This race took place in a Las Cruces New Mexico. It’s a nice small town with lots of restaurants about an hour northwest of El Paso TX.

The race began and finished at the Field of Dreams football/track stadium. It was not large but not too small with the marathon starting first, the half 15 minutes later and the 4.7-mile event after that.

The course was very flat with just a couple of small bumps. The surface was a mix of blacktop, concrete, and dirt. About half the course was on a walkway winding along the dry Rio Grande.

Aid stations and facilities were plentiful. However, there were no gels offered on the course.

Dean ran with his friend Lee who wanted to break 4:30 for the marathon. Lee's watch didn't have a good GPS signal at the start, so his watch said he was going slower than he really was. Dean was recovering from the Across The Years marathon just a few days earlier so he was easing into the race trying to eventually catch up to Lee. It took nearly 4 miles to catch...

New Years Eve was spent in a hotel in Peoria Arizona. We traveled out west so Dean could mark off Arizona in our quest for a marathon in all 50 states. He was injured when we went to the Phoenix Marathon in 2023.

This race was the “Across the Years” event. The marathon was the shortest option. However, his watch measured 27.16 miles when he crossed the line after 19 laps. This event is for those who like to go long. There were time-based races including, 6-days, 72 hours, 48 hours, 24 hours, 12 hours, and 6 hours. Distance races included 200 miles, 100 miles, 100K, and the marathon. And then there was the “Last Man Standing”. This consisted of starting a new lap on the 1.42 mile loop every 20 minutes.

The results were impressive. But we will focus on the race.

The course this year was at the Peoria Sports Complex home to the Mariners and Padres training camps. Loops weaved around the ball parks. The surfaces included concrete, blacktop, dirt, and gravel. The...

As dedicated runners and triathletes, the members of the RYR Endurance Team know that peak performance is a blend of rigorous training, proper nutrition, and effective recovery. Foam rolling is an often overlooked yet essential component of this trifecta, offering a simple and effective way to enhance your recovery and performance. This self-myofascial release technique helps to improve flexibility, reduce muscle soreness, and prepare your body for the demands of your sport. Let’s break down the key muscle groups that benefit the most from foam rolling and how to do it right. 

Quadriceps 

Location: Front of the thigh 

Benefits: Relieves tightness, reduces lactic acid buildup, and prepares the muscles for activity. 

How-To: 

• Lie face down with the foam roller under your thighs
• Use your arms to support your body weight and roll from your hip to just above your knees
• Focus on tender spots, applying gentle pressure for 15-30 seconds 

Hamstrings...

The BMW Dallas Marathon takes place in downtown Dallas. We stayed at the Hampton Inn on Commerce Street which was a great location. The starting corrals, expo, and finish were a 5-minute walk away. The course ran past the hotel at the 26-mile mark. Leading up to the race, options for running were limited. A mile down the street was the Trinity River with a trail that runs along it. The trail alternates between concrete and gravel. However, the morning before the marathon, a 5K and 8K ran in front of the hotel. As a result, the roads were closed making for a great running route.

The expo was one of the best we have experienced. With this event being sponsored by BMW, several models were on display. One car had the names of all participants painted on the side.

The marathon course consisted of a mix of concrete and asphalt. The road surface was uneven with cracks, manholes, and reflectors. The course also had a fair number of hills. We would not consider this a PR course. The half,...

As female endurance athletes, understanding the distinct roles of hydration and nutrition is crucial for optimizing performance and overall health. Dr. Stacy Sims, a renowned exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist, has extensively researched the unique needs of female athletes, shedding light on how hydration and nutrition should be approached separately but synergistically. 

Why Separate Hydration and Nutrition? 

Hydration is about maintaining fluid balance in the body, which is essential for temperature regulation, nutrient transport, and waste removal. Nutrition, on the other hand, focuses on providing the necessary energy and nutrients to fuel workouts, aid recovery, and support overall health. 

Key Insights from Dr. Stacy Sims 

1. Hydration Needs Differ for Women: Women tend to sweat less than men but are more susceptible to the effects of dehydration. This means that maintaining proper hydration is even more critical for female athletes. 

1. ...

Wow!  We couldn't be more excited about the RYR Endurance Race Weekend.  The participants, the volunteers, the weather, were all a blessing.

Plans are already underway for a bigger and better event in 2025.  Registration is now open.  Limited spots are available for each race. Choose one or more races.  Choose from the competitive marathon, casual marathon, ultramarathon (50K), half marathon, 10K, or 5K.  The course is fast and flat.  

Athletes said they were coming back and bringing their friends.  Make your plans now and sign up while spots are still available.

Sign up Now for 2025

We are excited to announce that the RYR Endurance Team will be hosting the first annual RYR Endurance Race Weekend in Owensboro, KY.  The weekend of November 16th and 17th will offer a race for everyone from a 50K Ultra to a 5K and everything in between.  The highlight of the weekend will be the competitive marathon on our USATF certified course.  Those looking for a qualifying time or just want to have confidence in the race distance, come and join us.  Those trying to accomplish a marathon or half marathon in all 50 states, come and join us.  Wanting to run your first ultra?  This will be a great opportunity to do that.

Check out our race weekend web page for more details.

RYR Endurance Race Weekend

Also, check out this article in the Owensboro Times:

Owensboro Times article on the RYR Endurance Race Weekend

Our Team Store is Now Open!

Go To Our Team Store

We are excited to announce our new team store.  We have over a dozen options to choose for men, women, and youths.  Bulk orders are being taken until April 19th, 2023.  After then, the team store will be open on-demand for immediate purchase.  If you have any questions or other gear you would like to see in our store, use our contact page.

For many athletes, there is a support system of family and friends who train with and encourage reaching personal goals. When race day comes, it is so special to have that support system alongside cheering throughout the event.

Here in our hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, the Wendell Foster center hosts an annual Half Marathon in November. This year it occurs on November 12th.

This event raises funds for the great mission of Wendell Foster of “Empowering People With Disabilities.”  To find out more about this awesome race, click here:  Wendell Foster Half Marathon & 5K site

For athletes and their fans, we have created a “Fan Plan” which provides many cheering opportunities without crossing the runners' path for the half marathon.

This fan plan was based on spectating someone running 7 minutes per mile and being familiar with the roads to get to the next location.  If you are unfamiliar with the streets or are spectating someone faster,...

Recently I (Dean) began meeting with a small group of fellow triathletes once a week before work for breakfast and to chat.  One of the guys shared two news stories from Sports Spectrum.  I was unfamiliar with the website.  The website motto is “Where Sports and Faith Connect.”.  One of the stories was about a University of Kentucky basketball player in the SEC tournament on a Saturday night preaching at church on Sunday.  The other story was about the University of Tennessee coach giving glory to God after winning the SEC championship.  I am going to start following this site for inspiration from other Christian athletes. 

What inspired my friend to share the stories was the question, “Am I bold enough to share my faith in Jesus to the world?”  This became the first planned meeting topic after several weeks of just chatting.

During the breakfast meeting, the guys all shared their successes and failures of demonstrating...