Celebrity Gives Back

  It is truly inspiring when a celebrity decides to give back to the community. It is even more inspiring when they decide to support a cause and then spread the word about it. But that is exactly what one celebrity, Alyssa Milano, has done.

  Yesterday Milano made a donation to one of our local participants a donation after learning about his particular story. After doing this Milano has gone on to "tweet" about this participant’s story in order to spread the word about TNT and this participant in the hopes of raising even more money for the cause.

   We have "retweeted" Milano’s original "tweet" and posted it on facebook in the hopes that her generosity will inspire others to do the same. To view our "retweet" go to the link below and scroll down a little. Until you see the "tweet" from Alyssa Milano.

https://twitter.com/#!/VirginiaTNT

Recommitment Frequently Asked Questions

What is recommitment?

    Recommitment is an opportunity to evaluate your fundraising and training thus far and confirm with TNT your plans to continue with the Team. By doing so you are pledging to LLS that you will continue to be committed to the program and that you will raise your fundraising minimum. Recommitment is a necessary step in continuing your participation with the Team in Training program.

Will I be charged at recommitment?

     No. You are still required to provide your credit card information. This will secure your spot on the team and provide us your commitment to raising the minimum amount required for your particular event. If you have not met your minimum by the Final Funds Date then you will be charged the difference between the fundraising minimum and what is in your Paycor account.

What is the final fundraising deadline?

       The final fundraising deadline is the date (approximately 2 weeks prior to your event date) where we ask that have raised the minimum amount required for your specific event. If you have not raised the minimum amount LLS will ask that you make a personal donation to cover the difference between what you have raised and the fundraising minimum.

Do I have to pay for my race entry?

        No. When you provide your credit card information in your recommitment paperwork you solidify or reserve your entry into the race with TNT.

What if I already bought my own race entry?

         If you already bought your race entry LLS will reimburse you for up to what LLS paid for our race entries. All you will need to do is provide a copy of your receipt and the completed reimbursement paperwork (available after your event is complete) and LLS will take care of the rest. LLS Home Office will issue you a check in the amount of the reimbursement.

Can I bring family members and friends to the Inspiration Dinner and Victory Party?

        Yes. As a TNT participant you receive one complimentary ticket to both the Inspiration Dinner and the Victory Party. You will be able to purchase extra tickets for family members and friends who would like to attend with you. Tickets will not be for sale on event weekend.

Can I have my own hotel room?

       Yes. You will four rooming options for the weekend:

             1) Pair up with a TNT teammate of your choice,

             2) Pair up with a TNT teammate that we choose for you,

             3) Pay for your own hotel reservations, or

             4) Request your own room through TNT.

        If you chose to room with another TNT participant or have TNT assign you a roommate there is no charge. TNT pays for your accommodations.

        If you purchase your own hotel room LLS will reimburse you. You are eligible to receive a reimbursement for up to half of what LLS pays per room for event weekend.

        If you request your own room through TNT you will be charged for half of the room rate for each night we stay in the hotel. For example, if the room is $200 per night, you will be responsible for half that or $100 per night. For all local events TNT will stay 2-nights at our team hotel. Using the same example this would equate to a $200 total charge for the room.

Event Day Approaching?

For most people involved in TNT we all focus on one thing, event day. We mark the date in multiple calendars, let our friends and family know so that they know not to plan anything that day so they can come and support us, and most importantly we train.

In the days just before our event we take a break from the training so that our bodies can rest and prepare for what is to come. This time of preparation should not be focused on the physical, but the mental side of training. Thinking about what drives you, why do you keep going, and most importantly, who are you doing this for? During this time of reflection think about why we train, why we keep pushing even after we’ve given all we have to give. Doing this will bring a sense of peace and determination on event day. If you think about this prior to and while you run, etc. nothing can stop you.

Want to share your pre-event day strategy? Or
Want to share your other thoughts, ideas, and stories? Send us an email at

rackeyj@lls.org

A Little Bit of TNT History

As many of you know, Team In Training (TNT) has been around for about 24years now. And while each of the more then 540,000 participants have their own stories and drive for why they participate in TNT, many of you probably do not know the original story that started the movement.

Georgia Cleland was two years old at the time she was diagnosed with Leukemia. At this time the survival rate was about 50%. When her father first heard the news he began to fundraise for LLS in the hopes of finding better research to help save his daughter and the other children like her that they had met. But no matter how much he raised it never seemed to be enough.

   

So her father and a few of his friends decided to run a marathon raising money for each mile they ran. And thus, Team In Training was born.

    

Today TNT has raised over $1.2 billion for LLS and its missions. Georgia has participated in many ½ marathons including the San Diego and Washington DC Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathons.

What’s Your Story?

For more info on Georgia’s story and TNT history click

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgia-cleland/post_3439_b_1567673.html

Staying Cool in the Heat and Humidity

It’s starting to heat up out there! While many runners thrive in the warmer months, running in the heat and humidity can increase your risk for dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. By following these common sense rules, you can decrease your chance of having any of these issues.

• Stay Hydrated
-You’ve heard it again and again, but it still bears repeating. Hydration is the key to avoiding heat-related disorders. In training, drink before workouts and make sure you have access to fluids if exercising longer than 30 minutes. During longer workouts, consider supplementing your water with a sports drink in order to replace lost minerals and electrolytes.
• Choose the Right Clothing
• Run Early If Possible
-Morning (before sunrise or right after) is the coolest time of the day to run since the roads have not heated up during the day. If you cannot run in the early mornings, try to avoid running between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its most intense.
And, as always, make sure to LISTEN to your body. If you feel like you need to slow down, you probably should!
-Opt for light-colored, loose –fitting clothes and choose synthetic fibers instead of cotton in order to stay as cool as possible.

Top Three Reasons to FALL for TNT!!

With the official kick-off to the Fall Season  coming up this weekend, now is the perfect time to think about doing an event through TNT. Maybe you did one in the past and have been thinking about taking on the challenge again, or you’ve always wanted to try but never actually signed up. Here are some reasons why the time to sign up is NOW!!

1. It’s early in the season, which means MORE time to fundraise and MORE time to train! If you start right now, you’ll be ahead of the game the entire time!
2. The weather is perfect right now for runners of all skills, and you get the unique opportunity to train through all three seasons!
3. Fall is our most popular event season, so you will be surrounded by tons of like-minded individuals, making the whole experience more awesome than you could ever imagine!

So, there you have it, it’s time to sign up for fall events—what are you waiting for? Sign up now and start having fun!

The Beauty of a Lunch Time Run

Ever find yourself in the middle of your workday wishing you could escape? Do you get that 3:00 slump that causes you to go in search of a caffeine source? <or worse, vending machine junk food> There is a way to escape, avoid the slump, and reinvigorate yourself at the same time---RUN! That’s right--there’s no better way to ward off the afternoon doldrums than going for a lunchtime run. Getting out for as little as 15 minutes invigorates both mind and body, and can significantly lower stress and stimulate creativity. Aim to escape the office every other day; do it for three weeks, and you'll have formed a perfectly healthy habit. Here are two ways to make the most of a quick lunchtime workout:

• Hit the stairs-taking 15 minutes to walk up and down several flights of stairs will raise your heart rate and provide a good mini-workout, while also giving you a chance to clear your head and help relieve stress and ward off fatigue.

• Consider a run/walk-A moderate workout with a long cool down won't make you too sweaty to go back to work. Warm up with five to 10 minutes walking. Then alternate 30 seconds running at a very easy pace with 30 seconds walking. Cool down with 10 minutes of walking-mission accomplished!