You see them at every race. Runner’s clad in Blue and Gold singlets. They’re strangely attracted to every race you enter and you assume that there must be tens of thousands of them around the country for as often as you see them. These diehards are the Half Fanatics and I’m proud to have recently joined their ranks (HF#781).

Started in 2009, the Half Fanatics is a group of runners that are addicted to running half marathons. So much so, they we needed to organize so we could identify the fellow InSane AsyLum. Closely related to the Marathon Maniacs there are certain criteria that need to be obtained to prove your dedication to running. In my case, it was running 2 half marathons within 16 days (I did 2 in 9 days).

Besides “just being part of a group,” there are perks that come with being a member including an upcoming race calendar, a fanatic bulletin board, discounts on certain races AND exclusive access to Half Fanatic apparel so you too can be deemed a Fanatic at your next race.

RMFR

This year I’m trying something new. Instead of just writing about the races I enter, I will be creating race day videos as well. They say a picture says a thousand words so I’m thinking videos must be close to a million.

This is the first one so please be gentle. They’ll only get better from here. After putting this together, I realized I really didn’t give a summation of the race at the end. Rest assured it was a good event and I’ll be running the sister event Running With the Devil in June. Big thanks to Calico Racing and Joyce Forier for another great race.

For the past several months I’ve been down. Through injuries, work and everyday stresses…I’m spent emotionally. I haven’t had the same enthusiasm and passion for running as I normally do and the proof is right here on the blog. The longer in between posts, the worse it is. When things are normal, I have more drafts ready to go out then I have time to write.

This weekend, I’m hoping the tide will turn. I’ll be heading up north to Fargo, North Dakota to participate in the Fargo Marathon Weekend. I’m going back home to run on the streets I once called home and I hope it’s just what the doctor ordered…a hit of passion. There are family and friends running in every distance (5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon) and the social aspect of running should be at an all time high. Friends I haven’t seen in 15 years. Family I haven’t seen in 5.

This weekend will also mark the first time I will get to run with my father since I’ve started running. Growing up, he was a maniac before there was an official club. He’s enlisted the help of a trainer to help him work thru his injuries to run a 5K. It won’t get any better than that until the roles are reversed and my kids come back to run with me. I’ll also be running with my sister, her husband, a great friend and my 86 year old grandmother (OK, she’ll be walking but I be right there by her side). That covers Friday.

Saturday will be the half marathon where I hope to overcome all my injuries from the year to let my hair down and let it all hang out. Add into the mix 20 or so family members and you’ve got emotions to the nth degree. If this weekend doesn’t lift my spirits, I either dead or lost.

Here’s to a weekend full of emotion and a recharged battery!!!

RMFR

Where the Party Meets the Pavement. That’s the claim offered by US Road Sports & Entertainment Group and their series of 8 half marathons spread across the U.S. On Sunday, January 10, 2010, the 13.1 Marathon® Series will launch their latest half marathon in Los Angeles.

For one week only, you have the opportunity to win free entry to this inaugural event. Simply comment on this post and remember to enter your first and last name and an email I can reach you at. On Christmas Eve no less, we’ll choose someone at random and that person will receive a comp registration code!!!

I’m seriously disappointed I won’t be able to run in this event (I’ll be at the Walt Disney World Marathon) as the Santa Monica area is one of my favorite places.

(from press release)
13.1® Los Angeles will bring a fun and unforgettable race experience to one of Los Angeles’ most popular training grounds. Beginning and ending amidst ocean views along the Santa Monica Bay, the course will head South through iconic Venice Beach before heading East to Culver City, and returning to finish on hip Main Street in Downtown Venice. (click here for course map)

Both first-timer friendly and perfect for marathoners in training, 13.1® Los Angeles will offer a scenic and festive run along a closed course with fully supported aid stations, live entertainment, and medals for all finishers. This themed race celebrating the best of Los Angeles encourages participants and spectators to wear costumes and enjoy a race “Where the Party Meets the Pavement”.

If you don’t win the free entry, don’t worry, registration is open and priced at $70 thru January 3rd, it’s not going to break your wallet.

Bring on the comments runners and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

It seems to me that there have been a lot of incidents/deaths during marathons. Most recently in the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon. We’re not talking about unhealthy individuals either. You have to figure that some amount of training was done for these races. Age isn’t the issue either. One runner was 26 and the others were 35 and 65.

I was trying to wrap my brain around this on one of my runs. I searched a bunch of things and come up with this explanation (or closest thing I could find): Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

In an article by the PR Newswire, “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Says Deaths of Three Detroit Marathon Runners Underscore Need for More Public Awareness,” it is said that nearly 300,000 U.S. deaths can be attributed to SCA each year. With the growing popularity of marathons and half marathons, you have to figure that we’re going to SCA come into play more and more each year.

As reported in Tara Parker-Pope’s blog “Are Marathons Safe?” on the New York Times website, death’s during marathons are rare (0.8 per 100,000) in comparison to triathlons (1.5 per 100,000), dying from diabetes (23 per 100,000) and dying in a car accident (1 per 6,700). But that doesn’t make it right.

As runners, we consider ourselves healthy just by the nature of what we are and what we do. This isn’t always the case though. I urge you to have yearly physicals and listen to your doctor’s advice. You can’t tell if your cholesterol is off the charts (trust me, I know). If you do get physicals, good for you. Now take it a step further and make sure you mention it to your running partner, running organization and friends. Let’s spread the word and keep runners running and not lying flat on their backs.

RMFR

Great news for you Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon runners…we have a new route!!! When Competitor Group, Inc. bought the Las Vegas Marathon last year, I had a feeling good things were going to happen to the December 6th event. It was released this week that a new, more friendly route will be used for this years race.

In year’s past, the marathon course ran the first 6 miles down the strip and then set off into Never Never Land. Runner’s were sent out north into the “desert” out to Carey Avenue and Smoke Ranch Road before trekking across Torrey Pines and eventually back down Twain until you came back to civilization. The half marathon wasn’t too bad unless you call passing several strip joints and “not so nice” neighborhoods on Industrial Road until reveling in the awe of the back of the strip casinos.

This year, they are shutting down both the north and south bound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard (aka “The Strip”). The half marathon will be run entirely on The Strip. How cool is that. The walkways over the street are great for friends and family to witness the mass of humanity – not once but twice. The marathon will also spend more time amidst the “Towering Money Makers”. After 10 1/2 miles, we’ll head west up Twain to Rainbow. Here’s where it gets interesting…for me anyway. I work near here and have run these streets during many a lunch hour. It will be a welcome site come miles 17-23 near Spanish Trail Country Club. I know these streets like the back of my hand. It’s back down Hacienda to the finish after a little loop that I’m not quite sure about.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier. The old route is why I only ran the marathon once. I couldn’t stand the marathon course. Having a little foresight, I signed up early and now I’m being rewarded for my leap of faith. See you all in December!!!