26.2 + 13.1 = big day for Rank Strangers from Van#1

Jennifer Sell returned to marathoning for the first time since Boston 2012 ( Blog link ) today at Berlin.  Her Van#1 teammate from the August Hood To Coast relay, Renee Roux, ws also in action today, running the Chicago Half Marathon.

 

Renee and Jennifer at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood

 

 

Jennifer's Berlin Marathon scorecard

 

 

 

Another weekend, another Meacham marathon

The weekend before it was Randy setting a personal best, yesterday it was Denise Meacham running the Fox Valley marathon in 3:52:24. This qualifies her for the 2017 Boston Marathon (she and Randy are already in for Boston 2016).

Denise handing off to husband Randy.  Finished with
her final leg in Hood To Coast, Aug. 29.

A rare shot of the Meachams NOT racing.  On the sidewalk
in Portland, OR, hours before the start of Hood To Coast.

Denise and Randy in Van#2 before Hood To Coast.
Photographer unknown.

Dave Maze joins Rank Stranger IronMan club

Rank Stranger Dave Maze (2007) added IronMan to his credentials on Sunday in Madison, joining Holly Dowling, Martin Tagge and Bo Lackey as our iron people.

Dave Maze on the run on Sunday

Rank Strangers Randy and Denise Meacham made the trip up from Chicago to root on Randy's nephew Dave.  Their secret weapon - the dogs.

Meacham dogs are big fans of triathlon, it seems.

Personal best, Boston 2016 certainty for Randy

Early in the race - 8 laps along the Fox River

Randy Meacham set a new personal record of 3:23:05 at today's Geneva, IL BQ.2 marathon.  He also expanded his cushion for Boston from a few seconds to almost 7 minutes, all but guaranteeing a spot in the next April's race.  Wife Denise will join him.

Randy has run 4 Madison-Chicago races with the Rank Strangers, including this June's race, and was part of last month's Hood To Coast team, running hard miles out of Van 2.

Randy's old personal best was 3;23:42.  Today's race was his 55th marathon.  BQ2 is a series for runners who have met their Boston qualifying standard but want to improve their position.

On the home stretch

Yards to go

Crossing the line

Made it!

Randy explaining that it was harder
than it looked.

Randy and Denise at dawn  on race morning.  After Randy's hard
work they are both sure Boston qualifiers.  Go Van 2!

Rank Strangers to cheer on Randy Meacham

Rank Stranger and three time Boston Marathon veteran Randy Meacham will attempt to improve his 2016 qualifying position at the Advocate Dreyer Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Geneva, Illinois.  

There will be a Rank Stranger cheering section at  in the Geneva race, which starts at 6:30AM.  The elite field (300 runners) is restricted to runners who...

Randy Meacham

…ran a 2013 marathon - under their 2016 Boston qualifying time.

…ran a 2014 or 2015 marathon - within 10 minutes of their 2016 Boston qualifying time.

…ran a 2014 or 2015 half marathon - at their 2016 Boston qualifying pace.

Randy will tour the loop course eight (8) times so this is the ultimate fan friendly course!

Randy's wife Denise is comfortably under the qualifying mark for 2016 Boston so she will be leading the cheering section, not on the course.

Randy has met the qualifying standard for a fourth straight Boston race but lowering his time will increase his chances of getting to the starting line (the cutoff changes based on demand for spots).

The billing for the nationwide "BQ.2" program: 

 America’s #1 Boston Qualifying Marathon

 America’s #1 Qualifier – Over 60% of 2014 finishers qualified

 America’s #2 Fastest     – 3:34 average 2014 finishing time

In addition to his 50+ marathons and Boston qualifying achievement, Randy was part of our Hood To Coast Team.