Too interesting not to comment on…April 23 and 24th of 2010 the inaugural Southern Blue Relay Race was announced this week.  It will be run by the same organizers as the Blue Ridge Relay which as we can attest is one heck of a reason to run this race.  Starting at Amicalola Falls and ending 200 miles later at the Lake Sidney Lanier while stopping through places like Dahlonega and Brasstown Bald.  It should be spectacular to say the least…Definitely worth keeping in mind if not this year potential in later years.  If I remember correctly this is the exact same weekend as the Inaugural Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke of which I have already invested $75 many months in advance.

Thanks to the nice folks at RunningRelays.com for tweeting (@runningrelays) this news!

32 hours and 1 minute for Team 4tunate (to have 2 more runners)!!! Great accomplishment team!  Click here for detailed results (note there are 2 tabs in the spreadsheet).

11 (out of 17 Ultra teams)    4tunate (to have 2 more runners)    Fort Mill    SC    Ultra    6    9:00    7:20 AM    3:21:50 PM    32:01:50    0:09:05

In addition there are more pics to enjoy – here are the links:

Whitney’s Pics on Snapfish

Kevin’s Pics

The Blue Ridge Relay Pics

More commentary to come – must get ready for work now.

Team 4tunate (to have 2 more runners) (Left to Right: Jason, Chris, Jason, Alex, Whitney and Kevin)

Our Mascot: Dualie - The Odd-Wheeled Van

Team 4tunate (to have 2 more runners) completes the Blue Ridge Relay (BRR) with all legs intact (or so we hope).  So much to comment on I won’t likely be able to get to it all here but I will hit some of the highlights from my perspective and ask the rest of the team to add theirs as they see fit.  Here’s the bulleted debrief along with more pictures than most care to see here (you can thank me later for not putting this into a PowerPoint presentation):

• No team should be allowed to rent a van for the race that isn’t a Dualie.  On 2nd thought, I think we prefer to claim it as our official mascot…
• Running 10 miles up Grandfather Mountain is still a thrill to me.
• Watching the half-moon rise around 3am while running is near-spiritual.
• Running in the wee hours of night is exhilarating and at the same time quite peaceful.
• For a team of 6 runners 24 Gatorades is 6 too many.
• For a team of 6 runners 40 bananas is 25 too many.
• Eating during the race is a chore – the right combo of salty and gooey is tough to find.
• Soaking in random rivers really does help with recovery.
• The “Stick” (running thing that rolls over your muscles) also helps with recovery.
• The coolest two words to see while running any leg:  “Exchange Zone”
• Cold Rice-a-roni is underrated.
• Next year:  a cup of coffee before each run.
• Dropping a GU gel in a portable toilet renders it useless.
• Taking pictures during the night is hard – getting the few night pictures to turn out with reflective gear is even harder.
• Getting to see the guy who ran the entire 211 miles was cool and a good reminder that setting limits is sometimes as good as setting goals.
• Enjoying 30+ hours in a van with 5 other runners with roughly 3 hours of sleep each is proof I’ll be back again next year.
• Although I know they will find a way to do so, I don’t think there is one thing the race organizers can do to make this event any better!

More observations and more pictures to come in the next few days.  Until then, Dualie Out!

Almost exactly 24 hours from now this will be the view for all except for Runner 2 (his view will be from the vantage point of that bozo running down the hill.  Food has been bought and prepped (complete with Quinoa!), clothes packed, van iPod music loaded and even a few minor internal freak outs have been held back.  I even set my alarm clock this morning for the 3am wakeup call which feels like sleeping in compared to last year’s 2am wakeup.  Some of my stats:

• 40 Bananas Packed
• 5 Gallons of Water
• 6 GU/gels
• 6 powerbars
• 1 serving of Quinoa, Rice-a-Roni, Spaghetti/Spinach Casserole respectively
• 3 servings of Chez Boy-ar-dee Cheese Ravioli
• Trail mix
• 4 running shirts
• 3 running shorts
• 6 pairs of running socks
• 2 pairs of running shoes
• 1 pair of crocs and lounge socks
• 3 blinking lights a headlamp and a maglite
• Garmin GPS watch/heart rate monitor
• Twitterable device
• 4 empty bags for wet clothes
• 1 old newspaper for wet shoes
• Baby Powder (aahhh feel the freshness!)
• Baby Wipes (almost as good as a shower!)

That’s likely only the half of it.  Phone chain will be in place early AM.  Van leaves uptown Charlotte no later than 4:15 with target race arrival at 6:45.  Early bedtime ahead – good luck all!

Hi everyone.  As I mentioned during our call a few weeks ago, on September 23 I’m being locked up for MDA.  I’ll need your help in raising my bail.  If you’d like to help, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser and make an online donation.
https://www.joinmda.org/rockhill2009/alexsullivan/

Please also feel free to give a cash or check to me and I’ll deliver it to MDA on the 23rd.

Thanks for your help!

Alex

Our leader has spoken again and we shall listen intently and go with knowledge in hand.  In other words, the 2009 BRR Team Handbook is here for all to read and prepare themselves mentally with it.  If it isn’t in here you don’t need to know it.

Click here to see/read the 2009 BRR Team Handbooks!

Gimp Watch 2009:  Now is the time where we need to start checking in with runner health updates.  I’ll start:

• Fatigued legs
• Rest needed
• Yoga, low miles and slow paces for the next 2 weeks to rest appropriately for the big event.

Don’t be shy with your updates here….

1)  What should your BRR Team 4tunate running nickname be (note: this will be assigned if you don’t submit)? Batman

2)  How long have you been a runner? I’ve been running for close to three years, but seriously running for just over a year. Only two years ago I thought two miles was an accomplishment.

3)  Why do you run (or what are you running from?)? It began as an effort to stay fit and get out of the house, but now it’s become a passion. I love the feeling after getting in a really good run… exhausted but satisfied. And I probably run from my work a little too. I work a lot and sit in front of a computer a lot, so it’s nice to get out, get fresh air, and get away from it for a while.

4)  How many BRRs have you run? This one will be my first and I’m very much looking forward to it!

5)  Last 3 races you have run? I’ve only run two, I think: Terrapin’s 5k + 1 more mile this past April here in Athens, then a 15k Miles for Marines not too long ago in Charlotte.

6)  Upcoming events you might be training for? Blue Ridge Relay and Charlotte’s Thunder Road in December.

7)  What Brand/Model running shoes do you run in? I’ve had two pairs of Aisics Evolutions and they’ve been great. I was never properly/formally fitted for shoes though, but I’m going to get that done soon. I was fitted this past Friday and found I had the wrong type of shoes I’m now using Brooks Adrenaline 9’s (with some spiffy new Yanks). Running has never felt better.

8)  When you aren’t running you are  ______. Working and brewing the ocassional beer.

9)  Favorite/Rave Run (location, course, etc.)? Each of my previous races have been special. The one here in Athens was my first, and we (myself, Kevin, his sister Melissa and two other friends) dressed up. The second was my first trail run. As for my favorite location, there’s a nice greenway here in Athens that starts just outside my apartment. To the end and back is roughly 14.5 miles, give or take.

10) What is the running accomplishment you are most proud of achieving? I’m proud to just be enjoying it. Starting running, at least for me, was like getting to like coffee – it’s been an acquired ‘taste’.

11) Favorite BRR Memory (or for 1st timers:  why do the BRR?)? My previous employer ran the Blue Ridge Relay both of the years I was under his employment. I had a curiosity since then, but was never confident enough in myself to actually make the distance. The past year has given me that confidence and I was greatfully presented with the opportunity to participate from Kevin.

12) What is your favorite running song currently in your ipod? Since learning that I can’t have an iPod on the Blue Ridge Relay, I’ve not been running with it. However, when I did run with music it was usually to trance, goa or psy trance, or some sort of house music. My song of the moment is DT8 Project – Ride the Wave (original mix)

The man, the myth, the legend...take me to your leader!

…if you can’t tell my goal is to make Ken out to be like Yoda on ‘Star Wars’ or Jack Bauer on ‘24′ – as in “THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND!”  I don’t want to build it up too much but this guy, his wife and the community that supports him really do an amazing job with this race.  Here are some more great details:

Important Exchange Zone Food-related commentary:

• Alex and I vote heavily for planning ahead at EZ 12 and ordering a Mellow Mushroom Pie for when we pass through Blowing Rock (I request 2 slices get stowed for after my “G-father” leg)
• EZ 18 has homemade sandwiches from the Volunteer Fire Department ($5/sandwich).  I put us down for 1 per runner.
• EZ 24 will have loaded baked potatoes (grown locally and dug just for the race!) for $3/potato I put us down for 1 per runner.
• EZ 24 (sounds like a shoddy Chevy from the mid-90s) will also offer ice and bottled water if needed.
• EZ 30 will serve pancakes, bacon and sausage – I put us down for 6 interested (figured we would get a to-go box for “the Goat” runner).

Rules:

1. Know ALL of the rules – (see this link if you aren’t sure you know all of the rules)
2. No Pets, No IPods, No Van Shadowing, No RVs, No Trailers, and No Support Vehicles/Team Cars on the Blue Ridge Parkway EVER.
3. REFLECTIVE VESTS:  are required to be worn by every person who is out of their vehicle during the night (7:30pm-7:30am) – basically, everyone needs to bring their own vest.
4. Don’t argue or dispute any rules or answers provided by officials.  Their word is the word.
5. Pay the vehicle entry fee on the way into Grayson Highlands SP ($2/car) regardless if manned or not.
6. Ken doesn’t say it but he should – don’t put up with runners or runner teams being jerks – too many people worked to hard to put this on to do that…

Maps:

• Updated leg maps for Legs 8, 12, 13, 24, 25, 28 and 29 are out – check the legs out here.
• Leg 8 Changes
• Leg 12 Changes
• Leg 13 Changes
• Leg 24 Changes
• Leg 25 Changes
• Leg 28 Changes
• Leg 29 Changes
• Don’t rely on GPS to navigate the course – that little google maps car didn’t brave all of these roads (yet).  The BRR maps are based on local knowledge and road signs (novel concept, eh?)

The Course (my commentary in italics):

1. The course will be signed with 18 x 24 yellow signs with large black letters.  The signs will have either “BRR” or “RELAY” with a directional arrow.  Most of the signs will be posted on the Left, since we are required to run on the left.  However, if the Leg Notes read “Run on the right” the signs will be posted on the Right.

2. Night signs will have reflective tape around the border.  The entire boarder of the sign will not be wrapped in a square because the tape would interfere with the lettering.  (it is likely at some point you will start hallucinating these signs during your run)

3.  Our lead vehicle will be marking every turn with a sign approximately 45 minutes in front of the lead team.  However, signs will be posted 7 hours ahead of the last team.  Runners need to know their legs.  Some teams prepare laminated cue sheets for the runners to carry.

4. A cue sheet of the entire course is attached. (Our man JMart (aka “Sweaty” or “The River”) is all over these runner cheat sheets for us).

5. “EXCHANGE ZONE” signs will be posted approximately ¼ (one quarter) of a mile before the actual exchange zone.  These signs are intended to alert the runners and support vehicles of the approaching exchange zone.  The exchange zone does NOT start at the sign. (the distance of “1/4 mile” is approximate – don’t take your pace and divide by 4 to see how much longer until you are there – at no point during this event is “runner math” ever advised).

6. Exchange zones at night will have a flashing light as a beacon.

7. QUIET HOURS: 7:30pm – 7:30am are Quiet Hours.  Even though we’re awake, the people in the communities through which we’re running are sleeping.  Please respect that we’re guests on their home turf.  Please speak in hushed voices.  Please refrain from yelling for your runners, loud music, and horn blowing.  (new rule – likely a good one given the ‘gun to runner’ ratio is not likely in our favor out there).

8.  Please review legs long before the Relay.  If your leg has a long stretch of one road, estimate your pace, check your watch, and run.  Course signs will NOT be posted every mile.  Leg 20 is an example.  Once you are running on Hanging Rock Rd. , follow the white line on the road side or keep your eye on the center lines and remain on Hanging Rock Rd. until the exchange zone.  (in all seriousness – you WILL get a new nickname if you can’t manage to stay on the course.)

9. “CAUTION RUNNER” signs will be posted in two locations: 1) on roads with traffic and narrow shoulders to alert approaching traffic and 2) at intersections where runners make a turn.  In the second case, the signs will be posted off of course to alert traffic approaching the intersection.

10.  Relay Officials will be wearing really cool light blue and lime green reflective vests for all exchange zones (day and night).

11. EZ 23 at Snow Creek Storage will not have restrooms or porta-johns. (Alex – we will have TP in the van if this is your leg…sorry).

12.  Legs that include running on the Blue Ridge Parkway require runners to wear a reflective vest, day or night: Legs 11, 12, and 35.

The BRR is taking up most of my mind’s free space…I can’t wait.

a good (flat) leg

1) What should your BRR Team 4tunate running nickname be (note: this will be assigned if you don’t submit)? Whitruns – but if you see me coming, “punch it” will make me run faster than a nick name
2) How long have you been a runner? Since high school. I took a short break during college (sorority life got in the way) then joined a marathon training program to meet new people and have been hooked on long distance running ever since.
3) Why do you run (or what are you running from?)? Definitely for the bragging rights!
4) How many BRRs have you run? 4 – year 1 was a 6 person team, then a 12 and 10 person team – i’m a bit nervous about running the race with 6 people again but am pretty pumped about the team’s enthusiasm
5) Last 3 races you have run? I ran in a track series over the summer and beat a bunch of 12-year-olds which was awesome. The last 2 big races that I ran before that were the St Louis marathon relay and the Kansas City marathon.
6) Upcoming events you might be training for? The Marine Corps marathon in DC on 10/25 – after the BRR it should feel like a training run
7) What Brand/Model running shoes do you run in? Asics 2140s…size 12!

8)When you aren’t running you are singing karaoke! Or more likely working for the man.
9) Favorite/Rave Run (location, course, etc.)? Forest Park in St Louis is pretty awesome.
10) What is the running accomplishment you are most proud of achieving? Making it through the BRR every year is always a pretty big deal. If I could get through leg #35 without walking that would definitely be at the top of the list.
11) Favorite BRR Memory (or for 1st timers: why do the BRR?)? Worst memory: hearing something hissing at me in the dark and not being able to see it. Best memory: getting high fives and cheers from many random vans along the way.
12) What is your favorite running song currently in your ipod? Beat It

The Machine!

1)  What should your BRR Team 4tunate running nickname be (note: this will be assigned if you don’t submit)? The Machine.  It came down to that or “Achin’ Bunions.”  I decided I might need some positive reinforcement during the race.  For example:  “Alex, I know you haven’t slept in 24 hours and there’s 3,000’ of vertical gain over the first 100 yards of your next leg, but you can do it . . . because you’re The Machine!”

2)  How long have you been a runner? About 5 years ago, a neighbor suggested that Tracy (my wife) should try a triathlon.  I decided to tag along and have been running (and swimming and biking) since.
3)  Why do you run (or what are you running from?)? So I can keep up with my kids, eat lots of pizza, and give myself time to think.
4)  How many BRRs have you run? This will be my first.
5)  Last 3 races you have run? Amica Triathlon at Lake Wylie; Tri the Rock; Springmaid Road Race 10k.
6)  Upcoming events you might be training for? Springmaid Road Race 10k (or 1/2, if they have one this year); Charlotte Thunder Road Marathon.
7)  What Brand/Model running shoes do you run in? Asics 2000 series; most recently the 2120s.  The 2120 has been discontinued and I haven’t had any luck finding some in my size.  I bought a pair of 2140s and ran in them earlier this week, right out of the box. That run resulted in consideration of “Achin’ Bunions” as my team nickname.
8)  When you aren’t running you are  ______. Trying to work as efficiently as possible so I can spend more time with my family.
9)  Favorite/Rave Run (location, course, etc.)? Anywhere on the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill.  Also, the section of the run from my neighborhood into Fort Mill that goes through the peach / pecan orchards, across from Mrs. Close’s horse pasture; saw two deer about 30’ off the path early one morning this week.  Pretty cool.
10) What is the running accomplishment you are most proud of achieving? Finishing the ‘07 Myrtle Beach Marathon (my one and only, although I’m thinking about running it again in ‘10, as well as Charlotte Thunder Road later this year).
11) Favorite BRR Memory (or for 1st timers:  why do the BRR?)? I love running and the mountains; the BRR seemed like a good combination.   Jason S. also did a good job talking about how much fun it can be to spend 30 hours in a van, without sleep, with a bunch of sweaty runners.  And, I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to being able to say I ran the BRR as part of a six-person team.

12) What is your favorite running song currently in your ipod? I haven’t listed to my iPod on a run in awhile, but in my current running playlist you’d probably find some Jane’s Addiction, U2, Rush, The Who, Led Zeppelin, REM, Coldplay, The Cult, Run-DMC, and maybe even a Duran-Duran song or two . . . .