Yes, about five weeks before you'll be enjoying the beautiful scenery of northern Colorado and the Wild West Relay course, the challenge of a 200-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 save this email for future reference.

TRAVEL

Please visit the travel section of the WWR website for information about renting vans from Enterprise (they have been sold out of 15-passenger vans for quite a while) and for lodging at the start in Fort Collins and the finish in Steamboat Springs and other points along the route.

WWR DATABASE

Remember that the WWR database closes on Sunday evening, July 19th. 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 (the captain) entered your email address for your teammates, be sure to forward these emails to them.

If you need to change the category of your team, you can do that by logging in to the WWR database. There is an "Edit" link under the top box with your team name. Click on the edit link and you can choose your new category. There is no need to contact the race director to make this change.

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

To get an idea of your Start time, you can go to the Start Time Planning Chart. Start times will be assigned the week after registration closes. Waves will start every 20 minutes from 5:00 AM to 12:00 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. But it must fit into the starting time window for your pace.

Just about everything you need to know between now and race day can be found on the Captain's Resources menu on www.WildWestRelay.com

VOLUNTEERS WITH A PURPOSE

Our VWAP program, which involves local non-profits in the WWR as a fundraising opportunity for their organization, has raised close to $25,000 so far!

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 about 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.

We are exploring the possibility of having a check-in/packet pickup Thursday evening at the Hilton Hotel - we will keep you posted.

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.

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 realize this is a controversial rule, and that many races allow headphones. But think about it - these races are all on closed courses. Triathlons are held on open roads and headphones are banned in every triathlon I have been a part of with disqualification the result if caught. Our event is similar, thus the same rule. If you have the system where speakers clip on to your shirt so earbuds are not in your ears, you are free to use those.

WALDEN AREA

This year, the Colorado Army National Guard will have a team out there running with you. In addition, some of their fellow soldiers will be helping out at the start, finish, a couple of exchanges, AND they will be patrolling the roads in the Walden area. Last year I guess there was a yahoo or two that thought they were proving their manhood by yelling/harassing some runners. Hopefully, the sight of buff soldiers patrolling the roads will expose them for the cowards they are and they will keep to themselves.

SOCIAL MEDIA

You can now follow Timberline Events on Twitter and you can share your WWR tweets now and during the relay by including #wwr so others can find them with a search. I also recently created a Wild West Relay group on Facebook, so feel free to join.

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 pages. I am almost finished the 2009 version of the WWR Relay Handbook. I should be able to finish and post it next week.

Thank you again for choosing to participate in the 6th 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