Official word from Sportsbackers.org is as follows:

The Marathon Challenge, which is billed as a premium community-oriented program built around an exclusive 16-week training plan created by Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso, will be highlighted in Runner’s World Magazine and online at www.runnersworld.com/challenge through the November 14th SunTrust Richmond Marathon.

“Runner’s World recognized that the SunTrust Richmond Marathon is ‘America’s Friendliest Marathon,’” said race organizer Jon Lugbill. “And now they’re honoring us by putting their feet on our streets where they will benefit firsthand from our spirit groups and bands and enthusiastic crowds.”

Participants in the Runner’s World Marathon Challenge who would like to run the SunTrust Richmond Marathon on November 14, 2009 with the Runner’s World editors will pay $250 for a race entry as well as elite admission to the Runner’s World clubhouse–the central hub where marathon challengers will gather pre and post race, pick up their numbers and check their bags. They will also receive a well-earned post-race massage.

Fourteen Runner’s World editors, including Editor-in-Chief David Willey, Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso and Editor at Large Amby Burfoot, will make up the Marathon Challenge contingent headed for Richmond. They’ll also be training alongside participants by sharing their best tips on nutrition, injury-prevention, health issues and other essential training topics in the magazine and the website. Readers will be privy to videos, podcasts, and articles to help achieve their personalized training goals. RW editors will
also share their personal stories and experiences to help inspire and train participating runners for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon–coined one of the best marathons in the U.S. by Runner’s World.

Info at www.richmondmarathon.com

I’m already signed up for Richmond (along with my wife Ally), but I’m also intrigued by the “Train With Us, Race With Us” package. Not sure how this would work though as the deal includes a race entry fee which I’ve already paid. Maybe I’ll email the Sports Backers and see what they suggest? It would be cool to hang out with Bart Yasso for a while….

Each issue of Running Times offers shoe and apparel reviews, athlete profiles, in-depth articles and lots more to keep you motivated and running strong throughout the year. A one year subscription to Running Times gets you 10 issues for just $10 – a huge $39.90 saving off the regular price!

The January/February 2009 issue features all kinds of great stuff including Run Better in 2009: 6 Elite Habits You Should Learn, Build Strength and Speed This Winter with 5 Power Exercises, 4 Treadmill Workouts and 2 Cross-Training Options, Runners of the Year, Born to Run: How Distance Running Made Us Human and much, much more.

Runner’s World is “filled with powerful information that will help you run faster and farther and have more fun doing it! Every issue brings you the strategies, tips and advice to fuel your performance, prevent injuries, burn fat, shed stress, and achieve your personal goals.” A one year subscription to Runner’s World gets you 12 issues for just $12 – a huge $42 saving off the regular price!

The December 2008 issue of Runner’s World is packed with interesting articles including a winter shoe guide, Heroes of Running, regular Mind and Body column and the topical How to Spend Less on Running and Racing.

Subscriptions can be canceled at any time and you’ll receive a refund for issues that haven’t shipped by contacting the publisher Rodale Inc.

Seems like a great deal to me, so why not treat yourself or the runner in your life to a year filled with running tips, news and reviews! Great way to stay motivated when the going gets tough…

Today’s motivational quote from Jesse Owens is a great one, so I thought I’d share it with my regular readers:

“We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.”

So many of us talk a good dream. We start off each year with all these goals, plans and challenges, but unless we’re totally determined and motivated to make them happen, we’ll be in exactly the same (if not worse) position this time next year.

If you’ve decided on a short or long term goal for 2008, think about it every day. Write the goal down, stick it on your refrigerator door, pin it up in work, anything that will help keep it in focus and keep you on track.

Only YOU can make YOUR DREAM a reality, so be determined and make it happen. 2008 can be great!

PS If you’d like to subscribe to “101 Daily Kicks In The Butt”, just visit the RunnersWorld.com web site, check the relevant box, enter your email address, click the “Sign Me Up” button and you’re done.