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Ready, set, run!

Ready, set, run!
And they're off!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Rooster Ready

So, we're just two months out from the 3rd Annual Everyone Runs Run with the Roosters Kinney Road 5 Mile Run & Walk at Old Tucson Studios.  At this point we are finalizing our shirt orders, developing the shirt design, ordering porta-potties and securing the final permit (just came today!) for the Kinney Rd. road closure.  At the same time, we're working on exact details for our September 25 Catalina State Park Trail Run & Walk, Novmber 13 TMC, Fleet Feet Half Marathon & 5k and the brand new December 4, 2011 Zero - The Project to End Prostate Cancer 5k at the Oro Valley Marketplace.  Man, there sure is a lot to do!  Looking forward to a relaxing summer and sharing the Slip 'n Slide at the Rooster Run!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Event tips for new runners & walkers

Just in case you've got the jitters or don't know what to expect at a running event, here are a few tips from Everyone Runs, Everyone Walks, a running event company in Tucson, Arizona:

1.) Run or walk the course a week or so before the event so you can get used to it and know what to expect.

2.) Don't run to hard the week or two leading up to the race. Easing up during that time period will mean a fresh body for your run. Besides, you're not going to get much faster by training harder in the weeks before the race.

3.) It's always a good idea to run with water. Runner specific, easy to carry water bottles can be found at local running stores.

4.) Review the course map, any event instructions and directions to the event.

5.) Check the weather report the night before the race. In the event that it's cold or rainy, you'll be prepared with the right clothes and even dry ones at the finish to insure a warm ride home!

6.) Do you have all of your gear? Do an inventory the night before: bib number, safety pins or bib belt, sunglasses, water or performance drink, shoes, socks, visor, headband, shorts, shirt (remember those dreams when you show up somewhere naked!), change of clothes for change in the weather, money for anything that might be for sale (at Everyone Runs everything is included in your entry fee), and maybe even a small snack if you get hungry before the race. As you might have noticed, I did not mention an IPOD, as I prefer to hear everyone around me (personal preference). Is there gas in your car? No one wants to miss a race because they forgot to fill-up, right?

7.) Set your alarm and maybe even a back-up alarm to wake up in-time for an easy morning before leaving your home. Remember, Jean-Paul from Seinfeld fame?

8.) Arrive at least an hour early. This way you'll find a parking spot, be able to take a look around, meet new friends and not get stuck in long porta-pottie lines. It also allows you to take an easy warm-up run and then stretch just a bit. Don't overdue the stretch, but be sure to open up the quads and gluts. It can lengthen your stride and you'll feel better on the course.

9.) If you're running or walking your first race, start towards the middle and don't get caught-up in getting out fast. Start easy and then pick-up your pace as you go along and your legs warm-up.

10.) Listen carefully to the announcer for all of the important details that they will impart upon you before the start.

11.) Take water or performance drinks at the water stations. It can be hard to drink and run, so walk through and drink.

12.) If you're wearing an IPOD, keep the volume low so you can hear fellow runners when they tell you they are passing or just to share words of encouragement. Nature sounds nice, too!

13.) Pay attention to course monitors and course signs. Getting lost is never a good thing.

14.) Finish strong, finish with a smile, high five your friends and enjoy the post race party!

15.) Stay for the awards ceremony and cheer on your fellow participants.

16.) Keep on exercising and sign-up for another event, so you don't make running a sport you just "tried" once. Like anything, it gets even better with age!

17.) Like anything, use whatever works for you!
Yours in fun...

Steve Landau
Everyone Runs, Everyone Walks

Friday, February 12, 2010

Rain, rain....don't rain on my parade!!!

Here's the post race update from last weeks Arizona Trail Race. Not the one with who won what, but the one with the working details. After some initial set-up on Friday and busting a water line at the start/finish line with our fence posts, we came back out bright and early on Sunday morning to finish set-up.  Pete Snell, Will Conway, Jeff Balmat and myself met up at the course bright and early at 4:15 a.m.  It was raining all over Tucson, EXCEPT at La Posta Quemada Ranch.  The stars and moon were in their brightest glory and so were we.  It was even kind of warm out, unlike years past.  In no time we had everything out of the van, start/finish line blown up and standing tall, water stations prep'd, banners up, everything set to go with plenty of time to spare!  At 7:30 a.m. the race took off after the beautiful singing of the national anthem performed by Salpointe junior Jessica Amerson (thanks Jessica!) and still the morning was free of the wet stuff.  That is, until 8:30 when the rain started to pour.  Boy, did I feel bad for those runners still out on the course as it started to get cold, too, especially coming down that last 1/2 mile.  The one thing I appreciate about the people who run in our races is that they always have a great attitude and, at this race, it was no exception. And, boy was it wet!

Once the race ended and everyone ran to their cars, except the brave who waited for their awesome tile awards, it was up to me and the Fleet Feet staff and volunteers to tear down as fast as possible.  The biggest problem was that everything had to be put away wet and that meant me and my wife drying everything out at home.  I rolled into our driveway at 11:30 a.m. after the race and worked five straight hours cleaning and drying everything by hand, including the 30 foot start/finish line inflatable arch, the plastic pennant flags and the 60 feet of snow fencing. Mostly done in time for the Super Bowl and a bunch of cold Moosehead! Finally on Monday everything was clean and put away for the March 13 Midtown Sertoma 5k at the AZ School for the Deaf & Blind (better not rain that day!).

So, what did I learn from all of this.  Number one, our runners are the best and most appreciative.  Two, our staff is top notch.  Thanks to Dave Barger (photographer), Rik Medrin (DJ) and Greg Wenneborg (timer) for exposing themselves and their expensive equipment to the soaking wettness of the day.  Three, I'm glad I live in Tucson.  This is only the 2nd time out of 19 races that we have ever been rained on.  I'll be happy if we can go 4 for 38!

See you all on March 13 for the Midtown Sertoma 5k and on April 13 for the Catalina St. Park Trail Run.  All event details and sign-up are at http://www.everyoneruns.net/.  Time for me to go for a run.  Adios!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Do you run in your own events?

That's the one question I'm asked all the time.  It's a harmless question asked by people who want to know if I'm really a big time runner, since I own a running company.  The answer is simple: it's totally impossible to run in my own events and I do like to run, so I run each course a few weeks before reace day.  This way I can make sure that you all have a fun and safe course.  Organizing and producing a successful event is a 110% hands on endeavor.  We typically set-up the day before and then arrive to the venue by 2:00 a.m. and finish up on-site around noon.  Then we head home to unload all of the event gear, clean it and then load it back up in the storage space.  Then it's nap time and then bring the van back to the rental folks.  If you've ever seen me at one of our events, I'm doing everything from driving fence posts to hang our snow fencing to setting up the start/finish line, tending to staff injuries (yes, my son really did hit himself over the head with a fence post driver - $450 to urgent care!), greeting our runners, acting as a course monitor, putting out multiple fires/issues, presenting awards, cleaning out garbage from the "recyclables only" garbage boxes and a whole lot more in-between.  With no sleep for about 34 hours there's no way to run within a weeks time before the race.  Race week is quite the exhausting experience.  If you think running a marathon is tough, come join us if you dare!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Three race management and preparing for the AZ Trail Race

It's a three-fecta over the next three months.  Three races/events to manage and execute on February 7, March 13 and April 10.  I'm not sure how many of you know, but I'm the only employee of Everyone Runs.  It's my company and, up until a few days before each race, I am pretty much the only one doing event prep.  Luckily the Fleet Feet AZ Trail Race is a joint effort between ER and Fleet Feet, so I have a lot of partnership with Pete & Jeanne and their staff.

This week revolved around the mundane of entering last minute entries, securing our medics and being a part of Sunday's practice race at the AZ Trail.  We had a strong showing, with at least 50 runners making a wise choice to get used to this very tough trail run course prior to next Sunday.  These runners now have a good idea of what to do on race day and how to manage their run.  Big thanks to Jim Magnum for his advice to all of the runners.  I hung back to make sure no one got lost, but was able to run a good pace on the last few miles with "Pete Fleet Feet."

In this final week before the race I will have a lot of "to do's" to do.  Everything from printing the runner bibs, sending the final roster to our timer (Greg Wenneborg), getting packet pick-up organized, communicating details with all of our awesome volunteers, picking up the water and bananas, cleaning and packing all of my event gear in the rental van, filling water jugs, making sure all of those lovely porta potties are placed close by, setting up the start/finish line/post-race festival and waking up at 3:00 a.m. to make the 45 mile drive from my house to Colossal Cave.  There's a lot more stuff in-between these lines, but the effort is all worth it when I see how much fun all of you have had once you cross the finish line.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Arizona Trail Race

The Arizona Trail Race is just two weeks aways.  That means lots of pre-race work this week:
print bib labels, secure water, finalize race roster, clean start/finish line arch, pick-up final entries at Fleet Feet, deliver permits to the folks at Colossal Cave, send emails to participants about packet pick-up, post those details to the web site, send out event press release to the media, and also concentrate on the marketing for the Midtown sertoma 5k on March 13.  Tomorrow we have an event "pep-rally" to get the Sertoma board members pumped up.  More later.

The life of a race director

I'm Steve Landau, race director of Everyone Runs, in Tucson. In 2004 I left my advertising career and with my family started Everyone Runs. No, it wasn't a mid-life crisis - ok, maybe. I tired of perpetuating free enterprise and needed to give back. We have supported many in need, while helping people achieve better health & fitness. In my blog I will write of what we're doing to make a race happen. Please let me know if you would like any other content and I'll do my best to oblige.