Registration for the annual Memorial Dinner is open!
Friday, 2 November 2012 - 6pm - in Annapolis

For those of you who have attended in the past, you know what this event is like:  filled with camaraderie and cheer, with the underlying purpose of honoring our shipmates who have fallen -- ALL those names listed in Memorial Hall.  Our VIPs are the family members of some of these shipmates. They are our guests. And they feel loved and supported by the presence of each person who attends the Dinner.
Every year, this Dinner is at once a very special event (touching families in a very meaningful and emotional way) while also being an amazing social gathering event of Alumni, friends, families, midshipmen.  It's unlike any Class or Chapter Dinner.
Seats for the dinner are limited, so we encourage registering as soon as you know you want to attend. By the way, this is not a fundraising event. Tickets can be purchased at:  http://rth2012memorialdinner.eventbrite.com

Please pass along this invite to anyone you think might be interested in attending.  Especially Midshipmen and/or their Sponsors!  It's always fun to have MIDN present at the dinner.  
 
If you have questions about the dinner, want to volunteer to help Run To Honor (in any capacity), would like to Sponsor the dinner or other RTH events, or know of families of the fallen who we can invite, please contact us at RunToHonor@gmail.com.
 

Register now for RTH events

MCM & 10K      Races & Tent - Sunday, 28 October Whether you're a runner, walker, or spectator for the Marine Corps Marathon or 10K, please join us at our tent after the run!  We'll be sharing a tent again this year with The Travis Manion Foundation.  We'll have plenty of food, stinky runners, friends, family, and, most importantly, some honoree family members. Pre-Race Dinner - Saturday, 27 October This year, we are having two weekends of events To Honor the fallen and their families.  During the weekend of the MCM/10K, we will be gathering for an informal, very casual pre-race dinner on Saturday at 5pm in Rosslyn, VA.  (This is near the start/finish of the MCM and very accessible by metro.)  ALL are welcome, whether you're running or not!  If you would like to attend, please register via the link:  2012 Pre-Race Dinner

"To Honor" Weekend  Run To Honor Memorial Dinner Friday, 2 November 6pm Marriott Annapolis Waterfront   We hope you will join us this year for our annual Memorial Dinner.  If you haven't attended previously, this is a very special gathering to pay tribute to our fallen shipmates.  Our VIPs are family members of the fallen.  Come spend some time remembering and celebrating our shipmates... share some memories or just commune with honoree families and all the others who will be present.  Each year, this is a memorable and fun event!    Our Keynote Speaker this year is RADM Robert Shumaker '56, USN (Ret.), For eight years, he was a Prisoner of War (POW) in Hanoi, Vietnam, and known as one of the "Alcatraz Eleven." He was a 2011 Distinguished Graduate Award recipient. Seats are limited, so if you plan to attend, register early via the following link:    2012 Memorial Dinner  Partnership with Alumni Association This year, the Alumni Association will be partnering with us for some activities in conjunction with the home football game on November 3rd (Florida Atlantic). The details are still being worked out, but we want you to know that this partnership is part of our effort to more appropriately honor and celebrate our shipmates who have gone before and to support their families left behind.

Run To Honor Gear Run To Honor merchandise is available for purchase via the link below. This includes shirts and colors from all years as well as hats, visors, singlets, and even a hoodie or two.  Shirts have "Run To Honor" on the front and the N* on the back.  Shirts cannot be personalized.    This link will remain the link for merchandise orders through the rest of this year and we will be adding more shirts and premium tops in the next couple of months.    We plan to ship as close to your order date as possible, but guarantee shipping within two weeks of your order! Go to the following website to order: http://rthmerchandise.eventbrite.com/ Quantities are limited, so order if you know you want something for training, racing, cheering, or lounging!

Training Tips from the Running Director

Hi to all Run To Honor Runners!

            I hope this warm summer hasn’t interrupted your training too much! Remember, even though we are starting to see a break in the weather you still need to hydrate, especially for runs longer than one hour.

            For many of you, Marine Corps will be your first marathon-and baby there is nothing like the first! I envy those of you that still have that “first-timer” experience ahead of you. It will be a morning to remember, I promise you that! So let’s talk about training for your first time…

Will it hurt? Yes. How much it hurts depends on how much work and effort you put into your training right now. Make sure you do weekly hill runs. For flatlanders like me that involves running up and over my local bridge about 20 times during my weekly Hill Day hourly run. You can also do this effectively on the treadmill. Don’t forget those progressive long slow runs, too. Most training programs recommend at least one 16, one 18, and one 20 mile run before the marathon. If you plan to enjoy the marathon at a leisurely pace then make sure your training long run doesn’t exceed 3 hours. Runs longer than 3 hours can take weeks to recover from. Do your 3 hour longest run and if it only gets you to 17 miles, so be it.

HILL REPEATS TODAY, ANYONE?

Why am I so exhausted? I am guessing you are training more than you have in a long time so treat your body right. Lose those last 10 pounds, you still have time and it will take minutes off your race. Hydrate all day, every day. Chronic dehydration is a leading cause of daily fatigue in athletes. Get 8 hours of sleep! Yes, I know you are laughing at me right now…who really sleeps 8 hours? Great runners do. If that isn’t realistic for you (Surface Warfare Officers I am talking to you!) try to get 8 hours at least a couple nights a week. Finally, make sure you eat a carb/protein snack in a 4:1 ratio within the magic 30 minute post run recovery time. I personally like EduroxR4 for that. It is a powder you mix with water and the Fruit Punch flavor isn’t too bad. You can order it from Road Runner Sports and many other online retailers. They also sell it at the Navy Exchange. Don’t want engineered nutrition? Believe it or not a good old fashioned glass of chocolate milk (skim, please) provides a great recovery boost. Have your drink ready at home when you walk through the door. The magic recovery window is within 30 minutes of completing your run.

TASTY TREAT!

Ouch, it chafes! Cotton is your enemy! I know you like to wear your old blue rim or college t-shirts while running around the neighborhood but please relegate those for the days you wash the car. Breathable high tech fabrics are the only way to go when training and racing. Pick out the outfit you will race in and make sure you train in it for your long runs. And fellas, band-aids on the boobies are so yesterday! Get yourself some Body Glide and use it with wild abandon. Rub that stuff under your jog bra strap, in between your thighs, on the edges of your toes, and yes, guys, on your nipples. Put it wherever you feel a hot spot. Any hot spot you have in training will be a blister on race day-guaranteed! If you have sensitive feet try Wright Socks Double layer cool-mesh socks. I have been wearing them for 10 years and they truly are blister-proof socks. 

   WHEN BAD CHAFING HAPPENS TO GOOD PEOPLE

     BODY GLIDE IS YOUR FRIEND!

 The final training tip is taken directly from our British friends in honor of the recent London Olympics, “Keep Calm and Carry On”! If you find yourself injured, confused, or uninspired give me a call and I’ll get you back on track. Our Facebook community is also a great source of running knowledge. Post your question and one of our seasoned runners will get back to you.

KEEP TRAINING!

Kara '95

Swim To Honor racers have a great day!

Swim To Honor

June 10, 2012

The first annual Swim To Honor at the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim was a huge success! 

RACE REPORT:  The big swim (the 4.4 mile swim under the entire bridge) had some logistical challenges as swimmers had to park their cars on the finish line side of the Bay, then wait for bus to transport them over the bridge to the starting area at Sandy Point Park. Ever the punctual former Mids, we all arrived very early and were treated to waiting quite a long time at the park before the race start. It was very hot and the park had little shade but we still had a super time catching up with old friends and marveling at some of the exceptional swimmers about to embark on this epic swim. One gentleman had no arms and no legs and would complete the swim using a dolphin type motion with his body- AMAZING! Some of our own group demonstrated that the years weren't slowing them down a bit. Waiting in the direct sun while wearing a wetsuit and swim cap reminded me of Bancroft Hall during plebe summer (prior to the addition of AC!) and we were all relieved when the starter's gun finally went off. The water was calm with just a few strong currents in the deepest part of the swim. Everyone in our group made it and they all came out of the water with huge smiles on their faces. Were they happy to be finished or just excited to join the 1 mile "Fun Swim" swimmers who had already finished their race and claimed spots on the deck of Hemingway's? Both! The one mile gang already had several beers under their belts and welcomed us with "What took you so long?"

A good time was had by all and we look forward to another great event in June of 2013. 

Swim To Honor 2012

Due to the great success of our fall event, the Run To Honor Marine Corp Marathon and 10k, Run To Honor has decided to add another way for us to gather in remembrance of our fallen classmates. The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim (GCBS) is one of America's premier open water swim challenges. The annual event is scheduled for June 10, 2012 and consists of a 4.4 mile swim across Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. The race starts from the shores of Sandy Point State Park, which is about 5 miles northeast of Annapolis. The course extends eastward between the two spans of the William Preston Lane, Jr., Memorial Bridge (U.S. Highway 50) and finishes at a small sandy beach on Kent Island immediately south of the Bridge eastern-shore causeway adjacent to Hemingway's Restaurant. There is also an option to enter the 1-mile swim for those who still want to Swim To Honor, but may not feel inclined to spend 2-3 hours in the water! After this exciting event, we will gather on the Eastern Shore at Hemingway's and have hoist a brew, or two (!), to graduates who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Details on the post race gathering will follow in the spring. Questions? Please email swimtohonor@gmail.com.

Deadlines to enter this fantastic event are rapidly approaching. If you would like to conquer the 4.4 mile swim, registration opens on Nov. 1st at 8am. This event has a participation limit and you will be notified if your name has been randomly selected on January 4th. The 1 mile swim registration begins on February 1st, 2012. Please read the specific entry procedures and register for both swims at www.lin-mark.com.

Register for the Memorial Dinner!

Please join us the this year's Memorial Dinner at the Loew's in Annapolis on Friday, October 28th at 7 p.m. At the Memorial Dinner we gather together to honor our fallen Naval Academy shipmates. ALL alumni, and friends and family of alumni, are invited and encouraged to attend. Participation in the Marathon or 10k is not necessary, and while the meal will be runner friendly, this is not just a "pre run" dinner. This dinner is about the honorees - those whose name grace the walls of Memorial Hall.

http://runtohonor2011.eventbrite.com/

Marathon Training Program

From the Running Director...please check out this link to see a recommended marathon training plan. Please email me at rth.runner@gmail.com if you have any questions!