Saturday, September 17th

Congrats to all who ran the Y10k last weekend, perfect morning for some PR's! Last long run for some this week, below is a 10 mile loop from Wesselman's Park plus the 10 mile route for "Team 13". I am going to guess that the start times will be all over the chart with trying to time the "Team 13" take-off, so I'm going with 5:30 a.m.. Note they do start with a Big Loop/Little Loop that you could add at the end if your running late.

Have a good week, see you Saturday!


Water Stops:
3 mi. - Vogel/Royal
6 mi. - Bellemeade/Hebron
9 mi. - Walnut/Alvord
12.8 mi & 15.3 mi. - Sycamore & St. James (Team 13)
18.1 mi. - Chandler/Alvord (Team 13)



10 Mile Route from Wesselman's - 5:30 a.m.
Exit out the back of Wesselmans along Par 3 course
R onto path along back of Par 3
L at end of parking lot towards Armory
R on path at Armory to Division St.
L on Division to Congress
L on Congress to Vogel
R on Vogel to Tudor (road before Burkhardt)
R on Tudor to Columbia (deadend)
R on Columbia to Kimber
L on Kimber to Virginia
R on Virginia to Cullen (back of Tri-State)
L on Cullen to Division
L on Division to Bridge, cross over to Cullen
Straight on Cullen to Bellemeade
R on Bellemeade to St. Mary's Drive
R on St. Mary's to Lincoln Ave.
L on Lincoln to Rotherwood
R on Rotherwood to Walnut
R on Walnut to Boeke
L on Boeke back to Wesselmans......10.1 mi.

"Team 13" 10 Mile Route from Wesselman's - 7:00 a.m.

Depart shelter house turning R into park taking "big loop"

Repeat taking "little loop"

Depart park crossing Boeke onto Iowa/Alvord
STR on Alvord crossing Lloyd Exp. via overpass to Harper School

L on Sycamore, cross Vann

L onto gravel path, follow path around Boy Scout Center

L onto main road, loop around the State Hospital grounds

Follow the path back the same way you came in

Cross Vann at Sycamore

STR on Sycamore to L on Alvord

STR on Alvord, crossing Lincoln and Bellemade, to L Bayard Park

STR on Bayard Park to R on Walnut Lane

FP Walnut Lane to immediate R on Chandler

STR on Chandler to L on Alvord

STR on Alvord to Washington

Turn around and return STR on Alvord to Lloyd

Cross Lloyd via overpass, follow Alvord/Iowa back to Wess. Park.....10.3

Chicago Marathon Trip Amtrak Info

Below are some options for the Amtrak ride departure city and I have included a couple options for the return (morning/afternoon). To the side there are two polls, one for departure city (only vote if you plan to ride) and departure for return trip option. Please comment/vote/question by Wednesday September 14, probably need to order tickets as soon as possible to insure seating.

Thanks.

NOTE:
There is *NO* checked bags on any of the rides, you are allowed (2) carry on bags, 28"x22"x14".  Just wanted everyone to be aware of that, have to pack light!

Details on Amtrak to Chicago

Traveling from Centralia, IL:

According to mapquest, Centralia is 120 miles from Evansville and takes 2 hours to drive.  It is an unattended station and we’d probably need to be there a half hour before departure time to be safe.  There is parking but not sure about any cost and/or safety.  The schedule/price is:

Fri Oct 7          Depart:  8:23am   Arrive Chicago:  1:00 pm      OW cost: $39    Travel time: 4:37

Mon Oct 10     Depart:  8:15am   Arrive Centralia: 12:16 pm    OW cost: $29   Travel time:  4:01

Mon Oct 10     Depart:  4:05am   Arrive Centralia: 8:06 pm    OW cost: $29   Travel time:  4:01

                                                                                               

                                                                     Per Person Round Trip Cost: $68

Traveling from Effingham, IL:

According to mapquest, Effingham is 128 miles from Evansville and takes 2.5 hours to drive.  Although it is roughly the same distance as Centralia, we travel on 2 lane roads instead of the interstate so it takes longer.  We basically spend an extra half hour driving instead of on the train and we save $17 on the round trip fare.  It is also an unattended station and we’d probably need to be there a half hour before departure time to be safe.  There is parking but not sure about any cost and/or safety.  The schedule/price is:

Fri Oct 7          Depart:  9:07am   Arrive Chicago:  1:00 pm      OW cost: $29    Travel time: 3:53

Mon Oct 10     Depart:  8:15am  Arrive Effingham: 11:29 am   OW cost: $22   Travel time: 4:01

                                                                     Per Person Round Trip Cost: $51

The Blister in the Sun Marathon

The Blister in the Sun Marathon
By Michelle Walker

“I guarantee suck ass conditions and a fun time. What more do you want?”

I should have been warned by the registration form. Not only did I have to write a paragraph explaining why I wanted to run this race, but I had to sign a statement acknowledging that running a marathon in the August heat and humidity in the hills of Cookeville, TN was “beyond stupid”. I got a good chuckle out of the entry form, but became increasingly concerned as I began to receive subsequent communication from the race director, Josh Hite. I immediately noticed that he gave each participant a nickname. Mine was “Mom_o’_6.2”. I spent days trying to read into the meaning behind my nickname. Had he looked up my prior race times, laughing at how I go out too fast? In his messages, Josh collectively addressed all of the participants as “masochists”, while calling himself “The Sadist”.  He was obviously trying to create a doomsday atmosphere, and I have to admit I was getting a little scared. I was so nervous that I tried to keep this race under wraps, unsure if I could actually complete this mental and physical challenge.  I was doing pretty well with keeping my Cookeville “training run” a secret, until I arrived at the packet pick-up. My packet contained just a few items to include a bottle of sunscreen and a handmade race bib. I was so excited about my bib that I had to tell the world…or at least my group of Facebook friends (Ha Ha!).

The race itself consisted of five loops of a figure eight course in the hills of Cane Creek Park. There were less than 50 participants, making this the smallest marathon that I have ever run. Because of the layout of the course, I saw each and every participant over and over. The encouragement provided to me from the other participants was one of my favorite parts of the race. Who needs bands, cheerleaders, or streets lined with spectators? The bond that I felt with the other runners was more inspiring to me than a cheering audience. I later learned that many of my fellow participants have very interesting backgrounds. Some of my fellow runners were: the race director of the Flying Monkey Marathon; a man in his 70s completing his 707^th marathon; a lady completing her 297^th marathon; and  a 12-year-old boy who was rumored to have run the Grandfather Mountain Marathon the month prior with a time of 3:23. Josh Hite, the race director of the Blister, also has an interesting story. After running sub three hour marathons, he decided to create his own, more challenging marathon. Needless to say, Josh was the winner of the 2011 Blister in the Sun Marathon (as well as last year’s race).

Hot, humid, and hilly: I would agree with the overall description of this race. Not only did the course provide some physical challenges, but passing by the start / finish line 9 times created just as many mental challenges. Would I run this race again? Most likely, especially if the Band of Runners participated! (Hint! Hint!)  The personal touches of this race definitely offset the challenges.  Receiving a frying pan “medal” from the “Sadist”, as I crossed the finish line, made this race one that I will never forget!