ELKMONT HOUND DOG STILL IN THE NEWS

We have been reading about our now famous hound dog all week.  She was written about locally until she hit the big time with an article in Runner's World.  Ludivine was featured in the Athens Courier on Saturday.  You can get a hard copy of the paper at the Athens office until Friday.  Hill Spirit has included the link if you want to read it online.

NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG: Dog finishes in top 10 at Elkmont race

Highlights:
The top female finisher at last Saturday's Trackless Train Trek Elkmont half marathon was the smallest, lightest runner in the entire race. Ludivine, a 2-year-old bloodhound, ran the entire 13.1-mile race, unofficially finishing seventh overall with a time of one hour, 32 minutes and 56 seconds. 


What's makes Ludivine's story more amazing is her owner never knew she was missing. “We let her out that morning and we live about a quarter of a mile from the start. She will run off sometimes when we let her out,” said Ludivine's owner, April Hamlin. “I did not know about it until it was over. I let her out that morning and got a text from a coworker that Ludivine had finished the race. We let her out for a few minutes and the next thing I know, I got a text saying, 'You have to come down here. Everybody is going crazy over her.'”

More articles about Ludivine:
First Story
Buzzfeed
Runner's World 
Al.com 
I Heart Dogs 
Canadian Running 
Times 
USA Today 
HelloU, United Kingdom 
Independent, United Kingdom 
Cleveland Ohio News 
American Kennel Club 
Australia News 
CNN 
NBC 
ESPN 

ELKMONT IN THE 9/11 HEROES RUN

The cross country team opted out of a normal meet this past weekend so that they could pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 as well as honor the law enforcement, firemen, EMTs that serve our communities today. 

The race is part of a series held all over the United States and was started by the Travis Manion Foundation.  "If Not Me, Then Who..." The Travis Manion Foundation assists our nation’s veterans & families of the fallen by empowering them to take the next step in their personal journeys.   

The spirit of the race is that: 
We RUN to honor the heroes of 9/11. We Run to HONOR those who’ve served our nation since. We Run to ACTIVATE COMMUNITIES and EMPOWER your local veterans, first responders and survivors. 

The 9/11 Heroes Run (5K) was held at the Alabama Veterans Museum in Athens, September 12.  Elkmont was well represented by not only the cross country team – decked out in their red, white and blue tie dye shirts, but their coach and several other local runners and walkers! 

Cross Country Team Results: 
Chase Prater – 1st overall – 17:48 
Chance Bailey – 3rd overall - 18:53 
Dalton Adams – 2nd in age group – 21:28 
Luke Little – 21:33 
Alex Armstrong – 21:47 
Tiyler Walts – 21:53 
Jake Armstrong – 22:10 
Brantley Hammock – 22:30 
James Walts – 22:34 
Tee Boyd – 22:35 
Ethan Shores – 23:13 
JonMikel Owens – 24:29 
Jeffrey Payne – 25:25 
Claudia Allen – 22:31 
Hannah Hanback – 24:30 
Melanie Hernandez – 25:13 
Brianna Barnett – 25:48 
Nikki Ristau – 26:07 
Jazmin Ristau – 28:45 
Britney Clem – 29:35 
Mia Farris – 30:35 
Lexie Bailey – 31:25 
Emma Guthrie – 31:26 

Other local finishers that can often be seen running with team or just around Elkmont were: 

Emily Spry – 19:07 
Brad Wales – 23:32 
Heather Maples – 27:15 
Terry Bob Boyd – 27:22 
Linda Schmidt – 27:55
Coach Barry Pugh – 28:06 
Gretta Armstrong – 29:08 
Jennie Barnett – 29:34 
Anne Burrows – 30:04 
Stephanie Clem – 30:37 
Curtis Clem – 30:45 
Chala Boyd – 31:10 
Jessie Pierce – 32:53 
Melanie Maples – 32:54 
Linda Lewis – 34:58 
Doug Warner – 39:35 
Cindy Witt – 39:36 
Kim Shores – 39:38 
Chloe Hollingsworth – 42:19 
Rhonda Spry – 43:46 
Tammie Warner – 50:13 
Mary Abercrombie – 50:42 
Brody Pierce – 54:57 
Brian Pierce – 54:58 
Gladys Turner – 54:59 
Sharon Wilson – 56:04 

The race was also sponsored in part by Elkmont businesses; Runrgirl, LLC, Snap-on and Electricfil. 

ELKMONT RUNNERS ARE THE CRAZIEST PEOPLE....

Several Elkmont runners braved the cold temperatures on Saturday morning to run the Xterra 4 mile race on Monte Sano.  This was a great race put on by Dirty Spokes Productions out of Dacula, GA.  Race Director, Tim Schroer, did an amazing job with the event!  From making last minute registration changes, to patrolling the parking lot on a bicycle while making announcements like the town crier to VERY punctual race starts, to the quick posting of race results and the awards ceremony, this was a very well organized race.

Photo courtesy of Eric Charette on We Run Huntsville FB page

Often while running, one can enjoy the scenery – not at this race!  The trail is what one would call “technical”.  This means there are roots, rocks and other obstacles that the runner must maneuver through/around while trying not to eat dirt, which many runners did, including some of our crew!  Elkmont runners were fortunate in that their tumbles didn’t result in any injuries and they were able to complete the race!

Congrats to Gretta for placing first in her age group and to Jennie and Anne for placing second in their age groups!  You do know that it is never polite to ask a lady what age group she is in?

Photo courtesy - Marty Burrows

Finish time for the Elkmont runners were:
Marty Burrows - 39:40
Gretta Armstrong – 42:03
Jennie Barnett – 43:19
Anne Burrows – 43:43
Brennen Burrows – 48:49
Brianna Barnett – 48:52

RUNRGIRL TEAM IN THE RUNNING WITH THE GOATS 5K

Runrgirl’s  5k training group completed The Running with The Goats 5k on Saturday July 12, 2014. Sarah Chadwell, Joseph Dowd and Linda Lewis completed their first 5k with Linda Lewis placing 2^nd in her age group of 60-69. 
 
Carole Davidson, Camille Newby and Cindy Witt also trained with the group and ran the race. They had previously trained with Runrgirl but continued training  because they like running with a group. 

Runrgirl owner Whitney Hollingsworth is a local runner who coaches groups and individuals of Limestone County. If you or a group have a certain race you would like to train for, Like Runrgirl on Facebook or email runrgirl at charter.net. She coaches beginners to Intermediate runners.  A new session starts in a few weeks.

SPEEDY SPUDS DO WELL AT SPENCER BLACK 5K

The Elkmont Couch Potatoes (Elkmont Trailblazers) finally got to run their goal race on Saturday, June 28 - the Spencer Black 5K held at Blue Springs Elementary.  Unfortunately, due to the circumstances that caused this race to be delayed, many of our group were unable to participate on this date due to previously scheduled vacation plans.  Traditionally, this race is run on Mother's Day weekend but due to the devastation caused by the tornados on April 28 it had to be delayed.  As always, it is great to awesome to see the greater community of Limestone County come together to support those devastated by such disasters.  Not only does the race honor a great individual, who served his community but the proceeds from the Spencer Black 5K go to supporting the track and XC facilities at Blue Springs Elementary (which were damaged during the tornado) as well as funding the Spencer Black Scholarship fund.

  
As the race begins, runners are faced with several small hills as they travel from Hardy Rd to Holt Springer Rd.  As I recall, the course levels out somewhat at it continues around the block onto Fielding Road and then Stanford Rd and then back on Hardy Rd.  The race finishes on the grounds of Blue Springs Elementary.  The runners begin the final mile on the “trail” that goes around the school and finally finish on the track. 

The race is very well organized and runners/walkers were treated to bananas and granola bars, Gatorade, water and pop (or Soda, or Coke, or Soft Drink) at the finish line.

 Now on to the details…….
The Trailblazers had 16 runners at the starting line and 6 of those brought home some hardware as top finishers in their age groups!
 
Terri Hill (1st) – 29:51
Jennie Barnett (2nd) – 32:32
Brenda Morrow (2nd) – 26:45
Dustin Pressnell (2nd) – 24:21
Jason Emerson (2nd) – 23:18
Brad Wales (2nd) – 25:49

Other Trailblazers that ran are:
Gretta Armstrong (33:25)
Regina Clem (34:21)
Melissa Long (36:07)
Brianna Barnett (37:21)
Jessie Pierce (38:50)
Cindy Wales (39:32)
Kelly Compton (39:32)
Vicky Askew (43:01)
Lauri King (59:19)
Tiffany Wilbourn (59:19)

Several others that can often be found training on the Trail in Elkmont participated in the race:

Braden Long (38:05)
Vivien Hembree (26:17)
Amber Walker (28:52)
Deven Hargrove (34:49)
Racheal Hargrove (34:49)
Chala Boyd (34:41)
Ryan Boyd (25:12)
Tee Boyd (24:55)
Trevor Ingle (39:55)
Shay Hudson (21:39)
Terry Boyd (29:53)

The overall race was led and won by Clements’ own, Mack Van Wagnen with a time of 17:44!  Congrats on the win!

Submitted by Gretta Armstrong

WACKY TRAILBLAZERS AND THE SPENCER BLACK 5K

Our running group called the Elkmont Trailblazers have been training since February to run in the Spencer Black 5K.  However, the Clements tornadoes pushes the race back from its scheduled date, May 10.  NEW DATE!!!!! June 28th. Please, please help us get the word out. The Spencer Black 5k has been rescheduled to June 28th. If you have already sent in your registration, you are all set. If you haven't signed up, please do. 4th Annual Spencer Black 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run. Benefiting Clements High School and Blue Springs Elementary School Fitness Programs & Facilities.We need this race more than ever to help replace all the equipment lost in the storms.

GET IN SHAPE WITH RUN GIRL

Runrgirl will be coaching a beginners 5k training group for the 1st annual Belle Chèvre Running With The Goats 5k and 10k on July 12th, beginning the week on May 5th. Runrgirl will also be holding a 10k training program for the Rails To Trails 10k on September 27th. You have to be Running at least 3 miles 3 times a week for this program which will begin in late July. Email runrgirl@charter.net or send message to Runrgirl Facebook page.

DON'T FORGET - ELKMONT RUNNERS ARE TRAIL BLAZERS STARTING MONDAY

The Elkmont Couch Potato to 5K running group starts February 10 and will be every Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm at the Rural Village and Saturday mornings at 9:00 am at the Rails to Trails in downtown Elkmont.  Our goal race is the Spencer Black 5K in May. It is May 10th. 

Cost is $40 and includes race entry fee, race shirt and Elkmont Trailblazer's shirt.
We will have 13 weeks of training that will ease you into running. The program is open to all levels of fitness. Lots of fun and company as the potatoes roll along.

Registration Form Link:  Run with the Trailblazers
 
Contact:  Barry Pugh 
                Gretta Armstrong
                

COUCH POTATO TO TRAILBLAZER

Elkmont Couch Potato Update

Well - I don't think we can call these people Couch Potatoes anymore, do you? We are at the tail end of week 6 in the training program and people are doing GREAT! Truth be told, I think there are many people that have surprised THEMSELVES over the past 6 weeks! We trainers knew they had it in them all along!!

There are so many dedicated and commited RUNNERS in this group! If they have a conflict on training night, they get together with others in the group and run on their own! There always seems to be someone running in the Village or on the trail downtown - what a fantastic sight!

Our goal race is coming up on April 6th @ 8:00. It will begin at the Wellness Center, across from the Athens-Limestone Hospital. On race day, the adrenaline will be pumping for all of the Elkmont Trailblazers and I can't wait to see how everyone does!

We hope to see you bright and early in Athens on April 6th to cheer on your favorite Trailblazer!