Greetings from the Scubatown Marathon! If it doesn't stop raining soon we'll be having our race expo on an ark. Here is this week's soggy update:
Confirmation Letter - despite our sending out the confirmation packets via first class mail, we have received e-mails from several unlucky runners who did not receive theirs. We apologize for that. Keep in mind that the entire confirmation packet can be printed from our home page at http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/1.html.
Weather - yesterday, I checked the forecast for race day. Sunny. Low of 54. High of 73. I just checked the forecast a few minutes ago. Wait for it....RAIN! Low of 48. High of 64. Ugh. Please monitor the weather closely and be prepared to bring your wet suit.
Rails to Trails - I spoke this week to Steph at the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. She is the alert keeper of the Rails to Trails. She tells me her contractor will do his best to get the trails in good shape for race day but there is a strong liklihood that portions of the trail will be softer than usual. It just won't stop raining here and water + dirt usually equals mud. Please embrace the fact that the trails will probably be a bit slow this year. Facial anyone?
Results - our alert timing and scoring vendor Mark Courtney of Runhigh.com will do his best to post the race results on his Web site by late Sunday night or early Monday. Despite this, we no doubt will get a barrage of "you guys stink" e-mails at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday because we don't have our results up yet. Patience is a virtue.
Expo - Mark Will Weber, teacher, running coach and author of such running books as The Quotable Runner, has agreed to join our panel of stars at the 2:00 p.m. course presentation at the expo. I am sure he will give great advice because people with three names are always very smart.
Those of you who think it will be a good idea to "bank time" on the early downhills should really attend the 2:00 p.m. expo presentation. Our distinguished panel will explain to you why banking time is a really, really bad idea (after they stop laughing at you).
PLEASE make every effort to attend the Expo. We will have a race morning packet pick up inside Forest City High at the starting line but it will be manned by a skeleton crew. Race day packet pick up has been arranged for those of you who truly cannot attend the expo. Please keep in mind that if you don't attend the expo, our registrar has to lug all of your crapola to Forest City at 5:30 a.m.
Pace Groups - we don't have any. Well, not official ones anyway. But when you get to the start go inside the high school and find the cafeteria. There, you will find lots of signs with finishing times taped to the walls. Just find "your sign" and introduce yourself to the others standing there. The hope is that you can become friends with total strangers and work together to reach your goal times. Try to find someone with three names.
Boston Qualifying - Remember, Boston has made it much tougher to qualify. The 2012 Boston field is already filled but you can use Steamtown to qualify for Boston 2013. More info at the following link: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying.aspx.
Things to Do - As you know, Scranton is a happenin' town. There are some useful things to do links at the following link: http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/2.1.html
That'll do it for now. I think a fish just rang my doorbell. We'll send you one final e-mail mid week.
Sincerely,
James Andrew Cummings
Asst. Race Director
Here are this week's two cool videos:
http://youtu.be/YrmuUWiDzNM
http://youtu.be/okUrGG66KpQ
