12/19/12 Hawkeye 50K & 25K Email: Registration is Up

I sent this email out to everyone on the list. As always remember to look to the right ---> to find race information.


Greetings Runners!

Registration is up! (Link is below, after all my blabbering.) A few comments:

1. We switched to Ultrasignup this year. We'll see how that goes. I expect no problems.

2. This year, shirts are optional. It's possible that we'll use the same design as last year, but just change color and date, because I really like the design. Also, we will have women's specific sizes this year! Which means a change in brand. Last year's shirt looks like this. (You may need to enable graphics to see this.)
3. If we fill up, we'll go to a waiting list. I doubt that will happen soon.

4. There are some optional fields to fill out (occupation, etc) when you register. These are just for fun. Although the "medical considerations" one would be useful. (That will not be displayed to anyone.)

5. If you were a VOLUNTEER last year and want to RACE this year, reply to me and I'll give you a $20 discount code!

6. If you were one of our four OVERALL CHAMPIONS last year, you can race this year for free! I'm not 100% sure of the process though so maybe wait just a bit until I figure out how that works. (But feel free to email me to let me know you want to enter.) These four would be Shawn Loy, Mark Thompson, Sarah Gall, and Austin Williamson. Congrats!

7. If you were one of the 36 DIVISION TOP THREE finishers last year, you get $10 off this year! Use the code "winner12" at checkout. By the way, do not try to use this code if you did not qualify. I see everyone who uses it. If you are unsure if you qualify, check the results from last year. (And email me if you are still unsure.) If you see a 1, 2, or 3 in the place category, you get the discount!

8. I think Friday packet pickup will be at We Run in North Liberty. (Yes there will be race morning packet pickup too.) More about that later. We have used Sleep Inn in North Liberty as our race hotel in the past so we'll see if we do again this year.

9. Speaking of volunteers for this year, I could use the following (and remember, this gets you a $20 discount for the following year, plus a free cotton shirt, and access to the same food the runners get).

A. Three folks to handle timing from 8:00am to about 3:00pm. (If you want to do it for PART of this time, let me know too.)

B. Four folks to handle parking from about 6:15am to 8:00am. One would just be at the entrance to the park with a flashlight helping cars find the place. (Theoretically you could also do another chore after, if you really love to volunteer!)

C. We have at least one aid station left that needs to be attended to. Preferably you might be able to round up a group of 3-4 people to take it for the full day, which is from roughly 7:30am to 3pm (adjusted depending upon which aid station and when last runner goes through). It's a long day out in the elements. But fun! Of course we provide the food/liquids. (If you can round up a large enough group so that you split the duties during the day, that's great too!)

D. We could really use a few people who would be on call during the day to retrieve runners who have stopped at an aid station and need a ride back.

E. For those who know the spillway, I would like to plant one or two people there just to oversee that spot. Although if it's bone dry this may not be necessary.

F. Might be more we need...this is what comes to mind now. If you just want to help but don't care exactly how, respond and give me hours you'd like to help.

So, go sign up! And remember this: for the 50K, you must begin lap two by NOON (4 hours). Any later than that and your time will not count and you are not supported. Also, you cannot change races after the gun goes off.

Thanks, and hope to see you at the race. Please respond with any questions and if I feel I really missed something I'll follow up to the group. Remember to check our FB page as well and the race web site (look on the right there for information).

Well the storm is just starting to hit here in Iowa, so stay warm. And if you do not hear from me before then, have a GREAT CHRISTMAS, or enjoy your holidays however you celebrate them.

Your Friendly RD,

Tim

Hawkeye 50K & 25K Email #3: Vahalla 25K

Hello Runners!

Just a few little things.

First, there are a group of runners who will be running the course on Saturday Dec 8 at 10:30am. You are invited to join them! To get more information on this, go to our FB page and  you'll find information on how to sign up. If you don't do FB, the person who is organized this non-official unorganized non-event is Mark Thompson. If you have questions, shoot him an email at thompsonmd@gmail.com. Finally, the name he's given to this is Vahalla 25K, which is why that is in the subject line. Hope to see you there!

(Recognize the name Mark Thompson? He was our 50K winner last year!)

Second, I'm still hoping to open up registration some time before Christmas.

Third, I hope to soon put up a few course ribbons. These will only be put up on the trail portion of the race, in the area by the start/finish (in the Macbride Nature Recreation Area). This is the trickiest part of the course. I will not put up tons of ribbons, but I'll try to mark all the turns. This may help with the above training run, as well as with people who just want to practice the trails out there. If you see yellow ribbons, you're probably on the right trails. I hope to do this this Sunday the 18th if I can get out there.

[EDiT: The ribbons are up! Email about them coming soon.]

Fourth, there are some changes with the shirts this year. We plan on making them optional. So the race prices will be $35 for the 50K, and $25 for the 25K. Then the tech racing shirts will be optional for $10. (So if you get a shirt, the cost is the same as the last two years.) Furthermore, we'll finally have womens specific shirts. I think we're going to use the same design as last year, but different colors.

Fifth, for those who don't know, yes, all finishers of the Hawkeye 50K & 25K get a medal. :-)

Sixth, something to think about: In the past we've had a potluck of sorts. If you have a dish or treat you want to bring for the post-race eats, please do! Also, do you have a photographer friend coming to the race? We'd LOVE to have them take pictures! We got some great shots last year.

Okay, I think that's all for now.

Keep running and Happy Thanksgiving (if you don't hear from me before then).

Your friendly RD,

Tim

PS. Remember the run on Dec 8 at 10:30!

2013 Hawkeye 50K & 25K Email #2

Hey, remember, all your Hawkeye 50K & 25K information is to the right. Scroll down if needed. Also, sign up for the email list.

Here is the second email I sent out a couple of weeks ago:

Hi Again!

I usually don't email right after another one like this, but this won't be long. I was out on the course today. What a beautiful day. Would have been perfect for a race today. Of course our race will be accompanied by some weather disaster. I wonder what it will be this time? Maybe we should have a contest to see who comes closest. Maybe we can induce a rare Midwestern earthquake or something.

Anyway, the spillway was nearly bone dry, which of course is unlikely on race day. Then again, after such a dry Summer, it may take quite a bit of rain and snow to get levels up, so possibly this will affect things on March 2. We'll see.

More interestingly, we will have a tiny course change! The easiest way to see this is to watch this short video. (I sound like a dork.) What you'll see is that right after the spillway, they've built some steps. You'll still have to clamber up the rocks at first, but then you'll follow a different path using the steps. I don't think this changes the distance or anything much, but it's interesting. (And yes I'm joking in the video regarding the "asterisks.")

Also, last time I forgot to link to our Facebook page. Check 'em out.

Here are a few pictures from today. You can see the new steps in the bottom two.

Here is where you run when coming up to the spillway.

The dry spillway. See the steps on the other side?

A close up of the new steps.

Keep Running. Your Friendly RD,

Tim

2013 Hawkeye 50K & 25K First Hello

This email was sent out Oct 14, 2013 to anyone on the Hawkeye 50K/25K list. Look on the right side of the page to sign up for the mailing list, and all kinds of information about the race.

Greetings Runners!

Well hello everyone! It's time to think about the 3rd Hawkeye 50K & 25K, in 2013.

Yesterday was the inaugural running of a new 50K/25K up in Cedar Falls, the Running Village Fall 50K. Interestingly it was put on by the winner of our first Hawkeye 50K, Scott Gall. Rumor has it that it was a success, so congratulations! I would liked to have run it myself, but I'm nursing a calf injury. I know, many of you can relate to injuries. SO frustrating! But the good news is that ultrarunning is expanding in Iowa. I think we have five real ultras now? We also have the Equalizer in Des Moines coming soon, and the Cornbelt 24 Hour race in Eldridge in May. And next month will be the third Wildcat 50K. I highly recommend that one. I've done it and it's fun, and free (donation suggested)!

So yesterday's race got me thinking that it might be time to begin to communicate with you all about our next running of the Hawkeye 50K & 25K. First and foremost, the date: Right now it's tentatively scheduled for Saturday March 2, 2013. I know I keep moving it around. I apologize for that. It so happens I'll be busy every other weekend in March except that one. I don't see a reason now why I'll deviate from that date.

I do not expect big changes to the next race as far as the course goes or anything major. Of course I hope to do a better job. Amazingly, after two runnings and two weather disasters, I've still yet to get one serious complaint from any runner. You all amaze me. You're tough! And also kind and understanding. But from my point of view there are a lot of little things I want to improve, so let's hope the third time is the charm. I won't bore you with these little (but important!) changes, but hope they make things run more smoothly next time.

One possible semi-major change is that I'm flirting with the idea of making the shirts optional. Not everyone wants a shirt, I imagine. Plus I may use the same design as last year (but a new color), which is even more reason some may not need a new one, so why force you to buy it? This race is for you, not me or the shirt makers! :-D If I do this, I'll probably reduce the cost of the race by about $10, and then charge $10 for anyone who wants a shirt. Makes sense, right?

Here is something important. Do you all know why we do this race? (Well, besides the fact it's fun.) It's to raise awareness about Lupus and to raise some money to find cures and to help those with the disease. After the first race I donated $1000. After last year's race, I donated $500 to the Lupus Foundation of America! Also I donated at a time when there was a matching-donation contest going on, so my donation was matched with $1000 by others! Thank you ALL for chipping in on that! (One reason I donated less this time to leave myself a buffer to work with for the next race, but that means I may have more to donate after this one.)

You may be wondering about registration. It is not up yet but maybe about early December-ish it might be? So keep checking at Running Wall for it. Also keep in mind that the limit is 150 total racers, and we did hit that last year but don't freak out either. It won't be filling up in a few days or anything like that. And I will send out another email when registration goes live. Something to know: Our four winners from last year get FREE entry this year. Other podium finishers (1st through 3rd in our age groups) get $15 off. Finally, anyone who volunteered last year gets $20 off. And this goes for next year as well, so if you or anyone you know wants to volunteer, please have them email me at chemsmith1@gmail.com. That's also the place to ask questions.

Well that's all for now. Happy Trails and Keep Running!

Your Friendly RD,

Tim