• Train.   I hope that everyone is feeling well and is injury free.  Continue to follow the training plan and you'll get to the finish line with no problem!  A friend of mine pointed out this tweet from Runner's World: "Biggest mistake in racing: going out too fast. Repeat "save it, save it" to stay in the zone and negative split." That's some great advice! Starting too fast is a mistake from which you can not recover. Once the damage is done, you're cooked. The first few miles should feel easy, where you're relaxed and feeling good - 65%-70% effort.  The middle portion of the race should feel good, where you are in the groove - 70% effort.  The last few miles of any race are hard.  You should plan on this and run with your heart - 75%-100% effort.  This is what it's all about and the finish line is your reward!

• Register.  If you have not registered yet, please check with Elizabeth or me. 

• Join.  Meet me this Monday and Friday at TC Williams Track.  I'll be there at 7 AM, rain or shine.  I'll be doing speed work.  In order to run faster, you have to run faster!  *Sorry again for bailing last Friday.  My daughter sustained a concussion Thursday night in an afternoon soccer game. 

• SUPPORTour struggling neighbors by raising critical funds.  Please check in with Elizabeth or me to let us know this is going. Your 1K is very important to desperate Alexandria families!  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 still time to set up your Online Donation Page.  Questions?  Call me  (703-989-4945) or Razoo (the online donation company), mention me and our team.  They are very helpful.  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.

 

Run strong and I'll see you all soon!

-Brooke