Late Breaking Race News

Can Lake 50
Fleet Feet Sports Relay

Late Breaking News
February 24, 2008

New for 2008

Thanks to all the runners who replied to the 2007 post-race survey. In December, Rick, Barry and I went over every comment plus feedback from the volunteers at each aid station and the finish volunteers. The following changes reflect our desire to continue to improve the quality of the race.

50K Finish at Middlesex. The 50K will be point to point; 50K will start with 50 mile and finish at Middlesex. Solo runners in both races will start together at 7:00am from Finger Lakes Community College. The 50K runners will follow same course as 50 mile with exception that the 50K finish will be at the Middlesex aid station. Food, drink, bathrooms and shelter will be available at the Middlesex finish. Finishers medals will be awarded at the Middlesex finish. 50K finishers will be responsible for their own transportation back to FLCC.
Comment: We believe the 50K runners will love the new course and the opportunity to run with the 50 mile runners. The new route is safer and even more scenic than the prior out & back.

Age-Graded Medals for 50 Mile. All finishers will receive gold, silver or bronze medals based on age-graded standards for each single year age. The Gold standard represents 65% of the World Masters Athletics (WMA) standard for each age. It's a tough but achievable performance. The Silver standard is significantly easier to achieve at 55% of the WMA standard for each age. Bronze medals will be awarded for times slower than the Silver standard. All medals will be awarded at the 50 mile finish.
Comment: Age-graded awards give every runner (male or female at any age) an equal chance to win a gold or silver medal.

Personalized trophies to top runners in each ultra. Personalized trophies will be awarded to the top man and woman in the 50 mile and 50K ultras. Winners will receive their trophies about two weeks after the race, allowing time for the trophy company to engrave the winner's name.

Personalized awards to age group winners in each ultra. First place age group awards to top man and woman in Open (<40), Masters (40-49), Veteran (50-59) and Super Veteran (60+) divisions. Personalized awards will be mailed to winners about two weeks after the race, allowing time for the winner's name to be printed on the award.

Personalized awards to top relay teams. Personalized awards to members of 1st Teams in Open Men, Open Women, Open Mixed and Masters Men, Masters Women, and Masters Mixed. Awards will be mailed to winners about two weeks after the race, allowing time for team names to printed on the award. Finishers medals will be awarded at the relay finish.

Technical shirts are back. A technical race shirt is included with entry in both ultra races. The technical shirt is a $20 extra-cost option for relay entrants. New this year, the race shirts are available in both men's and women's styles.

Professional Timing. All three events will be chip timed by Fleet Feet Sports Rochester. All solo runners and each relay team will need to pick-up their timing chip at the race day check-in. There will be timing stations at the Middlesex Aid Station and at the 50-mile finish at Finger Lakes Community College. All runners will be timed at Middlesex. This will be the final time for all 50K entrants and an intermediate time for runners in the 50-mile relay and ultra. Relay runners assigned to legs 6 & 10 will need to wear their team's timing chip; the timing chip does not need to be worn on the other relay legs.
Comment: Timing by Fleet Feet Sports will make it practical to have the separate finish for the 50K in Middlesex and make it easier for us to handle larger fields in all three races.

Friday Evening Packet Pickup & Social in Canandaigua. In addition to our regular Friday packet pickup and late registration at Fleet Feet Sports, 2210 Monroe Ave., Rochester, we plan to have a Friday evening packet pickup & social event in Canandaigua.
Comment: This event will give our visiting ultrarunners and families a chance to meet, get last-minute questions answered and have a good time the evening before the race. Details will be announced.

Changes to Make the Race Easier for the Race Directors & Volunteers:

	No Race Day Entry; New this year, we will not allow race day entry at the start. By closing entries the day before the race, we will be able to simplify race day check-in.
	Online Entry Preferred. If practical, we prefer you register online via Active.com. Online registration has several benefits: It's quick and easy for the runner. and it reduces significantly the work of your volunteer race director. A printable entry form is still available if you don't want to use Active.com.
	50K Time Limit. Solo runners in the 50K must finish within 7 hours 30 minutes. That's 14:21 average pace per mile.
	Intermediate Time Limit for 50 Mile. Solo runners doing the full 50 miles must leave the Middlesex before 7:30.
	Early Start Option. Solo runners concerned about making the time limit in either race should contact the race director to arrange an earlier start time.

More 2008 Race News

Check the Entry List for your name. The entry list is updated weekly until September and then daily. If you have registered and don't see your name listed or see any errors in your listing, please send the race director a note immediately.

No Headphones, please. We are a sanctioned USATF race. The USATF has a new rule this year against use of electronic devices and headphones in races. Leave your iPod or radio in the car. You will want to hear cars approaching and instructions of course marshals.

2008 Entries are open. Printable entry forms are available. Online Registration at Active.com is Open. See links on the Forms / Entries page.

Start & Finish at Finger Lakes Community College
No race day registration. Race day check-in will again be at the Gym... plenty of room to gather and chat before the race with no shortage of bathrooms. The start/finish line will be right outside the Gym. Post race food and awards will be in the Cafeteria Annex. Again, plenty of room to sit, replenish and share adventures.

Fleet Feet Sports - Presenting Sponsor for Relay and Ultras
We are pleased to again have Fleet Feet Sports as the title sponsor of the Relay and presenting sponsor for both the Relay and Ultras. "Boots" and Ellen Boutillier, owners of Fleet Feet Sports Rochester, are working with us to improve many aspects of both the relay and the ultra.

Welcome CherryPharm as new sponsor. CherryPharm will provide product samples at each series race.
"Developed by Cornell food scientists, CherryPharm has been clinically proven to lessen pain, reduce strength loss and speed recovery in athletes. This all-natural 100% fruit juice harnesses the phyto-nutrients of 50 whole tart cherries in each bottle - add CherryPharm to your training regimen today at www.cherrypharm.com!"

doRochester.com returns as sponsor. Check out the website for things to do while visiting the Rochester area.

Hammer Nutrition returns as sponsor. Hammer returns for the sixth year as our supplier of sport drinks and gels. We (the race directors) use Hammer products in our everyday training and racing.

Hotel Reservations - Book Early. Looking for a hotel for the race? Check out the maps posted showing hotel locations in Canandaigua and nearby towns. It's a good idea to reserve a hotel room as soon as you decide to do the race. Columbus Day weekend is popular for weddings in Canandaigua and the hotels tend to fill up.

Check out the Visitor Info page for Canandaigua Weather and Fall Foliage Forecasts. New York Wine and Culinary Arts Center is open in Canandaigua... Columbus Day weekend is popular for weddings; make your hotel reservations early.

//Tom