February Letter from Donna
We are now racing toward the start line for the 2nd annual 26.2 with Donna and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the beautiful beaches of the First Coast!
You will want to make sure that you read this newsletter thoroughly. It will have all the information you need to know about race week activities and more.
Please do not forget that you must pick up your race number at the Expo which this year is at the Hyatt Riverfront Hotel on Friday and Saturday. You may still register for the race at the expo as well, but there will be no race day registration.
Also remember that our start time this year is an hour earlier than last year. The starting gun goes off at 7:30 so check out those race day shuttles and make sure you arrive in plenty of time.
We have added some exciting features to this year’s race and my goal is to make this the can’t miss event you want to return to year after year.
Our favorite running hero Joan Benoit Samuelson will join us again this year. I had the chance to travel to Maine for visit with Joanie and we’ve attached a link for you to view that story. She is an amazing and generous woman and we are so fortunate to have her with us again. She will join an incredible group of speakers at this year’s expo and there is much more on that in this newsletter.
There will be banners for you to sign at the expo for those you would like to honor and remember. There is a special place on the course this year (our Memorial Mile) where those names will be displayed, so be ready for some strong emotions and even stronger inspiration!
We’re also streaming live on the web this year at Firstcoastnews.com so if your friends and family want to follow you on the internet, tell them to log in and watch!
In this tough economy, I am so grateful to the thousands of you who still made the decision to invest in a cure for breast cancer and to help those less fortunate with the disease.
Our fundraising numbers are strong again this year and that just speaks to the kind of heart our runners possess. I couldn’t be prouder and more humbled at the same time. Our fundraising site will be open until March 31st for all of you who want to continue to collect funds after the race. Of course as you know we don’t require fundraising for this marathon, so the fact that so many of you simply choose to do it is beyond gratifying.
From the moment you arrive you will once again find the warmest most friendly people on the planet anxious to make you feel at home.
Here’s to a great 2009 event and to our ultimate goal to FINISH BREAST CANCER!
