From Ed Maher of MA-USATF:
As we approach the final weeks of the 2011 Grand Prix, I have one last registration update to pass along. As of today the Rothman Institute 8K on Nov. 19 has approximately 400 spaces left before reaching its registration cap. Race officials expect it to be open until Nov.1 but it’s possible it could reach this limit sooner. Registration will NOT be available at the Expo on Nov. 18. It is expected a “countdown” of the spaces remaining will be posted on the race web site sometime this week. I have added this information to the Grand Prix page on the Mid-Atlantic web site.
From Ryan German:
We know that you’ve run in local races and were hoping that you’ll join us for this year’s Waffle Cone 10 Miler. Last year we had more than 300 runners and this year we hope to have as many as 500. The proceeds of this race benefit the Friendship House.
To register, you can stop by Caffe Gelato, go to www.races2run.com, or follow the link below:
https://register.races2run.com/Register/?event=5910
All runners will receive a dry-release Delaware Running Company long sleeve shirt, post-race brunch, and a waffle cone of gelato. The course is a flat course starting on Main St in Newark, Delaware, running along the White Clay Creek to the Pennsylvania state line and back. The top three runners in each age-group will receive a $25 gift certificate to a Delaware restaurant. In addition, any runner who runs a PR will receive a $25 gift certificate to Caffe Gelato.
We hope to see you on October 23!
From Jim Steele:
The Rehoboth Marathon & Half Marathon (www.rbmarathon.com) is Saturday, December 10 2011. I have made a group hotel arrangement with the Breakers Hotel located at 105 Second Street. Many of us that attended last year are familiar with the property. It is located 2 blocks from the start and about 3 blocks from the finish.
I have held 10 rooms for the group but can probably get more if needed. There are two options to choose from including a standard room or a suite. The standard room includes two double beds at a rate of $55.20/night plus 8% tax. You could also choose a Suite, that in addition to two double beds, includes a separate living room. The suite is priced at $71.20/night plus 8% tax.
OK, here’s what you need to do by November 11th!
1. Call 1-800-441-8009 to make a reservation under the group name “Running Rebels”.
2. Send me an email with your confirmation.
Please visit www.thebreakershotel.com for more information about the hotel. If you have any questions please send me an email. I’m very much looking forward to the race and staying for the after party!
From the President:
Help the RRCA Win a $10,000 Grant from Toyota
— along with a Commercial During NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” Halftime Show
Every week throughout the NFL season, four organizations are featured on Toyota’s Facebook page and fans have the opportunity to vote daily to select the organization they believe is most deserving of the award. The Road Runners Club of America has been selected to be one of the four organizations this week!
The weekly winner receives a $10,000 grant from Toyota and is profiled during the following week’s halftime show during NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” telecast.
Your daily vote for RRCA for the next seven days could help our organization win $10,000 and a national commercial spot where the RRCA will share the “Join a Running Club” message with a large audience.
Your participation in the voting effort helps support the sport you love the most!
If the RRCA wins, we will invest the $10,000 in our annual program fund, which supports our programs, such as Kids Run the Nation, Roads Scholars, Runner Friendly Community, National Running Awards, 2,000 Hour Volunteer Recognition, and much more.
Vote now at this link: http://www.facebook.com/toyota?sk=app_114219605347571
Please share this with Facebook friends and email buddies.
From the department of Inspiration:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/10/17/141414363/video-100-year-old-man-finishes-toronto-marathon?sc=17&f=1001
VIDEO: 100-Year-Old Man Finishes Toronto Marathon
by Mark Memmott
– October 17, 2011
Talk about a really amazing race:
“Fauja Singh, 100, finished Toronto’s waterfront marathon Sunday evening, securing his place in Guinness World Records as the oldest person — and the first centenarian — to ever accomplish a run of that distance,” CBC News reports.
Singh, a British citizen born in India, crossed the line in just over 8 hours, 11 minutes — and, officially at least, wasn’t the last finisher. Four people, who it appears were in a group accompanying Singh, were 1 to 10 seconds behind him according to the electronic chips they carried to record their times.
From Toronto, Dan Karpenchuk reports for NPR that:
“Singh, who speaks only Punjabi, said through his coach and interpreter that he was overjoyed and achieved a lifelong wish. He aims to raise money for local charities, including a children’s foundation that provides basic needs. His coach said part of his secret is that eats a diet of mainly tea, toast and curry. His training is to run about 10 miles a day.
“He only took up running twenty years ago at the age of 80.”
According to the CBC, Singh — known as the “Turbaned Tornado” — beat his goal of finishing in 9 hours.
There’s video here of what it was like at the finish line as Singh came across (note at 4:15 p.m. ET, we’ve replaced the earlier video with one that’s a bit shorter). [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio]
[Editor’s Note: Farther confirmation of the fact that this is the first time anyone this old ever ran a marathon is the fact that if you put the time and the age into an age-grading calculator, you end up with a score of 133! This feat will force a recalculation and 8:11 will soon equal an age-grade of 100 for a 100 year-old man.]
Race Results:
Chicago Marathon
3:16:24 Mike Brown, Boston Qualifier
Monster Mash Marathon
6:57:45 John Schultz, 2nd 70+
Monster Mash Marathon Relay
3:17:02 Dirk Sweigart & Sheri Herrmann, 2nd Overall, 1st Coed Team
Joy-Hope Foundation 5K
18:02 Greg Cauller, 2nd Overall
Soar 5K
19:31 Epi Camacho, 3rd Overall