Some ramblings from the Sept. 28 meeting.

The club has decided to move forward with events on Oct. 8 and Thursday, Nov. 24.

The event on Oct. 8 will be a benefit for the Longleaf Trace to assist with its cleanup. Cost to enter the event will be $5 – there will be no pre-registration. The event will begin and end at the Gateway Pavilion, with the starting gun sounding at 8 a.m. The event will include door prizes and the traditional Coke/POWERade products, bananas, oranges, etc. A note about parking that morning – because of the Southern Miss home football game that evening, runners and walkers will not be able to park in the lot directly in front of the Gateway Pavilion. Instead, please park in the old West parking lot directly west of the Longleaf Trace lot. The Trace parking that morning will be labeled "Longleaf Trace Game Day Parking Only." In addition, please move your car prior to noon or it will be towed. See the Oct. 8 event flier. Remember, this is a Gran Prix event, and with only a couple events remaining every point is valuable!!! Only three events remain (possibly a fourth) – the Longleaf Trace Benefit 5K, the Ellisville Fest 5K on Oct. 29 and the Thanksgiving Day Run. I’ve also gotten word that William Carey is attempting to replace its 5K, originally scheduled for Oct. 1, prior to the end of the year. Remember, we’ll crown our first Gran Prix champions on Dec. 31 at the Steam Whistle 12K, with that event beginning the 2006 series.

Below is a list of duties we have assigned; we’ll need a few more volunteers as well. If you are willing to help, please let me know by midweek. Thanks.

Ensure water coolers/sports drink/water make it to the event – Hollie/Becky

Ensure tent/tables make it to the event – Keith/Jim

Check with Corner Market concerning fruit – Yousri (Robin check with Yousri)

Ensure race clock makes it the event – Hollie/Becky/Jim

Volunteers to provide splits at 1-mile, halfway and 2-mile – Nancy Munn/Need two more volunteers

Ensure 1-mile and 2-mile signs make it to the event – Hollie/Becky

Check for door prizes – Dawn/Jim with USM; Robin with Soccer Locker; Keith with Steve

Notify Hattiesburg American about the event – Jim

Produce race flyer – Dawn

Call out times, pass out finishing cards at finish line – Hollie/Becky

Compile results – Need two volunteers

Work registration table – Need two volunteers

Thanks to all those who have volunteered their support of the event already.

Club members also discussed the Thanksgiving Day event. This event will be held Thursday, 8 a.m., on the HubFest 5K course beginning and ending at Kamper Park, pending City of Hattiesburg approval. It is our attention to make this a large event this year utilizing many of our resources from HubFest, including race sponsors. It is also our intention to have it benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as the HubFest 5K has done in the past.

Perhaps the biggest news concerning the proposed race is that Dawn Smith has volunteered to serve as race director for the event. As many of you who have assisted in the organization of races in the past know this is a huge undertaking, and I know I speak for many in the club when I say we thank Dawn for her willingness to volunteer.

Some important items we need to address quickly – a race name (something other than Turkey Trot, preferably) and the production of the race pamphlet. On the subject of race pamphlet, I’d like to encourage all Pacers to thank Steve Ulery for his efforts in producing and printing the race pamphlets for HubFest again this year – sorry your efforts went to waste this year Steve. As many of you know, year after year Steve puts together the race pamphlet for HubFest and does a tremendous job with such an important part of a successful race. With that being said, in order to produce the Thanksgiving Day race pamphlet, we will need to take care of several items quickly, including confirming our HubFest sponsors are willing to support this event as a substitute for HubFest. If you’ve arranged for a sponsor in support of HubFest, please confirm this with that sponsor, and send word yes or no to Dawn A.S.A.P.

The club also came to the following decisions regarding the Thanksgiving Day run. Awards – overall male and female; masters male and female; grandmasters male and female; and two deep in the following age groups 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+. We’re also continuing our trophy collection project so if you have old trophies cluttering up your closet please get them to Becky or Hollie quickly. Registration fees will be $12 ($10 for Pine Belt Pacers) pre-registered; $15 for all on race day. We also ask that if you held a position in the organization of HubFest, please volunteer your services for the organization of this race for this year. If you are not willing or cannot assist we certainly understand, but please let Dawn know. She can be reached at 601-266-4218 or Dawn.Smith@usm.edu. As many of you know Dawn will be participating in the Chicago Marathon this weekend – when she returns we’ll schedule a time to finalize many of the Thanksgiving Day run plans.

Congratulations also are in order I understand for Vicki Copeland, who placed second in her age group in the Big Sur Half Marathon in Big Sur, Calif.

Hope to see you all on Saturday.

Jim