Step Up and Win a Prize!

Before you ask, the answer is yes. It is real. It is roadkill. For real. And someone had to clean it up. This time, it was me. And yes, there is more where that came from. Does anyone know the animal? Let me know if you think you do.

There will be some unique trophies for this race. There will be some unique prizes. Some are desirable, others are questionable.

So far, this race has seemed to appeal more strongly to women. That is interesting to me. Are the men not up to the challenge of a hilly race? Are the men only interested in a "PR" course? Men just care about the numbers? Perhaps the response speaks more to women's competitive nature. Is that right? We'd like to nurture that nature. The response thus far has inspired us to up the ante. Our race flyers say that the prizes are stacking. Let us explain.

If you are a masters woman, (45+ in the rules of this race,) and you come in third overall, and first woman, you will win the cash associated with third place open PLUS the cash associated with first place woman. In addition, you will receive the trophy for first place woman. In other words, the cash prizes are stacking. Guys, if you get "chicked," she'll win your prize-money. If you get "geezered," you will lose your prize-money. Everyone is competing with everyone. We do not expect there to be an overlap, but you never can tell. You might want to tell the fast women you know that there is the a chance to win a substantial prize for less than an hour's work. It could be the biggest payday in running in Oklahoma. We'll let you know as we get closer to the race.

There is a caveat, however. All trophies go to separate individuals. If a 45 year old man wins 3rd overall, he will receive the cash for 3rd overall and the trophy for third overall. The next fastest man 45 and older will then be the recipient of the first place master's trophy.

There will be a lot more prizes and awards than those, though. We have found an awful lot of stuff on the road this year. We plan to give it to you! We have surely observed over 400 empty cans of beer carelessly tossed out the window along the route. But it doesn't seem fair to give away an empty can now, does it? A chilled keg might be a better award. You might not like beer, though. You might like golf. Or smoking. Or transmissions. Or hubcaps. Or fine furs. Or scrap lumber. Or oil. We are not sure. Regardless, we have seen it all on the road and we will find a way to give it away. If we catch you running fast up a gruesome hill, or taking the time to smile at and encourage your fellow runner, or you are especially tough in any way, or you are just a random runner having fun, we'll let you know we appreciate your efforts. There's even an extra-special prize for the last finisher under 2 hours. We call this one "The Roadkill." You might not want to get that prize, though.

I Need Another Race Shirt!

Are there any of you out there who really think this? Maybe? C'mon, admit it if you do. I'd like you to weigh in. But if you don't want another race shirt, let me know that, too.

If there is one thing we at The Road Kill don't need more of, it's race shirts. I have a few dozen long-sleeved race shirts. I have even more cotton short-sleeved shirts. I have a bunch of "technical" tees both long and short. More than I can wear through in my life I think. Garbage bags full. Really. But I keep them and don't wear them. And there they moulder. Oh, I wear a few, but by and large there are far too many that I will never wear.

I had some calls last week. "Won't I get a race shirt?" Well, no, sir, we are not giving away shirts. Instead, we are going to give away little cups. Stainless steel camp cups indelibly etched with your race. The cup will be like your finisher's medal, but it will actually have some use. Think of it like the World Cup or the Stanley Cup, but way better. Because you actually have a good shot at this one. And, if nothing else, you can use it to refresh yourself with the beverages we offer after the race. It will also reduce trash.

We are fed up with the trash. We don't want to make more of it, so we are trying to do our part. We hate running by the trash, the roadkill, the crap on the side of the road. We'll leave the road cleaner than we found it, and leave your home with one less waste of a race shirt.

If you have a need for a race shirt, I'll give you mine. I'm going to bring my old shirts. If you want one for your race shirt, take mine. In fact, if you have any old race shirts you'd like to get rid of, just bring them on by to the race. We'll have an exchange. At the end of the day, we'll donate the extra shirts to someone who can actually use them. Let me know if you plan to bring a bunch - maybe I'll swing by and pick them up early.

Are you really that hard-up for another shirt? Do you need a 'unique' race shirt for your wardrobe? I'll help you make one. We'll give you a white undershirt and a clothes marker and you can make your shirt as unique as you like. Just write on it, "I ran the best race in Oklahoma - The Road Kill Ten Mile Foot Race!"

Cooking Some Hamburgers

This blog is going to be about our little race, "The Road Kill." More than that though, it will be about running, and training, and life. There might be a whole lot more of life than there is about this little race. We don't know for sure yet, though. It might be a bunch of photos of unfortunate animals, just trying to cross the road.

Why "The Road Kill?" What is this nonsense, anyhow? The race was a natural extension of our running group, the Washita Valley Running Club. It fills a training need. It's close. There is a lack of road races other than 5k. There was a lack of a running group. So Andreia made the group. Then we made the race.

We started talking about, "what have you seen on the road lately?" There is plenty of trash. No runner loves to see that. There is occasionally money. A lone shoe. Three little piggies. Contraceptives. Pregnancy tests. But most of all, there is roadkill.

We remember the location of each dead animal on our regular routes. We runners avoid it and note the rot, the crows, the flies, the smell, and then (hopefully) thank the road crews when they clean it up. Sometimes we feel like dead animals ourselves, out there, alone on the road. Close to death and alive all at once in a sweltering 20 mile run out in the country. Sometimes the effort in a race feels like the kiss of death that you urge upon your own body.

Like the fragrance of the real thing, we want to make The Road Kill an event that you couldn't forget. An event that you will remember whenever you see some roadkill. We want it to be rewarding on many levels, a challenging but runnable course, good competition, good prizes and trophies. But as any runner knows, it's all about the finish. That's the best part of racing. We hope you all will stick around to enjoy a cookout and some refreshments with us after you run. In short, we wanted to put on the kind of event that we'd want to attend ourselves.

Training is now, though. I train, I run. It's just like life, I suppose. We aspire to the gourmet meal, and we end up cooking some hamburgers. And you know, the damn things are pretty tasty. I ran 145 miles this week. It's about all I could do. There was not much "quality." There was nothing remarkable. Just miles. But now I am tired. Just cooked some hamburgers. Time to eat.

Registration Form

The Road Kill

Ten Mile Foot Race

Chickasha, Oklahoma

October 2, 2010, 8:00AM

Strike Oil!

Dependin' on this year's crop o' road kill, of course. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Guys and Gals in two divisions: Folks, and Old Folks (45 or older). Prizes for the young'ns, too. There will be some fine trophies. It’s a bunch of stuff we found on the road this year. Could be meat or flowers or anything. Run fast and win a prize.

For the Cattle

Ever'one will git somethin'. There'll be Metal Finisher's Cups, hand scratched as a memento of your accomplishment. Good for milk or liquor or your choice of our fine after-race beverages. Who needs another useless medal?

The Road Kill

A goodie we scraped up for last place. Ever'one needs encouragin'. De-scented, for the most part.

Startin' Place

Ever'one meet before the race at the Muscle Car Ranch. There's plen'y of air and plen'y of room, and you can even camp out there before and after the race. See www.musclecarranch.com for more information. From Hwy 81, south, just off the turnpike, I-44. Then west on Country Club Road for 1mi, south on 16th St, ½ mi., it’s on your left.



The Road

Paved. Dead flat, mostly, and exceptin' a few small hills. Dependin’ on what you call hills. Country roads. Not too many cows, cars, or tractors on the road. You may come up on some country dogs and maybe some snakes. Out 'n' Back. Each mile well marked. Waterin' holes at the quarter points.

Race Photography

Self-portraits are allowed. Other folks might come and shoot a few, too.

Race Numberin'

You bring your own used race bib or other piece of white cloth, and write on the blank white side. Write nice and big and dark so we can see it. We will assign you a number. Sharpie or grease pen would work fine. If you forget, we will write the number ON YOU. Don't forget.

Registration:

Payments before September 18th will get the stuff. Procrastinators will get to run, and have to pay $5 more. Race space is limited! Register online: www.signmeup.com. Or checks by mail, $30.00, payable to:

Washita Valley Running Club

1328 W. Dakota Ave.

Chickasha, OK 73018

drunner72@gmail.com or (405) 822-9617

for more information

Name________________________________________ Guy_____ Gal_______

Age on Race Day_____ (old folk?)

Address__________________________ Phone________________________

_________________________________ Email__________________________

_________________________________

Emergency Contact Name__________________________ Emergency Contact Phone__________________

I understand that running is stupid, and so am I for wanting to run The Road Kill, 2010. And yet, I will run knowing full well that I could get hot, cold, wet, bit, struck by a vehicle, lightening, or hail, kicked by a cow or a horse, tripped by another runner, dehydrated, sun burnt, headache, heart troubles, nausea, loose bowels, blisters, offended, discouraged, hungry, or just plum tuckered. Furthermore, I could even die. And that's not all. And I admit I only have myself to blame. Even so, it is with sound mind that I choose to participate.

Yours Truly,

X________________________________________(legal guardian, if entrant under 18)