Peter Mann ran the Great Ocean Road Marathon and finished with a time of 3:58:30.
The scenery on this run was absolutely breathtaking. Cliffs, bays, the vast ocean, rivers and scrubland surround you the entire time – words cannot describe how stunning the course is. However…
I totally underestimated the length/height and difficulty of the hills. I burnt way too much energy early and it made the last 15-20km very, very difficult. More like survival mode… couple this with a strong headwind, plus rain and a little hail I was glad to simply finish without stopping to walk (drink stations excluded). Overall I’m happy with the result. It is a long way from my PR but I am honestly just glad I finished! If anyone gets the chance to run this event I strongly recommend it.
Tony Malinauskas ran the Mud, Guts and Glory Obstacle Course Race 10k, finishing this distance in the time of 2:06:45.
This race was run at the venue that hosted the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships for the past 2 years, so it attracts a competitive field overall — including 2-time champion of the World’s Toughest Mudder, a Spartan Race national champ, and at least one regular from TV’s America Ninja Warrior. So, I hope that’s why I came in a mediocre 6th out of 14 in my age group. (Still, better than average.) After I ran my heat, I worked as a volunteer and monitored the last runners as they slogged through the course. One was a skinny teenage boy doing his first race; I think we prevented a case of hypothermia that day, but I’ve got to hand it to that young man for sticking with it till the end.
Carolee Walker ran the Equinox Indoor Triathlon and finished in a time of 1:49:48, which was a PR!
This was my first finished Tri. I attempted a tri sprint in September 2015 but took too long on the swim and the bike and was unable to complete the run by the cut off. Also, I’d been working with a new swim coach to get ready for the open water Cape Henlopen Tri on June 12, and what a pay off! Even though this one was in the pool, I definitely improved on many of my stamina and efficiency issues. The bike was the hardest part of the race.
swim 500 yds 15:07
bike 10 miles 1:04:06
run 3.1 miles 37.41
Tom McCray ran the “Run, Walk and Roll” Together for Kids 5K and finished with a time of 20:29, which was a PR by 0:20.
I was very suprised with the finishing time, an improvement of almost 2 minutes from running the same course last year. Thank you RC coaches for the great racing plan, it’s such an amazing feeling to pass the runners that started to fast.
Melissa Jaynes ran the Sugarloaf 15k and completed this distance in the time of 1:15:57.
I needed a check in race to see where I am and race again. This was the ticket! Great time with running friends and a solid race. Downhill start where we dropped 300 ft in first mile and a half. So fast and easy first two miles. Still, should have held back a little more early on but mental strength still won and I kept pushing. Friend helped me really push at end for a last 1/3 mile of 6:50, so clearly I had more in tank. Quick recovery after. Weather: 50 and raining, still felt hot a couple times with hat on though. Goal is locked in for sub 3:24 marathon for a PR. I’m finally feeling ready to do the work I know it will take to get there.
Christophe Cadiou ran the Emory Johns Creek 5K Scrub Run and finished this race in the time of 20:31.
Good tune-up race. Far from a PR, but I am still early in my training cycle and this was a fairly hilly course (200ft elevation gain). Finished 7th overall and won the 40-49 age group – what’s not to be happy about?
Kevin Farewell ran the Pocono Red Marathon with a finishing time of 03:52:00.
The idea to do this started this fall. I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Had surgery and a tough recovery but eventually everything worked out perfectly medically. Around Thanksgiving time my son entered the Pocono Red Marathon to try and get a BQ qualifier time. I hadn’t run a marathon in about 30 years (but had been doing Half Ironmen during last 10 years). He convinced me I could do it so I made the commitment and joined RunnersConnect right around Thanksgiving. As with any training – ups and down, but I stuck with the plan and pretty much didn’t miss a workout the entire 5 1/2 months. I was skeptical that I could run 6 days a week at age 62 but in retrospect it is what got me thru the race. The discipline of daily focus on my training was perfect to get my focus and energy back into getting healthy again.
So for the race – everything went great. Conditions were tough – Freezing rain and sleet at the start and about 33 degrees. I started out very conservatively not knowing to what expect. Ran into a rough spell at around miles 8-9 and 10 but wound up just staying on the heels of the 3:55 pacer and felt better and left the pace group. My half split was 1:57 and completed the second half at right around 1:55. Best thing is my son ran a sub 3:00 so we both met our BQ qualifying goals!
I hesitate to think about my next race until I can walk down stairs without crying!
John Chalikias ran the Eirinodromia 10K and finished the race event in the time of 43:09.
This was a bit more difficult race than my last one (30 days ago) and was on more hot day (23 C – 6 more than last race). It was 2 rounds of 5Kms. As it was first time running this race and didn’t know the course details (uphills – downhills). I preferred to be conservative so I didn’t gave 100% but most like 95%. So I started the race and tried to run first km easy, though there was 400 meter uphill. Then course was downhill for the next 2.5 Kms so gradually build up to my race pace. Next 1.4 Km’s was uphill and at the end of it first lap completed. I was feeling good and continued next 5Kms holding back on uphills and let body to run free on downhills. My race time was 43:09 finished 9th overall and 1st on my age group. But most of all I really enjoy it and gave confidence for next races.
Russ Lilley ran the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon and finished in a time of 2:17:38. This was a personal record by 12 minutes.
The race was special because of the challenging finishing hill, being surrounded by US Marines, and being back in the town where I lived for 30 years.
This was my 3rd 1/2 marathon, my 1st was in 2014 and I finished in 2:29:31. I ran the same 1/2 in 2015 and finished in 2:45:16 because I ran it without any training, I had been recovering from injury for 4 month prior to the race. This time I ran exactly as the race plan I had laid out. My RunnersConnect training plan worked, thanks
Thanasis Kypraios ran the Nea Smirni 7k Race and finished with a time of 32:01.
I went mostly for the fun part, as it is a very nice race, organised by the local running club. Race pace, PR’s and competition really do not matter in this race, we all have great time by simply running.
Bill Calvin ran the Wisconsin Half Marathon and finished the distance in the time of 1:47:56.
I am thrilled by the results of this race. It is my fastest half marathon in 7 or 8 years. It is especially gratifying because the wind was blowing 30 mph which raised the difficulty factor. This gives me confidence in the Jeff Gaudette “less is more” philosophy of training.
The people in Kenosha made it a lot of fun with the Polkaholics playing on the route, the numerous water stations and the cool medal and shirt. I recommend this race.
Geoff Hablow ran the Maine Coast Half Marathon and finished in 1:55:00.
Course is beautiful along the coast and a few neighborhoods. Temp was warm 70 with no breeze and the heat did me in. It was a struggle after mile 7 just to complete. Will chalk it up to a race that I learned mental toughness, ran without headphones for first time in a race, learned that I drank too much water. Time to regroup and focus on next half in 4 weeks.
Dennis Moore ran the Running With The Cows Half Marathon and finished in a time of 1:52:56.
Overall, I’m very happy with this one. The wind and hills made it less enjoyable, but it was a good test of where I am physically and mentally after a really bad spring. It was great to finally meet up with David Hendrix, and I owe him a big thanks for keeping me motivated.
George Willard ran the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and finished this race event in the time of 2:01:04.
It’s not often you get to experience all 4 seasons in one race. Temps in the mid 30’s, gusting winds, snow, sleet, hail, rain, and even a few minutes of sunshine. A couple times the course was slick with a thin layer of slush.
Chris Moore ran the Tinker Bell Half Marathon and finished with a time of 2:03:58, which was a PR!
After following the Runner’s Connect program for a long 18 weeks, I felt very good energy-wise and probably could have run a littler faster, but ran it conservatively, and picked up pace last mile or so. The Runners Connect program definitely gave me more stamina and improved endurance. Felt much better prepared this time as opposed to first HM in November/2015. Thanks it was well worth it.
