Weekend Ahead (Jan. 8-10, 2010)

Bill Hardy running in the 2009 Disney Marathon.

CHEER
NF Endurance will be at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend with 144 runners. The 2010 NFE Disney team, led by team captain Tracy Draper, has currently raised more than $104,000 to fund NF research. Check out their efforts here. If you are in the Orlando area, and you are interested in coming out and supporting our runners on Friday a.m. (5K), Saturday a.m. (1/2 Marathon) or Sunday a.m. (Full Marathon), please e-mail Tracy at (Enable Javascript to see the email address). It’s going to be a chilly but magical weekend! There is also a team booth at the expo. Look for the neon backdrop.

TAKE 5
Check out five important advances made in 2009 against NF. Dr. Kim Hunter-Schaedle writes for the Foundation blog. In this entry she explains how the money you raised in 2009 advanced research and shed new light on cancer, brain tumors, learning disabilities, and bone abnormalities.

SPRING
…for NYC! The first ever spring running of the NYC Half Marathon will take place on March 21, 2010.  Check out the time qualifications for guaranteed entry spots.

FEAST
Tara Parker Pope of the NY Times offers suggestions on improving your diet in the “11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating.” We recommend trying #4 in your hot chocolate to help warm up after a run. Drinking hot beverages after a run in chilly temperatures helps your core body temperature return to normal. In addition, try changing into dry changing clothes as soon as you are done running.

iTRAIN
If you can’t get to the gym or out on a trail, try downloading a workout video from iTrain.com for just $1. Workouts can be downloaded to any mp3 player and include a variety of programs including stretching and yoga.

Happy Holidays from the NF Endurance Team Staff

Ho, ho, ho! From left to right: Tracy Draper, Steve Kendra, Suzanne Hickman, Emily Brown, Trish Hardy, Valerie Blaxall, Beth Harkins & Chad Leathers at the staff Christmas party held at the Kendra ranch in Pennsylvania. Not pictured: Bob Skold (he must have been out running)

From all of us at the NF Endurance Team offices, from Pennsylvania to Colorado, we wish you joy, peace and love this holiday season.
Check out two of our favorite “Color the Season” challenge creations.

ABOVE: by Anna Kummer, age 8
BELOW: by Kate Hickman, age 11

Dealing with Marathon Nightmares

Forgetting your running shoes. Getting to the start line late. Not making it to the next porta-potty… In today’s New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope writes about the impending fears of runners (check it out here).

So, we want to know, what are your prerace nightmares? Any advice for our runners to tuck the bugaboos away and have sweet dreams before the big race day?