Tales From Medal Monday Volume 5 Chapter 7

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.

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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 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in Oklahoma City, OK. on April 26, 2026.

Jennifer Champagne Saunders(HF18911) – After taking almost 20 years off from running due to a foot surgery, relocation, and starting a family, I started getting back into long distance running shape after my mom unexpectedly passed away a few years ago. I used to run full marathons, the last being in 2006.
I find this time around that I am stopping to smell the roses during these half marathons. If I see a funny poster, I’ll take a picture. I thank all of the police officers keeping the runners safe and aid station volunteers. But most of all, I am thankful for being able to finish these races. I won’t take it for granted like I did way back.
Here I am finishing my sixth half in less than six months and leveling up to Uranus! This was my slowest time ever but I still finished and that’s all that counts. It is getting too hot where I live so plan to pick up again in October or November. So thankful for this group and hearing about everyone’s races. Looking forward to the HF meetup at the Louisiana Marathon, my home state, in January!

Tonisia Billups(HF10011, DA1998, MM12110) -MedalMonday… The Brooklyn Experience- NYCRUNS (Half Marathon) Sunday

New York ✅
Not to be mistaken for the NYRR Brooklyn Half (lottery)
𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲: there were 5 Waves that had over a 2hr start gap!!! Insane
Plus there’s a lot of security screenings going into your corrals.
I ended up starting in wave 4 @ 9:00AM, with approval from wave 5, since my finish time would exceed 2:45!
𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄:
This was definitely 𝐍𝐎𝐓 a back-of-the-pack friendly race!!
Out of 28,000 runners only approximately 1500 were behind me at the finish! 🥴Lol 🤣
And this was with me moving up a wave!
Imagine had I started @9:40AM with the last wave? 😱 I may have been close to DAL had I actually started in the last wave where they originally had me (Wave 5)
Overall great race though.
As for the weather and course itself, it was cold 🥶 42° (38° wind chill) and definitely had rolling hills! With so many runners, it felt like bumper to bumper the entire race.
The nice part is that “you finish in Prospect Park”!
The Cherry Blossom 🌸 Trees 🌳 were SPECTACULAR… plus I walked into a shower of peddles blowing in the air with the wind ☺️
What I DIDN’t like is “you finished in Prospect Park”, and had to walk over a mile uphill to exit though! Lol 🤣
Back2Back Half weekend attempt COMPLETE!!! 🏁
This finishers “village” was pretty sparse as well. I walked out with a bagel and apple 🍎 🤷🏽‍♀️
Ate both before exiting the park along the mile long walk UPHILL 😋
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞: I JOINED a couple run cousins that waited for me at the finish and we went to Juniors for “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝’𝐬 🌍 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 🍰”
I spent the next day walking the High Line and Little Island
𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐇
Since I messed a broadway show I really wanted to see, I guess that means I need to come back soon.
State #34 ✅

Carol Alvarez Brown(HF18859) – I got my first half of the year in! The OKC Marathon weekend gets more amazing each year. Now, the humidity and heat were a little more than I liked but still a great run yesterday!

Lan Castle(HF1723) – Kewash Trail Half Marathon! Placed 2nd in AG. It was a great time.

Judy Laufman(HF17502) – Medal Monday! The Garmin Land of Oz Half Marathon in Olathe, KS was superbly well-organized, on a beautiful sunny morning. State #47 and LTHM #75 for me – grateful beyond words.

Sina Sco(HF15870) – I had such a great time in Columbus! I could see making this an annual race if I lived in the area: great course, good crowd, heavy medal and a really goood post-race party!
I already had Friday plans and I’m never early enough for group pics lol but Glad I still went to the Saturday meetup to meet Brian in person!

Jennifer Clark(HF16743, DA3643, MM15623),- 🏅 Medal Monday! 🏅
Half marathon #404 — Capital City Half in Columbus, Ohio.
Another great race and always thankful to cross the finish line. Had a fun day out there and enjoyed seeing so many people along the course.
This was a large race of close to 12,000 runners. There was great crowd support along with police support throughout the race.The after party was absolutely awesome.
Prior to Saturday’s race we had small gathering for a pasta dinner as our Meet-up, organized by Brian Johnson, who lives in Columbus!
Posted a few pictures from the day—finish line, medal, and some good company after the race.
On to the next one! 🏃‍♀️

Amy Sea(HF18410, DA3652, MM15648) – Today I finished half #213 NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon! It was a bit rough running a half marathon only 6 days after a marathon and it was definitely not my fastest but I finished with a decent time all things considered. This is a huge race with close to 30,000 participants. It is well organized for the number of runners though the aid stations at the end were falling behind. Interesting point to point course through several Brooklyn neighborhoods ending in Prospect Park. Tons of crowd support! Course was moderately tough. Total elevation gain wasn’t too bad and less than most NYC races but it’s actually slightly net uphill and the big hills are all at the end. Would recommend if you like big races and want to run in NYC and not deal with a lottery or loops in Central Park.

Scott Pearson(HF18577) – I Ran the inaugural Dollywood half marathon today to complete state 27. Half 73. Let me start by saying the hills were no joke. They went on and on and on. That being said I very much enjoyed the race and the run through the park. They had 2 roller coasters running during the race. They also had samples of Dollywood famous cinnamon bread during the race. There were a few minor issues during the race weekend, but the crew adapted quickly as problems came up. Based on the response I am sure they will do much better during future races.

Amy Ahrens(HF18946) – A great race weekend for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon! They do it all just right for this one. It’s a wonderful tribute to the victims and survivors of the 1995 bombing while still giving all the big race vibes. Runners used their race bib to get into the memorial museum which is a Must Visit. They had a nice 530a service at the Survivor’s Tree before 168 seconds of silence to honor the victims. The spectators come out in a big way to welcome and cheer on the runners.
I give this one all the stars. It definitely goes on my Repeat List.

Gregory Rouson (HF8068, DA2354, MM12723) – Alexandria Half

Lifetime half marathon #262 and Alexandria Half #2…DONE!! All the factors lined up for me to run well this morning so I did. Even though it’s only in it’s second year, I can honestly say I love this race. I’ll be back next year! 

Nicole Charlton-Nauroth(HF7645) – Half 169 Dollywood Butterfly Challenge
This was their first year so I’ve had a lot of people ask me to let them know how it went. Short answer: it was fine. Would I do it again? Probably not. Nothing catastrophic went wrong but they have a lot to work on. It was also SUPER hilly. I wouldn’t recommend it for new runners who would be concerned they may not make the cut offs. It’s going to seem like I’m listing a lot of negatives but remember that everything else went right.
We did the Butterfly Challenge which was the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon. The expo was OK, nothing spectacular. They gave us three different bibs and one cotton t-shirt. I guess I’m spoiled by other races but, if I’m running three races, I expect at least 3 t-shirts and cotton is a no go. Merch wasn’t that interesting so we didn’t buy anything.
The 5K and 10K were both Saturday morning. This is similar to Flying Pig but that race puts the 10K first, which I feel works better physically. They had sent out a 31-page race guide in advance with multiple helpful tips but failed to mention that we would have to gear check our 10K bib. Many didn’t find this out until race morning. There were 4 porta potties at the 5K start for about 1,800 runners. The corrals were self-select. There were a few character/attraction stops and the lines were short. The finish line was uphill, which was a bummer, especially as we were finishing there three times.
Once we finished the 5K, we had about an hour or so until the 10K. We got in the LONG gear check line to get our 10K bibs. 15 minutes later…..it had not moved but it had gotten even longer. Eventually, we got our bag, as it seemed multiple runners jumped in to help out and get the line moving. The 10K was fine but the medal was exactly the same as the 5K, just with a different ribbon.
We had parked at the 5K starting line so the car was over a mile away from the finish line. There were trams but the line for the tram was so long that we just ended up walking to the car in the rain.
The half marathon started at 5:30 and it was pretty dark and foggy. The start line was better since they did a staggered start between corrals. However, it was still pretty bunched up for at least half of the race. Many of the roads were very dark and a headlamp would have helped. The guide indicated 8 water stops but the first one wasn’t until after mile 3. There were only two volunteers working and they had a very hard time keeping up with demand. They were literally pouring each one as we walked up as they did not have time to set any out. This seems like a staffing issue, not an issue with these ladies. The half marathon medal was the same as the 5K and 10K, just a little larger. The Challenge medal is pretty cool and picking it up was easy.
Dollywood seemed to base a lot of their policies on Disney. The logo looks like RunDisney, they had a 16-minute per mile limit, “Butterfly Balloon Ladies” were the sweeper pacers, they encouraged costumes, they had a few character stops, and we rode two roller coasters during the Half. However, we felt like they were lacking the fun of Disney. Most of a Disney half marathon is filled with characters and fun parts of the parks to see. The 5K had this fun but the Half was mostly on hills on dark highways. I wouldn’t say it was fun. The swag also has a long way to go to match that of Disney. The price was much lower but I would pay more for premium medals and shirts.

Brian Johnson(MM8807, DA707, HF7287) – My thoughts on the Cap City Half Marathon weekend.
This year I chose to run it as a participant instead of pacing it. I had a lot of fun.
I was also able to help coordinate, with quite a lot of help from Deborah Coleman, a meet-up weekend for the Half Fanatics run club at the race.
Today was a chance to run. Take it easy. Enjoy the sights and experiences. I was able to see a lot of friends, make new friends, and help others out along the way.
My time was way slower that I am used to for a half, but after last weekends ruck march, I knew that might happen.
The after party was fun.
It was a fun weekend. Now, its time to rest before I start the craziness again.

Pam Whittington Begnaud(HF18927) – Half Marathon #81/100. Great Pre Race Dinner – Thank you Brian Johnson for organizing. Love the Cap City Half Marathon. Beautiful run around the city and perfect weather ❤️Half Fanatics Meet Up

Half Fanatics at the Capital City Half Marathon, Columbus Ohio, April 25, 2026

Jolanta Thorburn(MM15959, DA3742, HF18464) – It all started in 2022 with my very first marathon – the Chicago Marathon. Later that same year, I fundraised for and ran the New York City Marathon. A few weeks later, I also ran the Seattle Marathon to meet the criteria to become a Marathon Maniac and Double Agent.
In 2023, I added two more – the Tokyo Marathon and the Berlin Marathon. In 2024, I completed the London Marathon, which I also fundraised for.
The first half of 2025 was a period of truly hard, consistent work. My goal was to qualify for Boston 🦄
I was able to run a strong qualifying race that same year, which gave me enough of a buffer to secure my spot at the Boston Marathon. That same June, I also completed my 50 states + DC challenge.
This journey came together on April 20, 2026, when I crossed the finish line of the 130th Boston Marathon, completing the Six World Marathon Majors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another chapter finished, many more to go.

Jackie James(HF17621) – Hey fam, Boston Marathon is complete💙💛

Aubrey Davis(HF18587) Tricia Davis(HF18538) – It’s #MedalMonday. My wife Tricia Davis and I participated in the Delaware Running Festival Half Marathon on Sunday in Wilmington DE. We enjoyed being brand Ambassadors for Half Fanatics and some people asked us how to join the club. The race was fun, although it was windy with light rain at times, but was on a beautiful challenging course. Great after party with a live band, good food and drinks. This was our third half marathon for the year and we are both looking forward to being able to complete many more. #HF18587 #HF18538

Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics at the Delaware Running Festival (April 19)

Randy Riley(HF16432, DA3218, MM14470) – Athens Ohio Marathon & Half Marathon
When I was 16 I came to Ohio University in Athens Oh to participate in Boys State now just a short 60 years later I returned to run the half marathon. It starts downtown with University buildings all around. The first mile is a serious downhill and then turns onto a nicely paved bike trail. The trail is a fast course with gentle rolling grades, nothing near a hill. Then a fun finish with half a lap on the track at Pruitt Field. They did 10 year age groups for the awards which is unheard of for a race that size. I was 596 of 727 which is okay since I was the oldest person in the half and not last in my age group. I finished only 14 seconds slower than last week which I consider a minor miracle since I caught a cold and was down for several days this week and had not run a step since last week’s half.
Extra fun: my nephew Tim Martin who is married to Heather Lynn was the graphic designer for the race. He designed the medals and the race shirt. Also nice that he rents a spot in the parking deck near the start that I used. Great medal, great shirt Tim! He owns a business near the start called “Ohio is Home.” Great start, finish. Nice course. Past the turn around the mileage markers appeared to me to be seriously off. I thought my watch might have lost gps but it was a perfect 13.1 at the finish. Also they had the half and full on the same signs instead of .1 separation. Lifetime half 262. HF16432 MM14470 DA3218.

Joline Cox(MM15462, DA3619, HF18373) – Ran a beautiful half this weekend in Waikiki Hawaii. The Hapalua half. My son Mark Cox ran his first half. He kicked butt.

Jun Ulama(MM12617) – Double marathon completed over the weekend in Lexington, Kentucky and Charleston, West Virginia. States #32 and #33 for round 5 in the books!🇺🇸

Glenn Richardson(MM14162, DA3076, HF16007) – A bit late but I had a great time pacing the 5 hour group at the Horse Capital Marathon this past Saturday. My official finish time was 4:59:34. A new course this year brought a new pacing challenge as the last 11 miles of the course did not have mile markers so I had to rely solely on my watch to finish on time. Luckily I finished with 26.22 on my watch so it worked out well for me. Also, I had the privilege of pacing in a first timer – he’s to my right in the second photo. He dug deep to stay with me at the end and did a great job. Having not run beyond 20 miles in his training, I was super impressed he hung in there for the final 6 miles of the race. That’s not easy and I hope he’s proud of his accomplishment. Thanks to RaceRise, the volunteers, Bob and Linda for the opportunity.

Tim Mullican(MM7665) – I ran in the No Bull Around 24 hour ultra on April 25-26. When I arrived at the starting area for the 2 pm start, there were runners out on the course for the 48 hour event that had already completed over 50 miles. We were also joined by runners signed up for a 12 hour, 6 hour, and 3 hour runs at different times of the day. The object of this kind of race is to see how many miles you can complete for the duration of your event. It rained for most of the first 3 hours of my run, and there was a cold wind on both days of the event. After about 20 miles, I stopped at the start/finish aid station, changed into some dry clothes, and got something to eat for supper. I put on a long-sleeve shirt, two light running jackets, and a rain jacket, but I still felt cold when I stopped running. After the nice break, my knee stiffened up, and I had trouble with it for the rest of the night. Once I hit my goal of 32 miles, I decided to lie down on my inflatable mattress in the back of my car and try to get some sleep. I don’t think I slept much because of the cold temperatures, and got up about 6 am when I heard thunder and it started to rain again. By that time, my knee stiffened up so much I had a hard time even walking, so unfortunately, I had to end my race. Because there were only three people in the 24-hour event, and 1st place awards were given in both men’s and women’s divisions, I ended up in 1st place for men, which came as a surprise. It was fun meeting new people, running with legends from the ultrarunning community, and being welcomed into the Beast Trail Racing community.

Bryon Solberg(HF18903, DA3819, MM12350) – Getting My Kicks On Day Number Six.
Miss-Erie. 🧙‍♀️ 🪄🔮 🐈‍⬛ 🌙
Half Marathon #122.
(Still State #39 as this was a repeat in this State.).
**Wet, cold, and wild weather today. ⛈️.
Fortunately, we were spared the tornados that have been in this weather system.
Mainly Marathons Riverboat Series

Charlotte Corriher(MM3514) – YAY ITS MARATHON DAY!!!
I swore I would never run the Troublesome Hollow 50k again but someone twisted my arm.
The 3mile climb up to the Fire Tower really takes it out of you but lovw the 3 mile bomb downhill.
As part of my US Yeti Forest Services duties, I confiscated all illegal alcohol and disposed of it properly (in my belly).
Next time I do this race, it’s gonna be as a volunteer.

Pascal Radley(MM2051) – It wasn’t pretty, but I completed the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon which makes Oklahoma state #46 for 50 states marathons round 8. Due to leg cramps, I needed to visit medical at mile 20. Icy-hot wasn’t very effective, so the best I could do was the zombie shuffle the last few miles. OKC puts on a great event, the neighborhood parties/cheer squads were incredible!
3 marathons planned for May:
5/3 – Lincoln (NE)
5/17 – Liège Belgium
5/31 – Rock n Roll San Diego

Aaron Stevens(MM14034) – Today’s run pacing the London Marathon. This was such a fun event, but very crowded and warm today. I had the pleasure of pacing, chatting with, and cheering on so many runners. This is an event like no other and it was quite an honor to be included on this great pace team. London remains one of my top-5 marathons, and I look forward to coming back!
This was my 2nd London Marathon, my 21st World Major Marathon, my 3rd marathon in April, my 5th marathon of 2026, and my 107th marathon overall.

Sadie Smith(MM12709) – I love Dolly Parton. Love her. I have loved her way back before it was cool to do so. So when my college friend, Nate Sweeney, posted about running the inaugural Dollywood half marathon, I rather over- enthusiastically jumped on that bandwagon. And much like Dolly herself, this morning was joyful and lovely.
There are some kinks that need to be worked out for future years, but it was such a FUN morning! The park director ran all three races (5k and 10k yesterday and half today), the volunteers were great, and the participants were all so, so friendly. There was a cover band playing all morning interspersed with some delightful, yet terrible, karaoke. Cinnamon bread on the course, tons of creative costumes, and you could stop and ride a couple roller coasters if interested.
Winning any race is cool, but winning at Dollywood was pretty damn special. (And there were bubbles! And confetti! It was awesome!) It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a race this much, and I would LOVE to run the fall edition on September 27th. If you are reading this and want to be part of my Dollywood posse, please reach out! You don’t even have to be a runner; this was a very walker- friendly event. You don’t even have to like country music, but it would be a little bit better if you did 🦋

Heidi Marie Hammond(HF18098) – Half #138 The Other Run 2027 in Bury St. Edmund, UK. A hilly road race with great sweet stations, volunteers, medals, cake and tea. With Lynn Abts DeMarco doing the 5k and Rhonda Plott conquering the 10k. I run 4 Luke❤️

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Photo and Post Credit Marathon Maniacs/Half Fanatics; Facebook Pages, Instagram Pages, threads pages and the individual members listed above.