Email #12 from Coach Don

Rest and Recovery: One thing that people don't always think about in marathon training is the need for rest and recovery. Training is a series of stresses and the associated recovery from the stresses. The human body is an amazing thing in that it can make magnificent adaptations. As you place stresses on the body, it reacts. Initially there is a little break down from the stresses. But, if given a chance to recover, it will bounce back stronger that before.

But you must remember that recovery part. Without recovery, the stresses can become too much and inevitability the body will start to break down (injury).

So the training program is designed to stress you, to stretch you. Like the last two week of progressively longer runs that involve some mildly hilly terrain. Then we have a week where you mileage is down. And the course is flatter. It is a week for you to recover. A week for your body to bounce back. Enjoy these weeks. And make sure you do let your body recover.

Sponsors: As you may or may not know there are a lot of sponsor of the marathon that are also helping us out.

• HCA Healthcare / CJW Medical Center has been wonderful in helping us out with a facility (and snacks!!!) for our clinics, Dr. Cutter to speak at our clinic on injury prevention and for the wonderful trainers that have been visiting us. We are truly fortunate to have a great sponsor like this.
• Ellwood Thompson Natural Market will be doing a SAG stop for us in a few weeks and that usually means they have some real treats for us.
• The Bull & Bear Club will have some free passes for us this week and in October they will be hosting a full team social for the group..

There are others that I am sure I have forgotten also. So thank our sponsors if you have the chance.

Upcoming Events

• This weekend....Dress up in you team color. Again prizes for the best themed attire. But you must run in the attire. I can wait to see the Pink team.
• August 23...Our Core Strength for Running clinic will be held at Acceleration Richmond, 1501 Maple Ave, Suite 100. This is at the Corner of Monument and Maple. In the Northwest Medical Office Building. We will be in the first floor lobby. Start time is 6:00. We will also have some discussion and demonstration of running form.

See you this weekend