September Trail Mail

Summer, or as it's called in Florida, the wet season, is gone. Trust me. For most of you who live in Florida it might not feel like it, but the days are getting shorter and up here in the north the leaves are already dropping.

While the 8th annual RRR is still months away, we're getting ready and you should be too. If you're new to running there are some half marathon programs on our training page and there is a wealth of information on various running sites on the web.

Hog Hat give away. We will give away a hog hat to 1st, 10th and 20th person who registers after this trail mail is sent. It will be random, as I have no control over when this will actually be sent. (Some computer in the sky, or somewhere, sends them out as it sees fit.) Your hat will be waiting for you on race day. Good idea to make sure your email is correct so you can be notified if you are a winner. If you don't win one you can still purchase one for the new low price of $10.

Finisher's Medals are ordered. This year finishers of the half and relay will once again receive glass medals made exclusively for the RRR by Aurora Glass. They have added some sugar to their mix that somehow makes a beautiful amber color. I might have mentioned this before, that other race directors have contacted me about our unique finishers medals but none that I know of have ordered them as they are "too expensive." We think finishers of the RRR deserve it! Plus Aurora Glass is a good outfit, a nonprofit organization helping with emergency services, housing, jobs and training.

Race Bags are ordered too. No cheapie plastic ones here. All half marathoners will get an organic cotton produce bags printed with natural ink. You'll recall your great RRR experience whenever picking up some fresh veggies at the grocery.

5K Fun Run - This year you get a ceramic blue Hog Coffee Cup. Anyone else want one of these? They could some day be classic mugs! I can order some extra, $5 each. Let me know and they will be there for race day pickup

Registration is open and you still have a couple of months before the rates go up. The half marathon will be limited to 350 runners with no limit on the Fun Run. Last year we reached capacity a week before the run and were besieged with calls from runners who missed the cut. Don't let it happen to you this time.

The course should be the same as last year, with a small (.2 mile) addition to red maple trail area. That means we can cut .2 off the Sun Burn Trail section. 1st leg relayers get cut some more slack, while the 2nd leggers get to enjoy even more RRR! I will post an updated trail map soon. For local folks interested in running the trails, there is now a weather station at the Park. The Mudcutters (the mountain bike club that maintains the N. side trails) recommend that you allow one drying day after each 1/2" rain before using the N. side trails.

Shirts are golden this year! You loved our cool blue and red hot, long sleeve, organic cotton race shirts from the previous races so this time we're going gold. Our shirt supplier and Silver Sponsor, High Cotton, has managed to get the same material in a vibrant yellow for the 8th RRR. All half marathoners, individual and relayers, will receive this long sleeve shirt. If you would like an additional shirt(s), or if a Fun Runner would like one, they can be ordered when you register or you can send me an email with size and number of additional shirts ($20 per). The shirts can be picked up on race day or at packet pickup.

More information is posted on this site....

Happy Trails!

Steve Brookman
River, Roots & Ruts Trail Run
Race Director@RRRTrail.com
908-236-2122