October 14, 2008 - FIVE DAYS!

It's Race Week
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First, make that a correction--SEVEN of your staff ran the Chicago Marathon on Sunday--Clint Hough and Bob Karel, a couple of our key all-around utility staff guys were there too! It was two weeks in a row for Clint, since he ran the staff run with us a week ago as well. What an animal!

Well, how's it going? Your long runs are over. It's RACE WEEK!! Friday we'll be setting up. Saturday is the expo. It's a crazy time here in Grand Rapids!

Just a couple tips: Go to the website. Look at the Race Day Instructions. Review the Frequently Asked Questions.

Now, if you still have concerns, here's the deal. This race is put on by a seasoned staff. We're taking care of you out there--including lots of hydration and nutrition on the course. Portajohns at every aid station. And lots of woods to duck into just in case you can't wait for the portajohn. (Please learn to identify poison ivy before using this option!!)

Prepare! If you don't like GU and would prefer one of the other energy gels, bring it with you. Whatever you think you're going to need, bring it just in case. There will be lots of stuff for sale at the expo too, if you forget something.

Weather--there are about 20 different places that you can get a GR Weather Report online. Yet someone always asks me what the weather is supposed to be. Well, I'd like it to be ideal conditions and it's looking right now like it might be, however, if the weather gets really bad, we're going to hold the race outdoors. (Hey Shane--I actually wrote this BEFORE I got your email!)

Other than that, I might have time to discuss weather next week sometime.
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Sunday will be the greatest day of my year. It's a day when all the preparation comes together. It's a day when I stand at the FINISH LINE and greet each of you as you cross it. It's a time of celebration--when many of you meet the challenges you've set out for yourselves. There's nothing like it!

Can't wait to see you there.

Charity Update
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Carrie has been raising money like crazy for Safe Haven Ministries. She sent me this article:

Well, the week is finally here and for some of you, like me, this is your first full marathon. If that is the case, I am feeling all those anxieties, fears, excitements and nerves that you are. My name is Carrie and after seeing the documentary "Spirit of a Marathon," I felt compelled to run my marathon for an organization that not only has impacted me, but also has impacted our society. Many of you are doing the same. To charity runners, the marathon is not just a challenging run to push yourself to limits and test your perseverance, but instead it is a run of representation. As a domestic violence survivor, I am running to represent all the women and children who have been through, or are still going through, a domestic violence relationship. In my survivor's story on my website, I stated, I run for awareness, I run for Safe Haven Ministries, but I also run for all the women who still today struggle with the feelings of shame and fear of escaping from the situation in which they find themselves. The knowledge and experience I received through working with my charity has been rewarding and because of this, I have been able to gain confidence in myself to open up and share my story with others in hopes that it will impact them as much as other stories of domestic violence has impacted me. With this, even after the marathon I hope to continue to help this organization and others in changing the community for the good.

Each step we take as charity runners is reminder of the reason we are running. It is a reminder of those who have been apart of, or impacted by, the charity you represent. When we are at are lowest throughout the run and feel as if there is little physical ability to keep going, look back and remind yourself not only what you are running for, but also who you are running for. I know those thoughts and reminders will push me through every mile and when I cross the finish line, I won't just be crossing it for myself, but rather for all those I represent through my charity. I wish all you runners well and that God will provide us all the energy, strength and endurance through 26.2 miles.

--Carrie A. Farrell--

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Several GRM wallpapers for the KM and GRM are available on the website on the home page. Check out some of the great stuff the Highland Group has been doing for us this year.

Oh--the color of the shirts? London. I'd like to tell you that the color is named after the city that is bringing the most Canadians to Michigan to run our race, but actually, it's just what Brooks calls the color GRAY.

See you in FIVE DAYS

and the adventure continues....

Don Kern
Race Director