Medal Monday brings many stories of achievement for our members. Here are recent stories from the Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics, as told by you, as posted on the Marathon Maniacs/Half Fanatics Facebook pages.
2026 National Meet-Up at the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon
National Meet Up Schedule – Capital City Half Marathon Weekend (Race on Saturday, April 25, 2026 – events kick off Thursday evening!)
Official Race Info More details: capitalcityhalfmarathon.com/event-info/schedule-of-events/
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026
- OhioHealth Expotique & Panera Bread Rapid Packet Pickup 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Vue Columbus 95 Liberty St., Columbus, OH 43215
- Thursday Night Shakeout Run Meet at Nocterra Brewing Co. – Audubon, 516 Maier Pl, Columbus, OH 43215 for a casual 2–3 mile shakeout run up the trail.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
- OhioHealth Expotique & Panera Bread Rapid Packet Pickup 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Vue Columbus 95 Liberty St., Columbus, OH 43215
- Pre-Race Pasta Dinner 5–7:30 p.m. Groveport United Methodist Church 512 Main St., Groveport, OH 43125
Catered from Little Italy (across the street). Cost: $15 per person. Menu highlights:
- Homemade Spaghetti (serves 18–20)
- Cheese Ravioli (serves 18–20)
- Signature Meatballs
- Full pan of side salad
- Dressings: Italian and Ranch (2 max per pasta)
There is plenty of space to gather, socialize, meet new/old friends. Group photo with the flag ~6 p.m. for anyone there.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 – Race Day
- OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon – 8 a.m.
- OhioHealth Quarter Marathon – 8 a.m.
- Columbus Promise 5K – 8:30 a.m.
Start/finish: Corner of S. High St. & W. Town St. (adjacent to Columbus Commons).
- Giant Eagle Curbside Express Recovery Zone 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Secure spot for finisher’s medal + refuel (Panera bagels, fruit, water, Powerade, etc.).
- Byers Xtra Mile Finish Line Party 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons
- PNC Post-Race Concert 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons Stage
- Saturday Afternoon: Rest and recover!
- Saturday Night Meet-Up (starting ~5:30 p.m.) Jackie O’s On Fourth 171 N 4th St., Columbus, OH 43215 Great spot to socialize, grab drinks. (21+ after certain hours—check current policy.)
One block away: Pins Mechanical Co. 141 N 4th St., Columbus, OH 43215 Duckpin bowling available—perfect for a few rounds of fun!
Plenty of other downtown venues if you want to explore more on a Saturday night.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2026
- Travel home and recover. Safe travels!
Before hitting the starting line, we always try to snap a ‘Family Photo’ when possible. The Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running family—spotted at races nationwide—grabbed a quick group shot ahead of the Mississippi Blues Marathon/Half Marathon in Jackson, Mississippi on February 22, 2026.
Before hitting the starting line, we always try to snap a ‘Family Photo’ when possible. The Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running family—spotted at races nationwide—grabbed a quick group shot ahead of the Mississippi River Marathon in Greenville, Mississippi on February 7, 2026.
Before hitting the starting line, we always try to snap a ‘Family Photo’ when possible. The Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running family—spotted at races nationwide—grabbed a quick group shot ahead of the Little Rock Marathon/Half Marathon in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 1, 2026.
Before hitting the starting line, we always try to snap a ‘Family Photo’ when possible. The Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running family—spotted at races nationwide—grabbed a quick group shot ahead of the Cowtown Marathon/Half Marathon in Ft. Worth, Texas on March 1, 2026.
Steve Walters(MM338, DA9, HF21)– The Hagg Mud 50k lived up to its name today! One of the muddiest I have experienced at this race (this was 13th Hagg 50k). Sections of sucking mud and on the second loop the trail was even muddier. So I adjusted expectations and took it slow and easy. I don’t get much trail running in these days, so my confidence was lacking. But I didn’t fall, so that’s a win. My 227th ultra marathon (586th marathon/ultra).
Lea Reyes(MM13731, DA2891, HF16015) – #216 Half marathon completed in Palm Desert yesterday referred by Karen A Flynn
What a great day it was. I never ran this race before and usually don’t travel more than an hour for a half since I can run them so close to home. It was inexpensive and a reason to go to the Palms. Drove out the night before and was able to clean up before coming home, which was nice.
It was a perfect day for running. The sun was out, but it was still nice and cool for a run. The course was great nice and wide and you didn’t have to worry about bumping into people. Half a mile in I saw Karen and we ran together the whole time except when I had to stop for a quick pee and grab some water. The race finished at the park with lots of people cheering you on right at the finish. It was nice. 
Surprisingly, me, Karen, and Dan’s bibs were 55, 56, and 57.  Karen noticed that after the race. Cool!
Thank you, Karen for the referral and the run. It was nice catching up.
Next up, running from the Yeti marathon Springfield, MO. 
Happy running!
Barbara Rausch(HF16197, DA3430, MM14998) Milestone Running Day!
Today I ran my 300th half marathon at Brazen Racing’s Bay Breeze.
I ran my first half marathon at Bay Breeze on 2/13/2016. Back then, I never even considered doing more than one. I just wanted to finish. Shortly after that race, I started Brazen’s Ultra Half Series. I wanted to earn that big coaster. Next thing I knew, I was still running halfs and they were adding up. They really started adding up and then I discovered Half Fanatics. I ran my 100th at Bay Breeze in 2022 and then continued my crazy half running reaching Sun in 2022 and Hall of Fame in 2024. I also ran half 200 in 11/2024. In 2025, I realized if I planned my half races correctly, I could make Bay Breeze my 300th 10 yrs almost to the date after my first half.
Brazen Racing has been such a positive in my life. I’ve met so many people over the years that I now look forward to seeing at races and that I call my friends. I appreciate all the encouragement and support over the years. It truly means so much to me.
Today was a perfect day! If you’ve read this far, the Barbara from 2010 that weighed over 300lbs would never have thought of running one half marathon. My gastric bypass that I had in 2010 saved my life. I would never have accomplished what I have done the past 10yrs if I had not gotten healthy. I have kept most of the weight off. March 2026 will be 16 yrs post op.
Keep yourself healthy and keep moving. If you can’t run, walk. Any distance will keep you healthy.
Before hitting the starting line, we always try to snap a ‘Family Photo’ when possible. The Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running family—spotted at races nationwide—grabbed a quick group shot ahead of the I Just Want to be a Unicorn Half Marathon in Knoxville, TN on March 7, 2026.
Rachel Ross(HF6506) – End of Trail Half in Visalia. 1st (and only!) woman in my age group. This was a tough run since it started at 8:00 and the day heated up quickly with very little shade on the course. 12 minutes slower than my 2024 run of the same race with all the walking I did. Kudos to my friend Ana DeMarre who stuck with me the entire time when she could have been much faster. We had a lot of interesting conversation before it got too warm to keep it up. Thanks, Ana! 💕
Lynne Kilirnr(HF13464, DA3364, MM12242) – Victory half marathon is in the books. I tried my best to stay with the pacer, but i ran out of gas the second half.
But for some miracle, i managed to snag third place in my age group.
I did Bay breeze half a couple of weeks ago.
So i was able to get the connector medal!
Thank you brazen racing!
Gregory Rouson(HF8068,MM12723, DA2354) – BlackSheepRunners #HalfFanatics #sixstarfinishers #TheCowtown 😎
Lifetime half marathon #260 (and first Cowtown Challenge (10K & half marathon))…DONE!!! Everything is bigger in Texas…including the hills and the finisher medals. 😁 I’ve always wanted to run this race because of the history of the City, specifically the Stock Yards, and I was not disappointed. Huge thanks to my fellow #BlackSheepRunners Cheryl and Derek for hanging out with #YaBoi this weekend. 🐑🏃🏼♀️🏃🏾♂️🏃🏼♂️😎 #HF8068 #MM12723 #DA2354 #GoBlue #ForTheFallen #purposefulsteps #wearblueruntoremember #TheCowtown
Sandi Googs(HF9218) – First time as a Bodies Running Buddy and it was awesome. Got to see my girl Karen which always makes me smile. Overall a beautiful course, but would have been happy with a lot less headwind for the last 6.55 miles 🤣🤣🤣
Lifetime Half Marathon #180 is done and now to rest until the next one!!! #LifetimeHalf180 #HF9218 #100halfmarathonsclub #50statehalfmarathonclub #cpdrunclub #teamrwbcolumbus #wolfpack
Charlotte Corriher(MM3514) – YAY ITS MARATHON DAY !!
Saturday I ran my 16th consecutive Wilmington Marathon.
I had the honor of being the sweeper again. Rewarding but tough job but Its easy since I’m running in my hometown
Now back in the car and back to Aiken.
Alexis Davidson(MM926) – Walked the Myrtle Beach Marathon on Sunday. 61-75F with dewpoints in the 60s and a medium wind. Bit humid for this time of year. The course was one loop that was mostly parallel to the beach and had several imbedded out/backs in it. Fairly flat with 176 ft elevation gain according to Strava. Most of the course was on heavily travelled roads, so this course created more traffic headaches than most courses and required a massive police presence.
I had a better time of it than last week. Half/full splits of 2:41 and 5:39. Not quite there yet, but I did deal with the heat better than I did at The Woodlands. I thought it was funny that the race shirt was long sleeve, given the heat, and I was surprised so many runners wore it during the race. Uggh! 🤢🤢. #marathonmaniacs. Good to visit with Kate Stoker and Xiao Tu at the finish line.
Gysel Parajon(HF18751, MM8995) – I am still processing this past weekend’s race, my 99th strictly 26.2 mile adventure. I had originally planned to run one more trail race for my 99th to taper somewhat before the LA Marathon, but had to cancel plans as I made a logistical error. But on the plus side I was able to slow down, reset, rest, and best of all spend a weekend with my son, which was really special. He ran with me for the first time on one of my recovery runs!
The SoCal River Marathon was on my tentative running list to 100 just in case I needed it, signed up a few days before the race, and set out Friday night for the long drive to SoCal. I don’t recommend this, but I was on a mission to meet my goal and ended up with only two naps on the way to bib pickup at the finish line in Huntington Beach. I was going to drive to the start in Yorba Linda, leave my car there, and figure out transportation back to it after the race, but as luck would have it there were several others that had missed the shuttles to the start there was one last bus sent out with us stragglers!
I knew the day would be warm but it actually became rather hot right from the very start of the race. I ran the first 4 miles, sweating my heart out, but I knew I wouldn’t last in the heat if I didn’t slow down so I ran/walked to mile 10, then solely speed-walked at 4mph until mile 13, then added running bursts along any of the shaded sections and bridge underpasses until mile 24 when my legs and glutes were so cramped up that I had to do the ultra shuffle to the finish. The fact that some aid stations had run out of water probably didn’t help the cramping, but I made it! I MET MY GOAL OF RUNNING 99 MARATHONS BEFORE THE LA MARATHON WITH A CRAZY GOAL OF COMPLETING 8 THIS YEAR, 7 OF THEM WITHIN 6 WEEKENDS!!!
Thank you to the volunteers for being out in the sweltering heat supporting us runners, my fellow runners for pushing themselves in these conditions, I saw a number of people in pain like myself, but still going, many thanks to my friends and family for the support especially my brother and his family for hosting me on this very short trip to meet this goal of mine, as well as my sweet boy and his papa.
Next up is the LA Marathon followed by state 38 the following week in Kentucky!
Maricris Lu(HF10592, DA2188, MM12438) – Ventura Marathon & Half was my first opportunity to be a race Ambassador in 2016!
All my kids and I have ran this course : full, half and 5K!
This is a BQ course and I love cheering and encouraging runners as I see them and so I joined Beast Pacing ~ and have paced this race 4 years in a row, giving back to the sport I am deeply passionate about.
Thank you, Michael Hall, my co-pacer for a wonderful time! Time went by fast and before we know it, we crossed that finish line! We made it and I praise God for this beautiful day when everything was in place.
By the way, the waffle served at the finish line was so much appreciated!
Thank you Ventura Marathon and Beast Pacing for this opportunity!
Sheri Fulton Camp(HF16294)- Yesterday, completed another half marathon, making it #246. It felt chilly when we started, however, it warmed up quickly. The race route is on a bike path along the Rillito River, which is DRY. Next weekend, doing the same race in Phoenix, but they don’t have a half due to location so it’s a 10k for me.
Tahira Bland(HF18830)-Lifetime Half Marathon #77/100: I did the Combos half marathon (i.e., the race formerly known as Mars or Snickers Marathon) in Albany, Georgia.- March 7, 2026
The heat was definitely ON today. 🥵 Got ‘er done though!
This was my sixth Georgia half marathon and the 2nd of my 3 consecutive weekends of half marathons.
I can’t speak to expo because I did race day packet pickup. Parking was a cinch! Literally next to the start line. The finish line was a few blocks up the street.
Full and half marathoners started together at 7:00am sharp. I was going at a decent clip the first 2 miles then it got very muggy and hot. Oh, and hilly. Don’t forget hilly.
Most of the course was through residential areas. Aid stations every 2 miles with water and Gatorade early on. Bananas and oranges are available at later aid stations. Sporadic, but enthusiastic crowd support. Law enforcement did an excellent job of keeping everyone safe.
Finish line took you through the back part of the Albany riverfront down the huge hill from the Visitor’s Center. I’m not much of a candy eater, but if you are, you are in luck because tons of Combos branded candy was available at the finish festival. Water, beer, bananas, oranges, muffins and bagels were also available.
Speaking of, a music festival was starting around the same time as the race was winding down. The festival was open to the public and set up where the start line was a few hours before.
#TeamSloth, you have the same full 7 hours to finish this race as full marathoners. If you need Georgia, don’t like loops and/or are petrified of Atlanta’s notoriously hilly Publix course, take the Combos Half Marathon under consideration for your Georgia Half. Skidaway is my overall favorite Georgia half marathon even though a full marathon is no longer attached to it.
Keep in mind that this is a race where weather can make or break you. My results would’ve been much better had the weather been 20 degrees colder as in 2025 (even with hills). In any event, thanks again, Georgia!!!
Next up, NEXT weekend, the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. I’m still in shock that I’m actually going to this thing lol. Hope to see those that are doing this race there. I’ll be in the last wave, last corral with the rest of the slow pokey party people. 
Corinne Balmerchick Milligan(HF11336)
HALF 58, STATE 34! Good times were had at the @lrmarathon ! The course was fun and there was so much support (alcohol, food, cheer squads) on the course. I’m so thankful for friends who met me here! @slowkenyanrunner @pmanning070707 ! A good first half after my spine surgery. Good beer and food at the finish. Now in the airport headed home.
Karen Johnson Derrick(HF108426, DA3640, MM12489) – Returned home this morning after finishing the Atlanta marathon with running buddies. Atlanta’s hills were brutal but I did come in under 6 hours. This was my last event in the F60-64 age group. Tomorrow I’m leveling up to 65 where the real fun begins – Medicare, Silver Sneakers, and all the senior discounts I’ll shamelessly exploit! Again I didn’t get many pictures but included the ones I got!
Brigitte Fasciotto(MM16221) – Half Marathon #121, Skidaway ✅️
The weather was perfect and the course was beautiful!
Congratulations Janice Villers Martin for finishing your 50 States Half marathons X 2!
Celebration at the Pirate’s House, followed by a visit to a local brewery!
Cheers, my friends!
Julianna Hays(HF12427) – Medal Monday!
Bidwell Classic Half Marathon in Chico, California. All creekside running. 2 loops around lower park! 4:27:30.
Alicia Gordon Timmons(HF14001) – Half Marathon 13.1 in Albany Ga. Celebrating Combo 20th Anniversary
Jan Driver(HF10105) – Little Rock Half Marathon and 5k Challenge last weekend. Kindness Classic 10k this weekend!
Tricia Davis(HF18538), Aubrey Davis (HF18578)– It’s #MedalMonday! Wow! I got to say that twice in March already! And, I’m so proud and so excited! Aubrey Davis and I enjoyed the Combos Half Marathon in Albany GA on Saturday morning with many of our wonderful running friends, who we have met along our journey to complete a half marathon in every state. We live in Georgia, but we couldn’t resist meeting up at another race with Bob and Lesley Strauss who we met in Baltimore 3 years ago, and
Bev Lyerly Latvala who we met in Indiana 4 years ago, and Tahira Bland who I finally met in my home town Columbus GA in January. Tahira and I have been Facebook running friends for years! Being a member of Half Fanatics and other running groups is such a great way to connect, meet, run, and celebrate with running friends from everywhere! Hope to see you all on the pavement again soon. #HF18538 #HF18578
Jolanta Thorburn(HF18464, DA3742, MM15959) –🏅Medal Monday
A local double half-marathon weekend in Washington State – my first races of 2026.
Lifetime half marathons #91 and #92.
Saturday: Lake Sammamish Half Marathon – a course PR on a beautiful trail along the lake. This race always feels like the first hint that spring is on the way in the Pacific Northwest 🦅🌷
Sunday: Woodinville Half Marathon – run in classic Pacific Northwest fashion… pouring rain ☔️
Part of the build toward Boston and my first ultra in June.
Both races were on familiar local trails here in Washington State where I’ve run and trained countless times.
Just happy to keep running 🏃🏻♀️
Jennifer Clark(HF16743,DA3643,MM15623)– Medal Monday!!
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Half #388
Zydeco Marathon/Half Marathon in Lafayette LA.
This was a wet one with a downpour around Mile 9 for me! Still, it was a very nice race as it always is. Good Cajun food at the finish. This is probably my 5th time doing this race and I will be there next year!
Always good to see fellow 50 Half Fanatics and Marathon Maniacs!
Pam Whittington (HF18927) – Lifetime Half 69/100. This was our hometown race in Lafayette, Louisiana the Zydeco Marathon we did the 5K on Saturday hot and humid and the half on Sunday torrential rain. It wasn’t supposed to rain until the afternoon. We had great food. Hope you enjoyed the Gumbo and the Boudin Safe travels.❤️
Charlene Mercer Board(HF7024) – Half Marathon #149
On this day March 7, I completed my 149th Half Marathon here in Myrtle Beach, SC this is the same race I ran 6 years ago just 7 months after my 2nd knee replacement.
Today I give thanks to my friend Randy Riley for pulling me through, he wouldn’t leave me alone although I told him multiple times to go ahead and run his pace but he wouldn’t leave me❤️
I shouldn’t be so hard on myself but I was 4 minutes longer than my last year’s pace on this race🤷🏽♀️2:45 not bad for a double knee replacement runner.
I ran with my run partner Karen & Randy, I ran into the FRC Crew and a few Half Fanatics 🥰
The temperature was excellent, it started out 62 degrees and extremely foggy, it remained foggy for 12 miles, so foggy that we couldn’t even see the water. At mile 12 the sun showed its face and it got up to 65 degrees. No complaints because it was perfect run weather.
After I finished the race I came straight to the jacuzzi and stayed in there for 45 minutes then I crashed. My driver/husband/support went and had breakfast 😂
It’s amazing how after some races I can just keep going and then there’s days like today when I just want to stay in bed🤦🏽♀️
Photo and Post Credit Marathon Maniacs/Half Fanatics; Facebook Pages, Instagram Pages, threads pages and the individual members listed above.
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