Impala Racing Team

Our friends at the Impala Racing Team are putting on a virtual Labor Day 5k, 10k, and kids mile to help support Back on My Feet San Francisco! Everyone is welcome to sign up and run their distance between September 3 and September 7, and age group winners will get gift cards from us. To sign up, all you have to do is use PayPal to send over $10 to [email protected] (select Friends and Family) and write "Labor Day Virtual Race" in the notes. All race proceeds will go to Back on My Feet! Register using the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxqUzoqPjTCfSsuz7-UTFWwiC6GxcIog19V5ndicLHFTVGtQ/viewform

Please join us in racing the Independence Day Virtual 5k in support of Running for A Better Oakland (www.rboakland.com) ! The Impalas will be virtually competing against , but this event is open to other teams and the larger running community, as well!
See Link in Bio for Registration & additional details.
IS THIS A FUNDRAISER? Yes! We are asking everyone to pay $10 for registration. 100% of race proceeds will be donated to Running for A Better Oakland.
WHEN: Friday, July 3rd - Sunday, July 5th
WHERE: choose your own 5k road route
HOW? Please register via this form: https://forms.gle/j1snDPtfsN72a1A48

Impalas kicking off the first XC race of the season at UC Santa Cruz! @ UC Santa Cruz

On Fridays we run for pastries!
Thanks for starting off our Friday Pastry Run tradition... where we end an early Friday run at a different bakery each week! Where should we try next week?

PACING > RACING.
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Sometimes the best races are the ones you run for others, putting your own goals aside to focus on helping others achieve theirs. Last weekend, Angela Tieri () paced the 1:40 group at the SeaWheeze Half Marathon in Vancover. As a "Pace Beaver," Angela joined lululemon ambassadors from all over the world to pace 10,000 runners to their goal times.
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Being a pacer was such an incredibly fun experience. Despite the pouring rain everyone had a really great race. A few people in our group even ran PRs! It was so rewarding to play a small role in helping another runner achieve success. I hope to be able to do this again next year!
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@ Vancouver, British Columbia

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH...

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THE TOUGH GETS GOING. The four Impalas who traveled 3000 miles to New York to race the USATF Masters XC Championships in Buffalo this weekend weren't even sure if they'd make it to the start line. But their tenacity prevailed and payed off. The 40+ team of Liz Gottlieb and Alexandra Newman placed 3rd overall, with Liz placing 7th overall in 20:52 (just one place behind her collegiate rival from 23 years ago!). Suzanne Cordes and Ruth Rainero we close behind, finishing 6th and 1st overall in the the 55-59 and 60-64 age groups. And yes, that makes Ruth a national champion!

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@ Buffalo, New York

Anna Kacias () recently joined the Impalas and has quickly made a name for herself on the racing circuit. This weekend she ran the Big Sur Trail Half Marathon and placed 6th overall and 2nd among women in what was a dramatic finish - she crossed the line just 1 second after the 1st place woman, a professional trail runner from South Africa!
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“I’ve always loved trail running, both for the amazing views and the sense of camaraderie on the trail. And this race was no exception. Between the incredible coastal views and at least 100 "good jobs" given and received along the way, this was one of my favorite races of all time... even if it was also one of the most challenging with 2800ft of elevation gain.”
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After a few months of road and cross country workouts, we are back to the track tonight for our weekly speed work. Easier to stomach and twice as satisfying as the burgers of the same name, in-and-out 400s will challenge your endurance and help build turnover. You’ll start with a 400 at 5K pace and go straight into another lap 20 seconds slower, and repeat without stopping for 3-4 miles. It’s a great workout to get the legs ready for whatever you’re gearing up for this fall. See you tonight at 6pm.
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What gets you out the door?
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Quoted and pictured: Marisa Beck ()

"Racing XC is mentally very challenging (and physically painful!), and to have your teammates cheering and encouraging you from both the sidelines and literally as they race beside you motivates you to hang tough and run the hardest you possibly can. All that, and the donuts at the end."
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Words of wisdom from Simone Somers after last week's Golden Gate Open XC meet. Channel that toughness and positivity for the next cross country meet this weekend!
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@ San Francisco, California

We couldn’t get enough of the Polo Fields this weekend, so we’re heading back there for this week’s workout. On deck is 3-4 x 2K at 10K pace with 3 min rest on a mix of grass and gravel to get used to running fast on cross country terrain. See you tonight at 6pm.
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So many reasons to run... what’s yours?
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Quoted and pictured: Liz Gill ()

GIANT PRS AT THE GIANTS HALF!
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Every year at the Giants Half Marathon and 10K in San Francisco, a group of Impalas band up to run the race together, and each year this teamwork results in fast times, podium finishes and new records. Today's race was no different. Victoria Macias () and Melissa Lehman (), both training for the teamed up in the half marathon and PRed in 1:24:48 and 1:26:05, finishing in 2nd and 3rd place overall.
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In the 10K, Megan Kossar and Dana Blum () placed 2nd and 6th overall in 42:27 and 44:59 -- even more impressive at ages 47 and 54, respectively!
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@ San Francisco, California

We’re getting ready for our finish kick at the GGP Cross Country Open meet tomorrow. See you at the start line, and race you to the finish!
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Work hard, run harder! Impalas traded their singlets to don company kits at the Corporate Chase Challenge yesterday, living proof that you don’t have to sacrifice professional goals for running goals or vice versa. Big ups to Camille Matonis () who placed 5th overall among almost 4000 women and Alix Cohen () who ran 6:00/mi pace in an XL cotton tee shirt!
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@ San Francisco, California

Tonight we're doing a race prep workout on the Golden Gate Park cross country course in advance of the PA GGP Open race next weekend. No better way to train than to get familiar with our home course. We'll do a 2400 at tempo pace, covering the first 2400 of the race loop and finish with 4-6 x 800 at 5K pace, covering the final 800 of the race loop and finishing in the meadow. See you tonight at 6pm and let's get ready to rock and race on Sunday!
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Quote and photograph starring .

Peet’s Performer of the Week is Suzanne Cordes (), who won 4 medals at the last 2 Masters National Championships. Last weekend she won age group silver and age-graded gold with a 6:04 mile in Flint, MI. A week earlier she won Impala team bronze and age-graded silver with a 20:56 5K in Atlanta, GA. Congrats, Suzanne!
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Saturdays are for long runs and trail adventures, birthday brunches and post-run wine tasting, epic views and even better company. Where did your run take you today?
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HURTS SO GOOD.
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Being a runner isn't just about running - it's about all the little things we do when we're not running that keeps us strong and healthy. At tonight's session with at A Runner's Mind, we learned how to roll out our calves, hips, hamstrings, glutes and even the pecs and inner thighs. Facial expressions were priceless as we found areas of tightness that we didn't know existed!
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@ San Francisco, California

Peet’s Performer of last week is Julie Ann Dougery () who finished 13th overall at the UCSC XC Challenge in Santa Cruz and was apparently smiling the whole race. Her time for the 4M course was 27:38 and she was the 3rd Impala finisher in her final race as an open runner. Congrats, Julie Ann! We are glad you are back on the racing circuit!
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Congrats to all Stow Lake Stampede 5K (and Kid's Mile) finishers! Race results can be found here: http://www.rtspt.com/events/misc/stowlake18/

Record Timing -Event Results

While you're waiting in anticipation for the Stow Lake Stampede 5K (and Kid's Mile), here's a special offer from our sponsor, RunAngel!

RunAngel is offering a discount for all race participants – enter STAMP10 to receive 10% off + FREE shipping! In addition to this discount, they are currently running a campaign onsite with reduced prices across all color versions, so you can run safe and in style. If you want more information on the product, there will be samples at the SLS post-race area and you can check them out online at https://runangel.com/. Happy and safe running!

run angel - personal safety wearable

Start practicing your best ! The 5K and Kids Mile is less than three weeks away, and registration is filling up fast. Get ready to race strong and make your best as you sprint to the finish in ! Link’s in our bio. See you on April 29!
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Prices go up tomorrow, register today!
http://bit.ly/2FNgvtz

Photo credit: Bill Wheeler

Look out for the see of at the Cross Country Nationals in Lexington, KY this weekend. We're fielding full teams in the Open, 40+ and 60+ (yes, you read that right) division with 16 strong Impalas ready to spike up, bundle up, and race with pride. Sending you speedy (and warm) vibes and cheering you on from the home front!
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With all the CIM excitement, we forgot one very important Peet’s Performer!!! LAST week’s winner was Teresa McWalters () who finished 9th overall and 1st among PA runners at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving. Her time was 16:27 and it came 4 days after her 3rd place overall at the PA Cross Country Championships. Congrats, Teresa!
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TIME TO TUNE UP!
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Tonight is our penultimate (’s favorite word) workout of the year, designed to get this team ready for the Cross Country National Champs this weekend. We'll do 2-3 sets of 3 x 400, starting at 5K pace and getting faster with each rep. Get ready to dial in that pace and practice that finishing kick!
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CIM 2017! So inspired by this epic performance by 23 members of the team at the Cal International Marathon yesterday! It was one of our largest and strongest showings in Impala history, with 13 PRs, 12 sub-3:10 finishes! So many highlights but a few with special attention include Bridget Zapata () leading the Impalas with a 2:45:44 (a 14:22 min PR), Jen Baylis (.bayliss) clicking 2:52:33 as 4th in the 45-49 age group, Melissa Lehman’s () impressive 3:06:07 - a PR of 21:53 after almost 2 years battling injury, and Lorna Thompson crushing it in 3:09:27, good for 5th in the 50-54 division. Everton raced so strong and proud, demonstrating the magic of teamwork and persevering towards a goal! We bleed blue for you! 💙💙💙🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️
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When a picture says a thousands words..... so much teamwork, camaraderie, grit and magic out there today at the Cal International Marathon! The team has trained so hard together this season and it all came together out there today in Sacramento.
💙💙💙💙🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️
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