2012 Athlete of the Year - Kathy Youngren

The 2012 Fleet Feet Racing Team Athlete of the Year is Kathy Youngren. Kathy was selected for this honor based on votes from the team.

Kathy had an amazing year, posting actual or near personal bests in almost every distance from 5k to 50 mile. While running more than two dozen races in 2012, she posted double digit wins and placed among top finishers almost every weekend.  She thrives on running ultra distances and in her spare time works at Fleet Feet and volunteers much of her time toward running and coaching.  Kathy has been a long term member on the Fleet Feet Racing Team since inception in 2003.

Her most outstanding performance of the season came in March at Delano 50 Miler, where she broke her own record by running 6:56:29 for 50 miles.  This time made her once again the fastest woman to ever run that distance in the State of Alabama. Only 4 women have ever ran under 8 hours and Kathy has the two fastest times (7:06:59 last year and the first woman to break 7 hours!).  Her 50 mile time is faster than any other woman in the state by 41 minutes, 29 seconds.

Other Notable Performances

• Mercedes Half Marathon - 1:31:28 (21st overall, 3rd age group)
• New Orleans Marathon - 3:17:12 which placed her 162nd of 3657 total, 2nd in her age group and 19th female overall.
• HTC Scholarship 8km Fund Run – 33:59, second female and 11th overall.
• Double Helix Dash – 20:18, second place female
• Cookie Dash 5km – 19:59, top female, 10th overall
• National Cornbread Festival 5km - one of the top female finishers
• Strolling Jim 40 Miler – 6:04:35, top female, 7th overall
• Xterra Oak Mountain Trail Marathon – 3:58:33, overall female winner
• Mountain Mania 15km – 1:09:33. top female, 3rd place overall
• Moon Pie / RC Cola 10-miler - 2nd female overall in 1:08:58.
• Running of the Bulls - 20:18, 2nd place female
• Redstone Arsenal 9.11km Commemorative run – Female winner, 5th overall in 38:10
• Elkmont Lions Club 10km - Overall female winner in 43:06.
• Fleet Feet 15k – State champion, 1:04:49, top female, 13th overall
• Liz Hurley 5k - 2nd overall in 19:04
• Spooktacular 5k – Top female in 19:01
• Sherri Adams Pink Ribbon 5k Run - Kathy had her best 5km ever, lowering her personal record to 18:38 and finishing 2nd overall.
• Huntsville Half marathon – 2nd female overall in 1:29:11
• Dizzy 50K – Three way tie for 1st in 5:14:57
• Rocket City Marathon – 6 hour pacer

2012 AOY Nominee - Kathy Youngren

The final nominee for the 2012 Fleet Feet Racing Team Huntsville Athlete of the Year (AOY) is Kathy Youngren.  Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner, but first read below on the stupendous year that helped Kathy earn these honors.



Kathy had an amazing year, posting actual or near personal bests in almost every distance from 5k to 50 mile.  While running more than two dozen races in 2012, she posted double digit wins and placed among top finishers almost every weekend.  Kathy has been running for nearly 20 years after competing in her first race, which was a marathon.  She thrives on running ultra distances and in her spare time works at Fleet Feet and volunteers much of her time toward running and coaching.  Kathy has been a long term fixture on the Fleet Feet Racing Team since inception in 2003.

Feb 13
Mercedes Half Marathon - 1:31:28 (21st overall, 3rd age group)

March 5
New Orleans Marathon - 3:17:12 which placed her 162nd of 3657 total, 2nd in her age group and 19th female overall.

March 13
Delano 50 Miler - Broke her own record by running 6:56:29 for 50 miles, making her once again the fastest woman to ever run that distance in the State of Alabama. Only 4 women have ever ran under 8 hours and Kathy has the two fastest times (7:06:59 last year and the first woman to break 7 hours!) and with her time this weekend is now faster than any other woman in the state by 41 minutes, 29 seconds.

April 10
HTC Scholarship 8km Fund Run – 33:59, second female and 11th overall.

April 11
Double Helix Dash – 20:18, second place female

April 22
Cookie Dash 5km – 19:59, top female, 10th overall

May 2
National Cornbread Festival 5km - one of the top female finishers

May 5
Strolling Jim 40 Miler – 6:04:35, top female, 7th overall

May 22
Xterra Oak Mountain Trail Marathon – 3:58:33, overall female winner

June 10
Mountain Mania 15km – 1:09:33. top female, 3rd place overall

June 17
Moon Pie / RC Cola 10-miler - 2nd female overall in 1:08:58.

August 29
Running of the Bulls - 20:18, 2nd place female

Sept 12
Redstone Arsenal 9.11km Commemorative run – Female winner, 5th overall in 38:10

Oct 2
Elkmont Lions Club 10km - O overall female winner in 43:06.

Oct 15
Fleet Feet 15k – State champion, 1:04:49, top female, 13th overall

Oct 19
Liz Hurley 5k - 2nd overall in 19:04

Nov 1
Spooktacular 5k – Top female in 19:01

Nov 6
Sherri Adams Pink Ribbon 5k Run - , Kathy Youngren had her best 5km ever, lowering her personal record to 18:38 and finishing 2nd overall.

Nov 11
Huntsville Half marathon – 2nd female overall in 1:29:11

Nov 19
Dizzy 50K – Three way tie for 1st in 5;14:57

Dec 12
Rocket City Marathon – 6 pacer

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

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)