It's a marathon, not a sprint. I'm not talking about the race, but the planning. We all run races, but few of us know what goes on in planning one. This is the second part of our story ...

Friends and I decided to create a new marathon just as magazines and websites were preparing 2004 race calendars. We came up with a name, Grand River Adventure, and date, Oct. 31, and sent them to publications.

THE NAME. When we ran our proposed name by other people, most felt using "Grand Rapids"would identify the race better geographically. Doing so also played better in the local business community. So the name has been changed, and it had nothing to do with protecting the innocent. It's now the Grand Rapids Marathon.

THE COURSE. We're on our second iteration of a tentative course. It's a double out-and-back, which makes it easy to add a half-marathon and two-person relay. As the course is laid out now, it's flat and fast. Yeah, you've heard that before -- but this really is.

STUFF. It's amazing how many people want to sell you stuff when they find out you're doing something. Peddlers of medals, goody-bag stuffers and shirts email us regularly, seeking quotes.

QUESTIONS. It only takes a little bit of publicity to create a buzz in the running community -- we're so interconnected. As soon as we sent out emails, people asked questions: "Where's the headquarters hotel?" Don't know yet. "Will the course be certified?" Yup. "Is this part of the Fifth Third River Bank Run?" Nope, but if you can do 25K by May, you can probably be ready for a marathon by October. Better sign up!

VOLUNTEERS. People want to be part of something big: among Grand Rapids runners, a marathon qualifies. We've had good response to our appeals for volunteers. There's a link on our website (see below) where people can sign up to volunteer.

DRESS REHEARSAL. This is a race of, by and for marathoners, meaning many of our volunteers wish they'd be able to run on race day. Our solution: We'll hold a dress rehearsal for volunteers Sunday, Oct. 24. We'll set up a time clock, plant water and sports drinks, and at 8 a.m. run our own marathon. We'll get a chance to see any problems with the course, and in a few hours we'll earn the same medals we'll hand to participants the next week.

THE WEBSITE: We started publicizing the race as www.grandriveradventure.com. Now we've changed the name, so www.grandrapidsmarathon.com needed to be registered as well. Either link will point you to the site now, but I had to learn a little ASP programming code to make that happen.

BIG TASKS AHEAD. The quest for sponsors has begun in earnest. We're calling on businesses to assist us with water, sports drink and other goodies. Jack and Jodi Chance at The Bagel Beanery (one of my hangouts) insisted on being our bagel sponsor. We hope other sponsors will be forthcoming, including a big one. If we're successful, our name may be "Nextel Grand Rapids Marathon" or something else by the next issue of MR.

As winter winds down, we'll be measuring, plotting and scheming to make this a unique and well-run marathon. Keep an eye on our website as the days go on. MR