RRCA - We Run North Florida!

First Place Sports: TRI 2B TUFF Challenge

2010-07-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

All you have to do is sign up for the challenge and then complete the Jacksonville Marine Corps 1/2 Marathon on October 2nd, the Outback Steakhouse Distance Classic 1/2 Marathon on November 25th, and either the Jacksonville Bank 1/2 Marathon or Jacksonville Bank Marathon on December 19th! After you have completed all three of these TUFF events in three months, you receive a custom designed Tri 2B Tuff medal!

REGISTRATION:
You can sign up two different ways.

You can do the Complete Tri-2B-Tuff Challenge Sign Up and pay a discounted fee of $105.00 ($130.00 if doing the Marathon), which enters you into all three races. If you sign up this way, you do not have to fill out individual entry forms for each race. If you choose to sign up this way, you must sign up by October 1st, 2010. This is the date before the first 1/2 Marathon in the series.

If you are wary of signing up for all the races at once, there is the option of signing up for each race individually, plus the Tri-2B-Tuff Sign Up - fill out the form and pay $10.00.

Complete Tri-2B-Tuff Entry: Deadline - October 1, 2010
$105.00 (3 Half Marathons)
$130.00 (2 Half Marathons + Marathon)

Individual Tri-2B-Tuff Entry: Deadline - November 30, 2010
$10.00 + individual fees for each race

You cannot sign up for the Challenege on the individual entry forms for the races. Either sign up online or mail in the Tri 2B Tuff entry form to:

1st Place Sports

3931 Baymeadows Road

Jacksonville, FL 32217

Florida Running & Triathlon: 2011 Disney Marathon Florida's Finest Team

2010-07-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend takes place January 6-9, 2011.

The marathon race committee is in the process of selecting this year’s Florida’s Finest Team; Florida residents can compete in the race as part of the Florida’s Finest Team.

Team Members receive:

• Walt Disney World® Marathon entry

• Florida’s Finest goodie bag

• VIP bus transportation to start

• Seeded number

• A front starting position

• One-room hotel accommodations for two (2) nights and three (3) days

• Two (2) one-day/one-park tickets for Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

• Two (2) meals per day

• Invitation to the VIP Reception

• Access to the Hospitality Suite

One to three guests of the team member receive:

• Two (2) one-day/one-park tickets for Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

• Two (2) meals per day

• Invitation to the VIP Reception

• Access to the Hospitality Suite

• One guest receives entry into the Walt Disney World Marathon, Half Marathon or Family Fun Run 5K (fee is not waived). (Guest race application must be submitted by November 15, 2010.)

Final selection will be made by October 15, 2010. The team, with a brief biography of each member, will be announced in the November/December 2010 edition of Florida Running & Triathlon magazine. To be considered, athletes must be Florida residents and submit the following by September 30, 2010:

1. Running resume, which includes as many applicant contacts as possible: home address, work, cell and home phone numbers, and e-mail address;

2. Birth date and age on race day, January 9, 2011;

3. Running career highlights;

4. Marathon(s) completed 2007 to 2010 (race name, date and finish time);

5. Lifetime PRs at various distances (include race name and date of each PR);

6. PRs from 2007 to 2010 if different from lifetime PRs at various distances (include race name and date of each PR);

7. If applicable, masters/grandmasters/senior grandmasters PRs (include race name and date of each PR)

Please send application materials via email to: flrunn@cfl.rr.com or mail to: Florida’s Finest, Lorraine Evans, 8640 Tansy Drive, Orlando, FL 32819; Tel 407.352.9131.

RRCA Coaching Certification: Arlington, VA & Dallas, TX

2010-07-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

DATE/PLACE: October 29 - 30, 2010
Road Runners Club of America Office - 1501 Lee Highway, Suite #140, Arlington, VA 22209

DATE/PLACE: November 13 - 14, 2010
Baylor Medical Center, Folsom Room, 17th floor, Roberts Building, 660 N. Hall, Dallas, TX 75246

BLUF:
The two-day program includes 16 hours of coursework and an online multiple-choice exam with immediate results.

SCHEDULE:
Day one is The Basis of Training. The curriculum includes the Fundamentals of Coaching, Rules of Training, Physiology, Psychology, Injury Prevention and Nutrition.

Day two is devoted to the Techniques of Training. It covers developing training plans, cycles, and progressions, speed work and other related topics. Group exercises teach how to apply the topics covered.

COST:
Cost for the 2-day certification class is $250. You must register for the certification class at least 2 weeks prior to attending or before it is filled, (limited to 30). Classes tend to fill early, so register as soon as possible.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:
The American College of Sports Medicine's Professional Education Committee certifies this offering meets the criteria for 16.0 credit hours of ACSM Continuing Education Credit.

INFORMATION/REGISTRATION:
Click here for additional information and to register.

American Running Company: Ragnar Relays/Teams

2010-07-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

DATES: November 19-20, 2010
PLACES: Clearwater-to-Daytona Beach, FL

BLUF:
This 202 mile adventure-fest pushes you & 11 pals from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Starting in Hudson Beach & finishing in Daytona Beach, this relay offers runners a unique opportunity to run across the state of Florida as it starts & ends on the beach & runs through trails, back roads & historic downtown areas. The race (and your stamina) wraps up within earshot of the roaring engines of the Daytona Motor Speedway & the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

Almost anyone can run in this relay race...if you train. Each relay team member runs three legs, ranging between 3 & 9 miles & varying in difficulty. So, from the elite runner down to the intermittent jogger it's the ideal relay for anyone in search of an unforgettable adventure.

Each team is allowed two support vehicles. The first vehicle will drop off the first runner, drive ahead a few miles, cheer the runner on, & provide them with water, snacks, & encouragement. That vehicle will then drive ahead to the first exchange point to drop off the next runner & pick up the first runner when that leg is complete. Repeat this pattern for six legs until the hand-off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging continues all the way to the finish line.

COURSE:

Click here to see a map of the route.

American Running Company has a team for the November event. They are also looking for team members to participate in the January 7-8, 2011 - Miami-to-Key West, event. TO the KEYS!!

INFORMATION:
If you are interested please email info@americanrunningcompany.com to let them know.

Amelia Island Runners: 2010 Summer Running Camp

2010-07-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

From e-Runner's Hi!, June 2010
(http://www.ameliaislandrunners.com/Archive/sumcamp10.htm)

AIR's 2010 summer running camp is history! This was the camp's fifth year, led by AIR volunteer Bill Beaumont, cross country coach at St. Michael's Academy. It's one of AIR's top projects of the year, designed to help runners of all ages step up to the "next level" and have fun along the way.

Sessions included mental preparation for running (goals and motivation), physical preparation (nutrition, hydration, equipment, warm-up and stretching), videotape analysis of each runner's gait and form, as well as guest speakers.

Thurday's special guest speaker was former U.S. marathon record-holder Jerry Lawson, now a manager with 1st Place Sports in Jacksonville. Lawson shared some of his experiences as an elite runner and talked about different types of running shoes for different types of feet and running strides.

The week culminated on Friday with an all-outdoors session in the shade at the Fernandina Beach High School bus loop, where Coach Bill talked about a vaiety of running topics, including race strategy.

AIR has group runs every Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. (weather permitting) at the FBHS track, 435 Citrona Drive. Coach Bill and Coach Roy Benson are AIR members and volunteer their time to work with runners during group runs.

AIR congratulates their Summer Camp "Class of 2010" and looks forward to seeing them on the roads and trails in the years to come.

Running For The Bay Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K, Walk

2010-06-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, October 23, 2010
TIME: 7:00 AM local time
PLACE: Battery Park, Downtown Apalachicola

BLUF:
“Running For The Bay” features a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K (all with wheelchair divisions) and walk-a-thon event in beautiful Apalachicola, Florida. The event is designed to bring attention to the Apalachicola Bay area, the most beautiful and important estuary in America; create an avenue for charity fund raising and to promote health and fitness.

ENTRY FEES:
Marathon
$89 until 7/23/10 - $99 7/24/10 to 9/23/10
Half Marathon
$75 until 7/23/10 - $85 7/24/10 to 9/23/10
10K
$55.00 until 7/23/10 - $59 7/24/10 to 9/23/10
5K
$32.00 until 7/23/10 - $34 7/24/10 until 9/23/10

Online Registration through Active.com closes Thursday, September 23, 2010 @ 11:59 PM Local Time

EXPO REGISTRATION:
Friday (10/22/2010) and Saturday (10/23/2010 - race day) expo is at the start/finish area in Battery Park, downtown Apalachicola.

Marathon $139
Half Marathon $120
10K: $79
5K: $49.00

Walk-A-Thon
Walk-A-Thon entrants sign up for the distance they want to walk; 10K walkers sign up for the 10K, marathon walkers sign up for the marathon. There is no separate Walk-A-Thon course.

REFUND POLICY:
No refund of race fee, registration fee and/or other race associated fees for any reason!

AGE LIMITS:
“Running For The Bay” has no age requirements for any of its races. It is up to each individual (or their guardian) to decide if they are physically and mentally able to participate in any of the events. We strongly recommend each entrant (or the entrant’s guardian) seek the advice of a physician.

POTENTIAL DANGERS:
It is up to each participant to seek shelter in case of lightning and other forms of danger. Do not wait for race officials to guide you to safe areas!

MORE INFORMATION:
www.runningforthebay.com

Florida Striders: Mellow Mushroom Prediction Run

2010-06-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

DATE: July 18, 2010

TIME: 6:30 p.m.
PLACE: 1800 Town Center Blvd., Orange Park FL 32003

BLUF:

Florida Striders will host a prediction run July 18 at the Fleming Island Mellow Mushroom. The run starts at 6:30 pm, and the festivities will probably continue until 10:00 pm. The prediction runs are a lot of fun and, if you have never had Mellow Mushroom's famous pizza you are missing out!

INFORMATION:

Check it out on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131250666894223.

First Place Sports: Tour de Pain

2010-06-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

EVENTS/DATES/TIMES:

4 Mile/August 13/7:30 PM
5K/August 14/7:30 AM
Mile/August 14/4:30 PM

BLUF:

This race series is designed to test your ability to run three different races in a twenty-four hour period. Your time in each of the three events is added together to determine your place for the Tour de Pain. If that doesn't appeal to you, sign up for one race individually.

EVENTS:

Four-Mile Beach Run - Jacksonville Beach Seawalk
Out-and-back course. Race starts heading south. Registration and race day packet pickup begins at 6:30 PM on the beach near the starting line.

5K - 1st Place Sports: 3931 Baymeadows Road
The 5K is held the next morning at 1st Place Sports on Baymeadows Road. The course is the same one used for the Celebration 5K and is USATF-certified.

Mile Sizzler - Jacksonville Landing, Downtown
Double half-mile loop course. There are three heats in the mile.
* 4:30 - Master's Men
* 4:45 - Open Men
* 5:00 - All Women

AWARDS:

Awards are given based on total time in all three events.

Top-three overall male & female receive cash awards: 1st Place - $200, 2nd Place - $100,
3rd Place - $50.

Age-group awards are given to the top three finishers in each age division: 10 & under, 11-13, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 & over.

Finisher medals are given to all those who finish all three events, and will be awarded at the finish of the last race.

REGISTRATION:
Until July 24th - $20.00 for One Race, $45.00 for Series

(Until August 1st - Children under 13 & Seniors over 65 - One race for $15.00, $40 for Series)
July 25th - Aug. 7th - $25.00 for One Race, $50.00 for Series
Starting August 8th - $30.00 for One Race, $60.00 for Series
($2.00 discount if you own your own chip, chip number must be on entry form)

1st Place Club members deduct $1.00 from above rates.

Sorry, No Refunds!

Click here to register on-line.

Click here to download a registration form

Make checks payable to: 1st Place Sports Running Club

Mail to: 3931 Baymeadows Road Jacksonville, FL 32217

PACKET PICK-UP:

Early pick up and registration for all three events will be held at your selected 1st Place Sports location:
3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, (904-731-3676)
2016 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, (904-399-8880)
424 South 3rd Street, Jacksonville Beach, (904-270-2221)
2186 Park Avenue, Orange Park, (904-264-3767)

Packets will be available on Thursday, August 12th from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and Friday August 13th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

Be sure to check your pickup location on your entry form! If you do not indicate a location, your packet will automatically be at the Baymeadows store.

Race packet pickup and registration will be held at each race site at least one hour before the start of that race.

RACE TIMING:
The race is timed using the ChampionChip (chip must be worn on your shoe during the race). Your entry fee covers the cost of the chip rental. If you have your own chip, enter your chip number on the entry form and deduct $2.00 from the entry fee. You must cross the timing mats to be included in the results. Do not wear your personal chip if you sign up on race day!

INFORMATION:
For more information, or to sign up, click here.

First Place Sports: Vestcor 5K Bridges Run

2010-06-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, July 31, 2010
TIME: 7:30 PM
PLACE: Hemming Plaza, Laura & Monroe St., Jacksonville, FL

BLUF:

Hemming Plaza is the place to be on this fun-filled Saturday evening. A live band will fill the air with music as you race in the streets. The course is entirely downtown, featuring a course over the Main and Acosta Bridges. This race benefits many local worthwhile charities. All of the race expenses are paid by the sponsors, so the entry fee is tax-deductible.

REGISTRATION:
Until July 24 - $20.00
July 25-30 - $25.00
($2.00 discount if you own your own ChampionChip, but chip number must be on entry form.)

Day of Race - $30.00

(Do not wear your personal chip if you sign up on raceday!)

Make checks payable to: Vestcor Family Foundation
Mail to: 3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32217

Sorry, no refunds!

PACKET PICK-UP:
Packets available for pick up (Friday, July 30th from 10-6, Saturday, July 31st from 10-3) at the following 1st Place Sports locations:
3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, (904-731-3676)
2016 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, (904-399-8880)
424 South 3rd Street, Jacksonville Beach, (904-270-2221)
2186 Park Avenue, Orange Park, (904-264-3767)

Be sure to mark your pickup location on your entry form!

If you do not indicate a location, your packet will be at the Baymeadows store.

Day of Race: All packets will be at Hemming Plaza for race-day pick up from 6-7:15pm.

RACE SITE:
Hemming Plaza is located downtown at the intersection of Laura and Monroe Streets, four blocks north of the Jacksonville Landing and one block west of Main Street.

COURSE:

The start and finish of the race will be on Duval Street in front of City Hall. The race will start heading west, do a short out-and-back, come back by the starting line, and then do a loop over the Main Street and Acosta Bridges (see map). All turns and miles will be marked. Digital clocks will be located at each mile. An on-course water station will be located on Mary Street. Water will also be available at the start/finish. Medical aid will be located in the park near the start/finish.

TIMING:
The race is timed using the ChampionChip (chip must be worn on your shoe during the race). Your entry fee covers the cost of the chip rental. If you have your own chip, enter your chip number on the entry form and deduct $2.00 from the entry fee. You must cross the timing mats to be included in the results.

AWARDS:
Overall: $200, $100 and $50 prize money awarded to the top three M/F

Age Group: Awards presented to the top three M/F finishers: 10 & under, 11-13, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 & over.

PRIZE DRAWING:
Win gift certificates to some of Jacksonville’s best restaurants and other establishments. Drawings will be held at the awards ceremony. You must be present to win.

POST-RACE:
Of course this is more than just a race, it’s also a celebration of downtown Jacksonville. The celebration will be in Hemming Plaza and will feature live music, free beer, lots of food, and other refreshments. It’s all free and will be lots of fun for the whole family!

INFORMATION:

Click here for more information.

First Place Sports: Celebration Run 5K/1M

2010-06-21T06:22:00.000-07:00

DATE: July 4, 2010

TIME: 5K @ 7:30 AM,
1 Mile Fun Run @ 8:30 AM
PLACE: 1st Place Sports - Baymeadows, 3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville

BLUF:

The 19th annual Celebration 5K is an early morning run/walk that features a great course, ChampionChip timing, lots of free food, and fun for the whole family! There is also a one mile fun run for children under 13 years of age. The reduced entry fee includes a t-shirt. All finishers will receive a medal. Starts at 8:30 AM at the finish of the 5K.

REGISTRATION:

Until June 26th $20.00

June 27th - July 3rd $25.00 (Runners over 65/under 13 - $15 until July 3rd.)

Day of Race $30.00

Fun Run is $12.00

Register Online at < http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1855390 >
Download a Registration Form at < http://www.1stplacesports.com/images/cel_ent10.pdf >

Mail completed entry with payment to:

1st Place Sports Running Club

3931 Baymeadows Road

Jacksonville, FL 32217

Sorry, No Refunds!

PACKET PICK-UP:

Packets are available for pick up at one of the following 1st Place Sports locations:

3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, (904-731-3676)

2016 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, (904-399-8880)

424 South 3rd Street, Jacksonville Beach, (904-270-2221)

2186 Park Avenue, Orange Park, (904-264-3767)

Be sure to check your pickup location on your entry form. If you do not indicate a location, your packet will automatically be at the Baymeadows store. Packets will be available on Friday, July 2nd and Saturday, July 3rd from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. You can register during packet pickup hours. Packets will also be available at the starting line beginning at 6:00 AM on race day.

AWARDS:
$100 will be awarded to the first place male and female finisher.

Custom designed awards given to top three male/female finishers in age groups:

10 and under, 11-13, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 & 80 and over.

POST-RACE:

After the 5K and fun run, join us for a celebration in front of 1st Place Sports. There will be watermelon, free food and drinks, plus drawings for prizes and the awards ceremony.

COURSE:
This USATF-certified course is very flat and can be very fast. Digital clocks are located at each mile. All turns and miles are marked. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will control traffic on the course. Water stations will be located at the start, half-way, and at the finish.

MORE INFORMATION/REGISTRATION:

For more information please click here.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Zappos.com Signs Title Sponsorship Deal with RnR Las Vegas

2010-06-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

Competitor Group, the San Diego-based company that runs the popular Rock ‘n’ Roll series of events, confirmed Tuesday that it has agreed to a three-year deal that will make Henderson-based Zappos.com the title sponsor of the Las Vegas event.

Terms were not disclosed, but William Chipps of Chicago-based IEG provided a likely range.

“I would say the estimated fee would be low six figures per year, probably between $100,000 and $250,000,” said Chipps, the senior editor of IEG’s sponsorship report, which tracks and analyzes corporate sponsorships for a variety of events nationwide. Marathon officials said the money will be used to help offset various race-related expenses.

Zappos.com had soured on the local marathon after a three-year run as title sponsor under the previous owner. But Zappos.com returned as presenting sponsor for the first edition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll event in December and came away impressed on several fronts, including a turnout of more than 28,000 runners for the marathon and half-marathon.

While thoughts of the economy did come into play, Zappos.com felt compelled to return as title sponsor.

The deal isn’t simply to place Zappos.com in front of the marathon name but is rather a partnership.

Tree-Hugging: Economics By Any Other Name

2010-06-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

In the overcrowded cities where the nights are bright as day
You spend your weekly paycheck and turn your eyes away
From the crisis we've created with our self-indulgent ways
Living like there's no tomorrow, well that just might be the case
Now they're tearing down the forests and the jungles of Brazil
Without a second thought about the species that they kill
But extinction is forever and still the forests fall
And push it ever closer to extinction for us all...

Now the politicians bicker on the early evening news
Pledging their allegiance to whoever they can use
The corporate bosses snicker as they watch the profits soar
They don't care what they make next month just as long as it is more
They take our farms and marshlands, drive nature to the wall
Just so they can build another %@##@&^ shopping mall
And it doesn't seem to matter if they cannot see the stars
As long as they can keep on building obsolescent cars...

Now you cannot drink the water and you cannot breathe the air
The sky is ripping open and you still don't seem to care
The soil is tired and toxic and unable to provide
The clock is running out and there is nowhere left to hide
Now there's laws that we must live by and they're not the laws of man
Can't you see the shadow that moves across this land
The future is upon us and there's so much we must do
And you know I can't ignore it and my friend neither can you

Unless you're blind to the truth, blind to the truth
And you can't see nothing
You're so blind to the truth, blind to the truth
But the judgment day is coming

"Blind To The Truth" - Dan Fogelberg (1990)

There has been not much exciting for me to talk about unless I look at the Gulf of Mexico, a 20-minute drive from my home or a five-minute drive from my office.

So far we have been more fortunate than our neighbors in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. However, many cities and families whose livelihoods depend on fishing, tourism, or a blend of the two are feeling the pain.

I've heard a few race directors (including my PRM partners) begin to ask how the Mississippi Canyon 252 spill may affect upcoming events. We were talking about Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach, which (I guess) just received the first touch of BP's anti-largesse. You're talking a million-plus dollars which have been invested a year in advance for a day in Bay County which is scheduled not more than four months from today...and that's only non-refundable entry fees to the fine folks at World Triathlon Corporation and Active.com. Top that with another million-plus in hotel and condominium revenues, and perhaps another couple million dollars in incidentals such as rental vehicles, food/beverage, shopping, ancillary entertainment for family members, and it starts to look like a really bad day on the horizon. Immediately after my friend mentioned IM FL I started to think about the IM70.3 World Championships which take place around the same time, give or take a week, down in Clearwater Beach. Once again, the same "off the top of my head" financial statistics or estimates I quoted for IM FL also rings identically true for that event...not to mention the lost television revenues from NBC, who has seen fit to cover the event since its inception. Ten million here, ten million there, next thing you know you're talking about real money.

For us, we're adapting to the conditions and making changes as needed. Other events may not be so fortunate.

Regardless of what your views on politics or the environment, I believe we can agree something positive needs to be accomplished, and quickly, before the quality of life to which we have become accustomed is drastically...and perhaps irreversibly...changed.

From Our Sponsor: Upcoming RRCA Coaching Certification Courses

2010-06-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

* July 24-25, 2010 in Birmingham, AL
* August 7-8, 2010 in Auburndale (Boston), MA
* August 14-15, 2010 in Cumberland, MD
* Sept 17 - 18, 2010 in Denver, CO (JUST LISTED)
* September 25 - 26, 2010 in Valparaiso, IN
* October 8 - 9 , 2010 in Portland, OR (JUST LISTED)

The 2-day program includes 16 hours of coursework and an online multiple-choice exam with immediate results.

Day one will be The Basis of Training. Curriculum includes the Fundamentals of Coaching, Rules of Training, Physiology, Psychology, Injury Prevention and Nutrition.

Day two will be devoted to the Techniques of Training. It covers developing training plans, cycles, and progressions, speed work and other related topics. Group exercises teach how to apply the topics covered.

Cost for the 2-day certification class is $250. You must register for the certification class at least 2 weeks prior to attending or before it is filled, (limited to 30). Classes tend to fill early, so register as soon as possible. Click here for additional information and to register.

Continuing Education Credits
The American College of Sports Medicine's Professional Education Committee certifies that this offering meets the criteria for 16.0 credit hours of ACSM Continuing Education Credit.

Amelia Island Runners: Weight Watchers Walk-It Day A Success

2010-06-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Amelia Island Runners had a great turnout for the Walk-It Day 5K Sunday, the culmination of the Weight Watchers Walk-It! Challenge to train for and complete a 5K walk.

Running clubs throughout the country, including Amelia Island Runners, presented Walk-It Day 5K events in conjunction with Weight Watchers & the Road Runners Club of America. The Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge encouraged people to train to finish a 5K walk or run. Some of the walkers & runners had never done that distance before, but they met the challenge, including a challenging start time of 7:30 a.m.!

The proceeds from the AIR event benefited Warrior Vacations, which provides free, well-deserved vacations for military personnel returning from Iraq & Afghanistan.

More than 100 energetic runners and walkers from throughout North Florida and South Georgia (including Callahan, Waycross, Palm Coast & other locales) signed up for the challenge! And a beautiful morning greeted them for the Walk-It Day 5K. They enjoyed warm-up exercises led by Liz Kawecki of Y Yoga, & a walk/run through scenic & shaded Fort Clinch State Park. The shade was welcome since it was warm & humid, but the atmosphere was festive & the Fernandina Pirates Club helped keep things cool by handing out water along the way!

Thanks & congratulations to everyone who participated! Special thanks is also due to all the volunteers who made it possible, including event director John McBrearty.

Click here to read the AIR report & view the photo album.

Tampa Bay Runners: Casual Bike Ride/Picnic

2010-06-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

DATE: June 12, 2010
TIME: 11:00a.m.
PLACE: Tate Brothers' Pizza, 235 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa, 33606

BLUF:
Bike By Popular Demand! Summer's sizzling and the biking is easy! Join TBR as they once again roll around Davis Islands for a casual slow bike ride and then PICNIC under the TBR canopy at "Seaplane Basin Park", along the great seawall and future site of the Davis Islands Bike Trail.

COST:
Bike & Picnic Lunch -- $5 each

DETAILS:
Meet 11:00 a.m. at Tate Brothers. Enjoy a scenic bike tour around the islands, and finish at the seawall/park area, at the southernmost stretch of Severn Ave. We will provide 'beverages' :) and a full picnic of sandwiches, fruit, and chips.

TBR looks forward to having you along for the ride!

INFORMATION/RSVP:
Please contact brandxpasco@mindspring.com for more information, or to confirm participant count! (If you need a nice comfortable cruisin' bike, ask CityBike at (813) 225-1777 or Kris Greene Cycles at (813) 376-4671)

Florida Striders: Jay Birmingham's Wide World of Running

2010-06-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

FROM: StrideRight, June 2010

ONE HUNDRED DAYS OF SUMMER: The average runner in Ohio, Colorado, and Nebraska – three states where I lived for many years – backs off in the brutal cold from December through February. The thermal challenge of winter is joined by piercing wind chills and impossible-at-times footing: ice, snow, slush, potholes. Races become scarce. Dedicated road soldiers see the mileage in their training logs plummet. Perpetually gray skies extend from days to more than a week. YMCAs in those cold climes see memberships spike in the winter. Treadmill motors burn up. Creative excuses for skipping workouts reach new heights. Some runners refuse to train when the temperature is lower than their age.

Drop southward now to Florida. Wind chill? Nope. Heavy clothing? Nope. December? No problem. The Florida runner’s challenge is June through September, what I call the 100 Days of Summer. I’ve known lots of running enthusiasts who exchanged their passion for our sport for days in front of the TV, a bag of chips and a cooler full of their favorite cold drinks. You’ve got two choices: Quit for the season or run in the steam bath. I’m gonna suggest ways you can select the second option.

Your first challenge is mental. If you don’t leave the house, you cannot train (unless you cheat by logging your miles on a refrigerated treadmill). So you must leave the house. Walk out the door, your hair wet, clad in your sleeveless shirt and shortest shorts. Walk until you break into a jog, and then walk again when you feel a little fatigue. You are out there, acclimating to the heat and the humidity. You have ventured out while the faint of heart (weak of will) have not. You are a champion.

Remove expectations of speed or distance. Do set yourself a minimum time. One hour of walking will net you about 4 miles. Spice that with a few strideouts through pleasant parts of the course. Run through sprinklers. Stop for ice and drinks, either at stores en route, or in caches of goods you’ve squirreled away in the shrubbery. Laps around the block will ensure you a steady supply of everything. Cover your head with a wet cap if you run at midday. If you’ve never tried a knotted handkerchief on your noggin, do. A handful of ice cubes under your headwear makes a world of difference.

Summer is the time to give yourself permission to reduce your miles. But it is a great time to gain some leg speed. A set of repeat 100s on grass with a 100-meter walk recovery is a lot easier than a sustained distance run. Bridge sprints. Stadium steps. Stair cases. Any short, sharp run, repeated, with adequate recovery intervals, will not only make you feel like you are training hard but will keep the pounds from descending on your midsection.

Now here’s the ultimate challenge. Pick a date and count 100 days forward. June 1 through September 8 is the hundred days we choose for my cross country runners. Start on Day One and do not miss a day until you get through the hundredth. Declare a minimum (2 miles was my recent pick in 2009). Get your shoes on, pass through the doorway, and keep a large calendar posted. Write your workout in large letters and numbers at the end of each day. Let no square go uncovered.

You can do it. You are tough. You a Florida runner in summer. All 100 days of it.

Daytona Beachcombers: Annual Night Out At Jackie Robinson Ballpark - SOLD OUT

2010-06-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

DATE: Friday, June 18, 2010
TIME: 6:00 to 7:30 pm (picnic time)
7:05 pm (game time)
PLACE: Jackie Robinson Ballpark

BLUF: Get ready for an evening of great food, fun and friends! It’s the Beachcombers annual night out at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Dunedin Blue Jays play the Daytona Cubs. The Beachcombers have reserved the Dustin’s Picnic Porch, down first base line.

The ‘All You Can Eat’ All Star picnic includes:
- Hotdogs
- Hamburgers
- Dustin’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Potato Salad
- Baked Beans
- Green Salad
- Cookies
- Peanuts
- Soda/Iced Tea
- Beer (unlimited, 21 or older)

COST:
Members: $8 • Members may bring one guest for $8. Additional non-members are welcome for $20.00 per person. Beachcombers Kids: $4 Reservations and advanced payment required. (Limited to the first 50 to sign up) Note: If you reserve a ticket, the club pays $20 for you. Once we make a commitment and make payment, we cannot be reimbursed. If you reserve and cancel your reservations after June 14, the club asks to be reimbursed the $14.00 the club has paid. Deadline for reservations and payment, Monday, June 14, 2010!

Make checks payable to Daytona Beachcombers Running Club.
Mail to: 290 Morningside Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118.

INFORMATION:
RSVP & Information: Jeff Levine • jefflevine13@hotmail.com

UPDATE:
The Beachcombers Annual Cubs Night Out has been sold out! We would like to thank all of you for your quick response to this evening of fun!

For those attending Cubs Night Out, ticket and wrist band information will be sent soon!

Pensacola: Bayfront Parkway Opens to Bikes/Pedestrians in June

2010-06-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

DATES: Sunday, June 13th
Sunday, June 27th
TIME: 9:00am to 6:00pm
PLACE: Bayfront Parkway, from intersection of Barracks Street to intersection of Chase Street

BLUF:
Pensacola’s most unique asset is its waterfront, particularly the downtown waterfront. The more opportunities people have to enjoy it, the more they are reminded what a great place Pensacola is.

However, Pensacola residents rarely have real access to their waterfront. They can zoom past it on Bayfront Parkway or Scenic Highway. They can go to a few parks. But most of the waterfront is cordoned off for people who can afford to own water views. Opening Bayfront Parkway to pedestrians and cyclists provides opportunities for Pensacola residents to enjoy their beautiful waterfront with the added benefit of bringing people from across the community together, encouraging them to exercise and meet their fellow Pensacolians.

The Pensacola City Council and staff have agreed to test the idea of to two trial closures, to be held on Sunday, June 13th and Sunday, June 27th. If people demonstrate they want this type of recreational access to the downtown waterfront, the Council will consider how to make this a regular occurrence.

The plan is to block off Bayfront Parkway from Tarragona/Barracks Street to Chase Street. People can walk, bike, skateboard, or rollerblade on the road. This stretch also includes two large park areas - Veterans Park and Seville Square - which may accommodate related activities.

INFORMATION:
For further information, please contact mpratt@ci.pensacola.fl.us

A Matter of Perspective (What's Up, Chuck?)

2010-06-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

Social functions can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the parties involved. Naturally, the majority of people I enjoy spending time with have an interest in running, swimming, cycling, the carefully-calculated intake of adult beverages, or combinations of the previously-mentioned pursuits. Of course, I NEVER really go off-duty, contrary to popular belief; I might ease up on the mandate & focus a little more closely on my adult beverage, but it's still teachable moment opportunity time for me.

This time, it was remediation because of a friend's commentary. We began talking about event sponsors, real & perceived, & the possible effect on a club. The friend told me a particular organization's logo was placed on an running event poster, but they did little more than host the ceremony where the running club's scholarships were awarded. This brought out one of those 'oh? Really?' responses from me. I asked whether the other group was liable for anything, say in the event the proverbial spit hit the fan.
My friend looked at me with a stare that said in so many words, 'huh?' So, I told him, 'say, for example, my wife decides to run in that particular race. She gets tripped up by some guy wearing headphones, or the finish archway suddenly gives way & injures her to the point she cannot work for three months; broken arm, fractured shoulder, collarbone, whatever. I'm going to call a good lawyer & sue you, that organization, the club hosting the post-party, every little group who has their name or logo attached to that race...and RRCA. Why? Because somebody in that pile is not going to have all of their bases covered.'

He said, 'that's crazy. I would never do that.'

I responded, 'hey, if my wife was badly injured I definitely would. If she were only a little dinged up it would be a different story. But you have people who won't hesitate for a second. I have had clubs who inadvertently leave themselves open to the chance of being sued because they are perceived to be involved with an event; a race promoter asks for their volunteer help in timing or scoring the race; they place the club's logo on the front of the flyer. Some smart lawyer could have a club in a world of hurt because a race director takes a stupid pill before doing their marketing.'

He asked whether this kind of stuff, as well as accidents at races, happened often. I wanted to tell him, 'it's probably not as often as we fear, & running is less dangerous than a lot of sports, but these situations happen. It's the reason we send out the Inside Track best practices newsletter to the clubs every couple of months. And, it's the reason I whine about this stuff all the time when I talk to you guys.'

I did tell him, 'It's the reason there's a solid two-hour general session on insurance & risk management at every national convention.'

My friend left the discussion with (I hope) a little better understanding of the perspective under which I see things. He still has a lot to learn; something he's been willing to admit. He never thought being on the board of directors for a running club would entail all the sausage-making of the present political system, but thought it would be a little closer to being part of a business. As long as there's volunteer governance, running club operations are going to look more like politics than business.

B!tching, Bandits, Beer, and Bibs

2010-06-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

The occasional social group runs during the week are always fertile ground for things on which I can pontificate...ruminate...cogitate...and eventually lead to the writing with which I aggravate.

Ever wonder, after being in a conversation with a club key committee member, whether a process really exists, or if it all boils down to personality? Someone's complaint about a tardy calendar posting, followed by a calming response from the key person seemed pretty darned good at first read, but then led to me asking those silly questions to myself: 'When was this particular process announced to the general populace?' 'Why does it always occur with events that aren't hosted by the club in question?' And...'why isn't the club's events up on the national-level calendar?' Well, in all fairness, the club isn't really to blame for not posting the race's information if it was never sent to them, even if the new process did exist. Sometimes I have to resort to a little bit of Sherlock Holmes (and I look nothing like Robert Downey, Jr.) -style detective work when it comes to expanding calendar postings. On the one hand, I'm beholden to market all 35-40 event & member clubs to the best of my ability, as well as try to draw new events & clubs into the fold. On the other, I have only 72 hours a week (after sleep & my paying job) in which to do it. If divided equally, each individual club is entitled to a little over two hours a week of me. A few demand more of me, many others less. Sometimes I see reciprocation, other times it's the Tom & Ray Magliozzi-esque squadoosch in return.

I probably receive e-mail, phone calls, & print from 25 percent of the district, which tells me the rest of the district is either happy with the state of affairs in which they operate or they're not in the mood to talk to me. I'd like to think of it more as the former than the latter.

And the rep doesn't work in a complete and total vacuum, thank the gods. We're using some of that 72 hours when we're not sleeping or working (but should be training or spending time with our families) bouncing ideas off each other, gathering perspectives. I work from perspective which is truly ideological or theoretical, with references from other national governing bodies sprinkled here & there. It's almost like putting on my 'coach' hat & prefacing my response with (as in the title of my other blog, If I Were Your Coach:): 'if I were in your position...'

I guess some race directors were having issues with the problem of bandits or racers swapping bibs at their events. Both, in my humble opinion, could fall under the realm of fraudulent behavior. A bandit (in my humble opinion) fraudulently uses the police protection, timing service &, in some cases, the course support (from Porta-johns to Powerade) which was paid for by the race director & the registered participants.
There are some bandits who will run the course, step off before the finish, and leave afterward. I guess you could call them smart bandits. They're frauds, but they're smart frauds. The less smart bandits are the ones are cause more pain for the timing company, but only if they're not skilled in dealing with them. The RD gets more headaches from the less-smart bandits, especially around here where beer is a common post-race refreshment, if the bandit ends up consuming whatever post-race nosh is available without permission.

Beer? Great stuff, especially after a warm 5K road race on a weekend afternoon. We tend to race on Saturday mornings around here, so there are an entire population of runners who have become used to drinking light beer at 9:00am on Saturdays...and continuing to drink until either the beer trailer is taken away to much wailing & gnashing of teeth, or the keg/s float. It's the paradox of road running here; we engage in an activity meant to keep us healthy, & immediately follow it up by drinking twice the calories we burned off running.
And some of the bigger events here have more than their fair share of beer, to the point where I have been amazed there are not more DWI-caused accidents, injuries or fatalities. A running event I participated in last year made me strongly think about how much beer can be too much; we found a friend had tripped & fallen outside their car, causing some serious damage to their skull, orbit, cheekbone & nose. This guy was in no shape to drive, much less stand, & he was going to drive from downtown back to his bedroom community. We literally had to have one of our group take him home while we called his family & strongly recommended he check into the local hospital. If not for us rolling through the neighborhood in the truck & seeing him I'm not certain whether he would have been pulled over, or worse, killed himself and/or someone else on the highway.

Another potential RD nightmare, albeit a tad more benign, would involve the bib-swapping participant. Ever register for an event, then have to bail out because of a business trip or an injury? Aw, gee, well I hate to see the registration go to waste. So you give your bib to another person without the RD or the timing company's knowledge. Without them signing a waiver. Without the fellow competitors in your age group knowing you really aren't there because you are, according to the bib number. What if the person you gave the bib to gets injured or dies as a result of an incident at the event? Or, what if the fraudulent participant causes another runner to suffer injuries as the result of an accident on course? Would the family have a leg to stand on in the event expenses needed to be recouped? Would the RD be responsible?

So what do you do about these potential gamings of the system?

Things which make me go 'hmmmm...'

Clearwater: Aces Are Wild Running/Racewalking Series

2010-06-03T07:13:00.001-07:00

DATES: August 22, 2010,
September 12, 2010,
October 10, 2010,
November 7, 2010

BLUF: Come out and work yourself up to a 1/2 marathon or perform the four 5K races associated with the series:

Ace of Diamonds 5K -- Aug 22, 2010
Ace of Clubs 10K or 5K -- Sept 12, 2010
Ace of Hearts 15K or 5K -- Oct 10, 2010
Blue Moon 1/2 Marathon or 5K -- Nov 7, 2010

Participants in all events will receive a technical shirt.
Newton running shoes will be raffled off at all events.

Click here for more information or to register.

Palm Harbor: ARC I Love "Fathers'" Day 5K

2010-06-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Presented by Newton Running
DATE: Sunday, June 20, 2010
TIME: 8:00 AM
PLACE: John Chestnut Park
2200 East Lake Rd./McMullen Booth Rd.
Palm Harbor, FL

BLUF: A great way for the family to come out and celebrate fathers, this event is geared for all types of runners: elites to family members with baby joggers. This event includes breakfast afterward. There will also be raffle items given away during the breakfast.

All male finishers receive Technical Shorts. Top 25 females will receive X-Loop sunglasses.
All participants have the chance to win Newton running shoes.

Special award categories for fathers:
Combined Ages Over 50 & 49 and under for top FATHER/daughter & Top FATHER/son.
Top FATHER/Baby Jogger, Youngest FATHER, Triple Generation (grandpa, FATHER, child), Oldest GrandFATHER, Youngest GrandFATHER

Click here to register on-line through Active.com.

Jacksonville: Heart and Sole 5K

2010-05-28T06:40:00.001-07:00

DATE: June 26, 2010
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: Fletcher Park, San Marco

BLUF: Heart & Sole 5K Run is a community-based fundraising event designed to raise awareness and philanthropic support for Community PedsCare children, who have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. In celebration of 10 years of care provided by Community PedsCare, this event will commemorate all of the families who have been in the program. This family-friendly event features marvelous food, live entertainment and activities for kids.

Proceeds from Heart & Sole 5K Run benefit Community PedsCare, a pediatric program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida in collaboration with Wolfson Children's Hospital, Nemours Children's Clinic and University of Florida-Jacksonville.

The race features:
a. Scenic course through San Marco
b. Twilight Run
c. Live Bands on the Course
d. Live Band and Party at the Finish
e. Free Beer and Refreshments
f. One Mile Fun Run

INFORMATION:
For more information, or to sign up, click here.

Univ. of North Florida: USGBCNF Green Run 5K

2010-05-28T06:33:00.001-07:00

DATE: June 19, 2010
TIME: 8:00 AM
Place: Student Union, University of North Florida

BLUF: This event is a Green Run/Walk brought to you by the U.S. Green Building Council North Florida Chapter to educate participants about being green! There will be a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building tour to educate on building green, along with shoe recycling, booths, and more!

COURSE:
The 5k starts and finish at the UNF Student Union. The course will be a loop around the campus, by the stadium and will finish back near the starting area. Each mile mark will have digital clocks. The race will be timed using the ChampionChip Timing System.

For more information, or to sign up, please click here.

Recruit, Manage & Appreciate Your Volunteers

2010-05-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

I've had to request volunteer help for events in the past, and it can be a painful process.

Since I work (personally) with only three or four events, it's not quite like being the volunteer coordinator of a club that produces ten or more events a year. A friend of my wife, Suzanne, served as volunteer recruitment person for the local running club a few years back...you could always tell when an event was coming up, because:

a) she'd hit the same two local social run groups like a department store sale, and

b) people would eventually avoid the post-run social; they KNEW they would be signed up for the cr#ppiest, least-glamourous volunteer jobs.

So, after two years of pulling in the same volunteers for every event, people were less likely to help out (Whether it was because she was pulling the same people for every race, or what, I cannot tell...). My wife even sent an e-mail to the leadership of the local running club. She described her willingness to work in areas where she had knowledge, skills, & abilities, but theere was no response.

Face it, nobody wants to do the same thing at every race, over & over again...especially if there's no recognition & no thanks at the end of it all.

While RRCA has a national volunteer recognition award, as well as an outstanding volunteer national awards program to recognize youth workers, newsletter editors, website managers, club presidents, unsung heroes & running program coordinators, it's up to the individual club & their race directors to find ways to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to each of their volunteer workers.

Amelia Island Runners: 2010 AIR Scholarships Awarded

2010-05-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

Amelia Island Runners was proud to honor five outstanding high school runners with their 2010 AIR scholarships, presented last Friday at the senior awards assembly at Fernandina Beach High School.

Scholarship committee chair Deborah Dunham presented the awards to graduating seniors Bradley Bunch, Landon Kovalick, Christina Strasser, Stephanie Strasser and Jazz Tomassetti.

A total of $3,000 was awarded, raised through AIR's annual races.

To read excerpts from the winners' essays - one of which included an Ode to Running! - please click here: http://www.ameliaislandrunners.com/archive/scholars10.htm

Ronald McDonald House Charities: Firecracker 5K

2010-05-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, July 3, 2010

TIME: 7:30AM
PLACE: Seville Quarter, Downtown Pensacola

REGISTRATION:

Registration through June 11th $20.

Registration June 12th - July 2nd $25.
Race day registration $30.

Teams of 10 or more who submit their registration forms together by July 2nd receive $5 off each individual entry fee.

Registration On-Line through Active.com (race I.D. 1834222)

Click here to download a PDF form.

Make checks payable to:

Ronald McDonald House

Mail Registration to:

Ronald McDonald House

5154 Bayou Blvd.,

Pensacola, FL 32503

PACKET PICKUP:

Friday, July 2nd from 4:00-6:00pm at Seville Quarter

Saturday, July 3rd from 6:00-7:00am at Seville Quarter
Packets will include race #, safety pins, tanks and other goodies.

POST-RACE:

Free beverages (beer, soft drinks, Powerade) & plenty of food for all participants!

COURSE:

Water stations at start, on the course & at the finish. The race starts and finishes at Seville Quarter.

AWARDS:

5K Run -

Overall Male & Female, Master Male & Female (40+), Grandmaster Male & Female (50+),
Senior Grandmaster Male & Female (60+)
Top Three in Age Divisions (0-9,10-14,15-19,20-24,25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49,
50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+).

5K Walk -

Overall Male & Female, Master Male & Female (40+), Grandmaster Male & Female (50+),
Senior Grandmaster Male & Female (60+)
Top Three in Age Divisions (0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+)

INFORMATION:
850-477-2273 or events@rmhpensacola.org
Okaloosa, Walton, or Bay County Office - call 850-678-7243 or owb@rmhpensacola.org

Capt'n Fun Runners: Bushwacker 5K

2010-05-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, August 7, 2010
TIME: 7:30 A.M.
PLACE: Portofino Boardwalk, Quietwater Beach (CR 399, W of intersection of CR 399 & Ft. Pickens Rd.), Pensacola Beach, FL.

COURSE:
Point to point 5K mile (USATF certified FL10048EBM) course, starting at South Santa Rosa Recreation Center (Shoreline Park), Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze. The course proceeds east on Shoreline Drive to Tall Pine Trail, loops through the neighborhood to the Bob Sikes Bridge (CR399) and finishes across from the Boardwalk area at the Visitor Information Center on Pensacola Beach. Splits at each mile. Water/Aid stations at 1 mile and 2.5 miles. Course closes to participants and opens to traffic after 45 minutes.

(Please no pets, skates. roller blades or baby joggers, etc.)

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION:
Free bus transportation from Pensacola Beach to the starting line runs from 6-7 AM. (LAST BUS LEAVES THE BEACH AT 7). Participants should park at Pensacola Beach and ride buses to start. There will be NO transportation returning to Gulf Breeze after the race.

REGISTRATION:
Register online at Active.com: key word search “Bushwacker 5K”
$20.00 Pre-Registration postmarked by Sat, July 31.
$25.00 Late Registration thru Friday, Aug, 6th.
$25.00 Race Day Sat. Aug 7. (NO SHIRT)

Click here to download a registration form.

Register in person thru MondayAug 2nd at:
Running Wild, 3012 East Cervantes St., Pensacola
OR
Mail Registration to:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of NWF
1149 Creighton Road, Suite 1
Pensacola FL 32504

Tank Top Shirts guaranteed to all pre-registered participants - the usual tropical style, with toucans.

LATE REGISTRATION & PACKAGE PICKUP:
Thursday, Aug 5th, 4-7 P.M. - Running Wild, 3012 East Cervantes St., Pensacola
Friday, Aug 6th, 4-7:30 P.M. - Capt’n Fun Beach Club, Portofino Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach
Saturday, Aug 7th, 6-7 A.M. SHARP! Hooter's/Bamboo Willie's deck on Portofino Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach

POST-RACE:
8-11A.M. Capt’n Fun Beach Club, Portofino Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach. Wear your bib for free food, fun, & refreshments! Party with the Main Street Band.

AWARDS:
5K Run Awards to Overall Male & Female, Master Male & Female (40+), Grandmaster Male & Female (50+), Senior Grandmaster Male & Female (60+), Male & Female Wheelchair, and top three in Age Divisions (0-9,10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-
54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+).

5K Race Walker Awards to top 5 Males & 5 Females.
No age group awards.

INFORMATION:
Visit http://www.captnfun.net/ for prior year results, photos and updates.
Race Director, Johnny Graves (850) 939-8073 OR Big Brothers Big Sisters (850) 433-KIDS

Information also available at http://www.eventtiming.com/

Let's Help Them Start A Religion

2010-05-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

"If we meet somebody who's never made a mistake, let's help them start a religion. Until then...help to make each other better." - Gil Scott-Heron (February 2010)

Take a person who has grown up in a family of law enforcers. Put them into a career where they are regularly asked to analyze situations. Sometimes the Kierkegaardian "Either/Or" legalistic tendencies (things are black/white, right/wrong, good/evil) come out; other times the (Jimmy) Buffetian "Tampico Traumatic" tendencies (where you want to be everybody's friend) show up to play. Invariably you end up upsetting everybody. But at least you get your own opinion off your chest.

I've had two or three days to chew on this particular topic, and I can tell my point of view is going to wax somwhere between critical and naive. I haven't figured out exactly where it will land between the two, and perhaps it won't be clearly evident until the end.

Every organization undergoes change some time within it's life, and not without a certain degree of controversy. My present employer hired me as part of changes they needed to do in the way they trained people. A bunch of high level leaders in the organization, as well as a number of recently-retired leaders, reviewed training and said it was too rigid, didn't meet the immediate need of the worker, and in many cases required the worker to travel from their home to schools which were only in three or four cities. If classroom training was converted into computer courses, my employer thought, the money spent on travel and living expenses, plus instructor salaries and support expense, could be used on recapitalization. Seemed like a good thought at the time, right?

So, the leadership said, "make it so." There were a few voices of dissent who asked questions like, "who will build or maintain this computer-based training?" and "what about the jobs which cannot be trained by computer?" Most importantly, the question "what if the learner has difficulty learning without a instructor physically present?" The leadership listened more closely to the voices of adult learning specialists and financial analysts, who had never taken or maintained a computer-based course, rather than listening to what the customer - the workers and their supervisors - said would be the consequences of poor/inadequate training.

Four years later, another group of leaders within my organization decided the personnel management system needed a complete revamp. There was no way to fire workers who didn't perform well on the job, nor to reward outstanding workers more than the ones who "just did their job." And, worst of all, with many employees retiring or leaving for other firms, there was no way to hire talented individuals at wages which equaled or exceeded entry salaries for their competitors. During a community forum, one of the executive-level leaders (the same one responsible for executing the computer-based training mandate) said, "I cannot see how ANYONE can be opposed to this new personnel system." All right, I will mention he was near retirement from this organization and not going to be living with the consequences of the system. Two other (comparable) organizations had previously gone through transitioning into this kind of personnel management system; both described it to government researchers as a horror show. The transition occurred, but began at the lowest levels of the organization. Four years later, it was finally figured out; the system had retained the worst practices of the previous management system, and forced the individual worker and their supervisor to spend more time evaluating the performance than performing the job.

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." - Thomas Pynchon

In the cases I cited above, the leaders weren't being malevolent. I believe, in the majority of the cases, they had the best interest of the organization in mind. There were a number of them who were on their way out the exit and moving in the general direction of organizations which may have indirectly benefited from the decisions made. I will neither laud nor condemn those persons...but I will mention the unintended consequences of their decisions far outweighed their hoped-for mark on the organization.

Even the RRCA national organization makes decisions and enters into partnerships which might seem like a bad fit to the individual road runner club (I initially thought the Weight Watchers partnership was a clinker, but after walking the Crescent City Classic with my wife and some friends, one gets a completely different perspective.). But the ones which do come to pass are often done because enough clubs at the grassroots level have said "hey, we have a need for this particular service. Can you help us?"

So, if you're going to make a change to a program or an organization, why are you going to do it? If the organization in question is a non-profit or a not-for profit, making the decision strictly on the basis of money might not be the best measurement. Without taking the time to listen to the voice of the customer, or ask how the decision is going to affect the culture in which the organization exists, club leaders can unintentionally aim for a target which ultimately ends up looking more and more like their own foot.

What are the consequences of decisions which don't take the voice of the customer or the cuture a club exists in into account? Does the old song lyric "three steps forward, two steps back" sound familiar? Sometimes the "smartest people in the room" are the ones who leave the organization. I remember a "Dilbert" comic, which I think Scott Adams used in his book "The Dilbert Principle": Someone was asking Dilbert how to recognize the brightest people in his firm, and he said something like, "they're the ones moving to other companies." With road runner clubs, people might leave clubs but still participate in races sponsored by the club. The measure that needs to be considered is harder to do, and often cannot be done with the aid of membership roll spreadsheet or profit and loss statement. It's much more difficult to quantify the skills and abilities which go "out the door" with them. They'll most likely still be runners, but they might be less likely to either return as members or bring new members in with them.

Since clubs are made up of human beings, it's inevitable mistakes in policy are going to occur. We can help to make each other better by providing a rational voice to our road running club, lending a hand if we have the skills to make the club better.

Or, if they're doing just fine we can help 'em start a religion.

This Word From Our Sponsor: Volunteer Medical Personnel Insurance Coverage

2010-05-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

RRCA members covered under the general liability insurance program can now purchase additional insurance coverage for volunteer medical personnel.

The Volunteer Medical Personnel Endorsement covers emergency first aid and/or on-course medical treatment by properly licensed medical personnel working on a voluntary basis. Paid medical staff are not covered under this endorsement.

Medical volunteers who provide service at running events typically have professional liability coverage already in place to protect themselves against malpractice claims. The RRCA Volunteer Medical Personnel Endorsement is considered insurance over and above any other insurance held by the medical professional. It does, however, provide coverage when a professional liability policy does not extend coverage to emergency medical professionals volunteering at events held outside of a workplace facility.

Coverage limits for medical volunteers are the same as the RRCA’s General Liability policy. The cost of the additional endorsement is either $250 or 2% of the club or event member’s General Liability premium for 2010, whichever is higher.

To add this endorsement to your organization’s insurance policy, please send an email to Eve Mills at membership@rrca.org with Medical Volunteer Insurance in the subject line, and include the name of your club or event, your name and phone number, and your request for the volunteer medical personnel endorsement. Eve will respond with an invoice for the additional premium. Once the premium is paid, you will receive a revised certificate of insurance, via email, that includes the additional medical volunteer coverage.

Eglin AFB: 25th Annual Gate to Gate 4.4M R/W

2010-05-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

DATE: Monday, May 31, 2010
TIME: 7:30 AM
PLACE: Oak Hill Elementary, Eglin AFB FL

BLUF:
This year is the 25th anniversary of the race and the 75th Anniversary of Eglin AFB. Limited to first 2000 entrants. Race will close out with the first 2,000 runners and walkers. Sign up early to make the cut. Entries must be done online at Active.com before the 2000 person cutoff! No exceptions!

ENTRY FEE
$25 May 16-28th
No Race Day Registration
No Refunds

Closing Date
Saturday, May 29, 2010 @ 6:00 AM
All Gate to Gate participants receive a quality t-shirt.

Wheelchair Division - limited to Push Rim Wheelchairs. Hand Crank Chairs will not be allowed on the course.

Kids Run - there will also be a 1 Mile Fun Run for children 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12 free of charge. /a>

Team Roster Form: Team Roster (PDF Format)

PACKET PICK-UP:
The last Package Pickup before raceday, will be at the AF Armament Museum, 29 May from 10 am to 4:30 pm. All Non-DOD pass and ID holders must enter the base Monday morning from the West Gate and follow the signs to the race location. They must have a photo ID to check with the Registration lists at the gate. It is recommended that you pick up your package at the Armament Museum on the 15th or 29th to make sure you have access to the base. Final package pickup is at the finish area the morning of the race.

EVENT:
There will be a staggered start at the Child Development Center on Eglin AFB, just south of the parking and Race Party location. Run will start at 7:30 am, so be there early!
There is a separate free kids kids fun run after the Gate to Gate run. It will begin at the corner of Chinquapin Dr and Eglin Blvd. and proceed beyond the All Veterans Memorial and back. Participation T-Shirts will be given at the end of the run. It will start at approximately 9:00 am.

COURSE:
The 4.4 mile, point-to-point course starts at the Child Development center of Eglin AFB, winding up to and then following Eglin Blvd. to the Memorial Drive at the end of the Runway, winding around to finish in front of the Oak Hill Elementary School. There will be flowers for each runner to drop at the Veterans Memorial during the 4.4 mile run. Water/aid stations will be just after the 1, 2, and 3 mile markers. Splits will be called at each mile. This is a USATF Certified Course (FL07015DL)

PARKING:
Parking will be available at the Park in front of the Oak Hill Elementary School. Follow the signs from the West Gate to the parking area.

TEAM COMPETITION:
Team trophy to the top three teams in open and military divisions. traveling trophy to first team in military division. Military Spirit trophy will be awarded to the Military Unit with the largest participation. Lowest accumulated time of the first four finishers for each team, which includes at least one of the teams female runners.
OPEN DIVISION: Teams not representing military organizations or units.
MILITARY DIVISION: Teams represent a Military organization or unit. All team members must be active duty, reserves, guard government civilians, contractors and/or spouses assigned to the unit forming the team.

Each Team Captain/Contact must obtain a Team Roster Form from the fitness center or the link. ALL TEAM MEMBERS WILL BE DESIGNATED ON THE TEAM ROSTERS BY THE TEAM CONTACT/CAPTAIN AND DELIVERED TO THE BASE FITNESS CENTER BY 1200HRS ON FRIDAY MAY 17TH. A printed team listing will be available at the Fitness Center after 1200hrs on May 19th and at the Armament Museum on Saturday, May 29th.

AWARDS:
$1100 in prize money will be divided between Overall and push-rim wheelchair winners.
Special awards to the top three overall male and female, the top three Masters male and female (40+), and the first Grand Master male and female (50+). Awards to the first male and female Push Rim Wheelchair overall.
Age Groups: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+

Gate to Gate Walk: Special awards to the first overall male and female, the first Masters male and female (40+), and the first Grand Masters male and female (50+).
Age Groups 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

POST-RACE:
Enjoy refreshments(red beans and rice, buffalo wings, beer, coke, fruit) and live entertainment. Health/fitness information and sports massage therapists will also be available.
Door prize drawings will precede the awards ceremony.

Amelia Island Runners: On The Safe Side?

2010-05-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

FROM: e-Runners' Hi!, Issue 3 - 18 May 2010

Here's an email that raises an important point: Is it possible to explain to runners that they should be running on the left hand side of the road when running along a road with no sidewalk? Or am I mistaken in this "rule of the road"? I see runners in Fort Clinch all the time, running on the right hand side of the road.

The concerned AIR member is absolutely right -- when running on the road, you should run against traffic.

The RRCA's full list of safety and etiquette rules for running on roads and trails is located at: http://www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/etiquette-for-runners/

West Florida Y Runners Club: Sunsets At Pier 60 5K Beach Series

2010-05-18T09:11:00.001-07:00

DATES: June 4, June 18, July 9, July 23
TIME: (Free) Kids Fun Run – 6:45 PM

5K Race - 7:00PM

PLACE: Pier 60, Clearwater Beach

Bring the family along for the (Free) Kids Beach Series – Fun run every race night with ribbons for the first 100 children to finish the one mile Fun Run.

COURSE:

The race will be out and back heading north from Pier 60 along the beach and then returning to finish under the Pier. (Yes, you do run on the sand!)

AWARDS:

Weekly -

Top 3 overall Male & Female. Age group awards 3 deep. (To be picked up night of the race - WE DO NOT MAIL AWARDS)

Age Groups: 10 & under; 11-12; 13-14; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75 & over.

Series - Points will be awarded in each race. The series winner will be the person with the most points accumulated. Points awarded as follows:

Overall M & F 1st – 20 points 2nd – 18 points 3rd – 16 points 4th – 8 points 5th – 6 points

Age Group 1st – 14 points 2nd – 12 points 3rd – 10 points

Overall Male & Female Series 1st place winners receive a grand prize (to be determined) (If your age group changes during the series, you will be scored in the age group where you ran the majority of the races for the final standings.) AWARDS WILL NOT BE MAILED

REGISTRATION/FEES:

Series Entry Fee $30 (WFYRC Member Series $25)

You can only sign up for the "series price" if you preregister or sign up at the first race on June 4th.

Single Race w/Shirt $15 (WFYRC Member $8)

Single Race w/o Shirt $10

HI-TECH Shirt included in Series fee. Shirts will be available each race night, while supplies last.

NO REFUNDS

Click here to download a PDF application form.

Checks payable to:

WFYRC Sunsets at Pier 60

Mail to: 1658 Windsor Drive

Clearwater, FL 33756

Online Registration at: Active.com

Race Night Registration starts at 5:45 pm.
Pick up Mail registrations at registration tables on race night

INFORMATION:

Skip Rogers (727) 442-5838 or www.Clearwaterbeachrun.com

Jacksonville: Outback Distance Classic

2010-05-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

DATE: November 25, 2010
TIME: 1/2 Marathon and 6K @ 8:00 AM

Joey 1 Mile Fun Run @ 8:05 AM
PLACE: Outback Steakhouse

9773 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville FL

BENEFICIARY:

A portion of each entry will be given to the Mandarin Food Bank. You can help too! We would like to help provide food for the needy on Thanksgiving Day. Donate by bringing in a canned good or make a $1.00 donation when you pick up your race packet. We will deliver the food to the Mandarin Food Bank each day. Thanks for your help!

AWARDS:
All half-marathon finishers receive a medal!

Cash awards will be given out to 1st Place Male/Female Overall ($500), 2nd Place Male/Female Overall ($300), 3rd Place Male/Female Overall ($200), 1st Place Male/Female Masters ($100).

Awards will also be given in the 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 & 75 and over age groups.

The 6K will not have awards.

COURSE:
The half marathon course is USATF-certified, shaded, flat, scenic, and runs along the St. Johns River under large oak trees.

The 6K loop course starts with the half-marathon and runs the first mile together before splitting at the corner of Oak Bluff and Scott Mill Roads. Both courses finish at the same finish line. Digital clocks will be located at the each mile and the finish. All miles and turns will be clearly marked. Traffic will be controlled by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. However, be aware that traffic will be on the course. Be careful for your own safety.

The one-mile for kids starts right after the start of the half-marathon & 6K at the corner of Pall Mall and San Jose Blvd., just in front of the 1/2 marathon start line.

POST-RACE:

Free post-race refreshments, beer, fruit and bagels will be available right after the race in the Outback Steakhouse parking lot. The awards ceremony will be held in front of Outback at 10:30 AM.

Click Here for More Race Information

Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon

2010-05-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, October 2, 2010
TIME: 1/2 Marathon and 5K @ 7:00 AM

PLACE: Veterans Memorial Wall,

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium

BLUF:

All branches of the United States military, led by the Marines and supported by our corporate and civic community, have come together in a spirit of partiotism and national unity to present the Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon and Freedom 5K Run.

AWARDS:
1/2 Marathon -

$500, $300, and $200 will be paid to the top three men and women overall. $100 to the first place masters male and female.

Awards will also be presented to the first three finishers in age groups: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and over.

The 1/2 Marathon awards will be presented at 10:00 AM at the stage in Metropolitan Park.

5K Awards -

Top three men and women overall and to the 1st Place Masters Male and Female.

Team awards to the top High School Cross Country, ROTC, and Military Teams.

5K awards presented at the stage starting at 8:30 AM.

Medals to all Half Marathon and 5K finishers!

Technical shirts to all entrants!

COURSE:
The Half-Marathon and Freedom 5K are both run on USATF-certified courses. The starting line is located near the Memorial Wall located between Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and the Veterans Memorial Arena. There will be mile makers with digital clocks located at each mile mark. All turns will be clearly marked with large turn signs. Most turns and intersections will be monitored by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office or Marines.

The half-marathon and 5K start together at 7:00 AM on Adams Street near the Veterans Memorial Wall at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

The 5K runs downtown to Water Street just past Pearl Street, turns around, and returns to Metropolitan Park to finish.

The half-marathon continues downtown over the Main and Acosta Bridges, and runs through historic Riverside along Riverside Avenue. The route continues to St. Johns Ave, runs through Avondale, loops around Boone Park and heads back along Riverside Ave until passing under I-95. At this point runners move to the Northbank Riverwalk and run the two-mile path along the St. John's River until Bay Street just east of Liberty Street.

Both races finish inside Metropolitan Park on the grass under crossed USMC 155mm howitzers.

POST-RACE:
Finishers are treated to live music, free beer, free food, and refreshments, followed by the awards ceremony. It all happens inside Metropolitan Park. Bring a blanket and enjoy the morning.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Wyndham on the Riverwalk serves as the host hotel for this event. To make reservations and receive a discounted rate call (904) 396-5100.

Click Here for More Race Information

Jacksonville Marathon Registration Opens

2010-05-18T06:35:00.000-07:00

DATE: Sunday, December 19, 2010
TIME: Marathon and 1/2 Marathon @ 7:00 AM
PLACE: The Bollles School, 7400 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL

BLUF: Registration is open! Register online (use promo code MayJMpromo) before May 31st, and receive $10 off!

AWARDS:
Marathon - $500, $200 and $100 to the top three overall men and women, $100 to the top master male and female.
The overall and the top ten finishers in each age group score double points in the Jacksonville Grand Prix.
Half-Marathon - $100 to the top male and female overall.
The overall and top ten finishers in each age group score single points in the Jacksonville Grand Prix.
Age group awards will be given to the first three finishers in: 19 and under, 20-24 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70 and over age-groups.

Medals to ALL marathon and half marathon finishers.

COURSE:
USATF-certified (FL95055DL), flat, fast, and scenic with 85% shade. The course starts at Bolles School on San Jose Blvd. and heads south to Mandarin, does a loop and heads back along the St. Johns River to Bolles. This event is a qualifier for the 2010 and 2011 Boston Marathon. Water & electrolyte stations are located approximately every two miles. Gel is provided at the 16 & 19-mile stations. Clocks and mile markers at every mile. The Marathon finishes on the Hodges Field Track in Skinner-Barco Stadium at Bolles School.

The half-marathon is also certified. The half-marathon runs with the Marathon until just after the 7-mile point and returns to finish on the track at Bolles.

EVENT:
The Marathon and Half-Marathon start together on San Jose Blvd. in front of Bolles School at 7:00 A.M. The gym opens at 5:30 AM for day-of-race registration and as an assembly area. A clothes check-in area is located at the starting line.

POST-RACE:
A post race celebration for all runners is held at the finish line. Free food and drinks are served. A post-race lunch of soup, bagels, and fruit is also available.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Embassy Suites will serve as race headquarters. They are offering a special discounted rate to runners. The Embassy Suites is located just east of Interstate 95 on Baymeadows Road, about 5 miles from the race site. Call (904)731-3555 for reservations.

The Holiday Inn Baymeadows located near the Embassy Suites will also be offering discounted rates (904) 737-1700. We will provide bus transportation to and from the race site from both of these hotels. Parking is very limited at The Bolles School.

TRANSPORTATION:
Bus transportation is provided from the Embassy Suites and Holiday Inn on Baymeadows Road from 5:30 AM until 6:00 AM. Hotel bus transportation is ONLY for runners staying at the hotel.

Click Here for More Race Information

Internal Revenue Service: Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations

2010-05-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

DATE: May 15 2010

TIME: Any Time

PLACE: The Internet

BLUF: Small tax-exempt organizations whose annual gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less may be required to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard, unless they choose to file a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

If you do not file your e-Postcard on time, the IRS will send you a reminder notice but you will not be assessed a penalty for late filing the e-Postcard. However, an organization that fails to file required e-Postcards (or information returns – Forms 990 or 990-EZ) for three consecutive years will automatically lose its tax-exempt status. The revocation of the organization’s tax-exempt status will not take place until the filing due date of the third year.

The e-Postcard is due every year by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of your tax year. For example, if your tax year ended on December 31, the e-Postcard is due May 15 of the following year. You cannot file the e-Postcard until after your tax year ends.

Click here to file the e-Postcard. If you have trouble accessing the system using that link, you may be able to access the filing site directly by typing or pasting the following address into your Internet browser: http://www.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=http%3A%2F%2Fepostcard.form990.org%2F. When you access the system, you will leave the IRS site and file the e-Postcard with the IRS through their trusted partner, Urban Institute. The form must be completed and filed electronically. There is no paper form.

The e-Postcard is easy to complete. All you need is eight items of basic information about your organization.

Most small tax-exempt organizations with gross receipts that are normally $25,000 or less must file the e-Postcard.

Lazarex Foundation: Coast to Coast Run for a Cure

2010-05-14T06:28:00.001-07:00

On July 3rd 2010, five runners (and friends) will be running across the state of Florida (203 miles) in hopes of raising awareness & money for cancer research.

Brothers Brodie & Caley Webber recently lost their grandmother to cancer. She fought hard for several years, but ran out of time before a cure could be found. So this year they (Brodie, Caley, Daniel Pacheco, Allanna Garber, Nick Ribble & Jenny Walls) decided to try something monumental to help raise money for cancer research & help ease the financial burden on families of those fighting the disease.

The brothers teamed up with Lazarex Cancer Foundation & will donate 100% of the proceeds raised to the foundation. While 203 miles seems impossible to the brothers & their friends, they understand it is like the thought of beating a seemingly incurable disease seems impossible to the patients for whom they run. They would appreciate the financial support of running clubs within the state of Florida, & ask that anybody willing to step up to the challenge donate to the Lazarex Cancer Foundation.

Persons who are interested in running the entire 203 miles, are being asked to donate a minimum of $50.00. However, runners are also welcome to join the Webbers for as many miles as they like along the route, which runs from Clearwater to Daytona. Their goal is to raise at least $25,000 by the time they start the journey. If you would like to donate supplies needed for the run (food, shoes, support staff/vehicles, etc.) or are interested in sponsorship or participation, please contact Caley Webber at caley425@gmail.com or (440) 759-8248. These runners are running to raise money to help give a cancer patient an extra day with their family, to inspire hope, to change the face of cancer. Monetary donations can be made online at http://www.active.com/donate/teamforlife/CFLWereWolves.

Your sponsorship or donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition to donating to an outstanding cause, this is also a wonderful PR opportunity for any group who gets involved.

The mission of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation is to provide resources for cancer patients who’ve been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up now. Lazarex builds a bridge to hope, dignity and life for cancer patients and their families. They provide financial assistance to defray the costs associated with patient participation in FDA clinical trials. Additionally, they help patients navigate their clinical trial options and provide community education and outreach services. Lazarex Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity; tax ID number 20-2562494.

RRCA 102 - Benefits of RRCA Membership: Begging For A Change

2010-05-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, a student from out of state here on spring break was out running on the side of a rural road, stepped out onto the roadway, & was struck & killed by a motor vehicle operator. So, while reading or watching the news reports, the first question which came to mind was, ‘we have many areas in our county which are not good for running or cycling, as evidenced by the number of cyclist & pedestrian accidents. Is there anything which can be done to make things safer for people who walk, run or bicycle for pleasure or as a means of transportation; are there resources available to build more & better pathways?’

One of the benefits of 501(c)(3) nonprofit status through RRCA many clubs have is the ability to use the club’s financial, physical, & personal resources to lobby decision-makers; clubs can ask these decision-makers to address the root causes & symptoms of social & economic problems affecting the community.

Lobbying gets a bad rap right off the bat. While many nonprofits are involved in direct service to a community or a constituency, in many cases they have been discouraged from advocating or lobbying for change. But, an effective organization can use both direct service & advocacy to achieve its mission. Direct service lets nonprofits & constituents learn what works & what doesn't; what the public & private sectors may do to make things work better. Nonprofits can bring that knowledge derived from directly serving their constituents to policymakers; the best practices can help make government or business more efficient & effective at addressing social problems.

People sometimes confuse the words "lobbying" & "advocacy" (a friend once corrected me when he saw a status where I used the term lobbying). Lobbying generally involves attempts to influence specific legislation through direct or grassroots communications with legislators or their staff. Advocacy includes lobbying but covers executive branch activities, issue organizing, & nonpartisan voter engagement. Lobbying always involves advocacy, but advocacy does not necessarily involve lobbying.

Some of the things a club can do as part of lobbying efforts include the use of research data (say, the number of people who run three-or-more times a week in a particular area) to express concerns & desired outcomes to inform decision-makers, the public, board members, funding sources, & club members. They can also work in coalition with other nonprofits (say, a local cycling club) to make their "voice" louder & more-easily heard by the persons who need to hear the message, thus sharing the cost of their efforts.

Even mail campaigns can persuade a decision-maker to support your club’s position on an issue. But competition is stiff for the attention of these people, & mail needs to be focused. You or your club can also take the time to meet with the decision-maker face-to-face. The information nonprofits provide is important to when a person makes a decision, so don't feel you are begging. If it comes to a situation where a public hearing is being held, a knowledgeable club leader or representative may be able to provide compelling testimony for or against a particular position.

So, you & your club are not strictly limited to passive advocacy campaigning; while there are certain (partisan political) areas in which a 501(c)(3) cannot participate, they can be a force for positive change in a community. The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest website explains more about the role nonprofit organizations can play in their community.

Amelia Island Runners: Changing the World, One Step at a Time

2010-05-12T05:42:00.000-07:00

From: e-Runner's Hi! (May 11, 2010)

Two members of Amelia Island Runners, Robin Lentz and Rose Bennett, organized volunteer fun runs last month to raise money for worthy causes. Robin's Bunny Hop 5K benefited the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, while Rose spearheaded a run/walk sponsored by the Memorial United Methodist Church to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief. Here, Rose looks back on her event:

The Change the World Fun Walk/Run for Haiti was held on April 24, and it was my first venture into directing a run. Since I had brought up the idea to Brett Opalinski, our Boston marathon pastor, as a possible event for United Methodist's national weekend of service, I got myself volunteered to direct it!

More than 50 participants and volunteers showed up, and $713 was donated, of which 100% will go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief to Haiti. I'd like to thank AIR's Bill Beaumont and Jim Hill, who set up the course. Jim also put out cones, signs and the clock on run day.

Thanks to Pres. Ed Hardee, who helped with publicity and acted as a sounding board, too. Publix gave us a $50 gift card with which we purchased bananas, and First Coast Community Bank gave us $100 to buy bottles of water. Susie (Lizzie's mom) from Y Yoga led the group in a warm-up exercise, and Aaron Bean was the start speaker.

All in all, I enjoyed setting up the run, but I did learn some things from this experience. I learned that I am blessed to live in a community with a running club whose members support events that are not directly tied to it. I was reminded that when I ask for help at church, at AIR, and at businesses around town, people respond generously.

I also learned that this idea of a fun walk/run with no pre-registration, no T-shirt, and done for donations only, worked!

RRCA: Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K Events

2010-05-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

DATE: June 6, 2010

TIME: 7:30 a.m.
PLACE: Fort Clinch State Park,

2001 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach, FL

EVENT:

5k walk to highlight walking as a great way to get moving, burn calories and tone muscle. After the walk, participants will learn from a fitness expert how they can plan their own fitness program. Proceeds from this event will fund vacations for our troops returning from Iraq and Afganistan.

REGISTRATION:

April 28, 2010 – May 28, 2010: $15.00 Race Fee + $2.50 SignUp Fee

May 29, 2010 – June 4, 2010: $20.00 Race Fee + $2.50 SignUp Fee

ROUTE:

The walk/run is entirely inside Fort Clinch State Park. The walk starts at the fort and is shaded by a canopy of oaks. The park is noted for it's abundance of wildlife and it's natural beauty.

All official Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K event participants will receive a Walk-It Challenge shirt as part of their registration.

PARTICIPATING EVENT CITIES:

Pleasant Hill, CA

Sacramento, CA

Boca Raton, FL

Fernandina Beach, FL

Melbourne, FL

Tampa, FL

Highland, IN

Morgan City, LA

St. Paul, MN

Youngstown, OH

Virginia Beach, VA

Austin, TX

Pearland, TX

Registration is coming soon for these locations:

Hamptons, NY

Cincinnati, OH

Arlington, VA

If you do not see an official Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K event in your area, find other great 5K events on the RRCA calendar of events hosted by RRCA member running clubs and events. Or, map your own 5K route.

INFORMATION:

Click < http://www.rrca.org/programs/walk-it-day/fernandina/ > to find detailed information for this local Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K event including driving directions to the starting line and event registration.

More information is also available at <

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs055/1101454195894/archive/1103361504015.html >

Pensacola Runners: Gary McAdams Sandshaker 5K

2010-05-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

DATE: June 12, 2010
TIME: 7:30 a.m.
PLACE: Casino Beach, Pensacola Beach, FL

PROCEEDS:
For the past 14 years the Gary McAdams 5K Scholarship race has awarded tens of thousands in scholarships to inspiring students. At the Pensacola Sports Association annual banquet, a female & male scholarship is presented to selected students who have prevailed against adversity.

COURSE:
A "Rave Run" along some of the most beautifully inspiring beaches in the world. The course starts and finishes on Pensacola Beach's own Casino Beach. The course goes east down Via De Luna Drive, alongside the various great hotels, restaurants & bars where many participants spend Friday and Saturday evenings. Then the course runs down the neighborhood streets of Avenida 10, Ariola Dr and Maldonado and comes to completion at Casino Beach.

After the race, stay for the renowned awards celebration at the Sandshaker!

REGISTRATION:
Before May 15th - $15 for all
May 15th to June 9th - $20 ($15 for PRA members)

Click here for a computer-fillable, printable form.

Mail-in registration forms to:
PRA/Gary McAdams 5k
P.O. Box 12552
Pensacola, FL 32591

Registration forms can be dropped off until June 9th @ 7:00PM at:
Running Wild
3012 East Cervantes St.
Pensacola, FL 32503

Shirts guaranteed to early registrants.

PACKET PICK-UP AND RACE DAY REGISTRATION:
Wednesday, June 9th, 3:00PM - 7:00PM - Running Wild
Thursday, June 10th, 4:00PM - 8:00PM - Sandshaker Lounge
Friday, June 11th, 4:00PM - 8:00PM - Sandshaker Lounge
Saturday, June 12th (Race Day Registration), 6:00AM - 7:00AM - Sandshaker Lounge

Saturday, June 12th (Race Day Donation), 7:00AM - 7:30AM - Sandshaker Lounge
(PARTICIPATION, BUT NOT TIMED/SCORED)

AWARDS:
Runners--Male/female overall, masters', grandmasters', senior grandmasters'
Top three male/female in age groups -
1-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-19, then standard five-year age groups
Walkers--Male/female overall, top 25
Wheelchair--Male/female overall

POST-RACE:
The legendary Sandshaker award celebration:
Sports drinks, fruit, bagels, pizza, baked goods and a band for hours of dancing...
Oh, yeah!!! Beer...

INFORMATION:
Bob Sundius - Phone: 850-777-6389 - Email: mcadams5k@pensacolarunners.com

Amelia Island Runners: Running Camp IS Back!

2010-05-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

DATES: June 21-June 25, 2010

TIME: 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m.

PLACE: Fernandina Beach High School

The dates have been set for the 2010 edition of the AIR Summer Running Camp. Once again, Bill Beaumont will head up a week of classroom instruction & personalized running advice.

AIR started the camp for middle school & high school students, but realized a few years ago there was valuable information for runners of all ages, from beginners to veterans. So everyone's invited, and it's free!

This year's edition will be from 9 to 11 a.m. June 21-25 (Monday-Friday) at Fernandina Beach High School.

INFORMATION:

For more info and an entry form, click here.

Gulf Winds Track Club: Seventh Annual Marzuq Shriners' Mothers Day 5K

2010-05-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, May 8, 2010

TIME: 8:00 a.m.

PLACE: Maclay Gardens State Park, Tallahassee, FL

ENTRY:

$12.00 Day-of-race

Registration form and fee can be mailed to:

Marzuq Shriners

Attn: Event Coordinator

P.O. Box 37130

Tallahassee, FL 32315-7130

AWARDS:

Awards to top male/female in each age group -

9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 & up

INFORMATION:

romanroch@hotmail.com

First Place Sports: Memorial Day 5K

2010-05-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

DATE: Monday, May 31, 2010

TIME: 5K @ 8:00 AM
Free 1-Mile Fun Run @ 9:00 AM
Awards Ceremony @ 9:30 AM

COURSE:
Course begins and ends at Spring Park in Green Cove Springs.

AWARDS:
Awards will be given to Top 3 overall male and female, Top Master's male and female, First Green Cove springs residents male and female, Top Grandmaster's male and female.

Awards will also be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group:

10 and under, 11-13, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80 & over.

The awards ceremony will be held at Spring Park at 9:30 AM.

INFORMATION:

Click Here for More Race Information.

First Place Sports: Somer's Sunshine Run

2010-05-03T11:06:00.001-07:00

DATE: May 22, 2010
TIME: 5K @ 8:00 AM
1M Fun Run @ 9:00 AM
PLACE: Orange Park Town Hall

BENEFICIARY:
The Somer Thompson Foundation

COURSE:
The 5k starts and finishes across the street from the Orange Park Town Hall. It is an out and back course along River Road.

POST-RACE:
A post race celebration and fundraiser will be at the Orange Park Town Hall after the race until noon!

INFORMATION:
Click Here for More Race Information.

USA Track & Field: Level I Coaching, Orlando, FL

2010-05-02T17:08:00.001-07:00

DATE: May 21-23, 2010
TIME: May 21, 2010 – 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
May 22, 2010 – 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
May 23, 2010 – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
PLACE: Wayne Densch Sports Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL

BLUF:
A USA Track and Field Level I Coaching Education Course will be held at the University of Central Florida - Orlando FL May 21-23, 2010. Coaches of Track and Cross Cross Country - High School, Youth, Masters and College will be interested in this program. Coaches of Adult Running Clubs and Triathlon Coaches (worth 10 CEU's for certified coaches) will also be interested).

USATF Coaching Education Level 1 program is a starting point for all track and field coaches. One of the objectives is to put all coaches on common platform (i.e., speaking the same language). The Level 1 program covers all events in a foundational manner by emphasizing fundamentals, rules, safety/risk management, and instruction techniques. Level 1 prepares individuals to coach junior high school, high school, club, and age group athletes. Level 1 Schools are two-and-a-half-day courses (21-24 hours), including both classroom instruction and hands-on training. Attendance at all sessions is required. After the school, participants must complete an online exam that covers event-related and sport science subjects. Upon attending the School and passing the exam, participants will be issued a Level 1 Certificate of Completion.

Benefits:
· Recognition as a USATF Level 1 Coach
· Eligibility to attend a Level 2 School
· Curriculum book covering sport science and individual events

Instructors:

Andrew Allden
School Director & Endurance Instructor
Level I and II Certified Endurance Instructor
18 Years as Division I Cross Country & Track Coach
Coached 2001 NCAA Division I Champion Men’s 800m
USTFCCCA 2003 Southeast Region Men’s Head Coach of the Year

Ron Grigg
Instructor Sprints/Hurdles/Relays
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jacksonville University
USATF Level II Instructor Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
USTFCCCA 2008 South Region Women's Head Coach of the Year

Glenn McAtee
Instructor Throws
Level III Certified in the Throws
Level II School Throws Instructor
Former Assistant Track Coach, Clemson University and Cal State Northridge

Mike Young
Instructor Jumps and Sports Sciences
Director of Sports Performance for Human Performance Consulting
Level III Certified in Jumps, Sprints, and Throws
USATF Biomechanist
Chairperson, Vertical Jumps USATF Coaching Education

REGISTRATION:
Early registration deadline is this Friday May 7. After that date registration fee rises from $125 to $150. It is possible to register up until the day of the course if seats are still available.
Register Online at www.usatf.org/groups/Coaches/education/schools/ by clicking the “school details” link.
Pre-registration fee is $125 if received by May 7, 2010; Late and on-site registration (space is limited) is $150.
Fee includes a Level 1 Curriculum and notebook cover. You must be a member of USATF to register – for more information, go towww.usatf.org/membership/
Refund policy: 1/2 of the registration fee ($62.50) will be refunded after the registration deadline and no refund will be given after the start date.
If you have any difficulties with the online registration contact the School Director.

LODGING:
Holiday Inn Select - 2125 High Tech Ave Orlando Florida 32817 (one mile from clinc)
Reservation and Front Desk (ask for USATF Clinic Rate) – 407-275-9000 407-275-9000
Rate: $75.00 per night plus tax or $79.00 with hot breakfast (one breakfast coupon per room)
Rate Code: UTC (call and ask for) or book on line

INFORMATION:
School Director: Andrew Allden 919-542-3853 919-542-3853 & aacoaching@aol.com
For more information log on to: www.usatf.org/groups/Coaches/education/

First Place Sports: Marty's Run

2010-04-30T07:11:00.001-07:00

DATE: Saturday, May 15, 2010
TIME: 5K @ 8:00 AM
1 Mile Fun Run @ 8:30 AM
PLACE: 1st Place Sports, 3931 Baymeadows Rd

BENEFICIARY:
Memories of Love is a non-profit organization, founded in memory of Marty Gottlieb, for families whose parents are battling a life-threatening illness. Our goal is to provide a treasured family respite where children with an ill parent can return home with a suitcase full of special memories to be unpacked and relived for many years to come.

FUN RUN:
The One Mile Fun Run for kids will begin at 8:30 AM after the 5K. All One Mile Finishers will receive a Finisher Medal.

COURSE:
This race will run the same course as the Celebration 5K. This USATF certified course is very flat and can be very fast. Digital clocks will be located at each mile. All turns and miles will be marked. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will control traffic on the course. Water stations will be located at the start, 1/2 way, and at the finish.

INFORMATION:

Click Here for More Race Information

First Place Sports: The Players Mother's Day 5K with Donna

2010-04-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

DATE: May 9, 2010
PLACE: Atlantic Beach, FL

Don't miss your chance to celebrate Mother's Day with a 5K along the beautiful Atlantic Beach coastline for the inaugural THE PLAYERS Mother's Day 5K with Donna. This 3.1 mile beach run and walk is a 26.2 with Donna event with proceeds benefiting bench-top research at Mayo Clinic and The Donna Foundation.

ENTRY:
Your $50 entry includes one Grounds Ticket to the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship Sunday, May 9. Registration is capped, so don't wait! Register today.

Participants are encouraged to wear your official THE PLAYERS 5K with Donna finishers t-shirt on Sunday to THE PLAYERS Championship. Wearing your shirt will also grant you access to the exclusive "5K with Donna Sawgrass Suite" on the 16th tee. The suite will be the perfect place to drop-in to see Donna Deegan, purchase a copy of her new book Through Rose Colored Glasses, grab a drink at the cash bar, shop for official race merchandise, and head back out to enjoy the tournament.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.breastcancermarathon.com.

First Place Sports: The Human Race, Spring 2010

2010-04-30T06:45:00.001-07:00

DATE: May 8, 2010
TIME: 5K@ 8:00 AM
1 Mile Fun Run @ 8:30 AM
PLACE: Cambridge Office Complex

Come run one of Jacksonville's most fun filled 5ks of the year! This is a 5K Walk/Run followed by a 1 Mile Fun Run to benefit local non profit agency/organizations. Collection bins will be on the site so that you can donate your "still wearable" athletic shoes for distribution to those in need.

AWARDS:
Awards will be given out to the top three men and women overall, first master male and female, first grand-master male and female (Carol Lackie Memorial Award), and top three males and females in age groups from 10 and under to 75 and over.

Any individual can walk or run, regardless of whether you choose to use this as a fundraising opportunity for your favorite organization. If you'd like to raise money for an organization of your choice, simply contact that organization and become one of their team members.

ORGANIZATIONS:
The ARC Jacksonville
Brooks Adaptive Sports
Child Guidance Center
CISV - Jacksonville
City Rescue Mission
Clay County Victim Services Center
DOSA Camps
Endangered Primate Foundation
Family Promise of Jacksonville
HandsOn Jacksonville
Jacksonville Roller Girls
Jacksonville Whitecaps
Jacksonville Young Life
JCP Cares
North Florida School Of Special Education
Pine Castle
RITA Foundation
Seamark Ranch
Seniors on a Mission
Spirit of Care for First Coast Cancer Foundation
Young Life Clay County

INFORMATION:
Click Here for More Race Information

First Place Sports: Run For The Pies

2010-04-30T06:32:00.001-07:00

DATE: June 12, 2010
TIME: Nike Championship @ 7:30 PM
Open 5K @ 8:00 PM
PLACE: Jacksonville Landing, Downtown Jacksonville

EVENT SCHEDULE:
7:30 PM........Nike Championship
8:00 PM........Open 5K
8:30 PM........Block Party begins
9:00 PM........Pie Eating Contest
9:10 PM........Prize $$ Awards
9:20 PM........Gigantic Giveaway
9:30 PM........Pie Run Awards

The Nike 5K Championship starts at 7:30 PM at the corner of Laura and Bay Streets. You can run in the championship race if you have run under 17:00 (men) and 20:00 (women) in a 5K in the last year. Nike running shoes will be given to each male who breaks 16:30 and to each female who breaks 20:00. You must run in the championship race to qualify for these prizes. The course is 5 loops and is ideal for spectating.

The Open 5K is open to all runners and walkers except those who run in the invitational race. This race is designed to give more runners a chance to win in their age group. 250 custom designed Run for the Pies medals will be given up to 15 deep in some age groups (See Open Race Awards). Plus, you could also win an apple pie!

AWARDS:
250 Run for the Pies medals will be awarded to male and female finishers in the following age groups: 10 & under, 11-13, 14-17, 18-20, 21-25, 26-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80+.

COURSE:
This 5K course is run entirely downtown. The open 5K will start in front of the Jacksonville Landing on Independent Drive and will finish on Hogan Street next to the Landing.

POST-RACE:
The Run For The Pies is designed to be a lot of fun for everyone. Be prepared to stick around. The two races, the large number of awards, and the Gigantic Giveaway takes a while to complete, but it will be worth it!

INFORMATION:
Click Here for More Race Information

Florida Road Races: 2nd Annual Florida Halfathon Challenge

2010-04-30T06:00:00.001-07:00

Registration is now open for athletes who want to register for the 2nd Annual Florida Halfathon Challenge:
• Oct 31, 2010: 2nd Annual Halloween Halfathon, Ft. De Soto Park, Tierra Verde
• Dec 12, 2010: 9th Annual Holiday Halfathon, Taylor Park, Largo
• Jan 23, 2011: 6th Annual Clearwater Halfathon, Coachman Park, Clearwater
• Mar 20 2011: 2nd Annual Beach Halfathon, Ft. De Soto Park, Tierra Verde

Based on the growth in the last few years (2,100 entrants to 3,775 athletes last season), combined with excellent feedback and expanded marketing, I expect to host a total of 4,500 athletes next season.

The first 50 athletes to register (or by Friday, April 30, whichever comes first) will receive a low entry fee of just $150 for all 4 races, just $37.50 per race. Once the first 50 athletes register, the entry fee for the next 100 entrants will be $160 - that's still just $40 per race. From there, entry fees will increase:

• $150 online only for the first 50 entrants or April 30, 2010, whichever comes first
• $160 online only for the next 100 entrants or May 9, 2010, whichever comes first
• $180 online only until June 27, 2010
• $200 online only until September 12, 2010
• $220 online only until October 29, 2010

(These discounts are solely for on-line registration for the complete series and more than offset Active.com service fees.)

All early entrants are eligible for full refunds, should an athlete need to withdraw for any reason.

Registration for individual races open this weekend.

REGISTER NOW ON-LINE

EVENT INFO:

Halloween Half is a howling good time, with athletes challenged to compete for time, as well as best costume awards. This race is staged at Ft. de Soto's North Beach, proclaimed the #1 beach in the country, running on an extremely flat barrier island with no hills, bridges, or discernible inclines.

Holiday Half is a festive point-to-point race through beach communities, residential areas, and county parks finishing lakeside at Taylor Park in Largo. With just one climb over a 25 ft. bridge and two overpasses, this is a mostly flat course and a great opportunity to celebrate the holidays with your athletic friends.

Clearwater Half is perhaps the most scenic and most challenging half marathon in the state, with two ascents over two large bridges twice each and spectacular views from each vista. The entire course is within 1/4 mile of Clearwater Harbor and / or the Gulf Of Mexico, with a harborside finish at Coachman Park.

Beach Half is run on the exact same course as the Halloween Half and provides athletes an opportunity to accurately measure their progress 20 weeks after their Halloween visit.

SERIES AWARDS:
In addition to offering finisher awards and event overall awards after each halfathon, each athlete's finishing times are tracked and added together to determine the Florida Halfathon Champions. Athletes accumulate total finishing time by completing any three of the four halfathons from Halloween through March. Athletes who complete all four halfathons have their slowest time dropped.

To recognize the fastest and most consistent halfathon athletes, special overall and age-group awards are based on three halfathons. Athletes who complete all four halfathons receive a limited-edition series finisher medal.

ATHLETE PERKS:
• Discounted registration fees for early entrants
• Fair refund policy for early entrants – see below
• USATF certified course
• Safe courses with traffic control, cones and police
• Accurate mile markers, computerized timing / scoring
• Aid stations stocked with Gatorade, water, oranges and friendly volunteers
• Running Starfish medals for all Halfathon finishers
• Awards for the top three in standard age groups
• Overall, Masters (40+), and Grandmasters (50+) plaques for the top three males and females
• Complete websites for easily accessible information:
- On-line registration
- On-line confirmation frequently updated • Regular e-mails, providing updated information
• Opportunity to pick up bib numbers on race day
• Colorful t-shirts highlighting each race's theme
• Finish-line celebration in beautiful parks:
- An assortment of fruits, bagels, and pastries
- Freshly prepared homemade pasta
- Ice-cold Michelob Ultra on tap
- Live entertainment

Disney Endurance Series: Official Running Club Program

2010-04-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Disney’s Endurance Series is proud to announce their Official Running Club Program!

This program offers many benefits to running clubs for participating in Disney’s Endurance Series events, including the opportunity to compete against other running clubs for awards!

Disney Endurance Series events include:

• 2010 Expedition Everest™ Challenge (Adventure Racing) presented by Champion

• 2010 Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend

• 2010 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

• 2011 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA

• 2011 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Lady Foot Locker

ELIGIBILITY:

• You must be an established running club under RRCA

• Each club must submit an online application and be accepted into the Program by Disney

• Participation is subject to program terms and conditions

BENEFITS:

• $5 discount on 5K, Half Marathon, and Marathon race entry fees

• Eligible to compete in Running Club Challenges
• Two (2) guaranteed paid race entries for each race taking place during the weekend (subject to standard entry fees)

• Eligible for select discounts on other race weekend amenities where applicable

• Eligible for specially-priced theme park tickets where applicable (subject to availablity)

• Eligible for specially-priced accommodations at select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels where applicable (subject to availablity)

• Event transportation provided from select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels to all event activities

• Group rates available for post-race party tickets

RESOURCES:

• Personal contact from the Disney’s Endurance Series Sales Team

• Assistance in planning group functions and social activities at Disney’s Endurance Series events

As part of the Official Running Club program, Disney offers incentives to club organizers based on the number of members who participate in each Disney race. Incentives vary based on which Disney races your club attends.

APPLICATION:
The link to apply for the program is http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/about/endurance-running-clubs/.

INFORMATION:

More information can be found at http://disneyenduranceseries.com/.

CONTACT:
Sarah Ratzlaff at 407-938-3826 or Sarah.E.Ratzlaff@disney.com for more details.

2010 RRCA Convention Observations, Part Two of Two

2010-04-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

Friday evening's social function was out on Lake Mirror with a fundraiser for Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, the annual Lakeland Derby. Think Derby Day in the old My Fair Lady movie; but with people-powered swan boats rather than thoroughbred horses & jockeys. The hats, the food & drink, the chance to socialize in the fresh air & sunshine, all that wonderful stuff which makes a late spring day in Florida so...tempting. Immediately after the Derby was a live band & fireworks over the lake. If you were staying at the Terrace you could sit on the porch with your favorite drink & enjoy the view, as several of our friends from the Montana delegation & the Memphis Runners did with us. We initially thought of making it an early night until the fireworks, since there was a national championship race the next morning, but when the first shells exploded overhead, all bets were off, at least for an additional 15-to-20 minutes.

Saturday - race day for the Race The Lakes 5K/10K and 15K challenge started early, with a 6:00a.m. packet pick-up for a 7:00a.m. 10K start. As we walked by Lake Mirror it was comforting to see the swans were still all right after the fireworks display of the previous evening. The participants who were doing the 15K challenge had to run the 10K at 7:00, followed by the 5K at 8:30. I figured, after my Thursday morning jaunt, that a hilly 10K was just enough fun for one weekend. The routes had what I would like to describe as a near-perfect blend of tree coverage, beauty & torment. When most of the routes you race are almost dead-flat a 10K course with five climbs of over 50 feet are going to do a number on you. After going back to the hotel to clean up & put on my Sigvaris compression socks (as part of a research study), it was enough time to watch the 5K & 1-mile kids run start. Mirror Lake is approximately a mile in circumference, so families could watch their children go through their paces...well, some were pulled through their paces by a parent or two, but...

The general session for Saturday on Risk Management was hosted by Terry & Trent Diller of Star Insurance & K&K Insurance, RRCA's group insurer. As a result of the tireless efforts of the RRCA national office, there will be several new insurance offerings for clubs, including coverage for medical professionals supporting an event, as well as the potential to get immediate additional insured certificates on-line. Terry also clarified several questions about the aggregate claim amount per club policy, equipment and rental vehicle coverage. As always, he stressed the need for race & event club directors to exercise due diligence in order to minimize risk at their events. Especially important was the need to refer area events without insurance to the RRCA office rather than take that risk onto the clubs.

Since I'm not directly involved in the planning of club activities, I decided to take in one of the continuing education seminars for coaches. The coaching seminars are directed toward RRCA certified coaches to keep their credentials current; every convention offers something new, it seems. This year included biomechanics & nutritional supplements. I could have sat in on a seminar on childrens' running, programs for middle/back-of-the-packers, beginning runners, or non-running related activities to draw in the younger demographic.

Saturday's luncheon featured Olympic marathoner Keith Brantly, a product of the Central Florida running scene. Brantly spoke about his experience as a young professional runner, which saw many successes on the road racing scene, and many near-misses at the Olympic Trials level. His persistence through five Olympic Trials in seven events underscored the challenge of many professional runners; how to make a living while performing at the highest levels of the sport. He closed by lauding RRCA's efforts to support young professionals through the Roads Scholar program and gave a donation of his own during the speech.

The main meeting room also hosted the RRCA Silent Auction to raise funds for the State Representative program, the proceeds of which go to defray annual convention & yearly operational expenses of the nearly 50 volunteer representatives. Later in the evening, Phil Stewart from Road Race Management hosted a live auction to fundraise for RRCA programs like Kids Run The Nation, Roads Scholar and Grassroots Support, as well as the State Reps. The evening award banquet speaker was another luminary of American distance, Bill Rodgers. Ever have one of those experiences where you hear someone you admire talk, and you cannot recall a thing they had to say because you have one of those (as John Parker Jr. would call it) buh-dee, buh-dee, buh-dee moments? Same here. By the end of Saturday evening you're so full of stuff to take back to your club it's difficult to know where exactly to begin.

So, to those of you who have supported the State Rep program in the past, thank you. To those of you who did have a chance to go and did, thank you. To those of you who missed out...well, exactly...you missed out. Like describing vanilla ice cream to someone who has never had it, it's difficult to describe an RRCA Annual Convention to someone who has never been there. So mark the calendar and set aside the budget for May 12-15, 2011, Fredericksburg, VA; the Marine Corps Half-Marathon & the Fredericksburg Area Runners Club will be our host...that means the convention race will be a half-marathon. Good time to start training, no?

Junior Civitan International - Race For Research 5K R/W

2010-04-25T17:43:00.001-07:00

DATE: May 22, 2010
TIME: Run - 8:00 a.m., walk 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Sandalwood High School,

2750 John Prom Blvd.,

Jacksonville, FL 32246

PROCEEDS:
Proceeds benefit people with physical and mental disabilities through Civitan International Research

ENTRY FEES:
12 and below - $10
13 and older - $20

ACTIVITIES:
Free carnival follows immediately after the event.

INFORMATION:
Click here for more information and to register for the event.

Info: Debbie@FloridaJuniorCivitan.org 866 415-8020
or Matthew@FloridaJuniorCivitan.org Cell/Text 904 707-9561

2010 RRCA Convention Observations, Part One of Two

2010-04-25T14:58:00.001-07:00

Been home for about two hours from the trip to Lakeland this week for the 52nd RRCA National Convention. It's nearly impossible to tie all of the loosened threads of thoughts and experiences into a brief, readable post, but I'll try to do my best.

Wednesday - arrived in Lakeland & checked into the Lakeland Terrace Hotel, right in the heart of the city. It's been a long time since I was last here, & I have to admit it looks much better than I recollect. I'm a little disappointed at not getting into the Hyatt, right next door to the Lakeland Center, where all the sessions are going to take place. However, since it's a ten-minute walk or a quick drive, it won't be as bad as I fear.

Thursday - the local running club is taking all of the early attendees - state reps, board members, staff and a few spouses - out for an early morning group run. So, into the shuttle bus we go, & over to the Hyatt. The Lakeland Runners are an upbeat group; a far cry from the perception we had of the folks we ran into in the Dolphin/South End Club at last years' convention! So, there were three different distances we could run in the morning, & at least three different pace groups for each run. I opted for the middle distance of 5.2 miles, & a 7:30-8:00/mile pace group. Good thing, because the 5.2 had three nice hills to climb & descend in the middle of the route. The run leaders tell us this is good preparation for Saturday's Race The Lakes 5/10K. We manage to get back to the Hyatt, shuttle to the hotel, & clean up in time to be bussed out to the Circle B preserve for a training session.

The nearly 30 state reps aren't certain what to think of a shuttle bus ride to an off-site location for training. However, once we arrive at Circle B, we realize this is a more open & relaxed environment in which to train. The sites are enclosed & semi-enclosed, with views of the preserve through windows...much better than being sequestered all day in a hotel ballroom! For first-time attendees, state rep training is a "fire hose" experience; for the rest, a refresher & a time to catch up with old friends...not that we didn't have the chance the night before over dinner in downtown Lakeland...but it's easier to crack jokes here than it is when we're on-line. The afternoon arrives all too soon, & it's time for the welcome reception at a local sports bar/wing joint. The logistics of a Hooter's run seems out of the question, in spite of one rep's best laid plans. So, when the need for more genuine food calls, it's next door to the pizza joint for a dozen of us. The slices are great, but the beer is bottled; Friday looks to be a long day...so most of us are back at the hotel at a reasonable hour.

Friday - since the first session isn't until about nine o'clock it seemed like a good chance to check out some of the recreation facilities Lakeland has to offer. We learned of an outdoor pool which opened at six, only a few miles from the hotel. While Lake Mirror outside of our hotel was a tempting alternative, we figured the swans needed their beauty rest...so, no open water workout for us.

Rather than start the opening session with information on the RRCA's insurance policy, Jeannie Fox from the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest spoke (for two hours) on ways in which individual running clubs can influence public policy through lobbying. Yes, not just advocacy in the hope someone in power will make a change, but lobbying for specific change. Wow. What a concept. There's certain things a non-profit running club or event club can & cannot do, & the surprising thing is what can be done under the auspices of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit status which most RRCA clubs have. I'll try to scribble more on this in the future.

After a short breather, the regional directors hosted their breakout sessions with their reps & clubs; a time to recognize national award nominees, acquaint the clubs & representatives to each other, & open the floor for issues & concerns. A lively discussion ensued on the RRCA championship bidding process & some perceived obstacles faced by individual running clubs.

Friday's luncheon traditionally honors the RRCA's State Representative of the Year. The representative for the coastal region of California, George Rehmet, received the honor & a gorgeous jacket from the RRCA as a token of their appreciation. The luncheon attendees were then treated to a chat with Pat Williams, the vice president of the Orlando Magic. Williams talked about the eight ingredients of a great team: outstanding talent, outstanding leadership, commitment to excellence, passion for the activity, importance of the team over the individual, empowerment of team members, mutual respect, & high moral character. He challenged the attendees to develop a habit of life-long learning by reading at least sixty minutes a day.

Skunks and dinosaurs? What do they have to do with growing an event? Well, they can be the two "animals" which can stunt event growth. One of the seminar speakers, when talking about how to manage race growth mentioned those... Skunks are the people who get fearful of change or having someone new approach them with an idea, then they "spray" everyone in defense. Dinosaurs? Well, I think you can understand that one, right? They're back in the stone age & have always done things a particular way, & aren't willing to change for ANYONE. Ever get one of those memorable terms which isn't going to come out of your head for a long time? That's mine.

Part two to follow.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: PurpleStride 5K R/W

2010-04-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

DATE: May 22, 2010
TIME: 8:30am
PLACE: St. Petersburg War Veterans' Memorial Park
Bay Pines VAMC, 9600 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL

BLUF:
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is a nationwide group of people working together to advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer.

REGISTRATION:
Run/Family Walk - 12 and older - $20
Event Day Registration - $25
Run/Family Walk - 11 and younger - $10
Virtual participant - $35
Survivor - FREE!

EVENT SCHEDULE:
Registration 5/22/2010 7:30 am - 8:20 am
5K competitive run begins 5/22/2010 8:30 am
5K family walk begins 5/22/2010 8:45 am
Awards and post-event celebration 5/22/2010 9:30 am - 11:00 am

INFORMATION:
Click to get to the Tampa Bay Purplestride's website.

Navarre Beach Chamber of Commerce: Fun Fest 5K R/W, 1M FR

2010-04-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

DATE: May 15, 2010

TIME: 7:30 a.m.

PLACE: Navarre Beach Park parking lot (north side of Gulf Blvd)

PROCEEDS: Proceeds benefit Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary & Emerald Coast Honor Flight

COURSE: Out-and-back 5K (3.1 miles) along Gulf Blvd. One Mile Fun-Run: Starts after 5K course closes (for children 12 and under)

REGISTRATION:

Registration (after Apr 16) $22

Day of Race $25

Make checks payable & mail to:

Navarre Chamber Foundation 5K Run

8668 Navarre Pkwy #142

Navarre, FL 32566

Fun-Run Only (12 and under - Includes T-shirt) $15

T-Shirts guaranteed to the first 300 registrants.

POST RACE & AWARDS:

Post-race party and awards at Navarre Fun Fest site with live music & refreshments (please have your race bib).

Awards are handcrafted medallions by local artist Brenda Stokes of Holley Hill Pottery.

Fleet Feet Sports, Orlando: 3rd Annual Lake Mary 5K R/W

2010-04-13T06:03:00.001-07:00

DATE: May 22, 2010
TIME: 7:30 a.m.
PLACE: Lake Mary High School Stadium
655 Longwood, Lake Mary, FL

BLUF:
Proceeds assist student-athletes & enhance Lake Mary High School Booster Club & athletic department programs.

ENTRY FEES (non-refundable):
Before midnight Friday, May 14 - $20
May 14 to May 20 - $25
Day of Event - $30

Click here to register on-line through Active.com.
Click here to download a registration form.

T-Shirts guaranteed for first 400 participants.

Shade Tree Celebration with: Fruit, Bagels, Water, & Other Concessions.

AWARDS:
Overall male and female
Masters' male and female
Top three male and female in age groups

PACKET PICK-UP:
May 19-20 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fleet Feet Sports, 397 E. Altamonte Dr. #1470, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 (407) 772-2233

May 21 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Lake Mary High School (front office), 655 Longwood, Lake Mary (407) 320-9550

Day of event 6:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.
Lake Mary High School Stadium, 655 Longwood, Lake Mary (407) 320-9550

INFORMATION:
http://www.fleetfeetorlando.com/races

American Running Company: I Love "Mothers'" Day 5K

2010-04-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

DATE: Sunday, May 09, 2010

TIME: 8:00 AM

PLACE: John Chestnut Park
2200 East Lake Road./McMullen Booth Road
Palm Harbor, FL

BLUF: A great way for the family to come out and celebrate mothers. This event is geared for all types of runners; from elites to family members with baby joggers. This event includes breakfast afterwards. There will also be raffle items given away during breakfast.

All female finishers receive technical running shorts.

AWARDS:

Top 25 males receive X-Loop Sunglasses.

Special Award categories for mothers:

- Top Mother/Daughter (Combined Ages 49 and under, 50 and over)

- Top Mother/Son (Combined Ages 49 and under, 50 and over)

- Top Mother/Baby Jogger

- Youngest Mother

- Three-Generation (grandmother, mother, child)

- Oldest Grandmother

- Youngest Grandmother

Click here for more information and registration.

Pensacola: High Heel Dash for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2010-04-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, May 22, 2010
TIME: 9:00 am
PLACE: Running Wild, Pensacola, FL

BLUF:
Come out for a fun run...in high heels! Run a 150-yard dash to kick off your fundraising for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Not on a MSABC team? Grab a friend & your heels for fun, brunch & a celebration of living well.

REGISTRATION:
$20 (Event Day Registration, Saturday May 22nd from 7:30-8:30 am, is $25)

Register in person at Running Wild or

Download a registration form and mail with payment to:

Running Wild
Attn: High Heel Dash
3012 E. Cervantes
Pensacola, FL 32503

100% of registration fee goes to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer & MSABC teams.

Free event shirts to the first 300 registered.

PACKET PICK-UP:
Running Wild:-
Friday, May 21st from 4-7 pm
Saturday, May 22nd from 7:30-8:30 am

AFTER-EVENT:
"Pamper Yourself" area with Escape Wellness Spa
Complimentary scrumptious fare from Nancy's Haute Affairs for participants
Breast Health Clinic provided by The Woodlands Medical Specialists
Survivor "Notes from the Road"
"Skinny Jeans" Mat Class Demo by Pilates Core Training
GIANT pink check presentation to MSABC

DRC Sports: Brooks YMCA Sunny's 5K

2010-04-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, May 15, 2010
TIME: 7:30am
PLACE: Brooks YMCA

10423 Centurion Parkway North

Jacksonville, FL

ENTRY FEES:

Entry Fees are Non-Refundable & Non-Transferable. If you are not able to run for any reason, please consider your entry fee a donation to the YMCA Strong Kids charity campaign.

Pre-Registration (until May 3) - $20.00

Registration (May 4 to May 12) - $25.00

Late Registration (May 13 to Race Day) - $30.00

There will be Race Day Registration - 6:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., Saturday, May 15.

REGISTRATION:

RaceIt.com accepts on-line registrations until midnight, May 12.

In-store applications are available at Jacksonville Running Company, 9823 Tapestry Park Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32246, Phone (904) 379-7170

Downloaded & printed applications from the DRC Sports site can be mailed to:

DRC Sports

P.O. Box 70

Inverness, FL 34451

PRE-RACE PACKET PICK-UP:
Pick up your race packet early at the Jacksonville Running Company, Friday May 14, 2010 from 10:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Race Day Registration & Packet Pick-up at Brooks YMCA, 10423 Centurion Parkway North,
Jacksonville, FL

RACE DAY SCHEDULE:
6:00 a.m.- Registration Opens
7:30 a.m.- Race Starts
9:00 a.m.- Awards Ceremony Begins

Check the local weather with The Weather Channel!

AWARDS:
Top 3 Overall Individual Male / Female
Top Masters Male / Female
Age Group awards for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place at each age

MORE INFORMATION:
DRC Sports, (352) 637-2475

Pensacola Pilates Core Training: Cycle for the Cure

2010-04-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, April 24, 2010

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Pilates Core Training Studio

2130 Summit Blvd

Pensacola, FL 32503

PROCEEDS:

All donations collected during this indoor cycle class will support the facilitation and research to improve treatment of and ultimately find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

COST: Cost of the event is $10.

INFORMATION:

Call 287-5836 or go to http://www.pilatescoretraining.com for details.

Florida Striders: Running Class

2010-04-06T07:31:00.001-07:00

DATE: April 7, 2010

BLUF: The next Florida Strider Running Class begins Wednesday, April 7, and lasts for eight weeks. This class is directed at runners of all ability levels, from the true beginner (most of the class members), to the long-time runner who wants to improve their speed. The four training schedules are not based on running speed, but endurance:

Beginning - can run less than a mile comfortably, without stopping.
Intermediate - can run one-to-two miles comfortably without stopping.
Advanced - can run two or more miles comfortably without stopping.
Speed - good running base, but want to get faster & willing to run at the bleeding edge of fun.

The class has been popular in the past, so class size is limited to 150 due to parking space & track capacity. The first 150 entry forms received will secure their spots in the class. Interested applicants will still need to contact Bob Boyd, by phone (272-1770) or email, to confirm their commitment, determine the appropriate training schedule, ensure they have running shoes to keep them from being on the injured/reserve list, are committed to making time for the training each week, & to answer any questions.

INFORMATION:

More details, including the class information, entry form, FAQs, & the training schedules are on the Florida Striders website. If you would like to join us in the class, please complete the Entry form and send it to me (address is on the form) with your check. If you have any questions about whether the class is right for you, or what training level is right, please contact Bob. Please note the training level that sounds best to you on the entry form.

First Place Sports: Corporate Run 5K

2010-03-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

DATE: Thursday, April 22, 2010
TIME: 5K @ 6:30 PM
PLACE: Metropolitan Park

EVENT:
The Corporate Run/Walk, which attracts over 3,000 participants, is a 5K run/walk open to employees of corporations, government agencies, financial institutions, & individuals. Participants receive a t-shirt & a post-race party billed as Jacksonville's largest office party. Companies are encouraged to rent a team tent as a gathering spot on race day!

DIVISIONS:
Banking & Financial - Banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, stock brokers, and real estate firms.
Legal & Professional - Law firms, police teams, government agencies dealing strictly in law enforcement.
Accountants.
Medical - Hospitals, medical centers, clinics, doctor's offices, therapy companies, etc.
Transportation - Railroad, trucking, shipping, automobile dealerships, etc.
Insurance - Life, Health, Auto, HMO's, PPO's.
Sales, Retail and Hospitality - Businesses involved in retail or wholesale sales.
Manufacturing & Construction - Engineers, Architects, Any company involved in manufacturing or construction.
Military & Government - Any division or branch of the military and any goverment agency, city, state, or federal including education (public or private schools).
Media & Communications - Television, radio, newspaper and magazine, advertising, telephone, computers, paging companies, & electronics, and PR firms.
Miscellaneous - Any company or organization not fitting into one of the other divisions.

Each team captain must send a request for a team roster to carly@1stplacesports.com. http://us.mc315.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=carly@1stplacesports.com The team captain will be e-mailed a formatted excel spreadsheet, which must be completed and returned by e-mail to kim@1stplacesports.com http://us.mc315.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kim@1stplacesports.com . The Team Captain is also responsible for collecting all individual entry forms with payment and turning it all in together by April 15th to 1st Place Sports, 3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32217.

Download the Team Captain's Handbook http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103226654111&s=29946&e=001h01wfTe6t1hGVY8sTtV6bvAviC7B-0MbfuCk2z6WGa6RPCSgrWNCedH_ft8GTNE2kFBtzfc2sFF7T0xRQBSt_5M1TqS1dJYp45gB3aqXkMjdmZbBulVK3cxHTwMqWUa8mD8I2ZV0I2AWwp-fQnlmMQn0Roy2Q6h5

Big Post Race Celebration
Live music, free beer, and free food at Metropolitan Park!!

Click Here for More Race Information http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103226654111&s=29946&e=001h01wfTe6t1jEjxJeazDqcaFGhIevRbIIq3dUc61P_3D_c6qOEoq-agxvN10pvlHGm3NpmUStk7COIB_IHE16_EXK-drTlleWdO6JvjzWBbyGQTUTFElrjm-E6-THFuMtK_M-CW0fBnU=>

First Place Sports: Mandarin Biathlon

2010-03-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, April 10, 2010
TIME: 7:30 AM
PLACE: Walter Jones Park, 11964 Mandarin Road

EVENT PROCEEDS:
All proceeds from the race will benefit the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society.

DIVISIONS:
Open Men
Open Women
Age Division - up to 29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & over men/women
Relay Teams - one person paddles, one person runs. Men, Women, and Mixed divisions. (Make sure you write your relay team member on your entry form.)

COURSE:
Kayak - 5.78 miles - starts at Walter Jones Park, around Mandarin Point to Mandarin Park.
Run - 3.9 miles- starts at Mandarin Park & travels along Mandarin Rd, Brady Rd, & Flynn, finishing at Walter Jones Park.

REGISTRATION:
">Click here to register online.
Click here to download a registration form.

MORE INFORMATION:
Click Here for More Race Information.

Fleming Island Rotary Run

2010-03-31T06:29:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, April 10, 2010
TIME: 5K Begins @ 6:00 PM
PLACE: Fleming Island High School, 2233 Village Square Pkwy, Fleming Island, FL 32203

REGISTRATION:
Click here to register online.

EVENTS/COURSE:
The 5K starts at the Fleming Island High School at 6:00 PM & finishes on the Fleming Island High School Track. The Mile Fun Run will run around the Fleming Island High School after the 5K (at 7:00 PM).

AWARDS:
Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place Women/Men in age groups: 17-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 & older.

There will also be awards for all fun runners!

POST-RACE:
Plan to stay after the race for food & drinks (free for runners), awards, activities for the kids, music & more!

MORE INFORMATION:
www.flemingislandrotaryrun.org

First Place Sports: Riverside Run For Cover

2010-03-31T06:21:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, April 3, 2010
TIME: 5K Begins @ 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Riverside Park, Park Street, Jacksonville, FL

COURSE:
The race starts & finishes at Riverside Park near Five Points. The course runs through Riverside & the beautiful Willow Branch Park.

AWARDS:
Awards will be given to the top three male & female finishers, first place masters male and female, & to the top three finishers in age groups: 10 & under, 11-13, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 , 70-74, 75 & over.

PRE-RACE/POST-RACE:
Free Private Skin Cancer Screenings will be offered from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. by physicians with the North Florida Dermatological Society!

Stay after the race for the post race celebration in the park! Enjoy live music & refreshments, including beer!!

MORE INFORMATION:
Click here for more race information.

FL Running & Triathlon: Orlando Runner Runs Up Empire State Building

2010-03-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

From: Florida Running & Triathlon e-Newsletter, March 2010 (vol. 3, iss. 1)
Orlando's Chad Kreiley Competes in Empire State Building Run-Up

On February 2, Chad Kreiley, 32, of Orlando, joined more than 300 runners as they traded in the road for the stairs within the iconic site of the Empire State Building - the closest running will get to being an extreme sport. Participants combine speed, endurance, strength, & fearlessness to race up one of the world's most famous landmarks at the 33rd Annual New York Road Runners Empire State Building Run-Up in New York City.

Kreiley is no stranger to the 1,576 steps it takes to get from the ground floor to the Observatory Deck. But this year, his father joined him for a unique father-son duo. The fastest runners of this invitational event finish in 10 minutes. However, for most of the participants, it's the fascination of climbing one of the world's landmarks that inspires them to endure the pain & accept the challenge.

Kreiley started competing in stair climbs two years ago as a new athletic challenge to complement running races, & a way to release the stress of being a middle-school teacher in Orlando. For stair climb training, he does everything from the stair climber at a nearby gym to the stairwell at a local 28-floor hotel. Training for stair climbs has not only improved his climbing performance, but significantly lowered his road race times as well; his second marathon, last January at Disney World, was a 26-minute personal best of 2:56.

Kreiley has participated in stair climbs in four different states within the past year, but most have been in Florida. He has won Florida's four major stair climbs: 42 flights in Tampa, 55 flights in Miami, 25 flights in Orlando, and 42 flights in Jacksonville. The Empire State Building Run Up (ESBRU) is different from most stair climbs around the country for a variety of reasons. Most stair climbs are run for charity, to compete, a participant must pay a registration fee & raise a certain amount of charitable donations. According to Kreiley, he believes the ESBRU is the only climb where a performance resume is required. From the hundreds of applications sent in, only approximately 200 people get accepted.

Navarre Rotary Club: Running for Education 5K R/W & 1M FR

2010-03-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday, April 3 2010

TIME: 8:00 a.m. (5K), 9:00 a.m. (1M)

PLACE: Public Parking Area on Gulf Boulevard, near Boat Launch Ramp, Navarre Beach, FL

PROCEEDS:

Proceeds from this event go toward Rotary youth scholarships.

COURSE:

Lineup for the race will be in the public parking area on Gulf Boulevard, near Boat Launch Ramp. The race winds along Gulf Boulevard.

PACKET PICK-UP:

Friday, April, 2 from 1-5 p.m. at the Pullum Family YMCA, (corner of Pawnee Dr & High School Blvd)

Saturday, April 3 (day of race) starting at 6:30 a.m. near the starting line.

Late registration will also be available at this time.

REGISTRATION:

Online registration is available through Active.com.

Adults:

$20 thru Mar 16

$25 Mar 17 - Apr 2
$30 on Day of race

Students:

$10 until Mar 25

$15 until Apr 3

$10 for the 1-mile fun run

T-Shirts only for first 200 participants and guaranteed size only for registered runners by March 15, 2010.

AWARDS:

Awards for top overall adult male & female

Top overall K-12 student male & female.

All K-12 student participants will receive a participation ribbon.

Make checks payable to:
Rotary 6940 Foundation
8540 Navarre Parkway, Suite 301
Navarre, FL 32566

MORE INFORMATION:

Runners and sponsors are still needed! Please call Jennifer Bushnell, Chair, at 934-1000 for information.

Gulf Winds Track Club: 36th Annual Palace Saloon 5K

2010-03-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

DATE: April 10, 2010
TIME: 8:00 a.m. ET

PLACE: James Messer Field Park, near intersection of Jackson Bluff Rd & Dupree St, Tallahassee FL.

COURSE:

The course is USATF-certified (FL99027DL) 5K (3.106856 miles), and includes only three turns and one hill. The race starts by heading north on Dupree Street, then west on Municipal Drive, south on Appleyard (past the County Jail), and then east on Jackson Bluff Road to the Palace Saloon. You can see a course map here:http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=8780

REGISTRATION:

Day of race - you can register at Messer Park starting at 6:45 AM - $15 ($10 for no T-shirt).

However, you can save money & time by pre-registering before April 7 - $12 ($7 no T-shirt).

Click here for a registration form.

You can also register online through Active.com.

PACKET PICK-UP:

You can pick up your packet before race day or register in person on April 7 from 6:00-8:00pm ET at the Palace Saloon, 1303 Jackson Bluff Rd.

Run 'Em Over? Hell, Yes, You're Wrong.

2010-03-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

SUBTITLE: What This Town Needs Is A Few Genuine Good Bike/Run Paths And A Few Educated People...

I was at the gym facility near my house yesterday morning, getting in a nice little 30-minute piece on the elliptical trainer & listening to some of my favorite tunes on my new iPod Touch (some more on that little gadget in the future). Darned if someone on the treadmill in front of me didn't have the local morning newscast on; the proprietor of the local running emporium was being interviewed. Since the lady had the sound on & no closed caption I couldn't hear anything over my own music (there's a time & a place to drown out everything else with your own jams, & that time & place was one of 'em). It wasn't until mid-morning when I visited a friend of mine to talk about business & upcoming events that I heard what the interview was tied into.

Seems a young lady had been struck & killed by a motor vehicle in a community on the north side of our county the night before. She & two of her friends, all in the area on an alternative spring break (mission) trip, had gone out for a little jog along the highway, on a grass shoulder area. The young lady was struck by the driver of a SUV & died at the scene.

It doesn't look like headphone use was an issue here (so I have one less reason to foam at the mouth). However, I cannot help but see the irony: A young woman comes down from North Dakota to do something good for other folks during her spring break & is killed in a tragic accident. I'm not saying the hordes of spring breakers occupying our area beaches are more deserving of such a fate, but it would be easier to write the story if it had taken place out on the beach, where a partying co-ed was struck by a local as she was stepping into the street just outside of a bar.

Some of the fatalists would say "it was her time." In my humble opinion it was a preventable situation.

No sooner did I get back to my computer and see a "tweet" from Lance Armstrong (yeah, I'm one of the Twitterati!). Lance is never fun unless he's p!ssed-off about something. And Tony Kornheiser is at the top of Lance's list after comments he made on Monday evening on his 980 ESPN radio show.

There's a new proposal for placing full-size, 15-foot-wide bike lanes in the center lanes of Pennsylvania Avenue. I listened to the podcast audio yesterday & was tightly wound around the axle when I heard the specific things Tony had to say. I was going to go back & scribble them down verbatim for your edification, but the link has been taken down. However, NowPublic has a brief transcript of what was said.

Kornheiser said: “I think this is a terrible, terrible idea … when three or four of these people start riding abreast … I swear to you … it’s all you can do to not run them down! Like Wile E. Coyote! Run ‘em over! Get the hell out of my way … Am I wrong here?”

Lance's "tweet": “Listening to Tony Kornheiser's comments/rant on ESPN radio re: cyclists. Disgusting, ignorant, foolish. What a complete f-ing idiot.” “Tony Kornheiser on cyclists on the road, "run 'em down". Really? Big mistake, Tony.”

Frankly, it wasn't just Tony. Whoever else was in the studio at the same time as Kornheiser was spouting the same sort of unpasturized cr@p; things which most of the non-cycling, non-running public hear on a near-daily basis from motor vehicle operators. If it was just a local joe saying these things on the local talk radio I might have a little bit of a concern. However, when the party saying it is a sports journalist who has national exposure on radio, print & television; boys & girls, it's time to check your six (for those of you not familiar with the term - look out, 'cause it's CAR BACK).

Armstrong has spoken with Tony Kornheiser about his comments: "...just off the phone w/ Tony Kornheiser who's very sorry 4 his comments re: cyclists. Going on the show 2morrow 2 discuss this w/ him."

The last "tweet" I saw this morning: "To me this is all about a relationship. It's bikes and cars. Both will be here forever. Awareness needs to exist as well as mutual respect."

Ay, there's the rub; that goes for runners, too. Runners seem to have an adversarial relationship with every implement & accessory known to man; autos, bikes, skaters, dogs, & the list grows larger by the day.

There are many common-sense things we runners/cyclists can do to make the relationship with our fellow road and sidewalk users less conflict-laden:

- Treat sidewalks, jogging & bicycle paths as an extension of the roadway; the same rules of the road should apply there as in between the big painted lines.

- Don't ride, walk, or jog more than two or three abreast, especially if doing it takes up the entire path. Leave room for someone to pass on your left.

- If you're on the roadway because there is no path or sidewalk, stay as far from the white line as humanly possible.

- Carry a cellular phone & identification. Call law enforcement at the first sign of any problem.

- Wear protective gear as necessary; reflectors, lights, or bright colored clothing, helmets, gloves & proper shoes.

- Maintain situational awareness at all times. Music headphones may make the jog or ride more entertaining, but they drastically limit your awareness of what is approaching.

It wouldn't hurt for there to be a series of paved, smooth, supported running paths in different areas of the county. I can think of three particular three-mile stretches which would make for great running if they weren't so hazardous to runner's health. It wouldn't take much for a number of running clubs to band together, talk with the city council/county commission & see what it would take to do such a thing. (A good example is what was done by the Ohio River Road Runners at a few parks in the region around Dayton.) At least then folks who do run wouldn't have to feel like they have to take their lives into their hands when dealing with motor vehicle operators who recently heard Kornheiser tell them to "run 'em down!"

Navy Federal Credit Union: First Annual 5K R/W

2010-03-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

DATE: May 22, 2010
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Seville Square (Corner of Alcaniz & Zaragossa), Pensacola, FL

In support of Military Appreciation Month, don't miss out on Navy Federal's 1st Annual 5K Run/Walk benefiting the Armed Forces Relief Trust.

The Armed Forces Relief Trust provides assistance to the military aid societies by serving as a conduit for donations to benefit the men & women of our Armed Forces. This financial assistance helps our troops & their families meet emergency as well as everyday needs.

COURSE:

The 5K course runs through beautiful downtown Pensacola, starting & ending in Seville Square. Strollers are welcome on the 5K course. No pets permitted on the 5K course, however pets are allowed in Seville Square. Please be mindful of cleaning up after your pet.

The event will not be officially timed, but awards will be given to the top finishers in each age category.

AWARDS:

Runners - Prizes awarded to the top male and female finishers overall. There will also be prizes for the top 3 male & female finishers in age groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & over.

Walkers and Wheelchairs - Prizes awarded to the top male & female finishers overall.

The first 500 registered are guaranteed a t-shirt & all participants are eligible for door prizes, food, & refreshments at our post-race gathering. Water will be provided during & after the race.

REGISTRATION:
Online registration is available through imATHLETE.com.

If registering as Active Duty Military, you will be required to show valid military ID at packet pickup.

MORE INFORMATION:
Carla McKeag, phone: 850-912-0962

Citrus Road Runners: Scope It Out 5K/1M

2010-03-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

DATE: March 27, 2010

TIME: 7:30 a.m.

PLACE: CREST at the Lecanto School Complex, 2600 S. Panther Pride Drive, Lecanto, FL

RACE-DAY SCHEDULE:

6:30 am - Registration & Packet Pick-up

7:30 am - 5K Race / 1 Mile Walk Start

AWARDS:

5K - Overall Individual Male / Female

Overall Masters (40+) Male / Female

Medals 3-Deep in 5-year Age Groups (9-under thru 75-up)

REGISTRATION:

Click here to download an application form

Make checks payable to:

Citrus Road Runners

P.O. Box 94

Inverness, FL 34451

$15 Pre-Registered Race / Walk (by March 24th)

$13 CRR Club Member (Advanced Registration Only)

$25 Race Day Registration (All Athletes)

INFORMATION:

More info available at http://www.citrusroadrunners.org/

Cindy Staten (352) 726-3216 email: estaten@tampabay.rr.com

Citrus Road Runners (352) 637-2475 email: info@citrusroadrunners.org

Gulf Winds Track Club: Health of the Female Runner Lecture

2010-03-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

DATE: Friday, 19 March 2010

TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Eastern)

PLACE: Premier Health & Fitness Center, 3521 Maclay Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32312

COST: The lecture is free and open to the public.

Florida State University women's distance coach Karen Harvey will speak on the health of the female runner. Harvey's talk is this month's event on the Gulf Winds Track Club lecture series.

(Track geeks & readers of Chris Lear's Sub-4:00: Alan Webb and the Quest For The Fastest Mile may recognize Karen's name; she is the spouse of world-class miler Kevin Sullivan.)

From Your Friendly Neighborhood State Rep: Calendar Stuff

2010-03-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Every so often (lately, it's been once a week...) I get a question from a club or race: 'How do I go about getting my event on your e-mail blast?' 'How do I get my event on the RRCA calendar?'

(First, make certain you read my "Marketing 101" diatribe. Go up to the search box on this page and type in "marketing.") Because this is what my military friends would call a "collateral duty," (This is a job, but it's not my paying job.) I don't spend the entire day looking for races to post. If the information doesn't land in my e-mail in-box (northflorida@rrca.org) I don't know about it (For example, I thought one of my hometown running clubs' premier events was on a particular weekend. The club's marketing guy had to correct me..."nope, it's a week earlier than that.")

To get your event on my e-mail blast out to North Florida clubs - and other interested reps throughout the Southern Region - your best bet is to e-mail me a race flyer, (Adobe PDF files are good!) an electronic copy of your club's newsletter (I can type 60 words a minute, but speed leads to grave mistakes.) or a text e-mail of the information you wish to have posted. Race logo & club logo graphics are a plus.

Make certain you have this information:
Event Name
Date/Time/Location
Basic information about the event - beneficiary, course, "why runners should do your race" stuff
Registration/Packet Pick-up (include links to PDF entry forms or on-line registration)
Awards (how deep, groups, categories)
Post-Race Offerings (food, beverages, music, drawings, & so on)
"For More Information" contact, with e-mail, web address, phone number

The more information you provide, the more detail I can put out...& the more likely someone might show up. If I receive the information I'll post it in the blog, send it out on Facebook, & add it to the Google-based calendar of Florida running/triathlon events on the blog page. If your club wants to borrow the calendar, I'll send the webmaster the code so they can add it to the web page.

I do the web blast each Wednesday for the upcoming weekend's races - that gives clubs time to e-mail links off to their members...if they so choose.

RRCA has re-opened the event calendar on the website, http://www.rrca.org . If your club is a member you should make certain your events are listed there. If your club or race is not a member of RRCA, sorry...but there's plenty of time to consider event membership...go to http://www.rrca.org/membership/join-renew for more details. The goal of the RRCA calendar is two-fold:

1. RRCA needs the event information for record-keeping purposes, and
2. It makes for a robust calendar, with at least 5000 events being produced by RRCA's member clubs. What an opportunity for your club events to have nationwide exposure!

(If you entered the race information before the RRCA.org site re-launch, or you've tried to enter it in the past few weeks, you'll probably have to post it again.)

RRCA-Gatorade Program Updates

2010-03-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

Gatorade has renewed their relationship with the RRCA and will continue to invest in the RRCA Championship Event Series.

Ultra championship events (26.2+ miles) can access Gatorade even if they have 400 or fewer participants.

Additionally the RRCA has launched a purchase program for Gatorade. This program offers Gatorade product at a discounted rate for events which do not qualify for RRCA Championship status. The RRCA-Gatorade purchase program is open to all members. Information can be found at http://www.rrca.org/event-directors/resources/.

Gatorade sponsored events through the RRCA must be organized as nonprofit events. For-profit events must purchase Gatorade through the purchase program. Gatorade may not supply product to an event that may conflict (in close proximity, same distance, or near-time period) with another running event sponsored by Gatorade. Gatorade will cover ancillary distances for Championship events (like a 5K run at the same time as a 10K championship) so long as the ancillary event is not larger than the championship event. Larger ancillary events will have to utilize the purchase program.

Most all qualifying 2010 RRCA Championship events will be covered by Gatorade, but new events added during the year will be reviewed before approval is granted.

If you or your events have any questions about the Gatorade program please contact Eve at the RRCA office or e-mail membership@rrca.org.

RRCA Southern Region: New Kentucky State Rep

2010-03-12T07:47:00.001-08:00

Just in time for the national convention, the Southern Region has another State Representative.

Kentucky State Rep Donna England is a member of the Bowling Green Road Runners Club & is training for her first marathon. She also has a keen interest in children’s running programs.

Donna plans to attend the Convention in Lakeland, so I look forward to the chance to meet her in person there.

Her bio will also be up on the RRCA website soon.

American Running Association: Run A Mile

2010-03-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

DATE/S: May 6-8, 2010
TIME: 12:01a.m.-11:59p.m.
PLACE: At a track or measured mile near you!

Join the American Running Association (ARA) this May 6, 7 or 8 to Run A Mile.

Why the Mile?

Is it because all speed (in the United States) is measured in miles per hour? Or is it because it is the standard unit of distance measurement from one town to the next (also in the U.S.)? Maybe it’s because it’s the best way to start a fitness program in America.

The National Run A Mile Day is a great opportunity to get boys & girls interested in measuring their fitness. It is also a chance to run one of the great track events in history, the mile.

National Run A Mile Day celebrates the barrier broken back on May 6, 1954, when Roger Bannister of the United Kingdom became the first person to break the four-minute barrier in the mile.

Commit to Be A Miler. The goal can be simple:
- Run four laps on the track.
- Schools can choose either May 6 or May 7 & have all physical education classes in the school participate.
- Clubs or groups can gather on Saturday, May 8 & run the mile.

If you are interested in running the mile as a group or school, email miler@americanrunning.org.

Be A Miler!

Flagler College: 2nd Annual Flagler 5K

2010-03-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

DATE: April 3, 2010
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, FL

The Flagler College women's cross country team, in conjunction with Vicar's Landing & Glenmoor, will present the Second Annual Flagler 5K at the beautiful Anastasia State Park.

ENTRY: Until April 2 -
$10 for Flagler College students and staff
$15 for ACRR members
$20 for all others
$25 day-of-race registration
You can also register on-line through Active.com.

Info: Christy Castelli (904)669-5050.

Beulah Fire Department: Beulahfest 5K R/W

2010-03-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

DATE: Sunday, March 21, 2010
TIME: 1:00p.m.
PLACE: Escambia County Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Hwy., Pensacola, FL 32526

PROCEEDS:
All profits from this race go to Health & Hope Clinic, an outreach ministry of the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association. The clinic provides free primary healthcare to uninsured & underserved individuals in Escambia County.

COURSE:
The course is a 3.1-mile cross-country loop located on the grounds of the Equestrian Center.

REGISTRATION:
Early Registration - by March 15 2010 - $20
Register online through March 20 through Active.com
After March 15 to (12:15p.m.) Race Day - $25
Day-of-race registration at Equestrian Center registration table near the start line, by the flagpole.

FAMILY REGISTRATION:
First two entries pay the regular rate, additional immediate family pay $10 each.

PACKET PICK-UP:
Friday March 19, 3:00-8:00p.m., Beulah Fire Department, 6400 W. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32526

RACE T-SHIRTS:
Guaranteed with early registration.

AWARDS (RUNNERS ONLY):
Overall male/female, plus top three male/female in each age group: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, four-year groups between 20-69, 70+, 80+

ACTIVITIES:
Race participants receive an admission ticket to Beulahfest for Sunday, March 21. Visit http://www.beulahfest.com for a complete list of activities.

N. Florida RRCA Clubs: Gate River Run 15K

2010-03-09T05:44:00.001-08:00

For many N. Florida RRCA clubs along the Atlantic Coast or close to I-75, or top-shelf distance runners, the Gate River Run 15K is probably the "mack daddy" of big event races. It serves as the USATF 15K Championships & draws an elite field few races in the state can match. I've received a few pieces of information from RRCA Clubs which might be of interest to anyone racing this weekend.

ANCIENT CITY ROAD RUNNERS - ACRR will have their annual Gate River pre and post race area for all members. There will have porta-potties & a changing room. They are also working on getting massage tables. ACRR will also provide adult beverages. Ancient City Road Runners who have not renewed their membership dues please do so you can enter the area, as ACRR will NOT be accepting dues on race day.

JTC RUNNING - I received a note with a blue wristband in my mail yesterday afternoon. The note said:

Need a place to get a cup of coffee before warming up for your Gate River Run effort? (to paraphrase Renee Zellweger: you had me at "coffee...") Stop by the JTC Running Hospitality Tent. After your journey over the Hart Bridge, stop back at the JTC Running Hospitality Tent for post-race food and beverages. The tent will be located on the Fairgrounds. Look for the JTC Running tent & banners. The fenced area will include tables/chairs, port-o-lets & plenty of room to stretch out before & after the race. We also plan to have several massage therapists available to provide a short post-race rub-down for those tired legs! Be sure to wear your official JTC Running 2010 bracelet on race day for access into the JTC Hospitality Tent area. Hey, how about wearing your JTC Running 2010 bracelet all of the time to let folks know you are a member of JTC Running? See you on race day!

GULF WINDS TRACK CLUB - 1st Place Sports canceled the annual team competition, so GWTC will not be sponsoring teams for the Gate river Run. There will be a GWTC "members only" access area at the fairgrounds post-race party area for folks to leave extra running gear. Be prepared to join other GWTC members by the GWTC feather for post-race pizza from Luigi's & beverages while waiting for awards to be presented to some of America's best 15K runners.

Best of luck to all N. Florida RRCA participants this weekend. I look forward to your "hardware stories."

Daytona Beachcombers: St. Paddy's Fun Run

2010-03-08T05:55:00.000-08:00

DATE: Monday, March 15, 2010
TIME: 5:30 PM
PLACE: Spikes ● 1237 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill

Have a bit o' fun with friends (March 15 is also the Ides of March, for those of you who recall Shakespeare's Julius Caesar from high school English Literature class.). Come join the fun at the Daytona Beachcombers' annual St. Paddy's Run at Spikes! Fun Run for kids & adults, food, fun & camaraderie! Fabulous St. Patrick's Day Food prepared by Susie! If you wish, bring your own adult beverage.

RSVP to Susie • 386-677-2494 or email.

RRCA 101 Answer Key

2010-03-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

RRCA 101 Test Key- How Much Did You Really Know About RRCA?

The single most-correct answer to the eight questions about RRCA's mission, vision, goals & programming are in bold type.

1. The RRCA is NOT:

a. an educational & programming resource.
b. a national organization of running clubs, events, & individuals.
c. dedicated to develop & grow running, events, & recreational runners.
d. strictly an insurance provider. - The difference between the most active & successful RRCA clubs and clubs who could be more successful with their programs stems from this very attitude.

2. Persons with a passion for running & want to help individuals achieve personal fitness & athletic goals can become an RRCA-certified coach after they complete a two-day certification seminar, CPR & first-aid training.

a. TRUE - RRCA coaching education is not only a one-time deal, but meets continuing education requirements for several medical professions.
b. FALSE

3. RRCA meets with member club reps, state reps & directors; hosting seminars to grow & strengthen individual club operations, improve event quality & motivate club volunteers. This year’s national convention is being held in:

a. Lake Geneva, WI
b. Lakeland, FL - Registration is still open...don't wait until the last minute!
c. Lake Tahoe, NV
d. Lakewood, CO

4. Which of these are NOT included in RRCA’s General Running Safety Tips?

a. Always stay alert & aware of what is going on around you.
b. Don’t wear headphones.
c. Look both ways before crossing.
d. Run the same course on a consistent basis.

5. Donations to RRCA for Kids Run The Nation, Road Scholars, & the State Representative Fund are tax deductible.

a. TRUE - Not only that, but greatly appreciated by the beneficiaries. Countless Olympic Trials qualifiers, Four Olympians and an Olympic medalist have received Road Scholar grant money since the program's inception in 1999.
b. FALSE

6. Clubs can recognize volunteer workers with an RRCA National Volunteer Award when they accrue this number of service hours:

a. 1,500
b. 2,000 - RRCA clubs can nominate three members each year, as long as they have met the 2,000 hours.
c. 2,500
d. 3,000

7. RRCA designates state, regional & national championship races to help clubs:

a. attract event sponsors.
b. improve civic/media support for the event.
c. recruit top-performing runners to participate in the event.
d. All of the above.

8. RRCA State Representatives are compensated for their services.

a. TRUE
b. FALSE - All of the state representatives are volunteers. State representative fund donations in each district help to defray the day-to-day cost of administering programs, but no income is earned.

Answer all eight correct - fill out an application for the next national office job.
Six-to-seven correct - a regional directorship is in your future.
Four-to-five correct - with some work you could be a state representative.
Less than four correct - time for you to do a little reading up on the RRCA web site, http://www.rrca.org

From Our Sponsor: Roads Scholar Grant Application Period Opens

2010-03-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

Since 1996, the Road Runners Club of America has awarded stipends through its Roads Scholar program to assist American post-collegiate road runners who show great promise develop into national & world class road running athletes.

Grants in the amount of $5,000.00 per year have been awarded to four-to-six athletes annually since the program's inception.

The RRCA is now accepting applications for our 2010-2011 Roads Scholar class. The deadline for applying is April 30th.

Click here for more information or to learn how you can help support this important program.

Citrus Road Runners: 12th Annual Shamrock Scamper

2010-03-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

DATE: March 6, 2010

TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Citrus High School

600 W Highland Boulevard

Inverness, Florida

The 12th Annual Shamrock Scamper 5K is this Saturday, March 6th, 2010. The Shamrock Scamper is one of the best races in Inverness. With the start/finish at Citrus High School, this course is fairly flat with a few small hills. A great place to set your PR.

ENTRY FEES:

Pre-Registered $15.00
Pre-Registered Citrus Road Runners Club Members $13.00

Day Of Race $25.00

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

St. Ann Catholic Church: People 4 People 5K

2010-03-02T08:21:00.000-08:00

DATE: April 17, 2010
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: St. Ann Catholic Parish, 100 Daniel Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL

REGISTRATION:
$15.00 Early Registration
$20.00 After 4/15/10
$10.00 No Shirt Option
Online Registration also available through http://www.active.com/.

PACKET PICK-UP:
St. Ann Parish Hall -
Friday, April 16, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 17, 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Day of Race Registration/Pick-up

INFORMATION:
John Scott, Race Director, (850) 939 5151 or johnscott@mchsi.com

CHILD CARE:
Free, by appointment for infants and preschoolers only from 7:30-10:30 a.m. in the church nursery. Indicate number of children and ages on the registration form and deliver to the Church before 4/15/10.

AWARDS:
Overall male/female runner & walker
Masters' male/female runner & walker
Grandmasters' male/female runner & walker
Senior Masters' male/female runner & walker
Wheelchair
Runner/walker age group awards (3-deep): 1-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+.

DOOR PRIZES:
There will be instant winner door prizes posted directly after the race. Match your bib number to the numbers posted. Must present bib number to pick up prize.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST:
Complimentary post-run pancake breakfast for all participants, includes pancakes, sausage fruit and beverages. Served during awards ceremony in the Parish Hall.

RESULTS:
Event is scored by Results Event Timing. Results can be accessed through http://www.eventtiming.com/ .

First United Methodist Church Run For Missions 5K/1M

2010-03-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

DATE: Saturday, April 17, 2010

TIME: 5K Run/Walk—8:00 a.m, 1 Mile Fun Run—9:00 a.m.

PLACE: First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, FL

REGISTRATION (Fees are nonrefundable):

$15.00 Adults (Register by March 26, 2010 to guarantee t-shirt size)
Late Registration:

$20.00 - March 27 - April 16

$25.00 - Race Day (no guarantee on t-shirt)

$12.00 - Children (10 & under)

$15.00 - No shirt

$15.00 - Shirt only

$15.00 to military personnel
Make checks payable to: FUMC - Run for Missions

PACKET PICK-UP:

Friday, April 16, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 17, 6:15 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.

Pick-up in The Wright Place, next to FUMC

It is runner’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the information on the time bar to be handed to the race official at the end of the race. This is to be done at the time of packet pick-up.

Online Registration:http://www.active.com/

INFORMATION:

For additional information, call the FUMC office at 432-1434

AWARDS:

Walk - awards will be given to the overall male and female finisher in the 5K walk

Top 5 male/female finishers

Individuals who register as a walker will be required to walk at ALL times. (If you jog and walk you must register as a runner.)

Awards MUST be picked up at the ceremony.

No exceptions will be made.

Race not marshaled.

5K Run - Awards for first male and first female finishers

Go 5 deep up to age 12 and 3 deep for ages 13-70+

Awards MUST be picked up at the ceremony.

No exceptions will be made.

5K Run Age Groups (male and female):

0-8; 9-10; 11-12; 13-15; 16-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70+

PANCAKE BREAKFAST:

Pancake breakfast, compliments of FUMC Men, free to all registered racers; $2.00 for non-participants.

RESULTS:

Posted on FUMC web site: http://www.pensacolafirstchurch.com/, and http://www.active.com/

COURSE:

5K Race Course (3.1 miles): (USATF Certified Course FL07022DL)

Starts and finishes in front of First United Methodist Church. Start by running east on Wright Street to Tarragona Street, north on Tarragona Street to Blount, west on Blount to Reus, south on Reus to Brainerd, then east to Spring Street, north on Spring to Blount, east on Blount to Tarragona, south on Tarragona back to Wright Street.