ARE YOU READY ?????

I have received several emails this week where the sender has said something to the effect of "I can't wait to come to Sacramento. You know it's only 6 more days until the meet?!!". And I'm thinking.... "no kidding, only 6 or 7 more days. There is NO WAYYYYYYYYY I am going to get everything done!!" I sure hope that everything that I am supposed to do actually does get accomplished.

I need to finish up with the Fire Department. I just realized that I have not heard back from the American Red Cross (someone remind me we have to contact them again!!). The barricades need to be ordered and picked up. Who is going to rent the UHaul and pick them up? Where will they be stored until Sunday? How about the trophies.. did someone remember to order them? I'm sure they did. But did they PAY for them?! And the rooms for the referee's. Can't they sleep 6 to a room like we do? LOL And the 100 extra chairs should be ordered but since I didn't do it I don't know for sure. And the bleachers need to be put together. Who is bringing the BBQ to the outdoor race? How about the coolers? Do the volunteers know what to do? How many left hand turn signs did we order? Don't forget there are right hand turns too. And make sure that you make enough covers for the drains. Tell the street sweeper we don't need the gutters cleaned.... we need the STREET cleaned!!!! And the Porta-Potties and the dumpster can go over in that parking lot, but make sure they are close enough for the participants. did someone order the t-shirts? O.k. so did you pick them up? What do you mean the vendors need tables? Electrical... for what? Uhhh I was supposed to do that???

Yes, all of those things must be answered or done or designated to someone else and we better make sure it's done this weekend!!! Wow, now I am really worried! :) If I forget something, let me apologize for it now. We all know I can't remember my own kids names half the time and the other half I mix them up so how am I going to keep up with all of this??!!

Well I have a great team of parents and coaches who will keep me in line and get everything done!!! :) I'm looking forward to meeting all of you, so please stop by and say hello and if I look frazzled... I am!! Linda

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER...

Currently the weather is PERFECT skating weather. According to the next 10-day forecast, we can expect the weather to remain the same. This picture is of the finish line area. Bright sunshine and green grass encircle the whole marathon course.

This photo was taken on the way to the road course today. Blue sky's and light, thin, white clouds as far as the eye can see! Including the next 10 days... let's hope for the next 13 days!!! If you haven't signed up for the marathon or the 5K, you have only 4 days left before the price goes up!

Although we would LOVE to give the winners of WC Men, Women and Pro Master Men and Women, thousands of dollars in prize money, you need to be real... and we are. So with that said, please know that in OUR hearts and minds you already are millionaires... however in your envelopes you will find the following payouts:

First Place $125.00
Second Place $100.00
Third Place $80.00
Fourth Place $65.00
Fifth Place $50.00

Now if a sponsor comes along in the next 13 days and decides to add to these amounts ..... of course we will drop that additional amount into your envelope ..... but if not, you are at least guaranteed the above amounts!!

So sign up now if you haven't already.... and we will see you in just 13 days!!!!!! Linda

OFFICIAL SCHEDULE

Here is the most current TENTATIVE official schedule. Some of you are probably saying, how can it STILL be tentative???? People are still calling and asking if they can enter, some are adding events and did not realize that we have "pool relays" or "inter-club relays" where a skater who is the only one from their club can be put into a "pool" of other single skaters to make one team or many teams. This allows every skater more opportunity to skate as many events as possible!!

One thing I learned very early on in this sport... be flexible!! It's ok that things change... change is good... kick back and enjoy it... go along for the ride.... I know... just print the official TENTATIVE schedule!! :)

Wednesday - March 5th - Open Practice - 5:00pm - 7:30pm $5.00

Thursday - March 6th - Doors Open - 6:00am

First Event - 7:00am

Novice Division Long Distance-Older divisions first
Novice Division Short Distance-Older divisions first

Awards for all Novice Divisions

Early Lunch Break - 10:00am - 12:00 noon

SPECIAL CLINIC HOSTED BY POWERSLIDE'S:
Current World Team Members - Justin Stelly & Emily Scott
12:00 - 1:30 pm

Only $10.00 - Space is limited!!!!! Please contact ME, Linda Wood to reserve your spot. Spend an hour and a half with two World Team Members! POWERSLIDE to include "goodie-bag" for each skater. Photo opportunity as well as autograph session. Ask the experts what their training secrets are. Find out how to get off the line quicker or how to make that smooth "late pass". Then be ready to apply what you just learned in the 4-Person relays!!

1:30 - 2:00pm - Open Practice - No Charge

2:00pm - 4-Lady Relays
4-Man Relays
4-Mix Relays

Standard Division - Short Distance
World Class Men & Women 100m
Older Divisions will skate first

** Please be ready to skate at least one-hour prior to your scheduled event, except for the first event. All USARS rules will apply as well as the added "Mary's Rules". Since "Mary" is not here, LINDA will enforce her rules in good faith!! ** If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Linda Wood at: woodsk8@yahoo.com

Friday's information will be posted shortly.... we hope to let you sleep in a bit.... so as soon as we know.... YOU will know!!!! Thanks so much.... Oh, and be ready to participate in a SPECIAL race on Friday!!!

FRESNO SKATER "RATES" IMMI MARATHON COURSE

Hi all:

I just HAD to include this information that I found on INLINE PLANET about our Marathon Course! A skater from Fresno named Rich posted a few days ago that he had an opportunity to SKATE our marathon course. When I first read this.... I felt sick to my stomach. Not because the course isn't exactly the way I have described it, but because some skaters feel that when you hold a marathon or any kid of race outside, that it should be on perfectly SMOOTH asphalt. WRONG... it's a road course, designed to be on a road. And I don't know about other states or even cities, but we feel extremely blessed to have a place to skate that WANTS US (Rancho Cordova City Hall) and is willing to help us any way that they can. So when I went on to read that he not only skated the course, he used his new GPS high tech thinga-ma-jig to test it out and then downloaded (or uploaded - depending on your level of internet knowledge) the information and I could watch it... well it wasn't too hard to call me impressed!! You really need to check this out... even if it's only for what the GPS unit can do!! In the meantime there is only 10 days remaining before we start the indoor portion of our INLINE MARCH MADNESS INVITATIONAL.... why aren't you out training??!!! LOL Enjoy... Linda

1. Go to Inline Planet: www.inlineplanet.com

2.  Go down to February 19th articles and look for "On
the Forum" MARCH MADNESS COURSE

3.  Click on Rich's post and then read.  I post after
him.

But the cool thing is you are going to want to see
what his GPS can do.  So follow the link he has
provided in his post.  Once you are there... click on
the DASHBOARD and then if you are not impressed
enough... then click on MAP PLAYER and really get
excited!!

MORE ENTRIES RECEIVED TODAY

We still have one day remaining to meet the entry deadline and then it will be "nose to the grindstone" as we set up the schedule and get that out to the skaters and parents. We appreciate your patience as we have waited for the final entries to arrive. In fact today we received 3 more club entries.

So starting Saturday night after practice, a couple of us will get together and start putting the divisions together with times. We can tell you for sure that we are having practice on Wednesday evening from 5:00-7:30pm and the price is $5.00 per skater. During this time skaters can register and purchase colorful meet t-shirts or hoodie sweetshirts (limited quantities) and meet programs. Parents can purchase the weekend pass bracelets or wait and purchase a one-day pass each day. Competition will start Thursday morning with the doors opening at 5:00am and the first event at 6:00am. We will start off with the Novice division. Going completely through each distance before we start the 4-person relays.

We will be able to give you more details in just a few days. Our "goodie-bags" that are slated for the outdoor race... are going to be so full of cool things you might miss your race just going through your bag!!!

Have a great weekend... and check back here at the beginning of the week for our schedule!! Linda

VENDORS IN PLACE AS ENTRY DEADLINE EXTNEDED

With our entry deadline extended until this coming Saturday, February 23rd, entries are still coming in.

In the meantime confirmation has come from the following vendors who will be attending the 1st Annual Inline March Madness Invitational! We would like to thank BONT, LUIGINO and POWERSLIDE for brining their skaters and setting up a booth for all three days indoor and outdoor for the marathon.

Our team of parents are doing some amazing things as they finalize gift baskets, hotel rooms and other gifts that will be raffled off during the competition.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors. Without them this meet would not be possible!! Check them out on our official website at: www.inlinemarchmadness.com

As always... any questions do not hesitate to contact us! We want your visit to Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova to be one of your most memorable!! Linda Wood

MAP OF MARATHON ROAD COURSE

Skaters:

The city just released a copy of the marathon road course. We have it available in a PDF file. Check it out....
If you are unable to enlarge this, please go to: www.inlinemarchmadness.com and on the main page scroll down looking for the words 2/14/08 NEW Marathon course.


By the way we have extended our deadline date for the indoor portion ONLY. Please note that your entries are now due on Saturday, February 23rd with a rink check, money order or cashiers check. The outdoor portion has not been extended. Those fees are still due no later than February 23rd for the $65 entry if you are not skating indoor and $85.00 if the fees are received February 24th through March 8th NOON. No entries will be accepted after March 8th, 12:00pm except for the 2k Fun Roll. Come join us for the first Inline March Madness Marathon AKA Rancho Cordova City Inline Marathon. We look forward to seeing you in 20+ days!!

Linda Wood

Additional Information

Hello. I have added a few more things but this time it's posted on the HYPER website. I like to spread my information around LOL. Drop by and read some of the new things that we have in place.

As ALWAYS.... do not hesitate to contact me, Linda Wood at: woodsk8@hotmail.com OR click on the email link on our website or our Blog. You can't go wrong!! See you in a few weeks

HYPER LINK

MARATHON COURSE INFORMATION

The last 6 days it has done nothing but RAIN! I have left my home on 2 separate occasions to specifically do nothing but drive the course, inspect the roads and take pictures for the BLOG site, only to have to turn around and come back home due to the weather.

Sometimes the weather has been severe enough for us to receive "Severe wind and rain" advisory's. Including the one tonight with constant rain and winds steady at 25-35 miles-per-hour and wind gusts up to 50 mph. Honestly I cannot remember the last time that we had this much rain consistently over a period of time. So that is why you will see rain spots in some of these pictures.

The course will be held in the RANCHO CORDOVA BUSINESS PARK. It may not be quite as scenic like Duluth with Lake Superior or Long Beach Marathon that had skating on the beach, but the area is clean, the parking lots are large and the streets are WIDE. I believe that the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the city stated that most of the roads are 60-feet wide, which is the equivalent to a 4 lane-road (regulation width is 12-feet - I learn something new every day).

The course is 2.4 miles long and has 10 turns which help make up the course. There are 4 right-hand turns and 6 left-hand turns, which incorporates one "S" turn. It will take the skaters 11 laps (just a tad under) to complete the marathon.

I would love to tell you this course is as smooth as a baby's behind, but (no pun intended) it is a road that appears to have "business" usage! So what is "business" usage? It's in a business park where speeds are 35mph maximum and delivery trucks as well as "Monday through Friday" business employee's use the roads to get to work. There are no paint lines on 85% of the course. The only time a skater will see those are as they cross through intersections with STOP signs. Again with most of the roads being 60-feet wide a skater could be with 10 other skaters and still be skating "alone". Check out my pictures here and then check out Live Maps here: RANCHO CORDOVA BUSINESS PARK.

We are working on many exciting projects for not only the skaters, but spectators alike! Remember to keep checking back often. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: woodsk8@gmail.com Thanks and have a GREAT week! Linda