High School and Middle School age groups added.

I have run the trails at Veteran's Park a several times since the tornadoes of April 27th struck Birmingham.  Fortunately the park and it's trails sustained no significant damage.  The first round of tornadoes that hit the area about 6:00AM missed the park by about a mile.  That storm did cut a 300 yard path through the meddle of my neighborhood and missing our house by about 200 yards.  We did not get  power back for 6 days and it took 14 days to get phone and internet service back.

Yesterday our local USATF official measured the course so we know exactly how long one full loop of the trail is.  We also measured a short loop around the large lake.  The 50K will consist of 10 laps of the full course and one short lap around the lake.  This will also give a short alternative for the last few minutes of the 12 hour run.  We may add an out/back section for those that want to go as far as possible.

We have decided to add two new age groups in the 5K.  In addition to the 19 and under group there now will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for Middle School and 1st, 2nd and 3rd awards for High School students.

New Sponsor for the Run for Kids Challenge

NUUN Electrolyte tabs has agreed to be a sponsor for the Run for Kids Challenge.  They will provide our hydration drink for all races, the 5K, the 50K and the 12 Hour Challenge.  I am really excited about their sponsorship because they are the best electrolyte product I have ever used.

For over a year they have been the only electrolyte product I have used in training runs and races.  I used them in the Wasatch 100 this year and never had any stomach distress the entire race.  You simply add one tablet per 16 oz of water and you have the exact amount of electrolytes you body needs for the amount of water you drink.  And even better, they taste good.

Shirt Design for Run for Kids Challenge.

I have been playing with several designs for the shirts for the Run for Kids Challenge to be held here in Birmingham, May, 28th.  I finally have one I like and we have decided to make it "the shirt."  I think it will look pretty good.

We will use the same design for 50K shirts and a version for the 5K shirts.  I am going to use this image for 5K awards as well and 50k and 12 hour Finishers Awards.  The current plan is to have the image  laminated to "flagstone."  They will be sharp, I hope!

Rules of the Race

I would like to mention a few race rules that all runners need to be aware of.


1.  We cannot allow any type of jogging stroller or any other similar device on the course with any run participant.  If you are familiar with the trail at Veteran's park, you know they are narrow and have a few steep hills in the woods.  The 50K and 12 hour runs will have started at 7:00am so those runners will already be on the course during the 5K.  (I am assuming no one would actually consider trying to run a 50K or 12 Hour race with a baby jogger.)  We really have no idea how many to expect for the 5K, (the last 5K for Camp SAM had over 1,000 runners) but no matter, the trail will be very crowded.  Any type of wheeled device could be dangerous for everyone.  Obviously, we have no control over others using the trail but if anyone is out there with a stroller or on a bike during the 5K, we will ask them please stay to the side of the trail where possible and allow runners to pass without obstructing the race.  I do not expect there will be many non-runners at the park at 8:00am.


2.  Headphones.  We will not allow them to be used by 5K runners for the same reasons listed above.  The trail will be crowded and everyone will need to know what is going on around them.  50K and 12 Hour runners will be allowed to use headphones during those races however we will ask them to remove the headphones during the 5K.


If you have any questions, please contact me.
 David Tosch
david@davidtosch.com

A few announcements about the race.

Age group awards will be given in the 5K.  The age groups will be as follows:  Middle School, High School, 18 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 and above.  Awards will be given first, second and third male and female runners in each group.

We have decided, probably, on this design for all our race shirts.

We will use a similar image on age group and finisher awards.

Race Flyers for the Run for Kids Challenge were placed in the goody bags at the Mercedes Marathon and given out to 7,500 runners.  There was a lot of talk about the Run for Kids and Camp SAM before, after, and even during the race.  Web traffic more than doubled every day since the packet pickup Friday.

New Sponsors

We have two new sponsors for the Run for Kids Challenge.

The UPS Store is a Gold Partner
The Store is located at 5184 Caldwell Mill Road, in the Publix Shopping Center, at Valleydale Road, Birmingham.  If you are running the Mercedes Marathon or Half Marathon we have flyers in the race bag printed by the UPS Store.

Edger's Bakery and Cafe:  Absolutely the best in Birmingham.  My car will not pass the Colonnade Store without pulling in.  Even better, the Store Manager, Tyler, and son of the owner, is a runner and bike rider and soon to be ultra runner.

Additions on the "How to run your first ultra" page

Over the past few weeks I have made several additions to the "Run For Kids Challenge" website.  One of the pages I have added to is the "How to run you first ultra" page.  I have rewritten several sections and added a section on "Managing all the STUFF you carry in an ultra."  I have also added the same information plus a lot more to my blog, "How to Run Your First Ultra." There are now 18 posts on the blog covering everything from "where do you start," to "fueling during the race" to "running at night."  I am adding more almost every day.  Take a look.