RUNABOUT notes

208 North Main Street                            September, 2004                                     Blacksburg, VA 540-552-9339                                                                                         www.runaboutsports.com

It has been a while since I have written a newsletter. We had a busy summer at Runabout with the Blacksburg Striders Summer Training Program which was a huge success. Many, if not most of the participants set personal records through the help of the training which included all abilities. We will offer it again next year. Currently we are putting on the Monday Night race series (6:00 PM) again at the VT cross country course. We had week two tonight of the seven week series. We have several divisions; munchkin (12 and under plus FREE), Farm league (recreation and only $2.00) and lightning league (competitve and $2.00). Each participant earns door prize tickets for running and at the last one we give away several hundred dollars in prizes. This is the third year of the program.Please join us if your able. Each year we do a fund raiser for a charity. Last year it was with Team in Training for the Leukemia Society. I ran my first marathon and raised money for a great charity and met terrific people. This year it is for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). We need your HELP! Hopefully this got your attention. This year Runabout is hoping to raise $2000 for MDA. This will buy one wheel chair or allow three children with MS to go to camp. If you contribute $5.00 we will give you a door prize ticket. The door prizes include three pairs of shoes of the winners choice and two $50.00 gift certificates. As runners, walkers and soccer players we have the freedom of movement (except maybe around 24 miles of a marathon!). Help us raise money to brighten the day of a child with MS. I have volunteered to be "locked up" on the 23rd of September with my bail set at $1800. So bail me out and help raise money for thoughs with muscular dystrophy and maybe win a free pair of shoes! For questions on the New River Valley Lock Up for MDA call 540-772-3237. STILL GOING STRONG..... Our Wednesday night runs continue to have 30 plus showing up. Two weeks ago we tied the record with 49 people. This Wednesday is the shoe drawing, plus a free pair of shorts, and a pair of socks. We now have 24 people who have made the 100 mile club. We made new 100 mile club shirts which should be finished this week. Remember the Wednesday runs are for all abilities. We start together but each person runs their own pace and goes as far as they want to. Thanks for reading, for your support of Runabout Sports, and I'll see you on the trails! James

CALENDAR

3rd Annual Fall XC Running Series is every Monday (6:00 PM) starting September 6th. Held at VT XC course. Munchkin, Farm and Lightning Leagues. 12 and under is free, $2.00 for everyone else. Munchkins run .5 to 1.5 miles, Farm is 2-3 mile distances and Lightning is 2-5 miles. Each week is a different distance and route. For local soccer information and leagues visit New River United Soccer Association. Check out www.NRUSA.org for information. October 9th: Light the Fire 5K in BLACKSBURG. Start and finish is at St. Mary's Catholic Church. For more information please see www.stmarysblacksburg.org/lifeteen/5k/ October 23rd: Gillett Ford Memorial Run 5K and 10K. Go to www.theweightclub.com for more information.BLACKSBURG November 13th: The Sports Addict Network 5K in BLACKSBURG. See www.thesportsaddictnetwork.com VT Soccer and Cross Country is back and in the ACC. Check out www.hokiesports.com for the latest soccer  and running updates. Go Hokies! The FROSTY 5K II coming in December!

We are currently seeking investors to build an indoor complex in Blacksburg. The complex will have a 300 meter indoor track (similar to an outdoor track and will be rubberized), three indoor soccer fields, and much more. For detailed information please contact me (James DeMarco) at the store. It's a great opportunity for investors and would be a wonderful building to the fitness community and the Town.

Tip of the month: Don't eat yellow snow.... Ha, Ha. yeah I know pathetic... but whats not pathetic is the benefits of running cross country events (races) such as what many high school runners and our Monday Night Race Series runners do. Cross Country (XC) races are generally on grass and hilly terrain. It's the best training in the world. Soft surfaces for the joints that also requires extra effort to push off, and many hills to add to the oxygen demand needed by the muscles and increase strength for going up them. We are very fortunate in Blacksburg that VT has it's own XC course that we can run on. My advice is to do so - except from 3:30-5:00 (VT practice). It will make you a better (stronger and faster) runner.

Cool fact: This years Draper Mile male winner (Clay Scwhabe) ran for Blacksburg H.S., went on to West Point and now runs for the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program. He has also run a sub four mile and still holds the 800 meter record at Blacksburg. Winning the female division was Mary Jayne Harrelson who broke the record with a 4:37 mile! MJ is the Assistant Cross Country Coach at VT.