2014 Great Smoky Mountains Half Race Guide

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF

RACE GUIDE September 20, 2014

EVENTSCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 19-20,2014

Friday 1:00 PM

Bib pickup and Race Expo start.

3:00 PM

Jeff Galloway running school starts.

6:00 PM

Race Expo ends.

7:00 PM

Bib pickup closes.

Saturday 5:15 AM

Shuttle parking lot opens

5:45 AM

All shuttles leave from parking lot to start line

6:00 AM

School parking lot opens

6:15 AM

First prize raffle (every 5 minutes)

7:00 AM

Last call for bib pickup/ raffle ends

7:15 AM

National Anthem

7:18 AM

Pacers line up

PARKING - There will be plenty of parking at the Visitor’s Center (finish line) with shuttles running to the start line. There will also be parking at Heritage High School (start line).*

7:20 AM

Runners line up / Last call for gear check.

7:21 AM

Sunrise

SHUTTLES - We will have shuttles running from the finish line to the start line. All shuttles will leave the Visitor’s Center in Townsend (7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy) at 5:45 am sharp! We will not have shuttles returning to the start line.

Shuttles are for runners only.

7:30 AM

Race starts!

7:40 AM

Start line closes

RACE EXPO - The expo will be held at Heritage Park (125 Townsend Park Road in Townsend, TN).

You can pick up your bib and gear as well as check out our awesome vendors. The expo will be small, but plan to stay a little while.

10:15 AM

*see page 6 for parking map and shuttle info 1

THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

Awards Ceremony

THECOURSE

OPEN COURSE - This race is an open course. There will be cars on the road as well as runners. DO NOT step off the course into traffic, you will be disqualified.

We want you to stay safe.

TIMING - No need to push at the start!

Your timing chip is on the back of your bib and your official time won’t start until you cross the start line.

PACERS - Pacers will line up at the start line around 7:18 am. There will be a pacer pacing the race in 10 minute intervals starting at a 1h40m pace up to 2h30m. We will also have a 3h pacer. Feel free to lineup at the start near the pacer that is pacing the time that is right for you.

GEAR CHECK - You will be given a Gear Check bag at the starting line if you wish. It will be a white garbage bag that you can fill with anything you want transported to the finish line. There will be permanent markers you can use to write your name and bib number. Avoid putting valuables in your bag.

CLOTHING ON COURSE - We will have a clothing bin to dump items in at mile 3. Anything else found along the course will be treated as trash.

ELEVATION (ft) - You can see the elevation map below. It looks a little scary, but pay attention to the real elevation gain. It’s very gradual and consistent.

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RACE GUIDE >>THE COURSE

“A man on foot will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles.”

SPECTATOR INFO - Spectators are welcome at the starting line and finish line. There are several spots along the course you may be able to watch and cheer for your runners. Spectators are NOT ALLOWED on Old Walland Highway.

Spectators are encouraged to be at the finish line to cheer on all our runners. All spectators should park in the Visitor’s Center parking lot.

Aside from the start and finish, we have a few recommendations where to cheer. The course runs along one side of the “little river” and the highway runs on the other side. Anywhere there is a bridge you can pull off and walk to you can see your runners.

Some of the main bridges can be found at: 1) Melrose Station Road and Old Walland hwy (near Mile 2) 2) E. Millers Cove Road and Old Walland hwy (near Mile 3) 3) Cameron road and Old Walland hwy (near Mile 8) OTHER COURSE INFO - Please do not litter on our course! Any kind of road markings with paint or even chalk will not be allowed. Please help us keep the area pristine for those who come after us.

EMERGENCY CONTACT - If we have urgent and important information to relay to runners we will be texting it to those that gave us their phone number when they registered.

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THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

FOOD RECOVERY BOX - At the finish line we will have a Food Recovery Box (full of recovery snacks), bananas, and chocolate milk (as well as water and Nuun hydration). Please help yourself to one box, chocolate milk, and banana per runner.

In an attempt to reduce waste, we will provide a place to trade/leave any unwanted snack items.

= 1 RUNNER

+ 1 BOX

+

1 BANANA

1 MILK

“Don’t let Smoky mountain smoke get in your eyes, if you do, I’m telling you, you’ll want to live there the rest of your life. If Smoky mountain smoke gets in your eyes.”

COURSE RECORD - Since this is an inaugural race we currently do not have a course record. The runners that set the course record for men and women will receive a FREE RACE ENTRY every year that their time remains the course record!

2014 AVERAGE “EXPECTED” TIME:

(based on answers to registration questions)

Male 2:05:00

RACE GUIDE

Female 2:25:00

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

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RACE GUIDE >>TRAVEL

LANDMARKS 3

4

5 6 1

1 RACE EXPO 125 Townsend Park Rd Townsend, TN 2 RACE PARKING & FINISH LINE (VISITOR’S CENTER) 7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy Townsend, TN 3 RACE PARKING & START LINE (HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL) 3741 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy Maryville, TN

5

2

4 RACE COURSE 5 MISS LILY’S CAFE 7765 River Rd Townsend, TN 6 CHOCOLATE B’AR 7807 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy Townsend, TN 7 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS PARK ENTRANCE

THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

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RACE GUIDE >>TRAVEL

PARKINGDROP-OFF There is parking at the finish line and at the start line.

Shuttles will take runners from the finish line parking (A) to the start line before the race. There WILL NOT be shuttle service after the race. *All shuttles leave at 5:45am.

There is also parking near the start line (B) at Heritage High School. Runners can also be dropped off here. Remember that there will be no shuttle service back to the start line after the race so if you park here in the morning you will need to arrange a ride back to your car from the finish line.

(A) PARKING AT THE VISITOR’S CENTER (FINISH) Visitor’s Center: 7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy

(B) PARKING AND DROP OFF AT HIGH SCHOOL (START) Heritage High School: 3741 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy

HOSTRESTAURANTS We have two restaurants in Townsend offering a special discount for our runners and their party. All runners need to do is show their bib to get the discount. We appreciate their support and hope you’ll enjoy their food and hospitality while in Townsend. Expect these places to be busy, so try to plan accordingly (call ahead and check availability and wait times) and maybe have a backup plan in case they’re full.

Miss Lily’s Cafe - A great little restaurant in Townsend that serves some classic southern dishes as well as sandwiches, burgers, pasta, etc. There is something for everyone at Miss Lily’s Cafe. 10% OFF 7765 River Rd, Townsend, TN 37882 (865) 448-1924 · www.misslilyscafe.com The Chocolate B’ar - They serve delicious chocolates, home made pastries and gourmet treats, coffee and chocolate drinks. Just sit and relax with friends, gather to chat or play a game of dominoes or checkers after that strenuous bike ride or discuss and plan your next favorite hike while enjoying cheesecake and truffles! 10% OFF 7807 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN (865) 448-9433 · www.thechocolatebaroftownsend.com

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PARKINFO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK The park is one of the few national parks where no entrance fees are charged.

Fees are charged for activities such as overnight camping ($14-23 per night) and pavilion rental at picnic areas.

CADES COVE LAUREL FALLS CLINGMANS DOME CHIMNEY TOPS TRAIL

GRE

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THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

CHIMNEY CLUB &

EAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TRIFECTA

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RACE GUIDE >>CLUB & TRIFECTA

CHIMNEYCLUB Our club hikes are a salute to the hardcore among us. We want to reward anyone who completes a designated club hike after the race. To join the Chimney Club, submit a picture of yourself at the summit of Chimney Tops Trail within 72 hours of the end of the race which includes: 1) A clear view of your face 2) Your bib with bib numbers clearly visible 3) Your finisher medal in plain view Chimney Tops Trail - Chimney Tops Trail is one of the most popular hikes along Newfound Gap Road. The trail owes much of its popularity to its relatively short length, and its outstanding panoramic views from the pinnacles. Its length, less than 2 miles, however, makes for a very steep hike - so much so that many hikers don’t even reach the top. The first half of the trail is relatively tame. However, to reach the summit, hikers have to climb more than 960 feet over the course of the last mile! The trail passes several beautiful cascading streams. After the 2 mile hike, the last scramble to the summit can be a little challenging. Be careful and don’t attempt to hike in wet conditions, the rocks can become very slippery. Please note the trail is CLOSED MONDAY-THURSDAY. You can read a detailed hike description here.

*These hikes are challenging and can be dangerous. Please take the hike seriously, and do not act irresponsibly if you decide to attempt the hike. It is not intended to be accessible to everyone. Bring lots of water and make necessary preparations. Weather can be unpredictable.”

SUBMISSIONFORM All runners that join the Chimney Club will receive 50% OFF next year’s race entry AND a free water bottle from UltraSpire!

After the race there will be a submission form online where you can upload your photo(s) and send them to us. We have a hard cutoff of 72 hours!

If you don’t get it to us before Tuesday at 11 AM (MDT) then we will only give you a virtual hi-five.

This picture is from our Angels Club from the Zion Half and is an example of what yours should look like (for both the Club AND the Trifecta).

CLUB SUBMISSION FORM www.thegreatsmokymountainshalf.com/club GSM TRIFECTA SUBMISSION FORM www.thegreatsmokymountainshalf.com/trifecta 11

THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

RACE GUIDE >>CLUB & TRIFECTA

CHIMNEY TOPS TRAIL Difficulty: Moderate Total Mileage: 3.8 mi round-trip Type of Hike: Out and back Elevation Gain: 1,487 ft.

Trailhead Elevation = 3,475 ft.

Lake Elevation = 4,814 ft.

Parking Lot Coordinates Latitude: N35 38.125 Longitude: -W83 28.189

You didn’t come all this way...

...JUST to run a race, did you?

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RACE GUIDE >>CLUB & TRIFECTA

GREATSMOKYMOUNTAINSTRIFECTA The Great Smoky Mountains Trifecta is comprised of 3 different activities. You must complete all 3 in order to complete the Trifecta. Same rules as the Club Hikes apply: take your picture at each of the 3 with your bib and finisher medal and send them to us 72 hours after finishing the race. The Trifecta is meant to be challenging, but less strenuous. These are iconic activities inside the park that should be experienced, but are doable with children. The 3 activities that makeup the Trifecta are:

1 Cades Cove - Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area’s trails.

2 Laurel Falls - Laurel Falls is another popular destination in the park and parking at the trailhead is limited. The area is especially busy on weekends. From Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead where there are parking areas on both sides of the road. The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and takes about 2 hours on a paved (but uneven) trail.

3 Clingman’s Dome - At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Turn off Newfound Gap Road 0.1 mile south of Newfound Gap and follow the 7-mile-long Clingmans Dome Road to the large parking area at the end.

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THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

RACE GUIDE >>SOCIAL MEDIA

CONNECTONLINE We will be making a slideshow video using all the pictures YOU post! Be sure to follow us and use the official race hashtag #gsmhalf

We will be giving out prizes from our store (t-shirts and other merchandise) to the best photos: We will be looking for pictures of the course, race prep, race recovery, enjoying the park, etc.

@VacationRaces #gsmhalf

PRIVACY SETTINGS - If your privacy settings restrict who can see your posts, then we will be unable to see them, even if you use the race hashtag. If we can’t see the posts then they will not be considered for prizes or included in post race celebrations. If your settings restrict who can see them, it is likely a deliberate choice and we completely understand and respect that. Just FYI.

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RACE GUIDE >>RUNNER INFO

RACESTATS

Who is coming?

40STATES 2COUNTRIES UNITED STATES | CANADA

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TEAMS

Blackberry Fit | Cincy Wooden Leg | Dasville Chicks | Great Smoky Trail Ballzers | Paul & His Pavement Princesses | Sole Cyst’az | Sole Sisters | Team LEAK | Team Stupendous | The Coasters | Twisted Blisters | Wegs | WeRunCincy

Age Divisions BOYS/MEN

<11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75< 1

2

2

14

28

48

40

42

36

24

18

10

2

1

-

GIRLS/WOMEN <11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75< 1

3

4

18

75

107

100

70

58

47

25

10

5

-

-

All runners will receive a finisher medal. Place medals will be given to the top 5 male and female runners overall as well as the Masters 40+ group. Additionally, the top 5 in each age group and the top 5 teams will also receive a place medal. *If you qualify for a place medal but are not present at the awards ceremony to receive it we will happily ship it to you. Go to our website and request your medal and pay the cost of shipping (about $8).

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RACE GUIDE

MARCH 22, 2014

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LAST RACE: NPS BIRTHDAY RUN AUGUST 25, 2014

NEXT RACE: TURKEY TROT NOVEMBER 27, 2014

RUN WHEN WHERE HOW YOU WANT ENJOY THE FLEXIBILITY OF A VIRTUAL RACE. ALL THE BLING, MINUS THE COST AND THE HASSLE OF A BIG EVENT. www.vacationraces.com/virtualraces

Training Camps, Running Vacations, Endurance Coaching & Mental Training “To be able to meet women with my same interests and spend an entire week

doing activities to make us better athletes physically, spiritually and mentally, was

an experience of a lifetime.” Dena Jordan, NC

Official Training Partner for Vacation Races!

Details at Vacation Races Training Blog on our website - sign up for our free training programs

Come and be inspired, educated and empowered! We provide training camps, running vacations & mental training for athletes of all abilities in Estes Park, Colorado - home to the best training terrain you could wish for! Camps include accommodations, coaching, incredible group runs, interactive workshops....2015 camp dates announced end of October 2014 Look out for our race preparation camps at every Vacation Race in 2015!

Women's Running Camps - May, July, & August / September Trail Running Camps - May & September Running Vacations - all year round!

Contact Camp Director Terry Chiplin for details of special offers for Vacation Races runners! See you at the races, and happy running!

www.activeataltitude.com / 303-304-9159

RACE DAY CHECK LIST PRE-RACE

RACE DAY

Directions to hotel/campsite

Bib and timing chip

Directions to race expo

Cup Free Hydration (Hydrapouch, hand held, water bottle, pack, etc.)

Directions to race start/finish

Running Shoes

Photo ID

Socks

Valid Military ID (if you registered with a Military Discount)

Sunglasses

Study the race course

Hat/Visor Recovery plan Enjoy the park!

POST-RACEINFORMATION COMPETITOR RESPONSIBILITIES

RACE PHOTOGRAPHY

• Be courteous to other runners. Practice good etiquette.

• Headphones are allowed on the course, though we encourage you to enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature and make friends with other runners.

Do not play your music without headphones for all to hear.

• Your bib will have a timing chip on the back.

NO CHIP = NO TIME.

• Lucid Images will be taking photos at the start line, on the course, and at the finish line.

• To be sure you can find your picture later, wear your bib with the numbers clearly visible at all times. If the photographers cannot identify you by your bib then your photo will end up in an “unidentified runner” folder on their website.

• Photos are usually available on Lucid Images website the Wednesday or Thursday following the race. We will send out an email to notify all runners and post it on Facebook • Smile!

LOST & FOUND • There is no official lost & found. If we find lost items we will hold onto them and you can contact us at info@vacationraces.com • There will be gear check at the start line.

• There will be a bin to dump extra clothing at mile 3. Anything found littered on the course elsewhere will be considered trash and either thrown away or donated.

MEDICAL TENT • The medical tent at the finish line is for athletes only; family members are not allowed.

Overcrowding in the medical tent prevents medical staff from doing their job. For information on an athlete receiving medical attention please wait outside the tent for updates.

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RACE RESULTS • Results will be available later the morning of the race. We will post them on Facebook and also send them in a post-race email the day or two after the race. They will also be available on our website.

POST-RACE SURVEY • Within a week of race day we will be sending out a post-race survey. We would really appreciate it if you took the 5-10 minutes to complete the survey for us. The survey provides us with information that allows us to better work with the local community and gain more support for future races, but more importantly it provides us with valuable insight into what we are doing well and what we need to improve. We love our runners and couldn’t improve our race series without your feedback. Please watch for the email.

THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON

BIBDETAILS

Your bib number.

Team name (if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on a team) Indicates if you are Military

Your race shirt size

Indicates if you need a Hydrapouch

Turn this in at the start line race morning.

We will have a raffle from 6:15-7:00

CUP-FREERACING Having our races so close to the national parks, unnecessary waste and trash is something we are strongly against. We are dedicated to maintaining a clean race and preserving the beauty of the area we run in. There is nothing that will ruin a view more than seeing a piece a trash in plain view from a breathtaking landscape.

That being said, one of the most important things in a half marathon is ensuring that aid stations are plentiful, efficient and that they do not run out of water. Hydration will make or break a race. What we do is offer a Hydrapouch for every runner that indicated they wanted one as part of their registration.

Other options include running with a water bottle, fuel belt, camelbak or other hydration backpack, etc. Every runner prefers something different. Just make sure you have some way to stay hydrated!

Although we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have cups on the course, we have plenty of aid stations with water and electrolyte drink! At this race, the water will be hooked up to a system like the one pictured on the left. Each of these pipes will provide water from the several speed valves we have attached.

Also at the aid stations we will have big coolers with the same speed valves attached. These coolers will have nuun (electrolyte drink) in them. So at each aid station you will have your choice of water or nuun.

The aid station will have a few cups in case of an emergency, do not plan on using them. Also, under no circumstances should you put your head under the valve to get a drink. Not only does this waste water, it is pretty inconsiderate of other runners.

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JEFFGALLOWAY Running School

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th 3:00pm - 6:00pm

We are thrilled that Jeff Galloway, “America’s Coach”, will be holding a running school workshop as a part of race weekend on Friday, September 19th at 3:00pm.

Jeff Galloway is a US Olympian, Founder of the Run Walk Run method, author, coach, and Runner’s World monthly columnist!

His running school is designed to help runners better prepare for races both physically and mentally. He will cover a variety of topics from nutrition to overcoming mental barriers. This is a great opportunity to meet one on one with Jeff and take your running journey wherever you want it to go.

“EVERYBODY NEEDS Beauty AS WELL AS , PLACES TO PLAY IN AND PRAY IN, WHERE NATURE MAY HEAL AND GIVE STRENGTH TO BODY AND SOUL.”

BREAD

-John Muir

PLACES TO PLAY

IN AND PRAY IN

AND RUN

IN

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HALF MARATHON SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 www.greatsmokymountainshalfmarathon.com #gsmhalf