Total Fitness Expo fundraising for kids

While you are at the Total Fitness Expo, take two minutes to do some good for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, thanks to Total Fitness Equipment, a great local company and sponsor of the expo.

Throughout the Expo on Thursday and Friday, hop on a piece of equipment for two minutes at the Total Fitness Equipment booth to earn a 50 cent donation to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.  You’ll be guided on how to use the best in fitness equipment and help a great local cause. 

Fundraiser demos will be available on:

            Cascade Indoor Cycles/Spin Bikes

            WaterRower

            Helix Lateral Trainer

            Precor Elliptical or Treadmill

You can also participate in any one of multiple mini-sessions to raise donations at the Expo.  5-minute sessions will be offered including Spin class, HITT class and Helix lateral training classes.  Meet the experts and ask your cross-training questions to Pete Asadourian, Owner of Future Fitness Sport Specific, and Gina Valles, instructor and owner of Gina’s Total Fitness.

Rowing Races with Trinity College 

Watch some amazing local athletes on Friday from 11:30AM-1:30PM at the Expo when Trinity College men’s and women’s row teams compete in mini-races using WaterRowers.  Learn technique, get instruction and watch the competition, all in the name of a good cause.

And, don’t forget to participate in the raffle for a free Cascade indoor bike!

Get your spectators rallied!

They’ve supported you through the training and are going to be cheering you on at the Eversource Hartford Marathon, so let’s help spectators make the most of enjoying your race day too.

Make sure to provide them the link to the “Finding Your Runner” blog, it details all of the tips on where to be and how to get there on the half and full courses.  And, best for spectators to download the mobile app and set up athlete tracking early – it can take up to 48 hours to set up tracking.  

NEW this year – PowerStation Events Final Turn

A great new area for spectator celebrating, PowerStation Events Final Turn will be set up on the corner Pearl and Ford Streets.   With its own stage and entertainment, the Final Turn will provide a huge party area featuring live music from the band Kick.

Spectators can get their cheer cards and re-fuel to help keep up enthusiasm and support runners to the finish.  The Final Turn will host Food Trucks for spectators, featuring:

-Frankie’s - Hot dogs, fries, onion rings, etc.

-The Comfort Zone Food Truck - “Gourmet” soft pretzels and more

-The Sloppy Waffle - Sweet breakfast treats

-Dee’s Flavors - Latin/Spanish dishes

Helping community at the Eversource Hartford Marathon

Runners are generous and dedicated, often racing on behalf of other people and causes.  More than $6.35 million has been raised through the Official Charity program at the Eversource Hartford Marathon since 1994.  We know that many of you run for other causes too, and we want to give you credit for those efforts!!  Please left us know if you’re running for charity on October 8 so we can add your efforts to the total for 2016, it’ll just take a moment to sign up here.

There are many ways that runners can help others on race day, it can be as simple as a box of pasta and couple cans of soup!

HMF Can

Through the generosity of runners at HMF events, more than 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food was donated to local food banks through HMF Can race-day collection trailers in 2015.  

You can help make an even bigger impact in 2016!  Please bring non-perishable food donations to benefit FoodShare of Greater Hartford.  Collection bins will be located at the Total Fitness Expo in the XL Center from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 6, and Friday, October 7.  Race day collections will also be taken at bins in Finish Line Expo at Bushnell Park.

Jean Machine

The pink jean machine is back at the Finish Line Expo in Bushnell Park!  For every $10 donation, get a new pair of Authentic Amethyst jeans, available in many styles for men and women.  100% of proceeds benefit Foodshare of CT and the CT Food Bank as part of the Food for Fashion initiative in partnership with Big Y World Class Market and their annual Sack Hunger program.  Cash only donations are accepted with no limit (until supplies last).

Clothing Donation

Those layers of clothes tossed aside on race morning don’t go to waste either! Big blue Goodwill collection bins will be placed near the start lines for donations.  Clothes along the course are also collected - last year, 1,700 pounds of clothing from race day was distributed to local charities.

Train smart to get race ready!

Six weeks to Eversource Hartford Marathon race day!!  

While every runner may have different race goals for their 26.2, 13.1 or 3.1 miles, there are some training principles that can help everyone get stronger in the final weeks.

From Jeff Galloway, the knowledgeable running legend and coach, “How to Double Your Endurance in 6 Weeks” shares strategies for making your miles count and explains how slowing down can help build you up.

The Runner’s World story, “Late Entry”, addresses getting back into race shape within 28 days of training.  Author Liz Plosser provides tips for 5K runners, half marathoners and the few people that could tackle the marathon with a short training window.

If you’re really considering marathon training in 30 days, check out the fitness check-list that Marathon Basics put together before taking the plunge!

Ideally, you should be comfortable with long runs of 7-8 miles with 6 weeks to go if you're considering the half.  If you’re not up to that distance yet, consider running the marathon team relay with friends - you can take multiple legs so you’re running more than a 5K but not pushing outside your training too far.  If you really want that half distance, see what Competitor’s "Ask Mario" has to say about that.

Defensive Awareness & Practice for Runners

Runner safety is top priority at our races, but most of us have thought a little harder lately about personal safety running out on the road on our own.  You know the obvious and have read the tips (and if you need a refresher, Runner’s World has useful info here).

If you’re interested in self-defense, we have a great opportunity for the HMF community to get some practical and hands-on strategies.  On September 6th, Sensei Darin Reisler at Plus One Defense Systems in West Hartford is hosting a FREE seminar “Defensive Awareness and Practice” for HMF runners.

You must RSVP here for this session (limited to 60 participants).

Defensive Awareness and Practice 
September 6th, 2016
6:30-7:30 PM

INSTRUCTOR:
Sensei Darin Reisler

This seminar will provide the student with the basic foundation for self-defense practice.

The participant will be introduced to several major martial arts styles, including Muay Thai, Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Jujutsu, Aikido, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and Kung Fu. Physical defense philosophies and strategies will be taught.

The seminar is hands-on.  Students will learn and practice practical self-defense strategies, concepts and techniques - be ready (and dressed) to work!

Plus One Defense Systems
9 Tolles Street
West Hartford Ct 06110
860-922-5343

Frequent Miler Village in Bushnell Park

If you’re not signed up for the 2016 Frequent Miler program yet – you should be!!

We love our Frequent Milers and want to give you a little extra something at our biggest event of the year.  Introducing Barnum Financial Group Frequent Miler Village at the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon on October 8.

Enjoy an exclusive area to meet up, access port-a-potties designated for member use only and get baggage check in Bushnell Park just for Frequent Milers!

How to get in:

In order to be eligible for the Frequent Miler Village, you must be:

·      Signed up for the Frequent Miler 2016 program by August 31

·      Registered for Eversource Hartford Marathon & Half Marathon by August 31

·      Be registered for a minimum of five Hartford Marathon Foundation events in 2016 (any event in the 2016 season qualifies)

**9/21/16 UPDATE**  

All eligible Frequent Milers will receive an invitation via email in September to reserve their spot in Frequent Miler Village - no need to RSVP, your name is on the guest list if you got the email confirming your eligibility.

You can visit the Barnum Financial Group booth at the Total Fitness Expo Thursday or Friday to check-in and pick up your entry wrist band (to save time checking in to the Village on race morning!).

Meet the Red Dress pace leaders

There are many cool things about the Red Dress Run - it’s one of only two races we produce each year that is exclusively for women. This year, we’ve got another great line-up of swag for runners, including adorable "running chick" t-shirts, unique finisher bracelets and tons of goodies at the post-race party.  

We also are bringing back something we introduced last year, the first time we ever offered pacers at a 5K.  A group of volunteer pacers from Team HMF will help you reach your race goal, whether it’s crossing in a certain time, finishing your first 5K or simply having a blast with supportive and motivating women all around you.

Look for them before the race, and learn a little more about them below.

Pacers - Red Dress Run for Women, presented by UnitedHealthcare

Pacing at 8 minutes per mile (mpm) – Elizabeth Mashiak & Kristina Miner 
Pace strategy, according to Elizabeth: "Keep the pace consistent. A huge problem some people run into is starting off too fast then burning out before they get to the finish"   

Kristina’s running tip "When it starts to hurt, think about your eye lashes...by focusing on my eye lashes (which clearly never hurt), my attention is on something positive and I stop focusing on what hurts"

9 mpm – Ryan Morgan & Stacey Clark          
Stacey’s race motto "Stick with it, be persistent, be insistent."

10 mpm – Diane Perry & Katie Ouellette

Susan & Elanna Rubenstein,
mother-daughter pace team!

Group pace strategy - "We're going to resist the urge to race out at the start and try to settle into a nice groove so we hit a perfect 10:00 pace for our splits. With two pacers, we will have a pacer stop at water breaks and one that continues on pace"

11 mpm – Elanna & Susan Rubenstein
Why Elanna feels Red Dress Run is so unique "Nothing is more empowering than being inspired by other women! I know so many people that make Red Dress Run their first 5K and come back year after year!”

Wise words from Susan "Have a goal but remember to enjoy the experience along the way. Be proud of yourself for just lacing up your sneakers and running"

12 mpm – Steph Gagliardi & Chris Trotta
Tip from Steph "Running with friends has always helped me in achieving my own running goals...Having a support system is really key with staying motivated”

Wise words from Chris (the ONLY male at Red Dress Run) "Enjoy every moment, even the ones that don't seem enjoyable, they are the ones you are going to look back on and realize how awesome you are!" 
 
Helping the back of the pack finish – Kimberly Markey & Amie Comer

Group pace strategy “Lead by walking a slow and steady pace of 16-minutes/mile, adjusting accordingly not to leave anyone behind. We will talk and encourage all to keep moving forward while having fun."