Now:
1. You should be Registered for the race by now. If you're not, don't put it off any longer!
2. Plan your driving route and departure time. Leave EARLY! Plan to arrive at the race at least a hour early! Trust me, you will be glad. Arriving late will stress you out and possibly upset your race. Roads will be closed, parking will be crazy, runners will be everywhere.
3. Figure out parking now. Read the race website to learn about what roads will be closed, what lots are available and how much they cost, etc.
4. MUSIC: Get that i-pod loaded! Jenna made us all CD's that we'll give out at the Pasta Feed.
Saturday, the Day Before the Race:
1. Go to the Race Expo to pick up your runners bag, number bib, timing chip, and more! There will be tons of booths giving away free samples and selling things, so leave lots of time to hang out and explore.
2. Pick out your race outfit and put it on. That’s right—put it on to make sure you don’t forget something like, oh, the sports bra. Or the left shoe. Put the whole thing on and jog around the block. Don’t try anything new for the race.
3. Drink a lot of water all day.
4. Pack your favorite energy gels, bars or blocks. The race will have water and Gatorade stops, but no gels.
5. Make the time to drive to the course, so you know exactly where the parking, shuttles and starting line are.
6. Purchase and prepare your breakfast for early the next morning.
Have the following items ready to go the night before:
*Your race outfit.
*Official race bib pinned to your PETA Pack race shirt.
*Timing chip attached to your shoe.
*Gels and gus and bars.
*Old sweats to wear in the beginning.
*Hat (if you wear one), sunscreen, hair band, dark glasses.
*PETA banner folded up in your pocket that you can hold up as you cross the finish line (if you want one)
*Music (if you use it).
*Fully charged phone.
*Camera! Please, everyone…bring your camera so we can post photos after the event!
*Small bag with a bottle of water, dry shirt, ID and credit cards for after the race.
*SET YOUR ALARM! If you're anthing like me, you should probably set two.
Race Morning
1. You have everything together, so all you have to do is get dressed and go!
2. Leave with enough time to arrive at least 1 hour early!
3. Find parking and walk to the PETA Pack meeting spot near the starting point on 15th & Broadway.
4. Meet up with the team and walk, stretch, eat a banana…and relax because you're there on time.
5. This race has a gear check--her name is Alex Bury. ;) She'll be at the PETA Pack meeting spot while we're getting ready, but she's not racing so she can take our things back to the office. Leave what you can in your car, but she'll take the rest. That means we can show up in a layer of our favorite old sweats over our race outfits to stay warm in the cold morning air.
6. Ready, set, GO Pack GO!
Post-Race list:
1. Wipe tears off face. Seriously. I guarantee that at least half of us will cry when we cross the finish line.
2. WALK…don’t sit down after the race. Your legs will need to walk so the muscles loosen up.
3. Drink water (they’ll provide it at the race).
4. Cheer for other PETA Packers crossing the finish line and take photos!
5. Share large hugs with everyone you see.
6. Come to the PETA office for the Post Race Party...we'll have pizza, drinks, and more waiting for you! It's 1.5 miles from the finish line, so you can drive, walk, or coordinate a ride back to the office.
17. Eat. Drink. Relax. Stay for the Awards Ceremony, get your prizes if you’ve been fundraising, and take home your runners goody bag!
11. Look in the mirror and marvel at how amazing you are.
If you have any questions, email us soon--don't wait until the night before the race or you may not receive an answer! Good luck with the rest of your fundraising, and we'll see you at the finish line!
Alex, Michelle & Jaci
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
$3,000
Hello everyone!
I have some VERY exciting news – PETA member Mark Middleton has offered an incredibly generous matching challenge up to $3,000! This is a team-wide challenge which means that the first $3,000 raised, starting right now, will be matched! Even better, there’s no limit – so if you raise $3000 immediately, you could get the entire match!
There are no words big enough to express our gratitude and appreciation for Mark’s gift, so we have to do it by action. We need to raise at least $3,000 to take advantage of his generosity – and make an impact on countless animals’ lives.
Now lets DO THIS!!
I have some VERY exciting news – PETA member Mark Middleton has offered an incredibly generous matching challenge up to $3,000! This is a team-wide challenge which means that the first $3,000 raised, starting right now, will be matched! Even better, there’s no limit – so if you raise $3000 immediately, you could get the entire match!
There are no words big enough to express our gratitude and appreciation for Mark’s gift, so we have to do it by action. We need to raise at least $3,000 to take advantage of his generosity – and make an impact on countless animals’ lives.
Now lets DO THIS!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
PETA Pack Vegan Bake Sale
This past Saturday the PETA Pack team held a Vegan Bake Sale in Oakland, CA in an effort to raise money for PETA's Investigations and Rescue Fund. We had Cinnaholic cinnamon buns, blondies, baklava, cannoli's, cookies galore, cakes, breads, and so much more! It was a smashing success, and you can see in the pictures below. We raised over $650 and had a blast doing it! This is definitely a new PETA Pack tradition.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
$100 for the First 14 Runners!
The first 14 runners to raise $100 between now and March 10th will receive an additional $100 from a VERY generous donor and fellow PETA Pack runner, Lisa Towell!
If you’ve been checking the PETA Pack home page regularly, you probably noticed that over the past two days we flew past $20,000 and at this moment have raised $21,560 (although this will probably have changed by the next time I check)! This is SO fantastic and we should all be very proud! Because of us, the lives of so many animals living in miserable conditions are going to be changed for the better.
If you’ve been checking the PETA Pack home page regularly, you probably noticed that over the past two days we flew past $20,000 and at this moment have raised $21,560 (although this will probably have changed by the next time I check)! This is SO fantastic and we should all be very proud! Because of us, the lives of so many animals living in miserable conditions are going to be changed for the better.
Dogs like the one pictured above that live out their lives chained to the ground will receive sturdy doghouses from PETA to help them through brutal winters. Undercover investigators will reveal horrific cruelty happening behind closed industry doors, and PETA will bring the footage to the forefront of the public’s attention. Dogs and cats will be spayed and neutered which will spare hundreds or even thousands of animals from coming into this world just to scavenge hungrily on the street or linger in the barren stalls of shelters, only to be euthanized. Cases of animal abuse will be investigated, animals will be rescued, and PETA will do everything in its power to stop the suffering of innocent animals wherever it occurs.
We’ve raised a lot of money to help already, but we still have $78,440 to raise to reach our goal of $100,000. We’ve just got one month left, so now is the time to start reaching out to everyone you know (and don’t know!) and letting them know that you are running hard every week for the many animals out there that need our need help!
Take a look at PETA’s 2009 End of Year video and this Why PETA video for more inspiration.
Thank you all for your dedication and inspiring efforts! We’ve got 30 days left to reach our goals, and now we’ve also got the help of most generous Lisa Towell, so LET’S DO THIS!!!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Feeling a bit low? Pizza!
I just had lunch with a particularly wonderful PETA Pack member, and she told me that she found herself craving pizza last week. She was feeling a bit tired, took a day off training, ate some veggie pizza, and then had a GREAT run the next day.
Are you feeling more tired than usual? Don’t forget that your body is doing a lot for you right now. Your metabolism is different. You’re burning calories and building new muscle. If you’re feeling hungry…eat! Just eat well.
Avoid potato chips or a double order of fries (which I have been craving like mad lately). Those will give you calories and fat, but not much else. Go for the pizza! A good veggie pizza has more calories than a salad, but not empty calories. You’ll get lots of complex carbs, which you really need right now, and some extra protein and vitamins and minerals from the veggies. Don't replace the fatty cow's milk with vegan cheese--just skip the cheese altogether. Try it. You'll be surprised. If you're eating bread, tomato sauce and veggies you can really fill up. It's the cheese, oil, butter, and other additions that make it deadly.
Avoid potato chips or a double order of fries (which I have been craving like mad lately). Those will give you calories and fat, but not much else. Go for the pizza! A good veggie pizza has more calories than a salad, but not empty calories. You’ll get lots of complex carbs, which you really need right now, and some extra protein and vitamins and minerals from the veggies. Don't replace the fatty cow's milk with vegan cheese--just skip the cheese altogether. Try it. You'll be surprised. If you're eating bread, tomato sauce and veggies you can really fill up. It's the cheese, oil, butter, and other additions that make it deadly.
Other good foods to try: Veggie burgers with pasta salad instead of fries on the side, Coach Darren’s smoothies, tofu-and-vegetable stews over rice (think curry), peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and of course…pasta! Lots of it! You can get wheat-free pasta, or whole wheat, or just plain. Don’t cover it with cream sauces or olive oil. Go with a nice tomato sauce and throw in your favorite chopped veggies (frozen is fine if you’re short on time).
Here’s some more on food. Don’t diet now, you’ll run out of energy, but avoid the fattiest of foods as well. Think carbs! Let me know if you want more tips.
Alex
p.s.
So far I’m winning the war against French fries, and the huge bag of corn chips here in the office kitchen. It calls my name every time I walk by. I’m eating tons of rice and veggies and tofu, spaghetti, boiled potatoes, oatmeal, apples, carrots, and PB&J’s. So much of the good stuff that I’m too full for chips!
Here’s some more on food. Don’t diet now, you’ll run out of energy, but avoid the fattiest of foods as well. Think carbs! Let me know if you want more tips.
Alex
p.s.
So far I’m winning the war against French fries, and the huge bag of corn chips here in the office kitchen. It calls my name every time I walk by. I’m eating tons of rice and veggies and tofu, spaghetti, boiled potatoes, oatmeal, apples, carrots, and PB&J’s. So much of the good stuff that I’m too full for chips!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Quick Tostadas
Running food: As we’ve discussed before, we want to eat a lot so we’re never hungry, but we want to eat low-fat.
The only way to lose weight, or keep weight off, is to burn more calories than you consume. That’s it.
If I eat 5,000 calories a day, but only burn 4,000, I’m going to gain weight. If I start running and burning 5,200 calories a day—I’ll lose weight.
However...If I start running and then increase my eating because I think I’m “safe” from all the exercise, I could end up eating 7,000 calories and only burning 5,200!
The trick is to eat lots of low-fat, high-fiber, healthy foods. Baked chips instead of fried. Rice and beans. Baked tofu instead of deep-fried chicken. Oatmeal instead of fatty, sugary mega-muffins.
Check out Dr. McDougall’s website for tons of recipes (look under the newsletter link).
Here’s one of my favorite work snacks:
Buy one package of fresh, soft corn tortillas (not the crispy fried ones!).
One can of vegan fat-free refried beans (most of them are naturally veg and fat-free).
One jar of your favorite salsa.
Plop a big spoonful of beans onto the tortillas. Spread evenly. Top with another tortilla. Microwave for 1 minute. Top with your salsa and eat. That’s it!
If you’re feeling like a chef, add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and/or whole beans. Add vegan ground “beef” or vegan “chicken” strips if you like that sort of thing.
Sometimes I’ll eat 4 of these in a day, but I never worry about the fat or calories. They leave me so full I’m not even tempted by the bag of greasy chips sitting on the office kitchen table.
Alex
The only way to lose weight, or keep weight off, is to burn more calories than you consume. That’s it.
If I eat 5,000 calories a day, but only burn 4,000, I’m going to gain weight. If I start running and burning 5,200 calories a day—I’ll lose weight.
However...If I start running and then increase my eating because I think I’m “safe” from all the exercise, I could end up eating 7,000 calories and only burning 5,200!
The trick is to eat lots of low-fat, high-fiber, healthy foods. Baked chips instead of fried. Rice and beans. Baked tofu instead of deep-fried chicken. Oatmeal instead of fatty, sugary mega-muffins.
Check out Dr. McDougall’s website for tons of recipes (look under the newsletter link).
Here’s one of my favorite work snacks:
Buy one package of fresh, soft corn tortillas (not the crispy fried ones!).
One can of vegan fat-free refried beans (most of them are naturally veg and fat-free).
One jar of your favorite salsa.
Plop a big spoonful of beans onto the tortillas. Spread evenly. Top with another tortilla. Microwave for 1 minute. Top with your salsa and eat. That’s it!
If you’re feeling like a chef, add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and/or whole beans. Add vegan ground “beef” or vegan “chicken” strips if you like that sort of thing.
Sometimes I’ll eat 4 of these in a day, but I never worry about the fat or calories. They leave me so full I’m not even tempted by the bag of greasy chips sitting on the office kitchen table.
Alex
Monday, January 25, 2010
Share Your Efforts with the World!
People can’t support you if they don’t know you’re what you’re doing! In case you forgot, you’re training unbelievably hard for three months, pushing yourself to run 10 or 20 or even 30 miles a week in all weather conditions, all so you can run a race with the PETA Pack for animals.
Furthermore, people won’t support you if they don’t know WHY you are doing this and why their support is so important to you and the animals! These reasons may be different for each of us, but the bottom line is that we are doing this in an effort to get help for the animals that need it so desperately—to spread awareness about animal abuse and exploitation and to inspire people to help and to donate.
Many of us are doing a fantastic job spreading the word to your friends and family—and it’s clearly paying off. We’ve already raised over $11,500! That’s HUGE. But we’ve still got a way to go to reach our individual goals and $100,000 collectively. Lucky for us, there are literally endless opportunities to share your PETA Pack fundraising page with the world.
BUT FIRST—Perfect Your Page! Before you ask people for their support, make sure your fundraising page is presenting everything you want your friends to know. What are you doing? How much time and effort are you putting into this and most importantly, why? Where will the donations go? Why are these donations so important to you and to animals? How is training going so far? Are you planning to accomplish things you never thought you could?
10 Ways to Share Your Efforts with the World (and raise money!):
1. Email. Write a really powerful email and send an email to everyone in your address book. Friends, family, family friends, friends of family friends, co-workers, neighbors, the parents of the child you once babysat, old friends from school—anyone. Personalize the emails to the people closest to you, so they have to at least respond. First email them to let them know you’re doing this, again to give them an update about how it’s going, and a final time right before the race!
2. Email Signature. Include a link to your fundraising page below your email signature or as a P.S.! For example: “I’m training to run a half-marathon for animals and your support would mean the world to me.” This is a super easy way to send gentle reminders to the you communicate with that you’re still huffing and puffing away and still want their support!
3. Post to Facebook. So easy! It takes literally 30 seconds. Post your fundraising page to Facebook by copy-pasting the link into the status update box. Update your status whenever you run an impressive distance, have a PETA Pack story to share, receive a donation, discover a new running location, etc!
4. Blog. Have a blog? Write a post about the PETA Pack and ask your readers for support!
5. Website. If you have one, we’ve got an awesome little icon you can include that links to the PETA Pack site.
6. Twitter. If you’re one of the 18 million people on Twitter, tweet about @PETAPack2010 and your training adventures!
7. Go door to door. I never was a girl scout, but I do appreciate that with the right approach, going door to door can be a very successful fundraising technique. Dress professionally or in a PETA shirt. Explain what you are doing and why, and tell them that you would really appreciate their support. Ask for checks made out to PETA, not cash, to prove you are credible. Carry PETA leaflets with you if you have some. Send the checks to Michelle at the Oakland Office and we will add the money to your fundraising page!
8. Collection Boxes. Create some donation collection boxes and ask if you can put one at work, in stores, at the vet’s office, a library, a grocery store, etc. Have children in school? See if their class will have a change drive for animals. Just be sure to follow up and collect the donations from the boxes regularly!
9. Host a Fundraising Party/Event! Make a delicious vegan dinner, host a vegan drinks night, have a dance party, a Super Bowl party… anything! Get creative. Invite friends and ask for a minimum donation to attend. Your fundraising page can serve as your guest list!
10. Help with PETA Pack Fundraising Events! We are organizing a Popcorn and Movie Night, Vegan Bake Sale, and Wine & Dine event with a very special guest. We will ask for a minimum donation from guests, and the PETA Packers who to come to the events, bring food, spread the word, and bring friends will receive a portion of the money raised on their fundraising page!
Furthermore, people won’t support you if they don’t know WHY you are doing this and why their support is so important to you and the animals! These reasons may be different for each of us, but the bottom line is that we are doing this in an effort to get help for the animals that need it so desperately—to spread awareness about animal abuse and exploitation and to inspire people to help and to donate.
Many of us are doing a fantastic job spreading the word to your friends and family—and it’s clearly paying off. We’ve already raised over $11,500! That’s HUGE. But we’ve still got a way to go to reach our individual goals and $100,000 collectively. Lucky for us, there are literally endless opportunities to share your PETA Pack fundraising page with the world.
BUT FIRST—Perfect Your Page! Before you ask people for their support, make sure your fundraising page is presenting everything you want your friends to know. What are you doing? How much time and effort are you putting into this and most importantly, why? Where will the donations go? Why are these donations so important to you and to animals? How is training going so far? Are you planning to accomplish things you never thought you could?
10 Ways to Share Your Efforts with the World (and raise money!):
1. Email. Write a really powerful email and send an email to everyone in your address book. Friends, family, family friends, friends of family friends, co-workers, neighbors, the parents of the child you once babysat, old friends from school—anyone. Personalize the emails to the people closest to you, so they have to at least respond. First email them to let them know you’re doing this, again to give them an update about how it’s going, and a final time right before the race!
2. Email Signature. Include a link to your fundraising page below your email signature or as a P.S.! For example: “I’m training to run a half-marathon for animals and your support would mean the world to me.” This is a super easy way to send gentle reminders to the you communicate with that you’re still huffing and puffing away and still want their support!
3. Post to Facebook. So easy! It takes literally 30 seconds. Post your fundraising page to Facebook by copy-pasting the link into the status update box. Update your status whenever you run an impressive distance, have a PETA Pack story to share, receive a donation, discover a new running location, etc!
4. Blog. Have a blog? Write a post about the PETA Pack and ask your readers for support!
5. Website. If you have one, we’ve got an awesome little icon you can include that links to the PETA Pack site.
6. Twitter. If you’re one of the 18 million people on Twitter, tweet about @PETAPack2010 and your training adventures!
7. Go door to door. I never was a girl scout, but I do appreciate that with the right approach, going door to door can be a very successful fundraising technique. Dress professionally or in a PETA shirt. Explain what you are doing and why, and tell them that you would really appreciate their support. Ask for checks made out to PETA, not cash, to prove you are credible. Carry PETA leaflets with you if you have some. Send the checks to Michelle at the Oakland Office and we will add the money to your fundraising page!
8. Collection Boxes. Create some donation collection boxes and ask if you can put one at work, in stores, at the vet’s office, a library, a grocery store, etc. Have children in school? See if their class will have a change drive for animals. Just be sure to follow up and collect the donations from the boxes regularly!
9. Host a Fundraising Party/Event! Make a delicious vegan dinner, host a vegan drinks night, have a dance party, a Super Bowl party… anything! Get creative. Invite friends and ask for a minimum donation to attend. Your fundraising page can serve as your guest list!
10. Help with PETA Pack Fundraising Events! We are organizing a Popcorn and Movie Night, Vegan Bake Sale, and Wine & Dine event with a very special guest. We will ask for a minimum donation from guests, and the PETA Packers who to come to the events, bring food, spread the word, and bring friends will receive a portion of the money raised on their fundraising page!
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