Walt Disney Marathon – Orlando FL – 01.07.2007

Running Bib Info:
Walt Disney World Marathon
Marathon – 26.2 miles
Orlando, FL
January 7, 2007

Official Time: 5:47:26
Personal Record (PR)? Yes (1st marathon ever)
Did you win an award? A Mickey Mouse head medal and a strong feeling of accomplishment for finishing my first marathon.
I have been training for the marathon since July 2006 and blogging on my training experience since August 2006. The journey has been nothing less than incredible. You can read about the race on my blog at: http://marathonchris.blogspot.com/2007/01/today-i-became-marathoner.html

Submitted by marathonchris.

Tiberias Marathon – Tiberias Israel – 01.04.2007

This was the 30th annual Tiberias International Marathon, which runs from Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee around the southern shore to En Gev which is on the opposite shore, and back. It runs past the traditional Baptism site of Jesus on the Jordan River as well as military relics from the 1967 6-day war. It is unique in that it is the only marathon in Israel, and is entirely below sea level. It is mostly flat but this year (2007) we faced ferocious winds off the Golan Heights on the eastern shore of the sea. It was certainly the most memorable marathon that I have run. Mal James (gazarunning) was kind enough to let me ride along with him to the Tiberias International Marathon, 4 January 2007. That was only possible because we met through Phedippidations.

The two blue stripes on the ribbon reflect the national flag of Israel (this is the only marathon held in Israel and it is a point of pride for them), and they represent the two bodies of water that Israel lies between, the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River (Mal told me this). This isn’t a political statement or anything, it’s just the only example I can remember of a race medal where the ribbon actually had symbolic meaning and I thought that was interesting.

Running Bib Info:
Tiberias Marathon
Municipality of Tiberias (Israel)
January 04, 2007

Official Time: 4:04:01 (unofficial, at this point)
Offical Race Website is at: http://www.tiberias-marathon.co.il/en

Read more at Mal’s Race Report on his Blog: Point 1 of 1 percent

Submitted by Russ Johnson

Chicago Marathon – Chicago IL – 10.22.2006

You can see my Chicago running bib in the middle of
the picture, 32828

Running Bib Info

La Salle Bank Chicago Marathon
Chicago Illinois
October 22, 2006
Official Time: 4:17
Personal Record (PR)? yep – I improved by 38 minutes from
last year and am STILL psyched!
Did you win an award? you kidding?

Details on my blog at: http://petraruns.blogspot.com/2006/11/marathon-is-behind-me-but-buzz-remains.html

Submitted by Petra Duguid

Walt Disney Marathon – Orlando FL – 01.08.2006

I got a finishers medal! I wasn’t sure I would get that when my left calf cramped at mile 6. I slowed down some and was able to finish the race.

Running Big Info:
Walt Disney World Marathon 2006
Orlando, Florida
Jan 8, 2006
Official Finishing Time: 4:30:24 (chip time)
PR? Yes! (First marathon, so I left room for improvement.)

submitted by Kevin Hicks, Columbus, Georgia

Okinawa Marathon – Okinawa Japan – 02.26.2006

This race meant a lot to me for several reasons:
1) I dedicated the race to my wife, Kaori;
2) the time was a PR time of 3:12:57;
3) the time was also a BQ (Boston Qualifying) time (3:20 was needed).
Running Bib Info:
Okinawa Marathon
February 26, 2006
Okinawa, Japan
Official Finishing Time: 3:12:57 PR & BOSTON QUALIFIED
For more detail and photos on the race, check out Paul’s Okinawa Marathon page

Submitted by Paul Sminkey

Boston Marathon – Boston MA – 04.17.2006

Steve Runner was part of the 110th running of the Boston Marathon in April of 2006. He doesn’t have the normal race report to share because Steve is the host/producer of a running podcast called Phedippidations:

A PodCast for, and by runners: Thoughts, opinions, observations and rambling diatribes composed during distance long runs. Steve Runner is a mild mannered middle-of-the-pack distance runner who shares the output of his oxygen starved cranial stimulation with his audience while training for his next marathon. Phedippidations is a RunCast named after the legendary Greek messenger: Phedippides. A modern day messenger of sorts; Steve runs near his home in Central Massachusetts. Each show is dedicated to an aspect of running, covering topics such as: training, injury, gadgets, nutrition, strategies and Steve’s pathetic attempts at breaking four hours in the marathon.

Steve, in a series of podcasts, goes through his pre-race, race and post-race experiences of the marathon. Episode 40 of the podcast, tours the marathon course and details some of historical highlights of this high profile running event. Episodes 41 and 41b records Steve while running (he runs with a microphone and recorder) the event… everything from pre-race excitement to trying to put the train back on course and just cross the finish line. Post marathon memeories, recovery and analysis are covered in Episodes 42 and 43.

Steve Runner can be contacted via his podcast website www.steverunner.com.