Greetings Petrified Runners!
Here are some final thoughts leading into Sunday...
Confirmation Letter - it has come to my attention, based upon the questions you are asking via e-mail, that many of you have not read the confirmation letter. This of course breaks my heart. Believe it or not (and I swear I am not making this up), it contains actual information about the Steamtown Marathon!
Please read it with great scrutiny. If you did not receive yours in the mail, or wrapped fish in it, you can download it from our Web site's home page: http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/1.html
Weather - double ugh! Latest forecast is about 53 degrees at the start rising steadily to a high of 79 by mid afternoon. Our committee is meeting to develop a plan to get more water and hoses out on the course. Unfortunately, we can't control the weather. If you feel that you are unable to continue running, stop at an aid station or flag down one of our bike volunteers. They will get assistance to you. Here is a useful link: http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/4.html
Expo Parking - If you arrive at the Expo before about 12:15 p.m., you will see lots of cars in the lot. Parking will be tight. Nope, we are not giving away free cheese. Just a bunch of pesky teenagers taking their SATs in Scranton High. They are usually all cleared out by 12:30 p.m.
Rails to Trails - several members of our committee ran the trails over the past several days. They are in good shape (the trails, not our committee members). The very last section of the trail, after you cross the wooden bridge into Condella Park just before mile 19, had some bad wash outs, but the crew from Olyphant Borough did a yeoman's job getting everything in order.
Some odds and ends...
- Buses run from 5:30 a.m. until 6:45 a.m. Here is a useful link: http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/4.4.html
- Don't run too fast on the early downhills. Try to run your second 13.1 at the same pace as your first 13.1.
- If you have never run Steamtown before, we highly recommend that you attend the course presentation in the auditorium at the expo at 2:00 p.m.
- The pasta party is cash only.
- Tie your timing chip into your running shoe before you go to bed.
- Set two alarm clocks.
- Don't leave your car at the starting line in Forest City. WE DO NOT provide return transportation to the start.
- Do not pee on Forest City High School.
- Worried you might get lost while in Scranton? Here is a useful link: http://www.siteskins.net/steamtownmarathon/2.2.html
- Please have your ID ready when you pick up your race packet. A friend can pick up your race packet but we will ask them to sign for your packet and show their ID.
- PLEASE do your very best to attend the Expo. If you absolutely cannot attend the Expo ,you can pick up your bib, chip, and shirt inside Forest City High at the start on race morning.
- Your quads will be screaming in pain after the race. That is unfortunate ,but normal.
- If you did not receive all of our e-mails, not to worry. We re-post them all here: http://www.realbuzz.com/forums/steamtown-marathon/
- Live footage of the finish line will be streamed on www.pahomepage.com starting at 10:00 a.m. on race morning.
- There will be lost of cool Steamtown clothing for sale at the expo.
- We will have about one dozen ambulance companies out on the course and a full medical staff at the finish to care for you. If you don't feel well when you cross the finish line,TELL SOMEONE!
Well that's about it. On behalf of our race committee, our 3,500 volunteers, and the 14 communities that make up the Steamtown Marathon, we look forward to seeing you this weekend and we will do our best to provide you safe passage from Forest City to Downtown Scranton. We are honored you have chosen our race.
Sincerely,
Jim "Are marathoners an invasive species?" Cummings
Asst. Race Director
Here are tonight's cool videos:
http://youtu.be/geBHrV_GiQE
http://youtu.be/UdmpNNp2lmE
