Friday, December 21, 2012

2012 AOY Nominee - George Heeschen

Over the next few weeks we will announce the 2012 Fleet Feet Racing Team Huntsville Athlete of the Year (AOY) Nominees.  Then at the conclusion, the AOY will be announced.

The second nominee is George Heeschen.



George had a stupendous year, racking up personal best times, numerous victories and was the top local at Rocket City Marathon.  He started running in High School before going on to run Division 3 cross country at Hampden-Sydney College, a small, private college in Southern Virginia. George moved to Huntsville late in 2010 and joined the Fleet Feet Racing team a few months later.

February  14
Mercedes Half Marathon – 7th overall in 1:13:54 (new personal best)

March 19
Mooresville at the Rocket Run 10-miler – 5th overall in 59:42

March 13
Delano Park 12 hour relay (with Brad Schroeder, Erik Debolt and Tim Vinson) – 117 miles (6:09 pace)

March 25
McKay Hollow 25km – 3rd overall in 2:06:43

April 10
3M/Red Cross River City 10km – 1st overall in 34:54

May 2
National Cornbread Festival 5km – 2nd overall

June 17 
Moon Pie / RC Cola 10-miler - 57:42

July 23
Twilight 5km – 1st overall in 17:27

August 1
Paint the Streets 5km – 1st overall in 16:50

August 29
Running of the Bulls – 2nd overall in 16:55

September 17
Duck and Run 5km – 1st overall in 16:41.7

October 2
Elkmont Lions Club 10km – 1st overall in 35:35

October 21
Army 10-miler – 81st overall (of 31,500) in 56:22

November 1 
Spooktacular 5km – 3rd overall in 16:28

November  11
Huntsville Half Marathon – 3rd overall in 1:16:28

December 8
Rocket City Marathon – 8th overall (top local) - 2:41:18


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

2012 AOY Nominee - Brandon York

Over the next few weeks we will announce the 2012 Fleet Feet Racing Team Huntsville Athlete of the Year (AOY) Nominees.  Then at the conclusion, the AOY will be announced.


The first nominee is Brandon York

Brandon had a phenomenal year, stacking up the wins and continuing to lower his personal best times on the road and track. Brandon was born and raised in Columbus, MS and has two sisters. He began running when he was in the 8th grade and continued to compete at cross country, indoor and outdoor track on the collegiate level at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.  He has been a member of the Fleet Feet Racing Team since 2011.







February 13, 2012
Winter Winds 2 mile - 2nd overall in 9:29 (3 seconds off the win)
Winter Winds 4 mile - 2nd overall in 20:04 (7 seconds off the win)

February 19, 2012
Heart and Sole 5km - Overall win in 15:12 (Road PR)

April 15, 2012
Chick-fil-A Charity 5km - Overall win in 15:39

April 22, 2012
Vandy Invitational 5km (Track) - 2nd overall in 14:48.36 (track PR)

May 5, 2012
Steeple Chase 8km - Overall win in 24:49 (course record)

May 31, 2012
Cotton Row 10km - 10th overall in 32:46

June 3, 2012
Music City Distance Carnival 5km (track) - 5th overall in 14:41.92 (track PR)

August 29, 2012
Running of the Bulls 5km - Overall win in 16:09

September 7, 2012
Monte Sano 10km - Overall win in 32:32
Monte Sano 5km - Overall win in 16:18

October 21, 2012
Army 10-miler - 17th overall (of 30,100) in 50:44 (new PR)

October 28, 2012
Spooktacular 5km - Overall win in 15:45

November 3, 2012
Vulcan 10k - 8th overall in 31:10 (new road PR)

November 19, 2012
Jingle Bell 5km - Overall win in 15:03

December 15, 2012
Meadowbrook 5km (road) - 2nd overall in 14:50 (road PR)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Weekend Results

This weekend the Fleet Feet Racing Team started to put the finishing touches on a tremendous season.

In Chattanooga at the Lookout Mountain 50 miler, DeWayne Satterfield finished 17th overall and 3rd Men's Master with an 8:42:25.  Tim Pitt finished his first 50 mile race in 9:37:23 and Dana Overton ran 10:07:01 and was 7th female overall.

Official Results





In Huntsville, Brad Shroeder led the men's team at the Rudolph Run 5k finishing 3rd overall in 16:47.  Candace Jacobs was the women's winner in 18:45 and 11th overall.   Volunteering at race were Dink Taylor, George Heeschen, Kathy Youngren, Blake Thompson and Eric Charette.

Official Results

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gear Review: FuelBelt Revenge R30 Review by Jim Clemens

Date: Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gear Review: FuelBelt Revenge R30 Review by Jim Clemens

Product: Revenge R30

Technology Information: The Revenge® Series from FuelBelt is touted as a breakthrough in hydration belt design given the one handed entry and exit. Instead of a “sleeve” for the bottles, the R30 sports molded holsters that hold on to the bottles preventing slipping and loose bottles. This new design allows for a super lightweight hydration belt. The R30 has 3 holsters and there is also a 2 holster version, the R20. Both the R20 and R30 come with one pocket but additional add-on pockets can also be purchased.

Pricing: $43.95 for an R30 from www.fuelbelt.com or locally at Fleet Feet Sports Huntsville

Impressions: After owning and liking a particular hydration belt for many years, the time had come to buy a new one. Upon investigating all options and looking at several models in running stores, the FuelBelt line of belts quickly rose to the top. The features I was most interested in were:
  • Lightweight
  • Tight fitting without having to cinch it so tight as to cut off circulation to my lower extremities
  • Comfort
  • Minimal amount of bouncing when filled
  • Storage capacity for liquids and quantity of energy gels that could be carried
The R30 met each of my criteria so I decided to give it a whirl. I had some concerns about the custom fit belts that can be purchased (2 bottle and 4 bottle) so I went with the “one size fits all” Velcro belt. Let me say that I have never been as pleased with a hydration belt as I have with the R30! The bottles stay put in the belt with no bouncing yet they are easy to remove and to put back in even when running. The belt appears to be only lightly padded when looking at it but that is the beauty of keeping the belt lightweight – I can honestly say I have never had to “think about” the belt while running which is a great thing! The belt is extremely comfortable and once you have the belt adjusted to your liking, rarely do you need to re-adjust on the fly.

I chose the 3 bottle model which provides up to 21 ounces of fluids, enough for me for even my longest of long runs. The pocket carries up to 4 (tightly packed) energy gel packets which also are enough for me.

Suggestion: Many runners prefer the hand held bottles; however, if you are like me and prefer the hydration belts for your long runs, you definitely need to check out the FuelBelt line of products. Depending on how many energy gels, keys, and other items you want to carry in the belt, you might look into also purchasing an extra pocket which can be slid onto the belt.

Summary: FuelBelt is one of the leading providers of hydration belts and that will surely continue given their high-quality, lightweight, comfortable designs. The Revenge® R30 is the perfect belt for my medium length and long runs, providing all of the liquids and gels I need during even the hottest of summer days that Alabama has to offer while at the same time fitting so comfortably and being so light as to feel like I am not even wearing one.

Jim joined the Fleet Feet Racing Team of Huntsville in 2012 but started running when he was 9 years old. He a fantastic resume of personal bests, including a 2:38 marathon in 2003.  Along with his wife Elizabeth, they have two children Matthw and Rebekah and live in Madison, Alabama.  Jim earned two Bachelor's degrees from Bowling Green and his Master's degree in Science from Clemson.  His team biography can be found here.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Nike Fleet Feet Rocket City Marathon Pace Team

2012 Nike Fleet Feet Rocket City Marathon Pace Team

After hearing some great comments of gratitude from runners and other volunteers how impressed they were with the pace team we assembled this year, I thought I would share the end results.

The teams of runners pacing 3:15, 3:25, 3:30, 3:35, 3:40, 3:45 and 3:55 were an average of 27 seconds under the goal time.  The teams are instructed to run even pace, and finish no faster than 1 minute under their goal time.  Dana Overton and first time pacer Lauren Smith were the closest, running just 6 seconds under.  Rick and Katie Maehlmann wrapped up their flawless pacing duties with a kiss at the finish line.

While not many runners stayed with the pace group leaders in the second half, the pacers stayed even through to the end. This was tough to "leave" the runners as they slowed, but other runners (ahead) were also counting on the pacers to come in right on pace.   We did miss our mark at 4:00 hours and just slightly at 4:25, but both groups did not have any runners with them at the very end when they slowed and I did hear of any complaints.

This year we had 8 new pacers as Erik Debolt, Tim Pitt, Lauren Smith, Paige Dorr, Blake Thompson, Sarah Coleman, Cary Long and Patti Holmes joined our ranks.

I am very proud of this team as running even pace for 26.2 miles doesn't just happen on race day; it takes practice and months of training.  No matter what the ability of the athlete, running 26.2 miles on even splits, especially on a day that had tough head winds from miles to 10-15 and then heat and humidity in the second half is nothing short of a monumental effort.  If you think it is easy, just try to do it for 5 or 10 miles, let alone 26.

Many of these pacers have already asked to be involved next year. I think they felt this personally rewarding to put others needs and goals above their own.  I am excited for 2013 as we will start our 4th year of pacing at Rocket City Marathon.

3:15 Pacer
3:14:51 Erik Debolt (under by 9 seconds)





3:25 Pacer
3:24:50 Dewayne Satterfield (under by 10 seconds)





3:30 Pacer
3:29:08 Timothy Pitt  (under by 52 seconds)





3:35 Pacer
3:34:22 Blake Thompson (under by 38 seconds)





3:40 Pacers
3:39:04 John Nevels (under by 56 seconds)
3:39:04 Paige Dorr (under by 56 seconds)







3:45 Pacers
3:44:37 Rick Maehlmann (under by 23 seconds)
3:44:37 Katie Maehlmann (under by 23 seconds)





3:55 Pacers
3:53:54 Lauren Smith (under by 6 seconds)
3:53:54 Dana Overton (under by 6 seconds)





4:00 Pacers
4:04:13 Christy Scott (over by 4:13)
4:40:22 David Rawlings (dropped back late)







4:10 Pacers
4:09:32 James Falcon (under by 28 seconds)
4:27:37 Patti Holmes (dropped back late)







4:25 Pacers
4:25:13 David Coon (over by 13 seconds)
4:27:07 Shawn Smith (dropped back late)
DNF Heather Coon (illness)







4:40 Pacers
4:38:45 Cary Long (under by 1:15)
4:38:45 Sarah Coleman (under by 1:15)







6:00 Hour Sweeps
5:59:54 Kathy Youngren
5:59:54 Robert Youngren


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Weekend Results

This weekend was the goal race for Greg Reynolds from the Fleet Feet Racing Team who ran the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis, TN.  Despite unseasonably warm temperatures (60 degrees is not normal for December in Tennessee!) and a tough course, Greg finished 23rd overall of 7,000+ runners with a time of 1:24:01.

Official Results



Marty Clarke was top men's master finisher at the Frosty Freeze 5km in Decatur with a time of 18:43.

Official Results



At the First Annual Galaxy of Lights 5km on Monday night at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, it was a "Youngren Sweep" as Rob took the overall win (17:10) and Kathy was the top female (20:30) and 6th place overall.  Christy Scott also ran the race with her son.

Official Results

Photo Courtesy of Gregg Gelmis, We Run Huntsville