 Congrats to our Ultimate Fit October Runner of the Month, Jo Ann Meth! Here is more on Jo Ann! "My name is Jo Ann Meth and I am 59 years old. My spouse’s name is Michael. We have three grown kids-Ryan, Katie, and Matthew. I have worked for Harding, Shymanski and Company, P.S.C. for 23 Tax Seasons already. I was born and raised in Haubstadt but have lived in Evansville for the last 35 years." What motivates you to run/walk? Our daughter, Katie first motivated me thru her participation in Team 13. My husband and I went out to support her first year of the program and I then was motivated by this awesome team spirit and got hooked myself. It helped me initially lose weight and maintain better health habits along the way. How many races have you participated in? (Estimate if needed) This will be my fourth Evansville Half Marathon on 10/5/19! That will be my 40th race so far in those 4 years since I have saved all my bib’s and wrote times and dates on them and put them on two rings to hold them in place. What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I did my first half marathon at the age of 56 so that is really when I got serious and I trained the entire summer. This was after cheering for our daughter the year before and her asking me to walk with her in the fall Stache Dache I feel that is when I truly decided I had to try the fun/competitiveness the following spring. Favorite place to run/walk? Eastside of Evansville as I like the flat running surfaces. For casual walking like Evansville and Newburgh riverfronts the most. Favorite local race? Evansville Rescue Mission the Drumstick Dash Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? Love the Bridge runs! I have done the River Run from Henderson to Evansville and then also the Reo to Owensboro run! Farthest you have traveled to do a race? Not far-Would have to be New Harmony to do the Peace, Run, Harmony run the last two years. Favorite race distance? I like a running series where you start out at the lower miles and work up to Half! In early spring, I just am not trained enough to participate in longer runs due to work commitments. Favorite race memory? Crossing the finish line for my first half marathon-just the accomplishment was emotional for my daughter and I. Met my goal also! Funniest race memory? One of the Otters Race where we ran thru Bosse Field and my running/walking partner were pretending to play baseball & pitching. Did lots of joking especially during this race. Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? One race I did they had hot bottled water just lying on the ground when I crossed the finish line and not much in the way of snacks so was real disappointed. Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? Big meal night before which includes either pasta or potatoes. Race day oatmeal and peanut butter toast. Post-race food varies! But always WATER, WATER, and more WATER while training and before-during and after races too!!!! Well, I do drink Gatorade right after finishing the race. Sometimes I go home and have some Chocolate Milk also for extra recovery. What is your favorite brand of running shoe? I have had mostly Brooks or Saucony brand shoes, however this year, I have branched out to the New Balance shoes-but always rotate between 3-5 pairs of shoes. How many miles do you run/walk a week? Probably 6-25 depending on my actual training season verses the off season. What are your future goals for running/walking? To stay as active as possible. Even if I can’t jog intermittently as much as before-I most definitely want to keep up the walking. Last couple of years I have been focusing more on volunteering to help the new members of this group reach their goals, answer their questions, and to be their best support system with lots of encouragement, photos, etc. Helping in that way makes me the happiest and I get the greatest reward of new friends. Favorite time of day to run? Most definitely in the mornings since I am more refreshed, verses in the evenings. Favorite weather to run in? Not to hot and not too cold would be ideal but moderate temperatures are the best. Music or No Music? No music EVER for me!-I encouraging ALL run/walkers that are doing the same route as myself as this is what helped me my first year so I am “Paying it forward”. Love when the routes cross or go out and back since most everyone is very supportive and encouraging. Also for SAFETY ISSUES too!!!!
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 Congrats to our August Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Matthew Menke! Here is more about Matthew:
"I’m 24 years old and I’ve recently became engaged to my fiancée Haley. I have a 3-year-old beagle puppy as my “child”. I was born and raised here in Evansville where I currently live. I graduated from Murray State University in 2018 and I am a Design Engineer with Berry Global." What motivates you to run/walk? While at Murray in early 2018 I was selected for a 1/2 marathon training program (Going the Distance) by WPSD local 6, a News station in Paducah and Atlas Physical therapy. They followed along through my journey, training for my first half-marathon and how I changed my life. From being 310lbs when I graduated from Central HS to being a collegiate Mascot and living my best life. Also wanting to improve my running and getting better is always my biggest motivator. How many races have you participated in? Since I started running I’ve done, (3) ½ marathons, (3) 10-milers, (1) 15k, (4) 10k’s, then probably (15) 5k’s along as a Spartan Race and a Tough Mudder What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? My first race was the 2017 Run with the Yeti trail race when I was 22 and I have never looked back! Favorite place to run/walk? Here in Evansville, I would say Downtown or along the greenway but running along the boardwalks before sunrise in California is necessary for any runner. Favorite local race? It would have to be a tie between the Blazin’ Glazin’ Race and the Run with the Yeti race Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? The Tunnel Hill 10 Miler! Farthest you have traveled to do a race? I would have to guess it would be Indianapolis for the Mini-Indy Marathon if you don’t count the Spartan Race in Charlotte, NC Favorite race distance? 10k’s and 10 Miler’s Favorite race memory? My favorite memory is after my would-be first half-marathon in Murray being rained out. I was able to sign up for the Peace, Run, & Harmony Half marathon and I was able to complete my first half marathon! Funniest race memory? During one of my half marathons seeing a bunch of signs in a guy’s yard that had “worst Netflix (1/2) marathon” and “Slowest Parade ever” Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? I would say the first time I saw Elvis at race! Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? Night before I always enjoy spaghetti and Chicken. After any race my go to is Cheerio’s with Chocolate muscle milk What is your favorite brand of running shoe? I’ve always used Brooks and they’ve yet to let me down! How many miles do you run/walk a week? Not as many as I want to but here soon I’ll hopefully will be back up to 10 miles a week again What are your future goals for running/walking? I would love to get the right training routine and being able to run a full marathon! Favorite time of day to run? My favorite is early in the morning normally around 5 or so depending on the distance Favorite weather to run in? Partly Sunny and a brisk 55 degrees Music or no music? I usually always have music with just to help set the tempo for the runs.  Congrats to the July Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Nicki Stremming! Here is more on Nicki: "I'm 41 years old. Married to Eric Stremming. I have 2 sons, Michael and Mason, ages 12 and 10. I grew up in and still live in Evansville. I'm a Dental Hygienist. I graduated from the Dental Hygiene program at USI." What motivates you to run/walk My boys and my health motivate me to run. After I had my kids, I was overweight and out of shape. I knew I needed to start taking care of myself so I could keep up with my 2 active boys. So I started exercising, but I always wanted to be able to run. Runners just look so free, outside running down the road, not chained down in the gym. So I tried it. It didn't go well. But I was determined so I kept trying until I could run a mile, then 3 miles. Then someone suggested I join Team 13 to train for the half marathon. I did, and finished my first half that year (2010). And the rest is history. How many races have you participated in? 21 marathons, 35 half marathons, and tons of 5k 's What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I started running when I was 31. I had never run before, but always wanted to try. I started after I had kids as a way to lose pregnancy weight and get back in shape, and just fell in love with it. Favorite place to run/walk? I like to run all over the place. I change it up every run. Some of my favorites are the USI Burdette Park trail, Newburgh Rivertown Trail, Friedman Park, and Bluegrass FWA. Favorite local race? Evansville Half Marathon of course! It was my first half marathon and my first experience with running a big race. I've done it every year since my first. Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? The Mill Race Marathon in Columbus IN. It's a nicely organized race, not too big, that's in a neat small town. It's the flattest race I've ever done so it can be a fast race depending on the weather. The community support for the race is amazing. We do it every year. Farthest you have traveled to do a race? The farthest I've traveled for a race is Las Vegas. I've done both the full and half marathons on the strip at night. Pretty cool! Favorite race distance? The full marathon is my favorite. It's the hardest, but the feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line is worth it. I just keep signing up for more. Favorite race memory? My favorite race memory was the Chicago Marathon in 2016. I ran the race with my now husband. He proposed to me right after we finished the race in front of Buckingham Fountain. Perfect proposal! Funniest race memory? Probably the race that a friend of mine convinced all of us girls to wear tutus. She hand -made the tutus and I guess they were cute. But I spent the entire half marathon yanking on that darn thing. It kept spinning around and getting stuck between my legs. Never again! Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? I saw a guy finish a race while juggling. He juggled the entire half marathon! Crazy! Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? I don't really eat much before a race. I don't actually "carb load" because it gives me a stomach ache. I just eat a light dinner. Then maybe a banana before a marathon. Then I use energy gels during the race. Afterwards I like pizza and beer! What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Hoka's! The Clifton is my favorite style, but I've been experimenting with the Carbon X for 5 k's. How many miles do you run/walk a week? It depends on where I'm at in my training cycle. Around 20 a week when I'm not actively training. 30 - 40 a week if I'm preparing for a marathon. What are your future goals for running/walking? I just want to be able to keep on running as long as I can. And run as fast as I can. I just love to run! Favorite time of day to run? I prefer to run in the evenings during the week. I'm not a morning person. But for weekend long runs I like to start early in the morning. Favorite weather to run in? Cool fall weather is my favorite, around 45-50 degrees. Summer heat and humidity is my least favorite. Music or no music? No music if I'm running with my kids or a girlfriend or on a busy road. Yes to music otherwise.   Congrats to the June Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Kim Wolf! Kim lives in Newburgh and has a great boyfriend who is very supportive of her. She is a mother of one son who is 24. She works at a local construction company now going on 11 years. She is originally from from Olney, IL and moved over here for her job and has been here ever since. Her and Paul love to vacation at the beaches or places they have never been. One of the good things about kids growing up and moving out you can pretty much go when, where, and however long you want to be gone if you can!
Here is more on Kim: What motivates you to run/walk? I have always enjoyed walking, but running is something I just picked up about 4/5 years ago. It is a great stress reliever. How many races have you participated in? Too many to count. We try to do as many as we can. Every weekend if there are available during the month. What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? Age really isn’t a factor on when anyone starts. It is the fact one gets out there and gets it done. But I was 50 when I started to run. Favorite place to run/walk? Anywhere is fine with me. Of course some courses are better than others, but as long as I can start and finish on my own two feet. I really don’t care where the course is. Favorite local race? I really enjoy all the races, really hard to pinpoint my favorite. Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? I have only done one out of the Tri-State area and that was a couple years ago up in Indianapolis. The Hot Chocolate run. Farthest you have traveled to do a race? 3 hours to Indianapolis. We need to change that though. ☺ Favorite race distance? At first I was stuck on just doing the 5ks, but then I was told to try a further distance. So now I go for any of the longer runs that are available. I did my first ½ marathon last year on my 55th birthday. It was a big accomplishment. Favorite race memory? It would have to be the very first one. Just getting out there and doing. Being old and out of shape, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Glad I did it though. Funniest race memory? I would say seeing anyone dress up in costumes for the holiday races. You just never know what people are going to be dressed as. Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? Can’t really say I have seen anything crazy just yet, except for getting a lot of snow in a short period of time at the Hot Chocolate race in Indianapolis. Unexpected snow storm hitting the area. Caught everyone off guard. Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? I don’t really have a favorite. I just grab something light and then eat an apple or banana after the race. Then home to shower and find real food to replinsh. What is your favorite brand of running shoe? I got really hooked on the Skechers Performance, but our local shoe store no longer carries them. So now I am wearing Hokas Bondi. They seem to be pretty good. How many miles do you run/walk a week? I try to walk as much as possible during the week, I have 1 hour lunch and work downtown by the riverfront, so a couple of co-workers and I will be able to get 2 miles in each day that we can. Then I run whatever race is happening during the weekend. Sunday is a day of rest to gear up for the next week. What are your future goals for running/walking? My goal is always to do better than the last time I did that race. So far I have done pretty well at meeting that goal. One race (Victoria was only better by 3 seconds, but it stilled made me happy). Favorite time of day to run? Early morning when it is cooler. The heat zaps the energy right out of me. Favorite weather to run in? Cooler weather. Like 50’s or so. Higher temps aren’t so bad as long as the sun is beating down on me. Music or no music? Music of course. I have to keep focused on something to sing along to. It also helps motivate me when a great Rock song comes on.  Congrats to the April Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Abby Hessler! Here is more on Abby: "I am 12 years old and attend Helfrich Park Stem Academy. I participate in lacrosse, track, cross country, and I play the violin in orchestra. I live in Evansville, IN with my family. " What motivates you to run/walk? My mom is a big motivation. We always run together. How many races have you participated in? I have participated in about 30 city races. What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I started running at the age of 10, in 5th grade with the Helfrich Park cross country team. Favorite place to run? My favorite place to run is on Franklin Street in Evansville. Favorite local race? Monster Bash 5K on Franklin St. Farthest you have traveled to do a race? Newburgh, IN Favorite race distance? 5K Favorite race memory? I like running with Ebon Ellis and seeing him dance! Favorite pre and post-race meal/drink? Pre-Race I like to eat a protein bar and drink a Body Armour/Water. Post-Race a donut and a Fripp Frappe from Donut Bank. What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Brooks How many miles do you run/walk a week? I run about 9-15 miles between track and lacrosse. What are your future goals for running/walking? I want to get a scholarship in college for running. Favorite time of day to run? I like running in the morning. Favorite weather to run in? I like running in the cold. Music or no music? No music 
Congrats to the April Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Molly Brost! Here is more on Molly:
"I’ll be 40 on March 26th. I teach English at USI; am originally from Mitchell, Nebraska; and have been in Evansville for almost ten years. What motivates you to run/walk? Physical fitness, the competition of races, and the camaraderie with my running friends are all great motivation! How many races have you participated in? I did a couple of races in the fall of 2011 and started doing an average of one race a month in 2012, so over 80! What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I ran cross country and track in high school, but just got back into running seriously in 2011, when I was 32. Favorite place to run/walk? The hills on the USI/Burdette Park trail are great training. I also like Wesselman Woods, the State Hospital Grounds, the Newburgh Rivertown Trail, and the Pigeon Creek Greenway. Favorite local race? The Evansville Half-Marathon Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? The Nashville Rock and Roll Half-Marathon Farthest you have traveled to do a race? I have done the Don Childs Memorial Run in Gering, Nebraska (near where I’m from) several times. Favorite race distance? Probably the 10K or half-marathon. Favorite race memory? I did my first full marathon last November in Indianapolis, and two of my best friends surprised me at the finish line with posters! I was totally not expecting that! What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Brooks Ravenna How many miles do you run/walk a week? It varies depending on what I’m training for. I usually do a half-marathon every fall and spring. I keep up a base of 15-20 miles per week in between training cycles and then ramp up when it gets closer to each half. When I was training for my first full last fall, I got up to as high as 34 Favorite time of day to run? It depends on the time of year…early morning in the summer, afternoon in the winter. Favorite weather to run in? 50-60 degrees Music or no music? No music—I hate wearing headphones and like to be aware of my surroundings.  Congrats to the March Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Jill Barrett! Here is more on Jill: "I was born and raised in Posey County where I now live with my husband Brandon and our 4 children: Brennan (11), Braelyn (9), Brecken (7) and Brycton (5) as well as our new Wheaten Terrior puppy, Jade. As you can see, Brandon won with the B names so I had to get another J with Jade. I’m 30 something years old and I work at Vectren a CenterPoint Energy Company; where I have worked for the past 18 years!" What motivates you to run/walk? I’m motivated for myself and to teach my kids what an active lifestyle looks like. How many races have you participated in? I actually began tracking my races in May of 2016 and since then I’ve completed 52 races. Last year 12 of those were Half Marathons! Overall, more than 100. What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I started running back in 2005 when I first met my now husband and while I was coaching Track for North Posey Junior High. At that point it was just to complete a lap around the track and get myself back into fitness. Favorite place to run/walk? Like to run around my neighborhood; if I want a changeup USI/Burdette trail is great Favorite local race? River City 10 Miler! Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? Carmel Half Marathon! If you give me pancakes I’ll run 13.1 miles. ☺ Farthest you have traveled to do a race? Richmond, Virginia for a full marathon Favorite race distance? Half Marathon Favorite race memory? Completing the only full marathon we have ran so far. Funniest race memory? At the Richmond Marathon, there was a random guy giving out shots of whiskey in a neighborhood to any marathoner that wanted one! Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? A guy dribbling a basketball while jogging at the Louisville Half Marathon last year. Favorite pre and post-race meal/drink? Favorite Pre – carbs night before & protein powder, oats & peanut butter for breakfast and I cannot forget my Pre-Workout from Advocare. Post Race – Pizza and a coke! Oh and chocolate milk is really nice. What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Brooks – tried many others and it’s my go to How many miles do you run/walk a week? I workout 4-5 days a week at Orangetheory Fitness and average approx. 8-10 miles and shoot for a distance run on the weekend 6 miles plus. What are your future goals for running/walking? I’m signed up for the San Antonio full marathon in December. Favorite time of day to run? Morning always! Favorite weather to run in? 40’s with the sun shining! Music or no music? No music!
 Congrats to the Ultimate Fit February Runner of the Month, Aaron Valandra! He has lived in the tri-state for over 30 years and is a web developer. Aaron currently lives in Newburgh and has been running regularly for about the past 3-4 years. Here is more on Aaron: What motivates you to run/walk? The feeling I get from a good hard run. Oh, and it balances out my “healthy” eating habits. (Eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, and oh, what is that, a waffle with ice cream on it. Yummy!) How many races have you participated in? (Estimate if needed) Around 40 races What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I technically started running for fun in college, but I only started to really get into it the past few years. Favorite place to run/walk? I love running from the downtown Y to Reitz early in the morning. Not only do you get some good hills for training, but you have a scenic view of the city when it is dark outside. Favorite local race? The River Run Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? Marengo Cave 5K Farthest you have traveled to do a race? Cleveland, OH – a few friends and I decided to do the Viking Dash trail race for a sword. It was a disappointment. Our trophy was the size of a paper weight. Favorite race distance? Half marathon Favorite race memory? Finishing up my second marathon around my goal time. That was the easy part. The 18-weeks beforehand were grueling as I trained with a friend. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. Funniest race memory? My friend getting a chalice as a trophy and drinking alcohol out of it after the race. Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? A guy dressed up in a Viking outfit at our trail run. Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? Pre-race meal – Pasta and a coke Post-race meal – Anything and everything What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Adidas – can’t go wrong! How many miles do you run/walk a week? I run around 30 miles a week. What are your future goals for running/walking? Short term – running a 3:25 marathon Long term – running a sub 3-hour marathon Favorite time of day to run? Early morning Favorite weather to run in? Cold weather 40-50s. Music or no music? Depends – most of the time no, but when I am by myself or on the treadmill than yes.   Congrats to the Ultimate Fit January Runner of the Month, Chris Mack! Here is more about Chris: "I’m 50 years old and have lived in Evansville pretty much all my life. I’ve been at Red Spot Paint the last 15 years as a Chemist. I also just became a grandpa this year and can’t wait to get the little guy out for a run." What motivates you to run/walk? My running habit helps to offset my other habit of having the occasional wine or beer. How many races have you participated in? I’m at 105 and counting. What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I started running at 45. Favorite place to run/walk? The Burdette USI Greenway is by far the best. We’ll maintained trail, scenic and challenging. Favorite local race? Any run that has a beer at the end is always a favorite. There are just so many fun and unique races to pick from in the area. The USI running series is the group of races I look forward to every year though. Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? I’ve only done a few outside the area but the Urban Bourbon Half in Louisville is probably my pick. The course is challenging and meeting fellow runners from all over the country at the post-race pub crawl is a blast. Farthest you have traveled to do a race? Indianapolis Favorite race distance? Half Marathon Favorite race memory? I love the finish of the Evansville Half every year. You’ve spent the whole summer training with Team 13 and to be there at the end to greet all your training buddies as they cross the line and seeing all that work pay off is by far the best racing moment. Funniest race memory? Running around the Speedway during the Indy Mini and coming upon two guys in full racing fire suits doing their best Ricky Bobby routine from Talladega Nights. Craziest thing you saw at or during a race, A guy doing the Jingle Bell 5k on skis. Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? Chicken and pasta is my go to pre-race meal. Post-race I’ll take chocolate milk or a beer and then go find some ice cream. What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Brooks How many miles do you run/walk a week? Usually no more than 20 What are your future goals for running/walking? Just to still be doing this in 20 years. Favorite time of day to run? Morning Favorite weather to run in? Sunny and 50s is about perfect. Just keep the heat and humidity away from me. Music or no music? No music   Congrats to the December Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month, Paul Campbell! Here is more about Paul: "I am a 53 year old father of 2 adult kids and grandfather. I work for Toyota and I am the current fire chief for the Newburgh Fire Department." What motivates you to run? The fun of meeting new people and seeing the same faces running. Also knowing that I am setting an example for others to get out and exercise. It gives me some “me” time and it gives me time to relieve some stress and zone out. My girlfriend Kim helps keep me going. How many races have you participated in? about 100 What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively? I started running at the age of 49 after some personal issues. It was mostly for fun but the competitor in me has kinda taken over. Favorite place to run/walk? I like going to new places to run. It makes it challenging. Evansville and Newburgh are both great places to run and explore. Favorite local race? I don’t have a clear cut favorite. I like them all. The local organizers do a great job of putting on some exciting and challenging races with the help of some of the best local businesses around. Favorite race outside of the Tri-State? FDIC Courage and Valor 5K in Indianapolis. It’s held every year during the Fire Departments Instructors Conference usually in April. Farthest you have traveled to do a race? Indianapolis a few times. It might change this coming year. Favorite race distance? I like the longer races. I seem to be able to settle into a pace easier than the 5K’s and have better split times. Favorite race memory? For me it was completing the Evansville Half Marathon the first time. I signed up not knowing what to expect or how to train and finished under the time I set. Funniest race memory? The groups of people that come out to support the runners with their crazy outfits and signs especially during the longer races. Craziest thing you saw at or during a race? T-rex running around and handing out candy to the runners. Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink? Pre-race I have yogurt and and a protein bar and post race I have something light and chocolate milk usually from Panera Bread. What is your favorite brand of running shoe? Hoka. They are very comfortable. How many miles do you run/walk a week? Not as much as I would like. 5 maybe sometimes more in the winter but more in the summer. Work cuts into my running time a lot. What are your future goals for running/walking? I am thinking about a full marathon and doing the New Jersey Half Marathon/Marathon since I’m from there and my family is all there. Favorite time of day to run? Early morning Favorite weather to run in? Cool weather Music or no music? Music absolutely!  |
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- Home
- Local Fitness Events Calendar
- 12Ks of Xmas/Jingle All the 5Ks- December 15
- New Year's Eve 5K- December 31
- Ultimate Fit Winter Challenge- 1/1-3/31
- Freakin' Frozen Race-January 12
- Freakin' Freezin' Race-January 26
- Presidents' Day Race-February 16
- LST-325 Run/Walk- March 1
- Our Sponsors
- Local Featured Races
- 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities