Sunday, April 22, 2012

Less than two weeks to race day

We now have over 60 runners in the Run for Kids Challenge.

Nabeel's Cafe and Market is not only going to donate a gift certificate but will provide their own gift package.  The package will include the $50 gift certificate, a bottle of their famous salad dressing and a Nabeel's t-shirt delivered  in a Nabeel's cooler.  We are going to draw a 5th raffle ticket to give this package away.

We have had one out of state runner purchase a book of raffle tickets just to make the donation asking that if she wins one of the packages to donate back to Camp SAM to give to one of the Camp SAM families.

Another local resident sent in has entry fee for the 50K but will not be able to run because he will be in Italy.  If we draw his name, his gift certificates will go to a Camp SAM family as well.

Here is the link directly to the raffle sales page at Ultrasignup.com.

Last year, with temperatures hitting 100 deg. by mid afternoon.  Perhaps the biggest hit of the races was Paul Champion and his Doodle's Homemade Sorbets and Ices truck.  He gave free sorbets to all runners, volunteers and support crews.  Again this year he is going to bring his truck out for the race.  We are thrilled to have him back.  He will also have a team of young runners running a 50K relay.
Thank you again, Paul.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

$500 worth of Gift Certificates for Birmingham Dining

Amazingly, no one had donated $25 for a chance to win almost $500 worth of gift certificates from all those restaurants sponsoring the Run for Kids.  So, we are making a change.  We are going to make the gift certificate giveaway a Raffle.


We have almost $500 worth of $50 gift certificates to some great Birmingham restaurants.  They will be given away at the Run for Kids Challenge on May 5th.  We are selling raffle tickets for $5.00 each, for a chance to win $100 in gift certificates.

Anyone can purchase tickets, even non runners however you must be present at the race, at the time of the drawing to win. (That is, you must be in the vicinity of the Cedar Pavilion when we draw the winning names at about 9:30 or running on the course.)

We will draw four names from those that have purchased raffle tickets.   We will place the name of each restaurant on a slip of paper and put them in a box.   The four raffle winners will then draw two restaurant names out of a box and receive the gift certificates for the selected restaurants.

Raffle tickets may be purchased at Ultrasignup at registration or anytime.  Use this link to purchase tickets.
Buy raffle tickets at Ultrasignup.com.

Checks may also be mailed to:

Run for Kids Challenge,
   c/o David Tosch,
   4697 Bridgewater Rd,
   Birmingham, AL 35243.
Please do not mail cash.

Additional tickets may be purchased Friday afternoon May 4, at late registration and package pickup at Oak Mountain State Park, and Saturday morning right up until time for the drawing about 9:30 AM.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday Package Pickup & Late Registration.

Package Pickup will be Friday Afternoon, May 4th at the Cedar pavilion at Oak Mountain State Park, from 4:00 PM until 6:30 PM.  If no one is using the Dogwood Pavilion we will use it. Late registration will also be open Friday.   I will send an email to registered runners before the race that can be printed and will allow you to enter the park (Friday afternoon only) without charge.  Saturday, the park admission fee is $ 3.00 pre person.  If you are coming out to register, tell the park attendant you are there to register for the race and they will probably let you in without charge.  Preregister to be sure.  

Also, the shirt order will go in on Wednesday of next week.  If you want a shirt, register in the next four days.  As I have mentioned before, I will not order extra shirts so only preregistered runners will get shirts.


Attached are aerial shots of the Dogwood Pavilion and the Cedar Pavilion.  The Cedar will be the race start and finish location and the aid station.




Monday, April 9, 2012

Details About the Drawing for the Gift Package



The Run for Kids Challenge is only 26 days away.  We now have seven restaurants that have donating $50 gift certificates to the Run for Kids and two more that are supposed to get their gift certificates to me this week.  (Brio's donated $75.)  We have make some changes in the qualifications for chances to win the gift package so here is the update.



We want to encourage everyone to raise additional donations for Camp Smile-A-Mile.  To that end, we have decided to add a little incentive.  We will have a gift package available to all runners that decide to participant. The package will contain gift certificates to various restaurants and other businesses around Birmingham.  Each person that raises at least $ 25.00 will be entered into a drawing for this package.  The packages will be worth the effort.  As we sign up sponsors to donate gift certificates we will post their names to the site.  More information will follow.  All donations must be received before the start of the race on Saturday, May, 5 for you to be included in the drawing.  
Rules:
1.  All gift certificates go to the winner of the gift package.
2.  Each $25.00 donation will earn one chance to win the gift package.
   (A donation of $100.00 will earn 4 entries.)
3.  Only race participants, REGISTERED RUNNERS* are eligible to win the gift package.
4.  REGISTERED RUNNERS* must be present race day to win the package.
5.  Donations can be made directly to Camp SAM, but please notify me of you donation.  If I don't know   you donated, I can't put your name in the drawing.
6.  Donations can be mailed directly to me at the address below.
7.  Registration for the gift package will close at 7:45 AM, May 5th shortly before the start of the Trail Festival Run.
8.  Runners must be present at the time of the drawing.  To be considered present, participants must be a the   start/finish area located at the Cedar Pavilion at Oak Mountain State Park or running in the events.
9. The drawing will be held at the Cedar pavilion in front of everyone present at approximately 9:30AM.

* REGISTERED RUNNERS eligible to receive the gift package must be registered in one of the three Run for Kids Challenge Races to be held on May 5, 2012.  Anyone registered is eligible for the drawing.  Winner must be present at the time of the drawing.

Donations must be received by the Run for Kids Challenge on or before May 5th.  Sorry, we cannot accept cash.  Checks should be made payable to Camp SAM or Camp Smile-A-Mile and sent to:

   Run for Kids Challenge,
   c/o David Tosch,
   4697 Bridgewater Rd,
   Birmingham, AL 35243.

We will accept checks at package pickup Friday afternoon (location to be announced) or at late registration Saturday Morning.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Sponsoring Restaurants

We now have seven restaurants in our gift package.  Donate as little as $25.00 and get a chance to win the package.  You will receive $50.00 gift certificates from each of these restaurants.

  The Cantina on Cahaba Valley Rd, (The Cadence Center on Hwy 119)

Bistro V, 521 Montgomery Hwy., Vestavia Hills 

Carrabba's Italian Grill, 4503 Riverview Parkway, Birmingham 
      (The Target Shopping Center on 280)


Brio Tuscan Grill, Brookwood Village, Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham

Nabell's Cafe' & Market, 1706 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood

Edgar's Bakery - Shops of the Colonnade - 449 Southgate Dr, Pelham -
Patton Creek, Hoover - Cadence Place, Hwy 119, Hoover


Brava Rotisserie Grill, 5184 Caldwell Mill Rd. at Valleydale Rd. Birmingham


There will be more!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Exact Course Measurement

We have measured the course and, as I suspected, it is a little longer than 3.2 miles.  The exact measurement is  3.389 miles.  The 50K will be 9 laps plus a .569 mile (1001 yard) loop at the end.  It is still a trail race and cannot be certified, but the course will be almost exactly 50K.  Twelve hour distances will be calculated accordingly.

Don't forget the package of $50 gift certificates we will give away to someone that raises additional donations or donates themselves to Camp Smile-A-Mile.  (Each restaurant must donate at least a $50.00 gift certificate to participate.)  Brio's has donated $75.00.  The winner gets them all.  Donations must be at least $25.00 to qualify.