Race Updates 2008
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______________________________________________________________ This update will highlight this year’s award winners (congratulations!) and provide a few registration details for 2009.
It was a good a thing The Road Killers raced because the next three places came from out of state (yikes!).
The rest of the award-winning teams are as follows (full results can be found by clicking on the below): What Did the Winning Teams Get?!
3rd place winners received (or will soon receive) a Texas boot clock! 2nd place winners received (or will soon receive) a salsa sampler from Jardines (If you are thinking that you might have wished you won something else, then you evidently haven’t tried this salsa. Try it first – then decide. It’s awesome!) 1st place winners receive a frame with the team photo of their choosing! Also, on this photo will be the event name along with their team name and place – First! Finally, overall award winners (most of those teams pictured above) get the frames, pictures, and a Cowboy Round-up from Jardines (salsa and more)! Texas Tough Throwdown Winners We’ve gotten great feedback from the teams that participated in the throwdowns this year. This is a fun way to have some friendly, albeit pointed, competition within the overall race. We anticipate that in a few years this will be a popular aspect of the TIR. The winners of this year’s throwdowns were: The Battling Bloggers of the Texas Republic, HCSS Heavy Haulers, Rick’s Salty Mixed Nuts, and We’re the Hecarwi! Each of these teams will receive $60 in Papa John’s gift cards to have another pizza party where they can relive their TIR glory days. Perhaps they should invite their excellent (though defeated this time) opponents to the party! Other Awards:
Congrats to all of the Inaugural 2008 Texas Independence Relay Award Winners as well as all (like the ultra teams and Dr. Chris Rampacek who completed it solo) who stretched to reach their goal! The official opening of registration will be April 21, 2008. The early registration fee (through October 31) will be $900. The regular fee (November 1 – January 31) will be $1,000. However, returning teams may register early, starting April 1 (no joke). These returning teams will get a $100 refund through April 20 and may request the same team number (with option to upgrade on April 21 if a lower number has not been taken). IN ADDITION TO THAT, we will give the Team Captain a Come and Take It flag! From April 21 onward, returning teams will still get a $50 refund off either the early or regular entry fee, whichever applies. The race weekend will be the first full weekend in March (March 7-8, 2009), pending a couple of final approvals (95%+ certainty). Thanks again for making the first TIR a success! ______________________________________________________________
Team Captains, please inform your teams that they can view and purchase pictures at www.yoursportingimage.com! Also, if you won first place in one of the divisions, everyone on the team is to receive a frame with the picture of your choosing. So, TC's please let us know which picture you would like, and congrats!
We've narrowed the Name list to 5, and the Best Decorated is open to any. You choose the winners! Even though these are particularly prestigious awards, be nice, and don't vote twice. You have through midnight, Wednesday, March 13, to make your selections (no vote on Thursday the 14th will be counted).Click here to read more about it and to place your vote. Please click the below to download results pdf, and thanks for your patience as we sorted everything out. ______________________________________________________________
Thanks so much for the tremendous amount of congrats and generous "thank yous" that you've sent our way (personally, on the message board, and by email). We really appreciate it. Please continue to check back over the next few weeks. We will be tieing up loose ends, like the non-running awards. We will be putting up a lot of great pictures... We hope to build a race report section of the website where your team can have its own page to codify your TIR experience! So send us your story and a picture or two (send your story even if you don't have corresponding pictures)! Finally, in addition to the paper survey, we plan to provide an online version that will be easy to complete. We assure you that these will be highly regarded and used towards enhancing next year's run. The results (click on the picture just above - Congrats Road Killers!) are still pending a few corrections, but the teams near the top are good and the times listed are accurate. We thank you very much for participating in the first TIR - with a special shout out to the team captains for making it happen. We obviously have MANY thank yous to give as the support was excellent. We will do so in detailed fashion in an upcoming update. We've been asked many times when registration will open for 2009. April 21st is the date that the Battle of San Jacinto was won. This year, it will also be the opening of registration for 2009's event. There will never be another inaugural TIR, but let's do up 2009 bigger and better! ______________________________________________________________
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At the Shiner High exchange, sausage wrap lunches (these sausages wrapped in a tortillas have a the mixture of Czech, Bohemian, and Mexican backgrounds - so delicious for everyone!) will be provided to those teams requesting them in advance (see the TCAdmin tab of the Predictor file). The brewery’s gift shop will be open from 11-3PM on Saturday. But, as cool as it is, please do not attempt to make off with their van, OK?!
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Megan Zucaro, Mrs. Texas 2007 (pictured to the right), 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 ______________________________________________________________ None can contest that Sam Houston’s volunteer army 172 years ago was comprised of courageous people who made a big difference. We are proud that today you can easily find the qualities that truly inspire in the Texas Army and Air National Guard, and we are thankful for the sacrifices they make to serve us and to safeguard our freedoms.
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We don’t really see how the name fits.. Aging?.. Raging?? But hey, they can name themselves what they want! ______________________________________________________________
Both are VERY involved in the running community, have great experience, and are fun to hang out with… Though they may not be the swiftest, they’ve been around the block a time or two. Jon has an extensive background in Sports Information, putting that into excellent use for the running community. He’s the Harra VP of Communications, editor of “Footprints” in Inside Texas Running, columnist (“Talking the Talk”) for Runner Triathlete News, the running columnist for the Courier of Montgomery County, and he maintains the Houston Chronicle running blog! If you get to know him, you’ll learn that he has a uncanny memory for names, stats, and facts that would escape everyone else’s memory… Especially about running, and ESPECIALLY within the SE Texas region. Bill ran Boston 1990 and he has used his running experience to invest in others as a Coach (and he is a RRCA certified coach). He is a current coach within the Luke's Locker Beat Program (this picture was taken at Luke’s in The Woodlands – Luke’s is awesome, by the way) and also for Woodlands Fit. Before this, he was a long-time Team in Training coach. He also is a HARRA at-large board member, and The Woodlands Running Club secretary and editor of “Deer Tracks”. One aspect we like about both is that they are fans of all levels of the sport, and they give back to it generously (obviously). Now, though, they can add TIR Team Captains to their running resumes! Jon is captain of The Battling Bloggers of the Texas Republic, a group who has gotten to know each other over the last few years by way of the running blogging scene. Bill will be leading the Texian Road Warriors, comprised of runners who will perhaps have the broadest range of current running ability of any team in the TIR, which is cool. Bill’s team is also running as team # 179 in honor of Jon Blais and the Blazeman Foundation. One aspect of the TIR that has been relatively underused this year (but we believe will become more popular in the future) is the Texas Throwdown. Jon’s team challenged Bill’s team this year, and Bill’s team very quickly and happily responded that they would love to throwdown. So, the bantering and “pressure” has been mounting ever since. The time is nearly at hand in which the question of who has moxie, toughness, and Texas Pride will be answered. The two captains have even heaped more onto the spoils for the victor (which is that the losing captain will have to run a loooonnnggg race next year… so long that it’s a bit of a stretch if you ask me, but I wouldn’t put it past them, either). We think that they could be a touch more creative, though. Perhaps the losing captain should have to wear their cowboy outfit to work, absolutely refusing to take off their hats, and also pulling their “guns” on every passerby! That would be fun… so much so that I am sure the winner would take the day off work just see the other pay up and to also take pictures with which to document and send to us (so we can update all of you on how it all went down). ______________________________________________________________ Thank you, Roberta, for the write-up! However, I didn't really say, "I know east and west Houston great," did I?! If so, I meant to say "I know east and west Houston WELL." (with apologies to Mom and Dad and my 4th grade grammar teacher!)
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When you finish, not only will see the monument from a new perspective, but you’ll see it waiting for you, fully decked out. You’ll hear John Hammarley announce your finish and then you’ll be awarded your well-earned medals after crossing the finish line. Euphoria will take over partly because you’ll be pleased with you and your team’s accomplishment, but also because you’ll be exceedingly happy that you won’t have to run any more. Knowing you’ve made some good memories is satisfying, too. But, you’ll likely be hungry, so we’re bringing in Papa John’s pizza for you. Every team will get 4 large pizzas, a candy bar or some cookies, and a drink! (Extra pizzas will be $10 each.) Then, in the afternoon, you’ll be treated to a Rodney Hayden performance (see below) after a short, but very sweet awards ceremony. So, make plans to stay awhile and take it all in. Celebrate as other teams finish the Inaugural Texas Independence Relay, just like you just did! ______________________________________________________________
But Hayden, then 20, an age where most young Americans haven’t yet graduated from college, was being told that he was “too country for Nashville.” Ah… got it… that must like being told that you’re “too Texan”, or “too fit for the TIR” Believe us, we know that there’s no such thing. And we wouldn’t dare consider delivering any part of our post-race festivities that weren’t stamped with the Lone Star State. After returning from that awakening moment in Nasvhille and with the record label support and backing of Texas country music favorite – and friend - Robert Earl Keen, Hayden's debut CD, “The Real Thing,” in 2002, Dale Martin of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung (2/21/07) called Hayden “a virtual human jukebox who can pull countless classic country tunes from his hat or entertain the crowd with one of the many great original songs he’s written throughout the years.” Those songwriting talents have been highlighted on his third CD, and almost appropriately named for the TIR, “Down The Road”, which was released last spring on his own Palomino Records label, as he wrote or co-wrote all 11 tracks. Asked by the San Antonio Express News last year (9/05/07) to describe his music, Hayden explained, “"It's somewhere between traditional country and guys like Robert Earl Keen and Randy Rogers. “We’re not really as rocking as most bands are but we can crank it up a little, too,” he added with a smile. Billboard Magazine once put it more bluntly about Hayden, “For anyone who may be vague on the subject, this is country music.”
But before he plays inside Houston’s Astrodome, the once-labeled Seventh Wonder of the World which has hosted musical acts from George Jones to George Strait, he’ll make a visit to play at one of Texas’ largest landmarks and the world’s tallest war memorial. Playing where Texas’ Independence was won puts a little extra special shine on any Texas country music artist’s resume. So on Sunday afternoon, March 2, as teams are crossing the finish line at the San Jacinto Monument, having blazed their own paths of collective independence across southeast Texas, Rodney Hayden – and his band -- will be gearing up to deliver his brand of country music that has its roots deep in the heart of Texas. And while runners will have proved “How Texas Is Run!”, Rodney will show fellow runners “How Texas Is Sung!”
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Says Karen Kirk of west richland, washington, “Ever since I can remember our family trips to Weimar Texas always included a trip to Kaspers Meat Market. My father Eugene Polk was born in Weimar November 11, 1917. For his 90th birthday I had a Bar B'Que and used BD's Blue Ribbon Special Blend Meat Rub from Kaspers. Well, of course they do, Karen. This is Texas – not washington. ______________________________________________________________
In Schulenburg, beginning in the evening of March 1st , they will have a Crawfish Festival with music, dancing, and, of course, a crawfish eating contest! We’ve never been to a Crawfish Festival, but we’re looking forward to it. The friendly folks there also plan on giving the finishers of leg 11 (that finishes in downtown Schulenburg) a small gift to say thanks for visiting and go get ‘em all the way to the monument! ______________________________________________________________
Pictured below is either Team Artichoke or Team Cowpoke on Jardine’s beautiful campus with fearless Team Captain Trail Boss Danny Allen (in the cowboy hat and good lookin’ shirt)! From Left to Right - Ramiro Garcia, Danny Allen, Jessica Galloway, Dave Skowron, Susan Wilder, and Mike Chavez. Lead longhorn steer hiding in the background. Not pictured: Night Wrangler - Amber Marcella; Flank Runners - Belinda Webb, Dane Hortsman, and Debbie Dalrymple; Drag Runners - Erin Foster, Isabel De La Garza, Jason Singhurst, John Niakaros, and Katie Yowler; Hoodlum – Kyle Brown; Cookie - Rob Slimp; and Lead Runners - Robert Kirby, Robert Ward, and Travis Rowley ______________________________________________________________ The City of Fort Worth will be well represented at the TIR by the Cowtown Corredores! ______________________________________________________________ But, both win our respect! (Our comments are in red.)
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When we ran the Pre-TIR run, we found a couple of areas that made for slower going because of traffic lights, and we also had this happen at another relay we’ve run. Maybe this is to be expected, but we felt better could be done. So, there will be over 80 police officers in Houston and surrounding areas directing traffic at all of the intersections with traffic lights (after 6AM) in order for you can have smooth run! This effort is led by Rory Lakind of the HPD. Pictured below is the Gonzales Police Department standing at the TIR Start Line in front of the Memorial Museum. Tim Crow, standing in the center, has been instrumental in organizing how the start will work. We wish that we had pictures of all the officers throughout the course who will be increasing their patrol for your safety. Finally, we even have officers who will be amongst you running the race! You'll be able recognize them as they'll be the ones running with the enormous flashlights and packing heat... just kidding... we hope. We’ve heard that the Dallas PD may be entering a team. The Austin PD has a team captained by Tyson McGowan. And, finally, the LAPD (pictured below left to right bottom row: Jim Stepan, Emanuel Sanchez, John Flores, and Chris Andrade; top row: Bryan Dameworth and TIR Team Captain Chuck Foote) will be representing the very fine city of Los Angeles! Of course, we mean fine as in ok. In all seriousness, we appreciate the help for the TIR and we’re glad you’re running it, but we thank you much more for what you do on a daily basis… even those of you from out West. ______________________________________________________________
The finisher’s medal is a cast iron star in a ring that has a diameter of 3.25 inches. It has a nice heft to it as you can see… weighing in at just over 21lbs. You gotta be careful while putting it on, and we’ve considered including a special medal clause in our liability waiver. (Actually, we’re kidding… It actually weighs .71lbs. Most other medals weigh between .07 to .2lbs.) Pictured beneath is the TIR medal next to a very nice medal we received after completing another relay last summer. Below are all three of the TIR medals. The solo medals are quite big, BUT the biggest and heaviest medals will be given to the members of the team coming from furthest away. These were once yard decorations, and they’re our way of trying to give those people just a little slice of Heaven to take back home wherever it is they live. (As an aside, we’ve noticed there are a number of you from across the pond that frequently look in to see what’s going on with the TIR. Come on over! We know that there would be MANY teams who would LOVE to kick some European hiney!) ______________________________________________________________
Well, it’s been an excellent week for my race director friends, Jay and Joy. First, they ordered a bunch of 28 inch cones that were dropped off in huge stacks on their driveway. They’re heavy, but I can lift ‘em. Anyway, it looked like they were going to try to take over the neighborhood with their massive stockpile of large orange cones that sat in front of their garage. Joy quickly recognized early the next morning that many of the cones were gone, and Jay was so very happy to be awakened with such good news because he is such a chipper morning riser. The good thing is that over the course of the morning, they were able to locate all of their cones. The less-than-great thing is that neighbors personally let Jay and Joy know that they were unhappy because they “could not find a way to their home with the roads being blocked”. Awesome. A dual-victim prank… Again, not that I advocate such behavior. Then, they received some… actually, a lot… of medal ribbons, and somehow the people doing the ribbons did not put the correct mileage on it (putting 207 instead of 203). I said to Jay a long time ago, “Hey chief, if they’re not from Texas, do you think you can really trust them?” Evidently, my point was lost on him. Perhaps he found it confusing since I am not from Texas and can be trusted like none other. Anyway, the promotional product business conceded the error was all theirs, but they unfortunately do not think they can send new corrected ones out in time as the country (yet another place that’s not Texas) they get their fabric from is in the midst of celebrating the New Year. I don’t know, but the way a calendar works does not seem overly complex to me, but hey, I’m just an NFL quarterback… one of the best ever. Then again, perhaps those peoples just know how to seriously party. So, now Jay and Joy are considering just leaving it at 207 miles, using a black Sharpie pen to transform the 7s into a slightly tall 4s or somewhat squared-off 3s, or giving each team a Sharpie with which to fix it. You runners like Jay and Joy are such odd birds. I say, just run a few wind-sprints before and afterwards to make it 207. What’s a few more miles… I mean, to you guys. My point is that being a race director is little bit like being an NFL quarterback. You don’t need rock hard abs, a rocket arm, or super-sharp intellect. You neither get the rabid fans nor the big bucks (and you shouldn’t… notice I said “a little bit like”... like Jay and Joy, for example). But, the job is not always for the faint of heart. Do you have it in you? (All kidding aside, the stories above are 100% true! If you know us, you know that the incorrect mileage on the medal ribbon just about kills us. If you find it particularly irksome too, please provide us with your name and mailing address by the end of March, and we’ll send you a corrected ribbon as soon as we can along with our apologies for the mental distress caused. We understand... The course is 203.67 miles, NOT 207 miles.) ______________________________________________________________ Because LARABAR wants you to have great tasting nutritious food, they will be providing it!
So, if you think you could use an extra runner, please contact these runners or contact us! If you currently have half a team and would like to complete the other half, post that on the message board. These special agents won’t be available long as we will be matching them up with each other soon. ______________________________________________________________ It’s been appalling how few of you have any regard whatsoever for personal hygiene! The verdict is in… You’re gross. Despite the overwhelming apathy you all have demonstrated, the caring and hospitable people in Wallis have decided that it would be in your best interest to take them up on their offer to use the shower facilities at their school (a nominal donation to shower and bunk at the school is encouraged). We know some of you are into the history. That’s awesome! Please don’t feel like you have to be 100% true to the 1830s lifestyle in order to prove it, though! The following is what Dr. Seuss would write if he were a bystander in Wallis in the wee early morning hours and witnessed runners and teams NOT using the facilities provided…
If you live in Godforsaken parts and do other relays, the TIR still loves you and would like to offer these good deals as gesture of goodwill. Here are other CV#s to score good deals at any Hertz location at the following places and times: CV# 022Q3958 – Portland, OR from 8/9 to 9/7/2008 (HTC Pdf)
______________________________________________________________ On Saturday, March 1, Flatonia will be a happening place as teams arrive at Exchange 9 in the charming downtown! First, there will be live music provided during the day. In addition to that, there will be a market featuring local vendors’ and artisans’ crafts, woodworking, unique gifts, jewelry, and home décor! Finally, one thing that Flatonia will be holding for the TIR’s benefit is a REAL, not-some-chintzy-office-party (no offense, but we know this applies to just about all of you), Chili Cook-off! In case you weren’t aware, one of Texas’s largest and most competitive cook-offs occurs every year at the Czhilispiel (Flatonia’s wonderful festival in October). These guys know how to do it! Thanks for welcoming us, Flatonia!
Don’t try to understand – just love ‘em, anyway!
It’s not confirmed, but Heidi Tavernetti of (sigh) California may be doing the TIR with Kim Budzik, a Texan (and maybe another person). As you can imagine, we’re not sure what we think about that.
We’ve had other people (some fairly mysterious, actually) let us know that they’re interested in running the TIR either solo or on a very small team. They’re probably joking around, thinking it’s hilarious that we actually took them seriously for something as impossible as that! To be sure, the TIR is primarily a team event for groups of 8-12. But, if you think you may be interested in a small team, let us know. We do have discounted prices for teams of 4 or less that are in line with the per/person cost of a regular team. Also, would one of you experienced ultra runners out there be interested in being our ultra runner coordinator? We would really appreciate it. This has been a long update, but we hope that you’ve found these remarkable runners’ accomplishments and ambitions as intriguing and incredible as we do. While we believe all the teams finishing the TIR will embody Texas spirit, we certainly feel that way towards these individuals as well. Out on the course, they will be wearing larger than normal bibs. When you see them, shout a word of encouragement and share some food! ______________________________________________________________ At the back of the maps is a Leg Summary Sheet that contains all of the leg distances, their relative difficulty rankings, and their brief descriptions all in one place. We know many of you captains have been wanting this! Finally, a copy of the TIR Rules follows the leg summary. Since we believe you’ll find this information useful, we’re providing each team with two copies of this packet (maps, leg summary, and the rules) at check-in.
Now go and make good on all of those resolutions, ESPECIALLY the TIR ones! ______________________________________________________________ From March 19 – 26, 1836, Sam Houston camped with his men on the east bank of the Colorado River in Columbus. It was a crucial time for them… and a crucial time for Texas. Columbus must have been a great place to be back then, too. Columbus has a wonderful downtown just 1 mile north of I-10 and Hwy 71, and this is where Exchange 16 is going to be located! Not only is Columbus greeting TIR’ers with live music, but they also will be bringing home the leg 16 runners with a spotlight! Indeed, spotlights are used to let people know where the action’s at, and that certainly will be the case at this point in the TIR. ______________________________________________________________ Several months ago, we were informed by the Simonton Chamber of Commerce that the best place to park for Exchange 25 would be at the Simonton Community Church. Right across the from the church’s parking area, where TIR exchanges typically are located, is a residence. Although this home has a large front yard, we were not sure what the owner would think about having an exchange directly in front of their house. TIR teams will be reaching this location between 1:30-5:30 AM on Sunday morning, March 2. They were delighted to let us use their land.
Jimmie Florence and her husband, Frank, may not stay up that late to personally greet you into exchange 25 in their front yard. And, since you will have your task at hand, you unfortunately won’t be able to view the Texas paintings and photos that they warmly showed us. We hope that you feel in some small way, though, the graciousness they’ve shown us - that extends to you. With a history like that, perhaps the location of Exchange 25 is meant to be. ______________________________________________________________ After having spent time in a few of their stores, we can attest that they have it all! They have all the best accessories, shoes, and apparel for running, fitness, walking, and mutli-sport activities. Complimenting their inventory, they are friendly subject matter experts who enjoy giving exceptional service. We’ve been to many stores across the US, and Luke’s is THE running store... just a great place to be!! Finally, beyond providing wonderful stores, an aspect that we REALLY appreciate about Luke’s is how much they give back to the fitness community. They encourage and motivate others (all levels, from beginner to elite) towards their goals through top-notch classes and training programs. Obviously, they are not strangers to extending a helping hand, just like they are doing in a significant way with the TIR. Thanks Luke’s!!! ______________________________________________________________ Team #60, the Sun City Striders, is captained by Keith Mason (farthest to the left in white), who ran the Dallas White Rock Marathon in 5:02 this past weekend – Congrats, Keith! These guys are indeed a wily bunch, and we can’t wait to see how they’ll do and how much fun they’ll have at the TIR! We hope it’s hot enough for them! ______________________________________________________________ Read our recommendations and make your reservations here!
______________________________________________________________ Welcome to the TIR, ladies… and you, too, Jesse! No wonder Springfield is so jealous. ______________________________________________________________ Our first inclination was to not have a cap at all, but after further consideration as well as advice from a significant (yet to be named) sponsor, it’s clear that a cap can really help with planning. We were surprised by the number of teams that registered in the last few days of early registration, and that provided the last impetus towards the decision to cap the TIR. The roads can handle many more teams than 350, so this cap could be lifted in subsequent years. But, because we want to do all we can to provide the best experience possible, the cap this year is in place to ensure we keep the number manageable. For a first year event, where to set the cap is a tough question. We consulted with the group who has the most experience with starting long distance relays, and based on their experience and estimates, the 2008 TIR will most likely land in the range of 300-400 teams. That sounds like a lot, but after the early registration push, the number of teams we know that plan on registering, the trends we’re seeing on the website, and the typical registration trends for events in general, we can see how this could happen.
When setting up the course, we felt that near the Borden Country Store would be a good place for an exchange, but we didn’t think that the town would be too interested in helping out. Well… we should have known better. People with Texas-sized hearts find ways to help and do great things even when their number may be relatively small. So, Borden will be welcoming relayers with a nice area to congregate in front of the Borden Country Store and Saloon (have you ever been to a real saloon?) right across from Exchange 14. Live music will fill the air, and they plan to have other surprises, too! When we would see the Borden sign, the first thing we would think of is the chocolate milk we all used to have in grade school (in fact, even now a chocolate milk sounds good!). Well, it just so happens that this town of Borden and the Borden that makes milk products are closely related – both were founded by Gail Borden. Also, Elsie, the main spokesperson (er… spokesanimal?) for Borden, lived in the town of Borden before she hit the bigtime. ______________________________________________________________ Read this report to see what we think of the course, helpful hints to run the race, and, of course, a few pictures. ______________________________________________________________ As though the nighttime pursuit of others wearing the blinking lights is not unique and fun enough, Wallis feels that you can’t have this many people meeting up in their town at this time of night and NOT have a party! So, there will be live music to add to the ambiance as well as other celebratory fixin’s – it’ll be a rave! We’re currently working with Wallis to see what can be done to provide short-term accommodations that would be perfect for the relay. We’ll know by mid-December, so please hold off just a bit longer on making the sleeping arrangements for Saturday night.
______________________________________________________________ Isham says, “We are slow, but determined, since our gray hairs are starting to show.” We think it's likely they'll show young whipper-snapper teams a thing or two. TIR Team Roster (PDF)
Gonzales will let you know right away that when you’re doing the TIR, you’re embarking on something special. Saturday morning, they’ll be providing Gonzales Breakfast Tacos to give you one last bit of sustenance before you commence. The starting line immediately in front of the Memorial Museum (which houses the Come and Take It Cannon) will be like none you’ve ever seen. A giant Texas flag will serve as the backdrop for each team’s beginning, and flags will line the way to the first turn onto St. Lawrence St. Multiple times each hour, teams will be sent on their journey by a cannon’s blast!
Make no mistake, though, despite all of this, the main attraction in Gonzales on March 1 will be you! All day long, teams will be making the ceremonial loop around town before taking off for the journey ahead. When you’re there, a special shirt won’t be required for people to know exactly what you’re doing. Gonzales will make the first of several unforgettable memories you’ll attain during the course of the weekend. Nearly half of all the teams will be starting by 9:30 AM (and several will be at the crack of dawn, if not slightly earlier, at 6AM). Since it is paramount that you’re all set to go at your team’s appointed time, and since you will want some time to see at least a little bit of Gonzales, they are kindly accommodating to those who wish to make a Friday (or earlier) arrival. Early Packet Pick-up will be available on Friday, February 29th, and they will be holding a pasta dinner at 6:30PM with Coach John Hadd as the speaker afterward. The dinner requires a reservation (RSVP to admin@TexasIndependenceRelay.com) and the cost is $10 (which will go towards renovations for Memorial Museum… we personally thought they should charge more, but they just wouldn’t have it (smile)… so please do consider that when paying). To keep the length of this update reasonable, we won’t at this time go into the many reasons why an early Friday arrival in Gonzales for the TIR is the best plan. Below is a listing of places to stay in Gonzales. Other great choices for accommodations are located in Shiner, Moulton, Flatonia, and Schulenburg – all just a short country-drive away. Gonzales Accommodations: Almaron Place - (512) 557-4070 Properties: Hotels:
______________________________________________________________ October 18, 2007 - Voice Your Choice Continues October 10, 2007 - Hadd to be Guest Speaker at the TIR! We are confident that many of you will be just as excited as we are about this news, while others could be excused for never having heard of the guy. For those in the latter category, a quick google of “Hadd + Lactate Threshold”, will let you see the significant impact on the endurance exercise community Hadd established with only a few forum threads on the "world famous" running website, Letsrun.com. So far Hadd has been known only in cyberspace – until the TIR, that is (and believe-u-me, it took some serious persuasion to get past his low-key nature, but - hey! - we are nothing if not persistent when we lock onto a good idea). We do not think we could better express the prevailing sentiment towards Hadd than Herm Nieuwendaal of ElectricBlues.com, who wrote in his blog: “In an extremely long letsrun.com message thread from March 2003, Hadd (an alias) explained his philosophies on endurance base training in painstaking detail. As an injury rehab program, I began a modified version of Hadd's approach in July 2005 (way fewer miles and more easy/off days). Despite using a heavily watered down version, over the next four months I experienced significant improvements in my conditioning and some of the best, most enjoyable running since reviving my commitment to training two years ago. I'm sold on Hadd's approach, and anxious to begin a more complete implementation, which I plan to do early Summer 2006. Mr. Hadd, if you're out there and you run across this page, please drop me a line at herm@electricblues.com. I'd sure like to thank you personally for sharing your approach to distance training! 02/18/07 - With the completion of my Boston Qualifying 3:41:48, I'll close this ongoing article. You can decide for yourself if you'd be happy with the results I've reported. I am, and I plan to continue the Hadd style of training.” ______________________________________________________________ October 8, 2007 - Visiting Fort Bend Fit October 8, 2007 - Cyberspace, the New Frontier! September 24, 2007 - Come & Taste It Advertisement
Experience the delicious flavor of Texas! See what Texas Pride is is all about as you journey over Texas' countryside, visit our welcoming historic towns, and traverse the state's largest city en route to completing the 207 mile course with your friends. It will be a weekend to remember. Come and taste it. Come and take it. And, see how Texas is run! Today we sent this ad out to a good number of people across the US. We're hoping that it conveys how the numerous small towns along the route (which are awesome) are really getting ready to welcome TIR runners into their towns. We so excited with how things are developing and simply can't wait to share with you what the towns have in store for you - They're simply going to make it difficult for you to pull yourself away (much like our daughter and the ice cream)! ______________________________________________________________ September 17, 2007 - Yanks will be amidst us at the TIR!
Ah… just kidding! It has been our pleasure to correspond with Nathan and the team. We do welcome them to Texas (seriously) and look forward to seeing them having a good time on March 1-2, 2008. ______________________________________________________________ September 8, 2007 - How Relay-Savvy Is Your Neighborhood? In planning for the TIR, we've gained a thorough understanding of website metrics that tell us quite a bit about who visits the site. It's not totally anonymous, you know. For example, as a result of you reading this right now, we now know your gender, your age and weight (within +- 5%), whether you're right or left handed, the color of hair dye you use (if any), all about your tattoos, etc. etc. OK... we really don't know any of those things! But, we DO know the general area visitors come from, and for the purposes of this update, that is how we are determining which continents, states, and cities are Relay-Savvy. Of the 7 continents, we have only reached 6 thus far. We have not yet had ANY visitors from Antarctica - a thoroughly devastating and disappointing result of our marketing efforts. If anyone knows an Antarctican who runs, please forward our link to them! We've reached all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the soon to be annexed 51st state, Canada. Unsurprisingly, over 2/3rds of all the visitors to this website hail from the GREAT state of Texas! The map below displays where US visitors are coming from on a percentage basis (excluding Texas). This map of Texas shows where visitors are coming from within our exceptional state!
We would like to see YOUR area achieve a greater degree of relay acumen. So, go ahead and email our link to everyone you know - no matter where they live! August 29, 2007 - Hood-to-Coast 2007
______________________________________________________________ August 20, 2007 - Texas Treasures
Recently, we met with 25 civic leaders and representatives from the towns you’ll run through on the first day of the TIR (Gonzales, Shiner, Moulton, Flatonia, Schulenburg, Weimar, and Columbus), and in true form, they look forward to welcoming you! Team #8, the Runaway Scrapers (the “cruising cousins” of the Runaway Scrapers pictured from left to right below are Minnie Worthy, Wendy Rollins, and Shae Pauler), are not only running the TIR, they grew up in Schulenburg! We were pleased to have their perspective as a TIR team shared at the meeting as well. We had a great time!
Several of the towns have annual festivals (see links below) that are unique, very fun, and great venues in which to become better acquainted with Texas Treasures. If you haven’t yet had the good fortune of visiting these towns, you’re missing out – no doubt about it! Gonzales’ Come and Take It Festival (First weekend in October) Shiner’s Half Moon Holidays (First Saturday in July) Moulton’s Town and Country Jamboree (4th weekend in July) Flatonia’s Czhilispiel (4th full weekend in October) Schulenburg’s Festival (First Weekend in August) Weimar’s Oktoberfest (3rd Saturday in October) Colorado County Fair in Columbus (starts on the 2nd Thursday of September) Wallis’ Fine Rides Autofest (First Saturday in October) ______________________________________________________________ August 14, 2007 - HCSS is Texas Tough
______________________________________________________________ August 5, 2007 - Voice Your Choice!
This decision is all yours because the shirts’ color will be determined by a democratic vote. The colors to vote for are: Black, Tomato, Gold, Agave Blue, White, and Steel. Go to our message board to Voice Your Choice! ______________________________________________________________ July 24, 2007
July 10, 2007 The TIR handbook is now available! Race Handbook (PDF) June 25, 2007 - TIR Team Highlight On Monday evening, Katie Brown, a 4th grade teacher in the Houston area (Shadowbriar Elementary), barely turned in her team's assignment on time... For extra credit, that is! Though she did not quite have all of the spots on her team completely spoken for, she went ahead and registered, and in doing so took the last of the 50 discounted spots. The excellent response to the TIR, demonstrated by the 50 teams that have signed up from all over Texas (and beyond), is exciting! So, thanks Ms. Brown (and team) for claiming the last deep-discounted spot. Without a doubt, we think every student in Texas should have a teacher as cool as you! ______________________________________________________________ June 11, 2007 - TIR Team Highlight
We're looking to write more about The Woodlands Running Club (TWRC) in a future update. Though they may not be the largest club in terms of membership (180), by many other measures, they come up HUGE! (Ed note: Also pictured with Gary is his friend and fellow 50-stater, Larry Lichnovsky, to the far left, and a fellow named Jared Fogle, in the Subway shirt. This picture was taken after the Eugene OR Marathon this year. Jared did not run, but he was a good sport, evidenced by his willingness to hold down the fort at the bar until the others could join him.) ______________________________________________________________ June 4, 2007 Take a look at our new Interactive Course Map! Below is part of an email we sent out that is a spoof of those enlightening magazine quizzes!
______________________________________________________________ May 20, 2007 The TIR would like to thank Doug McBee Jr. (Race Director of the Beach to Bay Marathon Relay), the Corpus Christi Road Runners, and the town of Corpus Christi for making us feel so welcomed over the weekend!
Perhaps you would like to pin some of these postcards up on the bulletin board at the gym you frequent, give some to some potential team recruits, or would just like to have a few for whatever reason. I myself have used the oh-so-subtle technique of "accidentally" leaving a race flyer in some inconspicuous place for my spouse to find (like on the fridge... by the handle... maybe even partially obscurring one of the children's latest masterpieces, for example). That way, when they bring it up, it is almost as if it is THEIR idea. It could work! Try it! Anyway, we will gladly send some to you. Just contact us by filling out the form at the bottom of this page to let us know where to send them! ______________________________________________________________ May 12, 2007 - TIR Team Highlight
And, oh yeah, if you run, you're absolutely invited to his party... What's a couple of hundred miles amongst friends!? ______________________________________________________________ April 26, 2007
Take a look at their site – www.SockGuy.com, and thanks, SockGuy, for teaming up with The Texas Independence Relay (and for making us look smart in front of Mom-In-Law)! ______________________________________________________________ April 15, 2007
______________________________________________________________ April 5, 2007 The race announcer for the TIR has been finalized! John Hammarley has been "The Voice of Hood-to-Coast " - a title well-earned since he has been involved with the "Grand-Daddy" of long relays for over 20 years (nearly all of them as the race announcer)! He is well-known for his enthusiasm and energetic encouragement, and he brings a wealth of experience to our team! Thanks for contacting us, John. We're very pleased to have you as our announcer. March 20, 2007 Familiarize yourself with our new Message Board! The one we had previously was a bit kludgy, but this one is built for speed. We anticipate that Q&A's will make a majority of the posts for awhile, but we look forward to when you guys use it to give a shout out to encourage your team or to exchange a little fun banter with your rivals! March 10, 2007 Hey! We made the news! First, Jon Walk, the running blogger for the Houston Chronicle (RunHouston Blog) , a freelance writer for several publications, and one of the most active people in the Houston running scene had this to say in the Conroe Courier - Jon Walk Article Then, a couple of days later, Roberta MacInnis, columnist for the Houston Chronicle, submitted the following piece in the Chronicle! Running Notebook: Event Salutes Texas History In April we are slated to be in the Impact Newspaper (for North Metro-Austin communities). Word about the Texas Independence Relay continues to spread! March 3, 2007
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The 2nd overall team to finish (captained by Chuck Foote and also a mixed team), in the fine time of 24 hours and 33 minutes, was the Los Angeles Police Department.
The team that everyone knew as the new york team was led by Nathan Schiller and took 3rd overall (first of all the men’s categories in 24:36)....BYAHHH!!!
The women’s team from colorado, The Colorado Running Company, brazenly wore shirts that read “You’ve been CHICKED” on the back. They must have known what they were doing as they finished 4th overall in 25:16! This team was led by Marilyn Goodloe.
Finally, the first corporate team, Fortitudine Vincimus, represented Accenture and was led by Greg Elston. This crew won a thrilling a race, taking the top overall corporate spot by less than a minute in 28:58.
With all due respect to the many races that award plaques or trophies (in Texas, they’re usually made of limestone, sometimes made as a paperweight or bookends), we have friends who, while appreciating the thought behind these awards, have accumulated a number of them. They are nice for a month or two, but they inevitably end up in the bottom of some box in the attic. From then on, it’s a very tough call on what to do with them! They look nice and you don’t want to chunk them in the trash, but what else will you do with them? They usually stay in the attic only to force the rethinking of this decision a year later. It’s from this perspective that we decided upon the awards. We spent a long time choosing the TIR awards and we’re very pleased with them! We hope you are, too.
Branch T. Archer (pictured to the left) was present at the Battle of Gonzales, marking the beginning of the Texas Revolution on October 2, 1835. 
We are pleased that there will be teams representing Texas Military Forces out on the TIR course on March 1 & 2! Colonel Richard Mihalik will be leading a team from Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio. The Base trains the world's finest airmen and is able to deploy combat-ready fighters as needed. Essentially, These gentlemen are the real life versions of what Cruise and others attempted to depicted in Top Gun. 
Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of you by way of the TIR, and that’s been awesome for us! The two fellows above, Jon Walk (left) and Bill Dwyer (right), are definitely in that camp.
You didn’t think you would cover over 200 miles and then just turn around and go home did you?! That would be crazy!! You need to soak in some of that newly deserved glory – no question about it. 
Weimar is famous for Kasper's sausage, which has drawn a crowd every Saturday to Kasper's Meat Market in downtown Weimar, a mere block away from Exchange 13. This local treasure will be available to you for only $7.50 (with chips and a drink) on a first come first serve basis until they’re all gone! In addition to this, Weimar is going to have a DJ playing tunes – what’s not to like about that!? 
When I first used the special rub from Kaspers it brought tears to my eyes when my Dad said I can taste some of my home! Every year that we go to Texas we stop into Kaspers and send home some beef jerky and we buy sausage and carry it onto the plane for our return home. For my family and friends here in Washington who haven't had the pleasure of seeing (or tasting) Kaspers for themselves I always feel like I bring a piece of Texas home with me to share. There is no other place even remotely like it here in Washington State. They have the most outstanding quality of meats, and I can also say they have some great atmosphere.” 
We’ve had the privilege of meeting many of the police officers playing a critical role in the TIR. They’re great men and women, and I hope we are generous with our thank you’s on race day (and not just for the help they’re giving for this event)!
We’re pleased with the VERY positive feedback we've received regarding the TIR’s finisher’s medal. Many people at the White Rock and Houston Marathon expos inquired whether or not everyone on the team gets a medal… and every finisher does! We’re not aware of a bigger medal, and if there is, we’re confident there are none heavier. Could a Texas Independence Relay that’s 200+ miles have a weak medal? That would just be plain wrong. So, we simply did the best we could to provide something appropriate. 
Well, it just so happened that the neighbor kids had a get together that very evening, and the temptation was just too great. In the middle of the night, they decided to block off the main roads of the subdivision with the plentiful new cones they had access to. Hey, if I were to think it’s slightly funny (not that I do, Joy, because it most certainly was thievery), that wouldn’t automatically make me a bad person. 
Subsequently, Jay and Joy expect to receive a nasty-gram from the neighborhood homeowner’s association soon, but they say they’re ready for the real cone wars to begin (after the relay is over, of course). 
When people think of free agents, they often think of free agent busts, like how the Colorado Rockies awarded Mike Hampton (pictured right) a deal of $121 Million dollars over 8 years after which he subsequently won 21 and lost 28 games for the Rockies with a 5.75 ERA before they paid Florida (and then the Braves) to take him. 
Believe it or not, it wasn’t long before we had two fellows let us know that they would like to attempt the 200+ mile course SOLO. That’s right… they wished to enter a team of one person. An “I’ll let my right foot take the next step while my left gets a short break” sort of thing. Amazing. Since then, a woman from the Dallas area has also decided she is willing to give it a go (but we need to find a roadie – this is a GREAT opportunity for someone looking to learn more about ultra running). There is a guy from the Houston area who is hoping to find another to be a teammate on a 2-person team, and a couple of women who are rumored to be doing it (but one is from California… are we allowing a team of 2 in which one is from Texas and one is from over there?!). Finally, we even have a husband and wife team signed up. 
Scott Eppelman from Coppell, TX, was the first solo-er to commit. Many of you may have heard of Scott previously even though he is not one to toot his own horn. He simply has been at the long distance running for a while now and has done enough 100 milers that for him, they almost sound ho hum. That’s ludicrous! He has represented Texas and the US in ultra-distance competitions and even has had a Guinness World Record to his credit. Despite all of this, the place you’ve most likely heard of Scott is when you have read his solid pieces in Inside Texas Running as he has been a longtime and consistent contributor to the magazine. (As an aside, if you haven’t read his December column, you should… An excellent topic he writes about… cough.. the TIR.. cough (smile).) We really like the picture of Scott to the left. It’s from the Hardrock Hundred in Colorado. Look at the pretty view with hills covered with grass with some wildflowers! Who wouldn’t enjoy running that for a few miles?!
Dr. Chris Rampacek doesn’t get much more… hmm, how do we say this… normal. Oh, he seems like it when you talk to him (just like all of ‘em), but when you hear about the stuff he’s doing despite undergoing TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT surgeries, you don’t even recognize that you’re shaking your head – it’s just a natural reaction. As of last year, he was planning on doing the TIR solo, the Badwater Double (which I guess make sense if you’ve done the regular version 3 times already like he has), and the Fournace Creek 508-mile bike race (psht… 508 miles is only like cycling from Houston to San Antonio… and then to continuing on to Dallas.) Dr. Rampacek has mentioned that he’d like to prove that hip replacement patients can undertake and complete outstanding adventures with proper training and persistence. Ha! By the way he has driven that point home and continues to do so, we can only surmise that some MUST be a little slow on the uptake. Dr. Rampacek is also a coach, and like Scott, he also writes a column – the monthly On The Run article in Houston’s Health & Fitness Sports Magazine. Treat yourself to his most recent article 
Rochelle Frazeur of Coppell, Texas (no relation to Scott… someone check the water up there!) is also looking to go the whole distance. Why not… she already did “Tom’s Run” a smaller 200 mile relay in Maryland last summer. Says Frazeur, “You hit a wall, and you know in a couple miles, this will be over, and you'll be fine. That's what I love about ultra running. It so prepares you for life." Rochelle’s story of overcoming difficult life challenges was recently featured in a Debbie Fetterman piece in the Dallas Morning News that you can read 
Bob Botto is the team captain of ExxonMobil’s Track and Field Team, but is better known for churning out the laps and raising money at the Relay of Life for the American Cancer Society every year. This past year, he ran 70 miles in 15 hours (we kind of feel for the poor suckers who unknowingly sponsored him for $5 a mile… but at least it’s for a great cause!). Bob has run the Heartland 100 and is aiming to do the Rocky Raccoon 100 in early Feb. He would like to find someone to team up with him to have a 2-person team. Interested? Let us know. Of all the ultra people we’ve spoken with, Bob may have the best grip on reality as he says, “I hope to find another nut to do this with.” There… someone finally admits it! 
Finally, this duo pictured in front of the Parthenon in Athens, Steve Holehan and Parvaneh Moayedi, will be the first married couple to attempt the TIR. We found this comment from Steve humorous: “Parvaneh has completed 119 marathons while I have only done 115”. Goodness, Steve, you ARE a slacker AND a scrub (smile)! They’ve done all 50 states and are on their second round. They’re also making progress on all 7 continents, but most importantly, they haven’t neglected being home as they’ve finished over 40 marathons in Texas. 
It turns out that the owner of the residence, Jimmie Florence Wootten, is a sixth generation descendent of Green DeWitt. In 1825, Empresario DeWitt established his colony adjacent to his good friend’s settlement (Stephen F. Austin). The capital of DeWitt’s Colony, Gonzales, was also found in 1825. DeWitt passed in the spring of 1835 after having contracted cholera, so he did not play a personal role in the Battle of Gonzales, the first skirmish of the Texas Revolution. However, it was his wife, Sarah DeWitt, and daughter, Naomi, who fashioned the “Come and Take It” flag out of Naomi’s wedding dress that colonists readily adopted as their battle flag. It was also the men from DeWitt’s Colony who bravely answered Colonel Travis’s call for help to defend the Alamo. 
Diane Golden, founder and owner of 
Why 346? We decided to honor one of the best all time United States distance runners (he MUST have some Texas blood in him). Up until this past summer, Alan Webb has always been an up-and-coming rising star, but his ’07 outdoor track campaign took him to a new level. He won big races in exciting fashion, establishing himself amongst the best in the world (which is good timing as the Olympics are coming up)! The highlight of the season was that he set a new American time in the mile, besting Steve Scott’s 25 year-old record, with the time of 3:46 (it was 3:46.91, but like your marathon time, you get to round your mile time down). Only 7 others have run a mile faster EVER! Alan is just a few ticks away from the world record, and he says he’s not done! For this, the Texas Independence Relay would like to congratulate Alan by giving him a Texas Independence Relay Honorary Texan award and wish him the best as he moves forward.
On the last weekend of October a ragtag bunch of 8 of us set off to run the TIR course. The primary goal was to review the details of the course and to collaborate to make the best event possible, but in the process, we simply had more fun than anything else!
in the early morning hours of March 2, 2008! Wallis is 116 miles into the relay, and it is the place where the TIR teams will be closest together. After the first few teams reach Exchange 23 around 12 midnight, teams will start flooding Wallis’ well-lit downtown shortly thereafter! The last team will reach the exchange at about 3AM.
Lastly, the Wallis-Brazos High School Cross Country teams (pictured on the right) took first (Boys) and third place (Girls) at the Texas 2A State Cross Country Meet last week. Congrats Cougars and Cougarettes!!
of the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers, the landscape helps you begin to understand why so much in Texas history occurred there. But, then, after meeting the people, you’ll no longer have any questions. Make a weekend outing of Gonzales and soak it all in. As a free bonus, you’ll appear quite cultured when you impress your TIR teammates with all the information you’ve acquired! 
As your team makes its short round trip to downtown and back (on the prologue), you’ll pass several historical residences and churches (but there are many more to see). On the square, at the heart of downtown near the Old Jail and the Courthouse, they will be providing live entertainment for you. And, to wish you well, they will be giving you a small replica “Come and Take It” flag that not only is a nice keepsake, but will also serve as a reminder to proceed with Texas pride.
We are continuously looking at ways to best maximize your total experience at the TIR next March, so we feel this is a very exciting update! It gives us great pleasure to announce that we will have a guest speaker at the TIR known simply as Hadd.
The TIR has teams lined up from far-away locales such as Oklahoma, Colorado, and even Michigan, but the competition in regards to which team is coming from farthest away became more challenging the other day when team BYAHHH! from New York City Registered. Pictured here at 
be completely welcomed at the TIR.
A VERY attractive aspect of the Texas Independence Relay is that it runs through several charming towns, each of which adds its own story to Texas lore. Though we’ve always had an appreciation for these inviting communities, the more time we spend with them, the greater our admiration! We believe you’ll enjoy experiencing them along your journey as well. 
Some of you may have seen the familiar face to the right. That's Gary Van Kuiken in the yellow t-shirt of The Woodlands Running Club who will soon be completing his journey of finishing 
They do an excellent job with this race, and the "Goody Bag" assembly was no exception. In the span of 2 hours, they filled over 1,500 bags with shirts, racing bibs, batons, and other good-looking promotional materials (our postcard flier was one of the items in the bags). That's a bag completely filled every 4.8 seconds! Their well-oiled machine, replete with MANY volunteers, was indeed an impressive sight. We were pleased to distribute over 4,500 postcard fliers... Thanks again!
Just west of DFW resides Ben Boerner. A couple of months ago, after Ben visited the TIR website, he reserved his spot and claimed TIR team number 17! The cool thing is that he quickly determined that this was how he wanted to spend his birthday (on March 1)! We wholeheartedly agree... While many people have large birthday bashes on their 30th, 40th, 50th, and 60th birthdays, Ben will have a very special 48th. For a runner, what better way to spend the weekend?
This is a big year for Ben as he plans on running a 50K, a 50 miler, and then topping off those achievements with the TIR. So, when you See team number 17 out on the course, join us in giving a whoop and a holler for Ben Boerner who was born on that day and who will be out there with you burning up the trail!
The Texas Independence Relay had its own version of the OK Corral last week as 3 teams from from Oklahoma registered in two days! First, 
Kimray Inc., an oil & gas equipment and controls company no less, entered as a corporate team. Then, the 
Registration opened without a hitch on March 1, and we were excited to have more teams register on the first day than we anticipated! We have gotten a lot of questions regarding whether or not there will be a cap. At this point, we can not make that determination. However, if/when a decision to cap the event is made, we will let you know