Rochester High salutes Olympian alum Lauryn Williams Mar 17, 2014

A standing ovation greeted Olympic medal winner Lauryn Williams when she entered the gym of her alma mater, Rochester Area High School, on Friday afternoon. Ms. Williams, who has won three Olympic medals, including a silver in bobsledding last month at the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, walked through two rows of cheerleaders to greet the crowd of students, teachers and parents, who waved American flags and held posters declaring their pride in her victories. During a highlight video of her career, the students gasped at her athletic feats. But Ms. Williams, 30, downplayed her accomplishments. Wearing a T-shirt with the motto "I can't do it alone," she emphasized the debt she owes to Rochester for her success. "There wasn't one person who inspired me," she told the students. "It was (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Megan Howe, cancer survivor, runs Hope Express to give back Andy Sandrik Feb 20, 2014

Take one look at Cumberland Valley junior runner Megan Howe.  She's competing in cross country and track, going to sleepovers at her friends' houses and trying on prom dresses.  She's living a perfectly normal life.

But for Howe, diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2 and now 14 years in remission, just having a life to live is a gift.  She says she owes everything to THON and the Four Diamonds Fund, in place to conquer pediatric cancer. A student-run, dance-marathon philanthropy at Penn State, THON has raised more than $101 million for the Four Diamonds Fund since its inception in 1977.

Middle Distance Renaissance: Girls Milers Rule PA Aaron Rich Feb 19, 2014

There is a bit of a mid-distance renaissance occurring this year in Pennsylvania on the indoor track circuit and it is incredibly exciting.  To most fans in the know this should come as no surprise as there are a host of talented runners in the state.  But the girls mile in particular now features 4 runners under 4:50, and that is pretty incredible for indoors.  

Former 300-Pound NFL Lineman Runs 3:56 Marathon Feb 03, 2014

After dropping more than 100 pounds since retiring from the NFL in 2011, former offensive lineman Alan Faneca ran his first marathon Sunday in 3:56:17. Faneca, 37, started training for the New Orleans Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon back in October after chatting with his former Pittsburgh Steelers. He followed a training plan made by a friend but said he was still nervous on race day. “I was very nervous about going from the slow long run pace to all of a sudden running 30-45 seconds faster,” he said. “I got the adrenaline thing but adrenaline doesn’t last for four hours.” (via Runner's World)