Weekend Results

This was an amazing weekend for the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team!

In Hot Springs, South Dakota, at the Lean Horse Ultra, Kathy Youngren ran an amazing 7:26 50 miler, capturing 2nd place overall and 1st female finisher. Not to be out done, Blake Thompson finished 2nd overall in the 100 mile distance with a stellar 17:45. This was a major personal best for Blake and will certainly be one of the best performances of the team season. After Blake, Eric Fritz rolled through in under 21 hours at 20:35 (8th place) for his first 100 mile finish, followed by Rob Youngren in 22:36. Joey Butler battled some severe stomach issues and fought the good fight, but had to drop after 84 miles.

Results are pending, but will be available on these links.

100 Mile Results
50 Mile Results

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In Huntsville, Donald Bowman captured his 2nd win of the month by running 16:57 at the Running of the Bulls. Eric Charette captured his fourth 2nd place finish in as many weeks with a 17:20. Greg Reynolds rounded out the podium with a personal best 17:41. On the women's side, the team captured all three podium finishes with Dana Overton running 20:53, followed by Linda Scavarda and Lisa Rawlings.

1 Donald Bowman - 16:57
2 Eric Charette - 17:20
3 Gregory Reynolds - 17:42
6 Marty Clarke - 18:07 7 Tim Vinson - 18:23
9 Joe Francica - 19:00
11 Randy McFarland - 19:27
14 David Rawlings - 20:23
16 Dana Overton - 20:53
18 Linda Scavarda - 21:17
20 Lisa Rawlings - 21:33
33 Christy Scott - 23:46

Official Results

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This morning on Redstone Arsenal, James Falcon finished 138th overall and 11th in his age group at the Rocketman Triathlon with a time of 2:46:24.

Official Results

This Weekend

This is the weekend that many members of the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team have been anticipating since late last year.  In Hot Springs, South Dakota, a large contingent of our ultra runners will be contesting the Lean Horse Ultra.  Attempting thier first hundred miler will be Eric Fritz and Joey Butler, while Blake Thompson and Rob Youngren will be looking to run their fastest!  Kathy Youngren will be running the 50 miler and sure to be amongst the top finishers as she prepares for the 246km Spartathlon in Greece.  Apparel/Events coordinator for the Team, Sarah Bowden, will be running in her first 50km in South Dakota with the team.

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Out west, David Riddle will be running on a GE Corporate mixed team in the legendary Hood to Coast Relay.  This 197 mile relay runs from Mount Hood to the Pacific Ocean in Seasdie and attracts 12,000 runners.  This is the largest footrace race relay in the world and is int its 29th year.

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In Huntsville, the flat and fast Running of the Bulls 5km will be contested at Hampton Cove Elementary School.  Running this year are Greg Reynolds, Joe Francica and Randy Mcfarland.  This is an out and back course on a gree nway that has a cul de sac turnaround which can produce some fast times.

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On Redstone Arsenal, the 17th annual Rocketman Triathlon will held on Sunday.  This year the distances are 1500 meters for the swim, 40km for the cycle and a 10km run.  James Falcon will be representing the team.

Lean Horse Hundred

Lean Horse Hundred
by Eric Fritz

As I pack my final drop bag for what seems like the 15th time and look around my living room at the mess I've made with all the extra stuff that at one time I "thought I might need" my mind begins to wonder how I got to this point.

I'm going to run 100 miles (or at least I hope to)

That's a long way... and it's not really even the distance that worries me so much but the fact that I'm going to be running for somewhere around 24 hours. Every race to this point I've ever attempted has always been a modest step up from the previous one. But before this race, the longest I've ever run for is about 12 hours. So now I think I can double that!? What am I thinking? I fully expect to find new levels of pain that I never even knew existed this coming Saturday. But, I've done the training, put in all those 80, 90 and 100 mile weeks just like I was told to, so I've got to be able to do this right? Still I wonder. Anyway, I've really wanted to do this for a while now and come hell or high water, I'm going to be at that starting line on Saturday morning, 6:00am sharp and once the horn sounds there will be nothing left to do but run and enjoy the day. I expect I'll have quite a different perspective in a just a few days but for now, I just want to get to it.

See you on the other side.

Spotlight of the Month: Joey Butler

Lean Horse Training Blog
by Joey Butler

This little adventure started back in the spring of 2009 when Kathy Youngren was accepted into the Badwater 135 footrace across Death Valley. I forget exactly how she put out the call for potential crew members, but like a dummy, I let her know I was interested. We talked about what was involved in crewing. I recall having reservations about my ability to even pace her but she seemed confident that I would be fine, so I agreed to be a crew member along with her husband Rob, Janice Anderson, Blake Thompson, and Kim Susor. I remember she and Rob told me this experience would either make me want to run a 100 or convince me to never, ever think about it again.

Well obviously it made me want to run a 100. I had never thought much about it until that week at Badwater. I realized those people were crazy, but a good kind of crazy. The seed was planted and I had to give it a shot.

I spent months researching every 100 miler in the US. I finally settled on Lean Horse in South Dakota. Now I just had to gather the nerve to send in the entry form. I had doubts about whether I was capable of finishing a 100 miler, but I knew that I had to find out. The only way to fail, in my opinion, would be to never give it a shot.

With that thought, I signed up for Lean Horse on August 28, 2010. I’ve spent most of the summer running long miles in preparation for this race. I’ve prepared as best I know how. I haven’t run as many miles as some others, but I’ve pushed myself to my own limits.

Now just a few days before the race, I feel pretty good. I’m healthy. I have no lingering issues from a previous injury. My only complaint has been that I am constantly tired. The big increase in mileage explains that.

To be honest, as I write this, I am very confident in my ability to finish the 100. I don’t really have a time goal. Breaking 24 hours would be nice, but since this is my first 100, my real goal is to just finish. I know it’s a long race and I assuredly will experience things in the race that I’ve never experienced before. I just have to do my best to overcome the hardships and keep moving forward.

Hopefully next time I write, I’ll do so while wearing my buckle. I know I will give my best effort, whatever that is.

Joey

Weekend Results

The Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville had a great weekend all around the country in representing Fleet Feet. 

On Saturday, Greg Reynolds proved to be a top local triathlete at the HTC WAAY 31 Sprint Triathlon finishing a strong second place overall.  Kevin Betts aalso finished in the top 10 overall with a 7th place finish.  Rob Youngren competed in the open division, but did so on his 36" wheeled-unicycle and still managed 73 place overall. 

Official Results Here

Individual Results
2 Gregory Reynolds - 43:50
7 Kevin Betts - 45:58
54 Randy McFarland - 54:33
73 Robert Youngren - 56:55

Family Teams
1 James Falcon - 48:59 (17th overall)

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Out west, Eric Charette ran the Squak Mountain Trail Half Marathon in Issaquah, Washington which had over 3,800' of elevation gain (a mile and half if total elecation change) including a 1,500' straight climb from miles 2 to 4.  He managed to place 2nd overall in a time of 1:55:05.

Official Results Here

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In Decatur at Point Mallard Park, Eric Schotz finished 5th overall with a time of 19:20 at the Brothers for Life 5km.

Official Results Here

This Weekend

The Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville will be competing on foot over trails and roads this weekend as well as on wheels and in the pool.

Locally in Huntsville, Greg Reynolds headlines our team triathletes at the HTC WAAY 31 Sprint Triathlon.  This reverse triathlon features a 3 mile trail run at the Cross Country Park, a 6 mile cycle over roads in south Huntsville and a 400 meter swim at the Natatorium.   This is the 30th year the event will be held.  Also competing is James Falcon on a relay team with his family.  Last year team athlete David Riddle collaborated with two others to set the relay course record at 35:08.

Out west, Eric Charette will be racing in the Squak Mountain Trail Half Marathon.  This forested park features miles of trails in wilderness solitude with glimpses of Issaquah below, with miles of winding trails in narrow ravines.  The half marathon course has 3,650' of elevation climb. 

In Decatur at Point Mallard Park, Tim Vinson will be racing in the Brothers for Life 5km. This flat course is sure to produce some fast times, should the weather permit it, and benefits local firefighters.

Good luck to the entire racing team in where ever your fleet feet may take you!

Weekend Results

This weekend the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville dominated on the roads to the west of Huntsville at the Brooke Hill 5km in crazy mid 80 degree temperatures at race time. When it was all said and done, the Racing Team had taken the top 5 places and the top male and female overall winners.

Donald Bowman and Eric Charette battled early, but Donald took the lead after the first mile and never looked back and won with a time of 17:07. Eric was 2nd in 17:27 and Blake Thompson rounded out the top 3 with an 18:45. Tim Vinson was 4th overall and the first men's master finisher. Lisa Rawlings earned the female overall win with a personal best time of 21:43, which placed her 18th overall.



This race was directed by team members Eric Schotz and Jon Elmore and backed by the River City Runners.

1 Donald Bowman - 17:07.4
2 Eric Charette - 17:27.9
3 Blake Thompson - 18:45.8
4 Tim Vinson - 18:49.8
5 Carl Smith - 19:20.8
7 David Rawlings - 20:03.6
18 Lisa Rawlings - 21:43.1

Official Results Here

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In Cullman, Alabama, Linda Scavarda finished her 13th consecutive Eva Bank Midnight Run. Her 22:18 earned her 5th female overall and first in her age group.  Linda got a few hours of sleep and also went to Brooke Hill 5km where she ran with her nephew in his first 5km.  Randy Mcfarland just keeps on hitting the fast times and posted a 20:05, though they managed to leave his name out of the results somehow.  Randy was also first in his age group.


Official Results Here

This Weekend

This weekend the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville is taking tot he streets for some short, but fast races around the Tennessee Valley.

In Cullman, Alabama, Linda Scavarda will be running at the Eva Bank Midnight Run. This is the 13th Annual running, and Linda has been there for all of them. This race is certified and begins at 12:00 am on Saturday morning.

Just a few hours after the "Midnight Runners" go to sleep, Carl Smith, Randy Mcfarland and Blake Thompson will be at the starting line for the Brooke Hill 5km in Decatur, Alabama. Brooke Hill was a young, vibrant, civic minded wife and mother of two beautiful girls. She fought a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Prior to her passing she asked her family and friends to organize events to bring awareness and to raise funds for ovarian cancer research. This event is organized by the River City Runners and offers both a certified 5km and 1 mile distance. 

Good luck to the entire racing team in where ever your fleet feet may take you!

Weekend Results

This weekend the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville raced strong at all distances from 5km to 15km to 8 hour ultra marathon. Here are the details. At Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, Georgia, Eric Schotz made a valiant effort for top honors in stifling heat at Hot to Trot 8 Hour Ultra Marathon. Temperatures soared into near triple digits by days end but that did not stop Eric from running 46.059 miles (10:12 pace for 39 laps of the 1.137769 mile long loop) in 7 hours, 49 minutes and 49 seconds. Eric finished 5th overall amongst a strong field of 60 total runners. In his own words, Eric said "I obeyed the race slogan which is Please Don't Die." At the Dog Trot in Huntsville, Alabama, James Falcon was 3rd overall. This race was held at the John Hunt Cross Country Park, which has the hill climb and of course more of that Alabama/August heat and allowed runners to compete with man's best friend on a leash. In Iron Mountain, Michigan, Eric Charette ran a near personal best 55:42 at the Lake Antoine Classic 15km. This rolling hill course around Fumee Lake is mostly two-track but has plenty of loose gravel and soft sand to deal with. Eric set the pace and lead the race for 7.5 miles until Anders Nienstaedt (age 20 of St. Olaf College) picked up the pace and pulled away, leaving Eric in 2nd place. This was the 33rd running of the "Classic".

This Weekend

On tap for the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team from Huntsville this weekend are several trail races.

At Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, Georgia, Eric Schotz wil be contesting the Hot to Trot 8 Hour Ultra Marathon.  The course makes continuous loops of 1.137769 miles long, almost entirely trail.  The disclaimer on the website reads, "This is NOT a good first ultra due to the potentially extreme heat."  The race is sponsored by the good folks from GUTS. Eric was a previous winner here so his experience should help him out this year.

In Iron Mountain, Michigan, Eric Charette will race for the last time before returning home to Alabama. This weekend is the Lake Antoine Classic, which offers a 5 mile road race and a 15km trail race around Fumee Lake. Eric previously won the 5 mile in 2008 and will be looking to be the first runner to win at both distances. This is the 33rd running of the "Classic".

Madelyn Patton will be riding in the Summer Sizzler Metric Century.  Riding my bicycle with Summer Sizzler Metric Century. This ride features scenic rolling hills bicycle tour around Madison, Marshall and Jackson counties in northern Alabama.

Good luck to the entire racing team in where ever your fleet feet may take you!

Athlete of the Month - July

This month was full of races from all distances and the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team members were out racing in full force across the entire country.  After reviewing race results and blog posts for the month of July, here are the top Nike Fleet Fleet Racing Team athletes of the month, as voted by on by the team directors.  Included are the events that earned each athlete this distinction. Athletes of the month are slightly different than top performances, as these runners had great showings at multiple events in the month. The top athlete of each month will be honored at the year end Christmas Party.

The top performer of July is Blake Thompson.  His overall win at the Big Butt 50km on the last day of the month in 100+ degree temperates was the frosting on the cake that was his month of July for racing.  Not only did Blake run well at the Cross Country races this month, but he notched two top 4 finishes at local 5km races with a 3rd at Firecracker 5km in 18:05 and 4th at Paint the Streets 5km in 18:50. The 5km performance at Firecracker was also a personal best for Blake in the 5km distance.  Quite an accomplishment to be racing so well at 5km and 50km while logging big mileage weeks training for a hundred miler.  These performances have earned him the distinction of the Athlete of the Month for July.

Athlete of the Month

Blake Thompson

• 3rd overall 18:05 Firecracker 5km (personal record)
• 4th overall 18:50 Paint the Streets 5km
• 1st overall 4:41:00 Big Butt 50km
• 8th overall 18:45 Cross Country 3miler 7/6
• 3rd overall 19:19 Cross Country 3miler 7/13
• 7th overall 19:02 Cross Country 3miler 7/20

Other Nominees for Athlete of the Month

Brad Schroeder

• 4th overall 18:04 Cross Country 3miler 7/6
• 1st overall 17:53 AMRDEC 5km
• 1st overall 18:21 Cross Country 3miler 7/13
• 3rd overall 17:53 Cross Country 3miler 7/20
• 1st overall 17:04 Paint the Streets 5km
• 1st overall 17:45 Cross Country 3miler 7/27

Kathy Youngren

• 9th overall / 1st female 20:10 Firecracker 5km
• 10th overall / 1st female 20:57 AMRDEC 5km
• 3rd overall 20:01 Twilight 5km
• 9th overall / 1st female 19:48 Paint the Streets 5km
• 2nd overall / 1st female 4:51:00 Big Butt 50km
• 17th overall / 1st female 20:53 Cross Country 3miler 7/6

Eric Charette

• 4th overall 28:45 Firecracker 5 Miler
• 4th overall 24:15 Run the Keweenaw 6km Summit Climb
• 3rd overall 43:10 Run the Keweenaw 12km Trail Race
• 3rd overall 1:40:58 Run the Keweenaw 25km Trail Race
• 4th overall 17:14 Twilight 5km
• 1st overall 35:56 Windsor Rodeo 10km

Weekend Results

This weekend the Nike Fleet Feet Racing Team athletes from Huntsville posted victories at both short and long distance races.

At Butts Park in Clinton, MS at the  Big Butt 50km this weekend, sponsored by Fleet Feet Jackson, Blake Thompson took the overall win with a 4:44 in what can only be described as brutally hot conditions. Kathy Youngren captured 2nd place overall and was 1st female with a time of 4:51. Eric Fritz was 4th overall, followed by Joey Butler in 7th.  Temperatures were into the upper 90's on this multi-loop course.  These four were using this race as a tune up for Lean Horse 100m/50m coming up later in August.

In Iron River, Michigan at the Windsor Rodeo 10km, Eric Charette earned the overall win with a 35:56, a season best for him.  This was Eric's 4th victory of the season at distances of 2mile, 5km, 10km and marathon.