October Running is FUN Challenge Week 1 Update

Congratulations to everyone for getting through a week of running...
looks like everyone has gotten out there and hit the pavement (or the
dreadmill or elliptical)

After week 1 we have 140 participants in the challenge. There are some
really awesome avatars and comments out there so congratulations to
everyone for getting into the spirit!

So here is a team by team rundown of the week that was:

Bad Omens

Not sure if our team is spreading bad luck to others or ourselves... a
couple of minor injuries during the week proves that mentally this team
is TOUGH and we will stick it through anything! Ender Shadow has been
running while on the road, mesteren created the team an awesome banner
and tntexpress is finding his motivation. The team name seems to be
shortened to B.O so you are gonna smell us coming!!!

And....A personal HUGE thanks to tnickerson for taking on the team
leaders role too (letting me off the hook!)

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 24.2%

Black Magic

Team member Brittany is counting the days til she comes home AND just
ran the Army 10 miler in Iraq... Go Girl! Annabanana took on the team
leaders role and has remained incredibly positive all week Ken is
aiming for his first marathon (in December go Ken!), Janice is running
in between busily trying to launch her own business (watch this space!),
D.Z likes posting random comments in other teams threads! (just dont get
me into trouble ok?) and Mary is training for her very first tri season.
The entire team has had a pretty impressive week too!

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 26.3%

Creepy Crawlies

After seeing the pic of Max's tatt I knew this team was on to a good
thing! Poor Pattie is having to work on her spider issues (sorry that
pic freaked me out too!), IronGirl39 is working to overcome a bad hammy
(but trucking along well regardless), Patti (PT Cruzer) made her first
ever post and krludwig came to the defence of insects as the RULERS OF
THE PLANET (I hope not!!!!) . Thanks McFuzz for captaining the team
after being nominated.

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 22.8%

Goblins and Gargoyles

RaytownPete was the first to sign on to the team thread after finishing
his first tri the day before (Congrats), another postive woman
lisazapato took on the team leaders role (they are calling her la
captaina magnifica and she had a birthday this week!), Zilla became her
gargoyle for the month, RegiMom took a swing at the TAN team and
JoeBowler is training for Goofy (in January).

Team Average Percentage of Goal:  26.8%

The Living Dead

Part of this team seems to have a second identity as Team SKINNY (and
with all this running I hope they arent fading away), Hazmaster has
invited the smack talk (for motivation), gator 22 just got engaged
(congrats), tritwinmom mooned all of the other teams and sailing4 got
nominated for captain before he had even found his team.

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 25.2%

Monster Mash

Possibly the scariest team of the challenge as their quiet team thread
means they are all out running AND that whole silent but deadly thing
gives the creeps Davealt is captaining the team, runnerx finished the
(now infamous) Chicago Marathon on the weekend (woo hoo!) and naners is
singing the monster mash song (now if I can just get it out of my
head!)

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 20.4%

Poison Apples

Slowly working up to give the TAN team a run for its money with thread
pages these newbies are doing a brilliant job of supporting each other
through the challenge. Fielding's avatar is the scariest apple Ive ever
seen, jasonbohn and lyssa-gator are in a private battle to beat each
other, Stacie volunteered for team captain (thank you) and D001 almost
choked on an apple!

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 25.4%

Purple People Eaters

Kazho gets credit for naming this team, Bbmoozer trains to overcome an
ice cream addiction, mmakbenton (mark, mike, morty, mimark etc) is
trying to keep up his running on the road, Lynne got attached by cooties
and late arrival to the team pipscweek recruited a friend and then took
on the job of it leading the team.

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 27.4%

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Our second newbie team (including a few pseudo newbies who were
together during the TDF challenge) has a few experienced runners to lead
the way and their very own cheerleader gailg. BunnyB threatened to throw
eggs (chocolate ones maybe?), Susan is telling herself 'I LOVE RUNNING',
MrsUSMC knows karate (I got told to watch out) and wukit gurl is team
leader.

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 21.8%


Vampires

Generally Vampires are VERY sexy, and this team is just smokin'.
Jchrstoff put his hand up for team captain, HCS5QA keeps reminding the
team to get out running (while staying out of sunlight of course!), and
GTAUSP3 is battling a sore back (hang in there!). As they said
themselves 'we're out for blood' so we better watch out!

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 25.8%


Werewolves (TAN)

Its no surprise that this team has the longest thread but its actually
mainly about running... very impressive. ! Lead by Scout (or the dark
master) who is racing every weekend, mr2tony finished the 2007 chicago
marathon finisher (yay!! congrats), and spokes made the team home of the
donuts. Zilla took the first real swing at talking smack at this team
which seems to have attracted a fair amount of interest from other
teams...

Team Average Percentage of Goal: 24.1%

Final Standings after Week 1:
1. Purple People Eaters
2. Goblins and Gargoyles
3. Black Magic
4. Vampires
5. Poison Apples
6. The Living Dead
7. Bad Omens
8. Werewolves
9. Creepy Crawlies
10. Things That Go Bump in the Night
11. Monster Mash


A couple of extra things...

I have started a poll for the challenge penalty... there were three
suggestions made: Feet, Butt/thighs or legs... make you pic... but
remember it might just be YOU having to show off!

Secondly if anyone wants to INCREASE their mileage goal please feel
free to go for it! I know there are some participants wildly ahead of
goal.. this is a challenge after all...

AND... if anyone has injury issues you have a few options... depending
on your injury. You can withdraw from the challenge (and stay on as team
cheerleader) OR you can continue with using walking, the elliptical,
aqua jogging or any other run substitute to make your goal, just let me
know so I don't have to question the change at the end of the challenge.
I really dont want anyone risking their health for the sake of a
challenge!!!

Finally... here in the challenge forum there is a thread called
'Inspire Me Challenge' encouraging BTers to inspire people they dont
know this month. Can I highly recommend that if anyone has the time they
give it a go? Its really great to get an inspire from someone you dont
know and a little bit of encouragement can go a LONG way

Apart from that I've really enjoyed the challenge so far... I hope Im
not the only one! Have a great second week...

Happy Running
Cat