3 Tips to Run Through the Holiday Season

“Tis the season for parties, family obligations, sugar cookies and jam packed schedules.  You might find this time difficult to sneak in your daily run, but carve out a little time each day for yourself and you’ll stay sane while keeping fit both physically and mentally!

Stay Fit

An abbreviated training schedule is perfectly acceptable over the Holidays!  It can keep you in shape and hold you at your current level of fitness.  Make your running fun! Just don’t forget to amp up the intensity and duration every once in a while.

Stay Sane

Remember, we runners relieve our stress through, well, running!  Take that out of the equation and you’ve got yourself a very cranky unproductive individual!  It’s not selfish to take time and run over the holidays.  In fact, it is the most selfless thing you can do!  You know you’re more productive, energetic and overall a nicer person when you’re able to get your workout in.  You’ll appreciate and enjoy the Holiday season that much more so strap on your shoes and head out the door!

Stay Motivated

Race season may seem like an eternity from now, but get something on your calendar and set a goal!  Sign up for a local 5 or 10k then set your sights on a larger goal.  The Mini is still 8 months away, but why not put it on the calendar.  Make it a long-term goal and challenge your friends to join you on August 18, 2012.

Swaddle a Baby Today!

Community Blanket and Diaper Drive

Did you know the average baby can go through 7,500 diapers 

in a single year? For some families, 

the cost can be overwhelming.

That's one reason the UW Health Departments of Obstetrics 

and Gynecology and Midwifery will be 

collecting donations for

the 

Community Blanket and Diaper Drive 

from Aug. 1-31.

New diapers and new and gently used blankets 

can be dropped off 

at the following locations:

UW Hospital and Clinics

American Family Children's Hospital
UW Health 20 S. Park Clinic
UW Health West Towne Clinic
UW Health West Clinic
UW Health Fitchburg Clinic
UW Health East Clinic | UW Health East Towne Clinic

Meriter Hospital | Meriter Business Center

Zimbrick Honda and Zimbrick Honda Service Center

All proceeds from the drive will be donated to the Baby Depot at Dane County Head Start.

The Importance of Blankets

Swaddling an infant in an appropriate blanket can help provide a sense of comfort, and they will often sleep longer and wake less often. It's important to note that loose blankets and bedding should never be left in an infant's crib, however, there are specially designed swaddling blankets available in stores and at the Kohl's Safety Center in American Family Children's Hospital.

When it comes to selecting blankets, there are many different fabrics to chose from. Plain cotton is probably the most durable and can withstand many washings. Blankets with a satin-like edging may be better for play because babies often like the touch and feel of the smooth fabric. Velour or similar fabrics are often very soft and warm, but may not hold up under frequent washings.

Donate at the Madison Mini-Marathon

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is also the charity partner for the Madison Mini-Marathon, 5K and the Mini Kids Run. This year's race is Saturday, Aug. 20.

The Department will be collecting donations for the Community Blanket and Diaper Drive on Aug. 19 at the Expo and Packet Pick Up at Union South, 1308 W. Dayton St., and Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. - the site of the Mini-Marathon, 5K and the Mini Kids Run.

The Refuel with Chocolate Milk Tour is at the Mini!

The Refuel with Chocolate Milk Tour, part of the national “got milk?” campaign, joins us for the Mini Marathon to help athletes recover after the race! They’ll be handing out lowfat chocolate milk from Prairie Farms at the finish line for thirsty athletes. Attendees will also be able to pose like their favorite celebrity for a Milk Mustache photo; receive a one-on-one consultation from an athletic trainer; get a free 5-minute massage; and take home some “got milk?” giveaways.

Lowfat chocolate milk is the perfect drink to recover with after strenuous exercise. The nutrient profile of lowfat chocolate milk is what makes it effective as a post-exercise recovery beverage. It’s a natural source of high-quality protein that help build and repair muscles, has the right mix of protein and carbs to refuel an exhausted body, plus fluids and electrolytes – like calcium, potassium and magnesium – to rehydrate and help replenish what’s lost in sweat.

Find the Refuel with Chocolate Milk Tour Recovery Zone at the Mini Marathon from 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Athletes and spectators are invited to engage in free activities and explore the science behind refueling with lowfat chocolate milk first hand.

How Different a Race Can Be

If you've ever been in a race, you know that there is something it simply must have- volunteers!  Without them, well it's pretty much you running down the street with a bunch of other people.  Could you imagine no one there to help you line up and get started in the right direction?  Or what about relying on carrying your own water throughout a race.  Then there's the intersections you have to cross and you're unsure about the traffic or even if you're still on course.  When you finally do get to the finish line it looks pretty barren.  There's no one there to congratulate you or hang that well deserved medal around your neck.  No one to hand you a bottle of water or food to replenish your body.  You've just reached this amazing achievement, but somehow feel disappointed.

Now visualize hundreds of smiling faces offering words of encouragement and support.  And when your nerves set in, imagine how reassuring it would feel to see these individuals directing you to the start line.  Imagine water being handed to you nearly every mile as you run towards your goal.  Around every corner are more smiling faces showing you the way and cheering you as you pass.  Picture yourself  crossing the finish line where there's a sea of yellow assisting when fatigue and joy have overcome you.  You've just reached this amazing achievement and feel pure happiness.

Without volunteers race day just wouldn't be the same.  Our experiences and perceptions would be so different.  They allow us the opportunity to do things that wouldn't otherwise be possible.  Volunteers truly are amazing!  As runners, we have to be a little nuts to get up in the middle of the night to prepare for getting to the start line.  But volunteers who are right there with us in the wee hours of the morning to support our crazy ambitions are just plain amazing!

To produce the Mini it takes nearly 600 volunteers over the course of the weekend.  600 absolutely wonderful individuals!  Make sure you take the time to say 'thank you' as you run by on race weekend.  For without them, it would be just another run.


*To register to volunteer please contact Kat@MadisonMinniMarathon.com or register on-line at https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=S72VTJ7
Volunteers needed Thursday 18th, Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th

Water, Water and More Water!

The Mini promises to do our part and keep you well hydrated during the race.  

10 aid stations on course supported by amazing volunteers and 

5 misting stations 

to spray you down and keep you cool.  

Guess that makes us the coolest race in town!  

Aid Station Locations
Start Line
Mile 1.75
Mile 3.25
Mile 4.75
Mile 6.2
Mile 7.5
Mile 8.75
Mile 9.9
Mile 10.75
Mile 11.25
Mile 12.2

Finish Line

Misting Station Locations
Mile 8.4
Mile 9.5
Mile 10.2
Mile 10.75
Mile 12.2

So you want to know the elevation, huh?  Piece of cake!

... Today was my first day of training for the Madison Mini Marathon.

Shared by Mini runner Kira Lech.


The alarm went off this morning and I looked over. 4:30 am. Snoozing wasn’t an option. As I tried to cover my head with the sheet, the morning sun filtered though, causing just enough irritation to make me concede. It was time to get up. Today was my first day of training for the Madison Mini Marathon.

It was only three days prior when I’d had the self realization that I had gotten LAZY. As a once 3-day-a-week runner, I’d now deteriorated into someone that would occasionally go for a walk…or maybe just think about it from the comfort of my couch. While I’ve never been what I consider to be an “athlete,” I had in fact completed two marathons and two half marathons the previous year. Although they were all at a very slow pace, I had dedicated myself to the training it takes to turn an average couch potato into a runner. So what happened? Laziness.

How to tackle the incessant lackadaisical behavior? Register for the Madison Mini Marathon of course. But oh the obstacles. Couch to half marathon?…No problem. Upcoming vacations to deal with?…Big deal. Only 8 weeks to train…Bring it on!

With the whininess of a 5-year old child, I got out of bed and dressed myself for the battle that was before me…my first training run. The sun was up, the temperatures were cool, and my clothes and gear were all laid out from the night before as to prevent the it’s-too-much-work-to-find-all-my-stuff excuse. Dressed to go, I was out the door.

I walked to one of my nearby running paths, brain chatter filling my head: “Is this going to be hard?”, “Just how out of shape have I become?”, and the worst one of all… “If this run goes really badly, how do I recover emotionally?”

With one foot in front of the other, I began to jog, and then it hit me… I didn’t even realize how much I miss this! Between the smell of the morning air, the sound of my feet hitting the ground, and the sight of the cute little animals scampering back and forth occasionally across the path in front of me, I felt like I was home.

Thank you Madison Mini Marathon for bringing my love of running back to life. I’m looking forward to concluding my summer training in your beautiful city on August 20th, and enjoying the beautiful scenery with thousands of people that share my passion. I can’t imaging a better place to celebrate what I hope will be a very successful day.
 -Kira Lech
Round Lake, IL

You wanted it, You got it!!

Announcing Team Registration!

Groups of 10 or more are eligible for team registration and a $5 discount on the Half-Marathon.  Also up for grabs are prizes in three categories including:  Fastest Team Time, Best Team Name and Largest Team.  Team entries must be submitted in paper application form and submitted all together.  

Get your friends, family and co-workers together and take on the challenge!  

NBC 15 and Leigh Mills Are Ready For The Challenge. Are You?

Want a sneak peak at the medals?

The Mini is hard at work with just 66 days to go until race day!  The 2011 medal is currently being designed and let me tell you, it is awesome!  Same great medal you've come to expect from the Mini, but each year is unique and definitely one of a kind. Sorry, it's still top secret. But you'll be happy to know something special will be waiting for you August 20th when you cross the finish line!

P.S.  Did you know 5K runners get their own medals this year!

Running is easy... Sorta... Maybe... Not Really

Running is easy... Sorta... Maybe... Not Really

A wise man once said, "Step one to running a marathon: You run. There is no step two."  

In the simplest terms, Barney Stinson was right.  You run.  When you are finished, you stop running.  However, if running were truly that easy, everyone would do it.  Instead, running is challenging.  It requires dedication, smarts, and a little bit of toughness.  Running doesn't always feel good, yet we still get up with the sun and chase the horizon.  We log mile after mile, knowing it is getting us ready for that next race.  We climb those stairs and hit those hills, slowly but surely shaving minutes off our time.  While a basketball player practices hundreds of free throws, runners strip away seconds.

The physical training is only half of the preparation.  Runners must prepare mentally too.  They need to visualize themselves on the course.  They should see themselves finishing the race.  They can mentally break the race down into three parts:  The first part, plan to run with your head, the second part run with your personality, and the third part run with your heart.  It's all about being ready for that big day.

Juma Ikangaa, New York City Marathon winner said, "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."  So, while Barney was technically right about running, there is a lot more to it.  When that summer day in August finally arrives, you have got to be ready.

*Shared by Mini Marathon runner John Tillotson

**To share your stories or ideas email Kat@MadisonMiniMarathon.com

Summer at the Terrace

How lucky are we to head out for a run on our own early in the morning on a weekend only to find ourselves among friends.  Our run may start out solo.  Birds chirping, waves lapping the shoreline of Lake Mendota and the rhythm of our feet.  Soon a fellow runner passes, then another and another...

It's a pretty cool secret club we're all part of.  We don't have to say anything other than "hi" and smile.  Instinctively we know that in a few miles or a few hours later, we'll see those same pairs of running shoes- feet up on a chair enjoying summer at the Terrace!

93 days and counting

Is the Mini really only 93 days away?  From a runners standpoint that seems like a fair amount of time to start training.  Seems like plenty of time to get in those long runs and tempo runs and everything in between.  From a race production standpoint... well those 93 days are going to fly by!  We never really take a break from working on the Mini.  There are just seasons of busy, busier and really, really busy!  I'd say we're fast approaching season three.  This year we're going to let you in on some fun (and not so fun) behind the scenes stuff so you know what it's like to "run the Mini" on the other end.  Happy Training!

Tales of a Runner - Running Without Expectation

Tales of a Runner

Running Without Expectation

Racing season is officially upon us.  For many, The Crazylegs Classic is the start to what turns into a summer of training and racing. There is just something about lining up with 20,000 of your closet friends at the Capital then celebrating with them 8K later at Camp Randall that makes you want to do it again and again! 

While waiting for my wave to move up, I was less than eager to start running. I have to admit I was having one of those mornings where I thought, “maybe I should have just stayed in bed”.  I started noticing little aches that weren’t there earlier.  I thought, “It’s too windy, shouldn’t have worn a visor- not fitting right, maybe I should line up for the porta-potty again…” The excuses started piling up in my head until I finally looked around me. 

People were laughing and smiling.  I started talking to the woman next to me. She had gotten her friend to join her for the first time. They were both so excited to run together, not caring about where they finished.  The whole point of the day for them was to just run and enjoy being a part of a yearly tradition in Madison. 

As our wave continued to inch it’s way up to the start line, my negative thoughts began to fade.  Spectators and volunteers were cheering and giving high five’s. As the announcer gave us the official countdown I thought, “where else would I possibly want to be?”

For the 20,000 participants the finish line was the same that day. It didn’t really matter if we crossed in 24 minutes or 2 hours.  We all had one common goal – to finish. That day I decided to just run without expectation. I decided to enjoy the course, the people and the celebration of running. Needless to say, I PR’d that day

Tales of a Runner - The Journey

Tales of a Runner….

The Journey

As I lace up my shoes and head out the door; I take a deep breath of fresh air and think ahh…life is good.  I can’t help but smile as I hear birds chirping, they’ve made their way back to Madison after the long hiatus of winter.

Yes, it’s really happening.  Spring has officially arrived here in Wisconsin.

 I take a few minutes to warm up then fall into an easy rhythm.  I begin to imagine what it will feel like to shed one more layer of clothing in the upcoming weeks, begin to imagine what it will feel like to run through the April rains and splash through puddles. Spring brings a sense of renewal and awakening. It’s like a switch is flipped and we are free to dream, explore and discover.

As I continue on my morning run I plan out my race calendar in my head.  I look forward to the nervous buzz as I take my place pinning on my bib number, the gracious volunteers I’ll encounter who offer support, the amazing new friends I will meet along the way, but more than anything, I look forward to the journey of getting to the start line. 

As a runner you know it’s a process.  It takes hard work, perseverance and dedication to put in your weekly miles.  You get out of it what you put into it. And while you train in order to go the distance on race day, you soon realize running becomes more than, well… just running.  It’s what you will discover about yourself along the way.  You will uncover things you never even knew were there. You open yourself up to new possibilities. And You’ll discover running strong on the pavement can equate to running strong in life.

People run for all sorts of reasons.  To loose weight, to set a new PR, to win the competition…. And while I love all of these things - I’ve discovered it’s the journey of self-discovery and my uplifted spirit that I love most.

For comments, story ideas or to submit a story of your own email Kat@MadisonMiniMarathon.com

Don’t miss your chance to write your own tale- Register now for Madison Mini-Marathon and begin your journey today!