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Monday, September 11th, marked the six year anniversary of the events that occurred in 2001. It was six years ago that I set out to create a Seattle Marathon Relay and it is that time of year to put together the "iUWR" event for November 4th, 2007.
There is a lot of information listed so take the time to read through it when you have time, but please, do read through the next paragraph for the main information.
Bottom Line ... This is an invitation for you to participate on November 4th, 2007 to coincide with the New York City Marathon. All ages are welcome as well as all abilities. The distance can be as short as 2.5 miles for relay teams. Last year we had a good representation and I hope to have a good outing this year. The distance can be covered in any fashion you choose and by as many participants as you choose. Run, walk, skip or crawl. There is no cost for the run. At this time I am also working on the t-shirt design and those will be for sale to participants or anyone else. This is a chance to get involved with an event that coincides with an event that has been going on in New York for the last 37 years, even after the attack on New York. This is very much a casual event as stated. You can forward a response or any questions to iUWR_2007@yahoo.com. I also need volunteer help for the ten water stations. If you want to help with the water stations or have someone else that can help while you are part of a team, it would be greatly appreciated. Upon the completion of the race, the groups usually find time to have fish and chips at Spud's Restaurant on Alki.
… and the details behind the run …
This is an event that I started after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. New York chose not to change plans for the New York Marathon which was scheduled to run through the streets of all five city boroughs on Sunday, November 4th of 2001.
Anton Smeets, a Dutch ultra runner who wanted to make the New York Marathon a symbolic statement against terrorism had launched a campaign to declare November 4th of 2001 a world-wide run for freedom. I decided that I would join the cause and hold a Marathon in the Seattle area to join with the iUWR movement.
Anton Smeets … 2001:
"As far as running is concerned, I did understand that people who are living in the center of attack have asked the world to continue the NYC Marathon on November 4th. It is their way of carrying on. I agree with this. Such terror cannot dictate our way of living."
"Pheidippides was a protected runner, 25 centuries ago. Nobody could attack the messenger! After all these centuries, some rules of history are hopefully preserved; thousands of Pheidippides-like people are expected to run on November 4th, 2001 through New York, making a statement that century-old rules can still apply."
"November 4th of 2001 will be world-wide run for freedom! Following the spirit of New York, other runners will be able to express there feelings as well. Go on Sunday to your nearest city where a marathon takes place."
I am taking on the task to inform all my running friends, their friends
and my co-workers to join me on November 4th of this year and take part
in the world-wide run for freedom. Interurban Running Club members Steve
Barrick and Jim Anderson have used this course for their Green River Marathon
Relay that takes place in June. We use the same course. It begins at the
intersection of the Green River trail and the Interurban trail in South
Kent just off the Willis exit of Hwy 167. The course follows the scenic
Green/Duwamish trails past Russell Road Park, Christianson Greenbelt Park,
and Fort Dent Park as the river winds its way to Puget Sound and Alki
beach. The run is very flat with two short hills late in the run. The
last few miles have views of Seattle and Puget Sound towards the Olympics.
The finish is in front of Spud's Fish & Chips at Alki.
I, of course, am not asking any of you to run a Marathon, but to be part of the iUWR event. We can get together participants and make it a relay with any number. There are no formal rules or divisions. Many of the parks have restrooms along the way. Support is limited, so those with special nutritional and fluid needs are encouraged to make their own arrangements. Volunteers are always needed and appreciated for this event.
Please pass this on to your friends and help me coordinate all the different groups. Summer is on its way out and fall in on its way in. This year seemed to fly by too quickly … but it seems to be that way every year lately. Rain or shine … if only one can make it or fifty can make it, the event will go on in support of those running in New York and to remember those lives that were lost on the day in 2001.
If you have any interest in putting a team together or would like to run
and be placed on a team, that can work as well. The average distance of
a leg is around 2.5 miles. You can choose any increment of 2.5 miles.
iUWR Course Map
Teams in the past have done things like:
· Five runners. Each ran a leg and then did repeats. Runner one
ran the first and sixth, second runner ran second and seventh legs. ...
and so on.
· Ten runners to run a leg each.
· Five runners. The first four ran 2.5 each and the last ran 16.2
· We even have walkers start off the first 2.5 or 5.0 miles of
the race as a group and just stop there.
· Two runners each running half each.
· One year a couple dads got together and had a father-daughter
day. They each ran five miles while their daughters rode their bike with
them.
This is very much a casual event, I cannot express that enough.
Jason Gordon Thanks, |
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Good Eyes Jase I missed this one:) |