Reach the Beach and Hood to Coast

I hear the Farm Team will be entering a squad in the Providian Relay.

Thanks, Scotty. We will surely need luck b/c last year's runners-up are returning and they didn't "graduate any seniors." And there is a team entered names "Rolling Thunder" -- which was the name of the old adidas superstar teams with Todd WIlliams and the like -- makes one wonder if the three-stripers will be bringing the all-star team again. Then there's always the "good team, new to the event" factor. Anyway, we'll lace 'em up and see what happens.

Only about half our squad will be at McMenamin's on Sunday, so we'll keep it to 6 pitchers o Terminator. There may be a chug competition for nostalgia's sake, but there won't be much drama -- I'm a safer bet than the Harlem Globetrotters. Then, the Canadian Ballet...

I have a question. I'm running my first H2C this year and being the rookie I've been given leg 1 ...a run that looks like a great way to finish a running career in a hurry. Any pointers? tape feet? don't tape feet? flats? no flats? run hard? or save the quads?

I think I'll be kicking off with you guys in the elite start too.

Joe

Rolling thunder? I can promise you that adidas will not field an all star team for this years HTC. We do have a couple employees running on the ATC squad. It should be a fun, and competitive race again this year.

Safe travels to PDX.

Mike

Mike, are you running on that employee team? If so, good luck and hope to meet up with you.

For the rookie on Leg 1, it';s too late now but best advice is "only join the team on the condition you don't have to lead off."

That said, I am a 2-time Leg 1 idiot and here's what i think. I tape the balls of my feet, and I have worn light, cushioned trainers (adidas Boston, the 3-yr-old old model with disco-shine stripes) and substantial racing flats (adidas Rats Racers) without foot trauma in either case.

Asd for the execution, just keep turning 'em over -- at times it shoudl feel like pedaling a bike fast -- with a little forward lean (as perpindicular to the ground as you can be) or your hamstrings and back will really suffer -- it is probably a given that your quads will be devastated anyway. Be ready for every muscle in your legs to be like a clenched fist after about 1.5-2mi.

Oh, and enjoy the view. It's spectacular.

JAM

I was sorry to hear Bucknell was choosing to race East this year rather than West. I cherished every moment in winning the "real relay" as I believe I've lost to Bucknell athletes more times in the last eight years than anyone on record. Take what I can get.

Good luck reaching the beach. I saw Shea a couple weekends ago and he's running mega miles, should be a strong leg for you guys.

Joe

We always have a couple low key teams at the annual HTC relay. No all star team this year. I am again running on the ATC. I was a late add last year, just coming off the Pikes Peak ascent (another pretty cool event itself). I think we surprised a few teams last year. We hope to be at least as good (if not better) than last year. My SE rep has also joined the ATC team this year.

BTW

Advice for the 1st runner:

I would suggest wearing training shoes, and at least a medium weight sock. Your legs/quads will still take a pounding....ouch, ouch. I ran the 1st leg in 1987, and choose to avoid the first three legs ever since.

Good luck

Mike

I just bought a pair of NB 830s a half size too big for leg 1 and I think I'll go the foot taping route too.

I'll buy you both a beer at the beach.

I heard the Princeton Running co. team is running RTB and will have Andre Williams, Eric kean, Terrance Armstrong and other studs like Rich Bostwick. This may be the end of the bucknell winning streak. Rumor is Bucknell is having a hard time fielding a team...

Good choice for a shoe...cushioned but light weight. I will take you up on the beer...it doesn't take much after the race

Mike

Rosetti

I am protesting that victory in the real relay. We beat you on every leg, but we had a sissy on one leg that will go unnamed ( I think he is still trying to finish)

McV, your advice on leg 1 is very good. I did leg 1 once and thrashed my legs by not letting it all out. Rookie, it might be better if your shoes fit because otherwise your feet with slide around and skin on the bottom of your feet will get torn off and/or nails will get trashed (our leg one of many years tried everything but always had blister problems)

Bucknell will field a team at RTB, but the assessment that we are having trouble fielding a team is accurate. We will do our best but I would make PRC a huge favorite if the above guys are running

Brian

Sorry abt the blank

Brian, although your guy was slow (at least he managed not to spill anything on his skirt) you were not better on every leg -- you are forgetting the one good time I posted there -- I threw down a blazing leg at McMenamin's that brought us from way back to way up -- and I beat Grainger one-on-one a few minutes later.

Throw me a frickin' bone here...

Rookie, he's right abt the shoes -- tight is good, the reason I takpe my feet is to have nothing touching the most stresses areas of skin that would move -- BTW, your feet will feel like they're burning too, I hope they're calloused.

Check your shoes for any places that may rub. Taping could help. I still have a scar on the top of my big toe joint from L1 1989. Ha Ha. Plan to have ice for quads at finish of leg. Plan to have someone carry you to the start of your third leg - by then the soreness will be really kicking in from L1. Plan on having someone carry you around the parties after the finish. Good luck. You will have THE running story for a lifetime.

( BTW - I am running L-9, 21, 33 this year )

H2C Rookie

I would agree with the other postings reagrding shoe size. Get a pair of light trainers in your normal shoe size. You do not want the shoes to be too big....your feet will be OK for 20+ minutes.

Mike

Damn that must be a helluva drop! 5.5 miles in 20 minutes! :-)

I got them a little big so I could wear cushioned socks and not have my toes slam into the front as I go down. I think I can live with a couple of blisters but running 2 more legs with black toenails doesn't appeal to me.

Mike - I think you might know a few guys on my team...I'm on the Santini submaster team. Look for us at the beach and I'll have that beer ready.

It was close to 20 minutes when Eddy lead off for Nike in 1995! Eddy ripped the first leg in 4:01 pace....I think he went through the mile in about 3:36!

Since I'm 36, I probably know quite a few of the older guy's...

Mike

I think Eddy can rest easy, I'm not bringing my skateboard.

As the "weakest link" on my team, I have been given 3, 15 and 27 for H2C this year. Anyone else out there running those legs?