturday in the Gila National Forest after a 4 day search. He had gone out for a run on Tuesday and never returned. I know a lot of prayers went out for his safe return but it was not meant to be.

As most of us who’ve read Born to Run know, Caballo was a central character in the book and was the Race Director for the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon. It was after reading about Chris McDougall’s adventures in Copper Canyon with Caballo that I began to think of running as something that could be fun and an adventure and not something that was supposed to be painful or a punishment. Caballo’s attitude about it opened my eyes to what running could/should be and I know that it affected many other runners the same way. He was and will continue to be an inspiration to runners everywhere.

Rest in peace, Caballo Blanco. You are a legend in the running world and you will be missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting that Born To Run recluse runner Micah ‘Caballo Blanco’ True has been reported missing in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.

True hadn’t returned by Wednesday morning, Jane and Dan Brummer, co-owners of the Lodge, contacted state police and the search was initiated.

“The owners of the wilderness lodge where he was staying reported him missing because he didn’t come back,” said Fuller. “There was no indication of where he was going.”

Search teams from Las Cruces, Grant County and Socorro searched the area throughout Wednesday afternoon and into the night, Fuller said, and are continuing the effort today. He said that two helicopters from the NM State Police and the National Guard are coming today to assist the teams.

Blanco is the central character in Christopher McDougall’s 2009 best selling book ‘Born To Run.’  Blanco is a mysterious and reclusive character in the book who was living in Mexico at the time and close to the Tarahumara Indian tribe that is known for it’s incredible endurance running.

Read More About ‘Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen’ and buy it HERE

This is the finisher’s medal (and shirt) for the Bearathon Half Marathon which took place in Waco, TX on March 24, 2012. 

This is a great medal for the Bearathon which is known as the “”The Toughest Half-Marathon in the State of Texas”. Love the bear paw with wings over all of the inspirational words!

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[This medal was submitted by Aaron Johnstone RIF #94 – follow him on twitter @TexasRunnr]

 

This is the finisher’s medal for the NC Half Marathon which took place in Concord, North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway on March 25, 2012.

This is a fabulous medal to commemorate the event. The half marathon course takes the runners on all 3 tracks at the Speedway and finishes under a checkered flag on Pit Road. The medal captures all of that by including the track, racing cars, the checkered flag, and yes, even flashing lights. This is a must do race for any NASCAR or race  fan and it is definitely on my to-do list!

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal submitted by Elizabeth Kalifeh RIF #104 – follow her on twitter @ekalifeh]

Here is the finisher’s medal from the Wrightsville Beach Marathon & Half Marathon that took place March, 18, 2012 in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photo submitted by Lexie Stempihar. Follow her on Twitter @lstemp73]

A simple video of a kid flipping through flashcards, written in Sharpie, with several very important and helpful tips for running your first marathon or half marathon.

Hat tip to Antonio Gonzalez.

 

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 30 of you responded!

 Good luck to you all this weekend and Run It Fast!

Joshua Holmes – MS 50 Miler on Sat and RNR NOLA marathon Sunday. #runitfast

Lauren Stone – 9 mile birthday training run tomorrow! Hopefully in the park and not on the treadmill!

Jeff Cook – @tamshaw331 @Twitchaloupka We are all running the LR Half Marathon!

MsPump&Run – Columbus Ohio, @ArnoldSports #5kPumpnRun #LiftRunRepeat

BOTPP – Home sweet home, but some pals are doing a 10k in Holyoke, MA on March 18.

Betty Pecas – #YoCorreréElMaratónLala2012 @MaratonLala

Anji Nussbaumer – will be slopping through the mud and rain at the Umstead Trail Marathon in NC

Pilar Laurido – #NikeSunsetRun Pta Carnero Ecuador @Nike_Ec

Robin Thomas – planning a long run through the #EastSussex countryside starting in #Uckfield

Victor Fleitas – You know it, the Carl Touchstone Memorial Mississippi 50 Trail Run 50k! #Mississippi50

Stephen G – The Woodlands (TX) Half Marathon.

Lisa Gonzales – I’m doing 25 miles tomorrow w/lots of hill repeats! And 13 on the trails on Sunday. All local.

Kevin Ronayne – Looooong runs in Central Mass this weekend #marathontraining

James Meredith – Little Rock. The weather is shaping up to be perfect, so we’re hoping for an all-around great weekend.

Kevin Leathers – MS Trail 50 Mile with Run It Fast & Can’t Stop Endurance friends!!

ChrissyCarroll1– Hopefully a 10 mile training run in prep for some upcoming half marathons, if my hip chooses to cooperate!

Jon Yezerski – Black Cat 10 miler in Salem Ma

Stephen Cox – UNF Spring Break invite in Jacksonville, FL. 5000m tonight. #stoked

Arturo Moreno – running the #RnRNOLA marathon on Sunday

Damian Foley – Running the #RnRNOLA 1/2 – can I finish 13.1 before @bayou finishes 26.2? lol

Disneywifey – #rnrnola half 🙂

April Werling – Running the Mountain Marathon in Olympia, Wa! My 2nd marathon!

Jonathan Stewart – 12 today, 14 Saturday and 13 tempo Sunday, all in the prettiest town in Madison county Tennessee!

Will McDonough – Hey @runitfast : racing the final leg of the @BostonBuildup winter series on Sunday — 25k @ Silvermine, CT #weekendruns

wrytersview – Les Bois 10k Trail Run http://t.co/bxx39Hvg

Ike – running on school track. Have 800s ahead of me today. Should be interesting. #getitdone

Gregory Wilson – On Saturday, Hellyer 5k in San Jose, CA. On Sunday, the Napa Valley Marathon.

Fernanda De Hoyos – beautiful san Diego bay, and ski beach

Alvin Lee – B & A Trail Marathon Severna Park, MD. Marathon 7 and still luvin it!

Scott Stader – Heading down to New Orleans for the #RnRNOLA marathon! Who’s ready to #runitfast with me? @runitfast

 

Run It Fast was recently able to catch up with veteran marathoner Nadia Ruiz Gonzales from Los Angeles. Nadia is 27-years old and ran her first marathon at the age of 14. She has now run a total of 71 marathons to date.

Here is a quick rundown of why Nadia runs and who inspires her:

When did you start running?
In middle school, my mom enrolled me in boxing so I can learn self defense. Yes, cool mom. 🙂 As part of training, the coach had us run and run some more in circles around the gym. It was then I learned I had a thing for endurance.

Did you start with races or just running recreationally or for school?
After middle school, my sister suggested I try out for the high school Cross Country team. Afraid and timid, I trained my first summer hard as a Freshman because it was a fear that I would be left behind. In our first school’s Cross Country meet, I came in first overall for our school. I was hooked. I remained undefeated at any long distance for four years at SFHS.

What distance(s) were your first races?
Standard distance in Cross Country was the 3 mile event. In Track & Field, I was placed in the 4x400m, 800m, 1600m, and 3200m. I was so hooked to the running high, I started running 5Ks and 10Ks on the weekends with my family as training to make myself a stronger racer. Ten years after graduating, my high school records for the 3 mile, 2 mile and 3200m still remain at SFHS.

Who inspired you or inspires you to run? Who got that ‘bug’ activated within you?
I first learned about running as a sport and the marathon distance as a 6th grader from my middle school math teacher who ran marathons for “fun.” Noticing my interest, my father took me with him to cheer on an Ecuadorian runner in the 1996 Los Angeles Marathon who went on the win the race making my dad be a proud Ecuadorian that day. Witnessing such amazing strength and will, I then decided as a little 12 year old girl that one day I would run the marathon to hopefully make my parents proud but most importantly prove to myself that I could do it. My father and I ran our first marathon together when I was 14 years old hand-in-hand crossing the finish line together… in tears. My parents had immigrated to this country with nothing leaving behind everything to allow for their children to seek greater opportunities. This was an opportunity I was taking to discover what I had inside me to run my first marathon. My father and mother to this day continue to be the largest source of inspiration for me.

How many marathons have you run?
After 13 years running, I have now completed 71 marathons as a 27 year old.

What is your fastest marathon to date? Fastest half marathon?
The past three years have been great racing years for me in running and triathlons where I have ran a 3:20:04 marathon PR and a 1:26:45 half marathon PR both in 2011. I hope and will work hard to surpass those marks this year.

How many states have you run marathons in?
I have ran marathons in 15 different states and 4 different countries. I hope to run marathons in as many countries as I can and in every continent.

Have you run an ultra marathon yet? If not, do you want or plan to?
I ran my first ultra in 2011 at the ET Midnight Marathon and 51K at Area 51, Nevada on 8/14/11. With a focused mind and the help of an ultra runner friend, I won first female overall at my first ultra despite how much it hurt my legs to go passed 26.2 miles. It was a great first experience!

What is your favorite race to date?
As many races as I have ran, it is always difficult to narrow it down to one favorite. I can say though my favorite top 5 marathons are: Los Angeles, Big Sur, Rome, ING New York, and Pikes Peak.

What is your dream race that you haven’t run but hope to one day?
The Antarctica Marathon. I’m wait listed for 2015. It is an absolute dream to run at the end of the world!

What shoes and gear do you run in?
I have tried a variety of brands. Currently, I run in Brooks.

What do you eat on race morning?
I have experimented with a variety of combinations and try to mix it up when I can to keep it exciting. I have had in the past: peanut butter and almond sandwiches, granola with almond butter, Greek yogurt with granola, oatmeal with apples, or bananas with honey.

Do you belong to any running clubs?
I am a part of an amazing online running community called the Marathon Maniacs member #1791, Tri Lunatics  #3 (site), and Run It Fast – The Club member #69 (details HERE).

What other runners do you look up to admire?
My father
My mother

Have you ever been seriously injured from running? If so did you have to take off a lot of time from it? How did you cope?
Thankfully, I have not been seriously injured but I did develop tendonitis of the knee once where I stopped running for 6 weeks. That taught me to not ignore what my body needs again. Too much, too soon, too fast is asking for trouble.

What advice do you have for someone looking to improve their time/speed in a half marathon or marathon?
Every little thing helps. If you want it bad enough, you have to adopt a marathon lifestyle. Love and listen to what your body needs and you can demand anything from it. Dream big.

What helpful tips can you give to the newbie runner that has no running experience and knows nothing about running?
The running community is one of the most welcoming groups you can find. No matter what distance, no matter what pace, always aim to have fun and you may just become a lifelong runner.

• Nadia’s Blog
• Nadia’s Facebook Page
• Nadia’s Racing Schedule
• Nadia’s Marathon Results