Team RunnersConnect brings in 9PRs in the stellar racing from the 5K to half marathon.

Carol Grisso completed in the Lakewood summerfest Tri in Lakewood, WA running the 5K portion in the time of 27:52.

First Place in F(70-90) age group. Ran the 5K in 27.52 after the swim and cycle on a hilly trail run. . . felt really good! Thanks Runners Connect for preparing me : )

Alison Scofield ran the Red Ore Run 10K in Hibbing, MN coming across the finish line in the time of 52:52 which is a 9 second PR.

Originally, I had not planned on doing this race, but it is sentimental for me as it was my first ever 5k & 10K. Also, it’s local and the cause is a a good one – kids! I had 11 miles on the schedule, so I ran 2.7 there as a warm up plus 2.1 afterwards. It was a very warm, humid day so I didn’t really have a plan, but in the back of my head I knew that I wanted to beat my previous PR of 53:01. I started off too fast, but managed to reel it in within the first mile and stay somewhat steady from that point on. I couldn’t have been more thankful for the two lovely residents who set up sprinklers along the race route in front of their homes. That really felt great! In the last mile, when I knew I had passed a few ladies in my age group, I decided to lay the hammer down and make sure they stayed behind me. I was so happy to cross the finish line, and I know that my RC training helped me run in these uncomfortable conditions and ea rn this PR! Thank you!

Brian St.George ran the Red Ore Run 10K in Hibbing, MN finishing this race in the time of 36:25 placing 1st in his Age Group.

I had a well thought out pacing strategy for his race. Thought I’d start out at 6:00 and work my way down to 5:30 and finish strong with a sub 36:00. Easy enough, right? Problem is, I haven’t run a 10K since 2004 and have only run 3 in my lifetime…not a lot of experience with this distance and not much memory of my first three 10k’s. Within the 1st mile my plan started to slip as I struggled with the decision to go with the race leader who was running about 10-15 sec faster than my goal pace, or stick to my planned pace. I tried to compromise by letting him go a bit and honoring my pace while staying close enough to keep him in contact. I think those 20+ seconds over the first 2 miles trying to keep the race close cost me my ability to continue my cutdown strategy. I made up some ground in the last mile and finished 14 seconds behind the winner. Although I’m not that pleased with how I raced, it was a good experience and re-introduction to the demands of the 10K. Finished 1st in my age group (winner was 47…congrats to him!).

Ron Darin ran the Cool Summer Mornings 5k in Clermont, Florida coming across the finish line with a time of 20:55 taking a 1st in Age Group award.

First 5k race in almost a year. With 2 weeks post marathon race, a PR was unlikely. Finished in 20:55 which was good for 1st in age group and 9th overall.  Went out too fast and struggled the last mile but satisfied with the result. Very hot and humid in Florida but enjoyed myself very much. Get a shot at a PR in 4 weeks.

Julie Rowe ran  her first half marathon at the Narragansett Summer Running Festival in Easton, MA finishing this race in the time of 3:21:08.

This was my first half marathon! I have not been running for a very long time, so my goal was to a) finish this race and b) run the whole time (even if it was to run very slowly). I fulfilled my goals! My training plan kept me confident, because I knew that I had been working very hard and wouldn’t have a problem with this. (I was not totally prepared for the heat and humidity, though!).

Matthew Stewart ran the Sydney Harbour 10K in Sydney, Australia finishing this race distance in the time of 37:41 which is PR of 1 minutes 31 seconds.

Raced the Sydney Harbour 10K for a new PR. Set my previous PR last year at the same event. Cold (2.8 °C apparent) with 24kph wind meant gloves, arm warmers and a Buff as a ear-warmer but the course was sheltered from the worst of it for most of the course. Tight start area in The Rocks means you need to get there early to get a decent spot up front to avoid human traffic. After a decent 3km warm up, strides and lunge matrix (yup, all the good stuff Coaches 😉 ) I was ready to for the gun. First km was a bit enthusiastic and adrenaline fuelled but I soon settled into a rhythm. The toughest km was the 7th, a rise onto a bridge and a series of corners then a short downhill, it was my slowest. I’d down a recon run yesterday so I knew what to expect. One km from the finish there was someone calling out the time and it was the first I had any idea of what my finish time would be. He was calling out 34 minutes so I figured I had a shot at 3 7 minutes and change. This is my first race since the Comrades marathon (88.7km) in June and after a bit of recovery a 10k is a nice distance to get back into it and utilise some of the fitness from that training block. Also good to be moving at a faster pace and for less than 7 and half hours!

Art Mercurio ran the Old Port Half Marathon in Portland, Maine finishing this race in the time of 1:57:22.

The good news is that I and in my age group. That said, it was quite warm and the sun was very strong without much shade. I wilt in the sun. There were two monster hills but they were less of a problem than the sun and heat for me. I ran a half marathon in late May in 1:54:45 on a much cooler day and less sun. I felt strong during this race but the sun definitely impacted my time.

David Guthrie ran the Crazy 8 8K in Kingsport, TN finishing this race event in the time 39:08.

Ive never run this race before but family and friends signed up so I could not sit this one out. Felt great!

Ralph Caddell ran the Coyote Chase Trail Race 1.7 miler in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana finishing in the time of 13:39.

Final and shortest Trail Race in the New Orleans Summer Trail Race series. It is summer so it was hot and humid as expected. This one was pretty muddy from recent rains so there were deep puddles and the ground was soft. The showers that was set up at the finish line was greatly appreciated. I was second fastest in my age group to the Senior’s award winners so I guess that makes me the age group (60-69) winner. No scheduled races for 6 weeks and I am ready for the break.

Douglas Stewart ran the Mad half Marathon in Waitsfield, VT finishing in the time of 2:34:18.

I didn’t really have a goal time for this race, as I’d missed a ton of my training. Two colds, allergies which I’ve never had before, one long horrible bout with the flu, and then a knee injury. The goal here was just to have fun and finish. The course is super hilly (over 1,100 feet of elevation gain) in a small town in Vermont. Really fun and gorgeous race. I walked way more of it than I was intending, but it’s okay. I hadn’t run this distance since my marathon in 2007, so this was a big hurdle. And even though I didn’t really “race,” thanks to RC I felt fine after the race because my fitness level is way better than my usual slugginess. 🙂 I’ve already signed up for another half for October, and this will be an easy time to best, right? I set the bar low! And oh–I got to meet Sarah Crouch! Bart Yasso announced this race, and Sarah drove in to see him. She found me after the race and it was wonde rful to meet her. All in all a great experience. I’ll definitely do this race again next year. Already looking forward to it!

Ed Chuchaisri ran the The Kop Run 10K in Bangkok, Thailand finishing the race event in the time of 1 hour and 15 seconds.

Easiest race ever. Just ran easy, kept the pace slow, and enjoyed every moment..

Katie Walding ran the New Forest 10 miler in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, UK finishing in the time of 1:36:42 which is a 2 minute and 38 second PR.

Chuffed to bits with this, tried to keep steady for the first 5 miles and then went for it… felt FANTASTIC! Considering it was raining and windy, and last year was near perfect (breeze and sunshine) I knocked a fair bit off my time and I felt strong all the way… This was a tune up at the beginning of my training with RC and it has made me very excited about what I might be able to achieve with your coaching!

Courteney Schinbeckler ran the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon in Bryce Canyon Utah finishing this race distance in the time of 2:25:15.

First race back after plantar faciitis.Not a PR but not a lot of pain and feeling good. Helps it was downhill and I had a great pacing group.

Ranolfo Ugalino ran the Davis Moonlight Run 2015 half marathon in Davis, CA finishing this race in the time of 2:06:48.

I never thought I could ever run 13 miles let a lone race 13 miles. It’s been a goal of mine since my first race back in April (5K). The weather was AWESOME : 85 degree high, sunny, breezy. I’m glad my first HM was this night run. I had my doubts going into the race because I’ve only run 11 miles but slow pace. But the training plan from here at RC was absolutely perfect. I didn’t feel one ache or pain from past issues (knee or hip). And although it was torture I still had just enough in the tank to go all out the last mile. My goal was 9:39 min/mile and finish at 2:06:30. I was off by 14 seconds but injury free (aside from soreness). All thanks to RC.

George Willard ran the Johnnycake Jog 5 miler in Mentor, Ohio finishing this race in the time of 43:39 which is PR of 1 minute and 16 seconds.

Returned from a long road trip at 5:00 a.m. and got only 1.5 hrs sleep before the race. Almost a minute and a half off old PR.

Hein Mynhardt ran the EY River Run Classsic 21.1K in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada coming across the finish line with a time of 1:40:11.

Aiming to improve my time from earlier this year (and coming back from injury), I set a high goal for the race.
My bib nr was 666, not being suspicious and all, it did not seem to bode well for the run.  Night before run I got 2 hours sleep as I was called in due to work emergency, this just compounded my unease towards the run. Day was hot n humid at 8am start. First 12 k was great, pace kept easily. Then my energy seemed to slip quickly but tried to distract myself with the surroundings and various mantras. Pace kept yet. At 16km the head games really started.  At the 17k fluid station I took a walk n drink break, kept it down to 15 sec. Checked my watch, still in with a shot.
Finally I saw the 20k mark and started to up the pace, was going to be close. Then the finish line came in to view, I will have to sprint. Hamstring held firm as I poured it on over the last 350m. I crossed the line, it was over, 11 sec over goal….Damm, so closed. Still very happy as it is a 4m 30sec improvement over my run 6 weeks ago. Next time for sure.

Adam Schafer ran the Twilight Half marathon in Vancouver, WA finishing this race in the time of 1:39:16.

Small and nicely run evening race. Trying to hit a race a month and try some new ones.  This was the first one I ‘raced’ this year. I really tried to hold back at around 7:50-8 for the first 4, dropping to 7:40‘s for a 3-4 more, 7:30‘s until the 10 mark. The last 3 were almost a ‘let it rip’ and I finished strong. At about 3/4 to go on the last straight stretch I got passed by an older lady (looked even older than she was) and she handed me a beating. I lost her near the end at about a 6:30 pace. First time I’ve broken that 100 minute half mark this year and recovery has been quick.

Christoper Jones ran the Healthy choice 5k in Bermuda finishing this race with a time of 22.36.

Last race of the season and a race I had never done. very challenging course but happy to have made a reasonable time and take 1st in age group.

Morgan Daulton ran the Bluegrass 10,000 10K in Lexington, KY coming across the finish line in the time of 52:49 which is a PR of 52 seconds.

I was out for a week two weeks before the race because of my achilles but I was trying to get over that mental hurdle. On race day I’d say I was 100% healthy and 85% prepared. That morning it was very humid. Almost no one in my group got a PR so I’m pretty confident if weather was “perfect” I could have hit 51:09 (what my training plan called for). But the weather is never going to be perfect in July! Overall it was a good race. Hopefully I can continue to improve at the half distance.

Teresa Perez ran the Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon in Portland, Maine finishing in the time of 1:53:30.

It was a very hilly course, but the scenery was absolutely beautiful. I really enjoyed the race even though the temps were also a little warmer than I had hoped and there weren’t many shaded parts. Overall, I was very happy with my time.

Siobhan Donegan ran the Stowe 8 miler in Stowe, Vermont finishing in the time of 1:01:52.

I ran the Stowe 8-miler in Stowe, Vermont, on Sunday. It was a hot and humid day and I was a little worried about what the future held for me even during my pre-race warm-up run early that morning. It wasn’t quite 80 but those 70’s digits were creeping upwards…quickly. The sun was already beating down heavily and I was getting HOT. Still, I knew battling the heat was somehow part of this race’s 34-year tradition and folklore, so of course, I lined up at the start just like everyone else, each of us commiserating. I ran this race last year so knew the course a little and felt comfortable for the first 4 miles or so, which, needless to say, was not where most of the hills were! By mile 5 though, even smallish hills looked daunting to me, especially as I watched the tiny runners ahead of me climbing them in blazing sunlight. I realized I was starting to break down a little mentally and physically and wanted to be done…but kept on running because that’s all I knew. Stopping would not have saved me from the heat and hot sun, plus I would have been so mad at myself if I gave up. I figured I could tough it out for another 3 or so miles. In retrospect, I know that’s not a long way but at the time it seemed like a lot. I clung to and celebrated each and every mile marker I passed, thrilled that yet another one was behind me! That too kept me going. Miles 5-7 were rolling hills and hot but I managed. Mile 7-8 was mostly uphill but I knew I was closing in on the finish so was somehow able to recover a bit during that stretch. I also remembered from last year that there was a left turn and then – surprise – the finish line in all its glory about 25 m away. I was happily ready for that this year and started picking up my pace a bit (a little) when I saw the left turn. I could see how close I was and it was exhilarating knowing I would soon be DONE! The first half was fun but mostly I hated the second half. I ran 1 minute and 44 seconds slower than last year but did come in first for my age group. Still, I can’t wait to try this again next year and have a clear plan to prepare more for the heat and the hills together (all of the RC wisdom that has been shared that I need to implement!) It would also be nice if 2016 was more accommodating weather-wise but I’m not counting on that! 7:41; 7:19; 7:34; 7:17; 7:47; 8:06; 8:26; 7:42;