JOSEDOMINGUEZ
Battlefield, Missouri

Profession: General Surgeon
Age: 45
Running Experience: 15 prior marathons. His last marathon, at the end of December 2009, was in 25 degree weather.
Average Time: 4:40ish. "My plan is to let John Steinberg beat me in Antarctica by a few seconds. John is a heart surgeon and has a fragile ego. If I were to beat him, I worry he would jump off a glacier."
Training: A lot of eating and little running to build up his insulation layer. In reality, he is trying to run in the cold, but frequently finds himself on a treadmill.
Fun Facts: He earned the "Zero Hero" badge in Boy Scouts in January after he and his sons went camping in below zero weather. He has also "camped" in a tent in Iraq in 135 degree weather and sand.
Why Antarctica? "My son was was diagnosed with NF at age 2. He has had a neurofibroma excised from his tongue. I want to raise as much money as possible for NF research. My family has a goal of raising $1 million for research."

BILLEDMONDS
Erwinna, Pennsylvania

Profession: President, B&G Manufacturing
Age: 46
Running Experience: About seven marathons
Average Time: 4:45
Training: 
Fun Facts: He participated in the Race Across America in 2007 and 2009. He enjoys SCUBA diving, flying and heli-skiing.
Why Antarctica? n/a 

GEORGEFRANKE (team photographer and cheerleader)

Profession: Fire Chief
Age: 72
Running Experience: His first and last marathon was the Philadelphia Marathon. He has also participated in half marathons and has been a dedicated NF Endurance volunteer.
Average Time: n/a
Training: n/a
Fun Facts: By going to Antarctica, he is trying to squeeze everything in on his bucket list. And, he is the father-in-law of Antarctica runner John McCarthy.
Why Antarctica? To support NF and in honor of his granddaughter, John's daughter. He hopes this trip will generate greater awareness and research possibilities for NF.

GEORGEHADDAD
Melbourne, Florida

Profession: Aerospace Engineer for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
Age: 50 -L1 (Some NASA terminology for his friends on the Antarctic Trip) Well, almost...he turns 50 on Feb. 23rd.
Running Experience: 23 full marathons. "I've lost count on the half marathons."
Average Time: 4:00 "I was faster in the good old days (PR 3:18), but now it's a different story and a different reason to run." 
Training: George got some cold weather running in while coaching at the Disney Marathon in January (nearly record lows at the starting line), but mostly he has just been running and putting in the mileage. He averages 25-30 miles each week. He also ran the Beirut marathon in December.
Fun Facts: He enjoys trail running and extreme adventures, and he is starting to hike more. He wants to get a NF Endurance expedition to hike Mount McKinley. George also enjoys cycling, cooking and watching foreign movies.
Why Antarctica? "I am running for my NF Hero, GiGi Kast. I am proud to represent her and represent NF. I am honored to be with such a great team and in the realm of such a wonderful family. I really would like to see us finding a cure or more medical relief for all those who suffer from NF." 

BILLHARDY
Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Profession: President, Sales Manager - Hardy Machine, Inc.
Age: 46
Running Experience: 23 down currently with one more before departing for Antarctica
Average Time: 4:30
Training: Bill has increased his mileage from 15 miles per week in November to 20 miles in December and is now running about 30 miles per week. Sundays are his favorite days for a long run where he can usually be found on a trail in Pennsylvania.
Fun Facts: He often sports a neon do-rag on the course when he runs for NF Endurance and he has a goal to run an event in all 50 states.
Why Antarctica? "Two fold answer -- the crazier the event, the more interest raised for NF...which relates to more dollars generated and because I like extreme, fun adventures." 

STEVEKENDRA
Sellersville, Pennsylvania

Profession: Director, NF Endurance Team
Age: 50
Running Experience: Officially he has completed 7 marathons prior to Antarctica; although after coaching for quite a few years, his mileage on any given weekend is in excess of 26.2
Average Time: 5 hours
Training: This winter he has been doing quite a bit of running in the snow and cold. And, he has even bough a pair of Keen day hiking ankle boots for his training.
Fun Facts: Recently, when he was asked if he had any friends who would consider parachuting into shark infested waters, he was proud to say that yes, actually he did -- probably the same bunch going south to run 26.2 miles on the coldest continent on earth. He also likes helicopter skiing, SCUBA diving and cylcing. Steve used to own a plane and do "quite a bit of flying around the sky punching holes in the cloud for fun." He enjoys woodworking, reading, writing, and playing the piano and the guitar.
Why Antarctica? He is running this race for the same reason he shows up to work each day -- a developed deep seated animosity towards neurofibromatosis. "I don't mind saying publicly that I have a strong desire to see this disorder fade into the history books. In fact, to the best of my ability, I, along with a couple thousand of my closest friends on the NF Endurance Team, intend to help put it there."

CHADLEATHERS
New York, New York

Profession: Development Officer at the Children's Tumor Foundation
Age: 25 (and a half)
Running Experience: Boston (don't ask), Las Vegas Half Marathon, Half Ironman Florida
Average Time: hahahaha
Training: With his recent move to "tha big city" (NYC), the only hill within 20 miles is the Williamsburg bridge. When it's cold and snowy he runs the 1.5 mile bridge from one side to other for a great view of the city.
Fun Facts: From 'JoJa' even though he lacks the southern accent. He lived in Germany for almost one year after graduating from the University of Georgia as a photographer for Action Sports International. He also enjoys taking long walks on the beach (wink).
Why Antarctica? What my youngest brother Drew, and thousands of other families fight on a daily basis is beyond challenging. They fight a battle that seems never ending and impossible to win; much like a marathon. Our efforts behind this event will push our own boundaries both mentally and physically, but will also strengthen the resolve that there is an end to NF in sight, and that we won't stop until we get there." 

JOHNMCCARTHY
Holmdel, New Jersey

Profession: fixed income/structured finance analyst at S&P
Age: 43
Running Experience: one marathon; five or six half marathons
Average Time: 6 hours; 2:30
Training: running on the weekends
Fun Facts: John enjoys coaching kids basketball
Why Antarctica? "My daughter is one of the amazing, strong and unbelievably resilient kids living with NF. My wife and my other daughter are members of one of way too many families struggling with NF in their daily lives. I am hoping that the efforts of the NF Endurance Team in this race, and all the other races around the world, result in greater awareness of NF, more resources being dedicated to finding sustainable treatments, and ultimately a cure for NF." Plus, he is just not fast enough to qualify for Boston.

CARLPRICE
Springfield, Missouri

Profession: Plastic Surgeon
Age: 51
Running Experience: two marathons and four half marathons
Average Time: Full - 4:20 Half - 2:15
Training: Carl is trying to run when it's miserably cold outside. He is also doing a little more hill work and some trail running.
Fun Facts: He didn't start running until he was 47 when he ran his first marathon. "I'm a idiot savant on motorcycle stuff. I have been a fanatic for 40 years." 
Why Antarctica? "I am running to help my friend José Dominguez whose son has NF. My wife [Kathy] and I also want to see Antarctica." 

KATHYPRICE
Springfield, Missouri

Profession: Kathy spent 18 years as a pharmacist, but she has spent the past 10 years staying at home with her three children.
Age: 50
Running Experience: A self-dubbed 'late-bloomer,' Kathy has completed three half marathons and two spring triathlons. She has also spent countless hours cheering friends and family at marathon events.
Average Time: half - 2:45
Training: Southwest Missouri has had several snows that has allowed her to practice running in the white stuff. She has also been running in YakTrax. "It's like running on a beach, just colder," said Kathy. She and her husband, Carl, have also done some trail running in the Ozarks. While she didn't love the chilly creek crossings, she loved the scenery and adventure. After meeting several groups of hunters on the trail, Kathy and Carl now sport orange hunting caps when they hit the trail.
Fun Facts: She enjoys cooking and doing paper crafts such as rubber stamping. And, even though she is excited about going to Antarctica, she loves to spend her free time fishing somewhere warm. She and Carl also like motorcycles (no Harleys please) and traveling to motorcycle races. She rides some, but she says Carl is the gearhead. They are "down" to nine motorcycles.
Why Antarctica? "Carl is the spontaneous one. He called me with the invitation from Jose to raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation by running a race in Antarctica. I met Jose's son, Eric, at the photo-shoot for our website (runforeric.com) and he is an amazing kid. Wouldn't it be great to fund research for a rapid diagnostic test for NF and a treatment and cure? Let's get running!"

JOHNSTEINBERG
Springfield, Missouri

Profession: Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Age: 51
Running Experience: one full marathon and three half marathons
Average Time: Full: 4 hours Half: 1:46 to 1:53
Training: John's long runs on the weekends are often 20 miles. John has also been running in the dark, cold, rain and snow. To get in a strength run, he trains on hills around a close-by lake.
Fun Facts: He has two children; a daughter who is 19 and son who is 14. He has been married for more than 25 years. He loves to ski in the snow and on the water, and he enjoys listening to music and reading.
Why Antarctica? John is running to support José's long time commitment to raise money for NF. "I think this will be the trip and experience of a lifetime," said John. 

TIMOTHYBILLHARZ
Liberty, Missouri
 

Profession: OB/GYN
Age: 32
Running Experience: 7 marathons and many half marathons. "After finishing my first marathon a couple of years ago I had so much fun that I made a goal of running a marathon in all 50 states." Now he might just have to have a goal of running all the continents! 
Average Time: Full: 4 hours
Training: "Fortunately we have had a very cold, windy, snow-filled winter perfect for training. I try to do all my runs outdoors and always try to get a run in when there is snow on the ground."
Fun Facts: "I am married to the greatest woman in the world (she let me go on this trip although it will cost me an expensive diamond ring)," said Tim. He has two children, ages 7 and 9, who like to "race" him on the track. He speaks Spanish and hopes to use his conversational skills when the team stops in Argentina. Tim is the ninth of 12 children in his family.