| Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter Sponsored by Sportwax 23 September 2009 |
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A LITTLE FASTER, AT LEAST This weekend I had the honor of celebrating Dean Peterson's 100th marathon at Fox Cities in Wisconsin. Nice event, and my fastest marathon since my knee surgeries. (Still pretty slow though.) Finished alongside the lovely Francine too. Nice. And, I have a pretty interesting series of coincidences along the way--read "Box 54 Where Are You" below. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20 MILE TRAINING RUN Saturday at 8:00 am at John Ball Park is the Official 20 Mile Training Run. A semi-formal (NOT A RACE) run along much of the course hosted by Gazelle Sports. Self-serve aid stations. Sunday there will be a group leaving from the Y at 8:00 and running the half-marathon course. After they get back from that, they'll be running through the downtown area admiring many of the Art Prize pieces. Bring water bottles for the first loop, and a camera for the second. Or skip the run and just meet up at the Y around 10:30 or so. BAGEL BEANERY GRAND RAPIDS KIDS MARATHON We had about 125 kids out last night to run with a bunch of clowns from the Ringling Bros And Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns. Lots of run!! Oops--I meant FUN!! If your kids are already training but haven't signed up yet, DO IT NOW at www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/kids.aspx . 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. 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 West Michigan Sports Commission): It takes a lot of work to train to run 26.2 miles. But even while runners are training by running millions of miles, they're also raising millions of DOLLARS to help others.
We runners know that we are blessed. We can move. We're healthy. We're positive people. We want to share those blessings.
I recently met John, who's training for the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. While he's doing that, he's also helping his friend Jim who's battling Leukemia. Together they're raising money for two different charities as well as fighting their day-to-day challenges with both training and disease.
Together, Jim, John, and thousands of other runners will make a big impact, through money, inspiration, and through the helping hands that they hold out to others. I'm going to write a lot more about Jim and John before I'm done with it--stories like this inspire me! |
| Charity Runners - Matt Chapman Last year the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon and its charity runners contributed over $30,000 to local, state, and national nonprofit organizations. This year we want to build on that success and give back even more. We currently have 13 charity partner organizations that need our help and support now more than ever. These organizations are tackling challenges like fighting cancer, improving the lives of the disabled, and promoting health and fitness to our youth. The work these charities do on a daily basis is important work that affects us all, and that is why we feel passionate about asking for your help. There is still time, here is how you can help: 1. Become a charity runner: Visit our charity page and choose a charity that means something to you. When you find one you like, click their logo and you will be directed to a page that explains how to get involved. 2. Run for a charity of your choice: Don't see your favorite charity? No problem, feel free to raise money and collect pledges for an organization that means something to you. Email mchapman@tapshoe.com for more information. 3. Help us spread the word: Send our charity page to your friends and family. Tell them you are running in the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon and ask that they make a contribution to one of our charity partners on your behalf. 4. Make a personal donation: It's okay if you aren't interested in being a charity runner or collecting pledges. Instead make a one-time donation to one of our charity partners. Whether it's a little or a lot your dollars will go a long way! Notes from Don--The Leukemia Team in Training is joining us this year. Throughout Michigan, runners are training for three events on October 18th. The Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, the Detroit Free Press Marathon, and the Nike Women's Marathon. The Michigan organization, according to them, could have a MILLION DOLLAR DAY that day! Johnnie Tuitel, my good friend and America's premier Handicapatilist is joining the My Team Triumph group going out at 7:30 on race morning, pushed by several friends who will be raising money for Alternatives in Motion. It's an awesome charity that provides wheelchairs for people who can't otherwise afford them through their normal health insurance providers. |
Box 54 Where Are You? Part 1. I called Michael, my Maxwell Medals rep, from the airport to inquire about my order. I was en route to the Tamarindo Beach Marathon in Costa Rica. "They just ordered another 250 medals" he told me. OK, that means I won't get a medal until sometime later in the mail. Not a problem. "I'll have my office send you one of the samples," he told me. When I got to Costa Rica, I heard the same story from them there, word for word. It's great having connections. Part 2. I arrived home last Tuesday morning, and later that day, I got a call from the UPS driver. He had 53 boxes of medals, and he was at my old apartment. Yes, I reviewed the order, but didn't look at the shipping address. They had pulled my old address from 2007 instead of my new one from 2008 for the order. A call to his supervisor made it possible for him to bring the boxes to my house, even though it was out of his area. He said the manifest said 54 boxes, but there were only 53 there. We figured the other one must still be at the terminal and I'd just get it on Wednesday. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday....Still no box #54. I'll call Michael on Monday and track it down. Part 3. My friend Dean Peterson ran his 100th marathon on Sunday. Almost a year ago, he had invited us to come and run it with him. So Saturday the lovely Francine and I headed for Appleton, Wisconsin to join him. When we arrived in town, I called Dean to let him know. "I'll be over in a few minutes. I have something I think you'll need." Dean is on the board of the Fox Cities Marathon, and when he sat down at a table in the marathon office, he kicked a box under that table. He looked to see what it was. It was addressed to me. He walked into our hotel with the box under his arm. Box 54! Fox Cities gets their medals from Maxwell too! Apparently, one of the boxes got on the wrong UPS truck, and went to Wisconsin where the one person in the whole state knew what to do with it and had invited the guy it was addressed to. So, box 54 is safely at it's destination. Dean is in the triple digits. I have my finisher's medal from Costa Rica. Life is good! |
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Tick Tick Tick.... It's getting here! A little over three weeks. Preparations are going well. Everything is coming together. And on your end, your training is almost over. The big event is almost here.
I'm PUMPED! Can't wait to see all of you at the FINISH LINE!
Staff Run - Next weekend-- Every year, the staff of the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon has what I like to refer to as a "Dress Rehearsal" a couple weeks before the marathon. It gives us a chance to earn our medals and to check out the course in case anything "interesting" may have happened to it. Last year, for example, we found out that as we approached the 21 mile mark and the turnaround near Market Street, that the city had repaved! The 21 mile mark and the turnaround were GONE! Fortunately, I had GPS coordinates and was able to stick the marks right back into place. I was pretty glad we ran it in advance though. 20 MILE TRAINING RUN
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! |
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| This newsletter sponsored by: |
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| TRAINING |
| And now...a word from our SPONSORS! Pepsi Bottling of West Michigan |
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| 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 |
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| LIFETIME RUNNER |
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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. |
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