Gysel Parajon shares her experience at the Rattlesnake Dick 50k trail race in Cool, CA. She aimed to push her limits beyond a marathon distance, attracting her to this local event with a generous 10-hour time limit. Although she started strong, the heat affected her pace, and fear of encountered rattlesnakes led her to slow down. Ultimately, she missed the first cutoff by four minutes. Despite not finishing, Gysel enjoyed meeting fellow runners and volunteers, and plans to return next year.
Author Archives: Maniacs Fanatics Madness
What We Do for a Country – Vatican Express Marathon Story
Alexis Davidson participated in the Vatican Express Marathon, walking in chilly conditions between 43-62F. Starting at St. George Square, the course included 13 loops along the Tiber River, totaling 423 ft elevation gain. Despite feeling under the weather and fatigued from the previous day, Alexis aimed for a time under 6:30. Struggling by the seventh loop, she pushed through, finishing 15th out of 18 participants. Acknowledgment was given to fellow participant Alexandra Molina for her support.
6 States Down, Plenty of Hills Conquered
Pascal Radley (MM2051) recently completed marathons across six states in the Mainly Marathons Appalachian Series, discovering the challenging hilly terrain of Appalachia. While he felt satisfied with six marathons, some runners managed to tackle eleven in eleven consecutive days across eleven states. Radley has decided against participating in more marathons in March but has five scheduled for April, including events in Salisbury, Lexington, Charleston, Jersey City, and Oklahoma City, demonstrating his dedication to running.
Rome Marathon Pacer Story: Balloons, Shawarma, Beer & World Record
Paul Vining(MM15580) – Late post, but been busy.Friday: Arrived in Rome, picked up race packets, attended pacer technical briefing, walk around a bit, went to bed a bit early to recover from jetlag. 27,500 stepsSaturday: Ran a 5k Fun Run in Rome, kind of a shakeout run, lots of families, kids, dogs, and all sortsContinue reading “Rome Marathon Pacer Story: Balloons, Shawarma, Beer & World Record”
LA Marathon 2025 Race Report – Why I’ll Always Run the LA Marathon
Lea Reyes(MM13731,DA2891,HF16015) – 132 marathon. #15 consecutive LA. #3 consecutive 5k. Let’s talk about it. 5k on Saturday. Almost missed it. Planned on getting up at 4:30 but was so tired from travel, woke up 10 to six. Quickly left the house, arrived at 7:25, parked and ran to get my bib. Whew!I always getContinue reading “LA Marathon 2025 Race Report – Why I’ll Always Run the LA Marathon”
Rome Marathon Revisited
Deo Jerome shared his experience running the Rome Marathon for the second time, having previously participated in 2003. He reflected on the beautiful scenery of the city, mentioning that it remains an enjoyable course despite the challenging cobblestones. He emphasized the perfect running conditions during the marathon while also acknowledging how the race has become more difficult over the years. The post was accompanied by a photo, credited to himself.
Cary Greenways Tour Half Marathon: Flexible Start & Running with Friends
Sharon Sunshine Sou participated in the HF#12101 Cary Greenways Tour Half Marathon on March 22 in Cary, NC, marking her second half marathon within a week. She mentioned the race’s convenient features, including ample parking and real bathrooms, and appreciated the flexible starting times. Coming in first in her age group due to limited competition, she earned a free entry for the next race. She expressed joy in reconnecting with friends Charlene and Victoria and is focusing on speed training for her upcoming Senior Games 10K Race in April.
When Enough Is Enough… And Then You Keep Going – Pistol 100 Reflections
Luther Hill reflects on his arduous journey preparing for the Pistol Ultra 100-miler, a six-month training regimen that tested his limits through all four seasons. He highlights the importance of individual pacing in ultra-distance running and shares insights into the mental and physical challenges faced during the race, particularly during the second half. Supported by his partner, Janie Grace, and inspired by messages from loved ones, Luther ultimately finds fulfillment and joy in completing this grueling endurance event, marking it as his hardest achievement yet.
Meet Merry Mullins, MM 15936
Merry Mullins shares her journey of turning grief into strength by starting to run marathons at 48 after the death of her mother. Despite lacking proper training or equipment, she completed her first marathon to cope with her loss and began a quest to run in all 50 states. Over 32 months, she faced various challenges but learned that persistence and the will to continue were key. Her experiences taught her that it’s never too late to start, emphasizing that every step counts, regardless of the pace.
Run Family at the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon and Half Marathon
Prior to the start of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon and Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA, on March 22, 2026, the Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running family took a group photo. This tradition of capturing a “Family Photo” is a common practice among members of this running community, which participates in races across the country. The moment was documented by Gregory Rouson, highlighting the camaraderie and spirit of the event.