You guys, the runners

Hey, go check me out on this list of 8 running and health bloggers.  My bestie Kara’s on it so naturally I overnighted her a vile of my blood wrapped in my hair in order for her to celebrate correctly.

Reader Runners

Leanne at the Honolulu Marathon December 11:

  You can see the determination in my face – I look like a lean, mean fighting machine! The last pic is when I saw my friends at the finish. I got a little excited. I ran the race with my training partner. I am the one in the purple top with my pink BIC band.

My friends came to cheer us on. Both of our husbands are currently deployed, so it was nice to have friends there. I would love to run the Honolulu marathon next year!

Alyssa:

I finished 9th in my age group for the Virginia Beach Surf n Santa 10 miler sporting a nice gift sack, bows and garland. This was my fourth race on the Virginia Beach oceanfront boardwalk, and while it most certainly wasn’t a PR, it was quite an experience bopping along in a bag and red lipstick for 10 miles. I also went for the hand-holding photo finish with my best friend.

Brandi:

I’m a fairly new runner and back in Sept I ran my first half-marathon in Nashville, TN.  I had set a goal time of 2 hours and I finished in 2 hours 11 seconds! 

Then I ran my first MARATHON this past Saturday in Huntsville, AL.  I still can’t believe I finished the course and I wasn’t road kill.    I wasn’t very happy with my time-4:39 but it was hard. 

Kendra:

I just ran my 2nd 1/2 marathon on December 4th at White Rock while everyone was in Vegas!!…I beat my 1st 1/2 marathon time by 9 minutes and finished in 2:11.  Check out her recap.

Christen:

I ran my very first mile on January 1, 2010. It took me 20 minutes. And on December 3, 2011, I ran my first full marathon in 4:43:56 (I’m tearing up as I write this and still can’t believe it!). I’m not fast, but I’ve found my passion, and I can’t imagine my life without running.

I was a piano player/choir girl growing up. Yeah, not a lot of athleticism there. But a friend challenged me to start running and it changed my life. I’ve done 4 half marathons, 1 full and a number of other shorter distance races in 2 years. You can say I caught the running bug in a bad way.

Since you sometimes post awful race photos, I thought I’d share mine. I always looks like a complete hot mess when I run…. Case in point. My husband and me. I look like I’m about to die. Or maybe I’m looking for a porta potty. But at least my thunder thighs are in full view. And I look like I’m enjoying myself.

On the other hand, this is me at 26.1 in my first marathon. Smiling. Crying. Pure joy.

Next on my list of goals? Become a certified running coach and help new runners grow to love the sport. I truly believe anyone can run. It just takes the desire, dedication and perseverance to do it. Don’t say you can’t or you won’t. Just try!  Check out her recap.

Crappy Readers Race Pics

Carolyn:

This was several years ago and I still can’t look at this without busting out laughing.  My constipated face and the t-rex arms take the cake!  I’m sure the photographer was laughing – who wouldn’t be?!

Andrea:

Thought I’d send this your way – can you say MOVE.OUT.OF.MY.WAY?  Yeah, that’s me barreling through two runners who decided to walk through the finish line.  I think it is both hideous and amazing at the same time. 

Maggie:

The 2011 Soldier Field 10 Mile in Chicago last May. This picture was taken as I was approaching the finish line and it was the first time I felt really good at the end of a longer race! However, it’s the picture that made me realize Target’s $17 weren’t cutting it. (Now I’m all about Moving Comfort bras.)

If you want a good photo with the bad one, here’s me beating my husband at the Fort2Base 10 Nautical Mile run at Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago, IL on  9/11/11. And he’s in the Navy! Slacker.

Linda:

I was in Vegas for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon on December 4th.  I was having troubles with my calf but decided to run anyway.  Long story short, I was looking for a 1:45 and got a 2:39 and I am now on the disabled list .  At least I was rocking an SR shirt!

Courtney:

  I ran the Seattle Marathon over Thanksgiving this year, it was my first.  In the photo my face isn’t the best thing in the world but what really bugs me is my arms.  I mean, do I always swing them back and forth when I run? 

I just hope that I was so excited to be crossing the finish line that my form went to hell.  These photographers really messed with my mind though.  Every run since then I wonder "are my arms looking weird again"?

Kathryn:

This is a little bit old but it is my favorite race photo of ALL time because apparently I am sprouting extra arms. It still makes me laugh every time, despite my pathetic running form.

Erin:

  That’s me in the white shirt running the Bass Pro Half Marathon in Springfield, MO (November 2011).  This was my first race of any sort and I look like I should be the poster child for why mixing Ambien with illegal drugs is bad for you.   Is it possible to be sleepy, stoned, and have a hangover at the same time?  

In my defense, my hubby & I had just returned from a two-week European excursion.  I’m gonna blame those faces on the jet lag, mmmmmkay?? 

Actually, I messed up my knee playing sports in high school and as a result, I have arthritis in my knee like a grandma.  I was hurting really bad the whole race, not to mention my digestive tract was not at all happy with the carb-loading I did the night before.  Thank the Lord for the porta-potties that were posted along the route. 

Tagged as: ive got issues, readers