Ben Does Life: Losing 120 pounds, gaining so much more

Posted on November 15, 2011 by TJ

Forgive me if I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I came across a story in this month’s Runner’s World magazine that struck me as one of the most inspiring personal stories I’ve ever read.

It’s all about Ben Davis, a 25-year-old from Little Rock, Ark., who after a lifetime of overeating — and dieting, exercising and losing weight, then putting it all back on again — decided once and for all to save his own life and commit to exercising and eating right as a way of life. It all started when his grandmother, over Christmas break three years ago, asked him a simple question: “Are you happy?”

Insisting that he was — but, at 360 pounds, knowing of course he wasn’t — Davis set about to change his life, and ever since then he’s been changing many others by sharing his story at the blog he set up shortly after that holiday, BenDoesLife.com.

Don’t miss his YouTube video, the one that’s been featured in the December edition of RW and highlighted by running greats Adam and Kara Goucher and actress Alyssa Milano on their Twitter and Facebook posts. It’s truly inspiring:

For more, check out the article in Runner’s World or read Ben’s blog.

Friday’s Reads on Running, Health & More

Posted on November 11, 2011 by TJ

Quick roundup of great reads on running, health, weight loss and more from around the Web, especially some great coverage on last weekend’s NYC Marathon:

My Own New York City Marathon: After missing out on the big event, a runner runs his own race on the original NYCM course, from RunningTimes.com
6 Signs You Have Post-Marathon Syndrome: How to beat the blues many experience after the high of running a big race, from Runner’s World.
Aging Well Through Exercise: A look at how exercise improves bone, muscle and skin health well into your 70′s and 80′s
The Once & Future Way to Run: An updated look at barefoot running from the guy who literally wrote the book on it, in last weekend’s New York Times.
Cross Training Options for Runners: With winter just around the corner, ways you can stay in shape through the snow, ice and cold – indoors.
How Overweight Men Can Reverse ED: If you needed another reason to get out there and lose some weight, this ought to do it.

New Feature: Comments of the Week

Posted on November 9, 2011 by TJ

To better recognize the contributions that readers make every day to HalfMarathons.Net, I wanted to introduce a new feature here on the blog called “Comments of the Week,” to highlight comments and reviews left by readers that are particularly insightful, helpful and informative.

We’ll start the feature off actually by going back to October to the Towpath Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K in Peninsula, Ohio. Several readers took time to provide their thoughts in the days after the race, which helps by adding multiple perspectives on what the race was actually like for runners who took part in it.

Here’s just a sampling:

What a great day for the Towpath Marathon..Could not ask for better weather..And great turnout..Great course..Just had to be there very early at the start line. But there wasn’t any place inside to wait for the start, other then “outside” in the parking lot. You would think that with the number of runners in this race, and for as long as they have been promoting it, that the runners would be able to wait inside, where it would be “out of the weather”. 2 years ago it was very windy and temps in the 40′s, and still had to wait outside in the parking lot for the start? But one of the best runs in NE Ohio.

And here’s another:

This was my first full marathon and it was everything I could have asked for! We hit the jackpot on weather- I couldn’t have been happier! Starting at Boston Mills, I was so glad to be able to wait inside and use indoor restrooms. The aid stations were every mile~ knew I wouldn’t have to carry my own water- just brought my own gels so I wouldn’t have to stray from my routine. The volunteers were amazing and everything was so well organized. This was an experience I will treasure forever!

Read more at the complete race info page for the Towpath Marathon & Half.

Rock & Roll comes to Savannah

Posted on November 8, 2011 by TJ

Twenty-three thousand runners and walkers, fast and almost completely flat streets for the most part, and gorgeous sunny weather. That’s what the race was like at the Rock & Roll Savannah Marathon & Half Marathon, which welcomed 16,000 half-marathoners in addition to 7,000 full marathoners to its inaugural running on the first Saturday of November 2011.

Runners near the starting line at the Rock & Roll Savannah Half Marathon on Nov. 5, 2011

The race began at the corner of Bull and Bay Streets in the city’s downtown historic district, known for its plentiful hotels, shops, restaurants and bars that are filled to the rafters every St. Patrick’s Day. This time of year, however, the downtown is populated largely by tourists as well as students at the Savannah College of Art and Design, whose campus lies just blocks from where the race started.
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We’re now on Google+!

Posted on November 8, 2011 by TJ

If you’re a member of the Google+ social network — all you need to do to become a member is sign up here — you can now follow HalfMarathons.Net there via our all-new Google+ page, which you can access by clicking this link:

https://plus.google.com/b/104423042342210738984/104423042342210738984/

We look forward to interacting more with users there as well as here — I promise, more blog posts are coming soon! — and exploring more of what Google+ has to offer.

If you have any suggestions/comments, please feel free to post them here or on our new Google+ page.

Alabama’s Troy Odyssey Half Marathon Cancelled

Posted on August 11, 2011 by TJ

Just received an email a few moments ago from the race organizers for the Troy Odyssey Half Marathon, which had been scheduled for November 19 in Troy, Alabama:

Dear Previous Race Participants and Supporters,

With deep regret the Troy Odyssey Half Marathon and 10K Committee would like to inform you we will not be conducting a 2011 event. As members of the committee have had unforeseen obstacles and scheduling conflicts, we do not feel we have the time, energy, and man-power needed to devote to an event of this size, at this time.

As last year’s event was a great success and we were able to help several organizations in our community, we are very sorry we will not be able to have the race this year. We sincerely hope the event can return in 2012 in bigger and better form and we hope you will once again consider participating.

We intend to keep all email addresses and will inform you if and when the event is scheduled in the future.

Once again, thank you to everyone who has given us their support over the past two years. It has been greatly appreciated and unforgotten.

Sincerely,

Troy Odyssey Half Marathon & 10K Committee

Running the Great Wall of China

Posted on June 16, 2011 by TJ

Most of us run marathons and half marathons in our own city, our own state, or places not too far from where we live. Some of our particularly intrepid readers here at HalfMarathons.Net, however, make a true adventure out of running their races.

That’s certainly the case with Mark Wegren, a reader who traveled all the way to China in May 2011 to run the Great Wall Half Marathon, which is one of those races that probably would be on many of our bucket lists. Mark was kind enough to take the time to share his story and photos of the trip with us here at the blog, and here’s his story:

My running career has always been defined by taking that next challenge. The first challenge was to run my first half marathon. Next was simply to beat my time. Then I started my 50 state challenge. Then, while surfing one my running sites, I came upon the Great Wall Marathon. That sounded really cool but only a pipe dream. This past week, it became a reality.
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I ran last night. Still fat. Ugh.

Posted on April 13, 2011 by jspano

This past month I’ve been bad. Very, very bad. In fact, running has come to a standstill (pun totally intended). I’m thinking it’s because I haven’t really set a goal yet. Or maybe it’s simply because I’m lazy. What do you think? Actually, don’t answer that.

But today I declare myself lazy no more! I went for a run last night. Well it was actually more a trot/jiggle but I had on running shoes so it counts.

So I’m starting to explore half-marathons for real now. Have any of you ever heard of the Slacker Half that takes place in Colorado? It’s all downhill people. It’s totally calling my name.

Julie
Etsy Stalkers

Hi I’m Julie. But you can just call me Julie.

Posted on March 24, 2011 by jspano

You’re probably wondering, who is this Julie and why is she so freaking awesome? Well, I’m a freelance copywriter by day and a blogger by night. Although sometimes I blog during the day and do my freelance writing at night. It really just depends.

I used to consider myself a runner (I even ran a half-marathon back in the day), but now I consider myself an overworked, overstressed, wife and mother of two with no time to exercise. That was until last week – when I got laid off. And now, it seems like I have nothing but time to run.

So here’s the deal, I’m going to train for another half. And you’re coming along for the ride. Well, not literally. I can’t afford plane tickets for everyone. I’m out of freaking work people! But what I will do is chronicle my adventures in running. Let’s just hope I don’t embarrass myself too much.

Ok, deep breath. I will get back on the running wagon. I will get back on the running wagon. Say it with me people, because I’m going to need all the encouragement I can get.

P.S. Can someone please tell me why sitting on the couch watching netflix is just way, way, way more enticing than going for a run? Because I said so, that’s why.

Julie
Etsy Stalkers

The show – or the race, in this case – must go on

Posted on March 18, 2011 by TJ

Looks like the race will still be able to be run as scheduled at the Big Sur International Marathon, which is set for the 1st of May. The heavy rains and storms that have been pounding the California coast in recent weeks loosened the soil to the point where stretches of the earth under the Pacific Coast Highway collapsed this week.

But, the race organizers have alternate routes in mind – check out the full story here and here.