Race day is coming up fast and we need all of our runners and supporters to rally and help raise more money than ever for charity.

Give to one of our runners or join the team and fund raise alongside ‘em.

Here’s how this works:

• Click here to check out our fundraiser on CrowdRise
• Press the orange “Donate” button and donate $29 and when you do so, you’ll be signed up to win an iPad2 or  better yet, click the “Fundraise for this Event” button and create a project for a cause you care about, donate $29 and then email all of your friends to donate to your project for a chance to win an iPad2
• The contest ends January 15, 2012 (11:59pm EST) so please snap to
• Sorry for saying snap to

Just so you know, in addition to the iPad 2, you also win a drawing of something.  CrowdRise is in the process of interviewing 400 influencers from kindergarten classes across the globe to determine what the drawing should be. Needless to say, the drawing will be the best part of the prize.

Click here to check out all the tedious rules.

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Virginia Governor McDonnell, in his Inaugural Address, called on Virginians to pursue the vision of “A Commonwealth of Opportunity” by seeking opportunities to get involved in the life of our Commonwealth.  The FLITE Foundation’s Commonwealth of Opportunity Recognition Program recognizes programs, activities, organizations, or individuals who embody the ideal of “getting involved and giving back.”  Its purpose is to bring attention to the great work being done by selfless people around the Commonwealth who are taking the opportunity to leave the Commonwealth a better place than they found it.

The FLITE Foundation’s Opportunity Recognition Program seeks to –

• Recognize and celebrate Virginians who are creating a Commonwealth of Opportunity.
• Establish a publicly accessible bulletin board of community leaders, activists, groups, and individuals involved with successful programs in the four key areas identified.
• Showcase recognized programs on a website designed to provide information to communities that wish to replicate the activities.
• Increase awareness and implementation of successful programs across Virginia.

The program will recognize work in four key areas of opportunity:

• A Commonwealth of Opportunity for Health and Wellness – emphasizing preventive healthcare and healthy living through nutrition and physical activity, the prevention of childhood obesity, and awareness of health prevention strategies.
•  A Commonwealth of Opportunity for Economic Development – focusing support for Virginia wine industry products, tourism, and the Virginia Film Office.
•  A Commonwealth of Opportunity for Military Families – focusing on getting communities involved in supporting the families of active duty military personnel and on support for women in the military.
• A Commonwealth of Opportunity for Women – emphasizing support for women in business and recognizing women’s achievements across the Commonwealth.

National College Blue Ridge Marathon has partnered with the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge to bring you an opportunity to have your art chosen as the official artwork of the Blue Ridge Marathon.

Runners along with family and friends will participate in the National College Blue Ridge Marathon held for the 3rd year in downtown Roanoke. The winning art from this contest will be used for the marathon t-shirt, posters, and other print and promotional materials.

Schedule

• Deadline for submissions is January 30, 2012
• Submissions may be dropped off at The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge’s office (20 Church Ave. SE, Roanoke) Mon – Fri between 9:30am and 4:30pm, January 1, 2012 through January 30, 2012.
• Entries may also be shipped to the above address but must be RECEIVED by 5pm January 30th.
• Winners will be announced February 3rd.
• All non-winning entries must be picked up by 5pm February 10, 2012. Artwork left after that date will become the unrestricted property of The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.

Awards
The jury will be looking for one original image to represent the Run. The winner will receive $500, a t-shirt, poster, and a lot of recognition. There will also be a $150 second and $100 third place prize.

Specifications

• All 2D media accepted; winning entry will be reproduced & printed by 4-color process.
• Digital artwork should be vector format. (.eps) and mounted on foam core
• Overall size should not exceed 30”x 30” (20”x 30” is suggested)
• Artwork should have a vertical orientation (keep in mind the proportions of a t-shirt).
• Sign and attach entry form.
• No age limit

Please email marketing@theartscouncil.org to have a PDF of the registration form sent to you.

Don’t come to Roanoke, Virginia to enjoy a relaxing weekend; come to see just how much the National College Blue Ridge Marathon can kick your butt.

If you’re one of the growing population of marathoners seeking challenging marathons to test your mental and physical endurance, you may have noticed a rivalry quickly building between the National College Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, Virginia and the TMC Mount Lemmon Marathon in Tucson, Arizona.  Both races claim to be America’s toughest road marathon.

When organizers of the Blue Ridge Marathon learned about Mount Lemmon’s claim they issued a challenge to “let the runners decide which is tougher”, and they backed their challenge by offering free entries into their race to anyone who had just completed the Mount Lemmon Marathon.

About 20 runners accepted the offer and hit the pavement this past April. After the race, organizers showed some southern hospitality by treating the Mount Lemmon runners to breakfast at Thelma’s Chicken and Waffles.  Those who know Thelma’s would argue this was a bribe…and that may be the case. Regardless after experiencing 26.2 miles of elevation change, pounding rain and hail, and a course that trekked through the downtown area, followed a river, climbed the mountain, and took runners back down the mountain, runners were asked to share their experience.  Here’s what they had to say:

ROANOKE’S IS TOUGHER.

At least that’s according to Tim Sykes.  He won the 2010 National College Blue Ridge Marathon and came in second at the 2011 National College Blue Ridge Marathon.  As his prize in 2011, the folks in Roanoke paid for him to head to Tucson and compete in the Mount Lemmon Marathon.

HE WON THAT TOO.

“It wasn’t the race itself that helped me decide which was tougher,” said Sykes, “it was how long it took me to recover after the race that was really telling!”  “I was able to run 40 minutes the day after the Mount Lemmon Marathon, [but I] couldn’t really run for three days following the Blue Ridge Marathon,” said Sykes.  “Although Mount Lemmon was beautiful, very tough, and a challenging – both mentally and physically…I’d have to say that the Blue Ridge [Marathon] is definitely tougher.”

YOU DECIDE.

Pete Eshelman of RoanokeOutside.com, an organizer of the Blue Ridge Marathon, wants you to decide for yourself.  Register before December 31st for the National College Blue Ridge Marathon and receive 15 percent off the registration fee, just use the code “Tough”.

Roanoke has so much to offer visitors: wineries, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, quiet countryside vistas, quaint boutiques, and restaurants for almost every palette, everything a guest needs to enjoy the beauty and serenity the Roanoke Region of Virginia has to offer.  But for one weekend a year, we’re looking for the visitors that don’t want any part of that – instead they’re looking for the challenge of a lifetime – and we can offer them that too!

Tell us about your favorite marathon (or half marathon) in the comment section below. Be sure to include a link to your favorite race too. We’ll pick a random winner on 11/28 at 9am who will win a free entry to the National College Blue Ridge Marathon (full or half).

Man suffered a heart attack after “feeling fine.”
Says he plans to run again next year.

Ed Deitch with his Finishers Medal

Roanoke, Va. (April 20, 2011) – Amidst tears, smiles and overwhelming emotions, the doctor who saved Ed Deitch’s life visited him at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Wednesday and presented him with a finisher’s medal from the National College Blue Ridge Half Marathon.

“You saved my life! I can’t thank you enough,” Deitch told Dr. Karen Aldredge, who revived him in the ambulance, minutes after he crumpled to the ground Saturday about 100 feet from the finish of the 13.1 mile event.  Aldredge, who heads the Emergency Room at the Veteran’s Medical Center in Salem and teaches a course for paramedics at National College, was working the race as part of the College’s title sponsorship.

Dr. Karen Aldredge gives Ed Deitch his Finisher Medal

Deitch says he was having a great run, despite the rainy conditions and “… thought I would pick it up the last hundred yards or so and sprint for a personal best.”  The next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital.

Doctors say Deitch, who says he’s been a distance runner for three years, had partial blockages in two arteries, and suffered a heart attack.

The organizing committee of the marathon and half marathon felt that Deitch deserved the finisher’s medal.  “Considering all he went through, he more than deserves the medal,” said Pete Eshelman, race co-chair.  Eshelman said the committee also wanted Deitch to have an award from the committee – a running figure fashioned from a railroad spike.  The awards were given to overall and age-group winners in the race.

Race Chair John Carlin with ED

Aldredge, who had not seen Deitch since the ambulance ride was visiting him for the first time.  Organizers thought she was the perfect person to present him with his medal.

For his part, Deitch, who seemed in good spirits and thought he would be released from the hospital soon surprised organizers by telling them he plans to run the race again next year, “with the permission of my doctors.”

Organizers promised him a free entry in next year’s event.  “We would love to see Ed back here again,” said Eshelman.

11:00-5pm:  Live music, beer garden, food vendors, climbing wall, bouncy rooms, and more at finish line area. (due to forecasted heavy rains all music has been relocated to nearby restaurants. Climbing wall, beer garden, and bouncy rooms have been canceled).

• Norah’s (inside Taubman) – offering special Pasta Bar
• Awful Arthurs
• Cornerstone
• Martins
• Corned Beef & Co.

The National College Blue Ridge Marathon presents the second annual photo contest, “26.2 JPEG”, documenting the toughest road marathon in the country.  Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit images that bring to life the excitement, difficulty, beauty, and achievements of the marathon and its runners.

Entry Fee:

• $15 (includes up to three image submissions).
• $20 (includes up to four image submissions).
• $25 (includes up to five image submissions).

Prizes:

• $300 first place.
• $150 second.
• $50 for third.

Jury:

• TBA

Important Dates:

• April 20 – Runner expo at Taubman Museum.
• April 21 – Blue Ridge Marathon and Half Marathon.
• May 6 – Application, entry fees, and email submission of photos with supporting documentation.
• May 23 – Finalists announced via email notification.
• May 29 – Award ceremony (location TBA).

Details:

• Images can be created via any form of photography, but must be submitted in digital format.
• All photography must be original and created by the registered participant.
• By submitting photos you are giving the marathon permission to legally use your photo(s) in marketing and promotional materials including websites, print media, and editorial content.  A completed release must accompany the submission of your images.

Photo Submission Format:

• All photos must be submitted (digitally) by 5pm on May 6.
• File format:
  • Saved as JPEG, 72 dpi, saved at “high” quality.
  • Pixel count must not be more than 1200 on the longest side
  • Save file name as:  lastname_firstname01.jpg, lastname_firstname02.jpg, etc.

How To Register:

• Click “Add to Cart” button below to register (credit/debit card only)

Options

Three Submissions $15.00 USD Four Submissios $20.00 USD Five Submissions $25.00 USD

How To Submit Files:

• 1).  A completed release must accompany the submission of your images.  Complete it and save it to your computer.
• 2).  A completed application which includes photo descriptions must also be included.  Complete it and save it to your computer.
• 3).  Once you’ve completed steps 1 & 2, and appropriately named your image files, click hereto submit your photos and accompanying documents.
  • You will be redirected to the Roanoke Regional Partnership’s Yousendit.com Dropbox.
  • Fill in your name, email, and use subject line “26.2 JPEG -  yourname”.
  • Choose “select file” and then navigate to your completed release, application, and images.
  • Once you’ve uploaded all the files click “send it”.
  • You’re done!

Questions:

• For more information, or if you have questions please email Troy Lenderking at troylenderking@mac.com.

All you have to do is wear your finisher medal to any of these establishments to receive their discount.

Stop by the Downtown Roanoke table at the runner expo/packet pickup Friday April 15 (4-9pm) for the most up-to-date information as we’ll be adding more in the days to come.

Restaurants (click here for location, websites, and more)

• Corned Beef & Company = Half off all appetizers
• Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company = 10% off total purchase
• Blue 5 = 10% off total purchase
• Blues BBQ = 10% off total purchase
• Ernie’s = 10% off total purchase
• Horizons Bar & Grill = 10% off total purchase
• Little Dipper Cafe = 10% off total purchase
• Fork in The City = $5 off purchase of $20 or more
• GET Coffee & Bubbletea = 10% off total purchase
• Martins = $5 off purchase of $20 or more

Attractions

• Taubman Museum of Art = free admission
• Glazed Bisque-It = $5 off purchase of $20 or more

Stores (click here for locations, websites, and more)

• Walkabout Outfitter = $5 off purchase of $20 or more
• Black Dog Salvage = ~20% off one item (discount may vary by vendor)
• Appalachia Press = 10% off total purchase
• Blue Ribbon Boutique = 10% off total purchase
• Gallery 108 = 10% off total purchase
• Calhoun & Kipp = 10% off total purchase
• Chocolate Paper = 10% off total purchase
• Christy’s Apparel and Accessories = 10% off total purchase
• The Crystal Orchid Flower Shoppe = 10% off total purchase
• Davidson’s Clothing = 10% off total purchase
• EM Bradley = 10% off total purchase
• Gift Niche = 10% off total purchase
• La De Da women’s clothier = 10% off total purchase
• Orvis = 10% off total purchase
• Polished by Claire V. = 10% off total purchase
• Shades of Color = 10% off total purchase
• Third Stone = 10% off total purchase
• The Binaba Shop = $10 off purchase of $50 or more
• Antique Blue = $5 off purchase of $20 or more
• Seeds of Light = $5 off purchase of $20 or more
• Ladles & Lines = $10 off purchase of $50 or more
• Native Grace = $10 off purchase of $50 or more