More Discount Codes

This is seriously a great deal. 30% off is pretty big on shoes. Footlocker, Champs Sports & Footaction have 30% off coupons, valid March 30 until April 1, 2007. Save an additional 10% on your in-store purchase if you spend $100 or more after the 30% off discount. Deal ends on 04/01, so act fast if you need shoes.

• Footlocker coupon code: LKS1FF73 or printable
• Champs Sports coupon code: FF73LCH7 or printable
• Footaction coupon code: FF73L347 or printable

Updated Logo

I had the logo cleaned up, and used different colors. This is a low quality version below (click to make it larger). I am checking with BaySix on pricing for technical shirts, and will let you all know once I have some quotes. As for the colors, I can still use any combination of two that you recommend.

When shirts are printed, they pull ink through a screen (this is why it is called silk screening). If you change ink colors, they need to remove and clean the screen, and then line it back up again with a new ink color. Assuming they are willing to do this, I can probably get them to give us a blue/black logo, and a pink/black. This way we can have men's and women's shirts.

Let me know your thoughts. Again, if anyone has a different color combination they would like to use, make a recommendation. Thanks!

RUN RSVP: 03/31

Okay guys and gals, after having 14 runners two weeks ago, the last two weekends there has not been a group run. The weather is perfect for running now. . . get out of bed and come join the group! Ryan and Ursula will be in Charleston for the Cooper River Bridge 10k, so we are already short a few runners, but that leaves plenty for a run. I will also be gone with the family to Charleston.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Distance: 8 miles (add or cut as needed)
• Route: Map
• Supported: No
• Weather: Forecast

I posted a 8 mile route, but this can easily be modified based on your needs.

New Site: Bigfootrunning.com

I found a new website that is worth adding to your favorites. bigfootrunning.com is a sponsor of the City of Oaks Marathon. It is a new site, but already has great information. It appears to be a resource for North Carolina races. You can check race calendars, look up results, read and post race reviews, and more. Best of all, it is free. I thought you all may find it to be a great resource. Enjoy!

Frank is Back at the National!

Frank, Dave, and myself all entered the National Half Marathon on Saturday. While Rocky Mount was enjoying the low 80s and sunshine, we had a cold, cloudy, and rainy morning. Starting temps were just below 50. . . perfect weather for a race!

Most of you know Frank has struggled through some injuries during and after our fall marathon training. Over the past two months his running has picked up, and things were feeling good. He sheepishly entered the National Half Marathon feeling like he wasn't taking on a real challenge. He had hoped to be under 2:30. Turns out this was not a problem at all, as he finished in 2:17 setting a new PR! Okay, to be fair this was his only half marathon, but never-the-less a great job!

Dave and I ran every step of the race together. In the early miles I think Dave was feeling the effects of a long day in the car from Friday, and sleeping on one of his sons chopsticks in bed. Before long, we both settled into a good pace. Beginning with mile nine, our pace got progressively faster as Dave pulled me along. We ended up with negative splits despite the late race hills. Both of us set PRs of 1:41. Also of note, Dave impressed by finishing 19th in his age group!

The National lacks the excitement of the Marine Corp, but if you are looking for a fun race that does not require a airline ride to reach, you should consider this one next year. In it's second year it doubled in size, and is well on it's way to be a favorite on the east coast.

By the way, Michael Wardian won the race, just one week after finishing 3rd at the Shamrock. Not too shabby!

RUN RSVP: 03/24

There was no run last weekend. Hopefully this weekend we can get a group back out again. I know several people have conflicts. Frank, Dave and I are running in DC. Ryan and Tracy P. are running on Friday. So that takes 5 runners off the list. I expect our three Shamrock runners are taking the weekend off too. Of course they may come just to show off their new hardware.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Where: Ford's Colony - Food Lion
• Distance: 6-10 miles
• Route: Cart Path Routes (10 mile out-and-back or 6 mile loop route)
• Supported: No (unless someone brings fluids)
• Weather: Forecast

As always you can easily add on to the run distance. The only way to run less at Ford's Colony is to double back at around the 2 mile mark, otherwise it is 6 miles to loop back down 301. Please reply with comments if you plan to run.

40% off at Reebok

Here is a deal to save you a few bucks if you shop the Rebook online store. You are invited to attend our Friends & Family March Sale Event taking place Wednesday, March 21st through Sunday, March 25th 2007.

Enter Promo Code # 467950 at checkout to receive 40% off your purchase. I have not checked, but I assume there are some exclusions. http://store.reebok.com/home/index.jsp

Chase of Champions Survey

This is a long post - please read and complete the online survey at the bottom

As most of you are aware, the long standing Chase of Champions road race has been discontinued this year. Many of us were upset to hear the news when it was announced last November, and discussed running an unofficial Chase of Champions. Well, time has moved very quickly, and if we plan to do this, we need to pick a date, and start to spread the word.

Here are some thoughts. . .

1. No Frills - This will be a run-at-your-on-risk group run. I can stand at the start and keep an "official" time for finishers, but this will be nothing special. There will be no expo, no goody bags, no t-shirts and no awards.
2. Race Numbers - Frank is going to check with Raleigh Running Outfitters to see if we can obtain 50 race numbers for those who want to run the race. This would help promote their store, and we could also promote the City of Oaks Marathon, which many of us seem interested in running. As an alternative I can order 100 very generic race numbers for about $15 if they do not want to help. I am hoping they will, so we can help promote the closest running store to Rocky Mount. Of course we could also have no numbers at all.
3. Race Distance - The Chase had a 5k and a 10k. I am on the fence as to how we should handle this. From a logistics stand point, it would be easiest if we just picked one route and had everyone run it. I understand however that some may want to only run the 5k, so maybe that would be the best distance. Most everybody in this email would probably prefer to run a 10k however. I am leaning towards just running a 10k event for this year just to keep it simple. What are your thoughts?
4. Water Stops - Keeping with the "no frills" mentioned under number one, water stops are not planned right now. However, if anyone has friends or family members that would be willing to man a water table, we could easily set one up. I have a eight foot table, a water cooler, and can get cups. All we need is a person to put the cups on the table.
5. The Date - This is a big one. We need to pick a date. Once we do, I will write to the Rocky Mount Telegram, and try to start spreading the word. I need to know what dates work best for you. I will go with the majority, so someone will get left out. I want to prove that Rocky Mount can still support this race so right now I am looking at the numbers.
6. Promotion - I realize this "race" is more-or-less a "run". For that reason, I do not expect people to come out in mass numbers to participate. The best we can do on our budget (which is zero) is word of mouth. As previously mentioned, I will also write the paper. Lastly, I can make a few fliers that we can put up around town to.
7. Charity - I think we may have some more success with this event if we try to do something positive with it. I had an idea a few weeks ago, that I think will work nicely with the event, and may get a little local attention. I propose we use this event to encourage runners to bring in their used (but clean) running shoes. There are lots of shoe donation programs already in existence (link). The easiest thing would be to use one of the charities listed in the Runners World link. Another option would be to contact the Nash County schools to see if the high school coaches would be interested in getting some used shoes for their track athletes without the funds to purchase their own. Just a thought. . . anyone interested in placing some phone calls?

We need to work fast to pull this off, but I firmly believe Rocky Mount needs and wants the Chase of Champions to survive. This year will be a down year, but with everyone pitching in to help, and showing up to run, we can prove that the Chase will be back in 2008.

To simplify things for me, I made a quick online survey, so I don't need to tabulate email responses. This should take about two minutes to complete. Share this email with any runners that I do not have on my distribution. Also, feel free to post comments if you have something to share with the group. Thanks!

"Shamrocking" the Beach!

Congrats to Scott, Jeff, and Patti on their successful Shamrock Marathons! Despite colder than expect weather, and some strong winds, all three did outstanding. Scott finished his marathon in 4:07. A great performance by any measure, and even more impressive when you consider this was his first. Way to go Scott! I have a sneaky suspicion we may see Scott back in a marathon before the end of 2007.

The Miller tandem both set PRs in their second marathons. Patti finished in 3:57, knocking an amazing 28 minutes off her Richmond time! That is more than one minute per mile guys. Wow!

Jeff, was "running free" for the first time. After starting with the 3:40 pace group, he left them in the late miles of the race and finished at 3:34 and in 302nd place in his solo debut! And this is a man who is ready to give up on marathons!?!?

Great job everyone. If you have any stories to share, I will gladly post them on the blog. Runners are weird that way. . . who else would love reading a mile-by-mile account of a four hour run? Click the picture for a larger version.

RUN RSVP: 03/17

Last week we had 14 runners. Wow. . . What a great turnout! It was nice to see someone people on the road. Lots of old faces and lots of new faces. Glad to see Sam, Brent and Mary on the roads with our group. This week I expect a much smaller group, or no group at all. Several people are out of town, and at least four people are running races. I need to run 17, and will not be able to join the group. So. . . if you can run, post here, but it will probably be a small group.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Distance: 8 miles (add or cut as needed)
• Route: Map
• Supported: No
• Weather: Forecast

I posted a 8 mile route, but this can easily be modified based on your needs.

Good Luck Racers!

Shamrock Runners are Ready: Scott, Jeff, and Patti are all heading to Virginia Beach this weekend for the Shamrock Marathon. This will be Scott's first marathon and Jeff and Patti's second. All three have been working hard and following their respective training plans. I expect all three will do very well. Jeff has been released of his "water boy duties" and will running on his own for this race. The race starts Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. Good luck guys!

Time to Run for the Oaks: I am pretty sure that John is also running this race as part of the Eastern Carolina Corporate Road Race Series. Good luck to you as well!

If anyone else has an upcoming race, let me know. We look forward to hearing your stories of how it went!

Relay Teams are growing

I thought this topic needed a new post. Based on what I am hearing we are now up to potentially six relay teams for the Duke Liver Center Triathlon in September. Below are the teams I have heard of.

• Team 1: (S) Mary, (B) Kinnie, and (R) Patti
• Team 2: (S) Mike, (B) Jeff, and (R) Dave
• Team 3: (S) Doug, (B) Eric, and (R) Michael
• Team 4: (S) Elizabeth, (B) Ursula, and (R) Jenni
• Team 5: (S) Carol, (B) Tracy H, and (R) Andy
• Team 6: (S) George, (B) Tim, and (R) Ryan

Not all of these teams are confirmed, and I believe only Team #2 above has officially entered. If everyone does sign up, we will be sending 18 people to Raleigh to participate in the event. WOW! Thanks Kinnie and Patti for recommending this event. I never expected this much interest.

One major benefit of a relay team, is that you get to be a participant, and a fan all at the same event. This really could be a blast to have so many people and family members in Raleigh all cheering each other on. Here is a map of the various portions of the course.

If you are reading this and wanting to join in, it is not too late. Post a comment here and let everyone know which leg of the race you could participate in. Many of the groups above hardly know each other (or don't know each other at all), but they still put together a team. Swimmers are in high demand, so if you know a swimmer who is willing to swim 1.2 miles, point them to our blog.

For the teams above, don't wait too long to sign up. There appears to still be ample space, but these races typically fill up early. Raleigh should be preparing for a Rocky Mount Invasion this September!

Race Reminder

Just a reminder that this Saturday you can race in Raleigh at the Run for the Oaks 5k. Now in its 25th year, this local race begins at City Market, and drew 891 runners last year. The 5K is the first race of the day starting at 9:30 a.m. The kid's run for children ages 10 or younger begins at 10:15 a.m. The course, which is generally considered Raleigh's fastest 5K course, starts and finishes at the City Market. There will be water at the start and finish plus a water stop at the ½-way point. Splits will be called each mile.

Active.com is down right now, but here is a link to the paper entry form. If anyone is interested in running, please post a comment. I am considering taking the kids up for the race, and doing my long run on Sunday.

All proceeds from the race will go towards planting trees in Raleigh. This project to benefit the City of Oaks is very significant due to the ice storms and hurricanes that have plagued Raleigh in recent years.

Tracy Sets a PR at Gate River Run!

Tracy P. ran the Gate River Run this weekend in Jacksonville. This race is the USA Championship for the 15k. Tracy finished in 1:15:30 (clock 1:17:40) averaging an 8:08/mile pace. Overall she finished 1,453 out of over 11,000 (under top 15%) and 53rd out of 790 in her age group. Considering this field was filled with Elite runners, this was an amazing place!

The weather was hot starting in the mid 60’s and finishing around 75 and only water to drink on the course but she still had a great run. Using Tracy's words "you should have been there!!"

Two of the worlds bests won their races. Deana Kastor for the women and Meb for the men. Congratulations Tracy! Maybe next year you can out kick Deana at the finish

RUN RSVP: 03/10

Last week was an "all guys" run. Lets hope for a better mix this weekend. I have added a few more names to the email distribution, so you may see some new faces at the start. Be sure to introduce yourselves! I am trying to bounce back and forth between Harris Teeter and Ford's Colony, so we are back at the Teeter this weekend. If you are new, we normally park near the Post Office. You can't miss us!

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Distance: 8 miles (add or cut as needed)
• Route: Map
• Supported: Yes - Fluids at "the tracks"
• Weather: Forecast

I posted a 8 mile route, but this can easily be modified based on your needs. If you need to go 12, I recommend crossing over Winstead once you get back to Harris Teeter and adding some miles over there.

The weather looks perfect. Currently a low of 46 and a high of 66. You can't ask for a better day to be on the roads Come join us!

Random updates. . .

Logo: A few odds and ends. . . Thank you all for the great logo recommendations for the Rocky Mount Endurance Club! Counting my own creation we had one. . . ha ha ha! I am far from a graphic artist, but I was trying to come up with something relatively simple. This was created while watching TV using Microsoft Paint, so don't focus on the quality. I will get someone to make a clean and clear version if we decide we like the design. Also, we can use any two colors you want. We just need to pick them. I welcome any other suggestions. This was my best attempt, but I know there are better options out there if someone has the time to work on it. Please use the comments feature to give your feedback on the design, and any color recommendations.

Raleigh Marathon: If you have not been to the City of Oaks Marathon site recently, you will be pleasantly surprised. They had add lots of new information, including the course map and online entries. They have also now obtained nine sponsors, and are still trying to secure a title sponsor. The race really seems to be very well organized, and should attract a crowd come November 4th. I think this will be a good thing for Raleigh.

National Half Marathon: Ryan and I are both running the National Half Marathon on 03/24. Frank and David are also considering it. If anyone wants to join me, I will be making a road trip up on Friday, and coming back on Saturday after the race.

Survey: I have 22 survey responses so far, but I know some of you still have not completed one. If you have done so yet, please submit one soon. I want to write up a summary, but want to make sure I have every one's input.

Weekend Run: We will be running this weekend again if anyone is interested. More details later this week.

Logo Update