We’ve been so fortunate to have Ellen McNamara from ABC Action News support our race and feature two of our featured athletes.  We know that this event could not be a success without our community’s support and we are grateful to everyone who has helped spread the word, whether word of mouth, calling friends or posting on Facebook.  A big THANK YOU!

If you missed the Ellen’s segment called Amazing Athletes check them out here.

Lt. Col. Ty Edwards

READ MORE AT: Despite being shot in the head in 2008, Lt. Col. Ty Edwards gets out and exercises every day.

Robyn Stawski

READ MORE AT: Local woman hopes you will participate in a 5K to support wounded warriors

Dream Big!

Mandy

A quick run down of new developments:

Catherine and I met with Cherri Rantz of Florida Orthopaedic Institute in Telecom park, where our race day headquarters is located.  We wanted to work out the logistics of space for the event and most importantly find all the power outlets.  They are giving us everything there to use at our discretion, including Wifi to register all those last minute participants.

The most exciting part of this was when we could walk the grounds and get the layout planned for Race Day.

So here goes, close your eyes and imagine….OK, don’t close your eyes or you can’t read…..

At the start, which conveniently will be positioned right in front of a Fire Station (ode to Matt Long who is traveling from NYC to participate) there will be a couple of inspirational moments we’ll call them, we have to keep a few surprises up our sleeves.  The race gun goes off and you will travel down a newly paved road lined with the Live Oak trees we are famous for.

Imagine this for 3.1 miles!

There’s spectators cheering you on and music playing.  Around the 1.5 mile mark you will pass a water station just outside TownPlace Suites by Marriott.  They are owned by McKibbon Hotel Management (one of our sponsors) and are sponsoring the water station, so be nice to them   As you make your way back towards Florida Orthopaedic Institute watch out for the aligator that likes to hang out near the pond (His name is Buddy  if you want to give him a shout out as you pass by.)    Once you cross the finish line you will be greeted with water (provided by PepsiCo…Thank you PepsiCo), bagels, bananas and music DJ’ed by Dennis Cadle (Thank you Dennis for offering your services!)  Once through the finish line shoot you will find Very Special Arts with their art project.

A very, very large canvas laid on the ground and you sit in a special wheelchair VSA provides with foam attachments on the wheels to roll through paint and onto the canvas and design away.  You will also have the option of leaving your hand or shoe print.  We really hope everyone participates in this fantastic project.  It’s a way to leave your impression with us!

Afterwards you can stroll over to our food truck, YES we will have a food truck, Wicked Wiches.

They have offered to provide free coffee and hot chocolate on race day.  Additionally they will have an assortment of delish breakfast items made fresh to order.  Thank you Wicked Wiches!

After you finished your race, refueled, completed an art project and warmed up with Wicked Wiches you can visit our other amazing vendors.  We have some great give aways that will be going on:  Fit Niche Gift Certificates, Sunglasses from Boston Bill, Gift Basket from Nutrilite and many, many more.

We are so excited that race day is just around the corner.  We are certain once the stories of the amazing athletes we’ve been featuring start to spread that they are going to encourage and INSPIRE so many of you.  We hope that when they do you will share with us!

INSPIRE. BE INSPIRED.

Dream Big,

Mandy

Registration will be open on Race Day!

Hosted by Florida Orthopaedic Institute, this chip timed race has been designed to include athletes of all abilities, whether running, walking or wheeling!

Beneficiaries of our event include The Operation Helping Hand and The I Will Foundation.

Being surrounded by the amazing athletes and their stories can only serve to INSPIRE us all! Please join us for this special event and challenge yourself to INSPIRE those around you. Dry fit tee shirts, goodie bags and INSPIRATION included! Additional information is available at www.IWILLINSPIRE.com or REGISTER NOW.