Matthew Stewart raced the Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia finishing this race with the time of 2:59.08 which was a PR by 7 minutes.
Well I cracked it. Sub 3 hours for the first time! While this race represents a PR of over seven minutes it’s also the culmination of 19 months of training with RC coaches and an improvement of 32 minutes and 40 seconds from my first marathon. My training was a little disrupted so I was a little surprised to be comfortably running at 2:56 pace. That ease was to come to an end as we returned back to the city and had a short 30m decent to the waterline at 32km where I felt the stiffening of my left hamstring which signalling that cramp was not far off. I cramped up at 37km but was able to push through after a couple of stops to stretch out, walk and return to run. We a little time lost the 3 hour pace runner came by me with 2 km to go but I held on to cross the line with time to spare. Matthew Stewart ran the Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia coming across the finish line with a time of 2:59.08 which was a PR of 7 minutes and 23 seconds.
Pat Douglass ran the Saratoga Palio Half Marathon in Saratoga finishing his debut half marathon with a time of 1:44:39.
This was my first half marathon. It was a great race. I trained to run this race at or below 1:45:00 and it was awesome to believe in the training and actually execute the race plan and have the energy to finish strong. Looking forward to my next race, once I figure out what it will be.
Stacy Thomas ran the Brewers Mini Marathon in Milwaukee, WI finishing this distance race in the time of 1:48:28 which is a PR of 7 minutes and 24 seconds.
This was my 4th Half Marathon (all of which have been PRs), but this was my biggest improvement. Also, I got to run on the warning track inside Miller Park (where the Milwaukee Brewers play) so that was a lot of fun too. I didn’t think sub 1:50 was do-able. A PR by more than 7 minutes.
Rich Rein ran the Maranatha Road Race 5K in Forest Lake, MN coming across the finish line with a time of 20:24 which was a PR of 12 seconds.
It was a good confidence booster with three weeks to go until my marathon – nothing says “ready” for a fall marathon like cooler weather, a strong finish, and an overall race win!
Anette Wikström raced the Topploppet 5K in Stockholm, Sweden completing this race with the time of 29:34 which a by over 5 minutes.
I’ve been racing 5k’s for many years ago and then my finishing time was about 35 minutes. Not much running behind that time. Since May this year I have been running a lot, but I started very untrained. I joined RC for 3 weeks ago. My goal for this race was sub 30 and I managed! I was really nervous before start. The goal meant so much for me. The race started well with nice weather and a flat course. Between 2 and 3,5 k the course was very hilly and I lost a lot of energy. My plan to increase the pace the last 2 k didn’t go that well. But, I still met my goal!
Stephen Astels ran the Canadian Army Run 21.1K in Ottawa, Canada coming across the finish line with a time of 1:45:42 which was a 6 minute PR!
Had a great time at the Army Run half marathon here in Ottawa. Almost 6 minutes faster than my previous PR and I didn’t end up in the medical tent, unlike my previous best half (!). Thank you RunnersConnect for such great training this summer! Thanks to you I’ve gotten new records in the marathon, half, and 5K, and did a 10K PR during a tempo run!
Linda McCosham ran the Ottawa Army Run 21.K in Ottawa, Canada finishing this race distance in the time of 2:33:30.
The race was special because I was actually able to participate. A couple of months back I thought I’d have to change to the 5k distance because of a hamstring injury. However, with the help of RC and Coach Jamie Dodge, I was able to participate in this race even though it was a lot slower than my usual pace. It felt great to be out there and I was able to finish strong. There were no issues with the hamstring at all. Because I felt so good after this race I’m thinking of doing it again next year. I’m now looking forward to getting into the training for my half marathon goal race, which is the Las Vegas run in November.
Sergio Calvo ran his debut marathon at the Tamarindo Beach Marathon in Costa Rica finishing his first marathon with a time of 4:28:37.
A race which is very meaningful not only because it was my first marathon, but because it was a “bucket item” that I neglected many years. For 29 KM’s my performance was very solid. Between 30-32 KM hydration points ran out of cups. At 80° F, 90% humidity and tropical sea level, I knew I could not go anywhere without fluids, specially if later points had the same situation. So I decided to literally stop on point to get my bottles filled. By KM 33-34 I still had time but my muscles were exhausted. Looking backwards my decision seems just too expensive. I had to back off my plan by alternating easy running with walking and refusing to stop on cramps, which really did disappear after a while. I have no doubts that my mental preparation and overall training is what kept me going safe and sound until the finish line. My decision and race time don’t make very happy. But I am very proud of my achievement and the end-to-end process.
Anton Slesarev ran the Moscow Marathon 10K in Moscow, Russia finishing this race distance with the time of 46:44 which was a PR by 2 minutes.
Dean Morley ran the Richmond upon Thames Half marathon in Richmond, London finishing this race with the time of 1.25.02.
Tune up race for my main half on 5 October. Chip time was 1.25.02 which is a couple of minutes off my PB in Brighton this February but that course was all-road and this was mainly towpath/ natural footpaths. The start was also very congested so it took a couple of miles to get clear – not helped by a very low ratio of loos at the start, meaning I crossed the start line ‘late’ and after about 250 others, but did still finish 25th overall. So at least I overtook lots of people on the way.
Anja van Delft ran the Vredesloop/Peace run Den Haag 5K in De Haag coming across the finish line with a time of 30:53.
First completed race in 2 years! As I crossed the finish I realised how much I missed running a race.
Cheryl Hodge ran the Newport Liberty Half Marathon in Jersey City, NJ finishing her debut marathon with the time of 2:12.
Well, even though the universe was conspiring against me, I ran my first Half Marathon anyway! I didn’t get anywhere near the time I was hoping for, but I figure it can only be up from here! I’ve been sick with sinus issues and woke up coughing, I had to work 150 hours over the past two weeks so I missed a few runs and was tired, and a warm front decided to come through over night so the race was 75-80 degrees with 95% humidity. Heat and humidity kill me. Apparently, it affects others, too. I watched 5 people being carted away by paramedics during the race. During mile 9 to 10, I don’t know what happened, but all my muscles from the waist down decided to cramp at the same time. I walked it out for about 2 minutes and then had to run the rest of the race at easy pace. I thought I wouldn’t make it, but I kept telling myself, I will finish this running. And I made it! 3 years ago I broke my femur into three pieces, s o it was me with my titanium rod reinforced leg and a bunch of willpower! Next year, we will take on a Marathon!
Stephen Fletcher ran the Worcester City 10k in Worcester, UK finishing this event in the time of 43:45.
It was my first ever (proper) race. Race number, elite runners, electronic chip race timings etc. Was nervous at the start. Everyone (and I mean everyone!) looked like they were stronger, fitter, better prepared etc. However, I really enjoyed it and beat my goal of 45 mins. Started with a conservative negative split race plan and never got behind. Felt really strong in the last 2k and was able to reel in many of those stronger/fitter runners I mentioned earlier. What’s amazing is that I joined RC having started on Coach Jeff’s Sub 55min 10k plan from Runkeeper back in March this year. Back then I’d have happily taken a sub 55 time. Have never trained and actually disliked running before this year. Have truly got the bug now. Feel much better have lost 2 stones in weight and several inches off the waste. Thanks to the RC coaches and community for all the good advice and support!!
Erica Melton raced the BMW Performance Classic 2 Mile Run in Greer, SC finishing this race distance in the time of 18:54 which was a PR of 1 minute 33 seconds.
This is a really fun race since it’s ran on the BMW Performance Center test track. Last year I finished in 20:27 so I was aiming to finish under 20 minutes this year. The first 1.5 miles went great and I was able to find a good rhythm and stick to it. While not hilly in comparison of road races, it does have a few ups and downs. I knew I was pushing it hard since towards the end with about a half mile to go, I could feel my right hamstring starting to cramp up and had to slow it down just a bit. But when I made the final turn and saw the clock, I was extremely surprised to see 18:xx so with about 200m to go, I gave it everything I had left and sprinted across the finish line with a time of 18:54! A 2 mile PR by 1 minute and 33 seconds!
Tony Malinauskas competed in the Tough Mudder Michigan event completing it about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
This was my 10th Tough Mudder in just 2 years. Tough Mudder is a 12 mile obstacle course race designed to test physical and mental grit, and to build teamwork among fellow runners. It is not timed; the objective is to complete the course and to help others do so, all without dying. This was my roughest one ever because I evidently got a touch of food poisoning the night before and I ran (as much as I could) while nauseated. Despite all this, I was satisfied with my performance because I did push through several times when I wanted to quite, and I learned that “doing your best in the circumstances” is the ultimate goal.
Bas van Delft ran the Peacerun 10K in The Hague coming across the finish line with a time of 38:53 which was PR of 13 seconds.
First 10K in a while. Extremely oppressing conditions, felt like the tropics. Seen in that light, I’m satisfied with the result, my first time below 39 mins. On to the next PR!
Mike Sheridan ran the S East England AA – V50 4 x Relay in Aldershot, UK which was 6K in distance and completing his leg with a time of 24:04 which was a PR!
Ran anchor leg on this one and gained 4 or 5 places for the team including passing to V40 teams in the same event. Of our 8 runners in two teams, I posted the second best time and highest placed finish 33/67. Avg pacing was 6:19 min/m
Tracy Lance ran the CARA 20 miler in finishing this race distance and PRing by 1 minute and 10 seconds.
I ran the CARA 20 miler yesterday and pr’d by 1:10!I set out on a goal to find a coach to help me qualify to run Boston someday and joined RC, a team of great coaches! I followed the plan and I am so excited to see the plan at work! I am on schedule to complete the Chicago marathon in Oct with a finish time of 4:15 and with a few tweaks to my running form (I started experiencing groin pains at mile 13!) I WILL reach that goal! Yay me! Thank you RC!
Greg Kline ran the Panerathon 10K finishing in the time of 43:25 which was a PR!
Today I ran the “Panerathon 10 K Race” The race went very well. I averaged a 6:58 for the 10K Race, completing in 43:25. I really pushed myself on this run. The last few steps were excruciating, but worth a new PR. I think I am ready for the Chicago Marathon.
Buddy Gray raced the Moonlight madness 5K in Winstom-Salem, NC coming across the in the time of 19:09 which was a PR of 3 seconds and took 3rd in his Age Group.
This was a good race! I was hoping to break 19min but missed it by 9sec. I still had a PR of 3sec. Not a big one but still an improvement. I was also 13th overall of some 800 or so runners and 3rd in my age div. It was a tough course, easy at first but a lot of up and down hills and turns the second half which kinda slowed your pace. The fastest time I think was in the low 15s. Still felt good about my performance and THANK YOU RC. You have helped me improve a lot and I look forward to catching those 9sec on the next one!
