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| Monday July 25, 2011 FeatureWe're BaaaccckkkSorry to have been out of touch for so long. We have been very busy here at LFM with plans for the 2011 race and also spending a little time on some long-term planning. Mercifully, there were no flip charts or white boards used or harmed in the latter. Really – we HAVE been busy! We know that you'll all soon be looking for the up-dated Runners Guide. Please be patient as we finalize race weekend details. We will be reducing the content of the PRINTED Guide and moving most of that to our web site - in an attempt to reduce the amount of wasted paper material. In the meantime, the 2010 Guide has most of the information that you'll need in the next month or so.    Other storiesCourse ChangesWe are very excited to announce a couple of course changes. First, to allow all of you more room to line up, the Start will be moved to Cheyenne Ave. just north of Hwy 60. This is about 1/2 block from the traditional Start. Second – at Concordia University we will circle more of the campus, allowing you to partake of the beautiful Lake Michigan vista on the east side of their campus. Trust me, this is a beautiful sight – one that you’ll still be able to appreciate at that early point in the race. And no – we won’t make you run up and down their lake path :). Finally… all of this will require a minor relocation of the Finish Line. Even though we know how much you all enjoy running toward the lake at 25.5 miles and then (basically) having to double back on the seawall… we thought it was time for a little change. The new Finish will be on the east side of the lagoon north of the Veterans Memorial. This will provide a straight shot for your finish. We’ll be updating the course maps soon – so stay tuned. For those who can’t wait… (and you know who you are Ch…) all mile marks from mile 8 south will be adjusted approximately a half mile north. On-line StoreWe’ve finally opened our on-line store. At the moment, we have it set up with our In-Training shirts and our caps. We’ll be adding more items soon so check back often. Jennipede and Guinness World RecordIf Milwaukee area runners happen to see a bunch of crazy “centipede runners” at the build-up runs, don’t worry. It is not a centipede but the JENNIPEDE – the group of LFM runners training to run our race and break the Guinness World Record for the most people running a marathon tethered by a rope. Actually, they intend to shatter the record set at the 2010 London Marathon and then broken there in 2011. Seriously, this dedicated group of runners, led by the “Head Pede” Robin, are committed to raising funds for Jenny Crain’s continuing therapy. You may recall that Jenny (a member of our race committee) was hit by a car in August, 2007 while training for the Olympic Marathon Trials and sustained a traumatic brain injury. With continuing intense therapy, Jenny can (with assistance) walk a little more than a half mile. The funds raised in this effort will allow her to continue her very personal marathon. For more information about the Guinness attempt and for information about Jenny’s story follow the links. Pasta DinnerThere is still time to register for the American Cancer Society DetermiNATION Pasta Dinner. Details are on our web site. LFM Kids Run ReturnsOur Lakefront Marathon Kids Run will return in 2011 – sponsored again by our friends at Body Basix. We have moved the Kids Run to Saturday afternoon at 3PM to allow all of our runner-parents to be part of this special event and to give these kids the attention they deserve. The concept is pretty simple - the kids each run 25 miles in little increments between now and October 1 – on race day the kids run the last 1.2 miles of their own special marathon – through the official LFM Finish arch with music playing (just like your race) – and are presented with their very own Finisher medal and Finisher shirt. There is still time for kids to register – we start them out with a special running log with kid-focused nutrition and training tips and their special In-training shirt to encourage them as they work toward their marathon goal. Details are on our web site. Tell Us YOUR StoryYou all have such special stories about why you're running LFM - your first marathon, in honor of a loved one, to rais money for a charity, to qualify for the Boston Marathon, or just because... If you'd be willing to share your special story with us for use by our PR team, please tell us in an email or post it to our Facebook page. We all have marathon dreams - share yours with all of us! A Few Details...There is still time for vendors to get in on our Health and Fitness Expo on Friday night and Saturday at the MSOE Kern Center. If you are interested in showcasing your business or know someone else who is please contact us ASAP. We also have opportunities to distribute promotional material in our goodie bags – just contact us. Start time… What time does the race start this year, runners??? 7:30 – that’s right, 7:30. We moved the start time up 30 minutes to mitigate any heat issues and to reduce inconvenience of the residents on the course. What time? 7:30 – you got it. Official Energy Gel. After several years of generous sponsorship, Hammer Nutrition has decided that they can no longer support races as short as a marathon. Lucky for us (and you) our friends at Body Basix have a yummy and effective gel. This is the gel that will be provided on the course at (approximately) Miles 7 and 20. You WILL want to try it out beforehand as we'd never recommend doing something new on race day. It is available in the Milwaukee area at Performance Running Outfitters, Attitude Sports & In-Step Running & Walking Centers. It is also available on-line. We will also provide linited supplies to the BLS Marathon Build-up Program. Entry transfers, refunds & deferrals. I get LOTS of questions about this about now. Remember, we don’t allow the transfer or deferral of entries for any reason and do not refund your race fee if you can’t run. We know that stuff happens and not everyone will join us on race day and plan for that in setting our entry limit. If we allowed these changes, we’d just have to set our entry limit lower and I’d drive our Registration Captain crazy. IF you find that you can’t run, we’d (absolutely) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have you as a volunteer. Marathon runners make the best volunteers. We have lots of spots and options for volunteers – take a look at our on-line volunteer page. |
MIlwaukee Lakefront Marathon | www.milwaukeelakefrontmarathon.org/
