1) Well, we've done it again!! We set a new team record of 217 miles! We didn't think we had but Mike Volker checked with the relay folks and they reminded us that for the last 1/2 hour of the relay we actually get credited for the average times we would have been running if the track were not closed. So they gave us an extra 1 1/2 runners that we didn't really run. But we would have... if we had any legs left...Anyway, we had the most miles overall for the whole event and didn't get a prize for it. I called the event organizers and they said they changed the prizes this year to save money. Fair enough - they are still figuring out how to give us some sort of recognition. What are we, a team of Rodney Dangerfield's??
2) As far as money raised, .we came in first in recreational (yawn) and fifth overall with total pledges of $26,700. We should be very proud of that considering the top four guys from last year pulled down over $20,000 and none of them could make it this year. Mac and Don will probably be back for next year. As far as the other teams go, Revy had $64K, Remax $46K, Labatts $32K, and the Royal Bank 27K. But we still smoked the other 170 teams. Very well done, you guys...
3) A huge thank you to all spares and volunteers for the great work in pulling off a fun weekend. We really like knowing that if someone gets pooped out or twists something that we can call on a sucker..oops...a spare to get up at all hours of the night to bail us out. And we really appreciate all the long hours in the stands by the volunteers manning those exasperating time sheets...
4) For those of you who missed it, we received a very nice plaque for hitting the $200,000 mark for cumulative pledges over the years. It will be on display at our free dinner at Milestones.
5) Did someone say free dinner?? Yes, fellow food mooches. Our winning numbers good enough for a free dinner from Milestones - actually a voucher worth $250. Plus the money in the kitty and we're looking at a free dinner. So far Wednesday, July 2 and Thursday, July 3 are looking popular for the Milestones on Lougheed near Willingdon. Anybody who thinks they can make it please give me a call.
That's about all from your fearless leader. Hope everyone is recovering better than this old codger is!! See you all in a couple of weeks!!!
James Seidel
Team Captain
Update: May 30, 1997:
Friends, Romans, Countrymen....
The time draws nearer. Hard to believe we have only two weekends to the race. Hope all is going well on the fund raising front. Remember, nobody is safe from a pledge!
News items:
1. The pre-race run was attended by about 10 of us. I hope all who couldn't attend had an excuse at least as good as mine. I had a hockey game to play. At least it was something athletic...
2. Our team has grown by one more runner - Trent Jordan. Welcome aboard Trent and thanks Aaron for bringing him on.
3. Our sponsorship levels have hit a record high. We have $500 from Doppler Computers (thanks to Andy Jones-Cox), $250 from Levesque Securities (thanks to Trent Jordan) and $250 from Triology Development (thanks to John Evans and Aaron Fediuk). The total ended up at $2,500!! Well done, everyone.
4. Item (3) leaves us with a great new problem...a surplus!!! Our calculations have it coming in at about $800 - less $200 for our team registration next year we still have about $600 left. So this leaves us with a number of options...
a) Have free T-shirts and running skins for all team members (T-shirts for volunteers) and stick the $600 in the bank for next year (really nice running suits, team jackets, etc.).
b) Charge $20 as usual and stick a whole pile of money in the bank for next year.
c) Figure out ways to spend it (with or without charging $20). Suggestions thus far include a masseuse for 6 hours at a cost of $250 (total), a couple of coolers full of Gator Aide, sandwiches, and (heaven forbid) beer, a post-run breakfast blow out at IHOP, Smittys,etc,......
I would really welcome any ideas or feedback on this. Feel free to email me on seidel@direct.ca, fax at 688-3608 or phone on 643-5312.
That's it for this week. From what I hear, there's a whole pile of pledging going on with this team and lots of the old-timers are poised to beat their personal bests. Well done, you guys!!!
Stay tuned next week........
James Seidel
Team Captain
Update: May 20, 1997:
Hello Rain Runners!!! Man, is this overdue. Lots of news on this little memo so I suggest everyone keep a copy...
Just over three weeks to race day...hard to believe. I hope all of the pledging is going well. Most of us old timers are pretty much winding up - some of the rookies are probably just getting started! Remember, this year is an important one for everyone to chip in big...
News items:
1. Lost. Six of our runners from last year. Thomas Koller (moved to Switzerland), Ken McRae (moved to England), Curtis Heath (moved to Japan), John Delahunt (retired), Dominic Stoll (holidays), Don Wilson (personal commitments but will still fund raise). This plus a few volunteers. In total we have over $12,000 in funds from last year that aren't coming back. Gulp... Thankfully we have recruited some very strong rookies and have extra commitments from our old timers. I think we can still come pretty close to our last years numbers. I know my pledge total is already over $14.00 a mile and that's way better than I did last year...
2. Found. Six great new Rain Runners. Rick Cox, Mike Guld, Melanee Henderson, Richard Higgins, Andy Jones-Cox, and Jak Mayer have all joined the fracas. Thanks to Brian Watts, Mike Volker, and Rob Greene for bringing them in. Sounds like a couple of them are jack rabbits as well. Never too many of those types. Let's all make them feel welcome at the warm up run and the pasta party...I would still be more comfortable if we had a couple more spare runners. Please see if we can dig up a couple more - contact me with their names if you can.
3. Sponsors. We have nailed down three sponsors for a total of $1,500 so far. Thanks to Lorraine Harrison for bringing us Croden Waters Personnel - our first $1,000 sponsor. Thanks also to Mike Volker for bringing us the Mongolie Grill and Susan Reynolds for Fitness World. The T-Shirts are being printed this week so if anybody has any more sponsors they'd better contact Rob Greene (760-7060) or myself (643-5312) real fast...
4. Tune up Run. As most of you are aware, Susan Reynolds has a tune up run planned for Monday May 26th. The group will be meeting in front of the concession stands at Kits Beach at 6:30. Should be a fun night - maybe a snack at a local eatery afterward. Runners are encouraged to bring their $20 for T-shirts to give to Susan.
5. Running Order. We will have the final list done on June 1. Generally speaking it will be similar to last year with the faster/better conditioned runners in the first few spots where the likelihood of running 5 times is higher. Of course, most of us don't have to be too concerned with this one...
6. Pasta Party. Mike Volker has generously allowed us full vacation privileges at the Volker Resort near Horseshoe Bay for the evening of Friday, June 13...Hmm.. Friday the 13th at Mikes - that should be fun. As usual, we would really like every runner and volunteer to be there. The last format was pretty successful. If your last name begins with A to L - bring a pasta dish, M to S - bring a salad of some exotic description, T to Z - bring a dessert..... Festivities begin at 7:00 or so with Mike's nude hula dance to the tune of "There's no Business like Show Business" beginning at around 9:00 p.m.
Mike's address is 7165 Cliff Road. To get there, take the Upper Levels Highway towards Horseshoe Bay to Exit #1 ( this is the exit immediately after the ferry ramp exit- only a few meters) - this takes you onto Marine Drive (don't make any turns). Proceed all the way to the end of Marine Drive in the direction of Whytecliffe Park. Just after you pass Whytecliffe Park, Marine Drive becomes Cliff Road. They are the second house. If you get lost, call Mike on 921-9594.
All runners and volunteers must(!) bring their fully totalled pledge sheets to the party or get someone else to bring them. They have to be handed in by the team before the race begins on Saturday. Also any runners who haven't paid the $20 for T-shirts and running shells should pay me then. Liability forms and waivers should also be signed at the party.
7. Opening Ceremonies. This year there will be a different format and the Rain Runners have been asked to join in. At 9:30 am at the south east entrance to the stadium the top ten teams from last year will meet and enter the stadium Olympic style with one member carrying a team sign. The lead team will be last years winners - Revy. We will be second. Timmy's wheel chair will be pushed by a member from Revy's. It would be great if the first few runners could come early and participate...
8. Hotel Room. Once again the Holiday Inn at Metrotown has donated a room to the leg weary Rain Runners. It will be available the night of the 14th for all those who require a quick nap. Ask Rob Greene for details on race day. We also have a camping spot - our team number is 16.
9. Volleyball. We have one team. Our first game is at 12:30 p.m. against the Linear Accelerators on 10B. Depending on a win or loss, the next game will be at 2:20p.m. or 2:45p.m. respectively.
10. Post-run celebrations. This year we should be in fine form in the costume competition. We will have a couple of bottles of champagne and hopefully some prizes from winning the relay to distribute. We don't have anything planned for immediately after the race - except sleep!! But we will have the post race party within a couple of weeks of the event. More on that later.
11. Special thanks. Most of us had no idea how much work Thomas did for this team. We really miss him. I would like to thank those who have really picked up a lot of the slack. Rob Greene has been a huge help - he has had our new logo designed, organized the T-shirts, organized the hotel, recruited two new runners for the team....Susan Reynolds has organized the tune-up run, put together an info sheet for prospective sponsors and runners, and kept Rob and I in line. Mike Volker, as usual, has been a huge help. Besides offering us his fine home to ransack, he has developed a great web page, recruited a new runner for us, and offered his sage advice on organizing this team. Thanks again, everyone...
That's about it for now, fellow runners. Remember to keep those pledges rolling in. Every day will present an opportunity to make some money for the team if you keep your eyes open. Every dime and quarter counts on your pledge form. Don't forget to hit your doctor, chiropractor, lawyer, banker, dentist, hairdresser, best client, worst client (make it a big one), relatives, in-laws (make those big, too), dog groomers.... Carry your pledge form everywhere. It really does work when you have a goal. $5.00 a mile really isn't that hard to hit if you add one pledge a day. Good luck and you'll be hearing from me again soon!!
Oh yeah - feel free to check out our website. Use the Alta Vista search engine to find us at www.sfu.ca/~mvolker/rainrunners/
James Seidel - Team Captain