OK....so 700 women will be participating this weekend in Maine's Only Womens ONLY Tri For A Cure, at Southern Maine Community College. They will take on the challenge of a Sprint Triathlon, a 1/3-mile swim off Spring Point, a 15-mile bike ride through South Portland and Cape Elizabeth, and a 3-mile run. 85 percent of the competitors will be first-timers. Also, over 400 volunteers will support this wonderful event.

Maine Running Company decided to support this event by becoming an Endurance Sponsor, having personally had our family affected by cancer, as a way to give back. Additionally, we formed a womens only training group called "Train For A Cure" which includes over 70 women signed up with $25 of every participants training group fee going to the Maine Cancer Foundation. These women have been meeting every Monday night and on weekends to swim or bike and every Tuesday to Run. The group is an eclectic mix of first time beginners to intermediate level competitiors. To date, MRC has given almost $12,000 to the Maine Cancer Foundation in support of it's fight against cancer. They are having a blast doing it and the social camraderie is a wonderful thing.

So why would a running specialty store support a triathlon? After reading Thursday's Portland Press Herald article "She's Beat Cancer, So Losing A Race Is OK" the answer is fairly evident. The race is intended to get women off the couch and into an attainable event they can finish. Race co-founder Abby Bliss states "It's kind of what this race is all about. It's not a race, it's an event, kind of a fitness movement that's given women a goal. Women who've been overweight or battled cancer, they are coming out of the woodwork. It's a feel-good event." Well, that is basically our customer....Average Jane, who is busy with her family and in her community, have battled against the odds and succeeded in taping into there inner being to finish a goal. We are a fitness, health and well being company and running is the foundation of that.

Beginners or first timers are a pure joy to watch as they discover how exilerating completing their objective is. And, whether it's running their first 10K, walking 20 miles or finishing a sprint tri, it gives them a focus to finish their journey and continue on to this new found lifestyle of fitness, health and well being.

As the Nike Tag Line states "There Is No Finish Line" meaning fitness is a lifestyle, a journey that last a lifetime. You go girl....we'll see you at the finish!