Running Buddies Online?

**Post written by Mandi (I'm really messing things up this week. Post on Saturday, post on Wednesday, but slacked on my Mandi Monday!)

If you haven’t heard already, the Rock CF Foundation and CF rock star, Emily Schaller, is holding a Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon and 5K on March 20, 2011 in Grosse Ile, Michigan (Get details here: http://www.outruncf.com/). It will be the first half marathon specifically for CF. If you live in Michigan, anywhere remotely close, or are a baller and can fly there for the race, start training and go!!!

BUUUUUT for those of us who aren't lucky enough to be there in person, Rock CF and CysticLife has teamed up on a new concept so we too can participate! The concept: Out Run CF Virtual Run. It's the race of the future! You can run this race from anywhere in the world. So the race is a way for everyone to participate, get some new "virtual" running buddies, and get into shape. Anyone and everyone is invited to participate: Fibros, Cysters, parents, spouses, friends, extended family, you name it! I mean, if you can now find love and make BFF's online, you might as well be able to make running buddies online too! Right?

Participants will find a route or race by their house; report back to their fellow virtual runners online as they train; and then on March 20, 2011, EVERYONE will lace up their joggers and hit the road in their Out Run CF shirt (which you receive when you register for the race).

And here's the best part (in my opinion) people choose their mileage. 1 mile? 5K? 10K? 10 Miles? Half Marathon? Marathon? It's doesn't matter! Nothing is too short or too long, too fast or too slow. The goal just to get the entire CF community out of the house and into their running shoes on the same day.

So again, here are the hard facts:

Who: EVERYONE

What: An Out Run CF Virtual Race held by Rock CF and CysticLife

When: March 20, 2011

Where: ANYWHERE

Why: Because anyone can run – whether it’s for a minute or a marathon! Together, we can Out Run CF.

How: Register at http://www.active.com/running/anytown-mi/out-run-cfvirtual-run-2011

Helpful Sites to Get You Started:

DailyMile.com – Make an account and join the Rock CF/CysticLife group to track your miles and keep track of others!

Facebook.com – Join the Out Run CF group to see just how many people are outrunning CF and connect with them!!

Runnersworld.com – Get inspired, find training programs.

So definitely check it out. Ronnie and I will both be training for the race using dailymile.com and connecting with other runners on CysticLife and Facebook. And so far there looks to be a decent group - people are already registering and there's a growing group on the Out Run CF Facebook page. I'm just excited to have an "excuse" to run, and I have to admit, I'm really excited about getting an Out Run CF T-shirt - maybe not the best reason to run...but hey, whatcha gonna do, right?!