Ron Dawson ran the Dallas Running Club – The Loop 15k and finished with a time of 1:05:57. This was a personal record by 3 minutes.
It has been only 3 weekends since my marathon on September 10th. I am on a recovery plan and getting ready to run 2 half marathons, and then the Houston Marathon in January. I was simply trying to run a steady split at 7:00 per mile. I ran an average 7:01 pace according to my watch. I felt good, ran strong and didn’t try to kill myself. Just a steady race. I ended up finishing 3rd in my age group and 26th overall out of 330. I am really happy that all the summer training has paid off. I ran a 15k at the same pace I would have ran a 5k last summer. I set a new 5k, 10k and 15k PR in 1 race. Did I mention I am also going to Boston next year? Thanks RC!
Luther Haskins ran the Run for the Hills 10k and finished in a time of 1:02:02, which was a PR by 1 minute!
I have only been running for about 1.5 years. I ran this race last year at a 10:58/mile pace. This year, based on my GPS, I ran it in 9:40/mile pace. The distance for this race was significantly different between my GPS and 6.2 miles, so I adjusted my GPS pace up to 10 min/mile. I am still very pleased with my results and can’t wait to continue with my improvement. On race day the weather was a perfect 60 degrees. I felt great and enjoyed the race. It is a beautiful setting with hilly moraines and crushed limestone paths and some paved paths.
Anthony Boyadjis ran the Festival of Races 5k and finished with a time of 23:15, which was a PR!
Allie Whitelaw ran the MO Cowbell Marathon and finished this race in the time of 3:42.
This was my first race back since my son was born in June, and all things considered I am OK with how it went. I felt really good and stuck to my race plan through about mile 15. I had planned to take a GU at miles 5 and 10, but the one at mile 5 really didn’t sit well in my stomach and I just couldn’t get myself to do the next one. Around mile 15, the lack of fuel started to catch up with me and I really started feeling not great. At that point, my sub 3:30 goal seemed like it might not happen and I decided just to hang on to a comfortable pace and try to at least finish in a decent time. I got a little bit of a second wind throughout the next few miles and felt OK, but towards the end I was just really out of gas. Ended up finishing in 3:42. I feel like I was fit enough to run a faster time than this but just didn’t plan quite well enough. But it still felt great to be back out there and also to be able to push through feeling tired and finish semi strong. It was also really cool to have my 15 week old son at the finish line! All in all it was a fun day and I’m excited to see what I can do next time!
Sascha Fennel ran the Courir pour une Fleur (Run for a Flower) Half Marathon and finished in 1:48:29.
Two years ago I ran for the first time this race that might be one of the most beautiful races in the South of France. Sometimes you run close to the sandy beaches of Juan les Pins and Antibes, sometimes you run up and down some nice hills and sometimes you just want to gawk at these stunning views and take it all in.
Actually this race was an eye opener for me altogether. 75 days after coming back from spending 100 days being benched for injury I did not really know what to expect. Before the race I studied my performance from 2 years ago. I knew my splits. I knew what I wanted to do. And then it all went a bit different. It was not really my plan to start among the first. But doing that gave me a pace that I would never have tried if I had started back in the field. Even though I let everyone and his uncle pass me at first my initial pace was about 15 seconds faster than planned. And it felt fine. Until km 15. This is when the fight began. But there was no wall. I actually went to what was supposed to be my goal pace of around 5m15. And there was even enough power left to make for a beautiful finish.
At the end I surprised myself coming in far below my goal of 1h50. 1h48:29 is about 10 minutes slower than my PR from last December when I was in my best shape yet. But it also was 5 minutes faster than two years ago.
I am extremely happy with this race. It showed me that I am really back. It is an amazing feeling and I would like to thank RC coaches for providing me with a great and well-adapted training plan. I also like to thank many of RC members for being a tremendous support. And last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my amazing wife who has a big part of me being back at running and racing much faster than I thought I would be. I truly feel blessed!
Javier Llerena ran the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon, finishing this distance in the time of 1:32:48. This was a PR by 4.01.
A remarkable day. Five years ago today, I started my marathon running adventure finishing my first half marathon at San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll. From there, an amazing, grateful and fulfilling journey took place. I met extraordinary human beings at Team in Training from coaches, mentors to training captains. I have the best of friends thanks to running. I ran on different continents and savored the experience. My health, spirituality and inner self has transformed the person who I am today. Thank you to my wife Christina Llerena and two daughters that support me and unconditionally love me on my journey. Today, I celebrate my amazing PR!!! To all the runners out there, never give up! Keep moving forward; hard work always pay off. Here is to another 5 years of PRs!!!
Wendy McCulley ran the Wineglass Half Marathon with a finishing time of 1:54:43. This was a new personal record by 2 minutes!
The course is great and fast with just two small hills. Nice country view.
Brad Wolfram ran the 80’s 8k and completed this race event in the time of 40:40.1, which was a PR by 1:37.
80’s 8k is the first race in the Austin Distance Challenge (8k, 10m, HM, HM, Marathon) culminating with Austin Marathon in Feb, which brought out all the area speedsters for the race. Good crowd of 859 on a relatively cool 63 degree central Tx morning. I tend to start fast and was focusing on staying under control, ended with 8:13 first mile which was a little faster than intended, told myself we were really early and take it easy. A few of the hills caused me to slow but I was still pushing and I keep the intensity for the downhill portion where I seemed to pick up some time.
Final 4/10 mile was up a decent hill that I just wanted to nail. Not surprising to see that is where I maxed my HR for the run and was sucking air hard. First time in months I can say that I left it all out there and was very pleased with that. Finally had an overall race pace (8:11) that was faster than my first mile (8:13).
8k or 5 mile is not a super popular distance and I had 6 previous races between the two with this being a PR by 1:37 and a better overall pace than 3 5k’s from this year. No AG award but I put this one in the W column for sure.
Robert Bauman ran the San Jose Rock n Roll Half Marathon and finished with a time of 2:50.
Weather was good for running. Course was relatively flat. Pacing was according to plan – 12:45 for first 4 miles, 12:30 4 – 10 miles, faster if can the rest of the way. Stayed on pace for the first 10 miles then began to fatigue, a general fatigue since legs were fine. Got worse during the last 3 mi so had to slow down instead of going faster. Need more work on extending fitness level at 12:30.
Scott Langman ran the Flatlanders Road Race Half Marathon with a finishing time of 1:35:06. This was a personal record by 5 minutes!
This was my third year running the Flatlanders Road Race in my home town. I felt this year that I could compete for the win, so I lined up at the very front of the starting corral for the first time in my short racing life. Due to the pressure and excitement of being at the front of the line, I started out way too fast, trying to keep up with the eventual winner for the first kilometer, but I wised up and and backed off significantly before I ruined the entire race. I focused on counting the people that were passing me early on so I knew at all times what place I was in, and I managed to pass half of them in the latter kilometers. It was an atypically hot October morning, which started to wear me down in the middle of the race, and I found myself grabbing way more water stops than I ever have on a half before. By the 15k mark, I thought I was done and was going to struggle to even beat my 1:40 PR, but I kept fighting on and was able to finish strong, sprinting across the finish line only 6 seconds off my A goal. I finished fifth overall, my best placing in a race so far.
Jim Paterson ran the Bocaa Lupo Pizza Howl at the Moon 5K and finished with a time of 24:26, which was a PR by 24 seconds!
After a week of having workouts cut short by weather. I decided to run Friday’s Howl at the Moon 5K as my speed work. My first problem was a forgot my GPS watch so I was running blind. This was scary but decided to go ahead and trust my training. The course was at the Tampa Bay Rays spring training facility and finished inside the stadium under the lights – a great finish destination. Kicking it in as I entered the stadium I finished with a PR of 24:26 and closer to 24 minute goal.
Mark Soo ran the Khao Yai Trail Marathon and finished in a time of 5:04.
This was my first trail marathon and a bit of a tune up for my 50k trail run next month. The recent rain made the trail very wet and muddy which definitely made it tricky. I started off at an easy pace and although there wasn’t a lot of elevation I did walk up some of the inclines as I have been mindful of the shin injury which only just cleared up.
The organisation was great with a good number of water stops and also some snacks/fruit available. I was feeling ok till around 27km when the muddy conditions started to take their toll. I slowed the pace and ended up running with a couple of other runners.
I seemed to find a bit of a second wind from around 34km and finished the course in 5:04. It wasn’t pretty and I definitely need to work on my speed on the trails but it was a nice trail run with some good experience on the trails. The nutrition I tried worked out ok and finished with no injuries.
Ana Gonzalez ran a marathon in Chester – England and finished with a time of 4.47.23. This was a PR by 20 minutes!
Being able to run at a decent pace nearly all the way through, a sub 4:50 finish, feeling a general sense of improvement. The course was lovely and the weather was nice and sunny. My first marathon was in June 2015. My time was 5:07. I have shaved off 20 m off this time. This is a great personal achievement for me. I sprinted through the finish line in such an excited state that one of the race marshals came up to me to ensure I was ok.
Rich Green ran the Freedom’s Run Marathon and finished this race in the time of 4:05:32.
As I continue on my quest to run a marathon in all 50 states, I selected this West Virginia marathon, knowing it would be a very challenging course. Consequently, this wasn’t the appropriate race to aim for a Personal Record. So I planned for the other PR: “Perfectly Respectable”. First off, the course was simply magnificent. We started with a light drizzle in Harpers Ferry National Park. By the time we got to mile 3, however, the heavens opened and it began to pour. Despite the rain, I was relatively close to my goal pace at this point in time.
At mile 4.5, we arrived at what should have been a very easy, very flat, very fast 10 mile stretch along a wide dirt path. But because of the rain, we found ourselves running along a 10 mile path of mud and standing water. I had to serpentine left and right, trying to avoid the worst of the mud and the deepest of the puddles. The energy I expended doing this, I knew, would cost me dearly in the final portion of the race. When I emerged from the path, I was never more excited to see pavement!
Then, at mile 15, the real challenge began: 5 miles of hills. The website calls them “rolling hills.” Which they are. But they are long, plentiful, steep, and big. That said, I was running through the breathtaking Antietam Battlefield. The beauty and historical significance of what I was seeing was well worth the difficulty of the terrain.
Suffice it to say that I was well spent by the time I got to mile 20. I did dig deep and remembered the fast finish workouts I had during my training, and guess what- they worked!
While I didn’t even approach my best time/s, the training that went into preparing for this marathon- my 4th with Runners Connect and my 29th overall- without a doubt allowed my to run smarter and stronger. Again, I knew when I began training, the of goal of this race was not a new PR. The point of this race was to enjoy the unique adventure which comes with each marathon, to put into effect all the lessons and tricks learned along the way, and to cross the finish line with a smile on my face and my arms held high in well earned victory. So yeah, Mother Nature might have made the race a lot harder, but in hindsight, she made even more special!
Bruce Bergeson ran the Saint George Marathon and finished with a time of 3:38:13.
This was a return one year later to my first marathon. I ran it about a minute and a half slower than last year. However, I did battle with an Achilles injury in March that kept me out of running for 5 weeks. I ran another marathon in June that I finished at 3:52:53. So, I guess that I improved 15 minutes over that marathon earlier this year. I like this running plan that seems to help prevent injury. I’m working out for another marathon in June next year.
Barbara Kirkwood ran the San Jose Rock n Roll 10k and completed this distance in the time of 58:05.
I have run the half marathon course of this race several times. This time, I was there to relax and enjoy the 10K with friends. It was a very different experience – no performance pressure, just a weekend run with t-shirts, medals, and catered snacks at the end. I haven’t run in a large race in a few years, so this was just the right thing for me.
Kevin Long ran the Berlin Marathon and finished in a time of 04:01:21. This was a new personal record by 11 minutes!
This was my goal race for 2016 and what I felt would be my best chance at running a sub-four marathon. Although I missed my primary goal by 82 seconds, I still PR’d by more than 11 minutes and feel great about how I raced. I had less than a minute difference between my two 13.1 mile splits so I ran a very consistent race. My pacing was solid and I feel the RC training plan and the experience of running the two previous NYCM’s had me ready for the start and not burnt out. Unlike my previous two marathons, I did not feel like I hit a wall this time.
A highlight for me was a Berliner came along side for the final two miles and paced me in. It was unexpected and helped me relax as we ran to the finish under the Brandenburg Gate. I loved running Berlin and hope to do so again one day as the crowd support was great and it is a flat and fast course.
Josh Wede ran the Bournemouth Half Marathon and completed this race event in the time of 1:30:22. This was a personal record by 2:30.
Almost got 1:30!! To be honest, going into the race I wasn’t even sure I would PR. My last few weeks of training have been tough. But I stuck it out and gave it a go. The race went even better than planned. I hoped to keep my first 3-4 miles around 7:00 pace and then see what happened. My legs felt much stronger than expected. So I decided to push a bit and see how long I could hold it. Once I got to mile 11, I made an effort to start reeling people in. The training really paid off. My last mile was 6:30 and I was almost sprinting at the end. As I have heard many times on Runners Connect – you just have to trust the training!
Melinda DeCosta ran the Partner re 5k, finishing this distance in the time of 28:59.
This race is extremely hilly. It’s still very hot here 81 F and even though it was not my fastest I finished higher than the middle which I was happy about. 82 out of 275. I’m normally middle or just over. I felt strong and was overall happy.
Christine Sandvik ran the Blues Cruise 50k and finished this distance in the time of 5:27:09. This was a new personal record by 11:31.
I’ve run this race 3 times and love the course and the amazing support and volunteers. My ultimate goal was to run under 5:30, and as I turned to the finish line I realized I was well below that! Thrilled with a great day, a course PR, and second in my age group!
Chris Liegel ran the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon and finished with a time of 3:14:16. This was a new personal record by 10:48.
This is my local race. It passes a quarter mile from my house at about mile 22. I ran my first marathon here 6 years ago and have run it every year since. I qualified for Boston here last year with a 3:25:04. There are family and friends all along the course and plenty of friends in the race. It’s truly like a big running family reunion at the end. A big PR right here on my home turf was a great feeling. After I was done I cheered for my wife and friends as they came across the line.
George Bougas ran the Crete Half Marathon and finished in a time of 2:11:39. This was a personal record by 8:12.
It was a tune up race for my goal race of Athens Authentic marathon. Actually I don’t have the feeling that it went very good for me because I expected a better time. Anyway I keep running!
Anna Squicciarini ran the Bournemouth Half Marathon in 1:40:12, which was a PR by 55 seconds!
This was amazing. I had a tough training cycle, and didn’t hit my times in many workouts. I moved country, changed workplace, and got sick all during the crucial weeks of training. I seriously thought of backing out, running a 10k instead etc.
But the race was neat. I was in charge, the whole time. I was able to hold my pace and improve it drastically over the course of the 13 miles. You would call it a good cut down probably (first mile 7:54, last mile 7:27) I saw people passing me in the first 3 miles, panting and suffering when I was just warming up. At mile 4 I started kicking in and never held back. Big hill at mile 8 something, once that was done, I just let go and left it all out. It was great, especially because I did not expect to PR at all. Once again, when I stopped the first thought was “runnersconnect did it again”. This program works- and coaches work. As much as I come to hate and doubt it every single cycle, it has never let me down (my first race was 1:55!). Thank you, all.
Joep Grootjans ran the Cambridge Oktoberfest 5km with a finishing time of 18:12.
Tune up race. I haven’t raced short distances for 10+ years, and was definitely not aiming for a PR here (16:03 on 3miles, 17:15 on 5km). I thought I would run ~18:30 and felt pretty good this morning. Goal was negative split, but I had no idea what pace I should start with, so I decided not to look at my garmin the first km and just run the first km on effort. Ok, I watched anyway 😉 at +/- 500m and was surprised about the pace (3.23/km) so needed to slow down. Naturally, two groups were forming anyway, so I decided to go conservatively in the somewhat slower group. I was waiting for the feeling of going completely anaerobic, but actually I still felt really good at 3km and started to accelerate. Pretty happy with the 18:12, based on how I felt during and after the race I think I could have gone faster, but good tune up.
Maad Khalil ran the Cardiff Half Marathon and finished with a time of 01:48:41.
Cardiff is a really beautiful city. The support from the people around the course was immense. I wanted to try and get a new PR but the race conditions and atmosphere has made up for not breaking my PR ! This was also my last tune up race before the NYC marathon. It was a really good and thoroughly enjoyed workout.
Brian Bigelow ran the Fort4Fitness Half Marathon and finished this distance in the time of 1:44.11. This was a PR by 3 minutes!
I have run this half every year except one and I love running it! My true goal is the Monumental marathon in November and I used this to really see where I was at. I practiced the many things I will do for the full and it went great. I did have a PR by 3 minutes, ended up 3rd for my division and honestly did what I didn’t think I could. Of the males I was 98th out of a total of 720 for the race. A few years back I was talking to another runner along with my older son and he said he finished at 1:45, I looked at him and my son and said that would be a dream for me. Well dreams do come true and now I am dreaming at even better times. Since being coached by RC and all the positive feedback from coaches and fellow runners I know that I am capable of doing even better, the neat thing is I just love running and it is so FUN, that’s what matters most. As a PE teacher I feel that I am able to model to the students that they too can do tremendous things and that through effort it can happen. All of this has come with me being 60 and honestly I feel in the best shape that I have ever been in. My daughter also ran and had a PR, running in the same event with family is priceless. There have been times that I have been so discouraged but it has been through the help of RC, all the coaches as well as others that have given me the drive that I have needed, THANK YOU! I know that there will always be the valleys that we need to go through but there will also be the peaks that we stand on top of. These are what makes us who we are as runners as well as the people that we are. I am so thankful for all of you and wish you all the very best, gig, Brian
Stacy Thomas ran the Badger Superhero Run 10k, finishing this distance in the time of 43:40.
It’s the smallest race I’ve ever run with only 30 participants for the 10K (and about 100 for the 5K). I finished 7th overall and 2nd female. It’s a race that benefits kids (aka “Superheros”) that are fighting cancer at the local Children’s Hospital so the best part was getting my 2nd place medal from one of the “Superheros”.
Roxanne Baggott ran the Pink on Parade 5k and completed this race event in the time of 38:54.
This was a wonderful race for me! Wasn’t about PR’s this time. There were too many people at first to do much running. I was in the survivor group and many were walking in that group. But I was able to run after the crowd thinned out and I just listened to my body. Ran some, walked some and totally embraced the fact that I am not only a survivor of this disease but one who still has the health to run. Beyond thankful!
Spyros Tsakalos ran the Under Armor Run Kifissia City Challenge Half Marathon and finished in 1:55:56.
It was a tune up race for the upcoming marathon in November. Extremely difficult with stiff uphill and downhill sessions. Goal was to check my physical condition after two injuries that kept me away from running during the summer. I am quite satisfied and looking forward to continue my training.
Alex Tran ran the Life Church Family Reunion 5k and finished the distance in the time of 18:59, which was a PR by 1:42.
This race was special because it was the culmination of a year’s work. In September 2015, I ran a 23:53 5k and knew I could do better. So I made the audacious goal of saying I would run sub-19 within the year.
Within that year, I went from a self-professed hater of running to regularly running five days per week. I overcame mental obstacles, self-limiting beliefs, and saw first-hand the results of long-term discipline. What running taught me this past year will translate into so many other areas of my life. It wasn’t just a run journey, it was a life journey. I’m a better person now because of running.
Race Notes: I placed second, losing by just a second. I led up until the last 10m and then got passed. But now I know what to work on for next year’s race!
Maad Khalil ran the Bristol Great Run Half Marathon with a finishing time of 01:46:55. This was a personal record by 00:03:00.
As the time gets nearer to my goal race the NYC marathon, the amount of training takes its toll and you begin to feel it in your legs. This was the first tester since the Swansea half marathon where I was chuffed to bits to see my time gets under the 01:50 mark considering I was struggling to make 02:00 the year before.
Bristol Great Run had a much harder terrain than Swansea and to shave another 3 minutes off my time was a huge boost to confidence. I have to say RC coaches and team members have been outstanding in every way to help me achieve my goals so far. My sincere thanks to ALL.
Edith Rian ran the Berlin Marathon and finished with a time of 4:11:57, which was a PR!
My first marathon. I had planned for 4:20, and was able to cut 8 min from this plan, by constantly picking up pace. It was a wonderful race, I was in continuous flow the whole race, and didn’t feel tired before reaching 34 km. My fueling strategy worked well, I consumed 4 1/2 scoop of UCAN energy drink right before and during the race, plus one Hammer gel, a cup of diluted Redbull and water at the water stations. I walked through the water stations, which helped me keep my legs fresh and strong.
