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Race Day Information for Race #2 - March 21, 2010

Dear Spring Backyard Burn Competitors:

The second race of the Spring Backyard Burn Trail Running Series is coming up this Sunday, March 21st at Hemlock Overlook in Clifton, VA.  

This beautiful and challenging course consists mostly of rocky and root strewn hiking trails (including the Bull Run Occoquan Trail), old dirt roads, and open fields. You and close to 300 competitors will run along Historic Bull Run, up some demanding hills, and across a few streams.  Sightings of deer, beaver, turkey, osprey and great blue heron are not uncommon in this 425 acre park.  

Online registration is now closed but race day registration WILL BE available for a limited number of racers.  So, bring your friends and family so they can join in the fun!

Prepare for a fun day of running in the woods.  I wish you the best of luck!

Here are some details for race day, Sunday, March 21st (raindate from postponed March 14th race):

- WEATHER:  The weather is looking FANTASTIC for the race this Sunday.  Forecasters are calling for warm temps in the mid 60s, partly sunny skies, and a low chance of precipitation. 

- Parking:  Vehicles will be parked in the grassy fields near the Hemlock administrative building (The Farmhouse).  Parking is very limited at Hemlock so we will be controlling the flow to maximize available space.  You can help by ARRIVING EARLY and CARPOOLING (if bringing family and/or friends).           

- Directions to Race Parking @ Hemlock Overlook:  

From Interstate 66:
- Take I-66 to Route 7100 (Fairfax County Parkway).
- Exit at 55A SOUTH toward Springfield.
- Travel south on Rt. 7100 for approx. 6 miles.
- Exit at Route 123 SOUTH (Ox Road).
- Travel approx. 1.6 miles to the Clifton Road traffic light.
- Turn RIGHT onto Clifton Road (Route 645).
- Travel approx. 4 miles on Clifton Rd.  Continue straight on Clifton Rd. after traveling through the 4-way stop at the gas station.
- Pass Yates Ford Road on the RIGHT then pass Henderson Road on the LEFT.
- Turn LEFT at Yates Ford Road (Route 615). 
- Continue straight on Yates Ford Road after traveling through the 4-way stop.
- Please drive 25MPH for 1.5 miles to the entrance of Hemlock Overlook.

From Interstate 95:
- Take I-95 to the exit for Route 123 (Ox Road) NORTH toward Fairfax.
- Travel NORTH on Route 123 (Ox Road) for approximately 8 miles.
- Turn LEFT onto Clifton Road (Route 645) immediately past the entrance to Burke Lake Park.
- Travel approx. 4 miles on Clifton Rd. Continue straight on Clifton Rd. after traveling through the stop sign at the gas station.
- Pass Yates Ford Road on the RIGHT then pass Henderson Road on the LEFT.
- Turn LEFT at Yates Ford Road (Route 615).
- Continue straight on Yates Ford Road after traveling through the 4-way stop.
- Please drive 25MPH for 1.5 miles to the entrance of Hemlock Overlook.

- Check-in/Packet Pick-up:  Check-in will take place in the dining hall (or outside, depending on the weather) on the Education Center side of Hemlock.  After you park, follow the signs to check-in.  Check-in opens at 7:30am.  At check-in you will sign the waiver and receive your race number and t-shirt (one/person for the series).  Please arrive early to help alleviate backups.  It takes time to park, check-in, use the bathroom, warm up, and attend the pre-race brief.  Please arrive NO LATER THAN 8am. 

- Race Start:  The race begins at 9am SHARP!   Both 5 and 10 mile racers will start at the same time.  The pre-race brief will begin at 8:50am and take place near the start/finish area on the Education Center side of the park.   

- Restrooms/Showers:  Restrooms/showers are located about 50 yards up the hill from the start/finish area. 

- Race Course:  The race course includes mostly single-track hiking trails with some open field and dirt road running mixed in.  With three significant hill climbs on each lap, several very rocky and root filled sections, and a couple of shallow stream crossings, this is one of the more technical and challenging courses of the Backyard Burn series.  Please watch your footing.  5 mile racers will complete one lap and the 10 mile racers will complete two laps.  The course starts at the Hemlock Education Center and takes racers in a series of three loops.  Each loop starts at the top of a hill, makes its way down to the waters of historic Bull Run and Popes Head Creek, then back up to the Education Center.  The course will begin with a little less than one (1) mile of pavement and gravel road running before heading into single-track.  The 5 mile course is actually 5.5 miles and the 10 mile course is actually 10.3 miles. The map and course descriptions are on the website at the following link:   http://www.ex2adventures.com/byb-fall-schedule.php

- Course Marking:  The course will be marked with pink surveying tape.  Red and/or blue arrows will be posted at all trail intersections.  Yellow caution tape will block off the trails that are not part of the course.  Course marking will be heavy before and after all trail intersections but light along the rest of the course.     

 - Mile Markers:  Mile markers will be located approx. three miles from finish, two miles from finish, one mile from the finish and ½ mile from the finish.  Keep in mind that the 10 mile racers will pass these mile markers twice (once on each lap).

- NO IPODS:  The use of IPODs or any device that restricts hearing is not permitted during any EX2 race.  This is for your own safety and for the safety of your fellow runners.  We have nothing against IPODs (in fact, we even give them away – see below) but they significantly reduce safety in a race environment.

- Aid Stations:  The course has three aid stations stocked with water and Gatorade.  The 5 mile racers will have two opportunities for aid at mile 2.7 and mile 4.1.  The 10 mile racers will have five opportunities for aid at mile 2.7, mile 4.1, mile 5.5, mile 7.5, and mile 8.9.   First aid kits and emergency communication will be available at each aid station.   

- Recovery Tent:  Dr. Kathy Coutinho, local ‘chiropractor to the athletes’, and her staff from Positively Chiropractic will be on hand offering up their chiropractic, massage, active release therapy, and first aid services to all comers.  Stop by the ‘Recovery Tent’ to take advantage of these FREE services.  In addition, Dr. Kathy has offered to generously give away gift certificates for FREE massages and chiropractic exams.  Come see how Dr. Kathy can help you ‘always move forward’.  

- Post Race Food:  Water, Gatorade, food (pizza, bananas, trail bars, chips, candy, cookies, bagels, and peanut butter), and other beverages will be available at the finish line for all racers and volunteers. 

- EX2 Merchandise Sale:  Bring a check or some cash and pick up one of our new Sweatvac hats, an EX2 car seat cover, or our vintage t-shirts.    

- Awards:  The awards ceremony will take place at approximately 11am!  Awards will be given to the top five male and female racers in each age group for both the 5 and 10 mile races. 

- Sponsor Giveaways:  Below is a rundown of all our sponsor giveaways.  We will randomly select winners for the giveaways using a variety of different methods.  We have a lot of swag to give away but you must be present at the awards ceremony to win.  So, please plan on sticking around to join in the fun and come prepared with a change of warm clothes so you are comfortable.

- Baseball Bonanza:  Extra, Extra, Get Your Nats Tickets at EX2!  How cool is this?  All EX2 sponsors chipped in to buy tickets to the Washington Nationals - so we could give them way to you.  We have a pair of tickets to randomly give away at every race until October….that’s 16 races!       

- ‘One String’ VA Runner Cash:  Everyone loves FREE money, right?  Well, race or volunteer in any of our races and receive a $10 gift certificate to the VA Runner store in Clifton or Woodbridge.  This ‘One String’ VA Runner Cash is good on anything in the store, even sale items.  The ‘One String’ – you can use only one certificate per day, simple as that.  A ‘One String’ VA Runner Cash certificate will be inserted into all race packets and given to all volunteers.

- The Bike Lane Gearhead Giveaway:  Get your gear at The Bike Lane!  Race or volunteer in any of our races and you are eligible to win one of two $25 Bike Lane gift certificates.  The Bike Lane is also giving away a very generous discount to all race participants, a $10 gift certificate on a $25 minimum purchase.  These gift certificates will be inserted into all race packets and given to all volunteers.  With locations in Burke, VA and Reston, VA, The Bike Lane is your one-stop-mom-and-pop-bike shop. 

- Baird Automotive $100 Benjamin Bash: Benjamin, C-note, Hundie, Charlie, 100 Clams, Big One…..call it what you will but it all means the same thing….$100 of cold hard cash.  Race or volunteer in any of our twelve (12) trail running races in 2010 and you could win a crisp $100 bill, generously furnished by Joey Baird of Baird Automotive.   

- The CDW IPOD Giveaway:  You could win one of three IPOD shuffles given away at each of our twelve (12) trail running races in 2010…NICE!  Trail running nut and CDW VP, Kevin Adams, will often help to randomly select the winners.        

- Ameriprise Surprise Swag Raffle – At each trail running race in 2010, Ameriprise Financial will give away $50 in swag.  They like to surprise us with what they give away but it is always nice stuff.  Just stop by their table, fill in one of their forms, and you are eligible to win.  They are also known for bringing hot coffee on cold mornings! 

- Drink More Water Hydration Pack Giveaway:  Drink More Water is committed to help you achieve peak performance by, well, drinking more water.  Not only do they supply tons of water to EX2 (literally), but they will randomly give away a hydration pack at each race of the season.  Pretty sweet, huh?  Racers and volunteers are eligible.

- Volunteers:  Finally, we can always use the help of volunteers.  If any of your friends or family can help out, please ask them to sign up online at the following link:  http://www.ex2adventures.com/volunteer.php  After we receive their submission, we will contact them with all the details.  All volunteers receive a FREE race t-shirt, FREE food, $15 off a future EX2 race or $5 off EX2 merchandise, and our sincere thanks.  Plus, volunteering at EX2 races is fun!

Thanks for participating in the Spring Backyard Burn Trail Running Series.  We are looking forward to a fantastic day.  Good luck and see you this Sunday!

Jim Harman
Race Director
EX2 Adventures