Myrtle Beach Tips

Brent has run Myrtle Beach in the past. He was scheduled to run this weekend, but a nagging hamstring injury just would not go away. I had asked if he had some tips to share based on his experience in the race. Below is his advice.

• Expo: If the expo is like it has been it isn't much to brag about. Fairly efficient on packet pick-up and shirt distribution. Not an over-abundance of vendors.
• Pasta: There has always been a pasta dinner right there at the hotel at the expo. It has been $20 and tickets were always readily available. It is pretty good. Nothing overly special. A little pricey for what you get, but very convenient and not too crowded. I like this type of dinner because I like to meet other runners and talk to them. Obviously there are a ton of restaurants in Myrtle where you could get pasta.
• Best Tip: The gas station at the start line. I always try to arrive an hour early to any race just to avoid surprises or panic over forgetting something. If you arrive early though to an early race in February, that can mean cold! No worries- there is a gas station convenience store RIGHT AT THE START LINE. They welcome runners. The potty lines get long near start time, but it is warm and friendly. there is parking right there also, and right there means right at the start. So a late trip to the car is easy. This is the most convenient start line situation I have encountered- if you are in the know.
• Mile Markers: The only negative of this race is that it consistently has inaccurate mile markers in the first few miles. They may have addressed this. I wouldn't trust any markers until mile 4, however.
  also there was a bad one around 12-14, I cannot remember which.
• Reviews: marathonguide.com race reviews may be helpful in this regard.

Have a great race guys!

Future of the RMEC - PLEASE REPLY

For almost two years the Rocky Mount Endurance Club (RMEC) has operated as a no frills running club. The main focus had been half a full marathons, but we also expanded to do some triathlon events. During this time, we have always essentially maintained an "independent" status, with no dues, no tax ID, no bank account, and no liability insurance. To be honest it has never really held us back, and has worked well.

I would like to see the RMEC continue to grow, and to help serve the community by hosting "Fun Runs", creating local road races, and building our own Training Teams much like the Sports Backers did in Richmond (although on a much smaller scale). It would be great to build a training team for the First Carolina State Bank Half Marathon in 2008 for example.

To do this means the RMEC takes on more responsibility and more liability. Even if we don't try to do more things, the liability concern still exists. So here is a look at the those two topics:

Liability: Our group is all people who run, but for the most part we also do things together other than running. . . We are friends. The thought of someone ever getting hurt on a group run is terrible, but something I think about often. What would happen in this situation? Who would be at fault? It is very possible a finger or two might point back at the person who planned the run, mapped the route, and put out the fluids?

Responsibility: I really would like to see Rocky Mount get more road races. I would love to see the Chase get relaunched, and would also like to organize an event that runs through Fords Colony. In addition, Frank and I are working with Medoc State Park to create a trail endurance event. To do these things you need insurance, and you need a tax ID. With these two things in place we can start to work on local events.

So, where am I going with this ramble and what comes next. . . The Road Runner Club of America (RRCA) provides the ability for clubs to incorporate under their organization and obtain 501c(3) status. This means you are a tax exempt organization. There is more to it than that, but that is the basic information. With this in place we must create some basic Bylaws that address our Purpose, Affiliation, Membership, and Finances. As a RRCA member organization we have access to:

• Tax Exempt Status
• Liability Insurance
• Equipment Insurance
• Advice and more

If you go back to my big concerns (liability and responsibility) this solves both. First, we get insured, and secondly we get the ability to plan and execute events.

With the RRCA affiliation there would be dues. Insurance is not free after all. The dues are minimal however and would be determined by the group. My hope would be we could save a few bucks to help pay for cups and fluids for our group runs, but I do not want to create a large reserve fund. The Richmond Road Runners for example charges annually $5 for students, $15 for indivuals, and $20 for families.

I now strongly encourage feedback on this topic. Use the comment feature to post your feelings. Do it anonymously if you prefer, but give your feedback. . . Good or bad. There is a fair amount of work to set something like this up, but once done it really opens our group up to do more. Depending on the feedback received here, we will probably have a RMEC meeting and discuss things like dues, bylaws, and officers.

I look forward to all of your comments. Thanks!

Wanna Chase a Skirt?

There is a new race series that is traveling the US, and Raleigh is one of their stops on April 26th. So, what is a SkirtChaser 5k? Simple, it is an energetic and upbeat event that is designed to get women and men racing a 5k. The race however has a twist. . .

The women start the 5k race first. Three minutes later the men start their race, and. . . well. . . chase the skirts. First one to cross the finish line wins $500. The website has a video link that gives you an idea of how it works.

The race starts at 5:00 pm. Why 5:00 pm? Simple, once the race is over, a block party begins, which are much more fun on a Spring evening than in the morning. They have food and drinks as well. There is even a mini fashion show to promote running gear (I assume mainly running skirts) plus the awards.

Bottom line, it looks like a fun event. It is only a 5k, and just a short drive to Raleigh. So ladies. . .is anybody interested in racing. And guys. . . anybody up for chasing some skirts?

RUN RSVP: Saturday 02/09

This weekend is the shortest "long run" we have had for a long time. If you where ever considering joining the group for a run, this is a great day to do it.

I am not sure what everyone's plans call for. I expect it is somewhere between 8-12 miles. I picked a 10 mile route that is easy to shorten if needed, and also easy to add in an extra mile or two. To drop some distance, simply don't go down the roads that dead end. The map indicates two water stops, but I will only have one set up at the train tracks.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday @ 7:30 am
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Route: 10 miles
• Supported: Yes - One Fluid Stop @ 4.3 and 8.8
• Weather: Forecast 43F at start and 55F at finish.

Looks like a perfect morning for running, so get yourself out of bed and join us! Please post a comment if you are coming, so I can make the right amount of fluids. Thank you.

New NCRACES.com Website

I know several of you are running in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carololina Half Marathon Series events that Butch is hosting. He recently revamped his website, and I thought you may be interested. Looks like it is missing some information still, but it does have a more up-to-date look and feel now. Don't forget he has two more events coming up:

• 03/08 Crystal Coast Half Marathon - Morehead City
• 04/05 Bank of American Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon

Post a comment if you plan to run either of the races above. The First Carolina State Bank Half Marathon in Rocky Mount is planned for the 2008 final event.

Myrtle Beach Planning

I must admit, I have a hard time trying to take off my "planner" hat after the Richmond Marathon. With the size group we have going to Myrtle (13 runners), I want to have a little organization around the trip, so here goes. . .

Entries: Looks like all races are going to sell out, as the Marathon only has a few spots let, and the half sold out weeks ago. Having most of your entries come a few months before the race usually indicates a smaller percentage of "no-shows", so arrive early and expect a crowd for the start!

Expo: If your travel time is tight, post a comment. There is probably someone who can pick up your race packet for you with a copy of your ID. There is no race day packet pickups. The Expo runs from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM on Friday. The last expo I went to sponsored by BI-LO had lots of food, and even beer.

Weather: Part of tapering process is spending time obsessing about the weather (something you can't change). The 15-day forecast for Myrtle Beach now includes race day. Right now things look interesting, a low of 50 and a high of 68. They are calling for rain however, but this honestly means nothing two weeks out. 10 days from New York, they were calling for snow, but Ryan and I ran in shorts on a perfect day. One thing to keep in mind is that Myrtle starts early. Half runners will be done by 9:00 am, and full runners by 11:00 am. You will never feel the high temps.

Dinner: In Richmond we organized a group dinner. It actually worked out very well, and we had our own private dinning room, with everything pre-ordered. It was quick and good. I would not mind a group gathering again, but if it is not prearranged, all it will do is make your dinner take too long. If someone is interested in coordinating a dinner I am on board, but I will not have the time, nor do I have the knowledge of the Myrtle Beach area to pull it off.

Here is a list of Italian restaurants in Myrtle Beach. It has local options, Olive Gardens, Carrabbas, and even Fazolis if you want good, cheep, and quick. I have no idea where these are in relation to the race and hotel. There is a Pasta Dinner put on by the race, with a standard pasta menu. There is no information about the cost on their site. It is at the host hotel, and runs from 5:00 to 8:00 which probably means it is a buffet, and you eat when you are ready. It likely will be crowded, but if the price is right it may be a good option.

Shirts and Names: First and foremost. . . wear what makes you comfortable in the race. That being said, use your RMEC shirt if possible. With a group our size we could have lots of family members on the course. They may not know who you are, but they will cheer if they see your RMEC shirt. Secondly, put your name on your shirt if you want to be cheered for. We have a role of bright yellow electrical tape and a black Sharpie that works great.

Car Pooling and Cell Phones: Because most of us are staying at the same hotel, carpooling is probably a good idea. I expect we do not want to leave our families behind without a car. We can figure out the details when we get there. We need a cell phone list, so email me your numbers, if it is not already on our contact list page. I will consolidate the list and send everyone going to Myrtle a copy. Let me know where you are staying and when you are leaving too.

Spectators: I know very little about this race, but using only the map, here is the easiest option for the full marathon. Go to mile four. This is also mile 14.5 and mile 24.3, so you can see runners three times. Keep in mind however there will we 80-100 minutes in-between each time they run by. Anyone know if there is a coffee shop nearby?

House of Blues: All runners and volunteers get access to the post race party on Saturday night. You must be over 18 to attend. Post a comment if you plan to go. If not, you may consider loaning your race number to someone else so they can get free admission.

RUN RSVP: Saturday 02/02

Let the Taper Madness continue. . . After building up your miles, you are probably going nuts now feeling like you are cramming for a test. Repeat after me: "My Training is over. All I have to do now is not get injured."

This week we are going to mix it up. Gerry has offered to host a run from his house. If you have been to Tracy's before for a hill run, you are a stone's throw from Gerry's House. In fact you finish running that hill. We have a big loop planned, and Gerry is going to put a cooler out about half way, so it is very important you RSVP.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday @ 7:30 am
• Where: Battleboro - Gerry's House
• Route: 12 miles or 8.3 miles
• Supported: Yes - One Fluid Stop
• Weather: Forecast 36F at start and 48F at finish.

This is a 12 mile loop Gerry uses. I made the shorter loop for anyone planning to run less. If you need directions, click on "Notes" when you view the map. These are very simple to run because they are big single loop routes.

If you are running the half in Myrtle, you can still have a good long this weekend, in fact it would be my recommendation. A two week taper is enough for the names I see signed up in the half marathon.

It will warm up during our run, so don't over dress, or plan to drop a layer and pick it up after the run.As always, everyone is welcome. We run anywhere from an 8 minute to an 12 minute pace depending on who shows up, so come join us!