MapMyRun.com...

In an attempt to keep from replacing my 3 year old Garmin ForeRunner 201, I've been looking for a way to keep track of my runs (time/distance/etc) online.  In a recommendation from Gene, I checked out MapMyRun.com.  It's a great program that I highly recommend.  Highlights:


1) Free membership
2) Able to use satellite imagery to "map" routes
3) Program provides distance, allowing me to use my stopwatch
4) Has a great workout log that allows tracking more than runs
5) An app uses the GPS in your phone to put together maps of your runs (much quicker than building it yourself).  If you are like me and don't like to have your phone track you, you can turn the feature on and off.


I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is enjoying the holidays.


Adam

More Training Tips...not tested, just found

Some training information.  I will keep looking for websites with training information.  If anyone has a site or training plan they have used, please let me know.  As of now, I'm going to be focusing on the first 3 sites for myself.  I'll provide critiques as I go...if anyone is interested.

Though we are only running 5-7 miles at a time, the altitude and time of day (everyone should plan on running in the middle of the night) will make it much tougher.  I would recommend that everyone trains at much longer distances, making the 3 legs of the relay much easier.

Thanks,

Adam

Marathon Guide.com: a good site, specifically at the bottom of the home page.  The distance recommendations, as well as training times, make sense.
http://www.marathonguide.com/training/index.cfm

Run the Planet: some good recommendations, specifically on distance increase (b/w 5-10% per week).  Good all around information about running distance.
http://www.runtheplanet.com/trainingracing/training/distancerunning.asp

Time To Run: 6 Building Blocks of Long Distance Running
http://www.time-to-run.com/training/articles/blocks.htm

Distance Running Tips: A series of articles on distance running and common issues put together by two long-time runners
http://www.distance-running-tips.com/

About.com Info: Focused mainly on marathon training, though the long-distance concepts apply.  About.com is a search engine, so it has many links.
http://running.about.com/od/distancerunningtips/LongDistance_Running_Tips.htm

WWR Videos from Past Years

I have never run, or seen, any sort of long distance relay.  My curiosity, and a distinct lack of motivation to write an environmental chemistry paper, got the best of me.  I hit YouTube and found the following videos put together by teams from previous years (mainly 2009).  Anyway, I've put in some comments for places in each video that I thought were interesting.  Notice how much fun everyone seems to be having...and enjoy.

Adam

Phillip's Phools '09. 0:22 - 2:00: some good shots of the start, 6:00 - 6:33: description of sleeping conditions, 8:25: some crazy dude running, 9:00 - 9:26: good description of the end of the race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpg-n-92sCU&feature=related

Kit Carson Cruisers '09.  About 4:00 into the video you see how cold it is at night up there. 4:40 shows how we are going to be sleeping.  The last 10 seconds are pretty good, as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okkR5hDfpUc&feature=related

Wyoming Wild Women '09. 1:39-2:00 shows some of the unexpected weather (heavy rain and maybe some hail, judging by the welts on the runner)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Ga0IKZZQA&NR=1

Shut it Down and Adapt & Overcome '09. 5:55: shows how cold the morning is.  Some pretty cool views...and they show why we need vans, not open air trucks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqsz3lYypt8&feature=related

Club Ed '09. 2:09 - 2:17: Check out the skull on the hood and the decorations on the side. 3:05: shows what else will be on the road during the run.  5:10: more sleeping conditions pics.  Indoor, this time.  5:40: outdoor sleeping conditions and more van decor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUfVgFKbkTc&NR=1

Interesting Articles on Training from ChiRunning (Let me know if you can't access them)

Interesting Articles from ChiRunning (that you can hopefully access.  Please let me know if you can't).  This is not an endorsement of any website, running form or lifestyle.  I did a 1-day training event with them and receive their monthly newsletter.  This is some information that I know I can benefit from and wanted to share.  Please enjoy.

Adam

10 Most Common Race Mistakes in a Distance Running Event

http://www.chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?tab=r&pageid=18&id=603

Should I Monitor My Heart Rate While Training?

http://chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?tab=r&pageid=18&id=451

Born to Run…But Have We Forgotten How?

http://chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?tab=r&pageid=18&id=531

Running an Event? Get Focused

http://chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?tab=r&pageid=18&id=538

The Joy of Running

http://chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?tab=r&pageid=18&id=495

Team Red, White and Blue is Registered!

It's official: we are registered for the 2011 Wild West Relay.  I hope that this finds everyone well.  Check out the following website to see all of the teams registered to run:

http://registration.timberlineevents.com/registration/registeredteams/2


Adam

Equipment to Check Out:

Here is some equipment that I found online and recommendations for those traveling up here:


1) Nathan LED Safety Strobe: $6.00: We will be running on public roads.  Though we will only need 2 of these strobes per van, at this price it is not a bad piece of equipment to have for yourself.  Between riding a bike or running at night/in low viz, this is a good piece of equipment to have.
(http://www.rei.com/product/785894)


2) Headlamps from REI, sorted from Low-Hi Price: Once again, we will only need 2 headlamps per van (total: 4).  However, some people may be less than thrilled to run with someone else's sweat on their headlamps.  Something to think about, however we will make sure that there are at least 2 headlamps per van.
(http://www.rei.com/search?search=headlamps&sortby=Price+%28Ascending%29&hist=query%2Cheadlamps)


3) Nathan Sports Reflective Vests: Each runner will be required to wear reflective vests while running at night (in fact, anyone outside of a vehicle at night will have to wear it).  The website above shows a brand of reflective vests that are fairly inexpensive.  I know that it makes some of us flash back to running in formation, however it's not a bad thing to have.  Having grown up in Montana and spent some time driving down back roads similar to what we are going to be running on, we are going to want to stand out as much as possible.  After all, everyone knows the few things there are to do in rural areas.
(http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/reflectiveled/reflective-led-vests)


Some recommendations for those coming from the "flatlands" (i.e. those who don't live at high altitude) can be found at the following link:
http://www.wildwestrelay.com/runner_information/low_elevation/index.html


I will be looking for more information to post on here from time-to-time.  Let me know if you find anything that may be helpful to other people.  We are all coming from different areas of the country, elevations, lifestyles, backgrounds.  As you will probably see over the next 9+ months, there is going to be a lot of information put up here.


Thanks,
Adam

Answers to Some Questions

Here are a couple of answers to questions that I've received:

-The big question has been about mileage.  Essentially, each person will run approximately 3 x legs of 5 miles each.  There will be 11 other runners doing 5 miles each (55 total) in between each of your legs.

-Our team will be registered on 1 October.  After that, we will be running (no refunds from the Relay organizers).

Hope this helps and makes more sense.  Still looking for more runners.  If you or anyone you know is interested, send me an email at adam.brady02@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Adam

Information to Begin Planning

This is my first attempt at writing a blog and creating a relay team.  It is a work in progress.  Feel free to provide your input and recommendations.

Fundraising/Charity:

There have been some questions about the overall purpose our team.  As you may have noticed, the team name is "Team Red, White and Blue" (www.teamrwb.com). This is a non-profit organization started by my college roommate to bring a more personal approach to supporting veterans with non-visible injuries.  Because the organization is just starting up, our focus for them will be awareness of their cause.

I know that everyone has a personal charity they feel strongly about.  I think this is an amazing opportunity to raise money for a charity (or multiple charities) of your choice.  We are still working through some of the processes, so please send any questions or recommendations.

All of the links below can be found by looking over the sections on the left-hand side of the page.  There is a ton of information that is provided.  I will do my best to narrow it down to what you may need.  However, it will probably be quicker for you to familiarize yourself with the info on the right.

Volunteer Options:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/entry/volunteer_options/index.html

-Each team is required to provide 3 x volunteers in order to race.  This is a no fail deal, with teams who don't provide the 3 disqualified.  The two options for this are: 1) Provide 3 on our own. 2) Donate $360 as a team and have the race take care of providing the volunteers.  This option makes the most sense to me.  By adding approximately $30 to each registration, we can remove one possible disqualifying friction point and keep our wives/family from doing more work over the weekend.  

Registration/Fee and Cost Information:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/entry/index.html

-Currently, the cost for registration (before 31DEC) is $1175 plus $360 for volunteers.  Spread over 12 people, that comes out to $127.91.  That is going to be the cost to register for the race.  On top of that, we must be self-supporting.  That will require 2 x 15-passenger vans, food, water, sleeping bags, gas, hotels (Fort Collins, Steamboat Springs), headlamps, reflective vests, etc.  We are working to figure all of this out early enough to a) find sponsors willing to help, b) provide enough time to spread the costs out as each person acquires the equipment.

Sponsors:

It would be great to have a sponsor that would be willing to support us on this. If anyone has any ideas/contacts with people who make shirts, let me know.  If we are going to run 200 miles I would like to get a unique shirt that lets us display our charities/sponsors and we will be willing to wear in the future.

Relay Rules:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/rules/index.html

Relay 101:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/relay_101/index.html

Frequently Asked Questions:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/faq/index.html

Recommended Equipment List:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/equipment/index.html

-This is what is recommended by the race committee.  We will continue to narrow it down/divide it up/add to it.  We will come up with an individual "packing list" to make sure that everyone has the right equipment from the start.

List of Forms, 2010 Race Rules, etc.:

http://www.wildwestrelay.com/captain_resources/forms_handbooks/index.html

As you can see, there is a large amount of information out there.  Please check back (or click follow this blog on the left) to be alerted when information is updated.

Thanks,

Adam

Up and Running

This will be the location for information on the Team Red, White and Blue Wild West Relay Team.  Continue to check back and feel free follow.  You can contact me at adam.brady02@gmail.com.

Thanks again for doing this,
Adam