Take a deep breath

Tomorrow is the big day. You may have pre-race jitters and that's normal. This is my 5th 4-miler and I still get jitters. Just take a deep breath and try to relax.

Packet pickup is today from 5-8 at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Fontaine Ave. It's a lot easier to get your packet today than to try and get it in the morning.

Carpool to Foxfield if you can. The volunteers do a great job of getting everyone in an parked. Let's help them out by reducing the number of cars.

Get lots of water today and stay off your feet as much as you can.

Try and get a good night's sleep. I know that can be hard.

Put your race number on your shirt and your chip on your shoe tonight. Don't wait until the morning for that. Lay out your clothes tonight too.

During the race, make your first mile your slowest. You'll want to have something left for the finish.

When you're done---Celebrate! Get a bagel and a drink and cheer on the women still out on the course.

If you have family and friends coming, make sure they have a snack and drinks packed for them to enjoy. We want to make sure there is enough for all the participants first. You might also want a chair or plastic-coated blanket to sit on.

Stick around for awards.

You're prepared for this. You are ready. We've had a wonderful time helping you get to this point so try and take a moment tomorrow to enjoy this. You are why we come back each year.

Have a great race!
Deb

Thanks and Congratulations!

Hi Ladies,
Thanks for a great summer! It has been so great to run/walk with you all and watch you achieve your goals in this rewarding program. We are all so proud of you! Good luck Saturday if you will be in the race! I hope to see you on the road in the coming weeks and months. Looking forward to next summer!!!!
PL Amy

What's next?

The race, of course. Make sure you go to packet pick-up on Friday. It takes a lot of the stress out of race morning.

There will be mile markers and people calling out times at those markers. Remember to look at the clock above the start line when you start so you can see how long it took to get to the start (and subtract that time from your splits).

We love it when participants decide to continue running. There are some races and programs in the near future. I'll try and post info on some of them soon.

I have two bits of race advice for you....hydrate all week long, and make your first mile your slowest.

We'll have an easy run and celebration party on Septemeber 6th at 8am at the track. If it rains, we'll move it to the Park at the end of Massie Rd. Coffee will be provided by Starbucks and here is what you can bring:

If your last name starts with:
A-F: Gatorade, juice or water
G-M: Pastries, bagels or muffins
N-Z: Fruit, candy or goodies

We're glad to have shared the journey with you.

The last Saturday

This is our last Saturday before the race. Some things to be aware of:

It's move-in weekend at UVA.

We're going to run first and then have our speakers--Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni will share important information about the race. You'll definitely want to stay for that.

Parking shouldn't be a problem at U-Hall.

Traffic will be heavy so it's crucial that you stick to the sidewalks and stop at EVERY intersection. Anxious parents and nervous 1st years will be abundant.

There will be a post run party the week after the race (Sept 6th). We'll have handouts for that so you'll know what to bring.

Make sure you pick up a gold ribbon to wear on race day. It's your diploma and it's also how spectators and other runners will know you took part in the training program. They will be available at the track on Saturday and at the rookie runs.

We've so enjoyed being a part of your journey. Thanks for your comments, suggestions, and success stories. Congratulations, we're so proud of you!

The fun run!!

From Pink Debby (the tall blond)

We're having a fun run to get you race ready.

Next Tuesday (August 19th) evening - gather at 6:00 p.m. at the Track.

The route is very scenic tour of the UVA Grounds and the Lewis Mtn Road neighborhood. There will be water stops, timers calling out "splits" (your time) at each of the Miles, prizes (including door prizes), and prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places, food, music and fun.

If you plan on running the fun run, don't run Tuesday morning.

Remembering why we're here

This Saturday is going to be very special. We call it 'Survivor Saturday' and it is a celebration. We celebrate women who have survived the fight against breast cancer and we celebrate women who are still fighting the battle. It's also a great reminder as to why we are here.

Our program starts at 7:45 and will feature a great speaker, a lot of inspiration, and some 'pink perks'. Special thanks to Althea from Avon and her team for the help!

If you've been skipping the program, this is a great week to come back. We hope to see you there.

I've been reading the comments you've been posting and I'm so happy that you're making your milestones. I can't wait to see you after you cross the finish line!