How to write a fantastic "appeal" letter:

1. Plan first: Make sure you take the time to plan how you want to phrase your "ask." Are you going to talk about your Team Challenge fitness goals? Are you walking or running for a personal hero who is directly affected by Crohn's or ulcerative colitis? Figure out your angle and then take a pen and paper and begin writing!
2. Know your audience: Are you writing close friends and family members or are you writing local business owners? Cater your letters to the type of donors you are solciiting. Sometimes it might be helpful to have two letters just in case the opportunity arises. Gather and then organize the mailing addresses in a way that is comfortable for you. Excel is a great tool!
3. Establish a connection through emotion: Go straight for the heart! You can reiterate your personal connection with the donor or talk about how donating will benefit the 1.4 million Crohn's and colitis sufferers in the country. In Illinois alone, there are 60,000 adults and children with Crohn's or colitis. You can also mention our team honorees and include pictures.
4. Benefits of donating: Talk about what the benefits are to donating to your fundraising goal. Maybe you'll bring everyone a special token from Napa or mention that the donation is tax deductible. Don't forget to talk about matching gifts!
5. Create a sense of urgency: When do you want to reach your goal? By the fundraising deadline or recommittment on May 16th? Maybe suggest that your goal is to raise $2,000 by the end of April. This way the reader will know that he/she needs to act now.
6. Make it easy for them to select an amount to donate: Everyone loves multiple choices! Suggest a variety of donation options for them so that it is quick and easy for them to make a decision.
7. Make sure you say thank you: Write a hand written note to say thank you for their donation. Call them as soon as you recieve the check or credit card information. Donors sometimes have "buyer's remorse" after they've donated so it is always a good idea to communicate your gratitude right away.

Remember, if you send us a final draft of your letter and mailing list by April 8th, we'll take care of the cost of printing and sending your donation letter! Voila! It's that easy!

Contact Junnie Cross, Endurance Manager for Team Illinois by emailing her at jcross@ccfa.org.

You can only achieve what your mind can visualize

Welcome Team Challenge participants! I can only hope you are as excited to start the training program as I am in coaching such a fantastic group. You are destined to achieve great things! So now that you have signed up and are ready to get started, an obvious question is: What should I do until the official training starts? If you are already active with running or walking, continue your workouts. If you haven’t started yet, you can start easy walking approximately 10-15 minutes daily. Don’t worry about intensity at this point. We will cover those aspects of training when the program starts.
So what else can you do to prepare for the training program? A very useful but often overlooked side of training is psycho-cybernetics, also known as self visualization. This technique of seeing oneself being successful is based on research by Maxwell Maltz and published as a book in 1960. Self visualization techniques use the mind-body connection as the driver in succeeding and achieving goals.
Psycho-cybernetics can be defined as the process of making a change by using the subconscious mind. There are many specific techniques that can be used. Some of these techniques include, writing notes to yourself with positive messages about workouts or the race, visualizing finishing a workout, visualizing completing the half-marathon, and even visualizing yourself having success with fundraising efforts. The main idea is reprogramming negative thoughts into positives.
This part of your training takes virtually no physical effort and requires 10-15 minutes per day. Find a quiet place and relax. (you can close your eyes but don’t fall asleep!) Visualize successfully completing whatever task you choose.  You may want to start with the small tasks, and eventually begin self visualization of successfully completing the overall goal. Don’t forget to leave motivational notes that you will see each day, in places you will see them, like on the bathroom mirror, the background of your computer screen, or even the default screen on your phone.
Many professional athletes use these techniques to stay motivated and achieve success. You can use the same techniques to find success in Napa! Remember: You can only achieve what your mind can visualize.

Feel free to contact Coach Brad by emailing him at krugler@yahoo.com or email Coach Stacey at coachstaceym@gmail.com.

Fall in love...With Our New Coaches!

Walk Coach: Stacey Lawrence-Macri
Stacey has been doing marathons and half marathons for 11 years. She is a Certified Personal Trainer with NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) a Certified Running Coach with RRCA (Road Running Coaching Association) Certified Exerstrider Nordic Walking Trainer. Stacey has been Coaching for 8 years and is excited to train others so that they can achieve their dreams, no matter what they are. Learn more about Stacey by visiting her blog here.

Run Coach: Brad Krugler
Brad is no stranger to coaching! He is a certified Road Running Coaching Association (RRCA) Running Coach and has coached high-level, recreational and beginning runners for over 30 years. He has run numerous half and full marathons including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Most recently, Brad qualified for the 2011 Boston Marathon and is thrilled to be joining the coaching team for Team Challenge Illinois! Learn more about Coach Brad by going here.



Meet Our Coaches At Our Kickoff Party on March 26th
You're cordially invited to our Napa 2011 Season Kick Off Party! This is a great opportunity to meet your future mentors, coaches, and other participants while sipping wine, eating fabulous food, and making new friends. We're so excited about this Napa Season and the great opportunities ahead!

When: Saturday, March 26th
Time: 12:30 PM
Where: Fleet Feet Sports, 4762 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL
Click Here for directions.

RSVP by replying to this email or email jcross@ccfa.org. You can also RSVP via phone at 847-827-0404 x206.

A resolution is more than just a blog entry...

res·o·lu·tion

[rez-uh-loo-shuhn]noun 
1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group. 
2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc. 

Resolutions aren't just a list you made one day or a post-it note you stuck to your refrigerator. Resolutions are a committment to a course of action. If your resolution is to get in better shape, be more active in your community, or be a part of something bigger than just one person, consider joining Team Challenge Illinois and we'll help you stick to your 2011 resolutions.

We'll provide you with coaching, training in the Chicago and Chicagoland area, a personalized training program, expert advice, and tools to fundraise for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundaiton, plus much more. Our first half marathon this year is located in one of the most beautiful destinations in the country: Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California. Attend one of our information meetings in March to find out how we can help you complete a half marathon by July 17, 2011.

Reserve your spot now for an informational meeting:

1. 11:00am  Sat. March 5th Fleet Feet Sports (1620 N. Wells St. Pipers Alley, Chicago, IL) 

2. 6:00 pm Thurs. March 10th REI Outfitters (1466 N. Halsted., Chicago, IL) 

3. 6:30 pm Mon. March 14thWhole Foods Naperville (2607 W. 75th St. Naperville, IL) 

4. 6:00 pm Wed. March 16th REI Outfitters (1209 E. Golf Rd., Schaumburg, IL) 

5. 11:00 am Sat. March 26th Fleet Feet Sports(4762 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL)

Click here to learn more about Team Challenge Illinois and RSVP to an information meeting. Or, email Junnie Cross, Endurance Manager at jcross@ccfa.org and set up a personal appointment to discuss what Team Challenge can do for you!

You CAN complete a half marathon and make a difference in someone's life. You CAN begin the journey of a lifetime with Team Challenge Illinois. 

We got a billboard, y'all!

Have you been to the corner of Webster and North Clybourn lately? If not, the next time your there, look up and you'll see the Team Challenge billboard!

We're so excited to have our new billboard up that we are offering any person who takes a picture of the billboard AND registers for the Napa to Sonoma County Half Marathon with Team Illinois a FREE Team Challenge Sweatshirt!


View Larger Map

Send the picture to jcross@ccfa.org and register for the the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon today!

Active.com: 3 Ways to Stick to Your Running Resolution written by Patrick McCrann

This is a great article on Active.com written by Patrick McCrann from Marathon Nation offering tips for sticking to your running resolutions in 2011,

Some of our favorite parts:

1. "You're already awesome" Thanks, Patrick! McCrann says that just being a runner puts you into a very elite category. Just by having a passion for your physical fitness places you at the top 1% of the population healthwise.
2. "All big changes start small"
3. "Stop dreaming, start cloud seeding"
4. "Get Accountable"-i.e. tell your friends and family about your goals. Use Facebook and Twitter to keep them updated on your progress.

How joining Team Illinois can help you stick to Patrick's reccomendations:
Team Illinois will give you experienced coaches, mentors, and a team atmosphere for your long run every Saturday during our 16 week training program. Our mentors will keep you motivated by checking in with you every week or running with you to help you stick to your program. We also provide a free website to help you fundraise and share with the your friends and family your progress so you feel like you will be held accountable for your progress every step of th way.

Visit the Team Illinois homepage here to RSVP for a informational meeting today and get the wheels in motion for your new year's resolution to be a healthier happier you!

Click here for the full article on Active.com.

Check out this great article about winter running tips from Active.com

Some of the suggestions include:

• Running with a buddy
• Dress for 15 to 20 degrees warmer
• Hit the treadmill
• Hydrate

Check out the full article here!