The Day After

I am glad I titled the last one "Final Post" because I sat down about three times to add a little and got called away in the middle. I wanted to add on to fill everyone in, but the schedule was so packed the last few weeks that it was literally impossible. Between answering phone calls and emails, and finalizing the planning for race weekend, my days got away from me.

As I reflect on the weekend, I have mostly happy thoughts! The volunteers and committee were incredible and everyone worked so hard. So many runners have already sent emails in appreciation for all of the work put into this race. Since we are ALL volunteers, we had to get back to work today and I am sure many, including myself, are absolutely exhausted, but on cloud 9 because of the compliments!

I really appreciate all of the people that have taken the time to send an email. You are the ones that make all of the time worth it! Congratulations to all of the runners this year for keeping smiles on your face and completing your race! You are AMAZING!

Final Post

I am going to make this my final post for the 2009 races. I am headed back to school tomorrow and am excited about focusing on my students education! It is hard to remember that race directing is volunteer when I worked so many hours this summer. Hopefully, all of that hard work will pay off and you will all enjoy a great race.

Most of the planning is done and now we wait for all of the awards to get completed, the goodies for the goodie bags to arrive, and for you to register, so we can order all of the shirts, etc. We have one more committee meeting and then we get together to stuff packets. I will admit, I am a little nervous about all of the details coming together. I wasn't even this nervous for my wedding which was planned and happened within 4 weeks, successfully. There are a lot of little details that happen close to race day. I am a "planner" so when everyone says, "We'll get you that the week before the race." I struggle to say, "Okay." It is pretty customary for things to be completed the week before. Amazing.

I will finish with saying that our registrations are up by over 100% from last year. So, at this time last year, we had less than half of the people registered that we have at this time, this year! That is super exciting as there will be lots of company for you!

Best of luck with your last long runs...and please do enjoy your taper! See you soon! Sara

Back to School

In Colorado, it is that time again...all of the kid's are going back to school soon! As I write this, my youngest daughter is sitting on the family room floor getting her school supplies ready and putting them in her backpack. She will be entering middle school this year, so for one short year, both girls will be at the same school again. This also means that all of the teachers go back soon, and that means me.

I am getting so excited and looking forward to meeting all of my new students and starting out another fantastic school year. It seems, that in 5th grade, the entire first half of the year goes into working on building relationships: the students with each other, the students and me, and the parents of the students with me. Then the second half of the year, we all reap the benefits of this hard work. I work in an area of town that many students are not too familiar with something called a marathon, because they have other things to worry about besides the luxury of running shoes. And yes, that is a luxury. So last year I decided to introduce the concept of a marathon to them. We have a small, gravel path behind our school that measures .10 - and my students were given a log to record their 262 laps as they ran them. When they completed their goal, they received a medal and a certificate of completion. Many of them wore their medals around proudly. I look forward to doing this program again with my new class.

Sharing my joy of running is natural. They all share their lives with me, so I find it exciting when a student tells me they are going to try track or x-country when they go to middle school. I hope to not just pass on my love for running to one or two students, but to give them a tool that builds their confidence and tells them that if they are capable of setting a goal to run a marathon, they can do anything.

Not much to talk about...

The planning is fairly complete, even the details. We are still in need of two aid station captains and crews, but other than that, we are doing well. Oh ya, we could also use any volunteers that would be willing to help race day, or race weekend. You can either email me, or our volunteer coordinator for any of this if you are interested. We had a great committee meeting on Monday and got a lot done!

I am already thinking about going back to teaching in a few weeks, August 5th to be exact. If you are from somewhere else, that may sound early, but we get out in mid May here. I am excited to get a new group of students. It is so much fun to see how much a child can learn in one year. 5th grade is definitely my favorite: they are old enough to follow directions and they mature so much throughout the year, becoming very relational. At home I have a 6th and 8th grader this year, so they help keep me on track with the latest. Teaching is such a huge part of my life during the school year and so I am trying to have all of the big and little things for the race complete by the first week in August. I am sure there will be things that come up, but it will be manageable.

I am excited for race day. I am sure you are all getting ready for it as well. Let's hope for perfect weather, for Pasta in the Park, and the races. We have had a lot of rain, but it is slowing up. In most cases, the rain would not affect the races; however, it could put a damper on our dinner. I won't worry until the time comes.

10 Reasons to Run an American Discovery Trail Race

· 100% of the proceeds benefit non-profit organizations, including Pikes Peak Road Runners, Trails & Open Space Coalition, and Pennies For Nicoll Foundation.
· The course is absolutely beautiful this year with all of this rain.
· The live band, pizza, and beer garden in America the Beautiful Park will make for an unbelievable after party.
· All overall winners receive a cash award, and all age group winners will receive an award with a pair of Swiftwick socks.
· There are pacers for all ranges and abilities to help keep you on track.
· Jack Anthony, Santa Fe Trail Expert, will be running it…as well as speaking at the pre-race dinner, Pasta in the Park.
· It is a family event with a playground, fountain for cooling off, and kids’ races right in America the Beautiful Park.
· The marathon course is a certified Boston Qualifier.
· Everyone gets a finisher’s medal: marathon, half-marathon, and relay included. Kids get a ribbon and a special bag with goodies.
· It will be a whole lot of excitement and fun on Labor Day!

Virtual Running Group/Running Log

I have spoken about Travis, my friend and past race director for ADT. This year he will be running the ADT Marathon as his first marathon! I have also spoken about running groups and how beneficial they can be. Well, Travis has created a virtual running group for anyone running the ADT to join.

How does a virtual running group work? You either have to create a running log in Runningahead.com, or you may already have one. If you don't already have one, you can create a log for free. A running log in itself can be a useful tool, but not as much fun as a group. Check out the website. Once you have it all set-up, contact Travis at traviswaldrip@yahoo.com and he will set you up with the group. Have Fun!

Runner's World

I am excited to say that I have been working on an article with Runner's World. They will feature the ADT races in their September issue which will come out in August. The editors and I have been going back and forth daily, because of their deadline. They ask questions about the race, and I answer them. During this process, I have put together some photos for them. Some will be added to the website, but I thought I would put some on my blog for now. The one they will be using is not included, so it will be a surprise. Enjoy the photos!

Dare I Say It?

The signs are just about done! More than 50 of them are sitting in my family room right now, under construction, but hours away from completion. I had to get on and tell all of you in hopes of some sort of celebration. I think this may be the one part of race directing that I absolutely WON'T miss. The great news, once the signs are done, they are done. This is not a project that comes back every year.

Speaking with Travis, the past race director and great friend of mine, last night, we both agreed that these signs were well overdue. Since the first set lasted 8 years, hopefully these will last AT LEAST that long. I know as a runner, I don't normally even pay attention to the signs, but have realized they set the overall tone of a race. However, as a race director, I have been observing signs at ALL of the races I have attended or participated in lately. Many races have great ideas, and I used some with a little tweaking. I hope that you all, my blog followers, will appreciate the hard work and thought that went into these signs, and take them all in on race day!

Loops, rolls, darts...

Yes, I am talking about my aerobatic flight this morning. I did make Scheri go first, and I am glad I did. After Gary, the pilot, went through the safety details, like how to release the parachute (I was screaming inside) Scheri went up and came back safely. It was my turn. Gulp.
Gary starts off with, "Do you want to do the takeoff? Scheri did it." So I reluctantly grab the controls, while he fidgets around with the camera. It wasn't the type of situation where he made me think I was flying, but I really wasn't...I was really flying AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT. I continued and took us about 15 miles east of the airport, where we go to do all of the fun stuff. For about 2 minutes on the way there, I seriously thought, "I don't want to do this...I just want to go back and land this plane. I don't want to do this." I then told myself to get over it because Marc, my husband, would be so disappointed if I didn't take advantage of this opportunity.

So, Gary then tells me that I am going to do a roll. I, now, start verbalizing how uncomfortable I am and that I can not relax and enjoy it. He lets me know I just have to do one while he films it...will add pics in a bit. So I complete one to the left, and it was awesome. Then he says, "Now do one to the right." So I do it. Amazing. Then he finally agrees to take over.

I love roller coasters and I let Gary know this - He says, "This will be the ultimate roller coaster! I will do a loop, barrel roll, and fly inverted (upside down)." I loved every second of it. He asked if I wanted to go back. I was just warming up, "I can do more." "We will do a spin (the plane will spin around and feel out of control), a dart (you go straight up and let the plane roll over and drop back down), and then fly with zero G's." Gary informs. Again, it was better than any roller coaster. We pulled 4 G's and -1 G's the other way.
What a fantastic day. I actually thought, "The older I get, the more I get to experience." I love getting to try new things and enjoy new opportunities.
One more thing...Gary has donated two more flights for me to giveaway to runners at Pasta in the Park. I can't wait to see who the lucky two are! Happy thoughts.

Jack Quinn's Running Club

We visited Quinns last night to promote the race and it was such a success. So many people asked about our relay and other aspects of the race. Travis was so awesome and brought a huge elevation map for everyone to see...that sold so many runners! It is great to see people excited about the race and I can't wait to see how many Quinn's runners we end up having in the relay and other races. Thanks to Jon, Heather, Travis, Natalie, Gina, Scheri, Harsha, Marc, and Vince for coming out to support the race.

Signs, Mile Markers, and Crew Leaders, oh my!

Just to name a few things I am working on today...I will add to it with promotional posters (to be picked up tomorrow), a visit to Jack Quinn's Running Club to promote the races, and an acrobatic flight on Wednesday. First things first!

The signs are being made as I write. The mile markers will change ever so slightly: we are taking the old "frame" and painting them blue (marathon) and red (half marathon) and then getting new inserts made with the new logo. The numbers for each mile will be much larger as well. They will be so pretty! Be sure to notice them as you are running down the course, and hopefully with careful placement, they will all be in the right places.

We have a great group of guys helping with our aid stations. We have broken the course into 4 sections (have I told you this?) and we have some great help to be in charge of those aid stations. (I have told you this...) Anyways, we are having a crew leader meeting on Wednesday to figure out the details and logistics of everything. I can't say it enough, "It is great to have such a fantastic team to be working with in the planning of this race!"

Oh, now you want to hear about going to Jack Quinns tomorrow? Oh, my acrobatic flight!!! Gary Frith, the father that will be running the marathon with his son to raise funds for CP, is an acrobatic pilot. He has been gracious enough to give me a gift certificate to go on a flight. He was even more generous when he told me to pick someone that has done a lot for me on the race committee, to bring with me. Since Scheri designed the website, has made reservations, placed orders, ran errands for me, and been available every step of the way, I felt she was more than worthy of this adventure...not to mention, I am making her go first! We go up separately so I get to watch her to make sure she lives through it! Now I am making myself laugh. Of course, we will both make it, and we will come back down energized to work on ADT some more!

Hope you are all enjoying the summer: I know that I sure am!

Little Hang-Ups

I had to write about my week and a little hang-up. I was sent a bid that I needed to officially "sign" and send back. I couldn't just approve it over email. So I attempted to go buy a print cartridge for my printer that ran out of ink, about a week before the end of the school year. I took the old one to Walmart and of course, they did not have that one, but one that was compatible...for my wonderful Lexmark 2600 series printer. So I purchased it and brought it home. (Now, I know we all have a story like this - I am hoping I am not the only one that has weeks like this!) Did it work? Of course not. So later that day, I headed back to Walmart, after looking in my owner's manual, and bought two cartridges, a color and a black. Following the instructions, I did everything right. Still, an error message occured saying that the print cartridges were not compatible for my printer. I finally resorted to googling my issue. Had I really bought the wrong cartridges again??? No, everything was right, but wait, there is this special warning on the Lexmark website, "Printers sold at Circuit City in the U.S. need special cartridges. See table below to find compatible cartridges that can only be purchased at Circuit City stores." (Not to mention, they are out of business in the Springs.)

The saga continues, my series was not on the table...by now, I am severely frustrated. Options? Cartridge World! I can take my old cartridge and have it filled, then I can print. I am a genius. Nope, wrong again. My husband and I drove into town (about 10 hours into problem solving) and got our cartridge refilled, brought it home, tried it, didn't work.

Our final option, go and buy a new printer. After 3 returns, yes 3, and several hours, I have officially printed the bid...to be turned in on Monday! I thought I would include a blog about the little, or not-so-little hang ups, so you all could see that things don't always run smoothly... as you already know!

Signs and Another Committee Meeting

Well, we had another committee meeting on Monday and we got a lot done. When we all get together, sometimes the forgotten details are remembered and it really helps to have a team to work on those things. Since we have 3 months, there is still time to get things done. All of the big tasks are completed, but some smaller jobs still need to be done. For example, the signage for on the course, at the finish line, and in the park is still being finalized. I had started to pull it all together and was hoping to have it well done by now, but with working full-time, it was put aside. So I have now taken on a full time job figuring out who and where these signs will be made...how they will be made, out of what material, what they will look like, and how to make them sturdy and noticeable.

A committee member asked me at the meeting, about the mile markers because the old mile markers have the old logo on them. I replied, "Well, I am working on it right now, but it really is a full-time job!" He said, "I know." I would have never thought that putting together signs for a race was such a big deal. He is an experienced race director, so he obviously knew it was. :(
I have most banners and signs ordered, however, I am still working on the mile markers. While running the last 8 miles of the Colorado Marathon, I took note of their signs, and loved their mile markers. They are A-frame, or small sandwich board signs that seemed to be made out of plywood for sturdiness. They sat simply next to the trail and no stakes were required...a big deal for us since we have so many on the AFA (No stakes allowed). I am now trying to figure out the best way to get all of these completed by race day, or by the beginning of my new school year, and keep the price VERY reasonable. This is where the difficulty of the task comes in. Anyways, that is my current project and hopefully next time I blog, it will completed or almost done.

I will leave you on a great note, our registration is higher than ever this year! This is good for runners because the more runners, the more crowds there are to cheer you on!

Aid Stations and Course Directing

As mentioned earlier, my husband is the course director this year. God bless him! He is still trying to balance work with finalizing the aid station captains. I gladly offered to help him since I am out of work now.

He did much of the foot work and had everything well on its way. Last night we sat down, (many evenings are spent discussing or making plans for the race) and discussed what he needed help with. We sent out a few emails and set up a few spreadsheets, and now he is feeling much better. We have 90% of our aid stations confirmed and are just waiting to hear back from a couple with a final confirmation. We have many volunteers that graciously volunteer year after year, and they have made our job easier.

This year we have recruited 4 "crew leaders" to be in charge of 3-4 aid stations each. Breaking the course up into sections will hopefully make it more manageable come race day. Our goal is that Marc can be on the course for emergencies. He is also in charge of putting out the mile markers...something that we really want to get right this year! So if he has crew leaders to deliver supplies and ensure the aid stations are prepared, he can tackle the task of placing the mile markers, at about 4am. Yikes. Many have told us to plan on taking Tuesday off from work because the entire weekend is late nights and early mornings. I don't take time off (1 day last year) so I will shuffle through the work week. Side note: I have such a hard time getting a sub. My students know they can depend on me, "even if my leg is dangling behind me!" I tell them that often. I am sure all of the excitement will keep us both going.

I have learned a lot from race directing this year, but one of the main things is to delegate. I am one that likes to take on too much, do it myself, and make sure it gets done right; however, I have found that many others can do things very well, and sometimes, better. I love to see and hear the passion that people have about their jobs, whether it be Kids' Races or the speaker for the prerace dinner. People are passionate about this race and it is great.

Off to weed the yard and hang out with my girls. Ahhh, summer time is fantastic.

Running hard...Working Hard!

California was a blast, I ran hard, but now that I am back, it means it is time to get back to work on those loose ends. I finished up a lot last week, but as the list shortens, I think of a few more things to do. I got home late Tuesday, and Wednesday morning I was off to a Dr. Appt. for my daughter and then to the paint store. Both of my daughters have their birthdays in summer and so for this year we decided to give them new bedrooms! I painted all day yesterday and then, painted and cleaned all day today. Since finishing, I have sat down and already sent out 5 emails in regards to the race. I made about 10 calls in California, and took a few as well. I received an order yesterday, and two last week. We got our volunteer hats that were embroidered. They look awesome. I know I am rambling, but that is the way it is these days. I have jury duty next week, so hopefully it is a quick one. We have a committee meeting on Monday, before jury duty. Then the end of next week will be getting back into running and riding, and of course, a little work on the race!

Quickly, if you are from another part of the country...we have had so much rain this spring! It is absolutely gorgeous here. Let's hope it keeps up to make a gorgeous summer and marathon course!

Loose Ends

So this is the point in the planning that I am trying to tie up all those loose ends...and boy, are there a lot of loose ends. I am off from school now for two months and this gives me the opportunity to push full speed ahead. First day off was yesterday and I was able to approve the proof of the medals, email logos to several people, help finalize the poster, check on ribbons for kids' races, check on an additional sponsor, and set up aid station instructions for my beloved Course Director, my husband! Today, I will make a few more phone calls, mail off some important papers, and put the rest on my list for next week. I will be leaving for California on Saturday and in the meantime, I have to attend my daughter's 5th grade graduation. I will also catch a quick run on Friday with my other daughter; hopefully, she slows down a little - her mile PR this last month was 6:47. Smokin'. I often try to include some of my personal life in this blog so that all of you can see that there is a balancing act in this whole picture.

I have not yet announced, in my blog anyways, our latest sponsor and beneficiary: Pennies For Nicolls Foundation. If you run the relay, all of the proceeds will benefit them. The Pennies For Nicolls Foundation is sponsoring the Relay to raise awareness of MPS. The ADT Marathon team will be providing multiple coin drop off locations to donate your pennies (any coins!) to the Foundation (locations are tbd). All donations are tax deductible. You can also donate to them during registration. I am excited to have them as part of our team this year!

All of you should be well on your way in your training. I hope it is going well, and remember to enjoy it!

"Run hard, be strong, think big!" - Percy Cerutty

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa, Tanzania

"Good things come slow - especially in distance running." - Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"

- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

- Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Warmth!

Finally, the warm weather is here and hopefully, it is to stay. I am excited because I have worked hard to teach a fantastic 5th grade class all year, and now my reward: summer! I know, I know, you aren't feeling sorry for me, as it seems no one ever feels sorry for teachers, except when it has to do with salary; however, a good teacher gives of himself/herself all year long and is very deserving of those two months off. It will allow me to rest and get energized for next year's learners.

Over the summer, I am planning on spending several hours finishing up several details of the race. Many things have been started, but many things still need to finished up. Some things I plan to do are run with Quinn's Running Club a few times to promote the Relay, finalize the details of Pasta in the Park, ensure all of the trophies/awards will be ready, and answer any questions that come my way. Although fall was hectic and crazy with the race, the planning has paid off and hopefully it will be a fairly relaxed summer with planning. I have a feeling August will bring a few stresses, but I will take them as they come, or maybe they won't come!

Most of all, I plan on getting out and enjoying each and every day to it's fullest. I am going to hit the trails more, ride my bike lots, go the pool with my family, and enjoy the company of friends! I hope all of you have some relaxing plans this summer and of course, some training, especially if you are running a race in fall. Whatever it is you have planned, don't wait until tomorrow, do it today!

I read a book to my 5th graders today, during their graduation, and I thought I would share a quote from it:
"You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!" ~Dr. Seuss

Experiencing a Marathon and Spectators

Today I was honored to accompany Scheri (see pictures of training runs) for her last 8 miles of the Colorado Marathon in Ft. Collins. We have trained together for our individual races (mine is in 4 weeks in San Diego) and I wanted to be a part of this day. Lucky me, she is coming to San Diego as well.

What an experience, a marathon! Although Scheri disagrees slightly, and I know I was fresh, those 8 miles flew by amazingly fast. I contribute this to the great crowds and spectators along the course. All of the aid stations' volunteers were energetic as well. Everyone, cheering and motivating the runners to do their best and keep going. A race truly needs all three: runners, volunteers, and cheerleaders.

I often compare the training for and completion of a marathon to having a baby...hold on men, hear me out! You work really hard to physically and mentally prepare for this challenge. It takes months of your time. You pack your bag in preparation for the big day. Then, in just a short time (a few hours) you have accomplished this great feat.

If you are planning to run any of the ADT races this year, plan on bringing a fan club to cheer you on! Sharing this accomplishment with friends and family will be the cherry on the sundae, I promise!

Meeting New People

So I wanted to blog about all of the new people that I am meeting while on this endeavor. I am so impressed with the excitement that is swirling about the ADT. Whether the ADT be someones first marathon or 50th, a runner is a runner, and we all enjoy talking about it!

I love the emails I get that lead into wonderful discussions. People have sent me pictures of themselves at the finish of other races, or running other races, and many conversations turn into chit chats about what they are doing to train, the distance of his/her last run, or the fun places people are running. Either way, I am a runner, and I love talking running with others.

I have also gotten to meet some amazing people. We have so many types of people running the marathon, or half, and it is so fun to learn about them. I have mentioned that I am currently training for a marathon (4 weeks away) and so I often get asked advice. I can only offer what I have learned from personal experience. And since we are all different, I believe one person's optimal training plan may look different from another's; however, it is enjoyable to share ideas - and hear other's ideas as well!

One thing I realized this last week was that whatever your goal is, YOU need to be happy with it. I took time last year to run ultra distances. I slowed down tremendously to enjoy trails, nature, and my dog. I really enjoyed that time because I had the goal to go a certain distance (speed didn't matter) and I achieved that goal. I wouldn't have won any races, but that wasn't the goal. My point is, running is very individual and I love hearing about all the individuals taking part in the ADT.

Whether your goal be to finish your first marathon, or half-marathon, or to do a personal record, be proud of your goal and complete it the fullest!

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." Confucius