Travis Dowell ran the Boston Build Up Rowayton 10K and finished with a time of 58:50, which was a PR by 01:17.
This was a course record for me. It was easier to run than last year after a year of RC training. It was very cold, 17 degrees, but that did not affect me much. It’s a hilly course and only the last and highest elevation hill bothered me much.
Charles Modenbach ran the Louisiana Marathon with a finishing time of 3:53:52. This was a PR by 1 minute!
What a great race day! Cool, crisp, and sunny. Plenty of support along the route, especially from family and many friends from Varsity Sports running group. I finished at 03:53:52, a PR and BQ each by about one minute! I also received a nice poster for 3rd place age group. Great post race festival with music, food, and beer. I ran almost exactly on my goal pace for about 23 miles, then hit the wall and fought through the last 3.2 miles at a bit slower pace, finishing about 3 minutes over my goal. After missing 2 marathons in the past 4 years due to injuries and another one due to the flu last month, this one was sweet. Thanks to RunnersConnect for good training and race day plan, valuable info on a variety of subjects, and encouragement.
David Abarca ran the Louisiana Marathon and finished in a time of 4:02:04. This was a massive personal record by 32 minutes!
This was a tremendous PR for me. There were plenty of things that made this day special and unfortunate. First the bad stuff. I had trouble sleeping the night of the marathon because of pain in my hip (piriformis). I also set my alarms for the wrong day and was only awakened an hour before the race by my wife. Unfortunately the worst part was when I found my sister’s dog lying dead next to my truck. My wife stepped in again and sent me on my way so that I could do the race. I would definitely be running this race with a heavy heart though.
I made it to the race on time as I only live 25 minutes away although I ended up towards the back of the pack. It’s not a big race so it wasn’t that big a deal. I did have to move around several groups of slower runners but unlike previous races I didn’t speed up and try to sprint around them. I started slow for the first mile and picked it up a bit on the second mile and then settled into my race pace for the rest of the race.
From there the race is pretty uneventful until the last mile. I was wondering for most of the race whether I would be able to sustain that pace and whether I would hit the wall at some point, but I did everything that I have been taught by Runner’s Connect and everything fell into place. The last mile has a large overpass and steady uphill gradient that slowed me significantly but I powered through and finished strong. Thank you to all of the coaches who made this happen. It was wonderful interacting with you all online and at the running camp. I look forward to continuing my training with you.
Catherine Smith ran the Jekyll Island Marathon and finished this race in the time of 4:30:17.
I went into this race a little unprepared – my training just wasn’t where it should have been due to a calf sprain at the start. Luckily though, this wasn’t my first marathon, and I knew I could cover the distance.
This was an inaugural race, and very small (I think only about 260 ran the full), but super organized and well supported. The island is small, beautiful and quaint. It is also VERY flat. While, that may appeal to some, it really can take a toll on the legs over a long distance. Everyone seemed to fall apart the last few miles. Overall, I’m at peace with my results.
Rob Barr ran the Disney World Marathon and finished with a time of 6:25. This was a huge PR by 47 minutes!
Up to this point, I had only competed in one marathon. The Kansas City Marathon in 2016. It took me 2 tries to complete. The first time I figured I was going to get swept, so I pulled out. On the second, I cramped up in both calfs and hamstrings at mile 16. While I completed the marathon, there was a lot of walking and stretching for a total time of 7:12 and last place.
So, when I decided to run the Disney World Marathon, I was bound and determined to do better. And that is what I did. I finished in 6:25, setting a PR by 47 minutes. What makes this more important is that I had no cramping issues. By working with a good structured plan that gave realistic target paces, and working with coaches to improve my runs, I was able to see all of the hard work pay off. I walked away from this marathon feeling proud of my accomplishment. Even though I didn’t set any land speed records, to me running is like golf. You practice and practice to improve from the last run or play a round of golf. Its an individual sport that you try to improve. I did something that most will never try and fewer will accomplish. As I kept telling myself those last couple of miles when my legs were shot, “pain is temporary, results are forever.”
Thank you to all of the coaches that answered my many questions and kept the motivation going through the long training. Behind every good athlete, is an even better supporting staff that makes it all happen. Couldn’t have done it with everyone.
Jerry Burnham ran the Bermuda Marathon and finished this race event in the time of 4:19.
Where do we start? Barely any miles in my feet since NY in November due to injury, then a mile Friday, 10K Saturday and a very hilly double loop marathon today. Was cruising running on effort until mile 17, no idea what my pace was, when after a steep hill I was on the descent when my right leg cramped. Ran that off, then a mile later my left leg cramped. That was the story for the rest of the run. I have never known pain like it. My home marathon, but mentally tough as there are perhaps 50 spectators on the second loop, plus the roads are open to traffic, no sidewalks, and run on the left, in the same direction as the traffic. That didn’t make me cramp, but it didn’t help.
What stunning scenery though. All in all, even though this was way, way down on my best, this was possibly my biggest achievement. Yeah, I’ll take that.
Andra Ghent ran the Rock’N’Roll Arizona and finished this race in the time of 6:58, which was a PR!
Just wanted to run 1M and see how I did. I was aiming for under 7 minutes so this was perfect!
Kory Wnuk ran the Louisiana Marathon and finished in a time of 3:47:12. This was a new personal record by 4:57.
Other than my first marathon this race was the most difficult race I have ever tried. The pain in my legs after mile 10 made me want to throw in the towel, but somehow I managed to persevere and pull off a PR. While not the PR I wanted, it is still a PR.
David Hammar ran the Ocala Half Marathon and finished this distance in the time of 1:41:16, which was a PR by 3:05.
Cold front hit yesterday and brought down temps to 28 for the 7:00 a.m. start. Unusual situation considering I was running last week’s taper runs in 78 degrees! Hilly route with constant changing topography made it difficult to settle into a rhythm. Uphills got to be challenging, felt like my hips were freezing up making it hard to keep legs turning with good form. Managed to pull it together enough to beat last year’s time for a new PR.
Wade Bainum ran the Chevron Houston Marathon and finished in 3:28:58. This was a massive PR by 10 minutes 45 seconds!
This was almost an 11 minute PR. I was very happy with the result!
Ann Marie Bowen ran the Houston Marathon and finished in a time of 3:44:30. This was a personal record by 2.5 minutes!
Wow! My 9th marathon and have tried so hard to qualify for Boston. I finally did it! I know realistically I wasn’t quite fast enough to probably actually get in but this is still a goal come true and I’m really proud. I’ve fought hard for this for awhile.
Struggled the last 4 miles. Had to dig deep. Focused on my mental game. One mile at a time. My son was sick with flu all week and race nearly didn’t happen bc I wasn’t sure I could travel. So, I was so grateful just to be able to run with beautiful weather. My husband PRed in the half so we are both leaving the race proud.
Thank you for the coaching, encouragement, and help with my goal!
Russ Lilley ran the Winter Series #4 5 Mile and finished with a time of 43:42, which was a PR by 1 minute per mile!
A good race. My head was not into it at all during warmup. When the gun went off I just felt comfortable and ran. This is a hilly course with many ups and downs. I accomplished a PR in the 5 mile distance by over 30 seconds per mile and the last 5 miler PR was in 1998. I ran today’s race exactly 1 min per mile faster than the same race last year. I hurt all the way, set a new HR PR and a new lactate threshold.
Today was a incredible good day.
5.02 mi Distance
43:42 Time
8:42 min/mi Avg Pace
272 ft Elev Gain
