Bill Stintsman ran the Marine Corps Marathon and finished with a PR of 30 minutes!
This has been my goal race for three decades thanks to being a retired Marine, so completing it was the primary mission. Beating my PR by over 30 minutes is nice; however, I was on pace to PR by an hour or more and possibly qualify for Boston, so that makes this disappointingly bittersweet. This was not in the cards this day due to late race calf cramps that became too severe to maintain a solid pace. I still have a few other race opportunities to qualify for the 2019 Boston Marathon, so I will push on towards those events.
This was a great race. The training for the hills was much more intense than the hills experienced during the race, so I felt I was well prepared for that aspect of the run. Mile 12 and 13 were more memorable than the monuments because I didn’t ever realize I had passed monuments until I was in front of the Capital. And this, by far, was the most difficult race I have run when it came to clearing slower runners and walkers. This is good knowledge for future attempts to run this race.
I have now completed two marathons this year, and look forward to running the same two races next year, with a few shorter races sprinkled in for training purposes. No matter how bad the end of the race was physically, it was one of the more enjoyable races I have run.
Jordan Crosse ran the Rat Race Ultra Tour of Edinburgh and finished with a time of 5:43:08, which was a PR!
Ultra Tour of Edinburgh – 55km Race. The last run/race/event of the season/year for me and it was an excellent one – definitely my favourite event of this year, having ran 3 halves, 3 marathons and now 2 ultras. Went into the race feeling pretty great and confident of my training, with the goal of getting under 6 hours, which I achieved with a 5:43:08! There was about 1070m (about 3,500ft) of climbing, making this was a tricky one with some brutal hills at around the 10-13 mile mark. But once you’d hit the peak it was all downhill and flat to the end with one or two exceptions – Once I made it past the 13.5 mile mark it was plain sailing for 20 miles compared to the first half marathon! Extremely pleased with my effort! To top it all off I actually finished 37th out of the field of 314! I would recommend it this ultra to anyone looking to extend from marathon distance or just for a challenge – Edinburgh is a beautiful city and you truly get a varied tour from the urban city, to the parks and countryside to the seafront. Now for a well deserved beer and rest!!!
Elspeth McLean ran the Dresden Marathon with a finishing time of 4:41:24.
Race is small, less than 1000 finished the marathon. Course is mainly flat, 2 loops, the 2nd loop covering 65% of the 1st loop. I thought it was well organised and conditions were good, the sun came out for 30 minutes or so then disappeared.
I felt I hit the wall at 30k and struggled a bit thereafter with 3 of the last 4k drifting over 7 minutes pace (per k). I felt slightly sick at times and had to slow until this passed. I did not achieve by probably 6 or 7 minutes my aim of a BQ. However on the positive side I finished and nearly 3 minutes faster than in San Sebastian 11 months ago. My arthritic toe didn’t bother me. Also 24 hours later while I am slightly stiff, I have no sore bits.
Tensai Asfaw ran the Lausanne Half Marathon and finished in a time of 1:16:59. This was a massive personal record by 28 minutes!
Less than six months ago I ran a 20k race in ideal conditions in this same town in 1:16. I was 101st place overall. Today I came back in very tough weather conditions and ran a km further, placing 18th overall. Having a decent semi-marathon PR is nice, but feeling I can push myself and improve rapidly is even more rewarding. At many points in the race I just reminded myself to be present in that moment, stop calculating pace or remaining distance, and enjoy each step, each stride, the feeling of the wind, and focus on my breathing. Learning to relax has helped me enjoy the whole experience much more.
Jeffrey Tingle ran the TARC Ghost Train Trail Race and finished with a time of 07:46:27. This was a new personal record by 24 minutes!
It’s a 7.5 mile out and back unpaved rail trail. Did 4 laps for 30 miles. Great people, beautiful scenery, stocked aid stations and a very supportive crowd of runners, pacers and volunteers. Managed the aid stations and a half way change (shirt to tank top, bigger shoes and more cushiony socks) much better this year. 75 degrees and sunny. Got plenty of salt and electrolytes during race – who knew pickles were great to eat during a race. Feet and quads very sore at the end. I used the training plan milage and periodization. I mix road and single track trail running and my differential is 1.5 to 2 minutes slower on trail – I had to do a lot a mapping to what I was planning (15 min/mile over 8 hrs) and I hit it. It was a good run.
Keith Bohlin ran the Marine Corps Marathon and finished with a PR!
Wow, what a day. The sun was shining, the crowds were amazing and the sites along the course were fantastic! Thankfully all of the monuments came before the 20 mile mark after which I struggled most, but I’m looking forward to my eventual 2nd marathon to improve upon my struggles from this race. In all it was an amazing experience and I’m extremely happy I was able to accomplish all that I did yesterday. And of course a big thank you to all of the RC community for helping me train and prepare to run as well as I did!
David Redman ran the MCM Marathon and finished this race in the time of 4:47:06, which was a PR!
This race was my first Marathon! It was the completion of a goal I set 11 years ago, to run the MCM and run with the Marines. I did it! I also got engaged!!! I stopped at mile 16.3 at the Washington DC War Memorial. I took my girl friend Jana there. I proposed on 2 knees and I am not sure I was gonna get back up. She said YES!!! I did make it back up and I was off again.
Technically, I had a few issues starting with the corral I chose. I believe that if I had started at the 4:00 corral I would have had fewer bottle necks and people to pass. Really consistent running did not happen until mile 10. By then I had used a lot of energy. Yes I hit the wall or multiple walls, total depletion and exhaustion both physically and mentally. Working though that was the challenge of the race and while I slowed in time substantially and walked more than I wanted, I did press on to have a running finish the last mile.
I had a positive split race and I think this happened for two reasons: One I had a knee injury that was nagging throughout my training. I went to a Running PT and he got me straight! But I did lose some long run training which left me unprepared at the end. Secondly, as part of my treatment I changed my cadence from 156 to 176, which also changed my foot strike bit.
All in all I am pleased with the results and I am looking forward to the next challenge. Thanks RC coaches for your part getting me to the finish line; I am really pleased with the results!
Martin Curtis ran the Kolonics György Emlékfutás Half Marathon and finished this distance in the time of 1:31.
About where I wanted to be, getting a lot faster! It is always nice to start well, struggle a bit, and then find you can push and push hard 60-70% of the way through the race. That stamina was a pleasant surprise!
Tony Malinauskas ran the Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Championship 15k, finishing this distance in the time of 4:40:46.
This was my 4th consecutive year racing at the OCRWC. Of course the field is super-competitive; and even though my running was a bit better than average, my placement was 77th of 124 in my age division due to multiple re-tries on the toughest obstacles plus penalties for not succeeding on 4 of them (out of 43). The slopes were long, steep and slippery, and the most difficult obstacles were bunched at the end, so by the time I got to the toughest obstacles, I was pretty worn. However, the next day I ran a leg in the team relay race that coincidentally included the killer obstacles again, but since my leg in the relay was only about 2 miles long and fewer slopes, I was fresher and got revenge on 3 of the 4 obstacles that I had failed the day before! Tough races, but such a great challenge!
Domenic Matalone ran the Petit Train du Mord Half Marathon with a finishing time of 01:53:16. This was a personal record by 5:26.
This was the first year that this race was held, great being part of history. The race was held on a mainly packed dirt road located in the Laurentian mountain range, giving rise to some breath taking views and the occasional deer crossing the running path…awesome. Also a new PR for me !!
Patrick Callahan ran the Marine Corps Marathon and finished this race in the time of 5:06:12, which was a PR!
Not the race I planned but it does not always go the way we’d like and I wasn’t really in marathon shape. Tried to pace for 4:15 finish with 2:06:52 at the half but I got behind in my hydration and fatigue made it tough going after 25K when I started run-walking. Also got quite warm. First marathon and it was a lot of fun. Lot of support on the race course.
Beth Wiltshire ran the Pumpkin Dash 4k Competitive Walk and completed this distance in the time of 27:32.
My goal, which I thought was quite lofty, was to finish this race in 27:30. I followed the 5K plan for this race, took the first mile about 5 secs. slower than my goal pace (11:05). Then at a little after the first mile a competitor edged up to me as I slowed to climb a rise. I let her pace me for the next 0.5 mile, then increased to race pace for the next mile, then went all out for the final 0.5 mile to win by 30 secs. at 27:32! I was pretty happy with that!
This was not a PB, but my best time in this race in 7 years. Good thing, too, as I had some competition today! Paces: Mile 1 11:06; Mile 2 11:12, last 0.48 mi 5:14 for an average pace of 11:07.
Tom Van Ongeval ran the Borreltjesloop 10k and finished in a time of 34:34, which was a PR by 1:20.
I decided only yesterday to participate to this run I also did last year (my 10k PR). First three km I could hang on to the leading group, then I had to let them go. It’s only at km8 they got out of sight. On my own it was not easy with the wind on some parts of the parcours.
I did run pretty constant, so I consider this a good test for NYC. Although I will definitely start slower. Finished in 34:34 in 7th position. That is 01:20 minute faster than last year (comparable conditions) and a new PR on 10k.
Josh Crocker ran the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd 50K and finished this distance in the time of 4:38:00, which was a PR!
This race was special because it was my first 50k, it was my longest run to date, and because even though I struggled I had a decent result!
Fred Beers ran the Duke City Marathon and finished with a time of 1:32:40, which was a PR!
This was my second half marathon and I was really happy to PR at this race. My running hasn’t been going as well as I’d like lately so seeing improvement meant a lot to me.
Derek Rasmussen ran the SoJo Marathon and completed this race event in the time of 3:11:47, which was a PR!
Was my first marathon after several halfs. I ran it after I turned 40 in July, and it was below BQ time of 3:15 for my age!! Spent 3 months training for half, then 4 months for marathon with runners connect training plan, got up to about 50 mls per week training.
John Andrews ran the Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon with a finishing time of 1:20:36.
Runaway Pumpkin is a small town race with huge support from the community and business sponsors. The charity organization serves to help child abuse victims and families. Race atmosphere is always upbeat and fun with costumes abound. The additional touches of a bag check, heat torches throughout the village and a nice post food spread make it runners favorite.
Hazel Knof ran the Big River Crossing Half Marathon and finished this race in the time of 3:44:22.
Inaugural race, runs through Memphis and then across the Mississippi into Arkansas. I’ve been dealing with knee issues for months so my running buddies and I walked the entire thing. I have added Tennessee to my state list and that was really all I wanted to accomplish for this race.
Logan Berry ran the Palo Duro Trail Run 50k, finishing this distance in the time of 5:39:06.
I am an ultrarunner! What a tough race. It is basically 2 1/2 loops on a desert trail. We made a shortcut at the beginning to make a 6 mile loop, then 2 full 12.5 mile loops. The first loop was in the dark and I wound up in the back of a conga line of 9 people. At the start of the next loop I ditched the Camelbak & headlamp and put on my hydration belt. It was pretty clutch to be able to put water in one bottle and electrolyte drink in the other. The pack dwindled down to 2 and we thought we were in the lead. The first 2/3 of the loop was pretty rugged and rocky and the last third was mostly flat through the woods. Beginning the third lap I found out there was another group of speedy guys way in front that we never saw. The misunderstanding might have made me push too hard too early. I started hurting around mile 20 and slowed due to fatigue. Toward the end I was hurting bad and doubting I could keep running, but told myself “I can do it because I AM doing it!”
Julio Smarcaro ran the Buenos Aires Marathon and finished with a time of 3:53:51, which was a PR!
I’M A MARATHONER!! What a great experience! I’m so proud of that! I’d like to thank all the coaches and fellow runners at RC for their support! It’s amazing how everything went as planned and how my training actually worked perfectly! I was afraid, even scared I should say, but I did it, and it was much “easier” than I supposed it would be. I’ve pictured myself in scenarios like “dying in pain”, run-walking, not finishing whatsoever, etc, etc… Nothing of that ever happened!
I ran 42km non-stop in 3:53:54! I didn’t know I could do it like that. I was thinking in a pace around 5:45, 5:40 at my best… I was concerned because I had spent the week sight-seeing the beautiful Buenos Aires, even forgetting the reason I was there. On Saturday, I went to see the Caminito, and to buy wines… I couldn’t sleep before 11pm… So I woke up at 4:50am, went to the dark and cold streets of BsAs to do the recommended 10 min jogging as a warm up, just to found out 5 minutes later that it was actually 4am! Day light savings had started that evening in Brazil, but not in Buenos Aires and I didn’t realize it until it was too late… I almost cried in despair! I could have really used that extra hour of sleep…
But the race went great in the end! I started slow and gradually began to speed up. I was feeling comfortable so I could keep the pace at 5:30 and later, after km 27 around 5:15. As I passed the 30km I realized I would be able to keep that pace and maybe speeding up a little (which I did), unless some injure appeared, which fortunately it didn’t! The last 7km weren’t as hard as I imagined. But it’s like some kind of magic had happened there. The energy coming from the city, from the fellow runners, from the crowd in the streets got into me. The day was sunny and beautiful.
I can’t put in words my excitement after crossing the finish line. I wasn’t expecting that time, sub 4hs. I was so happy and proud! Thank you guys! See you next race!!
