Cumberland to D.C. Relay Sept. 26-27

[kevinspradlin]

I know most are focusing on a spring marathon right now, but early entry for the Myomed Ragnar Relay (http://www.ragnardc.com) from Cumberland to D.C., which is scheduled for Sept. 26-27, is $80 per person before May 1.

Wayne Kretzer, president of the Chambersburg Road Runners Club and director of that club's half-marathon, is recruiting a 12-person team for the two-day, nonstop event in which a runner runs three legs each ranging between 3 and 8 miles.

Wayne is looking for a solid team of 11 others (he's running, but he can move) who can run at least a sub-7:00 pace. That means even someone as slow as I am has a shot at this. He has up to 4 slots filled already - though no one's paid. The goal is to get 12 runners ready and committed and pay the team's fee a day or two before the early entry deadline expires.

There is a possibility that some runners could receive financial assistance for entry fee and race-related expenses. Contact me (kevin) at [e-mail] for details on that.

If interested in being a part of a team, contact Wayne as soon as possible at [e-mail] or 301-739-1366.

Read more about the Ragnar Relay Series here:
www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2008/03/spend_a_thrilling_night_on_the_run_ragna.php

[flyinghighrunner]

wow. There's already 9 teams signed up. I'm game, but need to look into where my training will exactly be for Chicago. That might be the weekend of my last long run, in which case would be a no-go

[kevinspradlin]

If that's within a week or so on either side of your last long run, I'd discourage from something like this, Matt. Chicago is Sunday, Oct. 12 - about 15-16 days after the two-day relay event. Email Wayne directly if interested, but post here also so I can keep track of how many can commit (i.e. pay $80 before May 31).

[frojoe23]

It looks like a fun event and I've always wanted to do a relay like this, but i just don't think that I'll be able to do it - it is a week out from GAR and I'd like to be ready to roll for that one!

[kevinspradlin]

On my own level, I hope to do well at GAR, too. A couple of us are running a preview of GAR at the end of this month, in fact. But I figure the relay event - a maximum of 24 miles divided between 3 legs in a 24-hour period for each runner - essentially constitutes the week's long run ONLY IF you get the longest of the legs all 3 times.

If all 12 teammates can average 7:00 or better, the event's over in about 21 hours. I wouldn't expect this event to take away from a solid performance at GAR, but I understand the concern.

I've wanted to do a relay like this for 10-12 years, ever since I first read about the Jasper-Banff (sp?) relay in western Canada. By the time I lived in Washington state and looked up the race to the north, it had been canceled because the route traveled through a national park system and enviromentalists wanted an environmental impact study done. The price was too great and the race was never again contested.

The towpath relay won't be quite as scenic, to be sure, but it gets the whole caravanning, team-spirit thing going. It'd be one way to make the towpath runs not so boring (let's face it, that can be that way) over a somewhat limited period of time.

[kw]

I got a postcard in the mail about this race. It sounds like a ton of fun... but I'm not at the 7 minute pace and I'll just come back up for the GAR instead. I'd like to hear more about this event if anyone participates though.

[kevinspradlin]

If interested, please contact me at your earliest convenience at [e-mail]



Club recruiting runners for 182-mile relay
CUMBERLAND -- The Baltimore-Washington Athletic Club is recruiting runners to form a team for the inaugural Ragnar Relay Series scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27 on the C&O Canal Towpath. Participants do not need to be club members to join the team.

The non-stop race begins in Cumberland and ends in Washington, D.C. Teams consist of 12 runners - male, female or co-ed - and each runner completes three nonconsecutive legs along the towpath. Each leg measures between 2.8 and 9.2 miles. Cumulative distances for each runner range between 12.7 and 18.9 miles

Entry fee before May 31 is $960, or $80 per athlete. The fee increases to $1,140, or $95 per runner, after that date. Each runner is responsible for their payment before the early entry deadline to be eligible for the lower fee.

For more information on the Ragnar Relay series, visit www.ragnarrelay.com. Details can be obtained by e-mailing Kevin Spradlin, team coordinator, at [e-mail] or by calling [phone]. The Baltimore-Washington Athletic Club, formerly the Central Maryland Athletic Club, is based in Carroll County and has runners throughout Maryland as well as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

[kevinspradlin]

Our team is one of more than 60 teams registered for the event. We still have a few spots available which can be gotten for $80 each. Visit the race website for details or post here if you're interested.