Heather's Nike Women's Marathon race report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

It's Not You, It's Me.

Dear Running,

We need to take a break.  Believe me this is not what I want, but I have to look at a couple of very important lessons that you taught me.

1. Be a little bit selfish
2. Take care of yourself

So, that’s what I’m going to do.

I want to thank you for our last Hurrah! The Nike Women’s Marathon was AWESOME!

Read the rest of Heather's report here!

Introducing the Run3rd Running Club, aka R3RC!

Welcome to the #Run3rd Running Club aka R3RC!

The founding premise of this running club is that in addition to focusing on ourselves and our immediate families, this earliest type of exercise can also be a meaningful form of self expression. When members “#run3rd for others” they carry the dedications of loved ones and causes with them as they journey on the road. The primary purpose of the club is to utilize social media to share details about our training and race performances. The group will primarily organize around the members’ Twitter feeds, but will also live on our Run3rd blog and Facebook page.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:

Does the club offer formal training or coaching? 
No formal training is being offered. R3RC is a club, not a training program or a paid coaching program. Several of our members do train with a coach or other formal training program.

Do you have to be fast to join? 
No. Our members run the gamut on fitness and speed levels from newbies to elite runners. There are some that run marathons and some that have never run a race and have no desire to.

How large is the club? 
The R3RC is still in the start up phase.  Unofficially we have about 200-300+ members on the Facebook group with some much more active than others.

Do you have to live in a certain area to be a member? 
No.  The club is for now mostly a Twitter campaign and Facebook group.  Many of the races our members do are virtual.  We also encourage you to sign up for local races to represent #Run3rd and post about them!

Does the club travel to races? 
Not formally. Occasionally small groups of members have traveled to marathons, half marathons and other runs together, but nothing official.

What distances do the club members run?
Everyone is at a different level.  We have members that walk as many feet as they can and we have members who run many miles and everything in between!  In terms of races, some members do not race while others run distances from 5k to full marathons.

Can I join if I have never run before or new to running?
Yes.  Many of our members are new to running!  We encourage you to seek advice from your doctor before starting or modifying any exercise routine.

How do I learn more about the club?
The best way is to check out the Facebook group at https://facebook.com/groups/Run3rdRunningClub/ and follow Sean Astin @Run3RC. There is also the #Run3rd blog at http://run3rd.blogspot.com and the general #Run3rd Facebook group at https://facebook.com/groups/run3rd. This group focuses more on events and general support.

I joined The Run3rd Running Club Facebook group, am I a member of the club?
Yes!

How much are dues?
There are currently no membership dues.

How is #Run3rd changing from what it’s been in the past?
The training club is just in the beginning stages, so for now not much is changing. We are looking at getting better organized. We also are looking at the idea of having a running club option in addition to the Twitter campaign and general Facebook group.

For more information, contact Cheyanne Witte via email at CheyGirl1R3RC@gmail.com or on Twitter @Cheygirl1 .

Linda's EAS Distance Classic 5K race report

Jodi, Kelli, Sean, me and Phyllis

Submitted by Linda Iroff @LindaofNote

Well that was unexpected!

A week ago, I didn't think I'd spend Sunday morning in a park in Grove Port, OH, at a race with #run3rd team leader Sean Astin, fellow captain Kelli Shrewsberry, her mom Phyllis, and team member Jodi Scott. But let's back up a bit…

Last Tuesday it was announced that Sean Astin would be attending Wizard World's Ohio Comic Con in Columbus that coming weekend, September 21-22. That's only a 2-hour drive from me! So I quick like a bunny made arrangements to head there for the weekend.

Heather's Disneyland Half Marathon race report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

Suck it up, Buttercup!

I’m a little worried I’m going to upset some folks with this blog, but just a little. Although I had a wonderful weekend with my friends, I didn’t L-O-V-E my Disney Half Marathon experience and it’s all my fault. I went in to this weekend unprepared physically, emotionally and attitudinally.

It’s simple. I don’t love Disney races.   I know, you’re all gasping in horror! WHAT?! How can you not love the Disney race? Running through the park! Awesome T-shirts! Multitudes of BLING!

This is all I can say; it’s not really my thing. I will attempt to explain MY feelings about this knowing that how I feel is not indicative of the race or experience I could have and should have had.

What I should have done is sucked it up, instead I simply sucked.

Read the rest at Heather's blog: stRUNgoutrunner.com.

Stephanie's Dumbo Double Dare race report

Submitted by Stephanie A. Harris @Steph_Harris12

I first learned about the Dumbo Double Dare [Disneyland 10K plus half marathon] at the 2013 Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon. I never gave it a second thought, it was totally out of the question. 19.3 miles, are they crazy? I was perfectly happy with my 13.1 miles and just getting use to doing those.

As my husband and I sat around the supper table with a great group of runners listening to stories of their races, my good friend Heather piped up and said "You should do it!" I thought to myself, yeah right! After a couple text messages and a Facebook message from Heather, I decided I was doing it. I recruited my husband against his will. He was already unhappy with me that I had added him to my crazy year of completing one half marathon a month. Registration day came and I found myself sitting at the computer waiting for it to open up. I kept refreshing the screen until it was time. Done, two Dumbo Double Dare registrations and a single 10K registration for my daughter. My wallet screamed at me. It had officially become a family event.

Tracy's Pasadena Half Marathon Report

Submitted by Tracy Burwell @ATurtlesPace

I have run many races since becoming a #run3rd captain, all worthy of a race report. Unfortunately I sometimes have great ideas that don't get onto paper due to my attention deficit. But the Pasadena half marathon was so intense, so HOT, and so heartfelt, there was no way I couldn't write about the experience.

It all started out quite normal! We arrived prepared for the forecasted heat wave conditions. My daughter @hipster_runner was running the 10k and me the half. We were both sporting team Run Sparkle skirts and #run3rd patches. I also had a race belt full of hearts with dedications on them!

The Magic High Five

Submitted by Cindy Levin @ccylevin
Originally posted here.

Up high! Put 'er there! Don't leave me hangin' :)

There, I've just given you a high five today. Whatever you're trying to do, consider yourself encouraged. Lots of times, we give high fives when something awesome happens like Neil Patrick  Harris does on How I Met Your Mother, but today I'm talking about the kind of high fives you give a runner on a marathon race course. I call that a Magic Five.

A Magic Five is one given when someone is doing something hard and running out of steam. That ineffable transfer of energy from one human to another. Maybe it's Chi? I don't know. But I do know that there is a palpable burst of energy and resolve that results from someone making a gesture to say "Way to go. You got this. I believe in you." It could be a fist bump like the Obama's, sure, but I'm clumsy and might end up clocking the very person I'm trying to encourage. However it's given, everybody needs them whether they are trying to set a personal best in running or advocating to change the world.

Heather's SF Marathon Race Report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

Running for the Hills!

When I was training for the marathon, I didn’t want to sign up for a race. I was worried that I would be too exhausted. Then I won an entry to the Hollywood Half and then someone talked me into San Francisco.

San Francisco was a race I really wanted to do for a variety of reasons.

1. I was born there.
2. You can run the full marathon, the first half of the marathon or the second half of the marathon.
3. If you run the first half you get to run over the Golden Gate Bridge.

So I signed up for the first half of the marathon. I signed up and made a plan to go visit my Nonnie and run with some lovely folks from my gym…

Read the rest at Heather's stRUNg Out blog!

Lupe's San Francisco Marathon race report

Submitted by Lupe Steele @LupeSteele

My thoughts on the San Francisco Marathon

Each run has its own special experience and meaning.  It is common to feel a little queasy about each race.  That has been the way most of my races have played out over the past 6 years. This race was different. This time it was about the experience and I was going to be open to whatever came my way. To my surprise, I had an absolutely perfect morning in the City by the Bay.

I was particularly tickled by the realization that Sean Astin would be participating in the race. This was my event; it was in my area and I wanted my fellow #Run3rders to have a wonderful time. For our fearless leader, it was a 26.2 race against the hills of San Francisco. While I didn’t want to admit it, I was a bit nervous. I wanted him to enjoy his time in San Francisco as much as I’ve always enjoyed SF growing up.

Linda's Park 2 Park 5K race report

Why You Shouldn't Let a Little Rain Stop You

Submitted by Linda Iroff @LindaofNote

The Park 2 Park 5K is a race I almost didn't run. The weather had been looking iffy for a few days, so the first things I did when I got up early that Sunday morning was check the radar. What I saw was not encouraging. The leading edge of the rain had not yet reached my house, but some pretty widespread yellows and reds were making a bee-line for the race location. I had done some training in light rain before, but never anything like this. And at 5:30 in the morning, there was a strong temptation to just crawl back under the covers.

If it had been just me to consider, I would have done so. But I'd made a commitment: I was running for my fellow #Run3rd Team Captains who would be shortly heading out for the San Francisco Marathon, and for all dads on Fathers Day. I thought of Sean Astin, determined to run a full marathon in hilly San Francisco despite his problematic IT band. I thought of Christina Boulard, who quit smoking over a year ago and started running. I thought of MaryEllen Long, for whom even a few steps is a trial, but she is doing her best. I thought of all the other runners and walkers I've met through #Run3rd, who keep going despite health issues, injuries and a multitude of other obstacles. This is just a little rain.

What do I do when I don't know what to do?: #RUN3rd

Submitted by Cynthia Changyit Levin

I'm a woman of action. You can see it in my blog posts as I urge people to take meaningful action to fight against poverty. Every day, reach out to Congress or help others to do the same. Every year, I raise money to provide vaccines or  education or meals or other ways to change the world for the better. When shots rang out in Newtown, I was in my senator's office the next morning talking about gun control. I advocate, I educate, I write, I organize. I fundraise. I don't like to write or talk to people publicly about a problem without offering a way to DO something to about it.

But what do I do when I don't know what to do?

What if I'm too upset or confused to see a clear path? Or, what about those times when I've already done everything I can and it just doesn't seem like enough?

That's where a virtual running club I found comes to the rescue. #RUN3rd is a running group inspired by actor Sean Astin (my favorite Lord of the Rings Ring Bearer!). In this group, people from all over the country inspire each other with messages and motivational images, quotes, etc. We choose to run not only for ourselves and our health, but we choose to dedicate every race and training run to reasons meaningful to us. #RUN3rd lives on Facebook and Twitter where you can post a dedication you care about for your run.

Read the rest of Cynthia's article on her blog "Anti-Poverty Mom."

Linda's Fur Fun 5K race report

On  April 28, I participated in my 3rd #run3rd event in for the 3rd weekend in a row, the Love-a-Stray Fur Fun 5K. As seems to have become customary for my races, the weather was overcast, chilly and damp. In fact, there was a good bit of drizzle and light rain, though the heavy rain held off until nearly all the awards were given out after the race!

There was a pre-race expo with dogs of all sizes to pet and doggie products to buy. (I have no dogs, just a ferret!) I unexpectedly ran into a colleague from work, and we hung out and wandered around together until time for the race to start.