Yes, it’s 4:30 a.m. and I’m up blogging for Komen. Our great friends at Fox8 will be on the Race Site very early this morning with live feeds during the morning news, so it’s an early morning for me. And I’ll admit I’m pretty excited about my first Komen NC Triad Race for the Cure! Finally, the day is almost here! The 9th Annual Komen NC Triad Race for the Cure is tomorrow!
I’ve been out to the Race site several times this week, and the excitement is building. The tents are up, and today the decorating begins. If you’re in the neighborhood of Old Salem, you’ll begin to see signs that something big will happen in the Triad tomorrow.
The Race Office at Hanes Mall has been rocking, as well, with hundreds of Racers dropping by to register and pick up t-shirts. If you haven’t been by, try to stop in today to try out our new giving kiosks provided by SecurePointe Technologies.
After long months of planning and preparation, with thousands of volunteer hours and incredible support from our local sponsors and donors, we are ready for a record-setting race. There will be more teams in the Race this year, and our long-time Teams continue to grow. We expect to have more Race participants than ever before, and to raise more money for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment support!
What’s new this year? The 5K starts first, at 8:30, with the 1-mile to follow. We’ll have food and water at the start line. And those who drop by to support the Race as spectators will have the opportunity to donate securely onsite through our new giving kiosk! We’ll be taping a special message to send to the National Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in DC in June. Local Band Native Sound will provide Celebration Entertainment. New National Race Series Sponsor Fuze will be on site with a giant inflatable video screen.
For the 5K walkers, keep your eyes peeled on 4th Street for the pink Komen Rally Car! We will be represented in this month’s Big Apple to Big Easy Rally, and our drivers will be taking donations as local supporters sign the car. It’s not every day that two guys drive thousands of miles in a pink car, so you’ll want to get a peek tomorrow morning and around town over the next few weeks.
The Survivor Tent is larger this year, as is Susan’s Garden, where we honor those who are fighting the disease and remember those whom we have lost.
I hope you’re planning to join us. There’s still time to register — stop by our Hanes Mall location today from 9 – 6, or sign up tomorrow morning at the Race. You don’t want to miss it!
May 4, 2008 at 11:09 am
This was my first Triad Race for the Cure. I participated last year in the Foothills Race, at Lenoir Rhyne College – certainly a different experience! Your event was MASSIVE!
If I could, I would like to make a suggestion or two:
1. PLEASE consider at least attempting to recycle plastic bottles next year. I believe that an environmental issue is a health/cancer issue as well.
2. If you think you may have to delay the race for 25 minutes again, consider having a Port-a-john near the Start Line
3. Please do a better job of recognizing the race participants. Do you know that some runners/walkers start “training” for this race 3 months in advance?! Finishing is a big deal and winning is even bigger. I realize this is a fund-raiser concerned with a huge life/death issue for the majority of pariticipants. But, it is a road race as well, or folks would not pay $25 for chip timing.
Thank you.