Liz Gmerek celebrated a remarkable milestone by completing her 1,000th full marathon at the Mainly Marathons Prairie Series on May 14, 2026. Surrounded by a supportive community, she has completed nearly 600 marathons with Mainly and an impressive 920 alongside Kevin Brosi. This achievement highlights not only her dedication but also the encouragement she received from her Mainly family during the journey. The event showcased a vibrant atmosphere, symbolized by a sea of pink that represented their love and support.
Category Archives: Profiles
Half Fanatics Sun Status Achieved: Mitch Montgomery Hits Milestone
Mitch Montgomery (HF18443) has achieved Sun Status in the Mainly Marathons Prairie Series on May 9, 2026. To attain this status with the Half Fanatics, runners must complete either 52 half marathons within a year or 30 half marathons across 30 different US states, countries, or Canadian provinces within the same timeframe. For more details on the criteria, visit the Half Fanatics website. Congratulations to Mitch!
Six Star Finisher: Completing the World Marathon Majors at Boston 2026
Jolanta Thorburn began her marathon journey in 2022 with the Chicago Marathon. She went on to run additional marathons, including New York, Seattle, Tokyo, and Berlin, all while fundraising. In 2024, she completed the London Marathon and aimed to qualify for the Boston Marathon, achieving this goal in 2025. By June 2026, she completed her 50 states + DC challenge and crossed the finish line of the 130th Boston Marathon, marking the completion of the Six World Marathon Majors.
Proud Dad Moment -Watching My 14-Year-Old Become a Half Fanatic
Paul F Dunwell IV celebrates his 14-year-old son’s achievement of becoming a Half Fanatic after completing the Run Sunset Beach Half Marathon with a personal record of 2:15:56.4. He emphasizes their careful training approach and expresses pride in his son’s determination and grit, encouraging him to pursue his passion responsibly.
From 2006 to Now – Finishing My 6th Half Since Starting Over
Jennifer Champagne Saunders shares her journey back to long distance running after a nearly 20-year hiatus caused by foot surgery, relocation, and family commitments. After the loss of her mother, she rekindled her passion for running, completing six half marathons in under six months. Emphasizing gratitude, she cherishes the supportive community, the moments of joy during the races, and the police and volunteers who ensure safety. Though her pace has slowed, she remains thankful for the experience and looks forward to future events, particularly the HF meetup in January.
Earning Her 2nd Sun Status: Jennifer Durenberger
Jennifer Durenberger has achieved Sun Status for the second time at the Mainly Marathons Riverboat Series on April 13, 2026. To attain this status with the Half Fanatics, runners must complete either 52 half marathons in 365 days or 30 half marathons across different locations within the same timeframe.
Earning Her 12th Sun Status: Lisa Rice Seidel
Lisa Rice Seidel has achieved Sun Status for the 12th time at the Mainly Marathons Riverboat Series, held on April 14, 2026. To attain this recognition with the Half Fanatics, runners must either complete 52 half marathons within a year or finish 30 half marathons across different locations within that same timeframe. Lisa is also approaching her 700th half marathon, with an impressive 210 of those completed in Washington. For more details on the criteria for Half Fanatics, visit their website.
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.
Celebrating the Completion of Two 50 States Marathon Journeys
Congratulations to Olivia Medina for achieving her 50 State Finish. Kudos also to Cade Remsburg, who completed his 50 States six times, finishing with only three races not under four hours. Cade completed his sixth round at the Louisiana Marathon in January. Photo credit goes to Denis McCarthy and the 50 States Marathon Club.
300th Half Complete at Brazen Racing’s Bay Breeze Half
Barbara Rausch celebrated her remarkable achievement of completing her 300th half marathon at Brazen Racing’s Bay Breeze, nearly ten years after her first race there. Initially aiming just to finish, she later joined Brazen’s Ultra Half Series and became a member of Half Fanatics, reaching several milestones along the way. The support and friendships she found through running transformed her life, particularly following a life-saving gastric bypass in 2010, which helped her maintain weight loss. Rausch emphasizes the importance of health and movement for everyone.