Run for Peace 5K

A partly cloudy morning greeted NORSA co-founder, Adam D, as he awoke at 7:00 AM after getting immunizations and watching Jay Leno's final Tonight Show the day before. Not bothering to shower since he was about to run a race, Adam made it to the start with plenty of time to register and stretch before the 8:00 AM start time of the St. Francis of Assisi "Run For Peace" 5K. So, after tying his running shoes, Adam went to the packet pick-up and donned his bib for the race.

The race started promptly at 8:00 AM and took Adam and the other runners through neighborhood areas near St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The course went through a pleasant neighborhood with mild to moderate rolling hills. The fellow who won the race was from Raleigh, NC. The times were chip-computed and it's a pretty solid fact that he finished in exactly 16 minutes and 2 seconds.

After the race, massages were available, bagels and Gatorade were provided, as well as bananas and oranges - the usual post-race shenanigans that follow most road-running races.

31st Annual BOLDERBoulder 10K

May 25th, 2009 – Memorial Day – Denver, Colorado: NORSA co-founder Tom Saffell awakens on the couch in his cousin’s apartment. Tossing on some shorts and an old shirt, Tom and his cousin, Tim, hop in the car for the forty-five minute drive to Boulder for the 31st Annual BOLDERBoulder 10K road running race. Boulder’s elevation is 5,400 feet above sea level and altitude sickness is a concern for coastal runners. Roughly 53,000 runners participated in the 2009 BOLDERBoulder and, though, they started in many, many different waves, many would not even finish because of the fun sideline events and goings-on along the course.

Throughout the race, there were Blues Brothers impersonators, belly dancers, people giving beer away out of keg parties in their front yards, slip-n-slides, and at mile five next to the last water stop, there was also the last chance for bacon. The course rolls through downtown Boulder, several portions of the surrounding neighborhood, and finally finishes with an uphill run into the University of Colorado’s stadium where the finish line comes up after runners run ¾ of the way around the stadium track while the Jumbo-tron follows their progress.

After the race, Michelob Ultra, the usual health food sponsor snacks, and some fruit were distributed to the racers in nifty little lunch sacks after they turned in their timing chips. Tom’s cousin ran in wave DC and Tom ran in wave G; the waves went up to the letter combination of NP. Post-race events included a sky-diving team parachuting into the stadium with flags commemorating POWs and a runners’ expo with many tents set up for the races many sponsors.

The altitude definitely played a role in the race and many people were unable to finish. Other folks didn’t finish because they were content to simply stop running and join one of the sideline parties. Professional photographers caught some shots of Tom mid-race (above) and as he rounded the track to finish the race. Tim (Bib # DC089) finished in 00:53:49 and Tom (Bib # G014) finished in 01:19:14 and results are available on the race's official website.

Cascade Lake Sprint Tri

I decided to run in the Cascade Lake Sprint Triathlon on Sunday, May 31. There are 12 spots left if anybody wishes to join me.

The race is only 30 minutes from Emmitsburg, so I may stay at the old stone house the night before the race. Even if you don't do the race, you can come to Emmitsburg for a lunch BBQ if we get enough interest.

-- Steve-o

Tybee 500 Recap!

This past week, NORSA members Alan and Adam traveled up Florida's east coast with the Tybee 500 sailboat race. The race is a multi-day beach catamaran race from Islamorada, Florida to Tybee Island, Georgia. The distance is ~540 miles as the crow flies, but many teams reported sailing near 600 miles on their GPS tracks.

Alan, a three time sailor with the race, was crewing aboard Team Velocity 1/Anarchy Challenge with NORSA friend Trey Brown. Sailing in the Nacra 20 class, they finised in second place with a total elapsed time of two days, 54 minutes, and 27 seconds - only 15 minutes behind the first place finisher.


Adam was working as pusher/ground crew for a team out of Annapolis Maryland, Team Pirates of the Chesapeake consisting of skipper Keith Chapman and Alec Dauhmeier. The Pirates began planning for this race in 2005, attempted it in 2007 (but wrecked their boat in the surf during a start on the third day), and were finally able to complete the race in a respectable 11th place in the Nacra 20s.

After rigging the boats and a daily 9 AM skippers meeting, the crews would perform last minute preparations and shove off the beach at 10 AM (with an 8 AM start on the last day). The boats would race up the coast to their next waypoint and, depending on the conditions and distance, would arrive anywhere between 4:00 PM and 3:00 AM, all to do it again the next day.





Congrats to Trey and Alan and the Pirates for their excellent finishes, as well as to the entire six boat Team Velocity squadron and all competitors and ground crew. Photos, results, and discussion are available at the Tybee 500 page, the Team Velocity page, Sailing Anarchy, the Team Pirates of the Chesapeake page, and Wendy's flickr photostream.

Rise to the Challenge 5K

An overcast morning greeted NORSA co-founder, Tom Saffell, as he awoke at 7:00 AM after a late night at McFadden's in DC. Rushing to shower and get to the race before the 8:00 start time, Tom later realized that he was an hour early for the 9:00 actual start time of the St. John's "Rise to the Challenge" 5K to raise money for the church and support healthy lifestyles for youth across the county. So, after sleeping in his car for 45 minutes, Tom went to the packet pick-up and donned his bib for the race.

The race started promptly at 9:00 AM and took Tom and the other runners through areas of the township near St. John the Evangelist Church. The course was interesting since it was seemingly very short, but the runners soon discovered that they would have to lap the long loop in the middle of the course twice. The fellow who won the race was a University of Richmond Track & Field athlete and, though the times were not chip-computed and are yet to be confirmed, it's a pretty solid estimate that he finished in roughly 26 minutes

After the race, blood pressure readings were available, blood donations signups were accepted, bagels and Gatorade were provided, as well as bananas and oranges - the usual post-race shenanigans that follow most road-running races.

Fort Reno Returns from Arsenic Hiatus!

Arsenic cannot hold back good music, good times, and outdoor fun!! In 2008, Fort Reno was closed and fenced off because of high levels of arsenic in the soil. The arsenic problem now having been remedied, the FREE concert series that has been held there for the past three decades is now back in effect, but needs help to get back to its former glory.

For over 30 years Fort Reno Summer Concerts have been held at Fort Reno park; and in that time we've been host to hundreds of bands. Shows are held twice weekly from mid-June until mid-August at Fort Reno Park in Northwest DC. The park is located 2 blocks north of the Tenleytown-AU Metro stop on the Red Line. Concerts start at 7:15 PM and are over by 9:30 PM. We try to keep shows family and pet friendly, so feel free to bring the kids and your hound. The latter may need a leash. Please know that glass bottles, drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited, and unwelcome. The series is entirely volunteer run at all levels and relies on donations for park permits and the cost of getting the sound guys to show up.

Excerpt taken from the concert series' own facebook page (links added, minor edits)

Fun facts about Fort Reno:

- Supported by DC-icon and influential punk idol Ian MacKaye (frontman/guitartist of Fugazi, Rites of Spring, Minor Threat, Get Evens and co-founder of Dischord Records which produces only DC-based music).

- The concert series is actually run by Ian's sister, Amanda MacKaye.

- In 1864, Robert E. Lee sent General Jubal A. Early on a northern flanking march through Rockville to attack Washington, DC. Fort Reno saw its last Civil War combat at the ensuing "Battle of Fort Stevens," which involved much of Northwest DC.

Right now, all bands are submitted for the 2009 series and the concert list is coming soon, NORSA members will likely attend several, so please help this DC staple and join us for a show!

Tybee 500

Arguably the most extreme beach catamaran race on the planet, the Tybee 500 begins Monday morning at Islamorada, Florida and ends six days later in Tybee Island, Georgia.

There are several NORSA members participating in various roles - ranging from veteran sailors and winning hopefuls to ground crew.

Follow along with daily updates from associated teams, Team Velocity and Team Pirates of the Chesapeake

Impromptu Hatteras!

A forecast of great weather and good wind was enough of a tease to entice a convergence of Raleigh NORSA members Alan Stewart, Adam D, and Taylor Hinson with Norfolk member Travis Dozier on Sunday.



Phone calls were made Friday evening and plans were quickly put in place for a Sunday day trip to Canadian Hole on Hatteras Island. Travis, an experienced kitesurfer, had acquired a new quiver of kites and Alan's Hobie 18 was in need of a good workout. Despite getting a later than anticipated start Sunday morning, the Raleigh crew still made it down in short time to view warm water, a beautiful sun, and winds a little greater than anticipated. Local anemometers measured steady 25 mph winds with gusts in the 30s. Windsurfers were cruising in their smallest 4.8 and 4.2 meter sails and kitesurfers were seen with their smallest gear likewise.

Travis' smallest kite is an 8 meter kite, and unfortunately his smallest working kite is a 12 meter. Being unprepared for such gnarly conditions, the entire crew focused on making the hobie 18 rip.



Unable to reef the sail, the crew decided to forgo use of the jib and use all four people to hold the overpowered boat down. The boat shot off the beach into the sound amongst a pack of windsurfers swirling about. Unfortunately, the benefits of Canadian Hole for windsurfing (waist-deep water for extremely long distances) proved to be too much for the sailboat. Upon hitting a shoal at high speed, one of the rudders failed to kick up and instead, placed a solid hole in the rear of one transom. The true nature of the damage was revealed after the limp back to shore with a sinking hull.



Despite only getting half a run in, a day in Hatteras is pleasure enough. The NORSA crew used the remaining time to tour lighthouses,



swim in the ocean near the point,


and even hold a photo-shoot for the newly inked EYE of the World apparel line (available at the newly re-designed www.eyeotw.org).