Blackstone Valley Half Marathon - Navigant Credit Union 5K and youth 1K

Rhode Island's Best Running Festival. Half Marathon - 5K - Youth Run www.navigantcurunningfestival.com    The Navigant Credit Union Running Festival is a well organized Half Marathon, a 5K and a youth run in the Blackstone Valley area of Rhode Island. The Half Marathon offers a beautiful loop through the historical Blackstone Valley. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic views along the Blackstone River and Canal. The Half Marathon course offers the very best support to runners with eleven aid stations supplying water, power drinks and gels.    The 5K course will take runners through historical Pawtucket. Starting on Roosevelt St. and then turning on the the historical Walcott St. and then passes by McCoy stadium... home of the Pawtucket Pawsox before returning to downtown Pawtucket.     The Navigant Credit Union Running Festival offers a very fair entry fee. Compare this event to other local half marathons and you will see this Half Marathon offers a great value. There is also plenty of FREE parking near the start and finish area.     All races will start and finish at Pawtucket City Hall on Roosevelt Ave. Start times: Half Marathon: 8:00 a.m. 5K: 11:00 a.m. Youth Run: 10:30 a.m.    Visit www.navigantcurunningfestival.com for additional details.   The Navigant Credit Union Running Festival is proudly sponsored by Navigant Credit Union.... Your neighborhood credit union in Rhode Island. T-shirt update! There are still just under 200 of the long sleeve tech shirts shown below available. These are available for participants in the Half Marathon and the 5K. Once these are all assigned, participants will still receive a standard race t-shirt.   Also Check out the Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival from May 3-5 at www.richerryblossomfestival.com

Forward this email Navigant Credit Union Running Festival | PO Box 1940 | East Greenwich | RI | 02818

Good luck to all the marathoners!

The men are underway, the women's elite group were off ahead of them, over 26,000 folks running to Boston.

May the roads be kind to you this day!

Fund Raising for Taline

I received the following in an email from Taline recently. I contributed to her effort in 2007 and did so again this year.

On April 21st I'll be running my second Boston Marathon!! Despite the injuries and challenges I faced during my training last year, I'm testing my mental and physical boundaries once more and also trying to beat my 2007 finish time.

Last year with the help of my friends and family I was able to raise $6200 for the Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, and this year they have awarded me a number again as I have committed to raising $5000 for their organization.

The Colonel Daniel Marr Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester is a safe haven where children can participate in over one hundred different programs in art, music, sports, education, peer leadership, and life skills. I hope you will consider sponsoring me and supporting my fund raising efforts with your tax-deductible donation. Online donations can be made through my secure page

Thank you in advance for your support as it was, and continues to be, the guidance and encouragement of those around me that motivates me to try my hardest and do my best in all facets of my life. Thanks, Taline

Good luck, Taline!

Spirit of the Marathon - 1/24/08

NCM Fathom, in partnership with Active.com and Wasserman Media Group, is proud to present “Spirit of the Marathon” on the big screen in high-definition with Cinema Surround Sound on Thursday, January 24th at 7:30PM (local). Don’t miss your chance to see the Chicago International Film Festival’s “Audience Choice Award” winner!

“Spirit of the Marathon” is the first ever non-fiction feature film to capture the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile running event. Filmed on four continents, the production brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries. As six unique stories unfold, each runner prepares for and ultimately faces the challenge of the Chicago Marathon. More than a sports program, “Spirit of the Marathon” is an inspirational journey of perseverance and personal triumph; a spectacle that will be embraced by runners and non-runners alike.

Four years in the making, “Spirit of the Marathon” is the collaborative effort of three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathon Harris, Telly Award winner and marathon runner Jon Dunham and producer/marathoner Gwendolen Twist.

A “Behind-the-Scenes” featurette produced specifically for and shown only at this one-night event includes interviews with the director and producers as well as marathon veterans reminiscing about their first marathon experiences. The featurette highlights deleted scenes, dramatic race footage and previews the upcoming 2008 Olympics with a Q&A session with Olympians Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall.

Tickets are limited ... Please note: this event is at participating US locations only.

For more information, including locations and ticket purchase go here

Marathon Growth No Good

Phillip Hersh has a compelling argument for a smaller marathon field in Chicago. Granted they had unique weather this year but should 45,000 folks really be running a marathon?

I am all for personal choice but there are so many other options folks!

You do not need to run a marathon to prove yourself! You can run anything from a 5K, 10K to half marathon and recover far quicker to do it again with perhaps even more enjoyment than the punishment it gives your body over the course of a marathon.

I expect to gain some arguments here but I welcome them.

Why must you run a marathon?

If you do, are you really ready to run?

Passionate Runner: Response to a new Listener

another in a series of podcasts on running, this one responding to a new listener who is trying a marathon this October and has a couple of questions.

Time: 7 minutes, 42 seconds



MP3 File

My prior writing on the FIRST Plan

Passionate Runner: Feedback on the FIRST Plan

another in a series of podcasts on running, this one focusing on a letter from a reader who has had success with the FIRST Plan in dropping her marathon time 12 minutes.

Time: 3 minutes, 51 seconds



MP3 File

My writing on the FIRST Plan can be found here.

Furman Insttitue of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST)

Passionate Runner: RW's Best of Marathon Plan

another in a series of podcasts on running, this one talking about the July 2007 issue of Runner's World and their "best of the best" marathon plan, a compilation of plans from ten top marathon coaches.

Time: 3 minutes, 4 seconds



MP3 File


Runner's World July 2007 marathon plan summary

Unfortunately, they don't seem to have the tables of the top ten coaches, or the 2 plans (beginner and veteran) online. If they do, I have not found them.

Passionate Runner: Marathon Preparations

One in a series of podcasts on running, this one focusing on the last couple of weeks before the marathon as you taper.

Time -> 4 minutes, 51 seconds





Other links of interest:

Marathon Mistakes - my blog posting and link to an article in Runner's World

Marathon preparations - my blog posting with links to articles preparing for Boston 2006

The night before the night before - sleep considerations

Running Boston, beware the downhill before Heartbreak!