Tuesday, June 29, 2010

2010 WELS Kids Marathon Update #1

Welcome to the 2010 WELS Kids Marathon. I hope you are all enjoying your summer and having a good time reading and running. This is our second annual WELS Kids Marathon and we have grown considerably. Last year we had 197 participants, this year we are just over 390 participants with a few more coming.

Everyone should have received their Reading/Running Logs by this time and I bet some of you have lots of miles already run and books already read. If you haven’t started yet, please go ahead and start. If you do not have a Reading/Running Log, or have misplaced the one you received, you can print one from our website: http://kidsmarathon.blogspot.com/

Have you heard about the Ultimate Challenge? This is geared toward the older participants in the Kids Marathon looking for that extra challenge. To become an Ultimate Kids Marathoner, simply double all the requirements by reading 52 books or for 52 hours and running 52 miles. We are planning special recognition for those who complete this challenge. Again, if you need an extra log to keep track of your books/hours and miles, please go to the website (http://kidsmarathon.blogspot.com/) and print one out.

Speaking of the reading/running logs, a special thank you goes to Central Office Systems in Waukesha for printing the logs at no cost to us.

FUN RUNS
As of the posting of this update, I know of 1 weekly run that encourage kids and families to come and run while having fun. Greg Uehling has organized a Sunday Evening run held at the South Milwaukee High School track starting at 6pm. South Milwaukee High School’s address is 801 15th Avenue in South Milwaukee. Please notify Greg if you are interested in being added to his email list for fun run updates. Greg’s email is guehling11@hotmail.com

SPONSORS
I would like to thank all of our sponsors that have made this event possible and fun by providing either funds or final event supplies. Companies such as: Thrivent Financial; Slingstone Products; Hydrite Chemical; Wisconsin Lutheran College; InStep Running and Walking Center; Sky High Marketing; the Milwaukee Bucks; the Milwaukee Admirals; Bicycle Doctor; Performance Running; Sitzberger, Widmann and Company; and Spiegelberg Financial.

Do you know someone or some company who would like to support us by becoming a sponsor? We are currently looking for companies to join us in our effort by becoming a sponsor, please consider passing on this call for sponsors to anyone you know. In addition to monetary donations, we are in need of supplies for the final event such as food and beverages for the participants and volunteers. If sponsors are identified soon enough, we will get the company name and logo linked on the website, in addition to the sponsor company’s logo printed on the shirts all participants receive. Please email us at welskidsmarathon@yahoo.com if you would like more information on becoming a sponsor.

VOLUNTEERS
Are you interested in volunteering at the final event? We have a lot of smaller duties available to help make this a very safe and fun event for all. Most of these duties will allow you to still be able to watch your child run the final mile, if applicable. For more information, please email us at welskidsmarathon@yahoo.com.

FINAL EVENT
We are busy planning the final event which will be held at Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday, August 28th from 9:00am to 12pm noon. Please plan on arriving no later than 9:30am as there are a lot of participants that will need to get through the registration line before the start of the first race. First race? Yes, we are looking into having 2 races this year to help with the large number of participants we are planning on this year. This will also encourage participants to cheer on other participants. More details to follow.

WEBSITE
There is a website (http://kidsmarathon.blogspot.com/) with all the information you may need concerning the 2010 WELS Kids Marathon. Some sections you will find on the website include: Frequently asked questions, directions to the Final Event, course map, sponsor links, updates, etc. Please feel free to leave us a comment on the site as well.

Thank you,

WELS Kids Marathon Organizing Committee

Bill Schneider – WELS Kids Marathon Director
WELS Kids Marathon Committee:
David Habben
Belinda Matter
Gwen Scherf
Sally Schneider
Greg Uehling

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Welcome to the 2010 WELS Kids Marathon

Welcome to the 2010 WELS Kids Marathon.

Almost everyone is signed up, logs have been sent out to participants and the running and reading has begun!!! We are bigger and better than ever (well, ever only means last year). Last year we had 197 kids signed up and running while this year we are closing in on 400. Registrations are being entered into the database and emails added to the yahoo email account for updates throughout the summer. Plans are now switching to finding sponsors, final event preparations and well as getting in the miles and books.

I know there are lots of questions out there that need to be answered. Our email is open for all questions so please feel free to drop us a note and ask away at welskidsmarathon@yahoo.com. Some of your questions may be have answers already in the Frequently Asked Questions portion of the site. The link can be found on the right side of this website. Also there is a link to the course map for the final mile and direction maps to our final event on August 28th.

I know there has been inquiry about how to get a new log or a second log. We are working on getting a link to the log so you can print it out on your own as many as you need. This should be up soon.

Also, stay tuned for updates on group runs being planned at various different locations around the area. I will try to provide dates, times, locations, and maps for these events. Please come and join others as they and you accomplish 26.2 miles over the summer. I know of "fun runs" being held in Muskego as well as South Milwaukee.

Now go and have some fun this summer reading and running. Keep your mind active and well as your body. Be safe out on the roads and keep all eyes open to cars and other vehicle. Stay hydrated in the heat and warm if it cools off. But most of all, have fun!