If you missed the $30 off first early registration date for the 2010 Capital City Half Marathon and Commit to be Fit 5k , don't worry, you can save $25 off the race weekend registration fee if you register by Halloween. Register Here!The 2010 Event will be limited to 10,000 people.

We are throwing some great parties over the next few weeks:

September 25th - Oktoberfest Meiler Vier (4 Miler) presented by Nationwide Insurance. This is an inaugural event with a great four mile course that starts and finishes right in the middle of Oktoberfest. Each participants receives a finisher's medal, tech shirt, cold beer, sausage and a creme puff. ***Important - Parking for the Oktoberfest is $8 but free to race participants. However, you need to request your parking pass at packet pickup.

September 27th - The Homestretch 10 and 20 Miler hosted by Ohio Health - A great training event for the Columbus Marathon or Half Marathon or other fall full or half.

This is a full blown M3S Event. It will be fully supported for 18 minutes a mile and will have aid stations and portapotties every 2 miles. Our pace team and balloon team will also be there. We will have finisher's medals, tech shirts and electronic timing for all participants.

October 31, Halloween - The Dead Celebrity Three Miler is Back! - The event has been a Columbus tradition for decades, now it is back M3S style. Presented by The High Beck, Miller Lite and CD101, this is the Halloween party you need to come run or walk. The party includes a cool finisher's medal, tech shirt, beer, pizza, the Miller Lite Girls and of course, our pace and balloon team.

Speaking of parties, a few weeks ago we went to the Journey concert. Sitting to the left of the stage we could look out over the 8,000 fans (the size of the 2009 Capital City Half Marathon). The lead singer (who actually sounds a lot like Steve Perry), asked (a bit tongue-in-cheek) if anyone would like to join the band on the road and become a rock star for the rest of the tour. Seeing all the smiling and cheering in response, I realized that all of us have at one time dreamed of being rock stars.

At the 2010 Capital City Half Marathon you will all be stars. The street is your stage and we (and thousands of spectators) will be out cheering for you. We have some surprises for you on the course this year. After your "tour" of Columbus is over, we will reward you with your medal and throw you a finish line party suitable for a star. So, this year, come to us with "Open Arms" and start training now. Then "Don't Stop Believing" in yourself during all those miles and you will have the event experience of a lifetime on May 1st!

I was watching a movie with my 10 year old over the weekend. In it, Dustin Hoffman plays a magical toy store owner. In helping a younger employee gain confidence in herself, he looks at her and says: "Life is an occasion, rise to it."

How true that is as we are all preparing for the 2010 event.

The Inaugural Oktoberfest Vier Meiler presented by Nationwide Insurance will take place Friday night September 25th at 6pm at the Tapping of the Keg Celebration. The event was originally limited to the first 500 participants.Due to the demand and thanks to the generosity of Schmidts and Nationwide, we are able to increase the field to 700. Come celebrate Oktoberfest with us. Register Now!

Are you running or walking the full or half marathon with our friends at the Columbus Marathon? Are you preparing for another fall marathon or half marathon? We have positioned a 10 and 20 miler event for all of our friends preparing for a fall event including everyone in the MIT training program and Team in Training participants. For more information and to register.

The event will start and finish at the Ohio Health Westerville Campus and run alongside the scenic Alum Creek Reservoir.

This is a fully supported M3S event, all participants will receive:

- a technical race shirt,

- a fantastic finisher's medal,

- aid stations every two miles,

- portapotties on course at the aid stations,

- pacers,

- and of course our famous balloon team.

The Dead Celebrity was a Columbus Tradition for decades. Now this year, we do it M3S Style! With The High Beck, Miller Lite and CD101 on board, you and 1000 of your Dead Celebrity "look alikes" will rock Columbus this Halloween. Register Now!

If your new to this event, here is the deal. You dress up like your favorite celebrity that has passed away since last Halloween. You run or walk 3 miles in the dark! (We will have lights and glow sticks, etc). Then we party like celebrities at The High Beck tavern and we give awards for the best costumes, etc. There are even rumors of the grand prize being a trip to Los Angeles for the real Dead Celebrity Bus Tour.

Everyone gets a finisher's medal, tech shirt, at least one glove, beer and pizza. You just can't "Beat It"!

This is a great question and one that I get asked frequently, especially by runners who are new to the sport. A side stitch is a sharp and sometimes intense pain focused under the lower edge of the ribcage. It is most typically the result of a muscle spasm of the diaphragm that leads to the diaphragm muscle cramping. The diaphragm is the large flat muscle just under the base of your ribcage that is essential for breathing. This type of pain is fairly common in beginning runners who tend to breathe more quickly and shallow.

When we inhale during running, our lungs fill with air, which forces the diaphragm muscle downward (toward the stomach). When we exhale, the diaphragm moves upward toward the ribcage again. A side stitch cramp often results if you have some trapped air below the diaphragm, or if you start running much faster than you are accustomed to. If either of these things happens your diaphragm muscle may cramp, and that results in the pain under the rib cage on your right side.

Contrary to popular belief, drinking before or during running does not cause side stitches. If you tend to suffer from side stitches, make sure that you always warm up well before your runs. Additionally, when you are running be sure you are breathing in and out through your mouth. Breathe deeply from your stomach area, not just your chest. Deep breathing allows you to take in more air. Short more shallow breathing (i.e., almost panting) is more common with those just beginning running and is more likely to result in trapped air below the diaphragm and the resulting side stitch.

To get rid of a side stitch, try altering your breathing pattern. Take a deep breath in as quickly as you can, to force the diaphragm down. Then hold your breath for a just a couple of seconds and then forcibly exhale. If you get a side stitch cramp in the middle of a race, relax and focus on deep breathing. You might want to try changing your breathing and striding pattern. For example, if you always exhale when your right foot strikes the ground, try exhaling when your left foot impacts the ground. If all else fails, you may need to stop and walk quickly for a few seconds while concentrating on deep breathing. Continue running after the cramp goes away.

Hope this helps and best wishes for your continued training success.

Dr. Devor

For questions or comments to Dr. Devor you can email him at devor.3@osu.edu.

Please email me your feedback, event photos, suggestions and comments on how to improve the event experience for you.

Get Fit. Stay Fit. Live Fit.
David