TransRockies Race Series by TransRockies Events

Skirt Sports Skirt Chaser 5k

jonathan — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:36:02 +0000

The Skirt Sports Skirt Chaser 5k international race series was created in 2007 as a fun way for runners to meet up with other fitness-minded individuals in a safe, social setting. Singles and couples are invited to participate in a twist on the standard 5k where the women start first and the men follow three minutes later. From seasoned athletes to beginners, all runners are invited to enjoy the post-race festivities including music, food, beverages and more. For more information about the events, please contact Skirt Sports at info@skirtsports.com.

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Bike Magazine Portugal

jonathan — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:46:11 +0000

2013 TransRockies Challenge event preview in Bike Magazine, March 2013.

The post Bike Magazine Portugal appeared first on TransRockies Race Series by TransRockies Events.

Strides 2013 Trail Running Kick Off

jonathan — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:56:02 +0000

On Thursday, April 18th, Strides and TransRockies Events invite you to join us for a special evening to get the 2013 trail running season started. The night will start at 5:30pm at Strides, where Jeremy Deere will share his insights into trail running footwear and gear (there might even be some discounts & prizes to be had for those in attendance!).

At 6:30pm, Jonathan McLeod from TransRockies Events will show an inspiring professional video from the 2012 TransRockies Run in Colorado. If you haven’t seen this video, you’re missing out – it’s an in-depth view of what it takes to run a 6-day, 120 mile trail race in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. Following the video, the trail running kick-off will move just down the street to the Union Station Pub (33rd Ave. in Marda Loop), where Jeremy and Jonathan will be available to answer questions and share stories!

Please RSVP to run@stridesrunning.com, so we know how many chairs will be needed.

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CyclingWEST nominates 4 granfondos in The WEST for UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT)

jonathan — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:38:20 +0000

By CyclingWest

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

Riders in the 2012 GranFondo Highwood Pass in the Canadian Rockies. This is one of four events CyclingWEST suggests would make a great UWCT-sanctioned event. (Photo: Granfondo Highwood Pass)

As announced in CyclingWEST this week, the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT) plans to sanction at least one granfondo/sportif cycling event in either the western U.S. or western Canada for the 2014 season.

This post outlines my opinion that such an event in The WEST is desirable. I am also providing my list of events that I think should be on UWCT’s short-list for consideration and negotiation. (Yes, negotiation is necessary because successful organizers may not want the UWCT interfering in their events.)

Riders in the 2012 Gran Fondo San Diego in the hills east of the city. (Photo: Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego)

The ultimate challenge

Basically, I believe a UWCT-sanctioned event in The WEST would bring the ultimate challenge of world-class competition to riders in our region who enter granfondo/sportif/century events to “race” their age group peers and/or to “race” for a personal best time.

Furthermore, well-organized UWCT-sanctioned events will still allow other riders — usually the majority — who are seeking a more recreational experience to meet their objectives. From my observations, beginners are intent on finishing their first events safely and with gusto. Then in successive events they move on to other objectives, such as personal bests, comparisons with their age group peers, and more challenging courses. Thus, the ultimate challenge of qualifying for the UWCT finals — and perhaps actually riding in the finals — can become a goal of today’s beginners.

However, it is clear that many endurance road cycling organizers (granfondos, sportifs or centuries) in The WEST don’t agree with me that racers and more laid-back riders can co-exist.

These anti-racing organizers make a point of describing their events as non-race festivals, probably for two reasons.

One, they believe their target market is intimidated by any association with “racing”.
Two, proper racing means keeping meticulous results, start-line seeding and effective route marshalling, all of which add expense and complexity for organizers.

Actually, I get a chuckle out of organizers who describe their events as granfondos and promote the connection with the Italian cycling culture of celebration, yet ignore the fact that real Italian granfondos also have a fiercely competitive component. You can “race” an authentic Italian granfondo or you can “ride” an Italian granfondo. In Italy, the pros and fast amateurs are seeded at the front, while others seed themselves depending on their objectives: race or ride.

Non-racing events can be fun

Yes, non-racing granfondos are a lot of fun and can be very challenging. My wife and I rode and very much enjoyed the Echelon event in Hood River, OR last September, which was not timed and was governed by “normal rules of the road” instead of closed roads and marshalled intersections. We finished the event riding through the busy downtown traffic and obeying traffic lights and stop signs.

There was no “finish line” or anything resembling fan-fare. We simply turned into a parking lot, then grabbed a cold beer and a great meal. Best of all was the challenging course through a maze of twisty, scenic, quiet roads that non-local riders might never discover on a visit to the area.

Racing events can be fun

However, timed events are no less fun. We also rode and enjoyed the Valley First GranFondo Axel Merckx Okanagan in Penticton, B.C. last July. Participants could race against their age group peers or just ride for enjoyment and personal accomplishment.

Unfortunately, this event frustrated racers — and probably reduced safety — by having the 2,000 participants in both the granfondo and mediofondo events start at the same time. The result was a logjam that persisted for several kilometres. Also, the fair racing component of the event was suspect because some racers received rolling support from feed cars, while others had no choice but to stand in long lines at water/feed stations.

Nevertheless, the finish was triumphant for all. As we rode under the arch across the finish line, we were identified by name by the race announcer, photographed and cheered by spectators. Then food, drink and story swapping.

Bottom line, great fun on a challenging, scenic and partially-closed and well-marshalled course.

My short list for UWCT sanction

GranFondo Highwood Pass, July 13: Gran Fondo Highwood Pass travels through the heart of the Rockies over the highest road pass in Canada. The ride begins in Longview, AB and finishes 146 kilometres north at Morley, AB. Both are short drives west of Calgary, AB and three-four hours southwest of Edmonton, AB.The point-to-point format presents some complications, but this format is handled by other UWCT events, including the world final in Trento, Italy.

The organizer is Calgary-based TransRockies Inc. and the event’s benefitting charities are the Canadian and Alberta Alpine ski teams.

MORE HERE

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Volunteer Rewards Program

jonathan — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:43:25 +0000

TransRockies Events and the TransRockies Race Series announces the launch of the Volunteer Rewards Program.

Interested in volunteering at a TransRockies Race Series event and being rewarded for your efforts? Join the TransRockies Race Series Volunteer Rewards Program and receive the following:

$100 per day credit for volunteering at any TransRockies Race Series Event (Skirt Chaser 5k and Run at the Ranch positions = $50)

credit can be applied towards either race registrations or merchandise in the TransRockies Online Store

volunteers receive the event specific swag for the event they work

Conditions:

only when open volunteer positions are available

Must accept the position assigned (although preferences considered)

Only in-stock merchandise

Credits may only be applied to events that are not sold-out

No cash value

No-show volunteers may be ineligible for future opportunities

Transferrable to friends and family

Credit Expire in 12 months if not used

For more information contact Kevin McDonald at kevin (at) transrockies.com or call 403-454-6577.

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Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2

jonathan — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:47:35 +0000

“Marathon Man” Martin Parnell successfully completed his Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2. On Sunday March 3^rd he ran the Kilimanjaro marathon in 5hrs 00min 23sec, then, starting at 9.15am on Wednesday March 6^th he climbed Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) and returned to the start in 37hrs 50mins 30sec.

“This was my toughest physical challenge yet. The marathon was run in 28C temperatures and I had to make sure I stayed hydrated. I ran with Lau Mufuru, owner of Boma Africa, a trekking company and Kidori, a porter. Three days later the three of us were at the start line of the Kilimanjaro Mountain Umbwe Route. This is recognised as the toughest of the six routes to the top of the highest mountain in Africa. We passed through five ecological zones: Cultivated, Tropical, Moreland, Desert and Arctic. We ran into trouble in the Arctic zone. We took a wrong turn and spent an extra 3 hours making our way across scree slopes and rock faces. The altitude hit me hard and every step was a challenge. We finally summited after 21 hours.”

Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2 (Quest #7) was a fundraiser for the Right To Play, a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Martin hopes to raise $25,000 and donations in support of his Quest can be made at http://righttoplay.akaraisin.com/kilimanjaroquest .Right To Play partners will match every $1 raised by adding $3 more.

In his “Quests for Kids” initiative, Martin is attempting to complete 10 “Quests” in 5 years, raise $1m for Right To Play and help 20,000 children. In 2010, Martin successfully undertook “Marathon Quest 250” running 250 marathons in one year to raise money for Right To Play. The Cochrane based, semi retired Mining Engineer clocked up a total distance of 10,550km by running 42.2 kilometres five times a week, wearing out 25 pairs of running shoes in the process. Subsequent “Quests” have included four Guinness World Records (Netball Quest 61, Lacrosse Quest 24, Soccer Quest 42 and Hockey Quest 500 (pending verification) plus running three times around the island of Rarotonga (Cook Island Quest100).

To date “Quests for Kids” has raised $529,000 for Right To Play and, with matching funds, helped over 21,500 kids.

For more information about “Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2”, please contact:

Martin Parnell:

email: mjparnell@shaw.ca

phone: 403.668.1669

cell: 403.922.0562

website: www.marathonquest250.com

facebook: MarathonQuest250

twitter: @mq250

Leesha Mufuru:

email : info@bomaafrica.com

cell: 780.993.2662

website: www.bomaafrica.com

facebook: bomaafrica

twitter: @bomaafrica

For more information on Quests for Kids visit www.marathonquest250.com, email Martin at mjparnell@shaw.ca, phone 403 668 1669

About Right To Play:

Right To Play is a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity in more than 20 countries. A pioneer in its field, Right To Play uses sport and play as tools to build essential life skills and create social change, impacting 835,000 children each week. Programming in Canada includes the enhancement of education in priority schools, and the Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program in Northern Ontario. Founded in 2000 by four-time Olympic gold medalist and social entrepreneur Johann Olav Koss, our programs are facilitated by nearly 12,000 volunteer Coaches. Learn more about Right To Play at www.righttoplay.ca.

About Boma Africa:

Boma Africa is a non-profit Expedition Company offering outreach adventures throughout Tanzania. As a tour company Boma Africa is unique, as it is firstly a self-sustaining non-profit organization. Boma Africa uses the tourism industry as a direct and sustainable means of generating funds for community projects. Boma Africa’s founder had the dream of being able to help his community, but like many Tanzanians, faced the daily struggles of life in poverty. Wanting to find a way to help without relying on donations from abroad, he realized he could put his many years of experience in tourism to good use, making the perfect combination; a tour company and NPO in one. Boma Africa’s tour company is pristine, providing the highest quality expeditions and unique adventures, suiting every traveler and every budget. Learn more about Boma Africa at www.bomaafrica.com .

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2013 TransRockies Challenge Louis Garneau Jersey

jonathan — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:42 +0000

The post 2013 TransRockies Challenge Louis Garneau Jersey appeared first on TransRockies Race Series by TransRockies Events.

Impact Magazine Trail Running Photo Essay

jonathan — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:46:40 +0000

A beautiful photo essay in the March 2013 issue of Impact Magazine courtesy of Raven Eye Photography.

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2013 Gran Fondo Highwood Pass Jersey

jonathan — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:36:14 +0000

The 2013 Gran Fondo Highwood Pass Louis Garneau Jersey.

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Alpen-Traum – Cross the Alps in one Day

jonathan — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:27:38 +0000

Cross the Alps in just one day. With its spectacular ascents the ENDURA Alpen-Traum has the potential to become a cycling classic. Riders will follow a scenically beautiful, diverse course sporting a challenging route from Sonthofen (Allgäu) through Tirol to Sulden am Ortler (Südtiroler Vinschgau).

Whether you are an ambitious hobby cyclist or performance-orientated racer – you will get your moneys worth on the 250 kilometre long route featuring 6000 metres of climbing. The absolutely amazing ascent to one of Europe’s highest passes, the Stilfser Joch, with its 2757 meters and a breath-taking view over the Alps will be worth the price of admission.

Those looking for a less ambitious option can go for the shorter version of the ENDURA Alpen-Traum. This route will cover 150 kilometres from Landeck over Pillerhöhe, Umbrail and Stilfser Joch to the combined finish.

PDF info sheet HERE. Website HERE.

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