Another letter to the blogger

Théoden,

Not sure if you are being sarcastic about your comment ("Haven't been able to solve the mystery of 'Why No Races on Sunday?'"; see entry here), but pretty obvious to me why all races in this town are on Saturday.

There is this guy (or maybe gal..:) ) called GOD. Have you ever tried to drive down Providence road on a Sunday around 9 a.m.? It is pretty much impossible, especially as you get into Myers Park. Churchgoing folks are everywhere, parked on the road and in spots that during the week day are illegal.

Since you moved here, how many folks have asked you what church you go to? I was NEVER asked this question [up north], but it comes up every couple of months here when I meet someone new.

I don't think any race director could successfully pull off a Sunday race here, especially since you have to secure the police. Also, during football season, this town is not big enough for some other event and a Panthers game ... however ... if the team keeps playing like it did Sunday, maybe that will change.

Sincerely,

A.

A letter to the blogger

Théoden,

I was looking at the course for the Hit the Brixx 5K and 10K. Both run significantly downhill for the first half and then return uphill for the second half. I realize it's tough to set up a course downtown that doesn’t involve hills, but as a casual 5K runner (i.e. I run in the 25-27 minute range for 5Ks), these setups don't seem to be a whole lot of fun.

I drove this route yesterday and it's going to be a very long uphill climb from the halfway point to the finish. I don't mean to be whining, but this makes me really debate whether I want to run this race. Do other readers feel the same way or am I the only one?

Thanks,
T.D.

Race for the Cure changes course

Got a few bits of news to share about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure set for uptown Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The biggest change for 2009 is a new location: The start line -- at Gateway last year -- has been moved to South Tryon Street between First and Third streets; the finish line will be at West Fourth Street between South Mint and South Graham streets. (Race officials reportedly had to flip-flop the start and finish lines last week due to street closures, and are still in the process of re-certifying the course. The route should be finalized in the next week.) For an event site map, click here.

Other important information ...

... for competitive runners: Timing will be recorded using the disposable Championchip system. Your chip will be attached to your bib in your white race bag. The chip must be brought on race day; replacement chips will not be issued if you forget it at home.

... for survivors: Organizers want to make sure every Survivor is recognized on race day. In order to make this possible, you will need to wear the chip provided (find it attached to your pink Survivor bib in your white race bag) so that the computer at the finish line will display your name for the announcer to see.

Race day schedule:
6:30 a.m.: Registration and Packet Pick up
7:15 a.m.: Aerobic Warm Up
7:20 a.m.: Survivor Photo in Survivor Village
7:25 a.m.: Competitive 5K Run at the Start Line
7:55 a.m.: Non-Competitive 5K at the Start Line
8:30 a.m.: 1 Mile Fun Run or Walk at the Start Line
8:30 a.m.: Komen Kids 50 Yard Dash
9 a.m.: Survivor Ceremony at Survivor Village

Parking lots in uptown will be available for runners and guests. Visit http://www.komencharlotte.org/ at the end of September for lot locations. Organizers also recommend the use of the Charlotte LYNX system. For schedules and information, click here.

Register for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure online until 12 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2: http://www.komencharlotte.org/. If you'd like to register in person, click here for information on when and where to pre-register.

Wondering how that BRR team did?

Last week, I profiled a Blue Ridge Relay team consisting of 12 Charlotte-area runners. (Read that blog entry here.)

Gov. Sanford's Search Team didn't put up an amazing time at the 211-mile event, finishing 93rd out of 106 teams in 34 hours, 31 minutes, 53 seconds. And yet -- having had more than a day to recover from the grueling trek from Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia to Asheville -- it was clear they experienced an amazing race.

In an e-mail this afternoon, team member Alyson Vaughan wrote:

"It was a blast! We didn't make it in the 30:00:00 we had hoped for. But we did meet all of our other goals!

Right after the blog post we did find our 12th runner – a friend who flew in from Baton Rouge at the last minute. He did awesome, which was amazing given that there are NO hills in Baton Rouge!

Then we nearly lost another runner the day before the race to a bad cold. He was assigned to our longest legs, so it would have been a huge obstacle to overcome. But he rallied and joined us on Friday, and did a great job, including a 10-mile run up Grandfather Mountain! So props to Chris Murray for that!

All six of us in Van 2 were BRR 'newbies,' and all of us would consider doing it again – although I don’t think I’m 100 percent ready to commit just yet! To me the biggest challenge was figuring out when to eat and sleep. I was always so worried about how
I would feel in my next run, I didn't eat or sleep nearly enough. By the end of my second run, I was running +1:00/mile off pace and was so exhausted I ended up crashing for four hours, woke up, ate a pancake breakfast and drank a Diet Coke. My third run felt great after that! Who knew.

The other teams – many from Charlotte – were all very supportive of one another. Even though you really felt like you were running alone at times (kind of scary at 1 a.m.!), every so often you’d come across another runner on your leg, or get passed by another team’s van, shouting words of encouragement!"

Added team captain Amy Cobb: "We were close to the last team. It took us about 34 hours. Basically a 9:45 pace overall. But I don’t think that changed anyone’s opinion that it was a blast."

From left: Maggie Marie Dougherty, Amy Rebecca Cobb, Alyson Wheelahan Vaughan, Marc Shomber, Lynne Warholic Collins, James Rivenbark, Scott Lundgren, Geni Mezinskis, Charlie Haltiwanger, Joanna Dougherty, Chris Murray, Shashi Bathula.

Great Urban Race lived up to its name

Passing along an e-mail I got today from reader John Speight about his experience at the Great Urban Race, held Saturday in uptown Charlotte:

"You missed a truly great race on Saturday. After your second blog about the Great Urban Race, a look at its Web site, and some family encouragement, my son and I decided to participate as a team in celebration of our birthdays this week. (He turned 16 Sunday, and I turn 42 next Monday.)

"There were around 125 teams participating. There were teams dressed for speed and in it to win, teams just looking for a great time, and teams looking to win the costume contest.

"A team dressed as Ghostbusters won the latter, with outfits that looked like they came from the movie set. A close second were the urban cowboy -- complete with leather chaps, vest and red Speedo -- and his partner the macho biker, a la The Village People. Imagine the uproar when the Speedo strolled into Independence Park to complete a clue challenge amongst the Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School Fall Festival!

"The clues ranged from easy to challenging, even involving the Observer twice. Clue No. 4 was hidden in the real estate classified section of Saturday's paper and Clue No. 11 was an encrypted message that required teams to have their picture taken next to the oversized front page declaring Elvis' death across the street from the Observer building.

"Teams got all 12 clues at once, so we had to solve them to plot the most efficient course of travel. Our course went just under eight miles and led us from Seventh and Tryon streets uptown to Elizabeth, over to Metropolitan in midtown), up Morehead (finally got to run up the hill we missed at the Blue Points 5K), around the stadium, through the park on The Green, The Square, over to First Ward, and back to Seventh and Tryon. We did it in 2 hours and 15 minutes; the winners -- 'Samantha & Stace' -- did it in 1:50.

"We placed 13th overall and took top honors in the Family Division. (Family teams had to have a member under 18.) A total blast and what a birthday memory. One of the greatest father-son days ever had. Exertion, logistics, focus, endurance and fun. Hard to top.

"Our top 25 finish qualifies us for the national championship in New Orleans on Nov. 7. If our wife/mom will let us, and we can scrape together the funds, we may be on our way to an epic road trip. ... "

And we're off to the races ...

Haven't been able to solve the mystery of "Why No Races on Sunday?" yet, but I do have info on a couple of attractive half-marathons (rare, as you know, in these parts) that aren't too far afield, as well as a few good charity races set for this weekend.

First, the halfs:

Run For The Green Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, at the Village Green in downtown Davidson: The major draw here is the half-marathon; this one heads southeast from the Village Green, running parallel to Concord and Davidson-Concord roads before turning around at the River Run Tennis Complex. Start times are 7:30 a.m. (half), 7:45 (10K) and 8 (5K). At last check, 309 runners were signed up, including 164 for the half-marathon. Cost is $40 for the half, $30 for the 10K and $25 for the 5K; proceeds will benefit the Davidson Lands Conservancy. The Davidson Green Day festival follows, with live music and opportunities for attendees to volunteer for local projects. Official site: Click here.

Run the Valley Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, in downtown Badin: If you're in the mood for a hilly half, this one goes from the post office in Badin to the top of Morrow Mountain and back, with about 50 percent of the course winding through Morrow Mountain State Park. The half starts at 7:30 a.m.; 10K and 5K go off at 8:15. Badin is in Stanly County on the far side of Albemarle, roughly 50 miles from Charlotte. Registration for the half, which is limited to 100 runners, is $45; 5K and 10K are $15 and $20, respectively. To register, click here.

And here are the charity races I know of:

Kate's Race for Hope 5K Run, Saturday, at McAlpine Creek Park (8711 Monroe Road): Kate's Race was created in honor of Kate Schultz Colon, who died of cancer several years ago when she was a college senior. In her memory, a one-on-one support ministry was started that takes referrals from Charlotte-area oncologists. Registration is $30, and the race starts at 7:30 a.m.; there's also a 2K Fun Walk beginning at 8:15. Event page: Click here.

5K for Isabella, Saturday, at the Ballantyne Business Park: The Isabella is 4-year-old Isabella Santos, who has been battling a very rare pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma for two years. Entry fee is $25 through Thursday, $30 thereafter. The funds raised will be used for paying medical bills not covered by insurance, and for research on neuroblastoma. Start time is at 8:30 a.m. in the business park. Event page: Click here.

Race for Fetal Hope 5K Run/Walk, Saturday, at Independence Park (300 Hawthorne Lane): The proceeds will "go to saving babies' lives and giving hope to families by spreading awareness of fetal distresses and syndromes, funding medical research, and providing financial and emotional support and medical assistance." Start time is 8 a.m. Registration is $25, or $30 on race day, with discounts for kids and seniors. Event page: Click here.

10 things I've learned on the way to 26.2

Longtime readers may have noticed that I blogged about four out of the first five weeks of my marathon training plan earlier this summer ... and then stopped.

Part of the reason? I've been too busy training for a marathon.

In fact, at the end of a nine-mile run through Dilworth on Wednesday, I ticked off my 300th mile since launching July 12 into a 16-week plan in preparation for the Nov. 1 New York City Marathon. (That's north of 40 hours of running in the past 8-1/2 weeks.) Three hundred down, 300 to go.

So far? So good. I managed to foam-roll away some nagging IT band issues early on, was able to stick with the program even while traveling abroad in August, and have finished runs as long as 16 miles still feeling plenty fresh and strong.

I've also learned a few funny things that can happen on the way to race day -- enough, in fact, for a Top 10 list.

10. Your training plan will make you behave like a drug addict. Typical conversation with another runner: "How many you lookin' for this morning?" "I need 15. I'll take 12 or 13, but I really would like to get 15." You'll also constantly be begging, borrowing and stealing time from other parts of your life. Hey, at least you get to keep your teeth.

9. And Facebook is like your virtual Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Except all your running friends will do is egg you on and encourage you to do more speed and LSD. (Uh, that's "long, slow distance," Mom -- I promise!)

8. Your alarm clock will start doing double takes. I swear that when I set it to go off at 5:15 last Saturday morning, it said to me, "Dude, what are you doing? No seriously -- what are you doing??"

7. Your non-running friends will crack the same jokes every Friday. "So what are you up to this weekend, Theoden? You running like 80 miles tomorrow morning?"

6. And they'll crack the same jokes every Monday. "What'd you do this weekend? Did you run a couple of marathons?"

5. You enjoy those new running shoes while they last. Because they don't last long.

4. You're constantly looking for wood to knock on. I'm going to start carrying toothpicks or matches or like one of those old-school rulers around in my pocket so that it's handy for the five times a day when I tell people who ask about my training, "I've been feeling GREAT so far! Just hope I can stay injury-free..."

3. Your car's smell might make passengers throw up in their mouths. I've been thinking about putting a numbered padlock on the trunk of my Passat and plastering it with stickers and yearbook photos, maybe stuffing a freshman inside of it every once in awhile.

2. Your ability to shove food into your piehole will become legendary. Guy I know from my running group, which is sending about a dozen and a half people to the Marine Corps Marathon, sat down next to me at a recent BBQ with a plate of food that must have weighed 10 pounds. Halfway through it, his wife came by and slid a couple of their kids' nibbled-at burgers onto the pile. He looked at her, shrugged, then demolished every last bite.

1. You'll find out who your friends really are. The people who are willing to get up at 5 or 6 a.m. with you to run, to actually hold conversations that early in the morning, and to put up with the way you look and smell after the work is done, they're keepers. Either that or you need to keep an eye on them -- they may be angling for some sort of favor.