Get fit, make friends and change the lives of others!

If you’ve always wanted to push yourself to the next level by running a half marathon but just never knew where to start, or just waiting for the perfect motivation, Team Challenge is calling your name! Even if you’re already a marathon pro, Team Challenge invites you to the night run of your life!

Team Challenge is the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America's endurance training and fundraising program.CCFA is also the Official Charity Partner of the Zappos.com Rock n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon!

Through Team Challenge, participants can run or walk a half marathon, train for a cycling event, triathlon or other similar endurance events while helping to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, two chronic and often debilitating digestive diseases that impact 1.4 million Americans.

They are currently recruiting determined runners for the most exciting nighttime running event in the world—on the brightest, most action-packed boulevard in the world: The famous Las Vegas Strip. There will be live bands, fireworks, running Elvis (and who knows what else) on this exciting destination race.

Check out this video featuring Team Challenge runners from last year’s Zappos.com Rock n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon:

Team Challenge offers:

• Personalized fitness training by an experienced coach for a period of three to four months for all participants.
• A supportive team to train with each week.
• Expenses-paid weekend away to the great destination race in glamorous LAS VEGAS!
• A Team Manager: a dedicated staff person from CCFA who coordinates team events, guides you through fundraising, and is our participants #1 personal cheerleader.

Go to the Team Challenge website to learn more about how YOU can make a difference and experience the most memorable night race of your life!

The Zappos.com Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll Marathon is almost here! We’re getting excited for race day, wrapping up our training and looking forward to the unique opportunity to run the famous Las Vegas strip at night.

To rally more volunteers for the big day, a few Zapponians greeted people outside our offices with a mock water station last week.

We hope to see all of you at the marathon this Sunday, whether it’s cheering on friends and family, volunteering at water stations, or running the race.

Hope everyone had a great long run this weekend!  One thing that a lot of runners, especially beginners, are often unclear about is stretching. When do I stretch?, How do I stretch? How much should I stretch? Well, today’s Motivational Monday tackles that very subject!

Stretching should be done when you are relaxed, when your legs have been warmed up and when you don’t have to rush through your stretching routine.

Right before bed is probably the best time to stretch, if you have to release a tight muscle stretch it immediately following the run, otherwise it is best to wait about 30 min.

Do not stretch before a run. It is the third leading cause of injury! The best way to warm up before a run is to WALK!

Hold your stretch gently for anywhere between 6 to 30 seconds. Do not rush!  Back off gently and repeat.  Stretching should be done a minimum of twice a week. 

Happy Training!

Left to Right: Nike Legend S/S Tee, ASICS Emma Singlet, Brooks EZ T Polka Dot Top 

Many of us here at Zappos HQ are starting to train for the Zappos.com Rock N’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon in December. It’s exciting to see both experienced and beginner runners alike collectively embrace running as part of their weekly routine.

If you’re getting into running like many of us here, check out these simple and basic stretching exercises to make sure your muscles are flexible and ready for a good run. Hold each of these stretches for 20-30 seconds. Some runners prefer to do the majority of their stretching after their run to loosen up the muscles.  

1.  Calf stretch: Place both hands on a wall with one leg bent and knee closer to the wall. Keeping your lower back flat, straighten your back leg so that your heel is firmly on the ground. Hold then repeat on the other leg.  

2.  Groin stretch: Sit on the floor and touch the soles of both feet together, knees pointing in opposite directions. Wrap your hands around your feet and press against the inner thighs toward the floor.  

3.  Quad stretch: Stand on one foot with one hand on the wall for balance. Keeping your spine straight, take your right foot with your right hand behind you and gently pull the heel towards your backside. Hold then repeat on the other leg.

4.  Hamstring stretch: Sit on the floor and extend one leg out to the side and bend your other leg, touching your feet to the inside thigh of the extended leg. Grasp as far down your extended leg as you can and bend your upper body toward the floor. Switch legs and repeat.

For the best selection in running shoes and clothing, check out Zappos Running Central!

The Competitor Group put together this awesome video to recap the events of last week's 2010 Zappos.com Las Vegas Rock N Roll Marathon. Check it out!