Grant-Pierce Indoor Marathon

Tidal Basin Run presents
4th Annual GRANT-PIERCE INDOOR MARATHON
Sunday, July 14, 2013, at 9:00 AM
Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd Street South, Arlington VA 22204
www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin/marathon.html

The fourth annual Grant-Pierce Indoor Marathon is Sunday, July 14, starting at 9:00 AM, at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd Street South, Arlington VA.

In 2010, Arlington's Michael Wardian set the world record for the fastest marathon ever run on an indoor track, 2:27:12. In 2012, Barry Goldmeier set a world record for the fastest marathon ever indoors run juggling three balls, and Chris Campbell set a world record for the fastest marathon ever run indoors wearing a kilt. (Believe it or not, Guinness actually tracks these records.)

In 2010, we had 7 starters and 4 finishers (winner: Michael Wardian)

In 2011, we had 14 starters and 10 finishers (winners: Michael Wardian and Dana Casanave)

In 2012, we had 43 starters and 36 finishers (winners: Michael Wardian and Dana Casanave)

Only five places in the USA currently host indoor marathons:

All finishers earn the coveted Grant-Pierce Indoor Marathon belt buckle

For full information and registration, please see www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin/marathon.html

We look forward to welcoming you as a participant or a spectator!

How about 211 laps around the 200-meter indoor track at Thomas Jefferson Community Center

for the 4th annual Grant-Pierce Indoor Marathon, in pursuit of a World Record?

Get in on the fun!

Optionally, you may try for the world record for the indoor 50 kilometer (50K)

In 2010, marathon/ultramarathon champion Michael Wardian set a world record of 2:27:21 at this event, breaking Olympic Marathoner Joie Ray's record of 2:34:54, set in 1928 in Boston

In 2011, Wardian repeated his win, but his 3:15:19 came a week after he ran a six-day race across the Sahara Desert

In 2012, Wardian three-peated -- no world record, but a win is a win is a win -- and Dana Casanave two-peated as women's champion

Indoor marathon world list - top 50 | With ages added

The women's world record is 3:08:53.8, set by Melissa Gillette on February 26, 2012, in Goshen, Indiana | February 26, 2012 -- "World record likely set today at Maple Leaf Marathon" -- in The Elkhart Truth

Tidal Basin Run offers a $100 cash prize each to the male and female winner, $50 to second and third, PLUS a $100 bonus each to the male or female winner for a world record

Entry Fee: $50 by April 30, $60 by May 31, $70 by June 30, $80 after June 30

Volunteers: Volunteers who do not use the track are welcome for free. Volunteers, please report to Ric Francke. We need at least 10 volunteer timers each to fill in the MarathonLaps score sheet for 3 runners.

Time limit: six hours, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. During the marathon, the track is closed to the public. Doors close at 3:30 PM.

Live announcer: Nationally-known radio personality CHUCK WILLIAMS

Instead of t-shirts, we present a pewter belt buckle to all finishers within the six-hour time limit. (Traditionally, belt buckles are presented in 100-mile races. We hope it's OK to present them for a 211-lap race.)

You may order extra buckles - 1 for $20, 2 for $19 each, 3 for $18 each, 4 for $17 each, 5 for $16 each

Message to entrants:

Thank you for entering Grant-Pierce Indoor Marathon, Sunday, July 14, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time, at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd Street South, Arlington VA 22204.

More information will follow

Read our 2012 Welcome Letter

Some FAQs:

Q. How many aid stations?
A. Just one, but you pass it 210 times. You're never more than 200 meters from water and athletic beverage.

Q. Does utilization of the timing system mean that runners do not have to stay in lane 1? Will accurate distance be measured regardless of lane?
A. You must run 211 laps, but you may use any of the four lanes.

Q. Are pacers/spectators allowed to run with racers?
A. Yes, but only for brief periods. The track is open only to entrants during the race.

Q. Will I be allowed to use my own water bottles?
A. Yes, we will have several tables on the outside of the track, one just for personal provisions. Please mark your personal bottles with your name. No food please. Refreshment tables will be on the outside of the track at the south end of the gym.

Q. Can I bring my own jelly beans and chocolate?
A. Yes, place them on the table for personal provisions. Since TJ does not allow food in the gym, please count your jelly beans. You wouldn't want to lose one.

Q. The chip will tick off our laps if we stay to the left...so are the volunteer lap counters there just for backup if the timing system isn't counting laps right?
A. YES. The timing system and the volunteer lap counters will be under the clock at the west side of the track.

Q. lf so, if I can't bring a volunteer, will there be anyone there that can count my laps?
A. YES.

Welcome to our currently-entered Class of 2013:

Mike Sheahan, M 38, Washington DC

Jay Jacob Wind, M 63, Arlington VA

Each of you has your own story.

If you send Jay a blurb about yourself, he will add it to our web page www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin/marathon.html

Biographies

Mike Sheahan is running his first indoor marathon and 11th overall.

Jay Jacob Wind is a veteran of 149 marathons. In 2010, the first year of the indoor marathon, when Michael Wardian set the world record of 2:27:21, we started the race at 6:00 PM on a Thursday night, with a 3:30 time limit so TJ could close on schedule at 9:50 PM. I was on target for about 15 miles, then I slowed up and got really chilly. I trudged another 4 miles, getting chilly in the air conditioning, and at 19 miles, I knew I wasn't going to make the 3:30 time limit, so I dropped out and went for a sauna to warm up. In 2011, I approached the race with the zeal of the truly committed. I blasted right through mile 19 and straight into mile 20, then picked up the pace from 8:30 per mile to 7:30 per mile and zoomed through those last 6 miles like they were a 10K. In 2012, I didn't even pause for a moment and held on strongly. At 2012 Hawk Indoor Marathon in Hagerstown MD, I ran 3:21:25, which may be a world record for men over 60. This year, I want to shatter that personal record.

Press Room:

January 23, 2009 -- "Indoor marathon follow-up: no record for you" -- in Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinal

Welcome letter:

Thank you for registering for Tidal Basin Run's Grant-Pierce Indoor Marathon, Sunday, July 14, starting at 9:00 AM at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd Street South, Arlington VA 22204.

From Arlington Boulevard (Route 50), take Irving Street south (use caution in the construction area). Turn right on 2nd Street South and proceed to free parking in front of TJ Center.

Doors open at 8:30 AM. We open race-day packet pick-up a few minutes after 8:30 AM at the table inside door #12, the main entrance to TJ.

Once you have your bib number, you may enter TJ and use the 200-meter indoor track to warm up. Spectators may enter for free.

For warm-ups, TJ also has a partly-shaded outdoor trail exactly 880 yards around -- 1/2 mile to the foot.

Once you receive your bib number, please pin it visibly on the front of your shirt, not folded or obscured in any way. Our Jaguar timing tags are embedded in your bib number. Please do not fold over the Jaguar timing tag.

At 8:50 AM, we play the National Anthem. At 8:55 AM, we gather all participants for final instructions. At 8:59 AM, we gather on the track for the start at 9:00 AM sharp, according to the clock on the wall above the start line.

We run the race counter-clockwise, just like on an outdoor track. During the race, please stay in the left-hand lane. When you pass another runner, please move to one of the two center lanes.

REFRESHMENTS

We serve refreshments alongside the outside lane of the track, so please move to the outside lane when you stop for water or athletic beverage.

Please bring a friend or relative to serve as a volunteer lap counter.

Please take a look at http://www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin/MarathonLaps.pdf

We will have one score sheet for each runner. The volunteer lap counters will fill in your time as you finish each lap. They may also inform you which lap you're on and help you count to 211, if necessary.

Radio personality Chuck Williams will keep you on your toes and motivated throughout the race.

After you finish, you may claim one of the pewter Grant-Pierce Marathon belt buckles, provided by Dynabuckle. See http://www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin/2012buckle.jpg for a picture. One to a customer, please. We thought these belt buckles would be a more memorable premium than just another t-shirt.

Immediately after they finish, Tidal Basin Run treasurer Ric Francke will present a check for $100 to the first male and first female finishers, $50 to second and third, plus a $100 bonus if the winner breaks a world record -- 2:27:21 for men, 3:08:53 for women.

On Sunday evening after the marathon, please look for complete results at www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin/20130714.html

Net proceeds go to cover refreshments and our RRCA non-profit membership.

ABOUT TIDAL BASIN RUN:

We conduct a free 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m at 12 noon on the third Wednesday of each month -- July 18 and August 15 at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road, Washington DC, then September 19, October 17, November 21, and December 19 at Hains Point, East Potomac Park, Washington DC.

We also conduct races on national holidays, usually at 12 noon, for $5 members, $10 non-members. featuring Chris Farmer's fantastic brownies.

See www.racepacket.com/tidalbasin for full information.

We also invite you to our friends' races -- see www.racepacket.com, www.pvtc.org, www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org, and www.mc-coop.org for lists of upcoming events.

-- Thank you
-- Event directors
-- Jay Jacob Wind, president, Tidal Basin Run
-- Ric Francke, treasurer, Tidal Basin Run
-- racedirector@att.net
-- 703-505-3567 (my cell phone)
-- 703-927-4833 (recorded message)
-- 703-521-6157 (my fax machine)

Michael Wardian dedicated his 2012 victory to his friend and inspiration, fellow North Face athlete Yan Dongdong. About Dongdong:

Born in 1984, Dongdong started climbing mountains in 2002, his freshman year in college. After graduating in 2005, Dongdong became a freelance translator, because such a lifestyle would grant a lot of free time - time to train for and go to the mountains. In May 2008, he was among the assault group which escorted the Olympic Torch to the summit of Everest, after eighteen months' training at the Chinese National Mountaineering Center. Dongdong then began to pursue the more simple, more intense form of mountaineering - exploring unknown areas and new peaks and routes in pure Alpine style, relying on the judgment and technical aptitude of himself and his partner(s) rather than large groups, fixed ropes or backup support. In January 2010, he became a sponsored athlete of The North Face China.
Since 2002, Dongdong had been on more than 40 expeditions and reached the summits of more than 20 peaks above 5000m including many first ascents and new routes including a 2008 Everest expedition.
On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, Dongdong was killed in the Xinjiang Province of China. He was on an expedition on Tomur, the highest peak in the Tianshan mountains, when he fell into a crevasse.