Unbelievable race entry offer

OK...so here is one of the most unbelievable race entry offers I've ever seen. The LL Bean Fourth of July 10K is offering the following to the 1st 800 race entries. For $17 dollars you will receive a New Balance Tech Tee ($25 value) and a pair of $120 New Balance 1062's. Wow!!! This is a no brainer folks. $17 bucks for $145 dollars worth of products! I've never seen anything like it in 25 years of being associated with road races and running, in general. Even if it is not the correct shoe, hey, it's a Christmas gift for your brother, sister or aunt.

At first, I am thinking that I need to send back all my 1062's to New Balance....but, you know what! If LL Bean can support the running community and a good cause with all proceeds benefitting the Casco Bay YMCA Camp Scholarship Program, I'm all for it. I've said this many times and still believe it....if the running and fitness community works together and we can build a good fitness foundation, everyone benefits, especially the runners, consumers and businesses.

On a personal note......Jack, thanks for all your support and wise reflection over the years and for fighting this past year with dignity and an incredible spirit. Finally, thanks for providing me with a great partner...you will be sorely missed!

JR

Boston, Trials and Stuff

Spent the weekend in Boston, enjoying the women's trials and catching up with a lot of old friends. First, congrats to all the Maine women for their great effort on Sunday morning. Deena Kastor with a time of 2:29:35 won, but there was a great effort and one emotional farewell from the Maine contingent of four.

Sheri Piers placed 16th with a personal best time of 2:38:46, Emily LeVan was 67th in 2:45:45 and Kristin Barry came in 73rd with a time of 2:46:41.

And in Joan Benoit Samuelson's farewell marathon she finished 90th in 2:49:08 (a 50-54 American record), beating her goal of sub-2:50 and finishing, as she did in in her first Boston win in 1979, in a Red Sox Cap! Coming down Boyleston Street, the crowd roared their adulation and Deena Kastor, caught up in the moment, waited at the finish line to show her support and respect. It was, to say the least, a Kodak moment.

The Expo was rocking on Saturday! I met up with old friend Steve Jones, the former world record holder in the Marathon. We discussed Greg Meyer throwing out the 1st pitch at Fenway on Sunday, celebrating his 25th year since being the last American to win Boston. We joked about how when "old ballplayers" come back to throw out the 1st pitch, it's OK to be fat.... you can't do that when you are a former world record holder or Boston winner?? Greg looks like he could still run 2:09.

Patriot's Day always makes Boston Shine. The city and region is energized. We are the only other state that celebrates that holiday.... Good luck, Maine Runner's and seize the day.... remember, Run Happy!

Beat's Last Year's Weather! Patriot's Day Weekend!

Thursday night was a beautiful spring evening (Compared to last year's Patriots Day Storm!). We had a full house for our RTB training group. We have added another RRCA certified coach, Blaine Moore, to assist Michael Gaige, our head coach. With 140 folks signed up and an average of 80 runner's every Thursday night in the group, we need to make sure we have the coaching support in place. Michael has his RRCA coaching certificate pending.

The group is beginning to reap the benefits of the 1st 4 weeks of base work. The beginner's were given the challenge of running 6 min/2 min (run/walk) for 40 minutes and some decided they were ready to run the entire way. This is the time when you see the beginner's confidence level zoom. When they begin to realize that they can actually complete their workout with a full run. The next phase of strength training will send their confidence even higher.

Greg Knapton, Director of Riverview Physical Therapy, finished up the night with post run stretching and using the "Foam Roller" to help recover and work sore muscles, especially, the calves, hamstrings and IT band.

Marathon and racing season sees an increase in folks purchasing racing or lightweight trainer/racers. Most training shoes have a heel to toe centerline thickness of 24mm (Heel) to 12mm (forefoot). Lightweight trainers will usually have a 22mm to 11mm thickness to reduce weight and provide more of a road feel, such as the Asics DS Trainer and Speedster and Nike Zoom Skylon and Elite. Remember, keep in mind to purchase these lightweight trainers in the same category of stability and neutral as your everyday training shoes.

The Portland Press Herald, Boston Globe and Boston Herald all had great articles on Joan Benoit Samuelson, Emily LeVan and the rest of the Maine Women U.S. Marathon Trial Qualifiers. Sunday's race starts at 8am and NBC will be streaming it live. For more information go to www.bostontrials2008.com. Monday will mark the 112th running of the Boston Marathon (www.bostonmarathon.org). Good Luck to all the runner's.

Not going to Boston on Monday? Run a Portland Tradition, the 79th Annual Boy's & Girls Club Patriot's Day 5-Mile Road Race, begins at 12noon on Cumberland Avenue. Go to: www.bgcmaine.org/PatriotsRace08 for more information.

Have a great Patriot's Day weekend and remember....Run Happy!