TIR

The day has arrived, and so has Flat Stanley.  My 5-year-old grandson Lawson has sent Flat Stanley to go along with us on our Texas journey.  I hope we can pass him along, and for sure would like to get a picture of him with our group.  If anyone has a far-away trip planned in the next couple of weeks and you want to take Stanley with you, please let me know. 
Thanks,
Janet



**************
Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

The Lion, Gazelle, and Saturday morning!!!

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up ON SATURDAY MORNING, you'd better be running." - Anonymous and Jay

TIR: Drivers and Reminders

All,

TWO DAYS BABY!!!

Several of you that have volunteered to drive. THANK YOU! However, I could use a few more backup drivers. If you are interested please fax a copy of your DL and proof of insurance to 832.476.0193. I will get this over to Enterprise and have you added to the contract. BTW - each driver is my employee for the weekend...corporate account (can you say tax write-off).

Reminders:
Don't forget to bring a couple of plastic grocery bags for your stinky clothes!
If you have a flashlight...bring it...I will bring a couple as well.
If you have a Texas map please bring it as well.

During dinner Friday night I will run thorugh the first few legs and a van exchange to explain how it should work. RUNNER AND VAN EXCHANGES ARE CRITICAL!!!!


Regards,

Jay

TIR relay update: Weather (or not)

Hi folks--

Here's a tentative weather forecast for the weekend. And I stress TENTATIVE, because forecasting one day in advance can be challenging... one week out is just a crapshoot. There's possibly a change forthcoming, due to a front that's expected on Sunday/Monday... if it speeds up then it could be a bit cooler and /or wetter.

But, for what its worth:

In Columbus:

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58

In Gonzales on Saturday we'll start running at a mild 56 degrees.:

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.

Schulenberg:

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.

Columbus is the same...

Fulshear & Katy:

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Houston:

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.

And our FINISH:

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.

So, 50s & 70s with a nice dose of humidity...

Regards,

Drew Wasson

Tentative Schedule

Friday

2:00 PM – Drivers will pick up the vans at Enterprise in Tomball (I will coordinate with the drivers Mon or Tue)

4:15 to 4:30 PM – All team members meet at the Y (near the pavilion)

4:30 PM – Depart for Columbus)...we will leave at 4:30 PM sharp. BE THERE!!!

6:15ish – 6:30ish – Arrive in Columbus and check-in at the 5 star Holiday Inn Express

7:00 PM – Team captains meeting

7:20 PM – Get back in the van and head over to Schobel's for diner…we can review any last minute details at this time.

9:30ish – Return to the hotel for some shut-eye

Saturday

5:00 AM – Depart for Gonzales (everyone)

6:10ish AM – Team captains will sign the teams in and collect the goodie bags, timing chips, etc.

6:30 AM – 6:45 AM – Team captains will distribute goodie bag items and other essential stuff to the teams.

7:10 AM – START – Prologue

Sunday

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM – FINISH!!!

Note: I will setup the blog to post incoming e-mails immediately...so, we will have a few of us blogging during the TIR...let your family know to check the blog periodically for updates.

Start Times!!!!

7:10 AM Start Time for all three CF teams

Recommended Race Equipment for Individuals

Here is a list from the TIR handbook...

• Any extras of the required items that an individual may want to bring (like reflective vest, flashlight, LED blinky, etc.)
• Phone
• Camera
• Hat or visor to mitigate glare of oncoming traffic
• Clothes to run in weather as cool as 40deg and as warm as 80, even in rain potentially.
• Change of shoes
• Plastic bags for damp clothing, etc.
• Pepper spray or noise-maker if concerned about animals (Legs 3, 4, 36, & 37)
• Sleeping bag / Pillow (especially if catching a few winks in Wallis), toiletries, toilet paper, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc, etc
• Water bottle

TIR Update: February 14, 2008 - Volunteerism... A Texas Tradition

Megan Zucaro, Mrs. Texas 2007 (WOW!!!!) will be volunteering at the inaugural TIR on March 1, 2008. She’ll be keeping things in order at the holding corral - where teams will assemble just before it is their turn to start!

Would you like to add your name to the incredible alumni of Texas Volunteers? Here’s your chance! volunteers@TexasIndependenceRelay.com

Northpointe 5K this Saturday

In the event you want some pre-TIR speedwork here's your chance!!!...this one is fun.
From Jacqui Duke..."Northpointe Intermediate School is having their 2nd Annual 5k Fun Run (thanks to Susan for initiating the 1st one) on Feb. 23rd at 9am (Kid's K starts at either 9:30 or 9:45). The school is on the corner of N. Eldridge/Northpointe. You can sign up the day of the race starting at 8am- $10 for the run, or $15 for run and a t-shirt."

Updates: Tentative Start Time

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!

Our tentative start time is between 6:45 and 7:15 AM. We will have the official start times later this week.

Once we know our start times I will "recalibrate" the pace predictor spreadsheet and send it out. The spreadsheet will show the tentative start times and durations for each leg as well as when you will be running in the dark.

Interactive Leg Map

All,

If you haven't done so already you need to check out the interactive map on the relay website. Gives you some excellent info on the legs you will be running.

http://texasindependencerelay.com/repository/sizzle/html-map.html

Team & Leg Assignments

All...here are the team and leg assignments...tried to accomidate the various requests as best I could.
Notice the trend...hint: look a the last number in each of your legs...easy way to remember which leg you're running.

CF Team Bowie
Rusty Ramsey 6, 16, 26, 36
Sonny Mims 7, 17, 27, 37
Karen Gilligan 8, 18, 28, 38
Janet Crow 9, 19, 29, 39
Larry Kerr 10, 20, 30, 40
Tony Castronovo 1, 11, 21,31
Kelli Alexander 2, 12, 22, 32
Vanessa Gnatzig 3, 13, 23, 33
Jamie Garza 4, 14, 24, 34
Susan Cline 5, 15, 25, 35
(Note: Paula wasn't available...she won't even return my calls...but I hear Rusty is really fast)

CF Team Travis
Dave Heinrich 6, 16, 26, 36
Dave Engler 7, 17, 27, 37
Colleen Gilbert 8, 18, 28, 38
Bill Leryer 9, 19, 29, 39
Curt Foltz 10, 20, 30, 40
Allen Duke 1, 11, 21, 31
Debbie Leber 2, 12, 22, 32
Shannon Snigg 3, 13, 23, 33
Todd Snigg 4, 14, 24, 34
Mark Lehman 5, 15, 25, 35


CF Team Crocket
Jacqui Duke 6, 16, 26, 36
Kathy Sanford 7, 17, 27, 37
John Gilligan 8, 18, 28, 38
Simba Bouligny 9, 19, 29, 39
Drew Wasson 10, 20, 30, 40
Adrian Salinas 1, 11, 21, 31
Allison Leryer 2, 12, 22 32
Deanna McCarthy 5, 13, 23, 33
Pauline Wightman 4, 14, 24, 34
Jay McCormick 3, 15, 25, 35

Day after the marathon....or a 200 mile relay!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-hCuYjvw2I

ACTION ITEMS FOR ALL!!!!

Hello All!

Please provide the following ASAP. We have to have the information back to TIR THIS WEEK.

1. Shirt Size (same shirt as Champions Fit)
2. Women only - Shirt Size for Women's cut tech shirt (for tech shirts provided by TIR)
3. Your cell phone number
4. Emergency contact name and number
5. Sock size(S-M or L-XL....running socks to be provided by TIR)
6. If you are interested in driving please let me know. I would like to have two drivers per van.

Additional Payment: Each of you please send $60 to cover the van rentals, t-shirts, fuel, snack fund (non-alcoholic), team hotel rooms. This is in addition to our sponsors' contribution of $1,500. If we have money left over we can divide it up after TIR (you can keep yours or contribute to a post-TIR party).

Please mail the payment to:
Jay McCormick
PMB# 178
21175 Tomball Parkway
Houston, TX 77070

Additional Info:
We are more than likely running 3 teams of 10 as opposed to teams of 12 as first planned. This means that everyone will get to run 4 legs.

Remember: The plan is to meet at the Y at 4:00 PM on 2/29 to depart for Columbus.

Here is a link to the TIR rules...please make sure you read over these: http://www.texasindependencerelay.com/csv/TIR_Rules.pdf


Thanks!

TIR Updates - Mid January through Early February

The Texas Independence Relay is close at hand, so this will likely be our last email about the updates for this year.

You can read more about the following on the Race Updates page of the TIR website.

• Wonder what it will be like at the TIR finish?
• Meet Rodney Hayden - the hand-picked entertainer for the TIR's post race afterglow.
• Czech out Weimar and Schulenburg.
• Jardines enters two teams and provides some of the awards.
• Have you tried their salsa?Meet the Cowtown Corredores!
• Read about the TIR in the Baytown Sun and Galveston Daily News.
• Decide for yourself if the TIR medals are worthy of the event.
• Peyton Manning gives pricey pep talk.
• LaraBar wishes to give you sustenance to help you make it.

jay & joy (and the TIR team