Wednesday, April 25, 2012

No More Scratchy Velcro!


Starting with our 10K race on August 25, the Seattle Marathon Association will be using the ChronoTrack timing system for all of our timed Races.
This new system promises to be a great improvement! Here are just a few of the benefits.

  • Can attach to bib or shoe
  • No chaffing velcro straps
  • No fee for un-returned chips
  • Recyclable
  • Landfill safe
We are always striving to improve the race experience for our participants and are excited for this newest step.


Monday, April 23, 2012

Deadlines...


Catch The Early Bird Rates 
Before They Fly Away!
Last chance for Early Bird Rates is May 31, 2012

Early Bird Rates will only last through May 31, 2012, after which registration prices will increase to regular fees for all events.  There will be no more deals on the Early Bird price after this date.


Seattle Center
- $35 will increase to $40 after May 31st 


Saturday, August 25, 2012
Seattle Center
 - $15 

Saturday, November 24, 2012
Seattle Center
 - $30 will increase to $35 after May 31st 

Saturday, November 24, 2012
Seattle Center
 - $20

Sunday, November 25, 2012
Seattle Center
 - $70 will increase to $80 after May 31st 

Sunday, November 25, 2012
Seattle Center
- $80 will increase to $110 after May 31st 

Get these savings while you can.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Uli Steidl Wins Masters Division at Boston Marathon


Uli Steidl, assistant cross country and track and field coach for Seattle University, won the Masters Divison at Monday's Boston Marathon with a time of 2:23.08. He placed 15th overall.
Steidl is a past, multi-time winner of the Seattle Marathon. We congratulate Uli on his recent success at Boston!

For more, see:




Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Registration Deals


Are you going to the Skagit Valley Tulip Run on Saturday, April 7 in Burlington?  Sign up for a Seattle Marathon event at the Northwest Runner's booth and get $10 off the registration fee.  This will apply to all of the Seattle Marathon race events except for the Kids Marathon.

http://www.tuliprun.com/

Question of the Month


The Seattle Center will soon be celebrating it's 50th anniversary.  Their celebration will last for 6 months and is focusing on discussing topics that many believe can make our world a better place and improve our lives.

How has running helped to improve your life?
When and why did you start? 
And why do you continue?






Training


Breathing on the Run
By the Focus-N-Fly Coaching Team

Today, we’ll return to one of the basic questions we get on a regular basis - how to breathe while running.

The faster we run, the faster we will reach a point when we will have to concentrate on our breathing in order to continue at that pace.  That is because the additional strain of the pace has caused our muscles to demand more oxygen on a quicker schedule.  All of a sudden, you need more air and breathing begins to require your attention.

Here are some simple tips to remember when the going gets tough:

Straighten up
When we are tired, our running posture can often fall apart - our shoulders hunch over or bunch up to our earlobes.  This level of tension is not desirable.  When you need to get more air, remind yourself to draw your shoulders away from your ears, but straighten up and stand tall.  This allows for your lungs to have the maximum room for air, and may help ease symptoms of a side stitch by stretching out the afflicted area.

Breathe deeply
When we tire, we tend to pant and take shallow breaths.  In that moment, panting seems like the quickest way to gather as much oxygen as possible.  In reality, it is much more efficient to take a slower, deeper breath.  Rather than taking a shallow breath, imagine you are filling your stomach/diaphragm first, from your bellybutton up to the tops of your lungs.  Panting is like splashing some water over the mouth of your water bottle.  Some of what you want gets in, but the effort yields much less than the desired result.  A deeper breath is like sticking your water bottle directly under the faucet stream.  Fill up those lungs so they can do what they do best - get air to your screaming muscles!

Begin a slow and rhythmic breathing pattern
When you are running or walking at relative ease, your breathing pattern may be 2-2 or 3-3, that is, it takes two footfalls (one landing of either foot) to inhale and two footfalls to exhale, etc.  However, when you are tired and air is at a premium, try to spend a bit more time on each inhale than you do on each exhale, for what might end up as a 3-2 rhythm or a 4-3 rhythm.  Take your time, try to relax yourself generally by the almost meditative counting of your breathing rhythm, and/or let a favorite song guide your brain through the pattern.  All of a sudden, you’ll be at the next mile marker or water station.

Everyone is a bit different, and all of us, from novice to experienced runners, need to practice techniques in low stress situations before taking them to the streets in the big race.   Listen to your breathing on easy runs to find out what your natural patterns are.  Try to maintain a tall posture and open your chest when the running is easy before forcing yourself to find that position when the running is tough.  Test out a 3-2 pattern or a 4-3 pattern on your next interval or tough workout and see what feels right. 

By practicing these techniques, we hope the finish line will find its way to your feet a little faster!

Seattle Marathon 10K Race


Members of the running community can join in the Seattle Center's 50th Anniversary Celebration by participating in the Seattle Marathon 10K Race on August 25, 2012.  This 6.2 mile run starts and ends at Seattle Center, near the famous International Fountain.  The course travels south, through downtown and back north along Aurora, with views of Lake Union, before returning to end back at Seattle Center.

Wheelchairs, strollers and dogs on leashes are all welcome on this course.

The 10K starts at 8am on Saturday, August 25 and is followed at 10am by a Kids Fun Run, presented by Super Jock N Jill.



This promises to be a great summer event for the whole family, so don't wait.

The Next 50: Seattle Center


The Next 50: 
Seattle Center's 50 Year Anniversary Celebration
Next50_2012
A Six-Month Dialogue About Our Future
In 1962, Seattle established itself as a global focal point, hosting a world's fair driven by the space age - ultimately creating a physical legacy: Seattle Center. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the fair, there is cause for celebration and contemplation, as our region faces an entirely new set of opportunities. Today, the question is about the social and intellectual capital that feed our region's - and the world's - creative energy.
Next50LearnMore 


This six-month dialogue will be focusing on eight different areas that represent the Pacific Northwest's leadership and innovation over the past 50 years. There will be competitions, exhibits and opportunities for fun and learning at the Seattle Center grounds over the six months of celebration. Planning continues on activities associated with each of the key focus areas. Just a few of the scheduled events include: