Ramona Dragnea ran the FOURmidable 50K and finished this distance in the time of 7:17:37, which was a PR!
First 50K in the books! The course is mostly up and down (about 6,000+ of elevation gain & about the same of elevation loss) and very little to none flat, all single track trail which is quite technical with roots, rocks, water crossings and the 3-day rains prior to the race made parts of the trails be very muddy & sticky. The area is very beautiful and you get to run portions of the famous Western States 100. I absolutely loved every part of this run! I feel like this race mirrored my training over the last year, with ups and downs and I am sure I have not got this far without the amazing guidance of all RC coaches (Jamie, Danny, Sarah & Tina) & the outstanding support of RC community!
Kristin Morales ran the PAM’s 5k and finished with a time of 24:20.
Last mile was all uphill so I was glad I was able to maintain a decent pace and pass someone at the home stretch.
Garry Grant ran the Hypothermic Half Marathon and finished with a time of 2:17:50.6.
I just wanted to test fitness level. My PR is a sub 2 hour race but that was 9 years ago. The road conditions were not the greatest with lots of thick ice with a few intermingling bare spots all covered with a skiff of overnight snow. Not really slippery but similar to running cross country in rough terrain. Weather conditions were great for a run. My overall placing was 222 out of 370 runners so I was happy with my run.
Siobhan Donegan ran the Gasparilla Half Marathon, finishing this distance in the time of 1:41:45.
While I did not feel super strong out there and this was not a PR, I felt good about running a 2 min 36 sec negative split (first half vs second half). I was 6th woman in my age group (unofficial results) and 80th woman overall. The course is pretty flat and we lucked out with 52-54 degree temperatures during the race, so I hope I can return some time and push a little harder for a PR. The first 4 miles were pretty DARK (6 am start) and I kept wondering if we were all just going to keep doing this (running in the dark) until the sun rose. Now I know the answer is YES and next time I will be mentally ready for this stretch of darkness! 🙂 All in all, a good race providing lessons learned for my ongoing marathon training. Glad I got out there and now happy to recover a bit and then gear up for the heavy training I see for March.
Thanasis Kypraios ran the 50K race of Psatha and finished in a time of 5:06:13.
After 5 marathons in 5 years, I finally thought it was time to go for something bigger. The 50K flat race held in the beach place of Psatha (Attica, Greece) 3 months after my last marathon would be the ideal challenge. The big distances always frightened me. If something frightens you, you face it, and either you win or you lose. Slipping away is a defeat without battle. No, not for us.
In order to feel completely cool and not to be nervous about it, I chose as goal race for 2016 a fast 5K in April. So, the whole preparation would be for a 5K race, with a huge long run somewhere between! During the first part of the preparation, I was seeing myself improve both at speed sessions and at bigger workouts. During cutdown runs, I broke two times my 5K PR. I knew I was going well, but my doubts about the 50K remained!!!
And the time for the huge long run finally arrived. We started the race at 6.30 am, both groups, the 50K’s and the 100K’s. I took it very easy in the beginning. I wanted in the first 20K to feel like having just begun. I was wearing a light running jacket, I didn’t take it off until the final 10K. It was a way to remind me not to go faster. Apart from slow running, I also focused on eating and drinking a lot.
As I was covering more and more distance, I had no running problems at all! But my bowels were not doing the same… I had to stop 7 times for various reasons. Apart from these stops, everything else was great! No energy depletion, no cramps, no wall, no mental games. I was in total control of the situation. At the 35th km, I finally took the decision to take the race seriously. I started to accelerate at a slow, yet constant pace and I was happy to see that my body was responding very positively. When we entered the final 10K, I finally took off the jacket and I must have been one of the very few people who were still laughing and enjoying running.
When I finished the race, I was very happy not for having run 50K, but having staying consistent with the initial plan not go out too fast. Also, eating that much during a race was something very strange for me before. Anyway, having completed the biggest distance race in my life, I am thinking about the future. Many people tell me to try even longer distances. I am not that sure, at least for the short future. I prefer to focus on marathons and half’s and always try to beat a specific time record.
Bjorg Klem ran the NYRR Al Gordon 4M and finished in 33:49, which was a 34 seconds PR!
Perfect conditions (sunny, high 40s) and running with NYC marathon friends made this a great run – started off pretty easy with the first mile just under 9 min pace (the biggest hill on the course is towards the end of the first mile), 8:32 for the flat second mile, 7:51 for mile 3 (includes a nice downhill) and 8:23 for mile 4 which includes a gentle uphill to the finish. I have been running 10-12 easy, slow miles per week since mid November, focusing on strength and non-running cardio. I have been worried about losing fitness but seems it is holding up pretty well – great motivation to continue with it.
Mike Sheridan ran Wokingham Half Marathon with a finishing time of 1:24:56, which was a PR by 15 seconds!
A local race, about 30 mins from home, 3rd race there. Set off with the intention of getting into position at 10m to shoot for a PB…..local weather forecast was for a westerly 20mph wind, gusting higher. At some point, this was bound to become a factor! First 5m in 32:25; second 5m in 32:33 (a new 10m PR) and running with 3 clubmates. The last 5k shoot out was brutal, two slopes and two other rises over road bridges, and then that wind, on the right cheek when it wasn’t full on the face. Quick gel and time to be brave…. I went after my clubmate ahead, hauled him and kept going gaining 25 places, dying a slow death…closing 5km 19:58, last two full miles 6:21& 6:20. Just made it over the line and watches stopped in 1:24 56 a PR by 15 seconds. So a tough but satisfying day, with my running partner finishing exactly 1 min behind me, also with a PR
Kenn Walker ran the Thrill in the Hills 21K Trail Race and finished with a time of 1:41:57.
Picked up 3 minutes over last year’s time on this course. It’s a nice rolly trail run around the lake at Ft. Yargo. Finished 21st overall and 3rd in my age group.
Karen Wilson ran the Sea Turtle Half Marathon and finished this race in the time of 1:53:28.
Any time a race starts with 100% humidity I know it’s going to be a challenge. Even if this wasn’t my “A” race I still wanted to give it my all because of the training that I put in. I ran my race day strategy the first 3 miles a bit fast and knew afterwards that it just wasn’t going to happen because I was too hot. My plan switched to: keep it steady and fight the urge to stop and walk. Lordy that was hard! Because it was an out and back I knew I was the eleventh female and typically I like try and move up the ranks but I knew I was way too behind. But as I was nearing the finish I spotted my number ten female and set her as my target! Even if I wasn’t able to pass her I managed to pick up my pace and get within 22 seconds and finished first in my age group and just behind the female masters winner!! So onward now to my “A” race!
Hein Mynhardt ran the Regina Hypo 1/2 Marathon and finished in a time of 1:44:02.
Impromptu 1/2 Hypo marathon race for fun as I was there and they had room. Had no time goal and after a week of speed work, had no expectations but after first couple of k’s, leg felt good and I pushed a fast steady. Not as icy so allowed for a faster pace. Nice to cut 5 min from race 2 weeks ago.
Terry Wallace ran the Antelope Canyon Ultra 55 km and finished this distance in the time of 08:15.
This was an early season ultra – in a great place. I had hoped to run well, but the sand and heat got the best of me. I always write about my ultras (well, at least the geology of the ultras), and this is no different: https://wallaceterrycjr.com/2016/02/22/paradise-lost-running-on-the-edge-of-lake-powell/
My ultimate goal still is the San Juan Solstice 50 miler in June, and I am undeterred after this sluggish performance.
Jim Paterson ran the Gasparilla 8K and finished this race distance in the time of 57:23.
Another step towards my return from injury. Increased the run/walk ratio. The best part was running with my wife. She improved her time by over 60 seconds.
Grant Hughes ran the Hypothermic Half Marathon and finished with a time of 1:30:58.
Tough conditions overall. Temp was -19C (-2F) and all but about 2 miles were on icy or packed snow sidewalks/paths. They were well sanded for the first half of the race, but since it was an out and back, much of the sand disappeared on the way back and the sidewalks got crowded. I started off a little faster than I wanted to, but still ended up with negative splits and a first place overall finish.
David Young ran the Ice Scraper Series 5k and finished this race event in the time of 23:26. This was a personal record by 29 seconds!
This was just a local no frills tuneup 5k. No prizes, no medals, no photography, just a timed race on a certified 5K course. The last race I ran was a 5K 9 weeks ago right before Christmas 2015 and pre RC training for me. I started with RC right after that race and have been following the program exclusively for the past 9 weeks.
This race was the culmination of 9 weeks of RC training. I set a 5K PR by 29 seconds. Actually I feel the improvement was more than the 29 seconds shown on the clock as this course contained more hills than the previous race. I’m very satisfied with this run. Looking forward to a few slow days to regroup and get ready for the next round.
Daniela Magana ran the 21k Tarahumara and finished with a time of 01:49.
Beautiful weather and I was able to enjoy the route in spite of having pain on my right knee most of the race. I need to learn to not go all out at the start.
Mark Soo ran The Great Relay Bangkok 5k, finishing this distance in the time of 00:20:05. This was a PR by 18 seconds!
This event was part of a 6 person relay team, running a total of 100km. I was doing 4 laps of 5km where on one lap I would have liked to go sub 20 mins. There were a few issues with the course being a tad short and also not stopping my Garmin on time but taking all this into consideration the time for my first 5km at 20m05s. Not quite the Sub 20 min time I wanted but it was a PB by 18 seconds which I am very happy about. The run was a positive split as I got a bit exited with all the other runners around me. It’s something I definitely need to work on to keep the pace more even and do negative splits.
The rest of my laps were slower, 20m54s, 22m45s, 22m45s. The last two laps were really tough and had to dig deep to keep going. I really struggled to know what to do with fuelling for this event as there was a wait of around 1h20m between each of my laps and I think this played a part in struggling for the last two laps. The team had some strong runners so we finished 1st in our category (6 runners mixed) and 6th overall. Overall a well organised race and these team events are really good fun.
Thanks to the coaches for all the support through this training cycle which went smoothly, and for answering all my questions about goal pace and tune up races. I’m sure I will have more once I start my new training cycle.
Chin Peng Koh ran the Singapore Marina Run Half Marathon and finished with a time of 1:53:36.
Did almost 4mins better than last year for the same race. So i am happy with the result. Feeling confident to do better in coming months.
Nicol Miller ran the Buller Gorge Half Marathon and finished in 1:55:55. This was a personal record by 3 mins 13 secs.
Only my 3rd half marathon race, so I’m reasonably satisfied with my progress for such a late-comer to running.
Lori Hicks ran the LA Big 5K and finished this race in the time of 45:15.
This was a tune up race and is an especially challenging course with lots of hills and a very crowded field. In fact, the first mile I had to walk briskly due to the crowd. But, it’s really fun. I have to admit, I was off my pace this year (last year I was about 30 seconds faster overall!), but I did not train hills this year. For that, I can see 30 seconds off is still an accomplishment! Weather in LA has been heating up lately – and it was a balmy 70 degrees on Saturday. No, I didn’t PR, but my last kick was much improved. I guess I can relish in that! 🙂
Tracy Hixon ran the Lost Dutchman Marathon and finished with a time of 3:52:52.
I trained well for this event, but even though my finishing time was much slower than what I had hoped for, I was able to meet two of my three goals (#1 finish 26.2 in a new state, and go under 4 hours), and in the process was awarded a first place in Age Group and a Boston qualifying time even with a late race meltdown. I had been training in Midwest winter temps and snow, and my goal race in sunny Arizona gave me higher than normal temps, a bit of altitude and large, long graded hills I was not really prepared for. Though I thought I was running a proper pace in the beginning, I couldn’t foresee how much some long early climbs and quickly increasing temps would eventually impact my later miles. This course was tougher than I expected, though it is difficult for me to train for hills this time of year. I worked my way down the course, running with others from time to time. I tried to salvage some momentum in the last mile and run into the finish line before the clock tipped over into the next minute. Was completely relieved to find that finish line! I was quite shocked (and pleased) to see I won my AG, and was 11th female overall. I realize that this is a small race, but I think it demonstrates that the race was a pretty tough day for most of us out there! This was a race that wasn’t about a simple finishing time number for me, but will be a memorable stop on my 2016 running adventure diary. I look forward to building on my first marathon training cycle with Runners Connect and improving for my next race!
Zachary De Pian ran the Spiros Louis 10K and finished with a time of 00:49:45, which was a PR by 1:10 minutes!
This was a tune-up race for my Marathon race to take place on April 3. It was the 3rd time I ran this hilly 10K and I saw a 1:21 improvement from last year’s race and also a 1:10 improvement from my previous PR. The race was tricky as it had a down-hill first half, followed by a up-hill in the second. I was able to maintain my stamina for the last mile and finished strong. It was the first time I broke the 50 minute barrier which gave my immense pleasure. After the 10K there was a 5K race which I ran at a leisure pace and really enjoyed it as well.
