Category: John Beck

3 Days at the Fair. The 3 of us quickly became friends. I met Phil last year and he lead the charge and Glenda followed. I made sure that they remembered to have fun and keep their minds off the pain. Phil Eberts ran the 10 Day and finished with 731 miles. Glenda Hernandez ran the 6 Day race with me, and was in pain and moseying around the course in the final remaining hours. I somehow convinced her that she was close to a big goal but I walked with her and then did the math and she was short of this goal. I had her start running hard. She hated me. Every step was filled with pain throughout her entire body. Everyone on and around the course knew what we were attempting to do and the adrenaline (and my dumb jokes) kept her occupied for those last 20 miles. Famous ultra runners and world record holders were cheering her on. We shared many laughs and also many tears. She crossed the line with a few minutes to spare and 300 miles to her name. I couldn’t be more proud of her. She was so happy that I pushed her. I finished the week off with a huge PR thanks to me pushing her with a big 242 miles! I was so focused on her reaching her goal that I didn’t even realize that I crushed me. Year after year I do this event it becomes more and more of an emotional journey. Congratulations to old friends and new friends and all the other incredible people who I am lucky enough to share the course with. via Instagram http://bit.ly/2LVriZu

What a weekend in Pittsburgh! Ran the Pittsburgh Steel Challenge! 5k on Saturday with a PR of 20:45 which gave me a 37th overall finish and 3rd in my AG! Sunday marathon was a different story, humid and rainy. Was on pace for a PR then the hills, steep at times slowed me down to finish at 3:46, my 2nd fastest marathon. I feel great and am ready to eat ALL the food and drink ALL the beer! #MOVEPittsburgh #PittsburghMarathon #RunnerOfSTEEL #PGHmarathon via Instagram http://bit.ly/2LpPTFQ

The inaugural Thea’s Star of Hope half marathon in Robbinsville, NJ. It’s great to have a half so close to home. It was a peak mileage week for my marathon training and I ran a 1:53 half marathon yesterday so I was just looking to have fun. Turned out that I felt really good during the race and I somehow managed a PR by 3 seconds! Finish time; 1:39:23. This was a great race put on my some fine folks. Can hardly wait to run it again! #StarOfHope #HalfMarathon #Robbinsville #Running via Instagram http://bit.ly/2uRLRuQ

What a pleasure running into @spartanrace Pro Athlete @crutching_tigress today! Keeping the spirits high! ❤️ via Instagram https://ift.tt/2JTmfYw

E. Murray Todd half marathon. After yesterday’s tough 20k trail race I didn’t expect much at this one. With the cool temps and the constant cold rain/sleet my only goal was to be under 2 hours. I definitely felt my legs beat up from yesterday’s race but I somehow managed a 1:48 finish. Now if I can only get my body warm! I’m soaked and my hands are freezing! via Instagram https://ift.tt/2TwVHAP

Lucky #13! Hilly, snowy, icy and very muddy! What a fun race! Ran cautiously on the trails but somehow ended up 2nd in my age group and 6th overall at a tough but fun race. What a blast! #looneyleprechaun #20k #trailrunning via Instagram https://ift.tt/2XLvpt0

I truly believe that @nespressousa has changed my life for the better! So yummy, so yummy! via Instagram https://ift.tt/2Slgy4w

via Instagram http://bit.ly/2X4gwBR

A portion of the great sculpture “Light Dispelling Darkness” (1938) by Waylande Gregory in Roosevelt Park, Edison. via Instagram http://bit.ly/2G44Ute

In 2018 I made an attempt to eat better and train better and it paid off. I earned a PR at EVERY distance from mile to marathon and consistently finished amongst the top runners. It’s also the first year since I started running that I was injury free, the smarter training helped that too. I also ran a yearly mileage PR by well over 100 miles and what’s wild is that my average yearly pace was almost 4 minutes faster per mile! I also continued the tradition of cheering on runners and volunteering at other races.

17 races. 415 race miles. 9 PRs. 4 AG awards. 1 WIN!

TOP 10 MEMORABLE MOMENTS:
*Improved the organizing of my own 5k trail race.
*Spectated the Boston Marathon in the rain.
*Running 16 miles in the Pine Barrens in the middle of the day, in the middle of the summer. Don’t do it!
*LBI 18 Miler was my toughest race of the year but worth it once I saw the food spread!
*Being the only runner who was pictured with a Marine placing the medal around my neck on the Marine Corps Marathon Facebook page after the 17.75k.
*Grueling 5 mile battle for position at the Dirty German 25k.
*Overall winner at a tough local trail 5k.
*The emotional Wear Blue mile at the Marine Corps Marathon had me in tears.
*Running with a pack of Amish runners while other Amish cheered for us at the Bird-In-Hand Half Marathon.
*3 Days at the Fair is my most memorable event every year. 3 Days wasn’t enough so in 2018 I did 6 Days. I spent 6 Days sharing miles with some of the most incredible athletes and people in the world. There is nothing like this event. Hot days, cold days, rainy days, a HURRICANE! Seeing so many national and world records being set by some of the most humble people is so inspiring. There are times when I want to cry and go home and these folks keep me going. I look forward to this event every year above any other. via Instagram http://bit.ly/2BZ4xfd