Diamond Rio’s Jimmy Olander and Marty Roe are getting ready to upgrade last years running shoes and continue to add to the over 133,000 training miles that have been walked or run as part of an initiative to raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Diamond Rio has opened recruitment for runners or walkers for Team Rio 2010 in preparation for the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon on April 24, 2010.

“It’s right about this time of year when people stop taking my calls and start walking the other way when they see me coming. They know I am hardcore at recruiting for our team and I am going to be hitting them up to join Team Rio,” shares Celebrity Running Captain and co-founder Jimmy Olander. “The great thing about our team is you can train from anywhere in the country. We’ve had runners join us from as far as California and D.C. They train in their hometown and run with their fellow Team Rio members on the day of the marathon. We start off with a sixteen week program so that all fitness levels start at a comfortable pace.”

Training for Team Rio kicks off in January. Team Rio provides training schedules for the full and half marathon on a weekly basis, specialty clinics, group support and discounts to local retailers to assist in training. Team members train during the week individually and meet for optional group runs on Saturday mornings. Team Members are required to raise a minimum of $250.00 in pledges. For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.teamrio.org. Additionally, Team Rio offers the below informational sessions through the month of December.

Tuesday, December 1 at Noon and Wednesday, December 2 at 5:30 pm CST
Big Brothers Big Sisters
1704 Charlotte Avenue (17th and Charlotte)
Youth Opportunity Center

Last year Team Rio raised over $116,000 and over $425,000 in just five years. Over 150 adult participants took part in Team Rio last year. Additionally, Team Rio Kids had 80 children take part in the kid’s race in 2009.

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