June 10
Hello WWR participants,
Yes, less than two months before you'll be enjoying the beautiful scenery of northern Colorado and the Wild West Relay course, the challenge of a 195-mile team relay, and relishing the camaraderie of your friends and teammates. This is the first of several updates before race day to keep you informed.
There is a lot of information here, so I strongly suggest you print out and save this email for future reference.
TECH SHIRTS
Two updates on the Tech shirts. If you had original selected a Woman's XSmall, our new vendor, Sport Science, does not make an XSmall in the womens BUT their Sleeveless shirt is sized smaller than their Crew Neck shirt. In order to clean up the database, I went through and changed all Women's XSmall selections to Women's Small Sleeveless. So if this is not the style shirt your want, please have your Captain change your selection in the database.
Also, after having some test shirts made, I decided to change the men's shirt from gray to creme as the artwork did not show up well on the gray shirts. And since there have been a couple of questions, I'd like to clarify that the only color option for women's crew neck shirt is banana, and the sleeveless shirt is pink as shown below.
Ladies - when I do the shirt order next month and you have not updated you shirt selection to either a Crew Neck or a Sleeveless shirt, you will receive a Crew Neck by default.
Cotton WWR shirts will be supplied to the Volunteers.
TRAVEL
Please visit the travel section of the WWR website for information about renting vans from Enterprise and for lodging at the start in Fort Collins and the finish in Steamboat Springs.
Enterprise Rent A Car also has special rates for WWR participants. Click on these links for reservation and rate information.
WWR DATABASE
Remember that the WWR database closes on July 11th. Any additions/changes to the runners of your team after that date will need to be submitted via the Substitution Form with a $10 fee per change.
In the WMR database, it is important that valid email addresses are entered for each of your teammates and volunteers so we can communicate with them. So if you "made an address up" or entered your email address for your teammates, be sure to forward these emails to them.
Also, it is very important to enter an accurate 10k time for each of your runners as this is how your start time will be determined. Please enter a realistic time of what that individual thinks their 10k time would be in August, not the pace they think they will run during the relay. If you entered a slower time so that you can manipulate an earlier start for your team, you may get ahead of the setting up of the course and the opening of the exchanges. If that occurs, your team will be held at an exchange so as not to get ahead of the staffing of the exchanges. The closing of the exchanges is based on a 10:30 minute/mile pace for the first waves. Thus, teams who are slower than this pace will be asked to withdraw from the relay or to "jump ahead". This only will become an potential problem in the latter half of the relay course.
TEAM MATCHING
Need to find someone to fill out your team? Check out the WWR Message Board. You can post a note saying you are looking for a runner, and/or you can respond to a runner who's looking to join a team. Registration to post on the message board is required (this helps prevent spammers).
If you are a team looking for runners, click on the appropriate forum and click the "New Topic" button. For the subject, briefly mention what kind of team you are and what you are looking for. Then add the details in the message section.
If you are interested in responding to any of the posts, I would suggest that you not only leave a response in that forum, but also click the email button to communicate directly with the person who posted the note - this could be more efficient as your interest will reach the writer of the post without them having to come to the forum to find responses.
START TIMES
The starting times for teams will be posted shortly after registration closes on July 11th. To get an idea of what to expect, please check the estimated starting times page on the website. Waves will start every half hour from 5:30 AM to 1:00 PM. In an effort to keep the teams flowing smoothly throughout the relay course, please understand that your team could start one or two waves before or after your projected pace. If you have a start request time, please add that to the comments section for your team in the database and we'll do our best to get you close to that time.
VOLUNTEERS WITH A PURPOSE
Our VWAP program, which involves local non-profits in the WWR as a fundraising opportunity for their organization, has close to $13,000 in the pool so far. Over the last two years, the relays staged by Timberline Events has raised and distributed over $56,000 to non-profit organizations in Vermont and Colorado.
VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS
For those teams that are supplying volunteers, shortly after registration closes, you or your volunteers will be able to select their assignment online. The date and time the online site will be available will be announced in advance and it will be first come - first serve on the selections.
Information about each exchange will be posted on the WWR website in the near future. I'll alert Captains and Volunteers in the database when that information is available. You will also have a chance to test out the online volunteer selection process before so you can see how the process works.
THE START
Teams will need to arrive at the Start at the Budweiser Tour Center one hour before their assigned wave. During this time, teams will check in, handing in their waivers for all their runners AND volunteers, present their safety items for inspection, and pick-up their shirts and a team goodie bag. All team members DO NOT need to be present at the start, but their signed waivers MUST be turned in, no exceptions.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY DURING THE WWR
This is not the most comfortable topic for a race director to talk about, but experience has taught me that it needs to be mentioned.
Unfortunately, there are individuals who, because they "paid for admission," believe they can do anything they want. The WWR is only possible with the cooperation of many towns, businesses, and individuals. They have given us permission to use their property for the runner exchanges. As we are guests, it is critically important that participants act in an appropriate manner - no littering, and no "calls of nature" anywhere except in the portable toilets.
I know you want to cheer on your team's and other runners, listen to music in your van, and are excited when you arrive at an exchange. But it is critical that you are aware of your surroundings and to respect the QUIET ZONES as noted on the Leg Maps. Better yet, between 10 PM and 8:00 AM, be courteous and cognizant of any noise you are generating. We lost the use of an exchange this year because of rude runners who were loud with voices, their radios, and the slamming of doors. This type of behavior risk the continuation of the relay.
Also, for safety purposes, and as it is the requirement of our Insurance carrier, the wearing of headphones or earbuds (i.e. running with an iPod) is prohibited. The course is not closed - you will be running on the shoulders of the roads with traffic. There wild animals in Colorado. So running down the road with your ears shut off from reality is one of the most unsafe things you can do. Thus, as the rules state, headphones/earbuds are prohibited and violators will have their entire team disqualified. I know this policy is not popular, but think of it this way - not only are you endangering yourself and your teammates, but you are also endangering the event, and jeopardizing the livelihood of the race director. So please act responsibly.
NEED FOR SPEED AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM ANNOUNCENTS
Please consider taking part in the Avon Foundation's Need For Speed Against Domestic Violence fundraising program. All funds raised will go to The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ccadv.org) - a minimum grant of $1,000 will be awarded by the Avon Foundation.
About the CCADV
The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) is dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence in all of its forms. We recognize that this requires a fundamental change in society’s views of gender and gender roles. Through community education, networking and the empowerment of battered women and children, CCADV serves as a forum for social action and the development of services for battered women and their families by bringing its membership and the community together. CCADV is a diverse network of rural and urban advocates who work together through the coalition to coordinate services, exchange information and work on issues of common concern, thereby providing a unified, statewide environment that will nurture members’ local, community-based efforts to stop domestic violence.
Want to make your race even more meaningful?
Join thousands of runners from across the country who are dedicating their participation as “Need for Speed Fundraisers”. Need for Speed Against Domestic Violence is a program of the Avon Foundation that raises funds and awareness for children who are victims of or witnesses of domestic violence. Eight partner relays, including the Green Mountain Relay are offering their runners the opportunity to give back to this important cause.
START TODAY!! Just go online here to start a fundraising team, join a fundraising team, or just fund raise on your own! Once you sign up, you can set up your own fundraising webpage, where you can post photos, email your friends and family and send messages to your teammates. Please note that you must be an officially registered participant of the Green Mountain Relay to sign up as a Need For Speed Fundraiser.
Raise money for the cause & win great prizes
All participants are asked to raise or donate at least $50 to help children of domestic violence. Just $50 can provide an hour of counseling for a young child in need. Funds raised will be disbursed to a local domestic violence agency in each race community. For more information about the Avon Foundation, please visit www.avonfoundation.org.
Individual Fundraising Prizes:
$75 - Wild West Relay 11" x 17" race poster
$150 - Long-sleeved Need for Speed Technical Shirt
$500 - $50 Gift Certificate to a sports store
$2,000 - GPS training system
Team Prize:
The first team to raise at least $2,500 will win a free entry into the 2009 Wild West Relay.
Need for Speed Questions?
If you would like further information about becoming a Need for Speed Fundraiser, please feel free to e-mail: info@needforspeedrelay.org or call 888.NFS.RELAY. If you would like to learn more about the Avon Foundation please visit www.avonfoundation.org.
SUMMARY
All correspondence to teams and captains, as well as all handbooks and required paperwork and forms, will be posted on the Captain's Resources page. As soon as our Green Mountain Relay in VT event is over, we'll have the 2008 versions of the Relay Handbook and Leg Map book available.
Thank you again for choosing to participate in the 5th Annual Wild West Relay. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the WWR office.
We'll see you in August!
Paul Vanderheiden
Race Director
