The results of the ballot have been announced and those lucky enough to have secured their ‘own place’ will be jumping for joy. And those unlucky in the official ballot this year, will be scouring through the hundreds of charities offering ‘Gold Bond’ places, and running for a cause close to their heart. Once a place is assured – everything is focused on training and finding a suitable training plan, to ensure that the 26.2 miles is achievable, regardless of experience, age, and speed.

So, if you’re one of those lucky people planning to run on 25th April 2010, here are few tips to help you get started, and help you to answer the question that’s no doubt hovering around in your head…

Can I really train for a marathon?

- If you haven’t exercised in a while, get a check up from the doctor to ensure you’re fit enough to do the training, as well as the final race.

- Evaluate your fitness levels; you need to know where you are before you can progress, so sit down, and honestly assess your fitness levels.

- Select a training plan. Trying to prepare for a marathon without a training plan is like trying to find a new town, without map. To  successfully set off on this journey towards marathon success, you need  to follow a structured training plan that is right for your fitness  levels.

- Get the right gear. Quite simply to start with you need basic shorts and t-shirt (and for the ladies a fitted sports bra). But as you  progress with the training you will undoubtedly want to get clothing that won’t chafe, and will suit the season you’re training in. However, you should really invest in a pair of trainers that suit your running style. There are many running shops which can assess your ‘gait’ and give advice on the correct shoes.

- What should you eat, and drink whilst training? Correct nutrition andhydration are vital to ensure that your body is capable of doing the longer runs. Paying close attention to your diet is essential. To get you thinking as a runner, you need to be consuming plenty of ‘slow-release’ carbohydrate to provide energy, so a meal of pasta would be ideal. Don’t neglect your fluid intake, because your requirements will increase both for storing fuel in your muscles and because you will lose more through sweating.

- How much training do I need to do? Up to a point, the more training youdo the better. However it is vital that you allow for rest and recovery too. Your training plan should comprise a careful blend of long runs, recovery sessions, and faster-paced training as you build up your marathon specific endurance. For more information on training plans visit: http://www.realbuzz.com/shop/category/pdfs/

- How long will the race take me? That all depends on you, your fitnesslevels, your injuries, and your speed. It can take runners from anything from 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 hours to finish the race. Remember that most races nowadays have timing chips, so you can ensure you measure your timing successfully.

So can I really do it? The answer to that question is YES! After all, over 600,000 finishers have completed the London Marathon. Progressing from non-runner to marathon finisher is always a real success story, and one that is genuinely achievable by following a correctly structured training plan that will help you towards your marathon goal. Preparing for, and completing a marathon is a great accomplishment and a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience. And, as well as achieving your goal, there is the great spin-off benefit too: improved health and fitness. So, if you are thinking of taking the plunge, then do it – realbuzz.com guarantee that it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Source: realbuzz.com

On September 26 there will be at least two streets in Los Angeles free from the usual gridlocked traffic. Grand Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown will be reconfigured into wide-open raceways as the Red Bull Soapbox Race screeches into town. The wacky event will feature a field of 47 hand-made soapbox racers, driven by men and women daring enough to brave steep drops, a 90 degree turn and scary speeds in pursuit of achieving glory. But this race is far from your stereotypical childhood derby, and these are no ordinary vehicles! Angelenos can keep their eyes peeled for a giant nose, a bunk bed, a time-traveling DeLorean, Pac-Man, an Aztec temple and more zooming down Grand Ave and taking a sharp turn onto 5th Street next to Pershing Square Park.

After reviewing around 200 applications, the 47 most creative teams were selected to race their human-powered vehicles down the course. While these teams definitely feel the need for speed – they can reach close to 40mph in their racers – they will need more than just velocity to win. Judging is based on three criteria: speed, creativity and showmanship, so expect to see a healthy slice of style added to soapboxes’ blur-inducing speed.

BORN TO BE WILD

It should come as no surprise that Los Angeles would produce some of the wildest soapboxes to date, many of which include a familiar cast of characters. Head Downtown on September 26 and you will witness E.T. and Elliot flying over the moon, OJ Simpson being chased by the police and the cast from Alice in Wonderland riding a giant caterpillar. And where are the Wild Things? Tearing down the Red Bull Soapbox Race course in Max’s boat, that’s where. Also expect appearances by Speed Racer, James Bond, Falkor from The Never Ending Story and Lord Dark Helmet from Spaceballs. The teams come from all over Southern California as well as from Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and Nevada. College rivalries will be in high gear as teams from USC, UCLA, Pepperdine, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, Loyola Marymount University, Oregon State University and University of North Texas take to the track to compete for school pride.

These gearheads may love the smell of axle grease in the morning and race just for the thrill of it, but turns out there’s a pay off! First place at Red Bull Soapbox Race is an unforgettable NASCAR experience including flight and hotel for all five team members. Second prize is the ultimate driving day at one of the most challenging and exciting racetracks in the nation. Third place receives a day of high speed go-kart racing. One team will also win the People’s Choice Award to be chosen by the crowd through SMS voting on race day.

Los Angeles may be the latest pit stop, but the Red Bull Soapbox roads have been braved by many daredevils before. The first Red Bull Soapbox Race took place in Belgium in 2000, and has since visited almost 30 countries including Austria, England, Jamaica, Czech Republic and Australia to name a few. The first U.S. event was held in St. Louis in 2006 and the event is making two U.S. stops this year in Atlanta (August 29) and Los Angeles (September 26).

RULES OF THE ROAD

It may be fast, it may be wild, it may even be weird. . .but there are rules to keep it legal. All driving machines must be entirely human-powered – no stored power or external energy sources allowed – though they must have a braking system. To maintain ground clearance (and prevent them from getting stuck on the starting ramp), soapboxes should sit at least 7″ from the ground, and be no taller than 7′ high. And finally, all soapboxes can have one or two drivers, must weigh no more than 176 lbs (without the drivers).

www.redbullsoapboxrace.com

Source: Red Bull

It was auto racing at its most thrilling as actor Keanu Reeves prevailed over a highly competitive group of stars of film, television and sports to win the Celebrity Category of the 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. “The King of the Beach,” six-time Toyota Grand Prix winner Al Unser, Jr., finished first among all drivers and won in the Professional category, followed closely by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Benson.

Despite enjoying the lead for most of the race, world champion pro skateboarder Danny Way’s hopes of gliding into Victory Circle were dashed when he and Fonzworth Bentley, host of MTV’s “From G’s to Gents,” mixed it up in the ninth lap, giving Reeves the opening he needed to cross the finish line in his race-ready Scion tC only seconds before E! Entertainment Television’s Executive News Editor Ken Baker and comedian Carlos Mencia.

Actress/singer Raven Symone was the first of the drivers to discover – the hard way – how difficult the 1.97-mile street circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach can be to navigate, but the plucky Disney star remained as upbeat after the race as the jovial Mencia, who surprised everyone with his third-place finish among the Celebrities.

It was Reeves, however, who claimed to be “in shock” at his triumph. “It is such a great feeling,” said the new celebrity champ after the race. “Bentley and I had been going at it for most of the race, but when I got to the last lap and came around the fountain turn I almost couldn’t believe it. I figured, ‘I’m just gonna go get it.’”

“This field had the crowd cheering through the entire race,” said Les Unger, Toyota Motor Sales USA national motorsports manager. “Each of the celebrities and the pros were hungry to take home the trophy this year, and they brought their best to the show. Throughout training and practice, they were intensely focused but they also enjoyed the experience, which is exactly what the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is all about.”

In the Professional Category, Unser overcame the pros’ :30-second handicap by the eighth lap and held off the scrappy Benson and Southern California Toyota Dealer representative Tom Rudnai, president of Longo Toyota in El Monte, Calif., who came in third overall. The 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race winner, ESPN/ABC pit reporter Jamie Little, came in fifth among the Pros.

Mencia echoed the feelings of the rest of the drivers, concluding by complimenting Unser, saying, “It was humbling to be in this thing with a guy [like Unser] who has dominated this track for so many years, and still he made us feel great about being here, smiling and giving us tips. He was always smiling…even when he passed us on the track he was smiling!”

FINAL RACE RESULTS:

Pos No. Class Name Laps
1 22 Pro Al Unser Jr. 10 21:41.273
2 25 Pro Johnny Benson 10 21:44.001
3 21 President, Longo Toyota Tom Rudnai 10 21:46.945
4 11 Celebrity Keanu Reeves 10 21:46.973
5 2 Celebrity Ken Baker 10 21:49.423
6 18 Celebrity Carlos Mencia 10 21:50.834
7 24 Pro Coy Gibbs 10 21:54.021
8 26 Pro Jamie Little 10 21:56.190
9 14 Celebrity Tim Daly 10 21:56.296
10 5 Celebrity Adrien Brody 10 21:56.414
11 1 Celebrity Eric Close 10 21:56.579
12 19 Celebrity Auction Winner Annamarie Dean 10 21:59.141
13 16 Celebrity Auction Winner Doug Fregin 10 22:04.274
14 8 Celebrity MaryLynn Rajskub 10 22:07.859
15 20 Celebrity Alex Trebek 10 22:11.287
16 6 Celebrity Fonzworth 10 22:14.165
17 9 Celebrity Danny Way 9 19:54.669
18 17 Celebrity Raven Symone 4 10:13.596

Toyota will donate $5,000 to “Racing for Kids” in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a national non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Toyota has donated $1.7 million on behalf of the race and it participants and various children hospitals since 1991.

Additionally, a $15,000 donation was made in conjunction with the annual “PEOPLE Pole Award.” Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award was given to Danny Way, this year’s pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session. Way selected the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) as his charity, to support ASEC’s mission of progressive eco-education and empowering people to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Way is hoping the funds generated by the “PEOPLE Pole Award” will enable ASEC to build a “green” skate park for kids in Hawaii.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will be broadcast on Speed Channel next month. (See local listings for time and channel.)

Source: Toyota Motorsports

SIRIUS XM, the leader in motorsports, is the only place to get live coverage of every NASCAR, every IndyCar(R), every Formula 1(TM) and every American Le Mans Series race

Listeners from coast to coast get access to 145 auto races

SIRIUS XM Radio will provide listeners from coast to coast with unparalleled coverage of the world’s greatest auto racing series with live coverage of every NASCAR race, every IndyCar(R) Series race, every Formula 1(TM) race and every American Le Mans Series race.

Recently, SIRIUS XM announced that all IndyCar(R), Formula 1(TM) and American Le Mans Series races will be available to both SIRIUS and XM listeners in 2009, joining NASCAR races, which have been available to both SIRIUS subscribers and XM subscribers since October, 2008. With IndyCar(R) season kicking off earlier this month, all four seasons are now in full swing and are available to both SIRIUS and XM listeners.

SIRIUS XM Radio is the only media outlet to air every event from all four of these auto racing series, giving motorsports fans around the country access to the world’s best racing on oval tracks, road course tracks and street circuits.

This weekend’s live race coverage includes five world class events:

Friday, April 17, 9:00pm ET: Basha’s Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide
Series race
Phoenix, AZ – SIRIUS 128 / XM 128 (“Best of SIRIUS”)

Saturday, April 18, 7:00pm ET: Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at
Long Beach
Long Beach, CA – SIRIUS 126 / XM 242

Saturday, April 18, 8:00pm ET: Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series Race
Phoenix, AZ – SIRIUS 128 / XM 128 (“Best of SIRIUS”)

Sunday, April 19, 3:00am ET: Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai, China – SIRIUS 126 / XM 242

Sunday, April 19, 4:00pm ET: IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long
Beach
Long Beach, CA – XM 145 / SIRIUS 212 (“Best of XM”)

“For the first time, every race from all the major auto racing series in the world — 145 events in total — is available on one radio,” said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS XM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “No one else, on TV or radio, offers that kind of access. No matter where you live or what you are a fan of – the fender-to-fender racing of NASCAR, the speed of IndyCar, the precision of Formula 1, or the endurance of American Le Mans Series – SIRIUS XM is the clear choice for motorsports enthusiasts.”

As the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR, SIRIUS XM broadcasts every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race live on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, available nationwide on SIRIUS channel 128 and on XM channel 128 with the “Best of SIRIUS” programming package. As part of the coverage of Sprint Cup Series races, SIRIUS XM also offers additional Driver2Crew Chatter(TM) channels that allow fans to follow team strategy by listening in to the in-car communications between drivers and pit crews. For more info visit www.sirius.com/nascar.

SIRIUS XM will broadcast every IndyCar(R) Series race live on XM channel 145 and on SIRIUS channels 211/212 as part of the “Best of XM” package, including the 93rd Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24. Motorsports fans will hear pre-race programming, including interviews and commentary, as well as live wheel-to-wheel action on the track. Throughout the season, fans can also tune in to Indy Racing Weekly, the exclusive weekly show focused on the IndyCar(R) Series with expert analysis, race highlights and interviews, on XM channel 145 and SIRIUS channel 211 (part of the “Best of XM”). For more info visit www.xmradio.com/irl.

Racing fans can tune in to hear every American Le Mans Series race of the season on SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 242. Both channels are available with the SIRIUS and XM subscriptions. The American Le Mans Series is North America’s premier sports car series, featuring high-tech cars from the most prestigious automobile manufacturers in the world — including Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Mazda, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari and Panoz — competing in a combination of endurance and sprint races on road racing tracks as well as street circuits in major urban markets. Races feature exotic, open-top prototypes and sophisticated production-based Grand Touring (GT) cars all competing on the track at the same time. For more info visit www.xmradio.com/alms.

As the exclusive North American radio broadcaster of all Formula One(TM) (F1) races, SIRIUS XM will carry the entire 2009 calendar of races live from the Australian Grand Prix on March 29 through the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1. Multiple replays will follow the live broadcast. F1(TM) races air nationwide on SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 242. Both channels are available with the SIRIUS and XM subscriptions. The FIA Formula 1 World Championship(TM) season of 17 races, known as Grands Prix, is run on road course circuits, and in a few cases on closed city streets, around the globe. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).

SIRIUS XM’s coverage also features an exclusive F1(TM) pre-race show hosted by veteran auto racing journalist Adam Cooper. The SIRIUS Formula 1(TM) Pre-Race Show will lead in to every Grand Prix race, offering listeners the latest team news and information, a recap of qualifying results, driver interviews and an in-depth examination of that weekend’s circuit. More info can be found at www.sirius.com/f1.

SIRIUS XM’s motorsports schedule is a feature of the extensive European sports programming the satellite radio broadcaster offers. Listeners can also hear world class soccer from the English Premier League, Champions League and Scottish Premier League, plus World Cup skiing events from around the globe.

Source: SIRIUS XM Radio

The Tostitos brand today crowned six die-hard University of Texas fans champions of this year’s Tostitos “Race to the Bowl” competition and awarded them $200,000 for their school’s general scholarship fund during the national broadcast of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Starting on New Year’s Eve in New York City, a team of fans from Ohio State University and the University of Texas embarked on a cross-country dash to Glendale, Ariz. – home of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl – with stops along the way in Columbus, Ohio, Austin, Texas and Las Vegas where they competed in a variety of challenges to test their school pride and spirit. The winning team was announced, along with a highlights presentation of the entire journey, during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl halftime show, which was televised nationally on FOX Sports.

As a long-time supporter of college football and the Fiesta Bowl, the Tostitos brand created its “Race to the Bowl” as a tribute to the ultimate true-blue college football fans and the friendships that can be fostered over the mutual devotion to their team. Tostitos recognizes the truly devoted fans as college football’s unsung heroes and rewarded the most devoted Buckeye and Longhorn fans with the trip of a lifetime with their friends to the 2009 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the chance to give back to their school with a scholarship contribution.

Emotions ran high as the winners were announced before the enthusiastic crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium, and were presented with a surprise, final challenge – correctly answer one trivia question testing the team’s knowledge about past Fiesta Bowl appearances by the Longhorn football team for the chance to double the prize for their school’s scholarship fund. Following a quick team deliberation, the team of true-blue fans provided the correct answer, winning the ultimate prize of $200,000 for the University of Texas general scholarship fund.

“The Tostitos brand congratulates the winning team of University of Texas fans and we are thrilled to present them with a $200,000 scholarship for their university,” said Ann Mukherjee, group vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “What an amazing journey this has been for these groups of friends, and it has been great to see the passion and school pride from both teams. We have always seen college football as a unique opportunity that brings friends together to share fun, memorable experiences and we hope both teams of true-blue fans will remember their ‘Race to the Bowl’ as one of their highlights of 2009. We congratulate both teams on a job well done.”

The Tostitos “Race to the Bowl” put six die-hard Ohio State University fans head-to-head against six ultimate University of Texas fans in a race across America to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and a chance to win $100,000 for their school’s general scholarship fund. The race kicked off on New Year’s Eve day in New York City where teams faced-off for their first challenge – a football passing drill against the backdrop of the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, and then performing their school’s fight songs to earn “tips” from the public. The teams then traveled to their respective college towns for a test of hometown school spirit that had teams recruiting local fans to have their faces painted in school colors as the truest demonstration of school pride. Next, the teams competed in a football scoring competition at Planet Hollywood on The Strip in Las Vegas and then raced to Glendale, Ariz., where they completed a football training camp-style obstacle course before crossing the finish line inside the University of Phoenix Stadium.

“This entire experience has been nothing short of amazing. After hearing about the ‘Race to the Bowl,’ I knew we had to compete as we’re the loudest, most die-hard group of Longhorn fans. We definitely proved it this week,” said Dani Peebles, captain of the team of University of Texas fans. “We’re so thankful to Tostitos for not only giving us the opportunity of lifetime, but also allowing us to give back to our school. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to cheer on the Longhorns in the Fiesta Bowl.

The winning team members and their home towns include:

• Tiffany Fogarty, Austin, TX
• Shawn Fogarty, Austin, TX
• Scott Hauptmann, Kyle, TX
• Jeffrey Judkins, Austin, TX
• Megan Luther, Austin, TX
• Dani Peebles, Austin, TX

In addition to the $200,000 scholarship presented to the University of Texas, the Tostitos brand also will award a $50,000 scholarship to Ohio State University on behalf of its team of die-hard fans that competed in the Tostitos “Race to the Bowl.”

Between November 26 and December 14, 2008 the Tostitos “Race to the Bowl” received more than 1,000 entries from true-blue college football fans who boasted their unwavering school pride and spirit. Entries were submitted through the official Tostitos “Race to the Bowl” Facebook page and the competing teams were determined by a panel of Tostitos judges.

Fans can view recaps of the race by visiting the official Tostitos “Race to the Bowl” Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/TostitosRaceToTheBowl.

Source: Frito-Lay North America