Newsletter 9/17/2009

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter Sponsored by Sportwax 17 September 2009  ONE MONTH TO GO!    REALLY HOT!  Yeah, that's what it was like in Costa Rica last weekend at the Tamarindo Beach Marathon.  Plus about 100% humidity.  I was pretty freakin' slow.  But I found a guy named Verny who was running his first marathon.  We hooked up at the turn (13.1 miles out) and started running together.  For 5K, we talked and worked through the course as the clouds cleared and the sun baked us.  Michigan summer never prepared me for this one.  He pulled ahead, but I suspected I'd catch him.  With about 11K to go, I reeled him in.  His wife Maggie had joined him at that point to run in with him, but I could tell he was struggling.  Instead of going ahead, I stayed to help.  We worked the kilometers, counting down.  I pulled ahead a bit, but kept him in sight.  3K.  2K.  1K.  The finish line!  I finished only a minute before he did, and met him with water & Powerade.  We shared the joy of his first marathon finish.  I remembered mine.  It was amazing.   It's only one month until many of you will do your first marathon right here in Grand Rapids.  Can't wait to share that moment with YOU too!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED This is from Lynne Oosterhouse, our beautiful and talented Volunteer Coordinator:    Hi there!  Can you please send out a note in your weekly email asking for volunteers?    So there you go Lynne.  Should I also tell them that they can volunteer by clicking this link?   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  THIS WEEKEND RUNNING And, from Dr. Rick Ganzi, the Pace Team Guy--   Sunday, 8AM, meet at the Y - we'll run the new course for 20 miles (we'll cut off 6 miles on the other side of the bridge).   That's right, you too can run with the first American finisher at this year's Comrades Marathon!  He's got some great stories to share.      Sounds like Kathy Haase, our Race Packet Pickup Czarina plans to run Sunday at 7:00 and do the half-marathon course at a relatively slow pace.  So there's another option for you!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   BAGEL BEANERY GRAND RAPIDS KIDS MARATHON   Wednesday, September 23 at 5:00, bring the kids to John Ball Park for a special ONE MILE TRAINING RUN!  Ringling Bros And Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns will be there.  We'll have circus passes, maybe a couple of goodies, and LOTS OF FUN!!    If your kids aren't signed up, DO IT NOW at www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/kids.aspx and get their little legs out on the road.  After they log 10 miles, you can go to Gazelle Sports for half-off on a new pair of running shoes!  Pretty cool, eh?   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIRTS, HATS, OTHER STUFF Still have a bunch of hats.  They're ten bucks.  You want one, click on the link below.  Same thing with the old shirts.  Help me clear my house out before they deliver the new stuff. BUY LAST YEAR'S HATS & SHIRTS (M,L, & XL only) FOR ONLY $10.00    RUN THRU THE RAPIDS   The YMCA Service Club sponsors a great little tune-up race on Saturday, October 10th.  It's the 39th (I think) annual Run Thru the Rapids 5K and 10K.  It's a great event--you can run the downtown river walk trails up and down the Grand River, past some great Art Prize pieces along the way.  Sign up at http://runthrutherapids.com All proceeds go to support YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin   EVERY STRIDE 5K & 10K   Every Stride 5K & 10K is the week after the marathon.  It's also the Nike Human Race.  It's cool.  The 5K is mostly on the golf course.  The 10K is mostly on road.  It's the best of both worlds!  Go to  www.mirunning.com  for more info.   Plus, wear your marathon stuff--shirt, hat, socks, whatever, and get into a free drawing for one of two free entries to our 2010 marathon!  Marathon Minute - On the Radio   Citadel Broadcasting has teamed up with the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon.  You can hear the Marathon Minute on your friendly Citadel stations!   From this week's spot (brought to you by RW Baird Investments):   There's an attitude among marathon runners that affects other areas of life. My friend Dan was part of a big lay off at a local company.  And you know that "layoff" isn't temporary like it used to imply. It really means, "You're Fired."  Dan was the father of two young children.  He talked with me that night about his new opportunity.  It was his time. Dan was pretty good with computers.  He printed up some postcards and some business cards.  He walked around office buildings handing them out.  He mailed out 100 cards a week to businesses.  He offered to come in and fix computers, install software, troubleshoot, whatever.  People responded.  Dan was in business. It was Dan's Marathon Minute, when he realized that he had to do is GO FOR IT!  Dan reacted to an opportunity and it changed his life. But it's an Honest Sweat!  by Michael Selman    I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm not an avid reader, and when I do read, it's usually for self-discovery, and not for entertainment. Most often, when I pick up a book, it is with a desire to learn how to improve some element of me, or to acquire tools which allow me to see things more clearly, or with the intent of learning to understand other people or myself in a different, more positive light. Mostly, I read for inspiration, and last night was no exception. With my own writing in a dormant stage lately, I picked up an older book I hadn't looked at in a long time, with the hope of becoming once again inspired to write. When I opened it, the first thing I noticed was how discolored the pages had become since I had last picked it up. But though the pages had yellowed, the words were still as timeless and appropriate as when they were first written, and they danced off the aged pages as I read. The book was "Running and Being" and the author was George Sheehan. I wasn't even half way through the forward before I realized that today was going to be a writing day for me. When I read about how, in is own opinion, Sheehan the writer and Sheehan the runner were inseparable and one would likely not exist without the other, I acquiesced, remembering how I used to feel the same way about myself. Sheehan was not my first inspiration as a runner, but he was my first inspiration as a writer. Through him, I learned how to unite my two passions, creating a compound word "runnerwriter" which I define as the "path to the purest form of revelation and honesty." Sheehan chose to write immediately after his run, opting to towel off instead of showering because "Honest sweat has no odor." But if you look deeper, there's much more to it than that. Running sweat is as honest as sweat can get. The activity of running breaks through the falsehoods and the colored filters, and reveals the truths about ones self, others, and life in a way that no other activity parallels, at least to the runner. It is the unique and seemingly antagonistic combination of acute awareness and complete serenity in the same instant that makes running sacred. Many refer to that feeling as "Runner's High." I think of it as "Runner's Truth" revealed overtly as honest sweat. Why should we be in such a hurry to rinse it away? As I mentioned earlier, I have been experiencing another in a continuing series of bouts with writer's block. It's not that the ideas haven't been there. Running has been as enlightening as ever, and I've been learning more about the sport I love, the things I love, the people I love, and the person I am becoming than ever before. But somewhere between the run and the write, it has all been washed away time and time again. After being reminded again last night of how George did it, I'm confident that I'm back in the groove. Sheehan knew better than to shower off the residue of the run before he captured his thoughts on paper. He simply ran, toweled off, and then wrote what the run revealed, while the thoughts were still fresh and honesty was still oozing out of his every pore. It resulted in primitive truths, written in modern words that will hold true for as long as the human species continues running and being. So this morning I ran, accumulating new truths with every step. I delighted in feeling the salty truth serum dripping over my eyes, down my neck, squishing in my shoes, and saturating my singlet and shorts. Then, I toweled off, and sat down to write, still feeling the fresh film of sweat of the previous 3 hours through the equestrain trails of lovely Asheville North Carolina. Ah. But it's an honest sweat.   I thought this was amusing...   It's the road signs, 'Beware of lions.' Kip Lagat, Kenyan distance runner, during the Sydney Olympics, explaining why his country produces so many great runners     I was trying to come up with something clever about being in Michigan and our Lions. But it was just making me depressed so I'm giving up on that one.  Runing This Weekend-- Go up to the first article and check out on the running stuff for this weekend.  If nothing else, the Grand Rapids Running Club is always at John Ball Zoo at 8:00 on Saturdays and Sundays for various distances if you don't want to run alone.   Meanwhile, the lovely Francine and I are off to Fox Cities Marathon in Appleton, Wisconsin to join my good friend Dean Peterson for his 100th marathon.     20 MILE TRAINING RUN Preview a lot of the course, have fun, get a cool shirt.  Sign up for the 20 mile training run on September 26th.  It's hosted by Gazelle Sports.  http://www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/training_run.aspx and the adventure continues.... Don Kern Race Director, Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon   P.S.  If you want to respond to this newsletter, change the subject line so I don't just end up thinking it's a bounce notice or something.  Thanks!  In This Issue Marathon Minute - On the Radio But it's an Honest Sweat! Our Sponsors The Calendar Quick Links Register Now Buy Stuff More About Us Our Sponsors This newsletter sponsored by: Prevents chafing, promotes healing. A must for EVERY athlete!     TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Gazelle Sports Training Programs    Marathon Adventures Boot Camp And now...a word from our SPONSORS!   Metro Health Sports Medicine   Gazelle Sports   Highland Group   Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith   Bagel Beanery   West Michigan Sports Commission   Brooks Sports   R.W. Baird Investments   Wright Sock   Gordon Water   Pepsi Bottling of West Michigan   Wright Chiropractic   My Way Mobile Storage     The Schedule   September 26th 20 Mile Training Run hosted by Gazelle Sports   October 17th 9 - 6 Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pickup at the David D Hunting YMCA   October 17th Bagel Beanery Kids Marathon Final 1.2 miles at 1:00 pm   October 18th Sixth Annual Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay    October 24th Every Stride 5K/10K, and Metro Health Marathon Post-Race Celebration at Candlestone Golf & Resort   LIFETIME RUNNER Enter Once, Run Forever! You can enter the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon for LIFE. For $725, you get to enter the full or the half marathon for as long as we're still in business!    You'll get a permanent number, some extra swag, and the adoration of your fellow runners. If you've already registered for this year but would like to upgrade, we can make that work too--just email me and we'll get it figured out.     Wright Chiropractic, P.C. 5020 E. Beltline NE, Suite 103 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616) 364-4448 Come in and donate $20 to the Susan G Komen Foundation (Race for the Cure) and receive free first-day services at Wright Chiropractic Includes: Consultation Exam X-rays (if needed) Report of Findings Offer Expires: September 30, 2009

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon | PO Box 1041 | Grand Rapids | MI | 49501

Ron Stout - Broke his Neck Getting Here

Hey--one of our half-marathon runners coming to Grand Rapids.  Check out the story:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/doctor-who-broke-neck-on-bike-path-bridge-trains-for-half-marathon-285357.html

Newsletter 9/11/2009

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter Sponsored by Sportwax 11 September 2009  I'M NOT A HAND HOLDER     At least that's what Rich, the relay guy tells me.  Well, maybe it's true.  Rich is very much in to making sure everything is just-so while he and his crew are putting the relay together.  Me, on the other hand--I'm willing let you figure out things out for yourself.  Like this:  People ask me when there will be GU on the course.  Then what flavor.  And will it be the kind with caffeine or not.  Well, here's my thoughts about that...   The course is well supported.  Gummy bears, GU, Gatorade, water, medical staff, music, etc.  It may be one of the best supported marathons in the world.  (At least I'd like people to think it is.)  However, if you think you need GU at some other spot or of some particular flavor, if your training says you need something every hour and it isn't at the right interval for you, CARRY SOMTHING WITH YOU.  It's your marathon.  It's your goal.  It's your body that will carry you through the race. And at the end, it's YOUR NECK that's going to have a finisher's medal hanging around it.  We'll help in any way we can--just help us out!   Oh--and I'll hold your hand too--when you cross the finish line I'll be waiting for you, shaking your hand, giving you a big hug and celebrating your victory with you.  I can't wait.     BAGEL BEANERY GRAND RAPIDS KIDS MARATHON   People are still asking--can I sign my kids up?  YES!!  But the need to start running NOW!  They need to get 25 miles in before Saturday, Oct 17th.  Then it's off to the races for their last 1.2 miles, starting and ending at the big people's START/FINISH line.  To to www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/kids.aspx and sign them up today!!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COURSE NOTES!!!   YES!  The map is on the website. The elevation chart is there too.  Thank to all the people who sent me graphics of it last week.  The famous person who did the ones we're using wishes to remain anonymous.  Guess she figures she already had her 15 minutes.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIRTS, HATS, OTHER STUFF Still have a bunch of hats.  They're ten bucks.  You want one, click on the link below.  Same thing with the old shirts.  Help me clear my house out before they deliver the new stuff. BUY LAST YEAR'S HATS & SHIRTS (M,L, & XL only) FOR ONLY $10.00   THIS WEEKEND   I don't know who's running the course this weekend, but I'm out of town.  There will be people running though--meet at John Ball Park at 8:00 and hook up with the Grand Rapids Running Club either Saturday or Sunday.     RUN THRU THE RAPIDS   The YMCA Service Club sponsors a great little tune-up race on Saturday, October 10th.  It's the 39th (I think) annual Run Thru the Rapids 5K and 10K.  It's a great event--you can run the downtown river walk trails up and down the Grand River, past some great Art Prize pieces along the way.  Sign up at http://runthrutherapids.com All proceeds go to support YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin   EVERY STRIDE 5K & 10K   And, our Post-Race Party, the Every Stride 5K & 10K is the week after the marathon.  Check it out too!  www.mirunning.com   Plus, if you wear your marathon stuff--shirt, hat, socks, whatever, and get into a free drawing for one of two free entries to our 2010 marathon!  Marathon Minute - On the Radio   Citadel Broadcasting has teamed up with the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon.  You can hear the Marathon Minute on your friendly Citadel stations!   From this week's spot (brought to you by Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith):   When I ran the Bataan Death March Memorial Marathon in New Mexico, I met General David Huntoon.  He was an inspirational speaker at the opening ceremonies, and then when I passed him between 16 and seventeen miles I recognized him from the name on the back of his hat and the three stars on his uniform.  As we ran together for the next couple of miles, we discussed leadership and the importance of setting a good example.  General Huntoon is in a position to lead by giving orders.  Instead, he chooses to lead by setting an example. That's the attitude of a marathon runner.  Setting big goals, setting a good example.  It's one of the marks of a true leader. Closing In    by Dr. Ed Kornoelje   We are closing in on the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon (and other fall runs), and I am starting to see a few injuries crop up.  Some are nagging others more serious, and many runners want to know what to do.  Here are a few things to keep in mind as you are finishing up your training. 1.  If you have been keeping up with your training, a few missed runs are OK.  You are probably feeling some aches and pains that you have not felt before, due to some longer runs.  Try to get most of your runs in, buy also look for breaks in your schedule.  You may be going a way for a long weekend, or doing some kids activities that keep you from running for a few days.  Use this time to give your legs a rest and heal. 2.  Cross train.  This is a holdover from previous tips, but bears repeating.  In my opinion cross training should be a part of every training regimen, and now is as good a time as any to implement this.  Swimming, biking and rowing are great options. 3.  Be creative.  If you do have a more serious injury (stress fracture, IT band syndrome) you have a couple of options.  In some cases we have been able to have a runner keep training (and finish a marathon) by doing pool and elliptical work exclusively until their marathon.  In other instances switching to a shorter distance (the half marathon or relay) in order to experience the fun of race day may work well.  Always look ahead a few months and rate the importance of the upcoming race in relation to what's next-if you have a break coming up (as often is the case with Fall marathons), it is OK to push it a little.  If you have another event coming soon that you really do not want to miss, you may need to change what you are doing now. These are just a few tips that may help you navigate a late training injury.  As part of the Metro Health Sports Medicine Running Clinic series, I will be at the Grand Rapids Gazelle Sports location on Tuesday September 15 at 7 PM.  In the upcoming months we will move back to our customary second Tuesday of the month schedule.  If you have any questions about injuries or running in general, come on out and we will be happy to take a look at you. Ed Kornoelje DO Medical Director Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon   Make up Marathon   Hey, remember when Paul (my buddy from Chicago) and I didn't bother to check on visas and therefore didn't go to Rio back in June?  Well, we're using our airline tickets this weekend, so this newsletter is coming to you from Tamarindo, Costa Rica.  Marathon tomorrow promises to be HOT AND HUMID.  I thought the ocean breezes would keep it cooler here, but so far that's not the case.  Oh well, we'll have fun anyway.         Runing This Weekend-- Hey, while you're getting in your long run this weekend, hook up with the Grand Rapids Running Club at the zoo on Saturday or Sunday at 8:00.  Go out and explore some of the new Millennium Park trails.  See what you think--they're pretty awesome, in my opinion.      20 MILE TRAINING RUN Preview a lot of the course, have fun, get a cool shirt.  Sign up for the 20 mile training run on September 26th.  It's hosted by Gazelle Sports.  http://www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/training_run.aspx and the adventure continues.... Don Kern Race Director, Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon   P.S.  If you want to respond to this newsletter, change the subject line so I don't just end up thinking it's a bounce notice or something.  Thanks!  In This Issue Marathon Minute - On the Radio Closing In Our Sponsors The Calendar Quick Links Register Now Buy Stuff More About Us Our Sponsors This newsletter sponsored by: Prevents chafing, promotes healing. A must for EVERY athlete!     TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Gazelle Sports Training Programs    Marathon Adventures Boot Camp And now...a word from our SPONSORS!   Metro Health Sports Medicine   Gazelle Sports   Highland Group   Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith   Bagel Beanery   West Michigan Sports Commission   Brooks Sports   R.W. Baird Investments   Wright Sock   Gordon Water   Pepsi Bottling of West Michigan   Wright Chiropractic   My Way Mobile Storage     The Schedule   September 26th 20 Mile Training Run hosted by Gazelle Sports   October 17th 9 - 6 Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pickup at the David D Hunting YMCA   October 17th Bagel Beanery Kids Marathon Final 1.2 miles at 1:00 pm   October 18th Sixth Annual Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay    October 24th Every Stride 5K/10K, and Metro Health Marathon Post-Race Celebration at Candlestone Golf & Resort   LIFETIME RUNNER Enter Once, Run Forever! You can enter the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon for LIFE. For $725, you get to enter the full or the half marathon for as long as we're still in business!    You'll get a permanent number, some extra swag, and the adoration of your fellow runners. If you've already registered for this year but would like to upgrade, we can make that work too--just email me and we'll get it figured out.     Wright Chiropractic, P.C. 5020 E. Beltline NE, Suite 103 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616) 364-4448 Come in and donate $20 to the Susan G Komen Foundation (Race for the Cure) and receive free first-day services at Wright Chiropractic Includes: Consultation Exam X-rays (if needed) Report of Findings Offer Expires: September 30, 2009

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon | PO Box 1041 | Grand Rapids | MI | 49501

Newsletter 9/3/2009

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter Sponsored by Sportwax 4 September 2009 COUNTING DOWN, NOT GIVING UP Summer is almost over, whether you count it by when Labor Day is or by the autumnal equinox, FALL is getting here. The marathon staff meetings are getting more intense. The antici...... .......pation is building. A few people have asked to switch to the half from the full. Here's my thought on that: If you REALLY need to, that's fine. We can do that. However, if you just had a bad long run and you're doubting yourself, you probably don't have a problem. We all doubt ourselves sometimes. Some runs aren't as good as we'd like. It happens. You'll be fine. Just don't do it because you're having second thoughts. (OK, one woman told me she was pregnant and needed to switch to the half. This is a legitimate reason:-) KIDS MARATHON GET YOUR KIDS RUNNING! IF THEY'RE NOT TRAINING YET, IT'S TIME TO START! It's a great time, and a chance for wht whole family to get involved in your favorite hobby. Join us for the third annual Bagel Beanery Grand Rapids Kids Marathon. Sign up at our website--it's free. Download the logbook. Start accumulating 25 miles, then come out and join us on Saturday of race weekend and run the final 1.2 miles on the course! Share your love of running with your kids! See you then! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COURSE NOTES!!! YES! The map is on the website. Now, here's your chance to be famous. I have an elevation spreadsheet, but no really nice little graph with the elevation chart. If you're good with Excel graphs, maybe you'd like to download the spreadsheet, make a couple nice graphs of it (one for the full and one for the half) and send me a .jpg of each of them. We'll post them on the course page along with your name and how really cool you are. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIRTS, HATS, OTHER STUFF Still have a bunch of hats. They're ten bucks. You want one, click on the link below. Same thing with the old shirts. Help me clear my house out before they deliver the new stuff. BUY LAST YEAR'S HATS & SHIRTS (M,L, & XL only) FOR ONLY $10.00 THIS WEEKEND The lovely Francine and I are headed to the Labor Day 30K in Milford. You ready Doug? I'm about to invite 6000 people to your race. Everyone head out to Milford this weekend. It's a great training run--hills, hills, plus a couple of hills too. If you can handle this in September, you can handle a marathon in October! Labor Day 30K Join me there for some fun! THE WEEKEND AFTER THE MARATHON It's our Post-Race Party. It's the Every Stride 5K & 10K. And it's the Nike Human Race. It's at Candlestone Golf and Resort, the Saturday following the marathon. Get together with your fellow marathon and half-marathon runners, run a much shorter race, enjoy some good food and fellowship, and show off your race shirt and gear. Read the whole press release about it here. Plus, if you wear your marathon stuff--shirt, hat, socks, whatever, and get into a free drawing for one of two free entries to our 2010 marathon! Marathon Minute - On the Radio Citadel Broadcasting has teamed up with the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. You can hear the Marathon Minute on your friendly Citadel stations! From this week's spot (brought to you by Gazelle Sports): If you were exploring a planet for signs of intelligent life, it would be a sure indication if you found a pair of running shoes. That's right! Finding a pair of running shoes would tell you some very important things about a planet. You would know that they discovered the importance of physical fitness and of good health. It would show that they've discovered the benefits of motion. Their brains have developed to crave the extra oxygen needed for a good run. Their attitudes are happier. And their bodies are stronger. Is this what they mean when they say "Survival of the fittest?" You can turn yourself into a higher life form. Go buy yourself a pair of running shoes. Training! Mental stuff! Go look in the mirror. Smile. Tell yourself how awesome you are. (Probably better if no one else is in the room, but that's your call.) You're one of the few people on the planet capable of running a marathon. Or a half. Really--maybe it seems to you that all your friends do it too, but compare yourself to the rest of the your fellow earthlings. You're awesome! We all are. Now that you've looked yourself in the eye and told yourself that, go out and grab a few more miles. Another Course Preview! Sunday morning at he YMCA (September 6) 6:30 a.m. We'll run out to the 14 mile mark (the short way, about 3.7 miles). Then well join the course and run from 14 almost to 26.2, for a total of around 16 miles. Now, if you want to run farther or sleep in, you could join Dr. Rick and a few others at 8:00 Sunday instead and run somewhere around 20 miles. Fun, eh? BRING WATER BOTTLES & WHATEVER NUTRITION YOU'RE INTERESTED IN INGESTING ALONG THE WAY. and the adventure continues.... Don Kern Race Director, Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon P.S. If you want to respond to this newsletter, change the subject line so I don't just end up thinking it's a bounce notice or something. Thanks! In This Issue Marathon Minute - On the Radio Our Sponsors The Calendar Quick Links Register Now Buy Stuff More About Us Our Sponsors This newsletter sponsored by: Prevents chafing, promotes healing. A must for EVERY athlete! TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Gazelle Sports Training Programs Marathon Adventures Boot Camp And now...a word from our SPONSORS! Metro Health Sports Medicine Gazelle Sports Highland Group Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith Bagel Beanery West Michigan Sports Commission Brooks Sports R.W. Baird Investments Wright Sock Gordon Water Pepsi Bottling of West Michigan Wright Chiropractic My Way Mobile Storage The Schedule September 26th 20 Mile Training Run hosted by Gazelle Sports October 17th 9 - 6 Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pickup at the David D Hunting YMCA October 17th Bagel Beanery Kids Marathon Final 1.2 miles at 1:00 pm October 18th Sixth Annual Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay October 24th Every Stride 5K/10K, and Metro Health Marathon Post-Race Celebration at Candlestone Golf & Resort LIFETIME RUNNER Enter Once, Run Forever! You can enter the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon for LIFE. For $725, you get to enter the full or the half marathon for as long as we're still in business! You'll get a permanent number, some extra swag, and the adoration of your fellow runners. If you've already registered for this year but would like to upgrade, we can make that work too--just email me and we'll get it figured out. Wright Chiropractic, P.C. 5020 E. Beltline NE, Suite 103 Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616) 364-4448 Come in and donate $20 to the Susan G Komen Foundation (Race for the Cure) and receive free first-day services at Wright Chiropractic Includes: Consultation Exam X-rays (if needed) Report of Findings Offer Expires: September 30, 2009

Post Race Party!!

MICHIGAN CHOSEN FOR “2009 NIKE+ HUMAN RACE 10K”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Person: Chris Nicholas
2009 Nike+ Human Race at the Every Stride 5k/10k
Telephone Number: 616-430-2496
Fax Number: 616-608-0294
Email Address: chris@mirunning.com

August 21, 2009 - Belding, MI: Hundreds of thousands of runners will toe the line on October 24 for a globally coordinated 10k running event and Michigan is on a list of select locations. Sponsor NIKE announced this week that two dozen cities around the world were chosen as sites to run this joint event. Joining such sites as Los Angeles, Rome, and Buenos Aires will be mighty little Belding, MI, which is hosting its second annual Every Stride 5k/10k run on that date and will now have the honor of being titled as the 2009 NIKE+ Human Race at the Every Stride 5K/10K.

Race Director Chris Nicholas was “truly blown away” when Gazelle Sports along with its retail partnership with NIKE agreed to include his rural West Michigan race in the attempt to surpass last year’s ¾ million NIKE+ Human Race 10k participants. With the NIKE hook-up, Nicholas is projecting to double last year’s participants numbers. “There was only one city in Michigan chosen, and we are thrilled to be the one,” Nicholas added.

The NIKE "Run Where You Are” option will allow runners to compete on race day by using the NIKE+ iPod Sport Kit and logging it at the 10k race. Members of Nikeplus.com can also take advantage of online training tools and experience the full depth of the NIKE+ community, which already reaches 2 million runners worldwide. By registering, runners will be able to participate in one of the two dozen NIKE events and virtually compete together. In order to have their times compared with global registrants participants must register online with Nikeplus.com by race day and be using a NIKE+ iPod Sport Kit.

The 2009 NIKE+ Human Race at the Every Stride 5k/10k will again be run at Candlestone Golf Resort and feature a 5k run, 5k walk, 10k run, and various children’s activities, which are sponsored by Gazelle Sports. The unique course allows 5K participants to run on the 18-hole championship golf course at Candlestone Golf Resort, while the 10k course takes runners through the streets of downtown Belding, winding over the Flat River twice, and returning to finish in front of the golf course.

The 2008 Every Stride event was a great success in its initial year, remarked Jeff Peterson, co-owner of Classic Race Management, which will be scoring all runners’ times for the 2009 race. Classic is the official timer for Grand Rapids’ 5^th/3^rd River Bank Run, the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, the Grand Rapids Race for the Cure, and hundreds of other events around the Midwest.

The $18.00 registration allows runners and walkers to participate in either 5k event (3.1 miles), the 10k run (6.2 miles), or a combination of both the 5k and 10k run at no additional cost. The 5k run begins at 9:00 am, the 5k walk at 9:05 am, and the 10K run at 9:45 am. In addition, runners and walkers receive a free NIKE/Every Stride Race T-Shirt with their bib number printed on the front, a souvenir golf ball with the race logo on it, a free certificate for 18 holes of golf at Candlestone (to be used in 2010), and access to the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon post-race party. The party will run from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and include free burgers, brats, chicken, salads, desserts, and more.

"Marathon finishers can get together at the end of the week after we've had a chance to recover, have a nice run, show off our marathon gear, and trade stories," said Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Race Director Don Kern, who will be staging the 6^th GRM six days prior. The post-race party will also allow attendees to win trips to Orlando, Chicago, and Las Vegas with air fare and hotel included.

Event co-sponsor Gazelle Sports will host multiple activities for children 12 and under, including a 1-mile competitive run, a golf course driving range fun run, pumpkin decorating, and candy scavenger hunt. “Gazelle Sports strives to support community events and we are proud to embrace the Every Stride as one of our greatest community events,” commented Gazelle Sports Event Coordinator Jennifer Taylor.

Race medals will be awarded 5 deep in each age/gender category, along with overall awards for male and female wnners in both the open and masters categories. For fun, this year marks the addition of a special “middle of the pack” award.

For complete details individuals may go to www.mirunning.com. The 2009 NIKE+ Human Race at the Every Stride 5K/10K location is Candlestone Golf Resort, 8100 Storey Rd., Belding, Michigan. Contact Chris Nicholas at 616-430-2496 or chris@mirunning.com. Participants may register at any Gazelle Sports location, at Candlestone Golf Resort, via mail, or online.

Newsletter 3 July 2009

Sometimes things don't go as planned. We had a weekend like that--but made a great recovery. Sure, we weren't walking up and down the beach in Rio, but we did have a lot of fun.

Running in the Heat article by Ed Kornoelje!! Necessary reading for the summer runner.

Click here.