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FEBRUARY 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
THE RACES
PALM100—100 mile, Six Runner Team Relay Race, Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach. Magnificent out-and-back course along the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Date: Saturday, March 27. 6:00 AM start on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Registration and further information on the website: www.palm100.com
KEYS100—Prostate Cancer Benefit Races: Run Key Largo or Marathon to Key West. 100 and 50 mile Individual Races and 100 mile, Six Runner Team Relay. Date: Saturday, May 15. 6:00 AM start in Key Largo for the 100 mile events. 10:00 AM start in Marathon for the 50 mile race. Finish line is on the Atlantic Ocean at Smathers Beach, Key West. Registration and further information on the website: www.keys100.com
KEYS100 COMPETITORS—WHO IS RACING THIS YEAR?
A competitors list for the 100 and 50 mile individual races will be posted on the KEYS100 website. The list will be updated weekly. As of February 1, 95 runners had registered for the May 15th individual events.
ONLINE REGISTRATION PROCESS--NOTE TO TEAM CAPTAINS
To create and register a new team, go to the race’s website registration page and click on “Register Now”. Choose the “100 Mile Relay” Event. Inside the box where it says “Log-in to create your team”, click “Create Account”. (Note that “RaceIt!” is the company managing our online registration process this year.) When creating a new account, you will choose a user ID and password that will allow you to later edit your team anytime. This includes adding or deleting team members, changing the team name or contact information, etc. Follow the screens to create the team, then register yourself as the first team member and pay the team entry fee. You may then register one or more additional team members or “invite” runners to become members of your team. When you send an “invitation” e-mail, a user code will automatically be included in the message so that the runner may then go to the site and with that code, register him/herself as a member of your team. (This is the recommended procedure.) Note that the Team Captain also has the option after creating the team and registering personally as a team member to simply exit the site. All team members do NOT have to be registered at the time the team is created, the Captain is registered and team fee is paid. This flexibility allows the entry fee to be locked-in even if all team members have not yet been selected.
ROUTE MAPS FOR KEYS100 AND PALM100—
UPDATES FOR 2010
Route maps linked to each race website are invaluable tools for both races. Currently the 2009 versions are posted. These will each change a little from 2009 and be posted online when completed. For now, the currently posted maps will give you a very good idea of the respective courses.
In the Keys, there are many road and trail improvements under construction with more scheduled. Some will impact our race, mostly in a positive way. To be as current as possible for the race, we will wait until closer to race day before publishing the updated map. Additional check-in sites for un-crewed individual runners will be shown on the 2010 map.
For the PALM100, additional changes in the route are still possible. At least 30 days before race day, the final 2010 version should be complete and posted to the website. While some changes are coming, the currently posted map will give you a very good idea of the course for 2010. The core route and beauty of the venue will not change.
MANDATORY CHECK-IN SITES EN ROUTE—ALL RACERS
The active runner only has to be identified and time correctly noted by a race official at the checkpoint. There is no need to stop unless that is the runner’s choice.
For relay teams, a question has been asked about using check-in locations as hand-off points for switching runners. Competitors will be spread out along the course, so there are unlikely to be severe bottlenecks at these primary check-in sites, which are located at approximately 25 mile intervals. At or near each location will be bathrooms or portable toilets, in case that's helpful. Most teams do use the check-in locations for switching runners, but that decision is the team’s call. When putting together your team’s race strategy and determining how long each leg will be, you might want to use approximate distances to describe where the hand-off will take place—for example, " approximately 5 miles". That way, if the most convenient or safest place to pull-off the road is at 4.8 or 5.2 miles, runners will not become confused or worried that the team vehicle is not exactly where he/she expected it to be. (You may also want to stop every couple of miles to check on your active runner as he/she races by, just to be sure everything is okay--and to cheer loudly, of course. Then drive to the next hand-off spot.)
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT FOR TEAMS—
HOURS REDUCED
Teams with members living within 50 miles of any point along each of the two race courses are required to provide a volunteer to help with the event. Unlike most team relay races, we only ask for one volunteer and not two or three. To make it easier, we are reducing the number of required volunteer hours from 8 to 4 hours. (Certainly the longer period would be appreciated for those who can make that contribution.) Volunteer service time is primarily needed on race weekend. We will in each case try to work with your volunteer and his/her schedule to minimize any inconvenience.
PALM100:
On race weekend, we will need help at the finish line, at the primary check-in points in Delray Beach and West Palm Beach and at certain locations along the route where a “live” person will be helpful to avoid wrong turns. We will need road marshalls/monitors to drive sections of the course; they will also help place and take down directional arrows. At the post-race awards event on Saturday evening, people will be needed to assist with awards and giveaways. On Friday night, help with pre-race registration for 3-4 hours will be needed in Fort Lauderdale. In advance of race weekend, help in promoting the race also counts.
KEYS100:
Similar to the PALM100, help will be needed at check-in points along the route, at the start and finish lines, at the post-race awards party and at the check-in and pre-race meeting on Friday evening. Volunteers who are willing to help promote the race between now and May 15th are also welcome.
KEYS100 PRE-RACE STAY IN FORT LAUDERDALE
For anyone flying into Fort Lauderdale who wishes to spend a night here at the beach, we recommend the Courtyard by Marriott located right at the ocean on Seabreeze Blvd. (State Route A1A). The hotel and beach are a 10-15 minute ride from the airport. For KEYS100 runners, a great rate of $109 will be available. Feel free to contact me for further information, if interested.
TEE SHIRTS
For the first time in 2010, each runner will receive a short sleeve technical shirt in his/her race packet. In addition, short and long sleeve cotton shirts with full race design will be available for purchase as long as supplies last. These may be ordered when you register either online or manually. After you have registered, you may mail an order to me with a check. Be sure to note quantity, size and sleeve length. Cost is $15 for short sleeve and $20 for long sleeve.
PRESENTATION BY BILL ANDREWS AT KEYS100
Dr. Bill Andrews will flying to Florida in May from his home in Reno, NV to race the KEYS100 again this year. Bill is a Badwater veteran, a “Grand Slammer” and a scientist when he’s not out running roads or trails. Dr. Andrews’ field of expertise is anti-aging--or finding a cure for aging. You don’t have to be conversant about “telomeres” to relate to his goal of running ultras when he’s 125! Bill believes that a dramatically extended life span—quality long life—is attainable. In the last year studies have been published showing that endurance sports extend lifespan in humans. Some fascinating work in the field is yielding results right now, and Bill will be announcing some breakthrough progress at our KEYS100 pre-race meeting. You won’t want to miss this unique, real and very timely presentation. Check out the latest press on the subject: view article
FUNDRAISING PAGE CREATION; PROSTATE CANCER DONATIONS
Runners and teams who wish to create their own fundraising campaigns may now do so on both the PALM100 and KEYS100 websites. Not only is the cause of beating prostate cancer a very important one, but raising four times your paid entry fee in donations will also result in a full entry fee refund. Go to the Fundraising page on the race websites to set up your campaign.
Donations may be made online by clicking on the “Make a Donation” page on www.palm100.com and www.keys100.com, then following the prompts.
FRIEND OF OUR RACES—JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITY APPEAL
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is hosting an athletic event to raise money for the first and only free-standing children’s hospital in Broward County, Florida. The children’s ER at the Hospital’s current location has seen over 45,000 children in the past year; the oncology center is currently treating 600 children with cancer. The fundraiser will include a 3K Family Walk, 5K USATF Accu-Chip timed Run, 50K & 100K cycling tour and an all day spin-a-thon. It will be held at Miramar Regional Park on February 14, 2010 at 7 A.M. There will be fun for the whole family, including food, bounce houses and more. For more information on the building project and the event, visit the website at: www.tourdebroward.com.
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SANCTIONED EVENT