Runner in the spotlight: Marilyn Pasno (Part 2)

Marilyn is a proud 63-year old American by choice, and a Filipino by bloodline, living in New Jersey, USA.We got to hear about her first running experience at the New York City 9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K Run Walk in 2018. (If you haven’t read it, check out that interview in “Runner in the spotlight: Marilyn Pasno (Part 1)”)Today we dig deep about her love for running by asking her some more que...

Runner in the spotlight: Marilyn Pasno (Part 1)

Marilyn is a retired industrial pharmacist, who is now practising as a pharmacy technician in New Jersey, the United States.At age 60, she turned to be an avid FunRunner after her first Trial Run experience in 2018.We had a great honour to have an interview with her to hear about her running experience and her motivations!Today we are sharing about her first running experience and how it became su...

Touching Running Stories

For many, the year 2020 may feel like it’s been one of the worst years yet. With a novel deadly virus postponing or canceling many road races, it can be hard to remain optimistic about the future of running. As we approach the last quarter of the year, we could all use some positive news. We’ve searched the internet for some of the best feel-good and touching running stories to help brighten your ...

Yeti Bike Race Nepal.Tour of Annapurna.

The YETI BIKE RACE Nepal is a stage MTB race which summit is the Thorong la Pass, the highest cycle path in the world at 5316m. A melting pot of landscapes that take you from the tropical forest at 800m to the arctic domain of the Himalayas, through vast pine forests, deep canyons, and the pre-Tibetan desert plains of the Mustang Valley.We fly to our destination Katmandu (Nepal). Mohan, president ...

With the bear-heart bear through Moscow

Coldness, strong wind and rain - though conditions on this year's Moscow Marathon. Temperatures during the event averaged 6 degrees Celsius, it felt even "below zero" and the sun came out only for a few moments in the afternoon. Unfortunately, very bad conditions for the largest sports event in Russia, which is held annually. Nevertheless, it has been very special for me to run in a city t...

Inspirational People in the Running Community

Not everyone is a born runner. But even those who were born to run can continue to amaze us. Some runners push the limits of impossible and inspire us to want to do more, just because they pushed harder, ran longer, or just overcame their own demons and obstacles. Not only do we admire their accomplishments; their actions makes us believe that if we really put our minds to something, we can, likew...

Marathon at the other end of the world

This time I am glad to have been on the way for the "good cause" in two respects, because as already for many years, I also ran in Malaysia for the Kinderhospitz Bärenherz in Wiesbaden (www.baerenherz.de) and donate traditionally again one euro per kilometer to the facility. Since the Borneo Marathon was all about "Unicef", it was a great pleasure for me to participate in the "...

Gemma Hockett: Returning to Run Limassol after 2018 success

British runner Gemma Hockett, aka Marathon Girl, is clearly still delighted about her Half Marathon PB and podium position at OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO in 2018. Coming second in the women’s field in a time of 1:26:19, and collecting a superb trophy as a reward, Gemma had a fantastic race on the flat and fast course and thoroughly enjoyed all that Limassol had to offer.It was such a positive exper...

Christof Lindenbeck...Changing the World One Step at a Time

Running is a sport that brings out the best in people. Unlike organized sports, where there is a team, a runner is competing for himself or herself, win or lose. And, unlike other sports, it isn’t always the competition that pushes athletes on. Sometimes it is a will and desire to achieve a goal, like running a marathon or overcoming adversity. The biggest unifier there is sports-wise, running is ...

A Chance Meeting That Turned Into a Mentor and Friend

It is funny how running brings people from all walks of life together joined with a common love. I was lucky to cross paths with a bright-eyed, beautiful, woman named Maria Davydenko when I sat down to interview her. My initial contact with Maria was to discuss her association with Dayo Akinbode, a woman who singlehandedly created the Ile-Ife Marathon with nothing more than the desire to h...

For blind runners in Beirut, a vision of glory awaits

Running a marathon is difficult enough as it is, but doing so as a blind person, less than five months after taking up the sport, is an extraordinary task. But as the days count down to the 2018 BLOM Bank Beirut Marathon on November 11, that’s exactly what Ghina Achkar, a 26-year-old Lebanese woman, is preparing to do. Achkar turned blind during high school but when she takes to the line next mont...

Hassan Dia's story - BLOM Bank Beirut Marathon

Every race is special in its own way, but this year’s BLOM Bank Beirut Marathon will carry extra meaning for Hassan Dia, a 22-year-old Lebanese hand cyclist. Not only will the November 11 race wind its way around the streets of his home city, but it will also offer the rising star a golden opportunity to boost his qualification hopes for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. “It’s the most beautiful...

Rocks, pebbles and mountain tops - my first marathon

Well, it was actually 45k but felt like 80. The why is not that it was too long but rather that itwas a tougher course than anyone could anticipate beforehand. The course map was wellmarked as well as the topographical map but when you are in the middle of it even thesmallest pebble would feel like the highest mountain.Prepare13 hours travelling from the south of Sweden up to Vemdalen was perhaps ...

RUNNER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ola Bryngelson

Namn: Ola BryngelsonÅlder: 60 plusBor: Stockholms innerstad ( Östermalm )Familj: Fru och två utflugna löparintresserade sönerYrke/sysselsättning: Tidigare Key Account Manager inom Swissair och Avis. Numera Projektarbete inom Marathongruppen , Coach/ledare inom Team Stockholm Marathon/TSMRunning samt styrelseledamot inom Svenska Marathonsällskapet och Skål international ett turismbranschnätverk. L...

Not weak on hell week!

Among the toughest training weeks, I have ever completed. The 20k distance run on Sunday put a nice cherry on top of last week’s sessions. Started off with a strength session and a cosy 60 mins cross-trainer. Sparring with nothing other than Netflix on a relaxed Monday afternoon.Then things got weird..Travesty Tuesday added up to 25k including 6k threshold interval averaging 3:way-to-low which is ...

IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia

To see more of Gabriele follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabryammoni/Last Saturday, March 24th the half-marathon world championships were held in Valencia, "Ciudad del running". At 5:05 pm the elite athletes started, while the men's race started at 5:30 pm. Following the professional athletes over 14,000 amateur runners from all over the world have run on the same path in...

Run Limassol – More than a Race

The last days I felt so relaxed. As if I forgot that, during this sunny trip to Cyprus, I was going to run a half marathon. I knew the nerves would come at the moment I was at the start line....And here I am, me and my nerves....

Limassol Marathon // 2:53:20 PB // 8ste plek; 10de overall // Worlds Marathon's influencers weekend

Soms heb je net even dat beetje geluk nodig en laat ik dat nou hebben gekregen het afgelopen weekend. Eigenlijk was dat geluk al een aantal maanden eerder toen ik te horen kreeg dat ik via de organisatie “World Marathons” was uitgenodigd voor de marathon in Limassol. Mede dankzij de tip van Hedwig kwamen we in contact met elkaar. Samen met een aantal fanatieke lopers mocht ik, op uitnodiging, een ...

Prologue - I love to hate running

Running sucks! - at least that is what probably went through my mind when I started running on a regular basis after a life of playing football. It was 2011 and I had just started University in Gothenburg. My time was limited and I had to find something to keep myself in relatively good shape. I tried a few sports, looking to find a new hobby but everywhere I went I felt like an outsider coming in...

The Big Five or Major Six

One ultimate goal, the Big Five or eventually the Major Six.September 2015, I just finished the 10EM, which is the same as 16km, at the DamtotDam in Amsterdam.It went smooth, even without proper training and that makes me courageous. A bit overconfident maybe, but well that has taken me to some awesome places. 'If I can run 10EM like this, then I can actually try and run a half marathon with some ...

ÜBER LIMASSOL AUF DEN ROTEN TEPPICH: MEIN TRAINING FÜR DEN HAMBURG MARATHON

 Eins meiner liebsten Motivationslieder (egal, ob Wettkampf oder Training), dass ich gedanklich singe, wenn´s mir schwer fällt. Und gerade in der Marathonvorbereitung und natürlich dann im Wettkampf kommt immer wieder der Punkt, an dem der Kopf lieber aufhören möchte und versucht, den Körper davon zu überzeugen, dass er auch aufhört. Trotzdem (oder doch eher genau deshalb?) laufe ich dieses Jahr i...

Limassol Marathon - Running my First Marathon!

It is another magically white winter in Sweden. The same period of the year as 3 years ago when I signed up for my first half marathon race. I remember vividly how I wrote that very exciting line in the list of my good resolutions for the coming year. Now, I realize that I decided to run a half marathon without having the experience of any other shorter distance race. Crossing the finish line of t...

Lifelong Running

I’ve been running since high school where I ran track (though cheerleading was my bread and butter). Then in college I began distance running and fell in love. As a sophomore in college my game plan was to run 6 miles a day everyday and that did me well until an overuse injury led to knee surgery in 2005. Throughout that time period I began racing 5ks/10ks sporadically and had a first marriage tha...

Conquering the World

Hello! I'm Lena and I live in Moscow! I am 45 years old. I keep an active and healthy lifestyle. I’m keen on sport and I’ve been running for long distances for four years so far. To your surprise, I’ve already taken part in 3 marathons, the Moscow Marathon, Paris Marathon, as well as the Berlin Marathon! And now my new goal and challenge is to participate in all the top six world marathons that ar...

Reason to keep going

In 2013 I was walking at the beautifull city of Cádiz, Spain, where I was to learn Spanish. I saw people running and thought: “What can it be that those people keep on running, isn’t that boring? At that time, I lost approximately twenty kilograms and had some problems loosing the last five, to get to a healthy weight. So I told myself: “let’s try running for 5 times. If I don’t like it, I can cho...

Runner in the spotlight: Arnar Petursson

HOW HAS RUNNING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?Running has probably changed my life in more ways than I can ever imagine. First of all it has given me the opportunity to chase my dream of reaching the Olympics and even if that dream won‘t become a reality I know that I am happy every day just going out for a run. I know that even though I have a big goal in mind it is the journey that is most important and i t...

Halong Bay Half Marathon - My first Half Marathon

How to run your first Half MarathonOr should I say… how not to run your first Half Marathon. Full of excitement I follow some friends during the Amsterdam Half Marathon. With the marathon app, you can see where the runners are on the track. Some runners told me their targets, fast times or just finish whenever is possible. I’m so enthusiastic, I keep refreshing the app and watch the runners move t...

Runner in the spotlight: Pris Chew

I had started running in early 2012, purely as a way to get fit. I had been eating a lot, but not been working out much at all, before then.And then in mid 2012, some of my friends encouraged me to sign up for a 10km race with them; that had been my first running race, and after completing it, I found that I could not stop running. I had caught the running bug.Finished several marathons and a coup...

Giving back by running

I have always been a fit person, playing football and also being a football referee at semi-professional level in the UK. Two years ago I started doing crossfit type training and my fitness level dramatically improved... it was at this time that a friend talked me into running my first ever half marathon at Southport. I was instantly hooked on running, crossing the line in 1 hour and 42 minutes! S...

Runner in the spotlight: Bob Bertemes

How has running changed your life?I have always been running since my early childhood so there was no real life changing moment which came with running for me. Although I can say that running is making me a better person in every aspect of life. It is a daily challenge to be the best you can be on each particular day, which will eventually lead to reaching the goals which you set yourself. Moreove...

Runner in the spotlight: Ann Thomas

How has running changed your life? Running empowered me to handle real life situations. It gave me confidence to make a difficult decision.  I knew that, even though it would be hard to be a single mom with sole custody, I was tough and could persevere.  I have been running competitively for over 20 years.  I started as a sprinter in junior high, transitioned to middle distanced in high school, ra...

Running when pregnant

I've been running for more than a decade. Anyone who knows me knows that it's one of my favourite things to do. Running is my release. It's my meditation, and it always brightens my day. But it was still a surprise to many people when I continued running during my pregnancy.I was surprised at the strong reaction of those around me when, continuing as I had pre-pregnancy and running intervals and h...

Running was my new drug...one that was good for me, physically, mentally and spiritually

I wish that I could tell you that my running story was all rainbows and lollipops. But it's not. I will give you a spoiler alert and say it does have a happy ending. Picture this: a 5' 9'', 220 pound white privileged kid from the suburbs from upstate New York, with glasses and dreadlocks that were down to my ass. Not only physically, but also mentally, I was not headstrong or in a good place. I wa...

My journey from sofa to stride

I will never forget my first run. It was 2011 and I had signed up to a local 5km race. I was the chubby young girl who was always open to new experiences but not really ‘into’ running. In fact, that is an understatement. I hated the thought of working out, let alone running, and always struggled to understand how people could ever enjoy it… Oh how that soon changed!Only a runner will be able to tr...

My Athletics Journey

Currently standing at 183 cm, I am slim and strengthened to traverse the terrain of endurance races. Road racing is my preference, but I do enjoy a middle/long distance race on the track. Open water swimming appeals to me but there are times when the pool does suffice. Cycling, for me, sets the pace and rhythm for a scenic tour. The triathlon appeals to me as I have the will to endure three differ...

Every run makes me smile

I started running 3 years ago and since then I have been running. In the first months, the runs were short and easy, but from the first moment I started running, I have competed against myself. Sometimes I have almost been nervous standing there ready to run, ready to start my app to keep track of the time and speed per mile.My goal has been to do better and faster every time. It has made me push ...

Runner in the spotlight: Emily Sanone

How has running changed your life? My daily runs are what clearsmy head and gives me perspective on things. I feel gratitude when Irun. It is a time when I am completely in tune with myself… myfeelings, my thoughts, and my body. Taking that time for myselfearly in the morning helps me approach the rest of the day withmore clarity and a better attitude.On a bigger scale, running races, specifically...

My running journey

If someone had told me even 3 years ago that I would be running marathons I would never have believed them. This time 3 years ago I was quite happy running 5kms and the occasional 10km (not even quickly I might add!). This was also around the time I started taking my fitness a bit more seriously, so I started looking for my next challenge - which happened to be a half marathon held in my local cit...

Running is a gift

It's a Gift.Freedom of flight, of leaps, bounds, two working legs that coordinate beautifully to carry my body up a hill. Each inhale and exhale I take, each breath a treasure. My husband and I work in a pediatric hospital in Colorado. I am an occupational therapist and he is a pulmonologist. I work with children with a variety of disabilities ranging from motor impairments, to cancer, to sensory ...

Running: more than just a sport

It once began as a challenge with a friend, but it ended up as a true lifestyle. About 1.5 years ago I signed up for my first race. Together with my roommate we accepted a challenge to run 10km without any break. So exciting! I never ever ran for more than 5km until that time. The moment I came across the finish line has changed my life. The feeling of joy. The pride. The happiness of all the fini...

Running back to a normal life

Lina Falcken’s life was bright, she had started her own interior design company and was a prominent badminton player. Then just before Christmas 2009, there was a dramatic change in the 29-year-old life. A fall in a staircase in the Norwegian city Ålesund, where Lina then used to live, sent her into coma. She woke up days later to a whole new world and life. Thanks to the strong support of her mot...

A terrible race - lessons learned from Hammer Trail 100 miles

”What doesn ́t kill you, makes you stronger”  Friedrich Nietzche We expected adventure when we boarded the boat towards Bornholm on the 4th of May. Together with my younger brother, I had applied, scared but thrilled, to Denmarks hardest running race, Hammer Trail 100 miles. Weather gods were not on our side and heavy winds created a terrible boat ride to the small danish island. Staff at the bo...

Runner in the spotlight: Holin Wilbanks

How has running changed your life? I'm a better mom, wife and friend since I've been able to spend time lost in the mountain. There's just something magical about the climbs, the peaks, the rivers and the quiet that you can hear so loudly when you are miles away from the real world.Where is your favorite place to run? My Ogden, Utah mountains are really the best place to run. I've tried to find ot...

DISCOVERING DOLOMITES THROUGH RUNNING

Photo credit to: running.bz.lt Summer, the period of elevated temperatures when cities are less attractive due to their unpleasant, hot asphalts. That’s why I decided to spend a few days far from Milan to continue practicing my running activity without suffering of “persistent dehydration”. So, I moved in Trentino - Alto Adige where a famous Italian running trainer was organizing a training camp f...

The story of my first marathon

Since I was a child, I admire marathon runners: they know better than others the pain, the struggle and pleasure of marathons. In my opinion, Everybody who is able to run 26.2 miles was (and is) a hero. So last year a friend of mine told me: "Mattia, what about the Rome Marathon?" and I "No, it's impossible. I'll never be able to run 26.2... I'm not strong enough". Two days later, ...

Midnight Sun Marathon – Tromsø, Norway

It's Saturday 19:30 … if I go now, I can still get some waffles. I would eat oats if I was in Holland, but I'm in Norway. The food is expensive here, but waffles are free in my hotel. Waffles seem like an excellent start, so let's go now.I am not sure about coffee. Coffee will wake me up, give me energy. But I am so nervous already, it won't be very good for my heart rate. I can't decide, so I jus...

How I went through being caught by pneumonia to running 1000km in 5 months

It has been exactly 1.5 year ago now in that I was down on my knees. I was caught by a pneumonia witch left me with weeks of antibiotics that eventually didn’t want to make any effect. When the fevers were finally gone I went for a stroll in the park, this was on the 18th of January 2016. It was freezing outside, I walked about a mile and I was exhausted. But the sun was shining lovely that aftern...

Why I run

I run because every run is a travel. When you travel, you are more aware of the life that passes. You find yourself in the same place as the other people but you are not in the same flow. When you travel, you are more conscious and your mind is more open to grasp every detail around you. You see not only what is different from the country and city you come from but also the things that without bei...

Brief experience of a young marathon man

I was first introduced to the world of sports by my parents at the age of 5, where I started attending karate lessons. Practicing karate as both a sport and a martial art exposed me to many new perspectives on dedication, determination, mental strength and has encouraged me to constantly pursue further personal development. Thanks to karate, I have also developed my passion for various endurance a...

Why Are East African Runners So Dominant?

Why Are East African Runners So Dominant?It isn’t just your imagination. Yes, East African runners have a tendency to dominate every running record on the books with reason. It isn’t just that their lifestyle is quite a bit more difficult than other cultures, often requiring that they work long and arduously strenuous manual labor hours. But, it also may be in their genetic makeup and evolution.Ke...

Marathon Greats

Those Who Beat The Odds By Beating Out The Competition Deserve Our Utmost AdorationMost would consider anyone who is capable of running a half or a full marathon an amazing example of human perseverance. There are some elite marathoners that go beyond what human expectancies could ever imagine. Marathon runners may not normally be the ones who get the endorsements and fame, but they get the adorat...

Inspiring Female Marathoners

Some famous runners have not only shattered expectations but have also broken glass ceilings, breaking personal bests and world records.  One of the best things about running is that it is an equal opportunity employer. Anyone with a pair of running shoes and some air in their lungs can hit the trail for the outdoors. There are greats of every age, race, creed, and gender. No one would have thoug...

Fighting cancer with 40 marathons in 2016

Thomas Alm celebrates his 40th anniversary with 40 endurance races In 2010, Thomas Alm’s life changed dramatically. His beloved mum passed away in cancer and to handle the sorrow, Thomas put on his running shoes, and as he put it, he just “ran, ran and ran”. The same year he completed his first marathon in New York (3:45:22). For Thomas, long distance running has become a great therapy and also g...

Male Ultra Marathon legends

Those Who Inspire, Awe-Strike Us, And Tire Us Just Thinking About Their Amazing FeatsA marathon is something that only elite athletes can dream of competing in. To cross the finish line after traveling 26.2 miles puts even the slowest of runners in a very distinguished category. An ultra marathon, gaining traction for those who aren’t satiated enough with the grueling 20 some miles, is something t...

The 26.2 miles of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Edinburgh Marathon Festival. An IAAF Bronze Label European road marathon. Maybe a bit less known if comparing it to other marathons, but I guess it's one you should add to your bucket list after all. Maybe I even liked to run this marathon the most of the marathons I ran so far. Scotland is an awesome country with an impressive culture, landscape and history. And the Scottish people are one of the...

Why Are Marathon times Getting Slower Since The 80s?

If you haven’t seen the movie “Forest Gump,” first of all, you should. Second, in the movie the main character Forest is supposedly the one who began the running craze of the 80s. One of the many things a zany character who is always in the right place at the right time is credited with, running became his obsession because he was teased so much as a young child.The eighties introduced running to ...