Weekly Message from Linda Francisco
Your Program Rep at Griffith Park (Saturday)
And Manhattan Beach (Sunday)
August 31, 2000

To Sleep, Perchance to DreamâEUR¦
Zzzz  Cross the Finish Line  Zzzz
Zzzz  Get a Medal  Zzzz
Zzzz "Lookin' Good!" yells Linda   Zzzz 



This week's 10-miler begins at 7:00 AM.  An extra
hour of sleep or an extra 
hour to party?  You decide, but keep this in mind:
Sleep is an important part 
of our training because it gives your body a chance
to recover and repair 
tired, worn out muscles.  And since we're getting
ready for the 23-mile run 
on Sept 9th and 10th, hopefully, you're taking good
care of yourself right 
now by getting plenty of rest, water, and healthy
food.  (You know the 
drillâEUR¦hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!)

This week is another recovery run.  The slower you
go this weekend, the 
better you will do on the long one.  So go out slow,
come back slow, and take 
it easy in the middle.  The marathon is only 9 weeks
awayâEUR¦do not take any 
chances for injury!

Many of you have been out buying new shoes recently.
 Be sure to break them 
in on a couple of your maintenance runs before
taking them out for a long 
run.  If you have been having knee or feet
problemsâEUR¦it might be a good idea 
to go into the running store to be re-evaluated to
be sure you are wearing 
the proper shoe for your feet.  A fun marathon is a
marathon with "Happy 
Feet!"  :-)  Yahoo!

As mentioned before, if any of you missed the
20-miler (Don't stress!), 
please contact me so we can put together a modified
schedule to get you ready 
for the marathon.  And of course, give me a call if
you need any help with 
your fundraising.  

WANTED:  BASEBALL FANS!
If you would like to attend a LA Dodger (vs.
Pittsburgh Pirates) game this 
Wednesday, September 6th at 7:05 PM - please let me
know.  I have tickets 
available and a portion of the ticket price will
benefit APLA.  The seats are 
2nd level lodge seats (between home plate and right
field).  Either call me 
or see me this weekend at the run sites.  (This is a
Group Fundraiser to help 
get our fellow participants to their fundraising
goal.)  

LET'S PARTY IN THE PARK:
Griffith Park and Manhattan Beach Participants
The 23-Mile run is coming up on September 9th and
10th and it would be fun to 
have a "big ole picnic" to celebrate the moment! 
This would be the last long 
run that we would have together as a training site
and it would be great to 
show our volunteers how much we appreciate them. 
Griffith Park is a great 
picnic spot and has lots of distractions for
children and pets.  So plan to 
have your friends, family and special volunteers
join us for a fun 
get-together.   I invite Pace Group Leaders to have
fun little awards for 
folks in their group (about 4-5) for special
talents: i.e.: Most Chatty, Most 
Off Tune etc.  I hope everyone will try to atend
this party for this will be 
the last time it will just be us!  So plan to bring
picnic food, a change of 
clothes and a chair or blanket to camp out!  Let's
be there for the slower 
groups as they finishâEUR¦with a big hoopla and
hurrah!

Manhattan Beach: We extend a special invitation for
you to join us at 
Griffith Park because it is a little bit of a drive.
 However, if you would 
like to get your long run finished a day
earlyâEUR¦that would be great.  But, if 
you would just like to come up for the
picnicâEUR¦please bring your family and 
friendsâEUR¦Griffith is a great place to hang out! 
Also, Group Leaders, if you 
would like to have some fun awards for your pace
group - we invite you to 
join the fun!  (PS:  We always need volunteers and
it is worth $20 
fundraising credit!)

Griffith Park - Speeding Tickets!
The Griffith Park Rangers have asked us to slow down
in the park!  They have 
clocked some of our participants going in excess of
50 MPH (in their 
cars...not running!) and the Speed Limit is only 35
MPH.  So please SLOW 
DOWN, for the safety of others and to keep from
getting an expensive ticket 
(if you have money to give away...we have
participants who could use the 
donation!)

DOG TAGS:
Don't forgetâEUR¦it is not too late to order your ID
Dog Tag.  (I am still 
selling them as my fundraiser!)  Order now and have
it for the 26 miler.  Ask 
me for an order form.  Thanks for your support.

LOST AND FOUND
Lost and Found is getting "a little" out of control!
 I have at least 2 boxes 
full and it keeps growing!   So please - look in our
boxes and take any items 
that may be yours.  Do not take items that are not
yours (until I give the 
"free for all" word.  Pleasssssse - if you bring a
sweatshirt or jacket - 
TAKE IT HOME!  



SAVE THE DATE:
On September 17th I invite you to attend:

Laugh'n Jam for $$$
(Chicago or Bust)
Benefiting
 AIDS Project Los Angeles

September 17, 2000
2 PM to 7 PM
Tickets:  $15 ea.

15304 Carretera Drive
Whittier, CA

Lots of great music, comedy (yes, it's true - Linda
will perform!), 
and a variety of talent!

(This is a fundraiser to help folks stuggling to
reach their fundraising 
goals.)


Have a great Labor Day Holiday!  Yahoo - A day off
work!  You look marvelous! 
 And have I told you....You are amazing!

Keep smiling,

Linda 

OTHER STUFF:
Check-in:
Remember to check off your name each week.  If you
visit a different Run 
Site, print your name on the special sign-in sheet
for visitors.  If you 
won't be at the run site this weekend, send me an
email or give me a call to 
let me know you're OK.

Line-up by your pace groups signs:
As you gather for the run each weekend, be sure to
line up with your pace 
group by the pace group signs.  That way, visitors
from other run sites can 
find the group they like to run with.

Cheer in the next group:
Stick around after you finish the run and cheer in
the next group.  High 
Fives add to the fun and camaraderie.  And it
reminds each of us that this is 
an incredibly heroic endeavor.