It sounds as though RTB has an early nod for 2003. I would still suggest a group message to both relays about some type of incentive up front. No quesiton that HTC is mainly for the masses, but it can't hurt to ask once again. The difference is that HTC has some competition for top teams. They use to get a free ride. I love the HTC event, and would like to see some crumbs thrown out to help reduce team expenses.
Mike
I'll gratuitously echo what Matt R said -- ATC ran a very solid race and were really good sports too. Winners on both counts.
Smitty, I hope you know I was just kidding around regarding the wisecracks about the "Thurston Howell III" hat. I know, deep down, that it's actually a Tom Kite hat. Fore!
I'm involved in the organization of the Providian Relay, a 199 mile Relay from Calistoga in the Napa Valley down through San Francisco to the beach in Santa Cruz.
We are very interested in bringing in elite teams to run and make the event more competitive and we would be very willing to work with teams on entry fee waivers. The race director is also willing to help look for corporate sponsorship packages for any elite team willing to make the trip west.
Right now we have about 350 teams running each year. Our course is definitely much prettier than the H2C and easier to navigate. The course record is held by a Sportbrain sponsored team which was comprised mostly of Farm Teamers.
Take a look at our website,
and if you are interested e-mail the race director Jeff Shapiro at
Let him know you're interested in fielding an elite team and he is very willing to accomodate any reasonable requests and be as helpful as possible.
Rookie
Providian looks nice. It is later in season though and pretty much screws any chance of running a fall marathon. HTC is best for running fall x-c and a fall marathon. One of our guys is running Chicago 2 weeks after RTB, he will just keep tapering after RTB.
The positive parts are it looks beautiful and would be fun to run in that part of the country.
We will let everyone know our experience at RTB this year and then get together with Allegra, ATC, Lactic Acid Droppers and PRC to figure out where to go next year.
Brian
Thanks Fullem,
it is a great course to run and a well organized race. Keep it in mind for next year; we are definitely looking for some very competitive teams and are more than willing to do everything we can to help elite teams come here to run.
and 'hear hear' for the old guys that made the event work magic: black flag..killer b's...all the local teams that adidas has taken the time to help out..different suggestive teams of the nike ilk...
but while the organizing group should take the initiative in garnering money/hotel/sundries...why not the shoe companies that throw short-time money in the direction of potential winners?
Well, back from my walk in the woods and still having H2C withdrawal symptoms. What an incredible event! Great running by the Allegra boys all weekend - as many have observed, the race was much closer than the final result. I agree that more should be done to promote the elite race before the top team start migrating to RTB and others. It would be awesome to have 4 or 5 teams battle all night as closely as we did with Allegra.
Jerseygirl, looks like you ran three outstanding legs and have recovered in record time (must be the dancing) - congratulations.
McManus - you're the toughest guy in the west.
Hilly
Hilly
I don't feel like it today, but thanks....you always pay back long hard efforts. I have been worthless for the last few days. I managed a small jog today, and did an overview of my recovery from HTC...
1. sore left groin
2. sore right calf
3. sore left hamstring
4. right toe blister
5. right heel blister
6. sore lower back
Ok, I think that's about it...but it was well worth the fun! I have 12 months to get ready for next year...or more if we choose one of the other 2 relays.
BTW
Nice effort yourself....are you able to walk down stairs yet?
Mike
thanks.
If you ever come back, I'll have to look for you and make you dance with us (ah, the advantage of having women on your team ;-) )
Have fun at RTB next year. It won't be the same without the elite men at HTC, but the other divisions (except for the women's which are pathetic) are very competitive & fun.
Don't hold your breath about Bob Foote giving any incentives, though. It's bad enough his picture is on the plaque. (btw, this is typical for Oregon where there ARE no money races -- maybe one -- and the Portland marathon is solely for the masses. All you get are ribbons, plaques and mugs, ugh.)
jersey girl
jerseygirl,
don't be a baby. Everyone needs a nice coffee mug. :-) Especially if they can find a way to put Foote's face on it. ;-)
"Nice effort yourself....are you able to walk down stairs yet?"
Stairs are no problem......although I must admit that I was still walking down them sideways/backwards until Monday afternoon! Must be getting old :-)
Monday? Hilly, you are doing fine on the bounce-back timeline, especially given your self-professed under-preparation. I think it will be another 4 days before I can descend a staircase forwards without grunting in pain.
Perhaps something to do with you leading off down the mountain and then running FOUR legs?
If McManus is the toughest guy in the west, you take the title for the East Coast. BTW, you're both crazy SOB's!!
JAM ran leadoff AND THEN 4 LEGS!!! what the hell??? i thought i was tough for running four total. our leadoff girl ran 30 minutes and ran 4 legs total...
Sorry, I meant four legs total. McVeigh kicked ass in the lead off leg (he put 2mins on our ATC team) and then ran three additional legs. Sorry for the confusion - still haven't quite recovered from the insanity of the weekend.
I just got back from my first post Hood to Coast run and it was the slowest most painful shuffle I can ever remember....plus I nearly got hit by a moron in a pickup who ran a red light. I think my hamstrings are about 8 inches shorter than they were last week; I was running like an old man, bent at the waist leaning forward and dragging my legs behind me.
I don't know how anyone can run 4 legs after leading off. I made sure to start drinking beer as soon as I finished my 3rd leg so that the team captain wouldn't come looking for me to run a fourth.
(For the record, I only ran 4 times -- legs 1, 13, 25, and 36. Second time in 3 years I've done that). You're lucky, I *was* my team's captain so I was pretty much screwed there. And the rules are pretty specific that unless injured, the top of the order comes up to the plate. But our 3 guy, Mike "X-Man" Christman, said he'd be ready to do a 4th run too (our 2 guy did his calf). Gotta love that stuff.
JAM:
what was your 25 split? and what did you split on leg 1?
Heck, here are all of them:
1 -- 23:52
13-- 28:19
25-- 19:59
36-- 29:25