Santa Shuffle race report

Submitted by Sarah Diamond, @voxpax2

"Choices"

This is my third 5k run I have done this year. That in itself is a major accomplishment for me. As most of you know I have asthma; running was never apart of my life because it controlled me. I chose to change that. It’s people like Sean Astin who inspire us to make the change.

On December 1,  I ran the Salvation Army “Santa Shuffle” 5k, and while running/walking it (I mix the two in order to keep the asthma at bay) I had another epiphany. There are two routes you can run: the shorter 1K version or  the full 5K route. I had that shorter route staring me in the face saying “You could run me. I'm shorter, I’m easier to run. It wouldn’t be such an effort. I’m safer, I’m dryer then what your doing.”

New Team Captain: Samwise Gamgee!

I hope you will join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest #Run3rd Team Captain: Samwise Gamgee of #3 Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, The Shire!

Sam's first race as Team Captain will be the Hobbiton Half on January 12, 2013 Shire Reckoning. The course begins at the Party Tree in Hobbiton, heads down Bywater Road to the Three Farthing Stone on East Road, then back to the Green Dragon where a generous elevenses—including seedcakes, mince pies, fruit tarts, cheese, scones, ham, roast chicken and the Gaffer's Home Brew™—will be served to participants and spectators alike!

Sam said that he, like many of us, was inspired to run by Sean Astin's #Run3rd mission. "I reckon if I could walk all the way to Mordor and back again, I could run a ways," he explained.

When asked who he'd dedicate his first race to, Sam responded:

"I run first for Frodo.
I run second for The Shire.
I #run3rd for my old Gaffer!"

Year End Greeting from Sean Astin to Run3rd Captains

Submitted by Sean Astin @SeanAstin

A Year End Wish for all #Run3rd Team Captains:

Andrea Barber, Christina Boulard, Tony Conticello, Heidi Corrado, Sarah Diamond, Leah Gutierrez, Mike Hornsby, Linda Iroff, Heather Slawinski, Lupe Steele, Heather Stewart and Cheyanne Witte.

I just want to say a special thank you to everyone!!! Every time I read about another adventure from a #Run3rd Team Captain it puts a huge smile on my face. It's funny, you are the ones running and inspiring others to make dedications and somehow I feel proud. So, I continue to #run3rd on behalf of all who make dedications and I hope you know how much you all mean to me!!!!

Happy New Year and may we all #run3rd in 2013!!!!!

Thank you for your commitment to everyone. Your effort is more than noted and always appreciated. Here's hoping that my running can kick back into high gear in 2013 so I can continue to have fun and expand the #run3rd "movement." :-))

Sean

Run3rd for Sandy Hook

Updated 1/5/13

Several running events are being planned in support of the victims of the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. We hope you will be able to participate in at least one of them!

• Sandy Hook Virtual 5K Run in support of the Sandy Hook School Support Fund

Virtual 5K Run. Run ANYWHERE you'd like. Run on your treadmill, around a city block, at a school track or where every you'd like FOR THIS WORTHY CAUSE! Donations will be sent to Sandy Hook School Support Fund c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470

Registration closed. December 29. Registration is $20. Register via active.com by December 28.

• Strides for Sandy Hook 5K

Let's bring Newtown closer together. On January 19, 2013 join us for the first annual Strides for Sandy Hook 5k. This race will be a fundraiser in which proceeds will be donated towards funding for a memorial dedicated to the victims of last week's tragedy. Registration site to come in the following days. Pre-race registration will be $25, day-of registration will be $35.

More information is available at the Facebook group.

• Sandy Hook Elementary Memorial Virtual Half Marathon and 5K

This is a virtual half marathon and virtual 5K. Since it is virtual, you can complete it anywhere in the world. You can run, walk, swim, bike, anything you like, and you can complete the 13.1 miles or 5K all at once, over the course of a week, or whenever you can. Please complete all miles between now and Jan 31st. This is on the honor system - you do not have to report your miles. Race Benefits United Way of Western Connecticut Sandy Hook Victims.

More information at the Facebook event page. Registration is $20 for the 5K, $30 for the half. Register via active.com by January 31 and complete distance by that day.

• 5K Run for the Children of Sandy Hook.  This event will take place in Danbury CT and feature a 5K run and family walk, as well as 1/2 mile and 1 mile kids' fun runs. Date is set for March 23, 2013 with a 10am start time. There is also a virtual run option to run anywhere!

Join the Facebook group or follow @5krunforshf on Twitter to stay apprised of plans.

Registration now open!

• Runner's World covers these and some additional events.

If you know of any other events, please comment below with a link and I will add them. Thank you!

Santa to the Sea Half Marathon race report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

I may be a slow runner, but MAN this year went by fast…
Here’s a little rundown:

• 1 5K Mud Run
• 1 Sprint Triathlon
• 1 10 Miler
• 2 10Ks
• 5 5Ks
• 10 Half Marathons

Plus I chaired a 5K/10K that raised over $20,000 for young adults fighting cancer.

Vegas Rock N Roll Half Marathon race report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

Ten Half Marathons in one year!

On Sunday, December 2, I celebrated a milestone or what I like to call a Runniversary.  I ran (with my friend Ditto) my 10th half marathon, the Vegas Rock N Rock Half Marathon. The 2011 Rock N Roll Half Marathon in Vegas was my very first and it was a strange experience to say the least. (See my 3 part race report here.) I think the funniest part of the blog is where I say my goal for 2012 is 3 half marathons…hahahahaha!

Anyway, we went to Vegas.  Ditto and I left on what I like to call the “Stripper Flight”… Southwest, 8pm, Friday night, Burbank to Vegas ;) and we got there and so did my luggage! I’ve learned my lesson and I carry on my running gear now so all was right with the world! We had a late dinner and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning! It was great fun! (If you get a chance, The Hangover slot machines are really fun!)

The next day we went to the Expo to pick up our shirts and bibs and see what kind of damage we could do!  It was so big and fun! At one point I saw a sign and it said “Scott Jurek will be here from 12-1pm and there he was!  For those of you who don’t know, Scott Jurek is an award-winning ultra runner who was featured in the book Born to Run.  I totally “Fan-Geeked” out! I had him sign my bib for inspiration! It was so cool to meet someone who was so calm and accomplished. I mean, this guy has run a 50 mile race in 5:50. I’ll be lucky to finish a marathon in that time!

LA Rock N Roll Half Marathon race report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

The  week before the LA Rock N Roll Half Marathon on October 28 was a rough week.  By the sheer amount of race reports I’ve put up, you can see I’ve been busy. Needless to say I was less than excited about this race. Don’t get me wrong… I love to run and the thought of meeting up with other #Run3rd Team Captains Leah Gutierrez and Andrea Barber made me giddy.

BUT… I was having a bad week…my car, laptop and Garmin were all having issues. I felt like every time I touched something electronic I broke it…not good. I was busy…it felt busier than normal. AND tired..exhausted even. PLUS, this race was kind of stealing TWO days without the benefit of being out of town. We decided to pick up our bibs on Saturday by taking the subway. This meant driving to North Hollywood, parking, taking the train and walking to the expo. It was super convenient, however, it took about 5 hours of my day and I had a Halloween party that night!

Sean Astin's Walt Disney World Marathon 2013 Greeting

Learn about the WDW Marathon Weekend at runDisney.com.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K race report

Submitted by Heather Stewart @captainstewie

I live in a sleepy suburb of Los Angeles. Close enough to get to the cool stuff in under an hour (sans traffic) and far away enough to not feel like I live in LA. In fact, I’m often told I don’t have the LA mentality and I know it’s meant as a compliment. The truth is LA is like a melting pot. You have this strong mixture of natives and transplants so I don’t exactly know what an LA mentality is. BUT I do know this: I live in an awesome place. So awesome, in fact, it was nicknamed Awesometown (barf!)!

Sara, Robert, Ryan, Cody, Ditto, Cassie, Neil, Me!

Chicago Marathon race report

Submitted by Mike Hornsby @Mike_Hornsby

Optimistic despite 37• weather!

There is something that is incredibly intimidating about the word marathon. It tells of an experience that does not come easy, or with little effort. There is great risk, but in perfectly proportional fashion there is a great opportunity for prosperous reward.

It was a cool October 2011 morning as I awoke to the sound of cheers and chants outside my Moody Bible Institute dorm-room window. I looked outside to see a multitude of runners passing our school heading south on Wells street, and low and behold I was watching the Chicago Marathon take place. My first thoughts: that is crazy, I would never do that. I proceeded to place my head back on my pillow and drift back to sleep, still hearing cheers and chants outside.

My Spirit did not let me rest with my first thoughts, and I proceeded to start my Chicago Marathon 2012 training in the summer of this past year. I was living in a small neighborhood in Humbolt Park, Chicago and the days were in the 100's regularly. This made training difficult on top of work and summer school.

Pacebook Racing Club and #Run3rd Disney Wine and Dine Meetup

Join us for the Pacebook Running Club (PbRC) and Sean Astin's Team #RUN3rd Wine and Dine meet-up & photo opportunities! This is going to be a fabulous weekend with good friends, good food, and good drink!

When: Saturday, November 10, 8:00pm ET - Group Picture at 8:15pm.
Where: ESPN WWOS Start Area. Find us between the Concession and the Info Tents - we will have balloons to help locate us.

You have to be in your corrals at 9pm!

Also, come join fellow PbRC and Team #RUN3rd members at the Grand Floridian this Friday, November 9! We will meet towards the back of the lobby starting at 4:00pm. Around 4:30pm we may migrate a short distance to the outdoor seating area at Mizners, where you can purchase quick service or drinks.

Inland Trail race report

I had hoped the Inland Trail 5K would be my second race, but a painful neck spasm a few days before prevented me from walking. So instead, I volunteered!

This is another relatively small race (~420 participants), with a full and half marathon in addition to the 5K, proceeds going to benefit the Murray Ridge Center for Developmentally Disabled. The ranks of the full marathon were swelled with about 40-50 runners who traveled to Ohio after the cancelation of the NYC Marathon. (More on that later!)

I learned a lot about how much work goes into even a small event of this type. A relatively small number of volunteers put together race packets, set up the race course, register racers, track finishers, provide food post-race, and more. I spent a couple of hours on Saturday handing out race packets; my pre-race job on Sunday was handing out timing chips. After the race, I handed out finishers medals and water, and assisted where needed. It was the best part of the day: congratulating the runners, seeing their expressions of joy, relief, pain, pride and exhaustion, thanking them and getting their thanks in return.