Most Influential Runners

Why this list
While building our treadmill site we discovered many, many interesting running blogs. Some of these bloggers have extraordinary stories. Some beat cancer, others run with only one leg, some have managed to lose an incredible weight or they own world records. We put together a list with these exceptional people and we named it : "Most Influential Runners". Maybe the title is too fancy but we really consider these persons role models as they have an influence on many lifes.

This is not a top. Some of you may appreciate some runners more than others. But we consider that all deserve our respect equally.

The world is too large and we are sure there are much more runners that should be listed here and they aren't yet. If you know someone that has a blog/site and should be on this page among our chosen influential runners just use the contact form in the sidebar. You can also support this list by publishing the badges from the sidebar on your blog/site.
Thank you all!
Dick and Rick Hoyt
There are little words that can explain our admiration for Team Hoyt (Dick and Rick). For more than 30 years Team Hoyt has written a piece of history. Rick was born in 1962 and due to birth complications he was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. His father, Dick and mother, Judy were determined to raise Rick as part of a community, include him in sports, education and a workplace. They certainly succeeded, especially with sports. Dick and Rick completed their first 5 mile race in 1977. In 1992 they biked and ran across the U.S. completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days. In 2009 Team Hoyt finished their official 1,000th race during the Boston Marathon. In 2010 and the years to come they will keep writing history.
Dick and Rick Hoyt - http://www.teamhoyt.com/
Terry Fox
Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. At 18 years old Terry was diagnosed with osteogenicsarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977. While in hospital, Terry met with other cancer patients, many of them young children. He then decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.He called this journey the Marathon of Hope. He prepared for 18 months(ran over 5,000 km). His Marathon started on April 12th, 1980. On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at the age 22. To date, more than $400 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.
Terry Fox - Marathon of Hope - http://www.terryfox.org/
Kimberly Fawcett
We consider Kim to be an influencial runner due to one main reason: she has own our respect. Kim bikes and runs with a prosthetic leg, but the amazing thing is that she doesn't believe this is a set-back, but a reason to push her limits more and more. We also admire Kim for her openess to help the others. She is the co-founder of The Canadian Forces Injured Soldier Network (CF ISN). This program is created to connect injured or ill soldiers to others in recovery so they can help and offer support to each other. Kimberly Fawcett: http://kimfawcett.blogspot.com
Karl Meltzer
Karl is an Ultra Runner. What makes him an influencial runner is his impressive resume and his life goals. The list with his accomplishments is long but we want to mention he has won 50 ultra wins in 101 starts by October 2009. He is all time winner of Wasatch 100, Hardrock 100, San Diego 100, Squaw Peak 50, Bighorn 100, Massannutten 100 (2). He won 100 mile distance races 27 times. Karl's goal is to reach 35, 100 mile wins. We believe he can do it :)
Karl Meltzer: http://karlmeltzer.com
Norma Bastidas
Norma is an amazing woman, mother and runner. On July 11, 2009, Norma became the fastest female in history to run on seven separate continents in seven months (1272 kilometers). She is a mother willing to go to the end of the world and back for her son, Karl who suffers from a progressive condition with no cure, Cone Rod Dystrophy. Her next amazing quest is to conquer 7 of the most famous peakes of the world, on 7 different continents, including Everest. We support Norma and CNIB, Foundation Fighting Blindness and Operation Eyesight Universal.
Norma Bastidas: http://www.normabastidas.com
Brian "TriBoomer" Brode
We appreciate Brian for completing 4 Ironman races until now and he doesn't stop here. We also appreciate his openness to learn his children and the other kids that sports are a big part of a person's live. We are sure his accomplishments will be even greater in the future. Go Brian!
TriBoomer a.k.a. Brian: http://triboomer.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Arango
At only 24 Stephanie accomplished something little of us managed to do: complete 23 marathons in 21 states (if we counted right). She is determined to finish 50 marathons in 50 states (by the age of 28). From what we know about Stephanie this will definitely be a successful challenge (and she will crash any other statistics done so far). She has all our support and faith.
Stephanie Arango: http://50marathonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Chellie
We want to nominate Chellie as one of the influential runners we appreciate because she succeeded to lose an incredible amount of weight through running (from 191 lbs to 130 lbs). She is the living proof that nothing is impossible when you really want to achieve something and that you can lose weight through a wise and healthy manner. Chellie: http://tryingtomaintainmymindandsanity.blogspot.com/
Andrew
Andrew is very special runner to us because he has had an amazing progress from 308 pounds (139.9 kg :) ) to almost 200 pounds. He is the best model for perseverance, determination and success when it comes to wise weight loss. His goal is to reach 85 kg and stabilize at that level. We are positively sure this will happen in 2010 as he has set his goal to.
Andrew: http://www.andrewisgettingfit.com/
Helen
Helen is a wonderful woman and a very determined runner. She is a winner in life and in marathons. 11 years ago she won the battle against breast cancer. Now she is a dedicated supporter of Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center. She is also part of the DFMC Pediatric Partner Program. In this program she chooses to run on behalf of children in need. Her results are amazing. Her help is very precious.
Helen: http://10yearscancerfree.blogspot.com/
Carolina John
John has been chosen to be part of the influential runners we highly appreciate because of his wonderful determination to start running and quit smoking after 15 years of addiction. In 2009 John finished an olympic distance triathlon, a marathon and a half Ironman, all these after smoking a pack a day for fifteen years. Pretty impressive! Carolina John: http://trainingsmoker.blogspot.com/
Sunshine
We appreciate Sunshine for various reasons, and most of all because she is a powerful woman. Sunshine has made her life wonderful through her spirit. She is a very active runner and the main supporter of her husband, who suffers from myloma. She is a very good example of how life should be seen and lived: with hope and joy. This is a quote from her personal blog that pretty much says it all: "Write on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." Emerson
Sunshine: http://bestdayoftheyear.blogspot.com/
Don
Don is a hero from our point of view. At age 68 he is an active runner and his resume is pretty impressive: twenty-fourth state, thirty-some marathons all these completed since he received multiple myeloma diagnosis 7 years ago. Even so, together with Sunshine, his wonderful wife, they have proven they "can make every day the best day of the year". Don: http://minnesotadon.blogspot.com/
Marathon Mummies
Marathon Mummies must be on the list of influential runners. They represent the best model for women all around the globe struggling daily to keep up with motherhood responsibility, but at the same they try not to forget about themselves. To all the marathon mommies we send our congratulations for their effort and wonderful results.
Meet the Mummies / Marathon Mummies: http://marathonmommies.blogspot.com/
Tony Mangan
Tony Mangan is an Ultra Runner all the world must have heard about. If not we assure you it's a must to find our who he is and why he is a worldwide known influential runner. In 2007 Tony received the IAU (International Association of Ultrarunners) recogition for "the new World Best Performance 48h indoor by Men" for his extraordinary race, 426,178 km ran during the Jami BRNO Spring Ultramarathon, 48h Indoor. He is also known for his 48h treadmill records. Tony's 48 hour treadmill attempt record was registered in 2003. His performance was broken in 2004 by another runner but Tony regained his status in 2008 when he ran the "greatest distance travelled on a treadmill in 48 hours, 405.22 km (251.79 miles)", result acknowledged by the Guinness World Records.
Tony Mangan: http://www.tonymangan.com/
William Sichel
William is an Ultra Runner with an impressive resume. His running history starts in 1972 and since then he has continuously dedicated himself to this sport. In 1997 he beat cancer, a never easy battle. As he confirms on his blog this battle was much more easy because of his great fitness level and commitment to a healthy life. William is and will always be an influential runner.
William Sichel: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk
Andrew Skurka
Andrew is an Ultra Runner too. His biography is impressive and the places he has traveled to may be only dreams for some people. Besides his running history we want to nominate Andrew as an influential runner for his 2010 project: "The Great Alaskan-Yukon Loop". This route is 4,500-mile long, around the state of Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon. His plan includes a quest never even attempted until now. We'll follow Andrew as he writes some piece of history.
Andrew Skurka: http://www.andrewskurka.com/
Tricia Minnick
On January 5, 2009 Tricia made a decision that would change her life.She decided to take care of herself and think more about her health. On that day she weighed 278 pounds. Today she weighs 159. No fad diets, no pills, no aid from surgery. Her success is the result of pure determination, sports and healthy nutrition. Running has been one of the main factors that helped Tricia lose weight, be healthy and have a positive attitude all the way. She started with walking 2 miles a day. In 2010 her goal is to run 1,000 plus miles. Very impressive!
Tricia - http://www.enduranceisntonlyphysical.blogspot.com/
Katye McNulty
Katye has battled eating disorders for years and and thus had a very unhealthy relationship with exercise. In the past few years she's taken her life back and become healthy and in return, has become an active member of Team In Training through Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She started training and fundraising for her first race back in August and since then has completed her first half marathon, raised $19,000 for cancer research and is currently training/fundraising for two more races with TNT! She was chosen to act as a mentor for the San Diego Marathon (which will be her first marathon!). She has also signed on with Ulman Cancer Fund's Team Fight for the Baltimore Marathon. This girl is on fire and refuses to stop until she does everything she can to stop cancer in it
Katye McNulty - http://runninaround.wordpress.com/
Robin
What happens when an over-40 diabetic decides to take up running? She becomes a symbol of 'nothing is impossible'. This is Robin, an impressive woman and runner. Today we want to thank her for being a strong person, who isn't willing to give in, and for writing a story that inspires us. And we thank Amanda for sending us this special nomination.
Robin - http://www.runningcirclesaroundtheturtles.com
Moire O'Sullivan
This is a nomination received from Pete Power: "In July 2008, Moire O'Sullivan, an Irish mountain runner, made a solo attempt on the Wicklow Round, a gruelling endurance run spanning a hundred kilometres over twenty six of Ireland's remotest mountain peaks. After twenty one and a half hours I watched her collapse, two summits from the end. Battered and bruised yet undeterred, she returned a year later to become the first person ever to complete the Round in less than twenty four hours. Though her primary love is mountain running, she now runs and writes around the world, everywhere from Congo to Singapore, from Viet Nam to Kenya. Her blog chronicles her current adventures and makes for a compelling, inspiring read."
Moire O'Sullivan - http://moireosullivan.wordpress.com
Melanie (Mel) at Tall Mom on the Run
Mel's nomination was received a few days ago, from Erica H. The email brought us a lot of joy as we ourselves are big fans of Mel. Here are Erica's words when describing Mel: "She uses her blog to motivate and inspire others by making it a point to encourage and uplift." We agree and this is why Mel is a Most Influential Runner, a runner which through her spirit and example determines other people to keep running and enjoy it at maximum.
Melanie (Mel) at Tall Mom on the Run - http://www.tallmomontherun.com
Cindy
This message is from Christy, Cindy's twin sister: "I would like to nominate my twin sister Cindy. She ran through her entire pregnancy back in 2007 and proved that not only is it ok to continue running during pregnancy, she developed a maternity fitness line along the way. Several years ago, it was almost unheard of to continue training and running during pregnancy. After extensive research and discussions with physicians, etc. Cindy emberked on a healthy running pregnancy and blogged about it along the way. We get so many thank you emails, inquiries and comments from ladies who were inspired to continue running or start running for themselves and their babies. They thank Cindy for posting the photos, running videos, etc. and sharing her pregnancy running experience (even her labor video has been shared) in hopes of inspiring other women to continue running and fitness during pregnancy." We found that many powerful women have followed Cindy's example to run during pregnancy if their baby health allowed it. She is a truly inspirational runner example for all of us.
Cindy- runningskirts.blogspot.com
Laura
Erin came to us with a recommendation for Laura about whom she says the following: "Laura is a marathon maniac that is currently 2 states away from being the youngest female to finish a marathon in all 50 states!!" Editor's note: Laura is a very ambitious runner. She decided to break the current age record (28 years) and be the first marathoner to finish this quest by 24 years and 10 months. On June 6th 2010 she arrives to the finish line. Her story must be read as it includes great advice for those who go for the same goal. Laura,
Laura- http://absolutlyfit.blogspot.com/
Singapore Blade Runner(Md Shariff Abdullah) and The 1 Arm Runner(Adam Bin Kamis)
Here is what Haffiz sent to us when nominating these special runners: "I am a local runner blogger from Singapore, I review running events and running gears. Through running I've meet some great friends among the Disability community, Competing in races and inspiring others to run and compete to reach their goals. Singapore Blade Runner and The 1 Arm are only 2 of these influential runners. These people really concentrate on what they can do rather than what they can't. They are truthfully inspirational." Editor's note: There are many other people who suffered amputees and with the aid of prosthetic limbs they reach performance. We will only mention few of the runners we know such as Nathan Smids, Richard Blalock, Oscar Pistorius, Richard Whitehead. With such examples you can never give up, no matter what
Singapore Blade Runner, http://www.singaporebladerunner.com/ and The 1 Arm Runner, http://1armrunner.blogspot.com/

Do you know a person who deserves to be on this list and it's not yet here ? Use the contact form in the sidebar and let us know about him. Thank you!