Reach the beach

any reports/observations on Reach the Beach relay this weekend?

Complete results are not available yet. Bucknell's alumni team was first with two other Bucknell alumni squads in the top-10. I think a Central Park squad was second. I honestly can't remember the times - I'm too tired and sore after the weekend.

Results are posted at:

http://www.rtbrelay.com/RTB2002_Final_Results.htm

For any of the faster teams looking to choose a relay next year, please consider the Reach the Beach over Hood to Coast. If not for the rain I would have to say that RTB has everything in favor over HTC for teams looking to race.

Winning overall team gets free entry the next year. Winner's in every category get one pair of free training shoes and a one year subscription to RT. Not much, but better than HTC. You also get free food and non alcoholic beverages at finish and a free pic of your team from the race.

Along the way you actually get much support from the locals. They have a competition amongst the aid stations for the best one. They actually make soup, coffee, chili, donuts etc and give them to the runner's and their support for free.

The course itself is much tougher. More uphill portions on many legs. There are also 4 or 5 legs of longer than 7 miles with 3 longer than 8. Go to

www.rtbrelay.com

to check out the course etc.

It will be 2 weeks earlier next year and they are capping it at 200 teams. This year was 160. I think the entries will open in November.

Other positives for those racing: no congestion, no worrying about making the next zone, earlier start time, will start all the fast teams competing at the same time. This year we started at 4:30, 3 teams started at 4:00 amd then it was 2:30 before that. There are plusses and minus's to that. It took us a long time to start passing people, but I could see it being more fun if you are racing, because you will know exactly where the other teams are.

We hope that ATC, Alegra (the JAM's), Penn State Alums,Dartmouth Alums, Princeton RC and Lactic Acid Droppers will all join us next year in New Hampshire

Brian Fullem, Bucknell Alums

Hey Fullem,

Glad to hear things went well for everyone despite the rain.

I don't know how Foote had my phone number, but he left a message on my voice mail saying that he was disappointed in your comments about Hood to Coast. Specifically, he said that in the future, make sure to mention his name whenever referencing Hood to Coast.

I guess he meant "Bob Foote's Hood to Coast" (instead of Nationwide Insurance?) or "Hood to Coast, started in 1982 by Bob Foote...."

CK

Two weeks earlier? Excellent. The previous race date was my only concern as it interferes with fall marathon prep. Now that that obstacle has been reduced somewhat, I imagine the "JAM's" will begin initial preparations for next year immediately.

I believe with some coordination we can build a VERY competitive field for next year.

Good to see you and the boys up there Fullem. Pretty random.

M

Hey Bucknell gang,

Congrats! Did evil Davie Bronfmann (sp?) average 4:11s again? Ha! I still have great pics of you guys blasting around in bumper cars at Seaside.

Van

Rosetti, I am sure you were scouting for the JAM's, who else just happens to be in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire? Pretty funny though but quit following me! Good luck in Chicago, get a qualifier.

Van, Bronf ran his usual awesome three legs. There is no screaming downhill leg, so we had him run 5:00 pace for his 8.something leg.

The race starts up a ski slope and then back down. Goes up about 1500 feet in 1.5 miles then back down, taking a mile longer to try and make it less steep.

BF

Looks like the RTB event doesn't have the GD "Me Too" Walking relay teams crap. ( On the Nationwide website Check out how many walking teams were penalized for getting caught RUNNING - who the hell were they trying to beat?)Those menopausal bags have pretty much co-opted HTC as their own Oprah-Dr. Phil empowerment exercise.

I had own of those loonies approach me at the 35th exchange explaining that walking uses more muscles than running. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Go back to your power walk around the shopping center lady. My reply was that I would use more muscles doing the crab walk ( 2nd grade PE ) to get from Mt Hood to Seaside.

Hooray for RTB - lets hope it stays true to the spirit of running as opposed to "let's make everybody happy! Hooray for everyone!" crap that HTC has morphed into - speaking from 1989 to my experiences in 2002.

Now time to get a team together.

You do have a nice ass.

Thanks on the good luck (Steamtown not Chitown however), I'll do my best.