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. Claire Gladstone(MM12421)- Here is my #Medalmonday on Thursday😜Actually ran 30 Miles, but they were gracious enough to give me this gorgeousContinue reading “Tales From Medal Monday Volume 5 Chapter 9”
Tag Archives: Half Marathon
Tales From Medal Monday Volume 5 Chapter 8
Medal Monday highlights inspiring achievements of Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics. Recent stories celebrate participants completing various milestones, including Jennifer Durenberger’s 50-state journey, Liz Gmerek’s 1,000th marathon, and other notable accomplishments at recent races. Members shared insights about race experiences, including the Eau Claire Half Marathon’s unique features and scenic courses. The community spirit was prevalent, with members supporting each other through challenges. Anniversaries and accomplishments of various runners were acknowledged, contributing to a sense of camaraderie and perseverance among participants.
Run Family at the Red Island State Marathon
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 Red Island State Marathon in Warwick, RI as part of the New England Challenge II Series on May 31, 2026. Photo andContinue reading “Run Family at the Red Island State Marathon”
Double Milestone Celebration: 800 Marathons and 50 States
Congratulations to Tim Mahler (MM6155) who celebrated his 800th Full Marathon at the Mainly Marathons Prairie Series, May 13 in Baltic, S. Dak. Congratulations to Pam Begnaud (HF18927) for completing her 50 states journey on May 11th at the Mainly Marathons Prairie Series in South Sioux City, Nebraska. She also completed 8 half marathons inContinue reading “Double Milestone Celebration: 800 Marathons and 50 States”
Celebrating the Completion of Three 50 States Marathon Journeys
Cyd Antang-Plotkin, Matt Johnston, and Karen Simmons have all achieved significant milestones in their running journeys by completing the challenge of finishing marathons in all 50 states. Cyd celebrated her second full round on May 15th, while Matt and Karen reached their 50 states completions on May 11th and May 8th, respectively. These achievements were all recognized during the Mainly Marathons Prairie Series. Congratulations to all three for their remarkable accomplishments in endurance running!
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!
Dollywood Half Marathon 2026 Race Report: Winning at Dollywood
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 andContinue reading “Dollywood Half Marathon 2026 Race Report: Winning at Dollywood”
Cap City Half Marathon Weekend 2026: Running for Fun with the Half Fanatics
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 FanaticsContinue reading “Cap City Half Marathon Weekend 2026: Running for Fun with the Half Fanatics”
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.
Dollywood Butterfly Challenge Review – Great Concept, Execution Needs Work
Nicole Charlton-Nauroth(HF7645) – Half 169 Dollywood Butterfly ChallengeThis 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 alsoContinue reading “Dollywood Butterfly Challenge Review – Great Concept, Execution Needs Work”