Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon -- 8 Days

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter

8 October 2011

Foster Swift Half Marathon

Pepsi Max Marathon Relay
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Grand Rapids Kids Marathon

EIGHT DAYS!

And, now, it's Chicago Marathon weekend.

16 years ago I ran my first marathon in Chicago. It was a day that changed my life. Drank my first Sam Adams Cherry Wheat at the expo. Bought the race photo ahead of time. Ran the first 16 miles with Aziz Uras, a fellow Dead Runner from Chicago. Ran the last 5 miles with Nancy, who was my best friend for an hour and a half and who I've never seen since. My long run had been 22 miles. Hers had been 20. At 23 miles her sister and one of my best friends, Mike Schwartz met us and ran the last 3 miles with us. I could see the FINISH LINE in my head long before I got there. I knew I was going to finish, and I knew my life would never be the same.

And it wasn't. Now I could run 26.2 miles. Limits were no longer something that got in my way. Since then, I've seen the world, met hundreds of new friends, learned more and more about myself and what I can do.

I'm a "normal" guy--not a "gifted athlete." But being a marathon runner has opened up the world to me.

If you're running your first marathon, or your first half (you can bump up to 26.2 next year) you'll discover things about yourself too! You'll find out that your limits are gone! Your attitude will change. Someone might tell you that you can't do something, and you'll respond, "Right. Stand the f**** back and watch this!" Awesome people run marathons, and you're one of those people!

Aid Stations are getting ready for you! Ben Merritt and Kristin Haight, both new to the staff last year, seem to have the planning down better than ever before. The volunteer groups will be ready to ROCK and cheer you on as you come through.

Gail Ranville and Erika Chapman are putting on a great post-race spread too! Lots of good food for your post-race replenishment, with the help of Wendy's, New Holland, Klackle Orchard, Uncle Dave's Potato Chips, and Heinz Pickles, and Culvers.

And I don't know where we'd be without Barb Dauksts, who steps up and does a lot of heavy lifting--organizing volunteer lunches and most everything else that needs to be done!

I'm leaving articles for the kids marathon and Dr. Ed's article from yesterday in here for those who haven't seen the updates yesterday.

Running with the Staff!

Several of us are on our way to Chicago to run as pacers. Rick, Francine, Lynne, and I are going, along with four of our pacers, Chris Gregory, Christina Fong, Paul Blauwiekel, and Cathy Fenton. Running a marathon, getting pumped up for next weekend.

Text, Tweet, Facebook

Monday we'll have details and signup for the text messaging from the course. Split mats at 7, Half, and 21 will be texting, tweeting, and updating your FB status. Details Monday on how to signup!

Every Year Club We're still seeking out those who have run with us every year since we started in 2004. If that's you, let me know! http://grandrapidsmarathon.com/every-year-club/

Kids Marathon Update!

To All Kids Marathon Runners,

Race day is almost here! We're proud of you for all the hard work you have put in during your months of training for the Kids Marathon. We can't wait to see you on Saturday, October 15, at 1:30 p.m., at the David D. Hunting YMCA, when you come out to run the last 1.2 miles of your marathon on the official Grand Rapids Marathon course.

We have some important information for Race Day for you and your parents, including details on parking, packet pick-up, and race line-up. Please have your parents go to the Kids Marathon page of the Grand Rapids Marathon website to review all of the "Final Race Day Instructions." There is a lot of information to read, but please be sure to read it all the way through.

We're looking forward to seeing you on Race Day!

Francine Robinson, Committee Chair

Co-Chairs: Pat Carey, Bridget Meyers

2011 Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Grand Rapids Kids Marathon

New Holland Brewing Beer Runs

Beer Run #6 will be at New Holland Brewery in Holland on Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

Mother Knows Best!

Ed Kornoelje DO, Metro Health Sports Medicine

Here in Grand Rapids ArtPrize us in full swing. Whether or not you think the pieces are truly art (I happen not to care too much what the "critics" think-there are some pretty neat things to see), this is a big deal and it brings a lot of people downtown. In a few days another big event will occur in Grand Rapids, the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. (On a side note, if we move the date up, can we enter the marathon in ArtPrize?) My mother is visiting from California to see the art and I was reminded of a few things she used to say that will help your running. These are not new, but mom always liked reminders as well!

Read directions. About 5 minutes prior to the start of a race a runner came up to me and asked what "that thing on my shoe lace was" and "did it come in my race packet?" Of course she was referring to my chip, and after I told her what it was she scurried off find her packet (and chip). Leading up to the race there will be lots of information given out-in your training program, on the website, and your race packet. Read and reread these things, even if you think you have it all down-you won't be sorry you did.

Always double knot your shoelaces. This is one that I now put into practice myself after running 9.5 miles of a 10-mile race with one shoelace untied. I was able to finish the race, but a few times my foot slipped a bit, and I was always a little worried I might lose my shoe during the race. (Why not stop and tie it? I might lose precious seconds!) Double knotting is easy-do it before the race starts.

Talk to strangers. Well, mom isn't always right. "Don't talk to strangers" is a great idea when you are a kid, but during a race go ahead and talk. You may have seen me use this one before-say something to the spectators you pass. Why? It will make the spectators feel good about coming out, and it will give you a boost in the middle of the race. Don't believe it? Try it! You won't be disappointed.

Here's another hydration tip: just swishing a carb drink in your mouth may help your performance. According to the July 2010 issue of Runner's World a study showed that runners who rinsed with a carb drink before and every 15 minutes during an hour run ran faster and longer than those who used a placebo. If you get queasy drinking sports drinks, swishing may do the trick. If your run is more than an hour, you will need find something you can stand to swallow.