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The Starting Line Newsletter
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
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Mark Your Calendars for the Team IA Fun Run that Actually is . . . FUN! On Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 PM, our friends at Fleet Feet Sports Chicago and Newton are hosting Team Imerman Angels for the Photo Scavenger Hunt Run. The run is exclusive to Team IA, but feel free to bring a friend(s). It's a great chance to meet your fellow Team IA members and get a 45 minute (or less) run in that will take you past some interesting Chicago locations. All you need is your phone/camera because Fleet Feet Sports and Newton will take care of the rest which includes post-run pizza and NUUN hydration products. Look for your invitation in the next several days.
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"The Most Popular Person in the Office": July 16 - 31 Fundraising Incentive: With the miles starting to pick up and the Chicago Marathon just 87 days away, now is the time to start your fundraising or to reach your fundraising goal - or surpass it :) And we have a great incentive to help. You can win lunch (subs, drinks, chips, cookies) for your office/department/group of friends (10 people) donated by Jersey Mike's. (Note: if you are outside Chicago, we will provide a substitute lunch valued up to $125 - your choice of location/restaurant).
Here's how it works: raise $350 (online donations only) between today and July 31 and you will be entered into the raffle. For every $100 that you raise after the initial $350, you will have one more ticket or chance (e.g. raise $550 and you have three chances). We'll keep track via Crowdrise and award a winner on August 1. If you're just getting started on your fundraising, this is a great way to get started. And by the way, you guys are crushing the fundraising - Team IA/Chicago Marathon has already raised over $62,000! What does that mean? You have created over 175 connections linking cancer fighters to survivors (and caregivers to caregivers) because of what you have done. Amazing stuff.
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Sign Up Now for the The Magnificent Mile® Chicago Women’s half marathon and 5k on Sunday, August 31. It's a dream course - the Magnificent Mile - and you can be a part of this event with Imerman Angels providing you with a free entry (for those who have not yet registered). You choose the distance - the half or the 5K. Click HERE for more information (NOTE: all Team IA - Chicago Marathoners should contact Dave at dlouthan@imermanangels.org if they want to register for this event). All Team IA - Chicago Marathon women will also receive (in addition to the free entry) pre-race/post-race on-site hospitality with private gear check, massage and refreshments by committing to raise an additional $200 to their Chicago Marathon fundraising minimum. Each event participant receives a technical top ($40 retail) with hidden back zip pocket (fabric is rated UPF 50). Recruit your friends!
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Team IA Training Tip - The Long Run: It's the bread and butter of our marathon training (and, maybe, the Eagles album from 1979 can be the soundtrack for your long run). There may not be a running event where one single workout can play such a significant role in our success. At this point in our training, we should all be incorporating a long run (usually, but not always, on the weekend) into our weekly schedule. If you're training with CES (either virtually or in Chicago), you are already in good hands. If you are training on your own, your long run is no less important, of course. This weekend, you should aim for an easy paced 8 to 10 miles (check out the Nike Training Program ("Finish Strong") for the Chicago Marathon below). And also, take a look at this article by Coach Jenny Hadfield - click HERE to see it. Finally, if you have any questions about the long run or your training in general (e.g. I'm behind in my training, what should I do to get on track?), call Dave at 312.273.1312 or email at dlouthan@imermanangels.org.
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Nike's FINISH STRONG Chicago Marathon Training Program: For anyone who did not register for the complimentary training offered by Team IA through Chicago Endurance Sports, check out the Nike training program (it's free) that was designed specifically for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon - it will get you to the Start Line of the Chicago Marathon.
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Nike offers three different options with the Finish Strong option designed for first timers and others as well. Click HERE to access the Nike Finish Strong Training Program. (NOTE: If you are training with CES, that is our recommended training program, please continue utilizing CES - this is meant only for those that are not registered for CES).
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Your Team IA Guide (kind of like a "Personal Yoda"): Training for a marathon is a long process. There are ups and downs along the way and plenty of chances to get down on ourselves (but even more opportunities to realize just how great we are doing!). And we realize that fundraising can feel challenging as well (but, remember that your fundraising makes a huge and extremely tangible impact in the lives of those impacted by cancer).
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So, we are launching our Team IA Guide Program to give you a fellow Team IA participant and friend who can help answer questions you may have, provide fundraising ideas, etc. Your "Yoda" will send an introductory email in the next week to ten days. If nothing else, it gives you a chance to meet a fellow team member - someone to celebrate your accomplishments with on October 12th. And, of course, if you don't want to be part of this, no pressure - just let your guide know that in an email reply.
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Meet Team IA Featured Athlete Elizabeth LiBassi:
You're from Cleveland - seems like Cleveland has had a great week: Cleveland is BUZZING with excitement right now. The return of Lebron James is not only a boost to our sports teams, but also to the downtown economy. In addition, the Republican National Convention coming to Cleveland is a HUGE star for us. There has never been a better time to be from Cleveland.
What motivated you to run the Chicago Marathon with Team IA? My brother, Sam LiBassi (pictured below) was an active member of the IA family before he passed last October. My promise to him was that when he got better we would run a marathon together. When he passed, I felt that running a marathon for an organization that we both love so dearly would be the perfect way to honor him.
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Where do you train in Cleveland? We are very close to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park where there are flat running/biking trails for over thirty miles. I usually have a group to do long runs at these places and then during the week I run downtown and in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Any races that you have done this year so far? Ran the Nashville Half in April with Jena, who is also a team IA member. It was a GREAT time, good race, fun city!
Favorite time of day to train? Morning- and I HATE the morning. Races are in the morning so it acclimates you to what you need to be prepared for.
Favorite pre-run snack or food? Water, Plain bagel and MAYBE a banana
Post Race binge item? Pizza, Chocolate and Wine :-)
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Work or Live in Downtown Chicago?: As mentioned above in the July fundraising incentive, our friends at Jersey Mike's have graciously donated the July Fundraising Incentive prize (complete lunch for 10). If you're downtown (Chicago, that is), make sure you stop by and try their awesome subs. Here's a coupon for you as well.
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Those pesky (but important) reminders:
(1) Customize Your Fundraising page on Crowdrise: If you have not already done so, now is the time to make your fundraising page about what you are doing and why you doing it. We sent a Crowdrise Primer a while back to everyone - if you can't find it, we'll be glad to resend (just email Dave at dlouthan@imermanangels.org).
(2) Hotels for Marathon Weekend: Don't delay as these will fill quickly. Click HERE for more information.
(3) Start Corrals: All participants are assigned a Start Corral for the Chicago Marathon based on their estimated time they indicated when registering. You can qualify for a "faster" Start Corral based on a qualifying time submitted to the Marathon Information. Click HERE for more information.
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And Some Motivation as the Miles Start to Increase . . .
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