Endurance athlete, personal trainer, and triathlon coach Rebecca Venticinique ran her first road race at age 7 and continued running and competing throughout high school and college, where she took on the heptathlon (this involves seven events: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin, and 800-meter run). Rebecca joins Heather on the show to talk about triathlon -- she and her husband Tony coach athletes of all levels through their company Tri Again Fitness in Traverse City -- and how runners in particular can make the transition to this sport. Heather shares her experience with triathlon, having completed a sprint tri in southern Michigan a couple of summers ago (she is hoping to add a couple more this summer).
Since 1993, Rebecca has coached invidious sports, from cross country and track and field, to volleyball, soccer and softball. Most recently, this mother of 7 has found her niche in triathlon and marathon racing -- she's competed in the Bayshore Marathon, the Charlevoix Marathon, Disney's Goofy's Challenge, and the Midland Marathon. She finished her first Ironman in 2015.
Eddie Kline started his early fall marathon and half marathon racing event in west Michigan with a few goals in mind: Make it like the Boston Marathon with a bus ride out and run back to town. Give runners a final opportunity to snag a Boston qualifying (BQ) time in west Michigan. Support local businesses and nonprofits in his community. Also, “I wanted my friends in Holland to have a hometown race where all of their friends and family could come out and enjoy the lakeshore together.”
By all accounts, Eddie has done all of the above. Now entering its fifth year, the Holland Haven Marathon and Half Marathon (and 8K, added last year) takes place each September – the weekend prior to Boston Marathon registration opening – and features point-to-point race courses. (The marathon starts in Grand Haven and ends in Holland while the half marathon starts at the event’s charity partner, Camp Geneva, midway through the marathon course.)
Some 23 percent of marathon finishers BQ’d in 2016 and 2017.
What Eddie, his wife Jen, and their team of race volunteers didn’t necessarily expect: just how much the race would grow – registrations were up more than 50 percent last year. “We had runners from 25 states and four different nations,” he says. About 600 runners participated in one of the three distances, and 1,000 people attended the post-race party and expo, which includes free beer, cider, food, and vendors.
Eddie joins Heather on the latest episode of the Michigan Runner Girl podcast to give us all the details of this fall’s Holland Haven Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K, which is set for Sunday, Sept. 9.
He shares race details, including the opportunity to earn a “trifecta” medal and how the race gives back to the nonprofit Medals4Mettle. Eddie also shares news of his newest race directing endeavor – he decided this spring to hold a new race called the Backward Mile.
“Instead of being so serious about running a race, I want to create a fun, carefree environment. I want to make fun of myself, and have runners make fun of themselves, too. The event will be somewhat of a spoof about running. We will do everything we can think of backward in reverse order,” he says.
The Backward Mile, which will also include collecting medals from runners to donate to Medals4Mettle, is set for Tuesday, April 24 at Big E’s Sports Grill in Holland.
Special discount codes for both races:
Use the code RUN12MRG to save 12% off your Backward Mile registration. This code also will get you $12 (yep, 12 dollars) off your Holland Haven Marathon, Half Marathon or 8K race entry.
The Michigan Runner Girl Show is made possible in part by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
A special thanks to Mike Moran, Mike Youker and Jonny Tornga of Quarter After Productions in Traverse City, Mich. for producing the show. Check out this studio's work here.
As Ragnar Relay Michigan gets ready to mark its third year in the Great Lakes State, an increasing number of runners are signing on for this 2-day, 200-ish-mile team running event that starts in Muskegon and ends in Traverse City. Team MRG participated in the inaugural Michigan race as well as last year’s event – and we’re planning to be there again this fall. It’s so fun meeting up with fellow Michigan Runner Girls and Guys – can’t wait to see you all there! {Be sure to use the special team discount code mentioned on the show to save $80 off your team race entry, if you haven’t yet signed up.}
On this episode, MRG sits downs with Ragnar Relay Michigan Race Director Troy Wheeler to talk about this September’s race, which is slated for Sept. 28-29. This year, race organizers expect about 285 teams to take part in the Michigan race. This is up from 240 last year and 120 the first year.
Troy, who served as race director last year as well, shares how a Ragnar Relay works, a few course changes for 2018, and tips for ensuring a successful and fun Ragnar experience with your teammates. He also shares a sweet story about how his own Ragnar racing experience led to true love.
Troy also welcomes any questions from listeners and readers. You can contact him at troy@ragnarrelay.com
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Reebok Ragnar Relay Michigan, Sept. 28-29, is a magical combination of fall colors, sugar sand beaches, massive dunes and wild Ragnarians.
This 200-ish mile overnight adventure kicks off in the charming town Muskegon where teams run two days and one star-filled night, past historic ships and lighthouses, apple orchards, cherry blossoms and rolling hills.
No one starts Reebok Ragnar Michigan alone, and no one finishes alone either. A strengthened a team of 12 individuals becomes 1 team and finds out what they can do when they come together.
Fun hashtags to use if you’re racing and posting photos and videos from your adventure on social media:
#RagnarRelay, #innerWILD, #ChaseTheMoon, #ChaseTheSun #UnforgettableScenery #RagnarMichigan
Want more Ragnar? Check out these MRG posts and podcast episodes about this epic relay race:
http://michiganrunnergirl.com/episode-64-recap-inaugural-reebok-ragnar-michigan/
http://michiganrunnergirl.com/epic-adventure-mrg-takes-ragnar-relay-michigan/