2012 July Newsletter

asked to submit a picture of themselves preparing for this year’s Kansas City Marathon.  We received some great photos along the way but the picture from Sarah received the highest vote total (190) by accumulating the most likes via our Official Facebook Fan Page.  As a result, Sarah received a Free Motorola XOOM Tablet with WI-FI from Sprint!  Thanks again to everyone who participated in the contest as well as everyone who voted for their top pic!

Are You Our Next Big Winner?

In order to succeed in a run such as the Kansas City Marathon, one must not only be physically fit but also mentally tough.  What better way to test your brain than a good ole KC Marathon Puzzle.  How does it work?  Every day starting Monday, July 16 through Tuesday, July 28, we will post 2 pictures a day on our Official Waddell & Reed KC Marathon Facebook Fan Page.  That’s 26 pictures total - the same as the number of miles in a full marathon.  In the picture, we will showcase the surrounding area at each mile marker in addition to one letter/number at each location.  In the end, the 26 letters or numbers will spell out a phrase in conjunction with the KC Marathon.  The first one to post the correct phrase on our Official Waddell & Reed KC Marathon Facebook Fan Page will win a 2012 Marathon Apparel Package which includes a 2012 KC Marathon T-shirt, Shorts, and more.

2012 poster revealed!

After several heated discussions, the design for this year’s poster has been selected!  We are bringing BBQ to the marathon and why not, Kansas City really is the BBQ Capital of the world.  At least we think it is with all the award-winning BBQ places around the city.  Posters are available for pre-order when you register.  Already registered?  Then stop by the merchandise booth during the Health and Wellness Expo to purchase.

Experience our Health and Wellness Expo

Twelve thousand hard core, faithful, dedicated, veracious, steadfast, staunch, committed and loyal runners ALL in one place at one time!  WITH THEIR Friends!  Bringing the total “shoppers” to double this number!  Are you crazy?  Why would you miss this opportunity to share your goods and services?  Join those who have already committed.  Real estate is going fast!  Select and reserve your prime space before it is gone.  Join the 2012 Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon with Ivy Funds on October 18 and 19 at Crown Center Convention Hall.  Contact sstanton@sportkc.org with any questions.

Volunteer - It's worth it!

Like all marathons, volunteers are the backbone of a successful running event.  It wouldn't be possible to host 12,000 participants without the help of dedicated volunteers, who lend a hand from everything from course monitoring to handing out water at the finish line. Assistance is needed not only for race day on October 20, but also the two days leading up to Saturday's run at our Health and Wellness Expo. To sign up to volunteer, please click here.

KIDS MARATHON

10 Tips on how to be a Group Coach

1. Be someone who is at least 21 years old who loves physical activity, wants kids to love it too and is available Saturday, October 20, 2012.

2. Create a group name and sign up as a “coach” for your group of 10+ kids by calling (816) 474-4652 Ex. 4178.  You will be asked to provide an estimate of the number of kids in your group, personal contact/ payment information as well as answer any question you may have.  You will be provided with a group “promotional code” that participants will need to know in order to register under your group.

3. Provide participates with your personalized “promotional code” and direct them to register their child online.

4. Start a weekly running group for kids to track their 25 miles prior to race day!  Click here to print your training logs.

5. Encourage your group to make unique T-shirts so you stand out on race day!  HINT: Find a local sponsor to support your group.

6. Take pictures to document the fun running adventures.  Feel free to e-mail us your pictures and brag about your amazing group at kidsmarathon@kcmarathon.org

7. Attend the Health and Fitness Expo on October 18 or 19 to pick up your group’s race packets and T-shirts!  NOTE: Parent T-shirts are not included; they can be purchased with a $10 donation.

8. Pass out packets, T-shirts, and any other group goodies to your families before race day!

9. RACE DAY... Finish your last 1.2 miles together!

10. Have FUN, ENJOY all the fabulous activities and SIGN- UP next year! 

TRAINING TIP OF THE MONTH
The importance of adjusting for the heat and how to do so

Overheating occurs at any point in a workout when your body produces more heat than it can release. When this happens, your body forces you to slow noticeably until it can get rid of the excess heat.  You feel extra fatigue, shortness of breath, and extra hot - no fun things to feel in the middle of a workout.  The longer you 'fight' these symptoms and continue to push, the longer this extra tough period lasts, and it can lead to health issues such as heat exhaustion if you don't back off soon enough.  Conversely, responding to this immediately with a major slow down in your pace by at least 1-2 minutes per mile, walking, or stopping in the shade, the more quickly you'll bounce back.  However, it'll still take time for your body to reach a healthy balance...so, the best thing to do is to try to avoid this from happening in the first place.

The harder you work, whether from a faster pace or going up a hill, the more heat you produce.  The warmer, more sunny, and humid it is, the more heat you further produce and also have a tougher time getting rid of.  Therefore, it stands to reason that lowering the intensity is the best thing to do to compensate for a warm day.  This can take the form of slowing the pace while going extra slow on the uphills.  If that's not enough, walk breaks are a very useful strategy and they can be from as little as 1 minute to as long as it takes to make it over the hill.

The more conservative and long lasting your warm up is, the more you'll help prepare your body to be at its most efficient in terms of cooling itself.  Longer rest or walk breaks while you rehydrate help release built up heat and strategic or rhythmic walk breaks such as on uphills or a minute after every 5-10 minutes or a mile help towards this end as well.

The main objective on a warm day (defined by anything over 60 degrees) is to stay ahead of the 'overheating curve' in being proactive.  Any goal pace or speed work should be done by 'effort' rather than trying to hold the actual pace - when it starts to cool off, you'll get to run the actual pace.  The good news is that you will acclimate and cool off more efficiently for all kinds of weather conditions and thus perform well on race day.

FUNDRAISING

The Mid-America chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is home to 25 board members, 10 full time staff, 5 part time staff, 5 interns and hundreds of volunteers. LLS is comprised of five fundraising campaigns that generate life saving funds to support the mission. Each campaign is unique and is designed to motivate a variety of involvement from local area supporters. The campaigns provide plenty of fun and creative ways for anyone to get drawn in to a local charitable fundraising event. Whether you're looking for a physical challenge or an evening out with friends, we offer something for everyone. Whatever your interest, there's a way to get involved, have fun and help find cures!

Team in Training is the world's largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk a whole or half marathon, participate in a triathlon, adventure hike or century (100-mile) bike ride. Participants raise funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services in exchange for training, support, lodging and airfare to one of the events offered.

Light the Night Walk is an evening filled with celebration and inspiration. It’s composed of a leisurely walk, where walkers carry illuminated balloons - white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer - thousands of walkers - men, women and children - form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.

Pennies for Patients is a service and philanthropy program that gives students a unique experience making a difference through teamwork—working together to aid thousands of children and adults in the fight blood cancers like leukemia.

Man & Woman of the Year is a fundraising competition in communities across the U.S. in which participants vie for the title of Man or Woman of the Year. They raise funds for blood cancer research in honor of local children who are blood cancer survivors, the Boy & Girl of the Year. The titles are awarded to the men and women in each community who raise the most funds during the ten-week campaign; the top local fundraisers in the country also win the national titles.

Black Tie Ball honors the difference you make during an evening of cocktails, a special mission moment, dinner and dancing. No matter what the possibilities you've considered, no matter how you've taken it beyond convention, your ability to support LLS, takes us closer to finding a cure.

For more information about any of these events, or to find out how you can get involved, please contact us at 913.262.1515.