• Train.   Everyone should be running about 25 miles a week now, with a long run of 8 miles.  YES!... but remember, if you have some nagging aches, listen to your body and head to the pool for some pool running or check out the Foam Roller piece in the Helpful Links section.  Race-day is the sum of successful and injury-free training days...  Ping me with your thoughts and questions.  The training schedule, and loads of other info, is below in the right column.  Need a great watch for some motivation?  Check out and watch Spirit of the Marathon; it'll get you going. 

• Register.  Download and mail your form in today ($45.00 fee instead of $90.00).   Mail to:  The WW Bridge 1/2 Marathon, attn: Steve Nearman, 1005 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA 22314.  **We only have 15 spots at this discounted rate.  Make sure you get yours. 

• Join.  This week, I'll be at the TC track Monday and Wednesday mornings by @ 7:15/7:30-ish...  I can't be there on Friday as I'll be in  Pocatello, ID, running another marathon (state #28, marathon #39).  It's just a quick overnight trip.  Ouch.

• SUPPORT our struggling neighbors by raising critical funds -- your 1K will feed a desperate Alexandria family for many months, and keep open an Alexandria teen center (after-school tutoring) -- essential now that school is about to begin!  Make it easy for your friends/family and neighbors to donate. Set up your Online Donation Page today.  Share the story of Sara and her family; how there are people right here in Alexandria who struggle to meet their family's basic needs and live no better than if they were in a 3rd world country.  **Click TIPS for my effective fundraising tools. Checks (no service fee) are to be made out to ACT for Alexandria with runningbrooke in the memo line (keep hold of them for now but you may manually enter them in your Online Donation Page). 

** There is a very nice 9-5, Monday-Friday, Razoo Hotline (to set up your Online Donation Page) where you can talk to a very helpful human.  Razoo is the Online Donations company/facilitator that ACT for Alexandria and I work through.

Mention me and what we're doing.  Anyone can help you.  866-437-1952.

Here is a LINK to a truly FAB example of a Online Donation Page.  Notice under Donations what each denomination 'buys.'  We should do the same thing.

•  Promote:   

1) Promote our efforts to your networks (http://www.razoo.com/story/Brooke-Fundraising-For-The-Runningbrooke-And-Lizluke-Team/share). Publish it to your Facebook wall, post it on your Twitter, email contacts from your address book, or put our Donation Widget on your web site.

2) Make a donation yourself. If you haven't already done so, get the ball rolling. Make a donation and leave a donor comment to express why you joined The runningbrooke & LizLuke Team. (i.e. to give a neighbor child a better life).

3) Tell folks how the money will be spent (http://www.razoo.com/story/Brooke-Fundraising-For-The-Runningbrooke-And-Lizluke-Team/edit). Suggest 3-4 donation amounts for supporters to know the impact of their donations.

For runningbrooke charities, here are some good numbers/facts to use:

$25.00:  1 week of healthful classroom snacks for preschoolers

$50.00:  10 new books for kids who have none  

$75.00:  3 hours of tutoring for middle and high school kids

$100.00:  800 pounds of food for homeless families

 

4) Change your email signature to raise awareness for your fundraiser. Put a catchy tag line that promotes your page and cause.

 

 

 

OK, that's it for today.  **Please ping me back with your T-Shirt size, and thanks again for your commitment to our community.  See you soon!

 

-Brooke