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______________________________________________________________ Pre-Race
• The big tent venue on the downtown square for the pasta dinner.
Starting at Memorial Museum Saturday morning was a time of celebration for us as we reunited with returning teams and welcomed new ones. Exhilarating stuff! Also at the start was: • Breakfast by HEB This TIR support team was terrific from beginning to end, and we’re sure you’ll agree that we all hope to see more of them in future TIR’s. If you need to reach any of them for your party or event, please let us know, and we will happily hook you up! Governor Rick Perry at the TIR
Regardless of anyone’s political leanings and no matter where you’re from (Joy and I have decided to not overtly express our political or religious views, but if you ask, we’ll gladly tell you!), you’d have to be impressed – perhaps awed – with the Texas Governor at the TIR. The man had endless enthusiasm… I personally don’t know from where he gets it! He generously and amiably posed for pictures numbering in the thousands (no joke... looking for your, as one friend termed it, "Rick Pic"? Try his photo gallery that can be accessed via his site at RickPerry.org). He surveyed Shiner, flipped burgers at Dairy Treat in Moulton, visited the Lyric Theater and played the piano at the Olle Hotel in Flatonia, took in tunes in Schulenburg, partied in Weimar, scarfed down a Borden burger, toured Columbus, and met with Joy and I in Wallis. Reports have it that even when there weren’t a lot of others around he chatted with volunteers instead of crashing in one of the suburbans (like anyone would expect). Amongst all this, the guy was constantly encouraging his teammates. And, and top of all this, we would be remiss if we didn't comment that he ran like a beast! We didn’t get to say much beyond letting him know that it was a pleasure to have him and him letting us know that he thought it was a great event (cool!), but after witnessing a good bit from a distance, we feel we know him a lot better. He’s relentless, and that’s an understatement. In our minds, he went from the Texas Governor (a legendary position) who ran the TIR (which is SO appropriate) to essentially a legend of a person! If you could have seen the whole of it… from our point of view… you would agree. Finally, one thing that we were pleased with is that we believe the TIR reached the inner-child of Governor Perry. I guess that shouldn’t be such a big surprise . He is a runner, afterall, and he did come out to play! The Weather While we all can be thankful that it wasn’t a cold weekend full of rain, the weather did pose some challenges. First, it was a bit warm (well into the 80s), which is nice spectator weather but not particularly ideal for running. Most of all, it was windy – VERY windy – often a direct headwind for the teams. Directional signs were blown all over. We made great strides since last year with course markings on the ground and the cannon signs, but there is undoubtedly more room for improvement. One thing is for certain, we can not stress enough the importance of the course maps (provided in your goody bags) and how those MUST be regarded above all else. Instead of pointing out the improvements we were making, we should have stayed on point better in messaging the critical importance for EACH runner to know where they are running. If a runner didn’t know the route very well (unless it was one of the totally straight legs), then the team took a great risk of running off course or worse, getting completely lost. Hopefully, we’ll get a year with more race-friendly weather, but as we’ve witnessed, it’s better to be prepared – especially when it comes to staying on the course. 2009 will be the year of the wind! The Race From Our Perspective Once the teams have all left it’s like herding a huge cattle drive. Keys were locked in vehicles, car batteries died, coffee was poured out on laptops, people getting lost, and there was hunger coupled with exhaustion... and all of this was just us and the TIR's magnificent volunteer team! (smile) As the show The Wide World of Sports used to say in its opening, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat", we shed tears of happiness and of utter frustration all in the span of hours - It was great!! Indeed, the TIR from our side quite closely parallels your team’s experience. There are numerous challenges and things certainly don’t always go as perfectly as planned, yet what can we do but press on and roll forward with whatever cards we’re dealt to the best of our ability. In that light, we are exceedingly proud of all of the volunteer teams! They all performed wonderfully. They were: • Our (Jay’s) sisters We could also list off a long list of other individuals who did a LOT to make this event happen. We (Joy and I... myself more than Joy) receive a lot of thank you’s, and while we appreciate it, make no mistake that it’s the work of generous and talented volunteers who follow through to make the TIR happen. Please join us in thanking them any chance that you get, and please consider if you may want to step up to be a TIR volunteer. We will be looking for 13 volunteer teams (instead of 10) next year, and the volunteer needs in all respects will grow. The tour that the TIR takes of the smaller communities along the way is one of its best aspects! We talk with all of the towns during the year, and the great reception you receive at each is the exact same as the welcome that we get when we are planning! Please let them know how you appreciate their involvement, and remember these places that enthusiastically support the TIR as you travel along I-10, or when you’re considering a weekend getaway out of town! Finally, the TIR’s sponsors have been exceptional! You know Luke’s Locker has been generous with their support as the presenting sponsor, and you missed out if you didn’t get some of the breakfast they served up at their Katy store (exchange 28)! Coca Cola provided drinks in many locations along the course, to our volunteer teams, and at the finish! Signing the Coca Cola banner at the finish was fun, and we hope that will be a new yearly tradition! The folks with Koala Health and Fitness sure were busy caring for you all at the finish… It was great to have them join us this year. We also thank Perfect5Productions (P5P), Advanced Rehabilitation, Larabar, SockGuy, Inside Texas Running (and Raceshots.net), NuBound, and HCSS for their significant contributions toward the TIR cause. Awards
Big CONGRATS to the 2009 overall winners! Onto the divisional awards! Let’s start with the most hotly contested division, the Open Men. We didn’t tell people beforehand, but we thought Team Domestic Kitties (TDK - led by Steve Shepard) would have troubles with having only 6 guys on the team. Eight or Ten members may be ideal for a fast team, but 6… that’s a lot of legs, a lot of miles, and not much room for anyone to get hurt or have an off day. Nevertheless, TDK proved their mettle as they won this division with the second fastest time of the day, 22:10:02 (6:33.5). Less than ½ sec/mile behind TDK was City Coach (Captained by Scott Towle), the TIR’s beloved (as long as they don’t win!) team from nyc! Just so we can relieve any unease (because we know some of you are worried), we are on good – if not great – terms with the ny team. They are a great group of guys, were a force to be reckoned with, and we believe they will continue to be. We hope we all treat them well… We DO truly feel sorry for those unfortunate souls, like the runners on the nyc team, who aren’t able to call Texas home. Taking everything into consideration, there is no denying that they ran very well to net the time of 22:11:29. Finally, taking third place in the Open Men’s division was The Road Killers, captained by Russell Meyer. The Road Killers were slated to compete in the Mixed division until a last second withdrawal shifted them to a men’s team. Their time of 22:24:33 (6:37.8m/m) is a TIR PR, being well under their previous course record. Not only were The Road Killers exceptional Inaugural champs, but they also demonstrated goodwill bordering on heroism during the 2009 race. In Open Mixed, Team Mac, headed up by Mac Allen, took 6th across all the teams and claimed first in their division with a time of 23:17:48. In a close battle for second, Los Paisanos of San Antonio (TC – Lalo Alvarado) edged out Kramerica Industries (Joe Ross), a local team out of Georgetown, TX, who we know well and often run with. Congratulations Los Paisanos and Kramerica Industries for a good close race! In Open Women, The Athletic Girls Next Door (led by Alana-Rose Lynes) claimed the top spot, running 30:55:40 (9:09). Soon thereafter came Victorious Secret (Patty Godfrey) in 31:14:03. The Daring Dozen all female cast led by Anne Litsey took 3rd in 31:33:25! In the Masters Mixed, Team Dudinsky (TC Lee Dudinsky) won with a very good time of 25:11:17. The next two teams were separated by just 4 minutes! Running on Empty (Gary Van Kuiken) ran 7:54 pace to take 2nd while 2C + 3Sum (Marina Herrman) took 3rd (26:45:59 / 7:55 pace). The Kenyan Albino Running Team (Go KART), led by Mark Berman, took honors in the Masters Men division with a time of 26:36:01 (7:52). In second was the ever-wiley Houston Masters with Paul Cooley at the helm. In Veteran Mixed, Dallas Does Houston (TC is George Kempston) ran ahead to claim first with a time of 27:56:20 (8:15). The Stone Age Striders, led by Sandy Wollangk, took second in 31:01:10! And, winning 3rd was The Feet of Texas (June Harris)! In Veteran Men, the Corpus Christi Roadrunners (Rich Martucci), laid claim to first place for the second year, achieving a time of 28:24:04 (8:24). Dee Simmons captained the Sun City Striders to a second place finish in 33:18:51. S&W Cardiology (Charlie Baggett) ran 25:44:06 (7:36.8) to take first over HEB-San Antonio in the Corporate Men’s race. In Corporate Mixed, the team One STEP Closer (of the El Paso Corporation), led by Theresa Sauls and Dom Lanzillotti, took first with a clocking of 28:55:55 (8:33.5)! Following up to take second and third respectively was Fortitudine Vincimus of Accenture (led by Greg Elston) in 29:32:40 and the Anadarko Smooth Operators (TC – Rob Palmer) who ran 30:06:58. Last, but not least, The Return of the Apples, representing the Conroe ISD, and led by Mary Kerschbaum, won the Corporate Open Women’s division in 34:59:11! The Texas Tough Throwdown winners were The Battling Bloggers of the Texas Republic (Cassie Mondragon), Rick’s Salty Mixed Nuts (Rick Tidwell), and the Texas Tenderloins (Frank Krekeler)!
Fun Awards! We asked people who were out on the course for their choices of best name, most spirited, and best decorated. Thank goodness because, for us, it would be way too hard… too many great names and teams! The winners will receive commemorative shirts that note their category victory!
Best Name: Texas Spirit: Decorated: Finally, the award for the closest predicted time goes to the Cowtown Sprinters, led by Gilbert Banda! The average variance of the predicted-to-actual times was just 7 seconds/mile, and many teams were just a few minutes off (~1 sec per mile in pace). But, the Cowtown Sprinters were less than 1 minute (~.2sec/mile)! Closing Remarks All in all, we had great and exciting time, and we hope you did, too! Again, we extend our deep gratitude to the volunteers and volunteer teams, our sponsors, the towns along the way, the police and safety crews, the various other professionals we work and consult with, and certainly all of the teams and Team Captains who make it all work! Priority registration only for returning teams for next year’s race (March 6 & 7, 2010) will open Thursday, March 19, and run through the end of the month (oh, we might let a couple of you who are 1-2 days late get the good deal, too!). In addition to the $100 off the early registration price ($1,000), returning teams will receive their choice of either a 3 X 5ft Come And Take It Flag, a 3 X 5 Texas state flag, or a framed 5 X 7inch 2009 team picture. We still have shirts, socks, medals, flags, etc on sale! Check out the TIR Gear entry on the race updates page about ¼ of the way down the page. And, finally, you can find race pictures at Raceshots.net as well as your commemorative video (with personalized options) at Perfect5Productions.com. Check out the 2009 TIR trailor! We are excited to let you know of a new event we’re rolling out in October (likely 10/17) in the Texas Hill Country - the Hilly Billie! This will be a 1-day “short” course of ~75 miles, and teams will consist of 4-6 people! There’s much to say about it, but in short, you’ll love it! Details are forthcoming! If you would like to be first to learn the details about this event, please send us an email. Thanks again for running with us, and if you’d like to provide feedback, please feel free to do so - we enjoy hearing from you! And, of course, we hope to see you again next year for a new and improved 2010 Texas Independence Relay! Jay & Joy ______________________________________________________________ March 9, 2009 - 2009 TIR Results! Well done, TIR Runners! Thanks for making this year's TIR a very good time. Click on the image below for the overall results. We look forward to posting this year's summary, the divisional award winners, and more soon!
March 6, 2009 - It’s New TIR’s Eve! Woohoo! The first 2 of 3 ultra teams have already begun. After starting Wrinkle, we saw him about a half mile into the run at the courthouse, and he reported, “So far, so good!” Gonzales is cheerfully preparing along with us for you all! We wanted spend just a few moments to highlight friendly faces you’ll see out on the course. The volunTIR is growing, and out on the course you will see 10 teams of wonderful volunteers and volunteer leaders… the TIR couldn’t happen without them. The are: 1) The Sisters, led by Kim Robinson. The TIR has turned into a family reunion for us, and these are my (Jay’s) 3 older sisters and a few of their children! Lots of chiefs in THAT tribe! (smile) Also, the towns along the way are anticipating you! In Flatonia, amongst Market days and a chili cook off, they are also offering a welcoming station that will include showers… We know you will appreciate that. In Schulenburg, they will have a band out at the Gazebo and a city-wide garage sale going on, I think. Also, you know how great Weimar is… they’ll be having a blast, per their usual! Likewise could be said for Borden and Columbus. Finally, Wallis welcomes you again in the middle of the night.
Thank you ALL for just being cool! We also seriously appreciate your help and involvement. ______________________________________________________________ March 5, 2009 - ...a ONE… a TWO… a ONE TWO THREE… In about 10 hours, at 4PM, Allen Wrinkle of Spring, Texas will be embarking on the TIR journey. SOLO. What more can be added that!? It’s seemingly a ridiculous, and yet an amazing attempt all rolled into one. It’s hardly fathomable when you consider it. Wrinkle is a 44 year old COO of the software company, SMARTFAMILYSYSTEM.com. We wouldn’t let someone who didn’t have a fairly good idea of what they are getting into to – he has an impressive ultra running resume, completing 5 different 100milers, including the vaunted Western States. He also has run over 50 marathon or longer races over the past 8 years, including two Ironman’s! Amongst all this, he is a single father of not one, but TWO teenage girls (it sounds as though Allen could use everyone’s prayers for a variety of reasons)! Even with his experience, though, the TIR will be a significant undertaking and a new milestone in Wrinkle’s ultra running. May it go exceedingly well for you, Allen! Last year, Dr. Chris Rampacek proved that the TIR could be done solo as he covered the distance in just under 73hours (can you imagine how great the monument must look after a few DAYS and a COUPLE of HUNDRED of miles?!). Dr. Rampacek who was set to do it again unfortunately sustained an injury set-back that will preclude him from this year’s craziness, but he looks forward to 2010 and will be out on the course volunteering this year! Joining Wrinkle as ultra relayer runners this year will be the 2 person team of Penny Mooney and Nick Papafote and the 3 person team of Melissa Whan, Allen Darilek, and Lawrence Baca! Hailing from the Houston metro area, Penny and Nick (2Cool4Rules) will be starting at 6AM on Friday. Penny (aka Dances With Rocks / Train Wreck / UltraBabe) just started running in July of ’06, but has quickly collected a slew of 50miler finishes and is looking towards her first century. Nick has done Western States (100), Bandera (100), Big Horn (100), and a smattering of several other 50milers. He is looking forward to Hard Rock (100) and the Tour de Sables. Melissa Whan is the team captain of Runner’s High (which includes Allen Darilek and Lawrence Baca). This trio comes from San Antonio, and they will be starting their TIR journey at 6PM on Friday – just before dinner! So, make your way to the Museum to see them off! Amongst them, they have finished 50milers, 50Ks, an Ironman, a 7 stage race in Vietnam, and many marathons. May the TIR treat all of these runners well, and may their legs not grow weary… Ah, who are we kidding… may they just be able to overcome it!! ______________________________________________________________ March 4, 2009 - Check in early, miss the crowds and meet Dick Beardsley! Dick will be speaking and then signing autographs from 3:00-4:00pm on Friday. The holder of the fifth fastest US men’s marathon time in history, Dick is a legend in the world of running and someone who can appreciate the perseverance required to run across Texas.
Difficult years followed this debut as a world caliber runner, including a near-fatal farm accident, his subsequent addiction to painkillers, and a very public arrest for forging prescriptions. In the end, he persevered to overcome these obstacles and his story speaks to anyone who loves competition, who has survived catastrophe, or who has pursued a seemingly impossible goal. His words will come in handy during the middle of your leg in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Dick Beardsley’s appearance at the TIR is sponsored by nuBound recovery supplement. March 4, 2009 - Are You Ready To R-R-U-U-U-U-U-M-M-B-B-L-E-E-!!??!!?? This year’s TIR is VERY exciting up front with several new contenders looking to take it to the The Road Killers, the defending champions of the TIR! Based on predicted times we’ve received back, it looks as though any one of 6 teams could be this year’s winner, and they will all depart the Memorial Museum between 2:00 and 2:10pm this Saturday. The following is a brief overview about them: 2:00 - While their name may sound slightly less than frightening, it’s safe to say that Team Domestic Kitties will let their running do the talking. Led by Steve Shepard, former President of the Houston Striders, and sponsored by Fleet Feet Sport Houston, the team’s name pays tribute to the indomitable Marshall Ulrich of Team Stray Dogs. Interestingly, this team is going with a team of just 6! Will this be an advantage for the savvy runners, or will the legs begin to feel a bit longer as they negotiate their 6th and 7th rotations? Will they finish the race well, or will they be well-done by the race’s end? 2:02 - Captain Rob Graham has assembled a very solid cast of runners from both the Houston and Austin area’s to make up Behind the Woodshed. Word has it (from another team captain) that Graham, though only having run for a few years, has developed into quite the runner! Graham also ran in last year’s TIR, a significant advantage to draw from. Finally, as a big fan of the breakfast tacos the Gonzales provided last year, Graham has plans for Behind the Woodshed to fuel up on the breakfast tacos… even though it will be in the afternoon. With all seriousness, though, no one should be too surprised if Behind the Woodshed does take the other teams out back for a beat down. 2:04 - Headed up by Mac Allen, Team Mac is a formidable group who will certainly also be making a run for the prize! Mac (I perhaps should properly refer to him as Allen, but it seems that all runners in Austin and even Texas already know him as Mac) has been running at the top for a very long time. Whether it’s a 2-lapper or a marathon, it’s a given that Mac will churn out a gutty performance. There is little doubt that his team will follow suit and add a 200mile race to the long list of conquered distances. 2:06 - Pete Gaytan, longtime Tornado Running Club leader, is now leading his TIR team – Luke’s Tornado Revenge! Obviously, Luke’s Locker (presenting sponsor of the TIR, and awesome running store in the DFW and Metro Houston areas) is putting their bets on this whirlwind group of master runners. And, by “master” don’t just mean “expert”. The Luke’s Tornado Revenge is actually a masters team in that they are all over 40 and still kickin’ it live, thank you very much! Any person getting passed (I certainly attest) will say that runners don’t look old as they quickly pull 2:08 - The new york team is named City Coach (sponsored by a ny-based fitness/training operation – NOT to be confused with a public transportation service). Their captain is Scott Towle. They finished 3rd last year. They have some runners. The sponsor thinks we talk smack. That makes us happy! 2:10 - Last, but absolutely, certainly, and definitely not least, The Road Killers only have to point to last years results as Here’s a Texas-Sized “Run Well and Have Fun” to all of these teams (along with every team in the race)… even the ny team! ______________________________________________________________ March 2, 2009 - TIR Gear!
March 1, 2009 - Tell Texas of the TIR!
February 17, 2009 - 2009 TIR Start Times!
January 31, 2009 - Texas Governor Rick Perry Slated to Run the TIR! The Texas Independence Relay, a great running event celebrating Texas history, has shifted a bit to now also include making some Texas history of its own!
It is not known at this time who on their team will have the exquisite honor of joining many of you in being a TIR Team Captain. Their team arguably has more than one who is both capable and desiring of the calling. Those familiar with the Governor’s running know that the fella’ can motor. And, he appears to have assembled a fine team that will likely finish in the top 10% of the Texas Independence Relay field. Being the competitor he is, Governor Perry said that he issues the challenge to ALL the TIR teams, as well as any other team considering joining the race, to “Come & Take It” (referring to his team’s victory that he plans on securing). In response to such Texan gamesmanship, we will gladly extend the TIR registration deadline to Wednesday, February 4th, for any team that lets us know that they would appreciate the golden opportunity to clean the Guv’s clock, to stick it to the Man, to show the Governor who’s really the boss, or quite simply, to acquire special satisfaction in kickin’ some Texas Gubernatorial butt.
It’s cool that Governor Perry is a runner, and we’re glad to have him… the TIR is perfect for him. Below are some fun pictures that chronicle Governor Perry’s preparation for the TIR over the past few months. ______________________________________________________________ January 30, 2009 - Get Your TIR Fix Registration ends on February 2, so challenge your friends at the Superbowl party to go on a little run with you. They’ll love you for it! The following is so that you can get your TIR fix. YouTube Videos Team BYAHHHH! Takes on Texas From the Sun City Striders (Avg age for the team was 66!) From Team Por Que (the inaugural’s Texas Spirit winners) Independence Worm (in Gonzales) – Our Team Captains have many special talents!
January 28, 2009 - 2009 TIR Socks!
January 26, 2009 - Texas Independence Relay SLASHES Distance Off Old Course! The old Texas Independence Relay course, which was 203.67 miles… FAR too long… has been reduced to 203.20 miles. You can view the new maps (all in one place) by clicking on the map below.
For the most part, the changes were so minor that hardly anyone will recognize any change at all from last year. The only two notable changes were 1) Exchange 7 is now in Moulton, which shortens leg 7 to 5.69m (from 7.45m). This in turn makes leg 8 a 4.57-miler instead of 2.81. Leg 38 is now 5.99 miles, which is almost a half mile shorter than last year’s route (which was longer than necessary in order to evade construction). Other than that, we just made several small tweaks… BIG for us, but TOTALLY insignificant to most. Of course, this necessitates a new Predictor as well as an updated Course Summary / Ranking. We know many of you Team Captains and Team Captain Assistants have been chomping at the bit to get at these! We will be emailing all the Team Captains on February 3 with a very detailed email. It would be a good one to read and understand (grossly understated). It also may be a good note to forward to the rest of your teams. Then, the information about the teams that we need will be due back to us by 2/10. If you’re a new Captain, don’t worry it will all become crystal clear in a few days! Finally, for those who would like the waypoints for the exchanges, we have and will gladly provide them. So, email us if you want! ______________________________________________________________ January 23, 2009 - Bay Area Fit is Coming to Get Some!
Bay Area Fit will be making their presence known at the TIR this year as they will have 5 teams! Bay Area Fit runners (and walkers) reside from all over eastern parts of the Houston metro area - including Clear Lake, Webster, League City, Pasadena, Friendswood, and other locales. Just like all runners, the members of Bay Area Fit start off by devoting a few hours a week into the program. But then this steadily grows to result in a thoroughly and permanently changed life! If you ask around, you’ll quickly find that members are universally pleased with the positive experience of discovering the ability to challenge themselves beyond their expectations – and then succeeding!
Finally, hopefully they’re able to secure some extra shirts because those good looking threads will be VERY swappable at the TIP (the TIR’s pre-race celebration in Gonzales on Friday night). January 21, 2009 - Come And Take It in Gonzales!
No one can dispute that it was wonderful to visit Gonzales last year. It is a delightful place surpassed only by the charm of its people. Any event organization could only consider themselves truly fortunate to partner with this town! This year, you will be amazed by Gonzales. It will truly be a runner’s village on Friday and Saturday (March 6 & 7)… we’re so looking forward to it ourselves! On Friday, there will be a couple of chances to hear Bob Burchard’s history show called Gonzales: The Beginning. It is an excellent presentation that should be a required for Texas citizenship. Dick Beardsley will also speak on Friday in Gonzales’ beautiful courthouse. Dick has the 5th fastest US men’s marathon time EVER! Obviously, he knows running, but his story goes well beyond athletics. After receiving this mental nourishment, you’ll be treated to an AWESOME pasta dinner and tent party on the downtown square. We call it the TIP! Here are just some of the highlights: - Good and plentiful food (with variety!) and a ticket for a FREE soft drink or adult beverage. With the TIR, we know you’ll need to take your carb loading and hydration seriously, and we won’t let you down! - Welcoming Words by Bob Burchard (who I call Mr. Gonzales) - Door Prizes – just about everyone will win something – good stuff, too! - The Mayor of Gonzales plays in a band called the O’Neal Brothers, and they will play two sets! How cool is that?! (The Mayor’s name is in fact Bobby O’Neal, so that right there gives a lot of street cred. I am pretty sure, though, that Shaquille isn’t one of the brothers and that they don’t rap.) - A great t-shirt swap! We used to do this at the national meets in college, and it was a lot of fun. Bring extra team shirts or shirts from races you’ve done in your town, and let’s swap! - Experience the sights and sounds of DJ Johnny Loco (who played the tunes in Weimar last year), and dance the night away! - See the race director tapping his watch at 11PM and giving flinty looks at team captains of teams that start at 6AM… What fun!! - Gonzales is even opening up their Jr High (right next to the start line) for people to crash at. But, these folks will be awoken at 6AM with a loud reverberating noise! This will be more than a great time – it will be an experience unto itself! The cost is only $20 a person, and it goes to worthwhile endeavors in Gonzales. Heck, we know lots of people who had to pay $10 just for their vehicle to have the super experience of sitting in a parking lot at a recent marathon expo! So, go ahead now and make it a point to be in Gonzales, the birthplace of Texas freedom, on Friday, March 6. Come And Partake It! ______________________________________________________________ January 20, 2009 - TIR-Harmony!
The fine Print on the new TIR-Harmony program: We want to develop a way for individuals or small groups to be matched up with a team, so we’re giving this a shot. If you KNOW that you want to run the TIR, sign up as an individual (by selecting “Individual” under Division). The cost of the program is $100 (and each person should understand that it will likely cost another $100 for team expenses - food, accommodations, transportation, etc - during the event). After registering as an individual, send an email to Admin@TexasIndependenceRelay.com to answer the below questions in order to let us know a few things about yourself to help us match you up with a great TIR-Harmony team! 1) Competitive or just for fun? If we can’t match you by the 20th of February, then we will refund 100% of your registration fee. The same goes for if the team dissolves. After that point, you still could perhaps find a team through the message board. However, if the team you were matched with runs, but you opt to not participate, then your registration fee is forfeited. In other words, DON’T go the TIR-Harmony route if you’re not sure you’re in, or if you tend to be somewhat flakey on occasion. ______________________________________________________________ January 18, 2009 - The TIR Gets Press in Austin! Brom Hoban has superbly written about running in the Austin American Statesman for over 20 years! He's also had several pieces in Runners' World, etc. And, once again, he is demonstrating his excellent running acumen with the article below.
January 14, 2009 - TTIR’sFHSchT!
These Cadets began running about a year ago. After first dabbling in a couple of 5Ks here and there, they now diligently participate in an event almost monthly. They have even attained a few top overall finishes! More importantly, they have come to realize the value of a healthy lifestyle and the great feeling of satisfaction that comes along with overcoming the challenges they’ve set before themselves. This is the main reason they’re running the Texas Independence Relay. Says, 1SG James Courtney, their instructor, “We went through a formal process and assessment to determine who (out of the initial 25 cadets that expressed interest) should be on the team. I’m so proud of them!” Speaking of Courtney, who doesn’t say anything about himself, we have to recognize the exceptional… wait, no… let us say that we have to give him serious props (along with his fellow instructor, LTC Wendell Harris). Not only have they served our country, but they are also investing considerably in the lives of our young people. That’s like sickingly cool or something (smile). Seriously, though, we know that many of you do likewise, and we thank you and commend you for it. January 11, 2009 - A Chance That Political Figures Will Throwdown at the TIR! Regardless of political leanings, one must admit that leaders from both sides of the aisle made quite an impression this past year. Indeed the presidential race at times seemed almost as long as the TIR itself. In any event, it has been brought to our attention people from both the Chicago AND Wasilla have visited the Texas Independence Relay website within the past couple of months. Therefore, we believe that a chance does in fact exist that political figures will be toeing the TIR startline in 54 days! How many high-speed internet connections can there be in Wasilla?
January 5, 2009 - Team Highlight: Deaf Smith’s Rangers asks if you’ve got the right stuff… like they have! Deaf Smith was known to be a guy’s guy, and he served a great role in the Texas Revolution. You can read more about him and his company of rangers here. In the true Spirit of Deaf Smith, the Deaf Smith’s Ranger team at the TIR is a group of fellas who like to compete and have fun… and who can also perhaps even be a little mischievous at times! Click on their team picture below to open up their humorous report. In their write-up, they recommend that the TIR have other awards like, Best Sellouts, Best Shameless Self Promotion, and Best Horrible Name (unreservedly submitting their own nominations for these categories). They also detail (with pictures) how they have been diligently and internationally preparing for this year’s TIR. No doubt - they are ready to roll! They issue the following challenge to every other team, “If you honestly think your program can compete with a team that considers the Houston Marathon a tune up for the real event, step up and put it to the test.” Send your own TIR-training story to one-up these jokers!!
The TIR is pleased to have the Deaf Smith’s Rangers. And, all joking aside, John Hunt, the captain of the team, has been dedicated towards helping local area children who he knows that have been diagnosed with cancer. Please read this story about Timothy Rose and consider how you may feel led to lend a helping hand. ______________________________________________________________ December 30, 2008 - The 2009 Texas Independence Relay Medal After receiving so much positive feedback on last year’s medal, it was a tough choice whether to go with something very similar this year, or to go with a completely new medal. After a lot of deliberation, it was decided that we would go with a new style, but that we may bring the other medal back someday. Needless to say, we are choosy about the medal… not just any medal can represent the Texas Independence Relay. The number of styles (and subsequent rejections) that the TIR design team submitted seemed endless, but we finally landed on a design that we believe you’ll appreciate! It is a Texasy-looking “TIR” that stands on a bar so that you could have it stand on a desk like a trophy, if you remove it from its multi-colored lanyard. It has an antique gold look with red coloring in the niches of the letters.
He agreed with our conclusion that the medal was just too big. And, for whatever reason, he was absolutely intent on seeing how the medal would look if we made it super small. His plan was to make it nearly microscopic by taking one (not the big one that we put on the Statue of Liberty) with him back to Hollywood and wearing it while shrinking himself down to about 1inch tall one last time – just like they did for the movie. While it was a novel idea (and the microscopic detail of this tiny medal is fascinating), we were never huge fans of this mini-medal. Anyway, take a good close look the next time you come across the main advertisement for the movie, Meet Dave. The small Eddie Murphy who is hanging outside of the larger Eddie Murphy’s ear is wearing the mini-medal.
So, without any further adieu, let us present to you the 2009 Texas Independence Relay medal!
______________________________________________________________ December 19, 2008 - El nuevo comercial de "la carrera de releros de la Independencia de Texas"!
Also, thanks are in order to Keith Vincent, last year’s Team Captain for Chillin’ and Grillin’ Our Road Killin’ (and owner/founder of P5P Productions) as well as Mario Leal and Sal Gonzalez for the production of the commercial. Perhaps you’ve already seen the commercial?! Below are a few pictures. ______________________________________________________________ December 5, 2008 - The new york team is back again – yay. Dang it! These guys just don’t seem to get it. After our best efforts towards making them feel most unwelcome last year, they’ve gone on and signed themselves up again. Below is a picture of the new york team from last year, and if you click on the picture, you’ll be treated to last year’s captain’s race report. It’s a touch wordy, but for those of you wanting a step-by-step account of a 200 mile race, or a glimpse into the neurotic mind of a true yankee, have at it! (Joking aside for a second, this is a very well written race report, but it is lengthy.)
Anyway, while last year’s team fared a lot better than anyone could have ever expected (3rd overall), it appears they have done a bit of retooling. Scott Towle, this year’s captain, mentioned something about having ex-collegiate runners, ultra-runners, experienced marathoners and triathletes… yada yada yada. Apparently, Towle is hoping to improve on last year’s incredible-for-a-new-york-team finish. Of course, we at the Texas Independence Relay are all about good sportsmanship, fairness, etc… but how should I put this in a tactful and unbiased manner… WE SIMPLY CAN NOT LET THESE JOKERS WIN! Not last year, not ever!!! Never. So, The Road Killers (last year’s Overall Champion, led by Russ Meyer) and other fast Texas teams need to bring it because these guys may be pretty good. Towle went on to let us know that their team is a melting pot of guys who are just living in nyc, but who are really from all over. Whatever. Also, and this is where I get confused and conflicted, he said, “I've done several other relays, and I was thoroughly impressed with how organized TIR was in its first year… one of the main reasons I wanted to put together another team is because of the positive experience we had last year.” Well, now that’s not a completely daft statement!?! That makes wayyy too much sense coming from a person who graduated from A&M AND who now lives in new york. Welcome back to Texas, yanks, and have a good race. ______________________________________________________________ December 3, 2008 - The 2009 TIR Race Number! Here is a picture of a custom-made 2009 race number. The numbers for teams who ran the inaugural relay will be lower than 200 and will feature a red highlighted course like the one below! November 19, 2008 - Team Highlight: Ranger Boot Camp Running Team
The Ranger Boot Camp Running Team is a mixed team that includes a 15 year old female (De La Fuente’s daughter) and a 56 year old man who is strong as an ox! Professionally, the team consists of a CEO, paralegals, high school students, a lawyer, business owners, an x-ray technician, and a respiratory therapist (every TIR team should have their own respiratory therapist, no?!). Those in the Ranger Boot Camp program have said that they love it and that it has changed their life. This is because De La Fuente loves those who are in the program, and his life is continually changed as well by those in it. While the Ranger Boot Camp team looks forward to competing well, they are also all about having fun! De La Fuente informed us that his team is looking to get nice running uniforms because looking good is one of their rules. Finally, De La Fuente parted our conversation with, “I hope to have lots of FUN and make this a Ranger Boot Camp yearly event, with more teams competing every year. I think it is a great idea you have here. As an enthusiast of fitness and health, this race means a lot to me, for I believe we’re the first and only team from South Texas!” De La Fuente is right. The Ranger Boot Camp currently IS the first and only team from South Texas - bringing order from the border! November 6, 2008 - Over 100 teams (more than 1,100 runners) register early for the TIR!
______________________________________________________________ October 27, 2008 - "CAPPS - Crummy At Providing Pleasing Service" would be a completely inappropriate title! It has become evident that the vehicles of choice for the TIR are the 12 & 15 passenger vans. While we can personally attest that long distance relays can be done with two mini-vans, we obviously see the allure of these more spacious vehicles. I mean, EVERYONE knows that being a good teammate involves placing an embargo on anything resembling whining. That said, teams don’t necessarily have to go out of their way to see how much they can take. Who would contest that some modicum of “personal space” is not one of the physiological needs within the base of the triangle representing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
Other rental agencies, like Enterprise, for example, were exceedingly friendly after learning how many van rentals we were talking about. They really wanted to help, and we really wanted them to be able to! However, they simply don’t have the available inventory of the 12 and 15-passenger vans to handle the number that will be rented. Capps, on the other hand, does have the inventory to satisfy a lot of the TIR demand (particularly if reservations are made sooner than later because the TIR is close to Spring Break – they strongly suggest making your reservations 2 months in advance). Now, a few good aspects about Capps are: 1) They have locations in the metro areas that most TIR participants will be coming from, 2) They offer a competitive rate to begin with, and 3) They did say that they would likely be able to offer a 3-day rate that is $30 less than the good price that is quoted online.
Given the dynamics of long distance relays, it would behoove everyone to be up-to-speed in terms of insurance. While most auto insurance covers rentals, it obviously would be a good idea for those renting vans to double-check what their policy states as well finding out what the deductible may be. If your insurance does not cover rental vans, the rental agencies will be more than happy to sell it. At Capps, the insurance for a 15-passenger van is $19.95/day (for a damage waiver that only covers the van) and another $25.35/day for liability insurance. Here is a brief article on rental-vehicle insurance from the August edition of Money Magazine. However, unlike the situation presented in this article, Capps has informed us that Texas state law requires that insurance policies covering rentals must cover ALL of the rental agency fees associated with an accident. Again, Capps noted that renters need to look into what their specific policy covers as well as how much the deductible is. While we have given it our best, we’ve come up short on what we wanted to do. Capps is the best deal (mostly just because they have them), but we suspect they would likely give $30 off a 3-day rental of a 15-passenger van to anyone who called. Maybe next year will be better, and we’re open to any suggestions. But, if subsequent years go at all like this year, this will be our last van rental “recommendation”. ______________________________________________________________ October 21, 2008 - Goin' Clubbin'
Some happenings were almost miraculous in nature. For instance, the following is an example of a scene that took place many times in the way-pre-dawn hours last March 2nd. ------------------------------------------------- (Enter scene with Joy or I rapidly calling a lucky TIR volunteer at 2AM who is soundly asleep at home.) Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… TIR Volunteer: (voicemail recording) Hi, this isTIR Volunteer, please leave a message… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… Riing ring… TIR Volunteer: (Incredulous, appropriately mildly irritated, yet still drowsy) uh hello. Again, that happened many times, and would you believe that in EVERY instance the volunteers showed up early, and not only that, but they did so with an exceptional attitude! Perhaps I should have known better than to sell TIR volunteers short, but there is a reason things are termed “supernatural”… TIR volunteers are AWESOME indeed! Even though these phone calls were not part of our game plan, we were able to learn a good bit through this process. There were clearly many advantages with having mobile volunteers who went along the course with the teams (of which there were several of these types of volunteers last March as well). So, for this upcoming year, we’re excited to announce that several Texas running clubs (predominantly from the Houston area) are stepping up to help the TIR out by providing volunteer teams that will be exchange-hopping along with the runners! For example, let’s say that the Gulf Coast Running Club (who may end up providing two volunteer teams!) has volunteer team #4. They will be covering exchanges 4, 14, 24, and 34. No doubt about it… the participation of the various clubs in this way will be a lot of fun, and will also allow us to do some pretty cool stuff that we were hoping for later down the road. We’re stoked about this! By November 15, running clubs interested in participating in this way should finalize their commitment. If you and/or your organization are interested in providing a volunteer team, please contact us immediately, and we will add you to our waiting list. If we have an available volunteer team (there will be 10 teams of 5-6 people) opportunity available after November 15, we’ll gladly give the supplying organization a regular free running team entry, TIR finisher medals, shirts, and other fine goods! The big downside to all of this is that we know that several will now be conflicted on whether to run the TIR or to be on a volunteer team. We apologize for putting those people in the predicament of having two great choices! ______________________________________________________________ October 9, 2008 - Just For Grins
September 30, 2008 - Are 1,000 words really enough?
It would be excellent (definitely a goal of ours) to find a sponsor for the 2009 TIR commemorative video so that, at a minimum, all of the Team Captains will receive a free copy. Ideally, a savvy marketer/sponsor will request that their own logo or commercial be placed at the beginning and end of the video and will then generously provide a copy for everyone! That would be a sweet win for whoever partners with us as well as for the recipients (who I know will love the 20-30 minute TIR commemorative video). So, in case you've missed our super-subtle on the down-low hint here, if you know of an organization or someone who may be interested in this great sponsorship opportunity, please let us know! Check out the 3 minute demo video of the Inaugural TIR that P5P put together and familiarize yourself with their services by clicking on the picture above (which will take you to P5P’s site, www.Perfect5Productions.com)! September 26, 2008 - Partying – A Time-Honored Tradition in Gonzales
While we were VERY pleased to be finishing the TIR on Sunday evening of March 2, the event had a way of diminishing our regular get-down party mojo. Don’t get me wrong, it was truly special to see happy teams finish, but shortly after the sun had set on that weekend, we were deeply snoozing instead of celebrating. We’ve heard that many of you had a similar experience. Gonzales, always vigilant to help with their keen eye for just how to do so, suggested that perhaps a TIP (Texas Independence Party) is in order BEFORE the event rather than after. (And, by the way, rapturous raves just happen to be a forte of theirs!) We couldn’t agree more with this exceptional idea. So, further details will be forthcoming, but we wanted to let you know about this early so you can plan ahead to arrive in Gonzales on March 6, in your tapered up Friday good form. This Texas-Sized runner festival is gonna be held in a huge tent on Gonzales’ downtown square. There will be a hearty meal (a new cater with more dining options), good tunes, dancing, race t-shirt swappin', and much more. Take it from us, we know a great time when we see one, and you simply will not want to miss this shindig! At the same time, we know and look forward to how it will be even more enhanced with your and your team’s presence. Based on last year’s pasta dinner (which was originally planned to be fairly modest in size), we believe the TIP will fill up quickly. Finally, one last comment, Gonzales’ annual Come & Take It Festival is on the first weekend of October, which is next weekend (October 3 - 5, 2008). The 5K will be run on Saturday morning. We will be there, and who knows when we’ll leave! September 22, 2008 - Take a Stroll Through the TIR Gallery
Finally, just a brief note to let you know that if you click on a thumbnail photo, you'll get to see a more regular-sized picture. But, then if you click the link (the pixel dimensions) next to "Full Size", prepare to see yourself in all of your rockstar glory (most are pretty big). September 10, 2008 - Preposterous Poster Plastering Pandemonium
What’s so preposterous about our poster plastering, and why would it be pandemonium? Well, last year you may have observed that the marketing for the TIR was not as lavish as some events… the Nike Human Race it was not! Word-of-mouth worked out very well, though, and we wouldn’t have changed a thing. This year, however, we’re aiming to take that great word-of-mouth a step further by including the poster in the TIR's marketing repertoire! Not only will we be posting these all around the course (and all around Texas), but we hope that you’ll join in helping us! If you email us to let us know where you will put a poster up (like your gym, your favorite equipment/apparel store, or your workplace’s fitness center), then we’ll happily send you two – one for you to post up and one for you to keep! Of course, if you would like to put them up in multiple places, that is certainly fine with us… just let us know how many to send. Let’s see what word-of-mouth can do!! These 11 X 17 posters are a nice size that is not too big for a bulletin board, but definitely large enough to garner your colleagues’ attention! If you would like to purchase a poster, we have them on sale here on ebay for $6 or $7 (depending how you would like it shipped)! ______________________________________________________________ April 21, 2008 - Save the Date - Registration for 2009 is now open!
April 13, 2008 - Priority Registration for 1 more week!
April 13, 2008 - Tooting the TIR Horn!
Is it "tooting your horn" if others are the ones doing all the tooting? We hope not! If so, we could be considered substantive tooters! If you're considering doing the TIR (or becoming a sponsor), here are participant comments / reviews about the inaugural 2008 event that we received shortly after the race. |
Here you’ll find the latest information regarding the Texas Independence Relay. So, if you want to make sure you’re current, check back here frequently. Or, if you prefer to be e-mailed the updates periodically (once a month from September - December, and maybe a couple of times in both January & February), please provide your name and e-mail address by scrolling to the bottom of the page to subscribe for the e-mail updates on the critical developments of the race!
No one can doubt Gonzales’ commitment to the TIR!
Some of you may be familiar with Grandma’s Marathon up in Duluth. Amongst the various things that Duluth is known for, they are known to really provide a first rate pasta dinner for the marathon and to really welcome and embrace the marathon participants. In only the TIR’s second year, Gonzales is setting a terrific pace towards becoming THE benchmark. New this year were:
Joy and I, all of this is a great testament to the pride the Gonzales has in their town and in their history as well as their enthusiastic energy! Of course, the Texas Independence Relay must start in Gonzales, but regardless of the town’s history (which don’t get us wrong, it’s quite noteworthy), there are so many wonderful reasons to hold any event in Gonzales! 
About the same time that the 9 O’Clock Coffee Drinkers (a group of 16 gentlemen from Gonzales with a combined age of almost 1,300 - yes, on average about 80 years young!) started their celebratory 16 block, 1.15m relay around town, Rick Perry and his team the RunTexians showed up in their dark suburbans. It looked like something straight out of Hollywood! The already picture-happy scene quickly escalated to paparazzi-like… It truly was something else!
We have three “Overall” winning teams – The Overall Men’s, the Overall Mixed, and the Overall Women’s Champions! Also, the Corporate Cannon that goes to the first Corporate Preferred team!
2009 Texas Independence Relay Overall Men’s Champion, that also had the fastest time of the day and the most “Road Kills” is the Luke’s Tornado Revenge! led by Pete Gaytan, this team set a new course record time (& pace) of 21:41:20 (6:25 min/mile). The most unique aspect about this team is that they were Masters Mens squad, meaning that they’re all at least 40! The Luke’s Tornado Revenge is a team from the Tornados Running Club in Houston, Texas, and they were sponsored by Luke’s Locker. Two things overheard – 1) Wilmer Bustillos was nothing short of amazing with his fast running, and 2) (from another team’s captain) Luke’s Tornado Revenge won with class.
The 2009 TIR Overall Women’s Champion is Hell Out of Heels, led by Claire Liu Greenberg! This team took out from the start and never looked back as they ran an impressive time of 27:56:28 (8:12.7 pace). Nothing to feel ashamed about, but many teams were simultaneously road killed AND chick’d by this group of swift women!
Taking the honors as the Overall Mixed Champion for the 2009 TIR is Behind the Woodshed (captained by Rob Graham)! This team overcame as much adversity as any yet managed a magnificent 4th place (across all teams) showing, just 30 minutes behind Luke’s Tornado Revenge (which is not much over 203 miles). 
The Corporate Cannon for the fastest Corporate Preferred team goes to HEB – San Antonio! This team was led by Craig Clifton, and rumor has it that the Cannon will be presented to Charles Butt, Chairman and CEO of HEB! 
Amongst all of these, we can’t forget about out ultra teams. The three-person team, Runner’s High, led by Melissa Whan, found themselves ahead of pace and going through Houston in the middle of the night. They decided to run a different route than the actual course (one that is likely longer, I believe). They have reported that they had a good time, but because they ran a different course, have elected to just take a DNF even though they DF’d it! The two-person team of Penny Mooney and Nick Papafote have had better days, nevertheless, they said they had a great time as well. Finally, Allen Wrinkle, the 2009 solo TIR runner, was way ahead of schedule and feeling very good on Saturday. However, a torn achilles that occurred at some point after that (we look forward to hearing the details ourselves) really made the trip through Houston much more arduous for Wrinkle. Nevertheless, he hung on, and finished in a new solo course record, 68:58:30! 
away. Indeed, it will appear as though the Luke’s Tornado Revenge has found the fountain of youth, and maybe they have. 
validation that they are in fact the team to beat. Russell Meyer put together an outstanding squad last year to win rather comfortably in just over 23 hours, and this year they have many returning runners. In addition to Meyer’s exceptional leadership, they know how to run the relay, they are fast, and they have the perfect amount of moxie to go with it! The Road Killers were great Inaugural TIR champions. While competition is a little stiffer this year, it’s laughable to think that The Road Killers might back down for a second. They will be doing their thing… lining ‘em up and knockin’ em out… perhaps scoring a road kill on every other team that toes the line on Saturday. 
All of the above is true, but in all seriousness (as opposed to the playful tact above), the TIR is thrilled to have Governor Perry and team join the fray. It’s a large step towards where we want to take this race. Of course, we are bent on producing a quality race that any runner would enjoy. But, more than the usual fun or well-organized event, we seek to provide a special venue that is built upon and accentuates relationships. Finally, we want the event to remind of us of our extraordinary Texas legacy as we move forward to blaze our own trail. Governor Perry exemplifies all of these, and, to us, running “that rocks” (our mission statement) has ALWAYS included all of these elements.
With teammembers, aged 16 to 60, BAF informs us that they are ready and looking forward to whatever the TIR throws their way! Says one BAF member, “Our Texas forefathers had a purpose much greater than a run as they fought their way to independence; we get the honor of following their footsteps.” With that perspective, we believe they’re ready, too! 
In case you’re not quite up to speed on what the title for this update means, I was simply texting “The TIR’s First High School Team”! That’s right, we’re super-stoked to have the JROTC Wildcats, the Cadets of Clear Creek High School, in this year’s relay. 
They’re enjoying learning important historical facts about our state, and they’re looking forward to completing an event that will truly provide them with a significant challenge! If you miss them out on the course, you most certainly will see many Clear Creek Cadets assisting at the finish line as they are also generously volunteering their time and energy to help at the San Jacinto Monument. 
After finding the design, the right size had to be determined, and this was quite the process. We first decided to see what a colossal-sized version would be like, since everyone around the world knows that everything is bigger and better in Texas (truth like this finds a way to embed itself in people’s hearts). So, we had one made that measured 20ft wide and 7.5 feet high… about the same size as a 15-passenger van! It was a LOT heavier than we expected, though, weighing in at 20 tons. 
What better way, we thought, to see how it would look adorned around someone’s neck than by putting it on the Statue of Liberty. As you can imagine, it wasn’t the easiest thing to get up there, but it was able to be accomplished. The most difficult part was actually getting the ribbon over Lady Liberty’s crown. Truth be told, that was a real pill. Although we liked the look and size of this medal, we ultimately decided that it was just a touch impractical. And, we seriously doubted whether or not some of the out-of-state teams would even be able to get their medals (if they were this size) back home. 
It just happened to turn out that while we were at the Statue of Liberty, we ran into our old friend Eddie Murphy who was finalizing a few loose ends for his movie, Meet Dave. We go way back… since before his SNL days… man, time flies. Anyway, it was good to catch up with Eddie a bit. Of course, he just HAD to make a joke about how it would take him 48 Hours to run the TIR (hardy har har), but it was Eddie, so we gave him our polite laugh. Sometimes, who knows what that guy is thinking?!?
Finally, we made a 3ft wide, 700lb version of the medal (see the picture of me bench-pressing it), and we really liked this one. We were just about to go with it, but our design team really liked the 4inch wide and 1.5inch tall version better, and we had to concede that this is a fantastic size as well! 
So, we’ve given our best effort to find a great deal for these vans for TIR participants. Unfortunately, in a monopoly type of situation, there may be less incentive to provide a good deal. Although it would seem like 
As well as everything went at the inaugural TIR, you can rest assured that there were a couple of things that we’re excited to improve upon this upcoming year! 
