Boston Marathon Guess-A-Thon

Each year, close to 20 percent of the participants in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon qualify for the Boston Marathon. However, you don’t need to be a qualifier to join the fun of the Boston Marathon!

To celebrate one of the biggest races of the year, we’re bringing back our Boston Marathon Guess-A-Thon Contest and giving you FOUR chances to win a $100 gas card!

From April 10 to April 17, we will accept one guess per person on our Facebook page for each of the following from the April 18^th Boston Marathon finishing times:

• Fastest male from Ohio
• Fastest female from Ohio
• Fastest American male
• Fastest American female

Post your best guess of the times for the fastest finishers on our Facebook wall and make sure to get specific – it could all come down to the second!

Contest rules: Winners may only win once and we will accept the next best guess in order to determine the winner if one participant guesses the right time in more than one category. If ties arise, we will pick a name out of a hat to determine the winners. Share your best guess on our Facebook timeline within the time frame.

Want to play? Like our Facebook page! Ready, set, guess!

How far does #CMnation reach? Join our 2015 Registration Heat Map Challenge to find out!

With 48 states represented during last year’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and 1/2 Marathon, it’s safe to say #cbusmarathon fever has swept the nation. We want to celebrate our athletes (no matter where they are!) and show just how big the marathon community has become – that’s why you’re invited to join our 2015 Registration Heat Map Challenge!

Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Register for the 2015 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon or 1/2 Marathon!
• Step 2: Snap a photo during/after registering. This could be an excited selfie, last year’s race shirt, your registration confirmation page – anything to show you’re pumped for October 18!
• Step 3: Post your photo on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #CMnation and tell us what city you’re in.

We’ll pin your photo on our Pinterest Map board based on your current city and you’ll officially be a part of #CMnation!

Let’s see just how far the Columbus marathon community reaches. RSVP for registration and our Heat Map challenge here.

Columbus Marathon Photo Challenge

Do you know exactly how many weeks until the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon? (If you’ve been counting down obsessively like we have, this should be an easy one.)

The answer? 11 weeks! Or 76 days. Or 1,824 hours. Or … you get the idea.

Even though we can’t be there for all the hours you spend training, we’d love to see how your race prep is going! That’s why you’re invited to participate in our Columbus Marathon Photo Challenge! The rules are simple. Each week, we’ll post a photo “theme” on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. All you have to do is snap a pic that fits the theme and post it with the hashtag #CMphotofinish!

Think you’re up for the challenge? See if you can post at least one photo for each week! Check out the image below to see which themes are coming up.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and make sure to use the hashtag #CMphotofinish so we can see your progress! We’re looking forward to all of your photos! 

2014 Boston Marathon Guess-a-thon

Did you know that each year, nearly 20 percent of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon participants qualify for the Boston Marathon? (Not surprising – after all, you guys are awesome in every way!) But whether you’re lacing up for Boston or kicking back to watch and relax, you can participate in the marathon fun!

To celebrate one of the biggest races of the year, we’re bringing back our Boston Marathon Guess-a-thon Contest and giving you FOUR chances to win a $100 gas card! The contest starts today and runs until 9 a.m. on April 21, just before the start of the Boston Marathon. Post your best guess of the times for the fastest finishers on our Facebook wall, Twitter page and Instagram posts. Make sure to get specific – it could all come down to the seconds!

Here’s how you can win.

Guess the finishing times for:

• Fastest male from Ohio
• Fastest female from Ohio
• Fastest American male
• Fastest American female

Four winners will be chosen – one for each category – and will each receive a $100 gas card!

Contest rules: Winners may only win once, and we will accept the next best guess in order to determine the winner if one participant guesses the right time in more than one category. If ties arise, we will pick a name out of a hat to determine the winners. Share your best guess on our Facebook timeline, Twitter, or Instagram post within the time frame. Also, be sure to include @Cbusmarathon in your Twitter response so that we see it!

Ready, set, guess!

14 Songs to Put an Extra “Spring” in Your Step

Is there anything better than the first few warm, sunny and all-around beautiful days of spring? The days when winter is officially behind us (knock on wood) and we can finally stop worrying about how many layers we’ll need to throw on before heading out for a run, but don’t quite have to worry about overheating. A.k.a. the best running days ever.

We don’t know about you, but as soon as we get a taste of these perfect days, we get a huge case of spring fever – meaning new running shoes, new workout clothes, new races, and of course, a new spring playlist!

To help put a spring in your step, we put together a Spotify playlist perfect for your next run, based off of song suggestions from our Facebook fans (and a few of our own faves!). You can listen online here, or click on the “Spring Tunes” playlist below!

 

Make sure to follow us on Spotify here to stay updated on our new playlists we’ll be creating leading up to this year’s race. Have a song suggestion? Tell us in the comments below!

You’re invited! RunFest 2013

Run•Fest [ruhn-fest] noun:

A gathering of community and marathon supporters, enthusiasts and novices. Held annually at the beginning of July to officially kick off training season for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon.

The countdown to race day is on. With less than four months until the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon, we’re busy prepping the course, lining up our entertainers, and registering runners, walkers and volunteers. And to help kick off the 2013 training season, we’re thrilled to invite you to our 4^th annual RunFest!

Join more than 1,000 running/walking fans and healthy living advocates at our event to help us jump-start the 2013 Columbus Marathon training season. We’ll have FREE food, exhibits, entertainment and an introduction to our 2013 Nationwide Children’s Hospital “Patient Champions.” Here are the details:

• What: The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon RunFest 2013
• When: July 6, 1-4p
• Where: Ohio State Fairgrounds: Ohio Building, located off I-71 at 17^th Ave.
• What: A FREE event that features giveaways, sneak peek at this year’s race shirt and medal, booths offering training advice and healthy living tips, free food, the full line-up of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champions and more! We will also have an engraving service available for 2012 Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon medals to engrave finisher’s name and official time. Bring your medal and a $10 donation fee with all proceeds going to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. As an added bonus, parking is FREE and the venue is air-conditioned!

Make sure you RSVP for RunFest here. Also, invite your friends, family and followers to come! We hope to see you there!

Five Ways to Celebrate National Running Day

Hard to believe our (second) favorite day of the year is tomorrow!

National Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a coast-to-coast celebration of running – a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for the sport.

Ready to declare your passion? Here are five ways to celebrate National Running Day this year:

1. Go for a run:  Morning or evening. On your own or in a group. Two miles or twenty. Whatever the circumstances, you’ve got to get a run in on National Running Day. (It is what the day celebrates, after all!) You could also participate in one of 140+ National Running Day meetups happening across the country.
2. Join a running group: Running groups are a great way to help you achieve your running goals. Need help finding a group to join? Check out RunthePlanet.com for a list of local running clubs across throughout the US.
3. Show the world – or us, at least! – how you’re celebrating: Tweet, pin or share a photo of your run with us on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
4. Sign up to run a race: Need a little extra motivation to sign up for your next marathon, half-marathon or 5K? Here it is! (Hint: We hear there’s a pretty cool one coming up in Columbus on October 20 … Register here!)
5. Make a difference: Did you know that in the last 20 years runners have raised over a billion dollars for great causes in races and events worldwide? Donate to The One Fund Boston. Nominate a Miracle Mile Patient Champion. Whatever you do, make this year’s Running Day count.

For more ideas, visit http://www.runningday.org/. Tell us: How are you celebrating?

Amp up your run with a stellar playlist

What better way to get pumped for a run, then to have a jamming playlist that you can rock to each step of the way? To help you get inspired for your next workout or race, we’ve compiled a playlist (with your help) of songs with the words “run” or “walk” in the title:

• Aerosmith – “Walk This Way”
•  Bruce Springsteen – “Born To Run”
• Jay-Z – “Run This Town”
• Dixie Chicks – “Ready To Run”
• Flock of Seagulls – “I Ran”
• Katrina and the Waves – “Walking On Sunshine”  
• The Proclaimers – “(I Would Walk) 500 Miles”
• Bruno Mars – “Runaway Baby”
• Van Halen – “Running With The Devil”
• Iron Maiden – “Run To The Hills”
• The Ventures – “Walk, Don’t Run”
• Martha Reeves and the Vandellas – “Nowhere to Run”
• The Bangles – “Walk Like An Egyptian”

What other songs would you add to this list?

Reflecting and discussing the Boston tragedy: A Conversation with the Ohio Crisis Response Team

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the explosions at the Boston Marathon on Monday. Please read the following message from our race director, Darris Blackford, and join us Monday, April 22^nd, to discuss and share your reactions to the tragedy.

Marathon family,

Earlier today, I left a message on our Facebook page asking you to wear yellow and blue during your morning run on Saturday in honor of the colors of the Boston Marathon. I hope it will help a little bit with healing, plus bring our family together in an outpouring of support for those whose lives were lost, those hurt, and all of us affected by this tragedy.

In addition to wearing yellow or blue this weekend to band together, we also have an idea related to what happened in Boston, especially for those of you who ran on Monday, have done the Boston Marathon or our race before, or even if it will be your first time this year.

The Ohio Crisis Response Team reached out to me today, and offered to lead a discussion about the tragedy. Would you be interested in coming together as a group to discuss our reactions to the Boston tragedy? I know I would. (Or, if you prefer, they will talk to any of us one-on-one at the discussion.)

We are going to hold this event on Monday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. at our headquarters, the Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E. Broad Street. We will provide light refreshments, water and soft drinks. Parking is free at Downtown parking meters after 6 p.m., or there are pay parking lots in the area.

We do need to get a count of people who want to attend, so we ask that you RSVP here.

Until then, we ask that you please continue to share your support for the Boston Marathon family and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Until Monday,

Darris

—

If you are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, or looking for additional resources to help with healing, please also read the following message from the Boston Athletic Association about post-traumatic stress management:

DEAR RUNNER AND VOLUNTEERS

We are all overwhelmed by the horrific and tragic events at the Boston Marathon last Monday.

Events of mass violence can trigger overwhelming feelings of anxiety, anger or fear. United States Public Health Service, Mental Health Team has arrived in Boston and will be available for in person individuals and group sessions. We will have more specifics for you tomorrow.

The Federal Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone who needs help in dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy. This free, confidential, and multilingual crisis support service is also available via SMS (text TalkWithUs to 66746) to anyone experiencing psychological distress as a result of this event. Callers and texters are connected to trained and caring professionals from crisis counseling centers in the network. The Helpline staff provides confidential counseling, referrals to local services that are immediately available, and other needed support services.

Through the Massachusetts Departments of Mental and Public Health, we have assembled many other resources to help runners, volunteers, responders, and spectators manage emotion, grief and stress in the aftermath of a traumatic and violent event.

Signs and symptoms many people frequently experience following a traumatic stress incident:

* Trouble sleeping or having bad dreams
* Recurring images or flashbacks
* Strong emotions such as anger, guilt, anxiety, fear or sadness
* Flatness or disinterest in life or routine
* Irritability
* Startled easily, feeling cautious
* Avoiding reminders related to the event
* Headaches, diarrhea, nausea, or other developing physical ailments
* Difficulty remembering the event
* Substance use increases

Dealing with the Effects of Trauma – A Self-Help Guide: This Federal Disaster Distress guide provides more in-depth information on recovering from a traumatic event and is geared toward those whose reactions may be lingering.

Effects of Traumatic Stress after Mass Violence, Terror, or Disaster: Developed by the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, this publication provides information regarding normal reactions to abnormal situations.  It includes descriptions of common traumatic stress reactions, problematic stress responses, and symptoms  of PTSD and acute stress disorder.

Tips for Survivors of a Traumatic Event – Managing Your Stress: This tip sheet outlines the common signs of stress after a disaster and provides stress reduction strategies.

Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope after a Disaster or Traumatic Event:  This fact sheet helps parents and teachers recognize and address problems in children and teens affected by the trauma after an act of violence.  It describes signs of stress reactions that are common in young trauma survivors at different ages, and offers tips on how to help.

Tips for Managing and Preventing Stress – A Guide for Emergency Response and Public Safety Workers: This fact sheet gives organizational and individual tips for stress prevention and management for emergency response workers and public safety workers. It describes normal reactions to a disaster, signs of the need for stress management, and ways to handle stress.

Anyone with information about the explosions should call the Boston Police at 800-494-TIPS. The FBI has also established a tip line, 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324), prompt #3, for anyone who has information or visual images regarding the explosions.

The 2013 Nationwide Children’s Hospital $100K Challenge & $50K Survey

UPDATE (4/8/2013): The results are in! Thanks to your overwhelming support of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, our board will donate a total of $50,000 to the hospital’s pediatric research, psychosocial programs & a Giraffe® Incubator for patients. Learn more about each below, and please stay tuned to the blog for more ways to benefit the hospital (and ALL of its incredibly deserving programs!) as we get closer to the 2013 race.

• The Giraffe® Incubator: The Giraffe® Incubator is a state-of-the-art enclosed neonatal intensive care microenvironment developed to meet the needs of clinicians, patients and families. Several unique features, like an in-bed scale and special pressurized mattress, provide a superior developmentally appropriate environment for a patient, while decreasing stress for the family and simplifying procedures for the children.
• Pediatric Research: Nationwide Children’s Hospital is an international leader in pediatric research. Continual funding on all levels — from funding a research fellow to equipment or clinical research trials — allows our behavioral, basic and clinician scientists to continue to transform child health in major ways.
• Psychosocial Programs: Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers unique support services and programs to enhance the quality of life for patients and families, such as “Last Chemo Treatment Celebrations,” where a family can celebrate together once a patient finishes their chemo regimen, or providing vouchers for safe, reliable transportation to well-check and routine clinic appointments for families who cannot afford to pay on their own.

Last year, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon Board of Directors matched the first $100,000 donated to the hospital by race participants. But, they didn’t stop there. In December, the Board increased its support to $150,000, bringing the grand total raised for the hospital in our first year of partnership to $925,000.

What does this mean for 2013?

First up, a challenge:

This year, the Board again is issuing a $100,000 challenge to participants in the Marathon & ½ Marathon. Do you accept the challenge? Donate or become a fundraiser when you register for this year’s race, or by clicking on the Children’s Champions Fundraising Page!

Second, a choice:

As we mentioned, the Board has donated $150,000 to the hospital. The first $100,000 was directed to our Children’s Champions program, which features 26 amazing and inspirational kids cheering on our participants at each mile along the course.

That leaves $50,000 still to spend, and we want your help determining where it goes!

The following survey highlights five of the hospital’s programs (each described at the bottom of this blog post) that are equally deserving of a donation. Vote for your three favorites, and the three programs that receive the most votes will each get an equal share of the remaining $50,000. Update: Please continue voting through Sunday, April 7. We’ll announce the winners then! 

Click here to take The 2013 Nationwide Children’s Hospital $50K Survey! (Voting is now closed)

•••

Sounds of Love Program: An innovative music therapy program that creates an opportunity for parents to have a presence at their baby’s bedside even when they’re away from the hospital by building a digital library of songs and stories that are played in their isolette during their absence. Equipment costs are needed annually, and funds are also used to employ music therapists especially trained in newborn development.

The Admitting Gift Program: After each patient is settled into their hospital bed, a volunteer visits with the Admitting Gift Cart full of age-appropriate toys for the child to choose. Many patients come to the hospital unexpectedly and unprepared, and an Admitting Gift can give them a comforting object or activity. More than 15,000 gifts are given annually.

The Giraffe® Incubator: The Giraffe® Incubator is a state-of-the-art enclosed neonatal intensive care microenvironment developed to meet the needs of clinicians, patients and families. Several unique features – such as a rotating mattress allowing 360° for easy patient access, an in-bed scale which allows weights to be taken without moving the baby, and a special pressurized mattress to help preserve skin integrity while also improving clinical efficiency by reducing or eliminating bedding expense – provide a superior developmentally appropriate environment for a patient, while decreasing stress for the family and simplifying procedures for the children. Each incubator is $17,000.

Pediatric Research: Nationwide Children’s Hospital is an international leader in pediatric research. With a 10-year history of exceptional funding support from the National Institutes of Health, our behavioral, basic and clinician scientists are transforming child health in major ways. Continual funding is needed on all levels, from funding a research fellow to equipment to clinical
research trials.

Psychosocial programs: Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers unique support services and programs to enhance the quality of life for patients and families. These programs include “Last Chemo Treatment Celebrations,” where a family can celebrate together once a patient finishes their chemo regimen, treatment incentives (i.e.: iTunes gift cards, movie passes, restaurant gift cards, etc.), art and music therapy, a “Toy Box” for rewarding children after they have a procedure done and providing vouchers for safe, reliable transportation to well-check and routine clinic appointments for families who cannot afford to pay on their own.