RMEC Your Help is Needed Again!

Hard to believe, but the Ford's Colony 5k and 10k race is this weekend! We are expecting over 300 runners, spectators, and volunteers to join us Saturday morning for this inaugural event. There are a few prerace activities where Scott and I need your help.

Race Packet Assembly: Tentatively we are planning for Wednesday afternoon/evening to assemble race packets. This means getting the right chip, with the right number and the right shirt in the runners bags. We also are adding in some coupons, key chains, coozies, etc. from our sponsor. Each bag and race number will be labeled with the runners name. The location is not set yet. I am trying to figure out if I can do this in the our old board room. This gives us LOTS of space to set up an assembly line with several tables. We can do it anywhere, but having lots of clear space is a BIG plus. If you can help, post here, and let me know what time you can do it. Thursday is also an option, so if you reply give your availability for both days. We will have pizza!

Race Packet Pickup: We are strongly encouraging local runners to pick up their race packets in advance. This will make race day far less stressful. Early packet pickup is available at Davenport Honda on English Road this Friday from noon - 8:00 pm. We will remind runners of this with an email this week. I would not be surprised to see over 100 runners pick them up early. I am looking for people is two hour blocks to work this table. Two people per slot is probably enough, but three would not hurt.

• 12:00 - 2:00 pm (Busy) - Michael F, Mike V.
• 2:00 - 4:00 pm (Slow) - TBD
• 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Very Busy) - TBD
• 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Moderate) - TBD

Whoever does the last shift, needs to bring the race packets, and race banner from Davenport Honda to Ford's Colony Friday evening.

Marathon Movie DVD Release

The documentary Spirit of the Marathon will be released on DVD on October 7th, 2008. You can sign up for the pre purchase starting on Monday. Pre-orders will be signed by the director. You can find more at the official movie site.

If you are not familiar with this movie, it follows multiple marthons as they prepare for the 2006 Chicago Marathon. The follow elites, and first timers in what is one the the closest finishes in marathon history. Patti had a chance to see it last year at the Chicago film festival and gave it race reviews.

For a preview clip (which I still LOVE to watch), visit this old blog post.

RUN RSVP: Saturday 09/06

First of all, sorry for a pretty inactive blog this week. Ursula has been out of town since Sunday, and I have been on kid patrol. Add on top of that that our YMCA has been closed all week, so I have been trying to squeeze in runs at random times. I just have not have any free time this week.

I am posting a Saturday RSVP post, but I am not posting any routes for several reason.

• Four of us got our long run in Thursday
• Many of you are out of town racing (weather permitting)
• And a tropical storm is supposed to be here on Saturday

There is a chance Saturday morning will be fine for running, but I want you all to use your best judgment. First of all, if you do run, I do not suggest starting in the dark, so push the start time back to 6:30 am. Secondly, understand that if conditions are good enough to run, there will likely be lots of people out going to the store and taking care of last minute things. They most likely are not looking for runners on the roads. Bottom line. . . Be alert!

If you plan to run at another time like Saturday afternoon, or Sunday post a response here. Let people know where you are running, how far, and what pace. Happy running!

Updated Running Groups:

• 5:45 am Scott and John for 16-20 miles at 8:45ish pace (Harris Teeter)
• 7:15 am Kinnie, and others for 6 miles at 9:30 pace (Harris Teeter)
• 1:00 pm Elaine and Misty for 8 miles at "slow pace" (Location TBD)
• Others that may run: Kelly, Robin, Tampa, Tracy H, Tracy P, Jason, and Michael

Please keep posting comments!

More Rock 'n Roll Results

Well, I did not do a good job of looking at the RnR results. There were some other RMEC members who raced as well.

Travis Hartney (the son of Jeff) ran a 1:58:58. This an impressive time for just about any runner, but Travis is only 14. His sub 2-hour performance was good enough for 12th place in his age group! Way to go Travis!

Steve Cooper has been having an amazing summer with his marathon training. Every run he seems to get stronger. It should come as no surprise that he set a new PR, and broke the two hour barrier for the first time. His finishing time was 1:56:34, knocking 18 minutes off his previous PR. WOW! (edit: make that 7 minutes off. . . still impressive)

Several others from Rocky Mount, Battleboro, and Nashville also raced who will be in Ford's Colony. If you are a reader but not a member (you know who you are). . . Congrats to you too!

John Finishes His First Half!

Congrats to John Batchelor on finishing his first half marathon. John joined the RMEC a few months ago inspired to train for a full marathon. He decided to use the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon is a training race.

Unlike last year, the weather was anything but perfect. It was a hot and humid day. The warmer temps did not appear to impact John, as he ran a 1:43:31 and finished 75th in his division. For an event with well over 10,000 runners, this is one heck of a race debut.

One more thing. . . John did this race without a taper at all. He ran a 20 miler last weekend, and another six miler just two days before the race. Great job John! Good things are ahead in Chicago.

Sad News

An FYI for the triathletes in the group. I have not found all the details as to what caused her crash, but it sounds like it was in a corner while going downhill.

Please be careful out there and watch for (and call out) rocks and gravel at intersections. Please remember to always ride in pairs at a minimum, and the bigger the group the more visible you will be. Hopefully at least one member of the group will have a cell phone and it would be courteous to your riding partners to carry identification with contact numbers etc on it (even a small piece of paper in a zip lock). Be safe. - Eric

RUN RSVP: Saturday 08/30

Looks like the nice weather we had the last two weekends has left us. The humidity is back, and tomorrow looks like more of the same. Get your run in early, and then watch college football all day! This weekends schedule calls for runs of 4, 12, and 18 miles. Several of us ran this morning already, and I don't think anyone has an 18 miler for tomorrow, so I have just listed two routes below. I did put a five mile route that can be adjusted down if needed.

Run Details:

• Where: Saturday, 6:00 am @ Harris Teeter
• Supported: TBD
• Weather: Forecast (70F at start)
• Routes: 5 miles; 12 miles

The Half Marathon plan calls for a 4-miler this week. I picked a 5-mile route, because I know some of you are ahead of the plan, and the route I selected can easily be cut back to four by leaving out the last loop. Don't do more than your body is telling you to do.

I am not able to put out any fluids. If someone can, please post a comment here, and give me or Scott your receipt. As always. . . ANYONE is welcome to join us! Tell a friend. . . RSVP online with your pace and distance.

Quote for the Day:
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T S Eliot

RMEC Your Help Is Needed Again!

Thanks to everyone who gave Ford's Colony a push last week to help fill in the remaining spots. There are only two 5k spots left, and less than 20 10k spots. We now need your help again for the Medoc Trail Races!

The final price increase for Medoc occurs this coming Monday (09/01). So if you don't sign up over the weekend, you will pay the extra 10 bucks. We want to try to get a late push to fill in some of the remaining race spots.

We are on pace right now for 220-240 total runners, so it is not a concern of having enough people. The more runners that sign up early, the easier our planning is. We need to order shirts, finishers medals, food, gels, water bottles, timing chips, etc. All of this take lead time, so knowing our runners early helps.

I realize finding people to run a 5k is easier than finding people for a trail race, but please do your part and help us find runners. If you read the comments under the Medoc Meltdown post below, you will see nothing but praise. Several first time trail runners had a great time and did very well. Don't let the "trail aspect" of the race keep you away.

Lastly, if you can't find us a runner. . . find us a volunteer. This is key to the success of the race. No experience is necessary. If you can smile, point, clap, cheer, hand out cups, give out food, etc, then you have the skills we are looking for!

Don't let us down RMEC. . . If you are reading this post (even if you are not a RMEC member), do your part to help make this event a great success!

Medoc Meltdown Results

Hats off to Frank and Cameron for puling off a great event at the Medoc Meltdown. There has been lots of positive comments in the previous Meltdown post a few down. Sounds like it went very well, and that we may have found some new trail runners in the RMEC!

One, two, three or four loops. . .congrats to everyone who finished!