26.2 Quest

Missing and out of Action

2012-05-31T20:05:00.000-04:00

While running was something I craved for so long, recently I have found it to be little more than a chore. I guess that is what the road to recovery looks like after an injury that doesn't ever seem to give in. Maybe someday I will relive through words all I have been through these past months but for now I want to focus mainly on what the future holds.

The decline started well before the debilitating injury and so I have had to sit out two big races that were previously on my schedule. Some of that has been chronicled here on the site, but honestly, I find it difficult to write about running when I can't lace the shoes up and feel the wind in my hair and the bugs in my teeth. The 13.1 Atlanta was the first of those, while the second was the Publix Georgia Marathon.

While the injury took it's toll in both fitness and spirit, it also messed with my healthy eating and ultimately I gained some unwanted weight. As if the running is not hard enough already to build back up, I am having to do it while carrying much more than I have since 2007.

Running is not nearly as fun as it used to be, however I am determined to return to the days when I couldn't wait till the next easy run, long run, or when I was just hitting the trails to let the trouble of the day melt away. I have been running pain free for a little over a month now, but still need to get on a regular schedule and start building the miles.

I find that I hit snooze much less if I have a goal, and what better goal to set than one of 26.2 miles. The only problem is that I am not crazy, just a little overzealous at times. That being the case I will step back and rethink the insanity and take smaller steps. I will be running a 4 miler later this month and then make my way down Peachtree in July, but these will only serve as stepping stones on my way back to the 13.1 half marathon distance.

I have run the 13.1 Atlanta multiple times and have been a part of it in some way every year so what better race to put on the calendar as a "goal" than the Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Marathon Atlanta on October 7th. The race will once again start and finish in Town Brookhaven on Peachtree and wind around the surrounding neighborhoods while also covering a few miles on Peachtree itself. If you are looking for a fall half marathon I highly recommend this race, and there is no better time to register than now.

Want to run the Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Marathon Atlanta for free?

I welcome you to hang around and follow my recovery and path to the 2012 13.1 Atlanta. Better yet, why don't you join me in running it? If you hang around here at 26.2 Quest you may even find yourself lucky enough to run this race for free this year. As I did last year, I will have some race entry giveaways as the race gets closer. Make sure you follow now so you don't miss these announcements.

Thanks for hanging out while I haven't been around as often, I look forward to interacting again very soon!

Publix Georgia Marathon Race Entry Winner #4

2012-02-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

The fourth and final race entry giveaway for the Publix Georgia Marathon has finished and it is time to pick the winner. This one drew the most entries so it could really be anyone’s entry. If you are not the lucky winner there is still time to get registered with a $10 discount using the code: 262QUEST when checking out.

With 113 entries there is obviously a lot of interest in running the 13.1 or 26.2 course this coming March 18th. If you have not taken the time to read through the comments like I have, there are some good stories in there once again, and who knows you may even find yourself a new running friend.

I plugged 113 in the random.org number generator and the number 25 was returned. The number 25 means that Russell Brown’s persistence paid off in these last two giveaways and his sharing on Pinterest will mean that he will run the Publix Georgia Marathon for free this year thanks to the US Road Sports Group.

Russell, please contact me at info@262quest.com so I can send you the code you will need for the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration checkout page.

On a completely unrelated note, if you are one of the 360 people that follow this blog with Google Friend Connect, can I please ask you to follow using one of the other options? You can subscribe to the RSS Feed which would be the closest to the way you are following now, but the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, @262quest Twitter feed, or the 26.2 Quest Google Plus Page are also available options. Russell’s winning post reminds me that I need to find out how to get involved with Pinterest. If you have suggestions let me know.

The One Month Countdown

2012-02-21T18:54:00.000-05:00

I really wish I could be one of the ones that was nearing the taper, but The Publix Georgia Marathon was not in the cards for me once again this year. A bum calf has played it’s part with keeping me off of the roads and trails, and also from the starting line this coming March 18th when thousands of runners line the streets of Atlanta.

If you thought that it was all about the marathon you would be mostly right, but in case you were not aware, there is a lot more than just an enjoyable 26.2 mile stroll through the streets of Atlanta.

Some of this information can be found in the One Month Countdown Press Release with just a couple of the highlights here:

Publix Georgia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo: Friday, March 16, 2012, noon to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Cuties Luckie 5K and Kids Fun Run: Saturday, March 17, 2012 at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta’s Luckie Marietta District. The Cuties Luckie 5K will begin at 8 a.m., and the Kids Fun Run will begin at 9 a.m.
Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon: Sunday, March 18, 2012, starting at 7 a.m., from Marietta Street/CNN Building and finishing at Centennial Olympic Park.

There is still time to register, and yes, there is even still time to win. If you hurry you can still enter to win a free entry into the Publix Georgia Marathon right here on 26.2 Quest. The giveaway ends tomorrow so don’t delay.

In case you are not the lucky winner you will want to head over to the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration page and get registered. While checking out don’t forget to use the discount code 262QUEST to get an extra $10 discount off of the current price for the full or half marathon.

Are you running the race next month? If so let us know which one you are running, be it the Marathon, the Half Marathon, or the Cuties Luckie 5K and Kids Fun Run. If you are running any of the races that weekend good luck and enjoy the race!

Free Race Entry for the Publix Georgia Marathon

2012-02-14T19:51:00.000-05:00

We are just one month away from the Publix Georgia Marathon and just a few short days away from the bitter sweet taper for many would be marathoners. Race day may be getting close, but there is still a chance to get in on the big day whether it be by hitting the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration Page before the next price increase on February 16th, or by winning the chance to run for free.

If you have not yet registered you can take advantage of the price before it increases in just a couple days, but don’t forget to use the discount code: 262QUEST to receive an additional $10 off the current race entry fees.

If you are still willing to gamble with the discount and try your luck at winning a free race entry I can help you out with that as well. I have one more entry just waiting for someone to take advantage of. Thanks to the US Road Sports team someone can run either the 13.1 or 26.2 distance on March 18th, paying with only sweat and extensive training.

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will be chosen randomly out of all comments left on this page. The guidelines below show all the options for entries, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry as only one entry will be counted per comment even if you list all the ways you are eligible. Due to the shortness of time before race day the giveaway time period will not be long with the last entry being accepted on Wednesday February 22nd.

How To Enter:

Leave a comment and tell us how your training is coming for the big day. If you are not in training tell us why you think running either a full or half marathon is a good idea with just four weeks of training.
Share the opportunity with everyone you know. You know the drill, share if with all those social media tools, your blog, and at your running club, but don’t stop there! (leave a comment for each way you share because each comment will count as an additional entry)
Join the Publix Georgia Marathon Fanpage, follow them on Twitter at @GeorgiaMarathon and leave a comment for each of these as well.

Share often and come back daily to tell us how you have spread the word!

Publix Georgia Marathon Race Entry Selection

2012-02-07T06:34:00.000-05:00

It has been a few days since the entries closed and so it is time to select a winner for the free Publix Georgia Marathon race entry. March 18th, aka Race Day, will be here before we know it and thousands of people will be warming up along the streets of Atlanta, ready to take that 26.2 mile journey from being just a goal to a completed reality.

There is still time if you have not yet registered to run either the full or the half marathon. If you are just now registering don’t forget to use the discount code 262QUEST to take $10 off the current registration price at the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration page.

A total of 82 entries into this Publix Georgia Marathon giveaway and it is obvious there are many runners that really want to take on this race. If you have not taken the time to read through the comments there are some great stories that are well worth your time to read them.

The random number generator gave the lucky number 48 which means the lucky winner is Christine Krauth for her comment about posting it to Facebook. Congratulations Christine! Please send me an email at info@262quest.com so I can get you the information you need to register.

If you weren’t today’s winner, you will want to make sure you Circle 26.2 Quest on Google+, Like the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, follow on twitter at @262quest, and subscribe to the RSS Feed to make sure you are one of the first to find out about the next race entry giveaway.... yes, I said the NEXT race entry giveaway.

Options To Run The Publix Georgia Marathon

2012-01-19T15:39:00.000-05:00

In recent announcements it is clear you have many options with both registration and running the Publix Georgia Marathon or one of the other races that day. Of course you have the option to run free by entering to win the current race entry giveaway right here on 26.2 Quest, but a very cool partnership with the Atlanta Hawks can give you a discount off of the current Publix Georgia Marathon Registration.

When the Hawks win at home, runners benefit with a registration discount. Last night the Hawks won their game against the Portland Trail Blazers in a 92-89 victory which means that if you register today with discount code HAWKS you will get $3 off your registration since the point spread was 3 points. Further information is available here about the Publix Georgia Marathon Sponsorship with the Atlanta Hawks.

The third and final chance to get the Hawks point spread discount is following their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers this Saturday, January 21st, lets hope for a victory with a 110 point spread so EVERYONE can run the marathon for free! Hey….. it could happen! (OK, so the discount is capped at $15 so no go)

Another option that you have is to admit that you are not marathon ready and sign up instead for the Luckie 5k and Kids Fun Run sponsored by Cuties California Mandarins. The family fun events will be run at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on St. Patrick’s Day, the day before the marathon and half marathon. More information is available about the Cuties Luckie 5k and other events on March 17th, or you can register now.

Don’t forget, if you can’t find any other better option, you can always use the 262QUEST discount code when visiting the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration for $10 off of your registration. This discount is only available for the full and half marathon races.

Win a Free Entry To Run The Publix Georgia Marathon

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

If you were not able to secure your spot to run the Georgia Marathon in one of the past giveaways you have another chance. With the Publix Georgia Marathon just 2 months away on March 18th I hope you are already training if you want to run the 26.2 miles, but if not this entry will also work if you are more of the half marathon type.

The US Road Sports group has offered yet another lucky runner the opportunity to run the marathon or half marathon for the highly discounted rate of $0. All you need to do is provide the training and transportation which is the easy part right?

Do you want to leave nothing to chance and make sure you have your entry set? If so, while you head over to the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration make sure you don’t forget to use the $10 discount code: 262QUEST. This code is good for $10 off either the full or half marathon.

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will be given the opportunity to run the Publix Georgia Marathon on March 18th, 2012 for free. Entries will be taken until January 31st with the winner announced shortly after.

How To Enter:

Leave a comment and tell us about your marathon experience (or lack there of) and why running the Publix Georgia Marathon will change your life forever.
Share the opportunity with everyone you know. You know the drill, share with all those social media tools, your blog, and at your running club, but don’t stop there! (leave a comment for each way you share because each comment will count as an additional entry)
Join the Publix Georgia Marathon Fanpage, follow on Twitter at @GeorgiaMarathon and leave a comment for each of these as well.

Don’t forget to share often for the best chance to win!

What Does it Feel Like to Not Run?

2012-01-15T12:19:00.000-05:00

I am sure there are many ways to describe what it feels like to not run, but to a runner not many of the explanations are positive. As runners we are always looking forward to the next run, sometimes even while we are running. To our non-running friends we are talking as if we are from another planet we we stress about missing a run or when we long to run when something is keeping us from it.

The year that just closed it’s doors is one that I will not miss when I think about running. 2011 was littered with pain, disappointment, and frustration when I discuss my year in running. The year started off with disappointment, and never let up.

When looking at my 2011 year in review on Daily Mile it tells the grim story. In comparing it to my 2010 year in review on Daily Mile I noticed a few things. My mileage wasn’t even half of what it was in 2010, and my higher mileage months were right around where my lowest mileage month was in 2010.

The 12 month timeline tells a story, my story. The story starts in March when things started to fall apart. My mileage was looking good for the most part as I was training for my third marathon, the 2010 Publix Georgia Marathon. I won’t revisit all the details, but an injury late in the marathon training forced me to take a couple weeks off leading up to race day, and ultimately dropping to the half marathon which was even run with some pain.

I had an extremely hard time coming back from this thigh injury and the mileage never came back with consistent nagging from my thigh. When I was finally getting past the injury I had trouble building the mileage back to where it needed to be because of fear of injury and just plain laziness.

Summer was drawing to a close and the mornings were starting to cool off a bit, but August brought with it some extremely long hours at work which would prove to be one of the final blows to 2011 as a runner. The long hours made it difficult to run, but one morning when I did make it out the door I was greeted with another even more crippling injury, my calf. As the mileage shows I was lucky to run at all during the last quarter of the year, and in some cases went weeks without lacing up the running shoes.

This year has taken it’s toll on my body and my spirit. I have had a hard time writing about running when I wasn’t doing it, and felt like a hypocrite when I was eating unhealthy and putting on weight that I had not seen since starting this journey in 2007.

The clothes are tighter and the outlook is grim, but I am slowly trying to regain what I have lost, and lose what I have gained. It has and will be a long road back, but I can only take one step and one day at a time. It is amazing how hard it is to eat right when you are not being active.

The latest on the running and injury is that I am slowly starting to run again. Each time I tried to run before my calf would end up complaining and putting me on the sideline once again, but this time I am taking it much slower and using compression all along the way. So far so good, but I am keeping conservative with my optimism.

How do you describe your feelings when you cannot run?

Run, Chipper, Run

2012-01-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

Today’s post is the first guest post for 26.2 Quest. The post was written and submitted in late November but if you haven’t noticed the posts have been few and far between this past month and I neglected to get it posted until now. The post was written by Chipper Nicodemus who works for Healthline.com, and was written about his experiences leading up to and conquering a big PR in a Thanksgiving Day 10k.

Running was always something I was forced to do. Baseball and wrestling were my sports in high school and running was never a reward we got for doing well. So you can imagine how foreign the idea of running for fun might be. Now several years later, I can say, much to my friends amazement, running is fun. Allow me to explain.

For 3 years now my wife and I have been running in the local “Turkey Trot” 10k at my alma mater Sacramento State University. We did this so we could have a tradition to start following and to burn off some calories before we over ate on turkey and other traditional fixings. My usual training had been a handful of 3 mile runs about two weeks before the race. Needless to say, this left me gasping for air and useless for the remainder of the food gorging holiday. This was not fun running as I had claimed I participate in now. I vowed to make it different this year.

A few life events prompted me to start running for fitness and fun. First off my weight wasn’t ever where I’d like it to be. I was always the ‘big guy’ in my group of friends. I’ve never really been in good shape since wrestling, and the idea of running several miles and being able to speak afterwards really appealed to me. So a full three months before the Turkey Day race I started changing my lifestyle. I downloaded the Lose It! app, and the ever so useful Nike+ app, took pics of my ‘before’ body and stepped on the scale. I watched this video on how to pick the right running shoes and I went to the local sporting goods store and picked up a new pair of running shoes, shorts and one of those fancy tech tees. I read up on Running 101.The next day after work I took of to attempt to conquer the hills of San Francisco. A mere 1.5 miles left I was about done.

I could only muster around the same distance for the rest of my 3 runs that week. I set a goal for myself that every Saturday I would do my ‘push yourself’ longer run. My first push run was an excessively San Franciscan hilly 3 mile run, about half way through I realized I bit off more than I could run. Only a few weeks later I was easily handling 3 miles and working on some 6 mile runs. Every run I was hitting personal records for 10k without too my effort on my part. Here in San Francisco we are blessed with great running weather, so most of my runs were in perfect 60 degree weather. After several 10k and longer runs, I felt more prepared for the Thanksgiving Run to Feed the Hungry than any previous 3 years. Now it was race day.

My alarm woke me up at 5:30 am, on a chilly Sacramento morning, working on just over 4 hours sleep. I got dressed in my favorite shorts and shoes, grabbed a few Gu packs and started hydrating. My wife and I headed out for my alma mater Sacramento State University, but not before a much needed stop at Starbucks for a coffee and banana, which has become my go to pre-run morning meal. We were parked and headed over to meet with our team Cal Fit for our pre-race picture. That is when a monkey wrench got tossed my way. Rain.

I’ve never had to run in the rain before. Usually rain was a great excuse to get out of running, but today I was looking forward to the challenge. I tried to say dry as best I could with some help of some redwood trees. About 5 minutes before the start, I headed towards the ‘8 min/ mile’ sign, which was my stretch goal pace, but I was just shooting for a new personal record which would be below 55 minutes for the 10k race. The local radio jock was doing his best to cheer up the wet runners before the starting gun was shot. GO! I was off and despite the massive amount of people; I got to a decent start, but kept my pace steady. Around mile 1 I felt that my socks and shoes were soggy, but it didn’t affect me too badly. Every mile marker I checked my watch and spent the next quarter mile calculating my pace and if I was on track for my PR. Around the half way mark at 5k, I looked at my watch and realized that there are some people about to finish the race in less than 5 minutes. I pushed on and was keeping a solid pace at around 8 minute miles, which is great for me. Somewhere between mile 4 and 5, I slammed my Gu pack and pushed on. I hit mile marker 5 and knew I had to make my push; there was no reason not to leave everything on the field so to speak. I rounded the corner and headed for the final straight away, finish line in site. I checked my watch and a little off my stretch goal, but in great position for my new PR. At the 6 mile marker I took off in a dead sprint and the official clock was becoming more readable through my rain filled glasses. About 100 feet from the finish line I saw the clock tick closer to 52 minutes. I hit the after burners and sprinted through the finish line still a few seconds to spare before 52 minutes. Exhausted and fulfilled were the two feels I felt immediately. I stopped my watch timer and my Nike+ app, both informed me of my new personal record. I walked over to the refueling station and grabbed another banana and several bottles of water. The chill of rain soaked clothes set in and I was ready to head home and hit the comfort of a warm shower. I waited for my wife to finish her 5k walk and when she did I informed her of my new accomplishment and she congratulated me. We both refilled our waters and headed home to enjoy some football and turkey dinner.

I felt great for the rest of my day with my very own runner’s high and even managed not to eat too poorly for all 3 of my Thanksgiving dinners. I’m really looking forward to my next running adventure which is my first ½ marathon in March. Any tips or tricks for my first ½? Please share with me below in the comments.

This guest post, the first for 26.2 Quest, was written by Chipper Nicodemus from Healthline.com.

Look Who Is Running The Georgia Marathon For Free!

2012-01-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

The Publix Georgia Marathon is quickly approaching and the winner best be already training. The giveaway started just before Christmas, but the gift of being able to put yourself through torture for 26.2 miles is being given away now.

March 18th will be here before you know it, and those running will be heading through the streets of Atlanta to once again claim victory in the battle against the hilly marathon and half marathon courses. If you have not yet registered there is plenty of time and you can secure your spot for $10 less than the current rate by using the discount code 262QUEST when signing up.

Too many people were thinking of others during the Christmas holidays (or were wondering how they could possibly run that far given the way they were currently eating) and so the entries stayed a bit lower with just 37 total entries.

With 37 in the Random number generator the button was pushed and the lucky number 20 revealed double_jogger as the winner. double_jogger is looking to run the Publix Georgia Marathon to get back into shape post baby, let’s all congratulate her!

Please contact me at info@262quest.com by Friday to claim your entry or I will need to pick a new winner.

For those of you that didn’t win, thank you for reading & entering…………… and stay tuned!

Happy Running!

The Georgia Marathon – Christmas Giveaway

2011-12-23T17:34:00.001-05:00

We are only a short time away from when we start to look at our physique and wonder what we should do about it. Yes, it is the time of year when the New Years Resolution craze causes gym memberships, even with their high prices, to skyrocket. Running, on the other hand, is one of the least expensive sports, but it can still offer many of the same benefits that are being sought out during this time of redirection.

While many are looking at their bank accounts to try and figure out how they will pay the trainer next month, the Publix Georgia Marathon wants to give you a chance to focus more on your running and less on how you will pay for it.

Yes, that is right, just in time for Christmas, the generous people over at US Road Sports, and the Awesome person behind the 26.2 Quest Fanpage (which would be me) are teaming up to offer you a chance to beat the down economy while running the Publix Georgia Marathon or Half Marathon for free!

Many of you, I am sure, have started training for that spring marathon, but just haven’t decided which one you will run yet. With the price increase coming up at the end of the year, there is no better time to sign up for the Publix Georgia Marathon then now. While you head over to sign up make sure you don’t forget to use the $10 discount code: 262QUEST. This code is good for $10 off either the full or half marathon.

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will find themselves with a little extra cash in their pockets when they are given the opportunity to run the Publix Georgia Marathon on March 18th, 2012 for free. Entries will be taken until January 6th with the winner announced shortly after.

How to enter:

Leave a comment and tell us why you want to run the Publix Georgia Marathon.
Share the news! Get in the spirit of the season and share the opportunity with everyone you know. You know the drill, share with all those social media tools, but don’t stop there! (leave a comment for each way you share because each comment will count as an additional entry)
Join the gang at the Publix Georgia Marathon Fanpage, on Twitter at @GeorgiaMarathon and leave a comment for each of these as well.

Now since you are entered to win it is time to start training if you haven’t already. Run a couple miles for me as I once again try to nurse my leg back to health.

Merry Christmas!

Publix Georgia Marathon Race Entry Winner

2011-11-21T16:27:00.001-05:00

The much anticipated winner of the Publix Georgia Marathon race entry is about to be announced. Thank you to everyone who read, entered, and helped by promoting this giveaway.

Keep in mind, that if you are not the winner, you can still walk away a winner by using the $10 discount code: 262QUEST. This code is good for $10 off either the full marathon or the half marathon and can be used online up until the online registration closes.

We had plenty of runners entering for their chance at running the Publix Georgia Marathon for free, but some took it to a level well beyond everyone else. Whether it was Terry who tried to promote it nearly every day, or Rachel who took her promotion attempts well beyond where most people would draw the line. A picture is off to the right in case it inspires you in future giveaways.

Counting the entries took some time. I am sorry if I missed an entry, but I can’t be held responsible for missing one of your entries if you put more than one entry per comment.

We had a total of 56 entries. I took that total and entered it in random.org and the magic number 35 was revealed. Counting back through the entries this number landed on Terry’s comment from the 9th, making Terry Higgins aka Planet3rry the lucky runner who will be running the Publix Georgia Marathon or Half Marathon on March 18th paying only with sweat and countless hours of training.

Terry, please send me an email at info@262quest.com to claim your entry code. I will give plenty of time for you to respond given the holiday, but if I don’t hear back by December 1st I will need to pick an alternate runner.

If you weren’t today’s winner, you will want to make sure you Circle 26.2 Quest on Google+, Like the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, follow on twitter at @262quest, and subscribe to the RSS Feed to make sure you are one of the first to find out about the next race entry giveaway.... yes, I said the NEXT race entry giveaway.

Thanks for reading, now make sure you congratulate Terry!

West Stride Running Form Clinic

2011-11-14T22:05:00.001-05:00

This past month I was given the opportunity to participate in a Running Form Clinic offered by West Stride in cooperation with running form expert Kyle O’Day of Continuum Sports Solutions. I, like most runners, am aware of my form, but I am never absolutely sure if I am doing it right.

If you read much about running form you know that a lot of emphasis is put on foot strike and what type of shoe you wear or maybe don’t wear. Too many times people try to fix their form and bent toward injury with shoes or other gadgets instead of seeking professional help with tuning up their form.

Many runners don’t even think about form and it’s affect on injury, but rather think of it as a way to speed up and stay fresh instead of the premature fatigue most of us experience. If only I can fix my form I will finally be able to set that new PR, or go that new distance. While correct form will help both speed you up and take you further, the method to fix the form is once again approached wrong – many times with the focus being on shoes and foot strike.

If you read my three previous articles on this clinic you have seen how much I learned in the four weeks we met. I previously thought I knew running form pretty well. I taught my daughter what I learned when I was in high school and was proud to watch her run with what I viewed as pretty good form. I rarely questioned if my running form had anything to do with my recent and numerous injuries.

The first of the four sessions was a show and tell with videos showing both incorrect and correct form. Kyle also explained what we would be doing in the coming weeks to analyze and fix any running form issues we had.

The second session was the first time we took the short run to a local track. We talked a lot about our posture and how it is the basis for good running form. We worked on learning some drills that we would continue to use throughout the entire clinic. The drills helped ready us for the lower body techniques we would be learning later in the clinic, but also was helping us “feel” the posture we were currently working on.

The third session started to incorporate some lower body form. Kyle did not let us down when he had previously warned us that lower body form would be much harder to feel, and that most of us would not pick it up as quickly. I was a perfect example of this, and I even served as comic relief for some of the West Stride group that was helping watch and correct us as we worked on what we had been taught.

The fourth and final session pulled all the different things we worked on together as a package. We all had the weeks between the sessions to work on our form and practice what we had been taught. This last week gave us the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback on how far we had come. We once again used the drills to drive home the posture and leg action.

In addition to what we had already learned, we worked on maintaining form while running hills, as well as changing tempo. The final piece to the puzzle was foot strike. Don’t let me mislead you into thinking we didn’t talk about foot strike often, but this was the first time we actually worked on it. We spent a lot of time talking throughout the four sessions on how foot strike is more of a result of good form, and yet trying to change foot strike will not, in most cases, help with form.

Working on this foot strike at the end gave everyone a good chance to work on their form, and many foot strike problems took care of themselves as the form was corrected. What helped further was when a slight problem was detected with foot strike Kyle could point to the issues with the form that caused it, and it was easy for each runner to understand what needed to be done to further correct the foot strike.

When it was my turn to have my foot strike analyzed I intentionally didn’t think about anything and tried to run as I did normally. I wanted to see what my foot strike looked like without any correction on my part. I was happy to find that I have a mid-foot strike and further correction in form as I train my body to know what good form is will only serve to perfect it even more.

What did I learn?

I learned a lot, much more than I expected to. What I wrote about each week and summarized in this post is only the highlights. I am extremely pleased with how the clinic went and would do it again if given the opportunity. While I understood how important good form was, I didn’t know what good form was specifically. Going through the West Stride Running Form Clinic with Kyle O’Day from Continuum Sports Solutions gave me eyes to be able to see good and bad running form, but more importantly the teaching helped teach my body how to feel good running form. I still have a lot of practice to get to where it becomes natural, and I need to have patience as I work on it, but I now have the tools in the tool chest to work on it intelligently.

What are your thoughts on running form?
Have you ever thought about taking part in a running form clinic?
Where do you feel you have the most room for improvement?

We are now on Google+ Come join us on the 26.2 Quest Google+ Page!

What About The Publix Georgia Marathon?

2011-11-01T15:06:00.000-04:00

Many of you have just finished a full marathon, while others of you are merely a week or two a way from your 26.2 mile journey. For some of you this will be just another marathon, but to many others it was or will be the first after a long yet exciting journey. If you are like many of the others who have made their way to the only finish line with ancient Greek roots, it will only be the first of many more to come.

Do you need a discount or a free entry to fit it into your budget?

There are still many more that have not yet decided to make that commitment, and yet they are reading this and wondering – can I do a marathon, should I do a marathon? The best advice I can give you is to find a friend who has run through multiple pair of shoes so they would have the privilege of calling themselves a marathoner and then make your way over to the Publix Georgia Marathon Registration, as I am sure you will be needing it.

One of the first questions I was asked when I crossed the finish line of my first marathon was if I planned on doing any more, to which I immediately answered – Absolutely! If you have completed a marathon you know exactly what I am talking about, and if you have finished a half marathon you know the question is not much different for you – you have run a half marathon, are you planning on running a full?

Regardless of whether you have just finished your 100th, your first, or are yet to run a marathon the Publix Georgia Marathon is within your reach. With nearly 5 months of training time available it will give you plenty of time to train even if you need some time off to rest from your most recent adventure.

The Publix Georgia Marathon was recently awarded the 2012 Southern Region Marathon Championship by RRCA. This will no doubt draw an elite group of runners with names which will be easy to recognize.

If you have not yet registered and already have Sunday March 18th blocked off on your calendar you will want to head over and register in the next couple days before the price increase on November 3rd. When you stop by to register at the Registration Page make sure to use the exclusive discount code: 262QUEST to get $10 off when checking out.

What about a FREE RACE ENTRY to run the Publix Georgia Marathon?

You say that you love discounts, but a free entry interests you as well? Then I have a deal for you that you cannot refuse. I have a code ready for one lucky winner. That code will allow that winner the privilege of running either the half marathon or full marathon courtesy of US Road Sports.

The Giveaway:

One Lucky runner will have the opportunity to run the Publix Georgia Marathon on March 18th, 2012. There are multiple ways to enter, and many which you can use to enter over and over again until the winner is drawn on November 18th. If I have not posted the winner and closed the comments you can still enter, so keep entering and keep promoting it for the best chance to win.

How do I enter?

Leave a comment and tell us why you want to run the Publix Georgia Marathon (1 time).
Tell everyone you know about this giveaway: Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, DailyMile, your blog, a billboard, or even by painting it on the side of your car or etching it on the bathroom stall. Each time you share it come post a separate comment for each share. To make it even better, you can share it each place again every day for additional entries – just come back and comment to let us know of each share for an even better chance of winning. The question is…. how bad do you want this entry?

If you haven’t already, make sure you head over to the Publix Georgia Marathon Fanpage, follow them at @GeorgiaMarathon on Twitter, and stop by the Publix Georgia Marathon Website. While you are taking the Social Media tour be sure to look for 26.2 Quest at the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, on twitter @262quest, and subscribe to the RSS Feed to keep posted on this and many other great promotions, thoughts, and a chance to share your opinion.

Good Luck!

Upper Body Form–Is It Easier Than Lower Body?

2011-10-27T14:42:00.000-04:00

The second week of the hands on form clinic which Kyle promised to be the more difficult did not disappoint. The first week at the track we worked on upper body form which was pretty easy to pick up on and to feel if you were doing in right or not.

True to his word, Kyle did not let us down and give us more easy work. All I can say is that I did not start off looking like a rose, and I am not sure there is even an ugly flower that would be a good comparison with what I looked like.

We started off the evening with drills and everyone was given the time to once again get comfortable with what would be the stepping stones of the work we had in front of us. Following the warm up Kyle O’Day from Continuum Sports took center stage and demonstrated the lower body form that we would be working on. It looked easy enough while he was demonstrating it, however once we started to attempt to put it to the test things fell apart rather quickly.

Not only did I feel really awkward and uncomfortable, I was told later that I looked rather comical as well. I started trying to just replicate the drill, but while running. I ended up looking more like a soldier trying to march his was through a local 5k. The first pass brought the critique that I wasn’t getting my knees high enough. I now am thinking they were just trying to make me look even more foolish so they could point and talk about me the rest of the evening….. not that they would ever admit to it!

After a couple more passes I finally straightened up like I was supposed to and I started to finally feel it. Each time I ran for the rest of the clinic I was hitting it. It is not so bad to run with good form if you can be correctly instructed and coached to the point that you can then feel it for yourself.

While I was at the West Stride Running Form Clinic it was easy to stay in good form, however I have not had the same luck throughout the rest of my runs this week. I tried to pull it into my trail run on Monday morning, but only felt awkward so I am not sure I was doing it right. This will take much more practice to where I can at will get into the correct running form and eventually train my muscles to where I just naturally fall into stride.

The lower body form was much harder to feel at first, and is proving the same as I try to get that feeling once again while I am running on my own. We have one more session in that I am sure we will once again go over each piece we have learned so far. I am looking forward to getting some more instruction and seeing how everything comes together.

The Returning Long Run Legs

2011-10-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

It has been a long time since I have run a distance that I would previously call a long run. My running has recently been cut back so much that I affectionately referred to even a three mile run as a “Long Run” not too long ago.

It doesn’t seem too long ago that I would talk about 10 miles like it was no big deal, even priding myself that I was perpetually in half marathon fitness – but then life happened. Work and then ultimately injury stepped into the picture and I found myself sitting instead of running, even to the point that I went more than just a few days or weeks without lacing up for a single run.

That time has now past

After many discouraging attempts at returning I am happy to say – that time has now past. Simple one mile runs which left me sore the following day are once again nothing but a memory as I slowly test the long run legs ever so cautiously. Just one week ago the longest run I had attempted was five miles, but I am happy to say that the roads and trails have been nothing but accommodating with each new foot-fall.

Yesterday a friend and I met for an early morning long run on some local trails. He is running the Pinhoti 100 in just a couple weeks and I committed long ago to crew and pace him a bit. The pacing will not be the previous agreed upon distance of 20 miles, but will be a challenge none the less. We hit the trails at 5:30 and just ran until my body told me I was finished.

…that run that reminds you that all is not lost, that you will return

I ran just shy of 9 miles, and really didn’t quit because I was tired or hurting, but rather because I had asked enough of my legs and if I continued to circle I would be tempting fate. The run felt good, and yet was a push. If it was nothing else, it was a confidence run – that run that reminds you that all is not lost, that you will return.

As I continue to lengthen the long runs I will be thankful each time that I can run. Instead of feeling sorry for myself that I am not as fast as others, or cannot endure as long, I will be thankful that each step will not be my last.

How Would You Rate Your Running Form?

2011-10-22T16:50:00.000-04:00

Some people think they have near perfect running form and can be found talking about it all the time, while others haven’t even thought about it at all. There is, however, a third group of runners that I like to think I can most closely relate to – those that think about running form and try to do the right thing, but are not quite sure if they are getting it completely right.

This third group of runners may read books, magazines, and blogs and think they understand, but without a knowledgeable individual giving an honest assessment they can never be completely sure they are correctly implementing what they have understood from their research. This is where I have found myself for so many years. I am proud of what I do know, but truth be told I have a lot to learn.

Kyle O’Day from Continuum Sports is one of those knowledgeable individuals I am talking about and this past Sunday night was our first of the “hands on” sessions in the sold out Running Form Clinic put on by West Stride in Atlanta. What this meant was that my running form was starting to be put to the test so to speak. I was a bit nervous, but excited at the same time to see what I was doing wrong and what I could do better.

The evening started with a short run to a nearby track. This was interesting given the busy roads that surround West Stride. I am not used to dealing with that kind of traffic where I run most of the time, and so I was getting a little impatient having to wait for traffic lights.

This first session was focused on posture and upper body form including arm and hand placement. This brought back some memories of some techniques I learned while running Cross Country over 20 years ago, techniques that I still use today in my running.

We started working on some drills that we will incorporate in later lower body sessions. It is a bit odd seeing adults doing drills. I watch my daughter and her team as they do drills, however as far as adults go, I think too many of them don’t think about drills or chose to ignore them. We are all so busy that we just head out the door and run – only to get upset and wonder why we get injured.

Kyle watched us as we ran and worked on what we had been taught. I was happy to be doing exactly what I was taught, but too bad that wasn’t because I have always had perfect form, but rather because I was really good at faking it while being critiqued. :) It was good to hear that encouragement of a job well done, but I am still concerned on getting it right while I am out running on my own. I guess that comes with time and lots of disciplined practice.

How would you rate your running form? Which group do you fall in? Do you seek out knowledgeable individuals to help guide you in the right direction?

Running Form – Could it Cause Injury?

2011-10-16T16:09:00.001-04:00

Running Form is not something I have given a lot of thought to up until now. Sure I have tried to relax and pay attention to my stride, but it has always been a passing thought and something I convinced myself was other runners problems, and not mine.

Previously, when thinking about running form, it was always with how it related to my speed and premature fatigue during long runs, and yet I rarely questioned if it had anything to do with any of my recent injuries. In my mind, injury has always been associated with overtraining or shoe choice. The only time I ever have related injury with form has been with extreme form issues, which I have always convinced myself I do not suffer from.

This all changed this past Thursday when I attended the first of four sessions of a Running Form clinic put on by West Stride in Atlanta. Kyle O’Day from Continuum Sports brought his 11 years of experience working with both elite and recreational athletes as he walked us through videos and demonstrations of both bad form and good form. Kyle explained that all too often we try to “fix” our running with different kinds of shoes, or by changing obvious things like stride length and terrain, all the while ignoring the most fundamental reason for premature fatigue and injury – our form.

The first session was very informative as we discussed form and what we would be doing in the coming sessions to fix any form issues we have. Tonight is our second session, the first one that will have us doing what we all love to do – run. I just am not sure how I feel about all the others seeing how bad my form truly is. :)

I am excited to find out what I can do to improve my form, and ultimately my running. Stay tuned and make sure you visit the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, @262quest and also subscribe to the RSS Feed to make sure you don’t miss any of the upcoming experiences I have with fixing my form.

The North Face Endurance Challenge is in Atlanta

2011-10-14T13:15:00.000-04:00

The much anticipated weekend for many Atlanta runners has arrived as The North Face Endurance Challenge arrives with it’s flurry of races. Since this is only the second year the challenge will make it’s way to Atlanta I am sure there will be many who will be running it for the first time. F.D Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain will no doubt be the place to be for Trail Runners and Ultra Distance Runners from more than just the surrounding area.

This race was on my list for some time, but with my recent injury and lack of mileage lately I dropped it from my calendar. A recent email prompted me to rethink that, but unfortunately I was not quick enough to get registered in time to join in the excitement.

With races ranging from 5k to the elusive 50 miler there is a distance for everyone. I have a lot of running friends who will be participating in different events this weekend. One will be running his first 50k, two others running their first 50 milers, and one who is hopeful that she will be the one to break the tape after trudging through the woods for 50 miles.

I am a bit bummed that I won’t be running, but there’s always next year. Who knows maybe by this time next year I will be ready to battle the 50k or 50 mile distances….. we will see.

Those that make it out this weekend will have the privilege of meeting UltraMarathon Man, Dean Karnazes in person as he runs a little bit of each race. I am wondering if he would have run all of the races in their entirety if they were not being run simultaneously. :) Maybe he will chime in because I am sure he is a regular reader of 26.2 Quest. :)

Will you be running the North Face Endurance Challenge in Atlanta this weekend? If so, what distance are you running?

Barefoot Running with Michael Sandler

2011-10-07T09:25:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post about the 13.1 Atlanta race, I was lucky enough to meet up with Barefoot Runner Michael Sandler before the race. Michael didn’t run the race because of some extensive traveling he is doing for his recent book launch, but he still ran up to me in his bare feet on Sunday morning in Town Brookhaven.

It was fun to talk to Michael about barefoot running and some of the more interesting and difficult barefoot runs he has had. One race he mentioned was one that he and a barefoot running group ran through some horrible road conditions. Because the road was rough they all decided to hit the grass on the side of the road only to find that the grass was full of cactus and then so were their feet.

Michael is currently traveling all over the country promoting his book Barefoot Running: How to Run Light and Free By Getting in Touch with the Earth which he wrote with his wife Jessica Lee, who is also a barefoot runner.

Sandler explores every aspect of barefoot running in this comprehensive guide, including:

Overcoming any inhibitions about running barefoot.

The pros and cons of barefoot running and running in shoes.

Maintaining your feet after the first few runs—tips and tools.

Barefoot running for children—fitness benefits for children, dangers of footwear at a young age, ideas for playtime barefoot activities.

Barefoot/minimalist shoes and other essential gear.

Barefoot running benefits for seniors.

Nutrition tips.

Running in heat or the cold.

Running on any surface.

As mentioned in the Barefoot Running Press Release, Barefoot Running also chronicles Michael’s journey from a nearly fatal accident in 2006 that the doctors said would keep him from running again, to running 10 to 20 miles or more barefoot.

More information about Michael, his wife Jessica, and their company Run Bare can be found at their website www.runbare.com and you can also interact with them on Facebook at the Run Bare Fanpage, or on Twitter @RunBareCompany.

Have you tried Barefoot Running or Minimalist Running?

Experiencing the 13.1 Atlanta

2011-10-06T21:47:00.000-04:00

I once again was able to enjoy the 13.1 Atlanta, however this year was a little different than the previous two years. I was really looking forward to running this year and trying out the new course, but alas it was not meant to be. It is crazy how fast you can lose fitness while injured and eating too much, I just wish I didn’t know so much about it.

Even though I was not able to run I still decided to make my way down to Town Brookhaven to cheer everyone on and to give you a little insight into race day, at least from my point of view. I cannot even begin to image how early the race director and key volunteers had to get up to get everything ready for race day. I woke at 4:00 and was on my way at 4:30. By the time I was driving down Peachtree the cones were already completely set in place just waiting for the race to start. I arrived at Town Brookhaven to find nearly everything ready, and yet it was only 5:15.

While walking around and checking out the start and finish it was quickly apparent that the start would go much smoother than it had in the previous two years. The corrals were set up with the official start opening up wide. In previous years the space narrowed after the start which caused slow downs and even walking after crossing the start. This year as I watched, everyone that wanted to was running easily as they started their race.

With a field of 3,300 - or actually 3,299 since I wasn’t running :) Town Brookhaven didn’t seem too crowded and there were plenty of places for everyone to warm up. I stood near the front and watched the cars pour in and was lucky enough to meet and talk to Barefoot Runner Michael Sandler from www.runbare.com who was making his way through Atlanta to promote his recent book release of Barefoot Running.

There were some very exciting results with two new course records, and only one runner beating the Karhu Bear in the “Beat the Karhu Bear Challenge” All I have to say is that was one fast bear!

Emmanuel Ngatunyi, of Marietta, Ga., won first place in the male division with a time of 1:03:59. The 18-year-old established a new race record by blowing away the previous mark of 1:08:03. Reuben Mwei, of Acworth, Ga., took second place with a time of 1:04:33, while Jynocel Basweti from Marietta earned third place with a time of 1:07:30.

On the women’s side, Lilian Mariita, 23, of Marietta, shattered the women’s race standard with a time of 1:17:28 (previous record 1:21:39). Placing second was Justyna Mudy from Rome, Ga., with a time of 1:17:46, and Meggan Franks of Starkville, Miss., took third with a time of 1:20:37.

The Karhu 5K provided an extra incentive to all competitors as the Finnish shoe company encouraged all runners to try to "Beat the Karhu Bear." The first 10 runners who "Beat the Karhu Bear” were to receive a coupon for a FREE pair of Karhu running shoes. Only one runner was able to accomplish the challenge as 14-year-old Danny Shaughnessy of Douglasville, Ga., was just six second better than the bear – coming in with a time of 0:19:41. The Bear costume was worn by Andrew Mearns of Atlanta as he placed second with a time of 0:19:47.

The complete results can be found at www.131atlanta.com and the 13.1 Atlanta Marathon and Karhu 5K Results Press Release is also available in it’s entirety.

It once again was a successful race, and one I am sorry that I was not able to run. I will now be turning my sights on other races, one of which will be the Publix Georgia Marathon in March, which is also a US Road Sports race, just taken to the next level. Make sure you keep an eye on www.262quest.com, the RSS Feed, the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, and the @262quest Twitter account. I don’t have a commitment yet, but I will see if I can work out a couple race entry giveaways for my loyal readers.

Did you run the 13.1 Atlanta? If so, tell us about it and feel free to post a link to your race report in the comments.

The Time Has Come For Many – But Not For Me

2011-09-28T21:02:00.000-04:00

I have been talking a lot about the 13.1 Marathon Atlanta both so you could have a chance to win race entries and also because it has been one of my favorite races to run these past two years. I won’t go into a lot of details today, but sadly I won’t be running it this year. I waited this long because I was hoping that I would be able to somehow get ready for it, but I am not in the condition I need to be to run a half marathon.

That won’t be the case for many runners though, and you still have time to join the group of runners calling Town Brookhaven by the beloved name – finish. The online registration closes tonight, but you still have time to get registered online with a $13.10 discount by using the code: BROOKHAVEN131 Don’t delay because the only opportunity you will have to register after tonight will be by walk up on Friday and Saturday.

You say you are not ready to run a half marathon yet? In case you were not aware, there is also a 5k distance race, the Karhu 5K, with a chance to win your very own pair of Karhu shoes by beating the Karhu bear in the “Beat the Karhu bear” challenge. You have a pretty good chance of winning as I will not be competing with you (or getting in your way intentionally) This also means that I won’t be going home with an always colorful pair of Karhu’s, but my time will come. You can get all the details about the Karhu 5K race and your chance at the shoes in the recent press release.

If you are registered to run, or know someone that is, did you know that you can either be tracked or track those you are supporting? It is easy, make sure you go and check out the Live Entrant Tracking and get registered.

A lot of information is available for those running, watching, or living around the race course. To stay up to speed and get your questions answered head over to the 13.1 Marathon Fanpage, but a few items of specific interest could be the Participant Sheet, Road Closing and Course Information, and of course information about packet pickup and other information can be found on the race website: www.131atlanta.com

I won’t be running, but I plan on still showing up on race morning to help and cheer you all on. If you have a moment try to look me up. I know it would help if I tell you where you can find me so I will try to narrow it down a bit by telling you to look somewhere around Town Brookhaven……

See you on race day!!

13.1 Atlanta Winner Announcement

2011-09-23T15:59:00.000-04:00

In every race there are so many different types of runners, and many different types of winners. Of course there are the ones we all hear about, the ones that cross the finish line first. The ones we don’t hear about as much are those that are completing a new distance, or crossing the finish line for the first time. Some have overcome insurmountable odds, and others are out running as part of their commitment to take their health and fitness serious for the first time in their life.

These are just a few of the winners that will lace up their shoes on the first Sunday morning in October if you ask me, but today we are talking about yet another type of winner for the Atlanta stop of the 13.1 Marathon Series. Last week we announced the second free race entry giveaway for the quickly approaching 13.1 Atlanta. The entries rolled in throughout the week and it is now time to randomly pick the runner who will be attaching the bib courtesy of US Road Sports.

Speaking of winners and the 13.1 Atlanta, the field of Elite Runners were just announced yesterday and contain the likes of Reuben Mwei, Emmanuel Ngatunyi, Jynocel Basweti, Cory Baumann, Martin Hernandez, and Daniel Kirwa for the men while Tamara Karrh, Lilian Mariita, and Risper Geswaba will be battling it out amongst the other women. You can read the complete Elite Runner Press Release for more information on the individual runners.

And the winner is……

And now on to the reason at least a few of you are reading. There was a total of 27 entries which I put into the handy random.org number generator shown to the left. After the quick click of the button the number 7 appeared revealing Pam Burrus from Moms RUN This Town on Facebook as the round two winner of the 13.1 Atlanta race entry. Pam, please contact me at info@262quest.com so I can send you the code so you or a friend can get registered. I need to hear from you by Sunday night or I will need to pick a new winner so we can make sure the free entry gets put to good use.

If you are not the winner and still need to register, you can still register online up until the 28th and make sure you use the discount code: BROOKHAVEN131 to get $13.10 off of your race entry. While you are registering don’t forget to register for the ATL Challenge.

Don’t forget to connect with 13.1 Marathon for more information about this and many other races. You can connect with 13.1 Marathon on Facebook and on Twitter at @131marathon. You can also connect with 26.2 Quest on Facebook and on Twitter at @262quest.

Finding That Post 2 Mile Joy

2011-09-16T09:40:00.000-04:00

If you hang around me at all you know that I am not shy when it comes to talking about running. The blog is just a natural extension of something I like to do in person, and anybody that spends more than a minute or two with me is painfully aware of this. I guess that is what happens when you are passionate about something, you just can’t keep your love and experiences to yourself.

Because of this, I occasionally get an email, tweet, or message on Facebook telling me how I have been an inspiration or at the least an encouragement or motivation for starting or continuing when things get tough. By far, that is the most fulfilling part of the journey I have taken, and brings a undeniable smile to my face regardless of how things are going at the time.

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those messages came in that let the stresses of life, and worries of not being able to run seem to just disappear. The message came from my friend Robin, and she has given me permission to post it. I have taken a little bit out, but left the best parts in.

Hey Tim!

Just wanted to update you and tell you that I got my 3 miles today!!! Not looking for a pat on the back or anything like that. You're just like my running Yoda and I wanted to tell you. I also think I found that post 2 mile joy you've been telling me about! I haven't had it until this morning, but something happened today that was so cool. I can't quite describe it except to say that, my legs moved without much persuading or lamenting. It felt strong and so amazing. It was as if I had run 3 miles every day my whole life. I didn't seem to notice how heavy my legs felt or how long I had been at it or any other thing that normally distracts me. It was like I just settled in and ran. It was a great moment.

(concerning an up-coming race) Still so nervous about running in front of people. But I am really excited about completing this goal. Tomorrow makes 11 weeks since I started working on this and I'm really pleased with the progress. The first week of July I couldn't run for more than a minute, probably less than 40 seconds, without having to stop.

Anyway...sorry to go on and on. Just wanted to tell you about the milestone. Now I just have to strengthen it. Who knows maybe I'll starting adding another 3 or maybe 10.

--Robin

Robin, and others that write me to tell me how I have helped motivate them or inspire them do not realize how much it means to me to hear those words. They think they are the ones getting the benefit, but I hate to tell them that I am getting much more from those emails and messages than they could ever imagine.

Whether it is that first mile that you were inspired to run, the motivation to get on that treadmill, or the fact that you just completed your first marathon that I encouraged you to pursue – thank you for sharing your successes. It is the fuel that keeps me going, and keeps me smiling.

The 13.1 Atlanta is Almost Here–Run It For Free!

2011-09-12T20:51:00.000-04:00

We are inside the last 30 days and the weather is starting to change to prepare for the cool morning temperatures that are sure to greet us as we line up on October 2nd in Town Brookhaven for the third running of the 13.1 Atlanta and the Karhu 5k. The fall weather in Atlanta is some of the best when it comes to running weather, and the Atlanta stop to the 13.1 Marathon Series takes full advantage of it.

If you haven’t heard yet, the course has changed slightly this year to encompass a new start and finish line. I mentioned it a couple months ago when the new course was announced, but it is summarized nicely in this recent press release:

The new start line has been improved and will feature wider lanes with less congestion allowing for a smoother transition to accommodate all the participants. For the finish line, Town Brookhaven will add a festive atmosphere for the runners who have completed their 13.1 mile journey and want to celebrate a personal victory. Located in the Town Green, the new start/finish area will be adjacent to the recently opened hybrid Publix at 104 Town Boulevard in the Town Brookhaven development off Peachtree Road. For more information and to read the full press release click here

If you are planning on running the 13.1 Atlanta or if you are planning on running the Publix Georgia Marathon in the spring you need to take a look at the ATL Challenge. The ATL Challenge rewards runners who complete both the 13.1 Atlanta and the Publix Georgia Marathon or Half Marathon. Make sure you check out the details and get signed up for for the ATL Challenge, as well as the 13.1 Atlanta and Publix Georgia Marathon or Half Marathon.

So, you want to run the 13.1 Atlanta and you haven’t signed up yet? Or maybe you have signed up, but you are trying to talk someone into running it with you? You still have time to register and it is not too late to build a few more miles into the schedule before race day if you have found your motivation lacking lately.

Or….. Run the 13.1 Atlanta for free!

Your other option is to take advantage of US Road Sports generosity and run the race for free! One of you will be walking (or running) away with a free race entry for just taking a moment to enter below and sharing this giveaway with all your friends.

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will receive a FREE entry into the 2001 13.1 Marathon Atlanta which will be run at 7:00 am on Sunday October 2nd. Entries will be taken through September 20th and the winner will be chosen randomly on Wednesday the 21st.

To Enter:

Do any of the following, each will count as an entry:

Leave a comment, any comment…. but this is so easy you could enter at least one other way.
Share the giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Dailymile, your blog, or by telling your friends, neighbors, or everyone at your local running club. Just send them back here: 262qst.com/lFc4l
Follow the @131Marathon Twitter account, or Like the 13.1 Marathon Fanpage.

If you decide to go crazy you can get a lot of entries, just leave a comment for each one to ensure no entries are missed. To make sure you don’t miss the winner announcement make sure you join the 26.2 Quest Community at the 26.2 Quest Fanpage, follow the @262quest Twitter stream, and subscribe via RSS. There is always something going on and I would love to have you as part of the community!