What Do You Get When You Mix a Bunch of Camels and Tomatoes?

What Do You Get When You Mix a Bunch of Camels and Tomatoes? The 4th Annual East Nashville Tomato 5K to benefit the local YMCA

It’s 90 degrees with 100 percent humidity, and the mere thought of stepping outside leaves sweat stains on your shirt. It would be madness to run in this heat. That’s right. It’s ’mater madness. As in Tomato 5K madness.

A local herd of do‐gooders is inviting everyone to double‐knot their running shoes and run around Historic East Nashville during the 4th Annual East Nashville Tomato 5K on Saturday, August 8. It’s all part of the Tomato Art Fest, voted “Best Festival” in the 2007 and 2008 Nashville Scene Reader’s Polls. Presented by charity fundraising group Camels with a Cause (CWAC), the Tomato 5K benefits the Margaret Maddox Family YMCA’s We Build People campaign. With the funds raised, people who could not otherwise afford a membership with the YMCA have the opportunity to experience everything the organization has to offer.

“The members of Camels with a Cause are excited about helping the Margaret Maddox Family YMCA continue to provide exceptional programs, facilities, and resources to the East Nashville community,” said Mark Scrivner, Director of Operations at cj Advertising and Board Member at Margaret Maddox Family YMCA.

Camels, Cardio, and Culture
CWAC’s current objective is to recruit at least 1,000 walkers, joggers, and runners to participate in the event. Tomato 5K participants will enjoy a guided foot tour through the heart of Historic East Nashville’s neighborhoods as they stride past Victorian‐era architecture while burning calories and absorbing local culture. Maybe even picking up some tomato‐inspired artwork.

Did Someone Say “Camel”?
Camels with a Cause (CWAC) is cj Advertising’s conduit of support for various charitable organizations. The project is empowered by a staff of more than 60 at the agency with 100 percent of funds donated to charity.

Don’t Wait—The Last Runner in Is a Rotten Tomato!
The 4th Annual East Nashville Tomato 5K is on Saturday, August 8, 2009, at East Nashville’s Five Points, on the corner of South 11th Street and Woodland Street. The race begins at 7:30 a.m. before the parade of the Tomato Arts Festival. There will also be a Kids’ Fun Run for children 8 and under starting at 7 a.m. A 5K run wouldn’t be complete without free t‐shirts! All pre‐registered runners will receive t‐shirts that wick away moisture to help maximize comfort and performance. Free childcare also will be available beginning at 6:30 a.m. in the Y‐CAP building at the corner of 11th Street and Russell Street.

Registration for the 4th Annual East Nashville Tomato 5K ends on Thursday, August 6, 2009. Visit www.CamelswithaCause.com to enter the race, learn about past events, and view videos and photographs.

About cj Advertising
Established in 1994, cj Advertising has grown to be the largest full‐service advertising agency in the country catering exclusively to personal injury lawyers. With a long‐term goal to build and represent the top 50 personal injury brands in the country, the agency promises distinctive branding, results‐driven creative, and 360‐degree marketing to each of its exclusively represented clients. Offering traditional services of media placement and production, cj also completes its clients’ marketing plans by offering Web services, public relations, and database mining, as well as yellow pages design, tracking, andmanagement. The Nashville, Tennessee‐based agency currently produces advertising campaigns for 37 law firms in 60‐plus markets nationwide. Visit www.cjadvertising.com for more information.

Still Going!

Before the Muddy Buddy I had slipped into a rut that the Muddy Buddy dug me out of and so far I haven't slipped again, but it hasn't been the running that's kept me going it's been the bike riding :)!!

I'm still running and just signed up for the I run for the party 4th of July 5K which I plan to walk/run while pushing my son in his stroller. But the biking is what I look forward to. I feel like a little kid again, free to go anywhere I want and go as fast as I want. When I feel the burn in my legs challenging me to go up the next hill I want to push myself even further. I love it!

I've been debating on whether or not to do the half-marathon in Murfreesboro but in the meantime I'm looking for some more bike races, either mountain or road. And then maybe I'll do another race that combines the 2! I was in Amelia Island on vacation last week and rode my bike everywhere. They had amazing trails that overlooked golf courses and the beach and I had a blast! I rode everyday I was there and it's really helping with my running! I may have finally found something I can stay motivated to do!! Yippee!!

Inaugural Williamson County Jingle Bell Run/Walk

The Inaugural Williamson County Jingle Bell Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 in the Downtown Franklin Area. The Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a 5K race/walk that includes a 1mile fun run and is the Arthritis Foundation's nationwide run/walk holiday event that raises funds to fight arthritis. Funds raised provide vital funding for research, programs and services to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases in our local area.

If you are interested in helping make this the best run/walk EVER by helping out on the committee, please contact Ashley Jordan Rickel at ajordan@arthritis.org or (615) 254-6795 ext. 107. There are several different areas you can get involved: Public Relations, Sponsorship, Team Recruitment, Corporate Recruitment, Logistics... and the list keeps going.

Why come Jingle with us?
-300,000 children in America have a form of arthritis
-Arthritis costs the economy $128 Billion dollars a year!
-Arthritis is responsible for 9,500 deaths every year.

What happens at the Jingle Bell Run?
-5K run/walk
-Costume Contest
-Family and Kid Friendly fun walk
-Entertainment
-And much much more!

How can I help?
-Recruit a team! Sign up and fundraise at WilliamsonCoJBR.org
-Sponsor! For information, contact Ashley at 615-254-6795 x 107
-Donate! Donate online at WilliamsonCoJBR.org
-Volunteer! Call 615-254-6795 x 107 to help with the committee or day of!

Running back

Time to get back into the running game. I have continued running, but I'm not doing as well as I should. I blame not having a race ahead. So, I have decided to run a half marathon this fall (October).



But that also means my first ever Summer training (boo!). So, starting tomorrow, I'm sort of starting over. I am going to be training Monday, Wednesday and swimming Tuesday, Thursday for an hour each day and a long run when I can fit it in (but I'll try for Saturday or Sunday).

This also means I'll be training with a Camel Pack because I sweat so much with the Tennessee humidity. And I'll be updating as I go.

What are you up to?

Marathoner's Q&A

A friend suggested I do a Q&A about my marathon experience- especially as a first-timer.



So, ask away- Questions about hydration, bathroom breaks on the run, what I ate the night before... I will answer anything. I still can't believe I ran 26.2 Saturday.



And yes, I'll run another one. Hopefully the St. Jude Memphis Full (I did the St. Jude half last year) next December.



Thank you to my dad for documenting this day. UNBELIEVABLE.

The marathon

I'm going to be lazy today (the day after the FULL marathon), and refer you to my other blog, Gilliam.life for an update on the marathon.

All I have to say is, "wow."

Click here to read about my marathon experience.

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and for keeping in stride with your own personal goals. You are ALWAYS my inspiration.

Remember why you are running.

Again, I am a novice like everyone else but here are a few simple reminders and thoughts about marathons. KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid. That is the motto of my life as I have always tried to keep things simple and this includes running. Leave the heart rate monitor at home (unless you have a condition that requires monitoring). Leave the headphones and iPod at home, enjoy the pain that lingers between your ears for 5 hours. The emotional rollar coaster, that produces troughs of self doubt will be followed by peaks of euphoric pleasure, should be experienced with little distraction. Leave the fuel belts behind. There will be plenty of fluids on the course and you can have family members carry the load for you. Don't wear a watch. If this is your first marathon (I am talking to you Sarah B.) all you should worry about is crossing a line at 26.2. Think light. Shoes, socks, shirt, shorts, hat, and sunglasses. Wait, include nipple guards and something to prevent chaffing as well ;)

Good luck to those of you who are running this weekend and please enjoy your experience!