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Chicago Marathon closes but other Oct. 7 'thons open On April 18, registration closed for the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. That the field of 45,000 runners would fill so far in advance of the October 7 event was not unanticipated. Still available are spots at two other Midwest marathons taking place on the same date, however. The Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee has a more modest cap of 2,500, but registration is reportedly outpacing 2006 when the event filled in August. To register, go to www.badgerlandstriders.org/lakefront/. On May 4, registration will open for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, also to be held on October 7. Last year the 10,500-runner limit was reached in just 15 days. For more info, go to www.mtcmarathon.org. Grandma's Marathon, to be run from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota, on June 16, reached its 9,500-runner capacity on April 23. Also full are the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and the William A. Irvin 5K, which take place in Duluth the same weekend. Headphones, iPods now prohibited at all USATF-sanctioned events USA Track & Field recently adopted a new rule banning the use of headphones and other music devices at all USATF-sanctioned running events. USATF, the governing body for long-distance running and track and field in the United States, adopted the rule in an effort to increase runner safety. Previously, USATF guidelines recommended the prohibition of music devices for long-distance running events, but such a measure had not been mandatory until this year. Now, athletes participating in USATF-sanctioned races, such as Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, will be subject to the new rule. "As an organization whose races are sanctioned and certified by USATF, we are required to abide by all rules, regulations and guidelines," said Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma's Marathon. "Establishing the rules for our sport is a role of USATF. We support their efforts and will begin enforcing this new rule at all of our 2007 races." The first Grandma's Marathon event to be affected by the headphone ban was to be the Fitger's 5K Run-Walk scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, April 21. This rule will also apply to Grandma's Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, the William A. Irvin 5K, the Park Point 5-Miler and the new Grandma's Minnesota Mile races in Duluth and St. Paul. The new USATF rule is printed on entry forms and race packets for all 2007 Grandma's Marathon events. Participants in Grandma's Marathon events are advised to not bring headphones or other music devices with them on the racecourse. Athletes with these devices will be given the option to surrender them to a race official prior to the race. Surrendered devices will be properly packaged and mailed back to their rightful owners within two weeks of the race. Participants who violate the headphone ban will be disqualified and their finishing time will not appear in official race results. "The best advice we can offer to anyone hoping to avoid any inconvenience is simply to not bring headphones with them on race day," adds Keenan. For more information, visit www.grandmasmarathon.com. Great Northwoods Treasure Hunt The Great Northwoods Treasure Hunt, catering to geocachers, is on with help from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Geocaching, or searching for small trinkets or caches with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, is a recreational activity enjoyed by all ages throughout the entire year. Rhinelander, St. Germain and Boulder Junction have received funding to encourage the activity through the website north woodsgeocaching.com and contests. There are 18 caches hidden throughout the area. To get started, interested geocachers should visit the website and print out a CacheCard. The CacheCard allows geocachers to keep track of their progress finding the caches so that they can qualify for special contests in the Great Northwoods Treasure Hunt. "Finding the caches is just the tip of the iceberg in the Great Northwoods Treasure Hunt," said St. Germain Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Neider. "With contests, social events, prizes and discounts, we hope to attract visitors looking for something new to try on vacation." Over the next few months several geocaching events will take place for local and visiting geocachers. And visitors shouldn't worry if they don't have GPS units. Area businesses have units available for rent. For more information, visit www.northwoodsgeocaching.com. '07 Wisport Cycling Series includes new and old events The Wisport Cycling Series is back this year with 16 road races, 12 time trials, two criteriums and one racing clinic. Tagged as a "citizen series" for the "normally obsessed," Wisport races are locally organized events throughout Wisconsin and, this year, one race in Minnesota. (At the time this issue went to press, the first two Wisport events – a century ride/clinic and a road race – had already taken place.) Four new events have joined the series, two are back after an absence but with new names, and two are no longer being held. And for the first time, a members-only Wisport World's will cap the season in late September. New races to the Wisport schedule include the Cloquet (Minnesota) Criterium on May 28, Brice Prairie Times Trial on June 30, Ride the Rock 100K on September 8 and the Wisport World's road race and time trial on September 22. The Stanley Time Trial on July 8 and Kirke Vei Time Trial on August 25 are "old favorites back with new names," according to the 2007 Wisport handbook. "There is a noticeable lack of elitism and competition is fierce but friendly," Wisport Director Ken Thomson writes in the handbook. "The series as a whole, with its wide variety of competitions, represents something different to almost everyone. But for everyone, it is a great way to have fun, meet new people and strive to achieve personal fitness goals." For more information and to obtain free copies of the handbook, go to www.wisport.org or e-mail wisport@wisport.org. Wisport 2007 Schedule
50 Chequamegon Fat Tire Fest spots to go to essay contest winners With a limit of 2,500 mountain bikers selected by lottery to ride at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival every year, some think the toughest challenge is getting in. The lucky ones who will compete on the September 14-16 weekend were chosen soon after the March 15 entry submission deadline. The random drawing determined the 1,700 who will race the Chequamegon 40 and the 800 to complete the 16-mile Short & Fat 16. This year 875 individuals, who were not so lucky in the draw, received their checks back with the dreaded "better luck next time" letter. To address the pleas of the unchosen many, festival director Gary Crandall created the 50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon essay contest. This unique competition awards 50 reserved registrations to the authors of the best essays explaining why they should be allowed to participate in the sold-out event. In spite of the contest title, essays don't have to list 50 individual reasons for wanting to ride. Contest submissions come in a broad array of styles. Songs, poems, drawings, parodies, even notes from children, have all been used to impress the judges. Past essays have cited family relations, health considerations, personal event history, advocacy efforts, race resumes or demographics in an attempt to achieve one of the coveted spots. In making their 50 selections, the judges consider originality, creativity, humor, sincerity, special effort and a variety of other undisclosed factors. The competition for the allotment of reserved spots is as stiff as the lottery drawing with hundreds of submissions expected. Essays must be legible, 500 words or less and postmarked or e-mailed to the Chequamegon office no later than July 1. Shortly after that date, submissions will be judged and the winners selected. All those who entered the contest will be notified of the outcome by July 15. Winners will get reserved entries. The decision of the judges is final. All essays become property of the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, will not be returned and may be reproduced at some future date without notification. To be included in this year's 50 Ways to Ride the Chequamegon essay contest, mail your essay to Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, PO Box 267, Cable, WI 54821 by July 1. E-mailed submissions are acceptable if received by the deadline at cheqfat@cheqnet.net. Further information about this year's event can be found at www.cheqfattire.com. Fat Tire Fest Clean Up Crew needed Even when they are in a "tread lightly" frame of mind, a rolling stampede of 2,500 off-road bicycle riders heading from Hayward to Cable are bound to leave some residual trace of their travels. To ensure that the September 15 race day routes are left in great shape, Clif Bar and the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival have once again teamed up to clean up after the nation's most popular off-road event. The task of the crew is to ensure that whatever is left behind is picked up and disposed of properly. Memebers of the volunteer pick-up patrol are dispersed in small teams on assigned sections of the race course. You can be a part of the Chequamegon Clif Bar Clean Up Crew by completing the statement, "I want to be on the Chequamegon/Clif Bar Clean Up Crew because …." Written statements should be postmarked by July 1 to the Chequamegon race office. After that date, cleanup crew chief Irv Berlin will select the participants from among the applications submitted. All applicants will be notified of the crew selections by July 15. Following that, those selected will receive further instructions about their specific race day assignment. Each volunteer cleanup crew member is thanked with an assortment of Clif Bar apparel, including a Clif Bar cycling jersey and a selection of Clif Bar and Clif Shot products. In addition, crew members get guaranteed reserved registrations for the 2008 Chequamegon event. It's a great opportunity to do something good for the trails you use, participate in the sold-out event and gain a new perspective on the nation's most popular off-road adventure. Essays submitted should be postmarked by July 1 and addressed to Chequamegon/Clif Bar Clean Up Crew, P.O. Box 267, Cable, WI 54821. Submissions may also be e-mailed to cheqfat@cheqnet.net. BikeSparta '07 to be celebrated every day in May Bicycling enthusiasts will enjoy 31 days of contests, clinics, races, parades and fun for cyclists of all ages this May at BikeSparta '07, a monthlong celebration of bicycling in Sparta, Wisconsin. BikeSparta '07 will feature bicycling-related events every day in May, beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening all Wisconsin state bike trails and ending with the dedication of the new 100-acre Amundson Park. Other events include the Blessing of the Bikes by a local bishop, two four-day fitness retreats, a bike rodeo for children, bike to work/school programs, as well as a number of tours organized by the Sparta Area Bicycling Club. Those with a creative streak can get involved by entering the BikeSparta '07 poetry contest, running now through the end of May, and the "Where's Ben Been?" photo contest, starting May 1. "We are excited about the opportunity to showcase all that Sparta – the 'Bicycling Capital of America' – has to offer to area cyclists," said Sharon Folcey, executive director of the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce. "People of all ages and fitness levels will be able to enjoy some wonderful bicycling events this May." This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, a 32-mile stretch of the abandoned Chicago & North Western railroad bed and one of the first rails-to-trails conversions in the country. The trail showcases the natural beauty of western Wisconsin as it passes through three rock tunnels. Sparta (just half an hour from La Crosse, two hours from Madison and three hours from Milwaukee), sits at the center of a 101-mile network of state bike trails. Lodging specials will be available at many hotels in Sparta. For more information about BikeSparta '07 and a full calendar of events, contact the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce at 800/354-BIKE or go to www.bikesparta.com. CORBA building trail in Eau Claire area A little over two years ago, a small group of dedicated mountain bikers took on the task of creating a racecourse at Lowes Creek County Park in Eau Claire for a Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) race. As the group dug earth, raked leaves, benched hillsides and poured sweat into the trail system, it became apparent that the area had much more to offer than as a venue for a single race or an annual event. So the group formalized its membership, which resulted in the creation of the Chippewa Off Road Bike Association (CORBA), a nonprofit organization that has invested 800 hours of volunteer time into trail development. To fulfill its mission to promote mountain biking opportunities in the Chippewa Valley, CORBA has worked cooperatively with land managers in both Eau Claire and Chippewa counties and sponsored National Trails Day and Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day events. The group is currently partnering with Friends of the Hickory Ridge Trail system in Chippewa County to build winding singletrack around many crystalline lakes. CORBA members have already picked up shovels, rakes and pulaskis to carve seven miles of twisting singletrack through the pine forest at the Lowes Creek Park. The trails are suitable for all skill levels of riders as well as for use by hikers, trail runners and snowshoers. New for 2007 will be a beginners' loop on which new and young riders can get a feel for what they may encounter on the other trails: sand, rocks and logs. For more information about CORBA, visit www.chippewaoffroad.org or e-mail chippewaoffroad@hotmail.com. For directions to Lowes Creek, go to www.co.eau- To Top claire.wi.us/Parks_Forest/Lowes_Creek_County_Park.htm. Back in Shape run offers largest 5K prize purse in Minnesota The largest prize purse for a 5K run in Minnesota will be offered at the June 23 Back in Shape run sponsored by Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. A total of $6,550 will be divvied up among the winners. The top male and top female finishers of the Twin Cities area run will receive $1,000 cash and the top male and female Americans will earn $500. The second-place overall finishers will take home $500, third will get $300, fourth $200 and fifth place finishers $100. First-place finishers in each of 15 age groups will get $25 Visa gift cards while the second and third age groupers will get gift cards worth $10. Additionally, all first-time runners will receive a medal. "Our hope is that the large purse will bring out some of the best runners in the upper Midwest who are role models of how people can use running to improve their health and wellness," race director Nicky Simon. "The university is dedicated to creating the top 5K race in the state for runners of all abilities." In addition to increasing the purse this year, several new age categories have been added. Replacing the 19 and under category this year are a 10 to 14 category and a 15 to 19 category. Replacing the 70 and older category are 70 to 74, 75 to 80 and 80 and older age groups. "We increased the number of categories for mature runners due to racer requests last year," Simon said. "We added the younger categories to encourage youth to be more physically active." In addition to the 5K run, Northwestern is offering a 5K walk, a quarter-mile kids' run and a half-mile kids' run. All children who participate will take home a ribbon. The Back in Shape run will again feature a post-race buffet, free health screenings and sports massages, indoor restrooms, open swimming in the university's pool before and after the event, and access to locker rooms and showers. Participation raises money for Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People, a Bloomington organization that meets the multiple issues of households in crisis, from putting food on family tables to providing assistance with employment and affordable housing over the long term. To register for the race and to learn about pledging to assist VEAP, visit www.nwhealth.edu/backinshape/index.htmlor call Simon at 952/888-4777, Ext. 169. Nine hundred full-time students attend classes in natural health care on the 25-acre campus of Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. CXC Team looks to fill openings, train Olympic-caliber skiers Central Cross-Country (CXC) Skiing announced it has openings on the CXC Ski Team due to its expansion for the 2007-2008 season. CXC Team is a full-time, year-round Olympic Development Program with athlete preparations beginning in May. Athletes must be out of college and committed full time to the program. Athletes will be selected among applicants on May 1 based on USSA points and coach's discretion. Athletes should e-mail yuriy.gusev@cxcskiing.org a brief resume including full name, age, USSA no., mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. The CXC Olympic Development Team includes professional coaching, a monthly training camp structure and direct individual attention. CXC Team members have earned 30 podium finishes at 108 SuperTour events. Caitlin Compton and Laura Valaas finished first and second overall in the 2006-2007 SuperTour. CXC skiers also won the team sprint at US Senior Nationals. Compton and Valaas were named the only non-Olympians named to the US Team at the World Ski Championships in Sapporo, Japan. Laura went on to an unprecedented second-place finish at the U23 World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy. Bryan Cook, Brian Gregg, Matt Liebsch, Garrott Kuzzy and Andre Watt comprise the men's team. These five men frequently finished in the top ten at SuperTour events. Garrott Kuzzy finished third overall on the SuperTour. The objective of the CXC Team is to close the gap between junior and senior athlete's development and earn Olympic Gold by 2014. To make this vision a reality, CXC selects and trains world-class athletes and involves them in regional ski communities. In turn, team members serve as role models and provide ski specific education and motivational support for young athletes throughout the Central Region. CXC, a nonprofit corporation, is recognized by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association as the sole regional organization governing cross-country skiing in the 10 state Central Region of the United States. CXC oversees youth programs, supports the Junior Olympic Qualifying system, Central Collegiate Ski Association, and senior/master skiing and is the Midwest pipeline to the US Ski Team.
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