Park2Park 1/2 Marathon and 5K Race

Thank you for participating in the Park2Park!

2008-09-30T12:48:00.001-07:00

by Sherrie Kornoelje Santos, Park2Park Race Director

Thank you runners for supporting the Park2Park 1/2 Marathon & 5K. There were 332 of you registered, enjoying the beauty of West Michigan on a incredibly lovely autumn day! We had a great time and would love to hear your suggestions before the committee's wrap up meeting next week. What did you like and what would you suggest for next year? Now's the time to give us ideas!

Why Run?

2008-08-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

by Vicki Kavanaugh, Park2Park Race Committee and Gazelle Sports Race Coordinator

As I was out running my 10 miler yesterday, fuel belt happily banging up against my aching hips, feeling those little blisters on the sides of my big toes starting to pop out and sweating so much that my shirt was actually dripping, I thought to myself why?

We run for the health benefits: a study released in August found that running not only reduced the risk of heart disease, but also cancer and neurological disease. And that hard cardio workout just makes up feel better most of the time, too: nothing quite like those endorphins coursing through your system after a good run.

But after that, the reasons you drag your butt out of bed at 6 am in the dark become more personal. It gives everyone something unique only that to runner. Why do you run?

Choosing a Race

2008-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

by Sherrie Kornoelje Santos, Park2Park Race Director

Choices! There's the distance -- 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons. Then the place -- city route, the lakeshore, cross country, near to my home, or a new area. There are a lot of runs to choose from!

Vicki says her job at Gazelle Sports gives her the inside scoop on weekly races and websites ranging from Runner’s World to Michigan Running to the different race management companies give great information about upcoming races.

So how do you choose your race? It it distance, location, nice race route, great brochure, the right weekend, great prizes, good food, fun race committee (well, you have to try!), good cause or what?

Ouch, It Hurts!

2008-08-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

by Vicki Kavanaugh, Park2Park Race Committee and Race Coordinator at Gazelle Sports, Holland

Right now, my hips ache. Not just when I’m running, not just after I run, but pretty much all the time. It’s not a debilitating pain, just a constant reminder that my 43 year old body is not as young as it used to be. I take ibruprofen, use icy hot, and have even resorted to -gasp- taking a few days off to try and help the situation. Unfortunately, aches, pains, black toes and various other injuries are all part of running. You are a lucky person indeed if you survive training for a long distance totally unscathed. What are the tried and true remedies for your injuries/aches and pains?

Foods for Running

2008-08-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

by Vicki Kavanaugh, Park2Park Race Committee and Race Coordinator at Gazelle Sports, Holland

I have two “secret” food vices—I LOVE ice cream and potato chips. I always eat ice cream the night before a big race. I feel like I’m treating myself, giving myself some extra calories to burn—though I’m sure the effect is much more psychological than anything else. And the day after a long run, I tend to just crave anything salty—so all those calories I just burned off running 10, 12 miles are put right back on with an indulgence in chips. What “secret” foods do you allow yourself after a big run?

1/2 Marathon Training

2008-07-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Vicki Kavanaugh, Race Coordinator from Gazelle Sports in Holland says:

I’m training for a half marathon right now. It will be my second 1/2 marathon and, so far, my training has been going well, especially my long runs. I used to dread going out there for all those miles, but now it seems to be just a routine thing I do. I find that doing long runs with other people helps me tremendously, taking my mind off the often monotonous pounding of each and every mile. I’m also running this half marathon to raise money for cancer research, and I think that “dedicating” my running to a higher cause has also helped me to just get the miles in. What do you do to help with your long runs?

Welcome!

2008-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new Park2Park Race blog! We hope to make this a place where runners can make comments, provide ideas, converse with guest bloggers and have fun. I'm going to post some things to get us started. So please respond to my posts with your thoughts - just click on the 'comments' link or envelope below the post. Look for my first 'official' post coming soon.