Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon: Newsletter 2 October 2009

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter

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2 October 2009

IT'S HARD TO SOAR WITH THE EAGLES WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH TURKEYS...

Now there's something that doesn't apply to me AT ALL! We had one of our last few staff meetings last night. By the end of the night, I come away with tears in my eyes--these people are SO GOOD it just amazes me. The meeting is supposed to start at 7:00, but from the time people walk in the door (visiting my beer fridge in the garage on the way in, of course) there are things happening. Kathy & Tammy coordinating packet pickup with Dave from the Y. Shawn checking with Ken, Francine, Jen about course marshall locations, and coordinating with Andy on the signs. Bob, working on figuring out where we're going to get ice cream for the finish area. I hate to break up the little meetings to start the big meeting.

There were over 25 people at our house last night, and EVERY ONE OF THEM is an EAGLE. Not a turkey in the bunch! I am so proud of them you can't imagine.

It's coming down to the wire now! You'll start hearing from me a little more often. The excitement builds.

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RUN THRU THE RAPIDS
The David D Hunting YMCA is the venue for our expo as well as the start & finish of the marathon. We're excited to be there another year. Something else you might like to know: 38 years ago, the YMCA service club started a marathon. Over the years, it changed venues, changed distances, the old guys got older and died (which old guys will do sometimes) and the younger guys have taken over. And this year is the 39th year they've put on a race. It's a 5K and 10K now, and it's coming up on Saturday the 10th.

Now, you should be in your taper by that time, so a nice 10K tempo run up and down the banks of the Grand River is probably just about what you need that day. Plus, the race supports Camp Manitou-Lin, the YMCA camp just south of Grand Rapids. So, come out and run, get familiar with the YMCA, and have a great time.

EVERY STRIDE 5K & 10K

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.

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!

50 Miles in the Woods

Andy Grosvenor, who's on our staff, just finished running a 50 mile trail run at a race our good friend Steve Webster just put on. Nice work Andy.

Meanwhile, Kathy, along with one of our pacers, Steph, are off to run the Wineglass Marathon in Corning, New York this weekend. You see, our staff doesn't just run a marathon, we RUN MARATHONS! Total staff experience: Around 520 marathon or longer races. (It's hard to keep track, because the number goes up almost every weekend.)

Just another reason I'm proud of them.

Staff Run - Sunday October 4th at 8:00

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.

If you'd like to come out and get a final long run on the course, some of us are doing the full 26.2. Run part of it with us, meet us out on Indian Mounds Road with some Gatorade (or beer or something) or just come and hang out a little bit. We're starting at the Y at 8:00 Sunday October 4

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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