10 October 2009 --- 8 Days!

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter Sponsored by Sportwax 10 October 2009  --- 8 Days! EIGHT DAYS!!!     Darn Runners, anyway!   I get emails from runners around this time.  "I have a bad case of Plantar Facitis."  "I pulled a hamstring."  "My doctor says I really can't run."  And the best one from a couple days ago:  "I just found out I had three stress fractures in my leg."    Do these people defer to next year?  Do they drop out entirely?    NO.  The next question is usually, "Can I switch my registration to the half?"    Usually followed by something like, "I can probably do that much if I just hop on one foot and stop once in a while to kill something for food along the way."   Runners are strong.  Runners are determined.  Runners are amazing.   PRETTY FUNNY Jef Mallet registered on Thursday and put a bunch of comments in about Frazz, his comic strip.  He also has a book coming out soon called, Trizophrenia -- Inside the Minds of a Triathlete.  He sent me one of his comic strips.  It's kinda funny.  You know, like the stuff you normally read in this newsletter.  Check it out below.     IMPORTANT PREPARATIONS! You're reading the website.  On the FAQ page, you'll find out what the official cutoff time is.  You'll also find out the difference between an orange.   (No, I'm ont putting links to specific pages in the website--go there and hover over the menu bar for a second and all kinds of options come up!)   RUNNING THIS WEEKEND Terence is running the half-marathon course on SUNDAY at 7:30 with a few others if you want to run 13.  There are a couple options that will cut it down to 10 or less if you want.  There are also a bunch of guys running the half-marathon course at 8:00 Sunday too.     EVERY STRIDE 5K & 10K AND the Nike Human Race   It's not only the Nike Human Race, and the Every Stride 5K & 10K!  It's our post-race party!  After a 5-day cooldown period following the marathon, join us out at Candlestone Golf & Resort for a great time.  Wear your marathon gear, share your "war stories" and celebrate!  Check it out at www.mirunning.com  for more info.  YOU CAN ALSO VOLUNTEER TO HELP if you like.   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!      Notes from the Staff   From Kathy Haase, Packet Pickup - I sent Kathy the list of registered runners a couple years ago, and she sent me back an email.  "I got the list, sorted it by race and alphabetically and printed it out."  The first thing that came into my mind was, "How the heck did you do that?  We don't even put race on the application form.  Besides, we don't care what color or ethnicity anyone is."    "No, you idiot!  By RACE, I mean either the Full or Half marathon!"    "Oh.  Nevermind"    Kathy and her able partner, Tammy Zost will be there waiting ofr you on race weekend.    Off to Niagara Falls    The lovely Francine and I are in Niagara Falls where I'm told that you have to go a long way downriver to swim safely in Lake Ontario.  I haven't given up hope yet, however.    Can't wait to see you all at the FINISH LINE!  Only 8 days! 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 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.     Buy One Get One Free Chili Buy One Get one free chili at most West Michigan Wendy's on Tuesdays. Wendy's chili is a great healthy fast food option: Large chili *280 calories, 9grams of fat, 21 grams of protein   *Wendy's will be giving out complimentary chili to GR marathon racers.  Stop by our booth after you finish the race! A LIMITED TIME OFFER

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