Why You Should Run a Destination Race

Guest Blog from Angela, a Running with the Bears Participant: Why You Should Run a Destination Race like Running with the Bears~

When I first started running, I kept a list of dates and times when people would tell me the joke: “I only run when I’m being chased.”  Even people who enjoy other types of exercise thought I was absolutely nuts to run. The universal question I always got asked was: “Why do you do it?”

I get it. Running is painful and challenging. But for me, I ran for the sole purpose of meditation. It quiets my mind, and I am grateful for it in a world of chaos.

Every runner has a different reason. Some people enjoy a challenge, others just want a medal. Some do it for health–I KNOW! Crazy, right?–reasons, or as an excuse to be able to eat a ridiculous amount of calories.

Whatever your reason may be, it’s certainly enough to keep you chasing after that sweet runner’s high. There’s nothing quite like crossing the finish line after agonizing for miles why you decided to torture your body. You have accomplished your goal, and your body rewards you with endorphins. But we know that we don’t always get the high–which is why you should run a destination race.

You’re asking: “Why should I shell out hundreds of dollars for travel, accommodation, and food expenses just to get a runner’s high?” Aside from the obvious, running the same routes over and over you’ll risk burnout. Destination races are a good excuse to discover a new place, gorge on the food, and subsequently, run it off. It’s a gathering of kindred spirits who share a silent solidarity in one goal: crossing that finish line. And that runner’s high. My experience is the more people around you who are sharing that same euphoria, that euphoria will last longer.

Other hobbyists do the same thing, and share the same excitement over whatever it is they came together to celebrate. They usually call it a convention, but it is my own personal opinion that it’s much cooler to say: “I’m in town for a race,” rather than “I’m here for a convention.” But then again, I’m guilty of visiting cities for conventions. I just feel more hard-core if I say the former rather than the latter.

Make it a reason to see the world! If you’re a down-home good-ol’-guy or gal–maybe a wilderness-wanderer type–you’ve got smaller races like Running With the Bears which is in Greenville, California. Best part?  The Bears race is Mountain Circle’s (a foster and adoption agency) annual fundraiser, which raises funds for foster care children and youth served by Mountain Circle Family Services. 

Nestled in Plumas County in the Sierra Nevadas, this is a race for which you can literally camp the night before. Don’t be fooled by the word “small;” this bad boy is a Boston Qualifier. Qualifier? If you’re new to running, I may have forgotten to mention that you have to qualify for some of the big city races. If you’re a runner wanting to qualify for Boston, well I’m your new best friend. This race is in a breathtaking location, and they will treat you like queens and kings.

My trail running partner is a year-old German Shepherd and when she joins me, she’ll even get her own medal. Don’t bother paying exorbitant fees for other qualifiers–this is an entire experience not worth missing. Hint: cold beer, massage, and party.

I read somewhere, sometime, that a person shouldn’t live the same year 75 times and call that a life. I agree. Life is dreadfully tedious and destination races are a good way to intertwine vacation with a healthy lifestyle.

Regards,

Guest Blogger Angela Y.

Running with the Bears Presents: How to Run With Your Dog

Running with a dog, by Running with the Bears Guest Blogger Dashing Dad~

RwtB race allows runners to run with their dogs, therefore we thought getting advice from a RwtB’s runner who has run our race  2x with his canine.  However, Rwtb needs to stress that our runners are required to run with a nonretrackable leash only.  Thanks Dashing Dad for offering your words of wisdom!

I run with my dog on most of my runs.  Luckily, my dog can run a marathon (Running with the Bears Marathon http://dashingdad.com/2015/08/27/running-with-the-bears-2015-recap/).    This means I can take her on just about any run I want to do.  How did I get such a great dog?  I got lucky.  My dog is the 3^rd running dog I have had, and they have all been working breeds (border collies specifically).  Working dogs have the energy to run long distances, love to please, and are easy to train.

There are many reasons to run with your dog.  They provide a sense of security from other animals (or humans), they give you somebody to talk to (other than yourself), they can help get you out the door for an early run (nothing like a cold nose to get you out of bed), and it keeps your dog healthy and trim.  But, you need to get the right dog and train them, both obedience and endurance wise, to match your running ability. Obviously, a German Sheppard can run faster (and farther) than a Chihuahua.

Building your dog’s endurance is the easy part.  Start just like you did when you started running. Assuming your dog likes to fetch and run around, you can probably start with an easy 5k.  Now, you probably shouldn’t start with a 20 minute 5k, but depending on your dog, a 30 minute or slower 5k should be no problem.  Gradually increase the distance.

Watch your dog, and if they start slowing down or walking. This also depends on your dog, but you may need to take some extra walk breaks or give your dog some water.  Once you start running farther, consider bringing hydration for your dog. If you need water on a run, your dog will probably need some too.  I wear a hydration pack, just for the dog.  I can drink out of fountains, the dog really can’t.  Of course, the dog can drink out of the river or stream, while I can’t.

Obedience is the big issue.  A dog that doesn’t listen will ruin a run, and possibly get you injured (or worse, sued because they injured somebody).  The two things your dog should know: they should know how to heal and some version of “No.”

The “No” command is vital so your dog doesn’t dart off to go chasing squirrels, rabbits, birds, other dogs, bikers, people, or an errant tumbleweed.  I use “leave it.”  It was something that I taught my dogs to not pick up a toy or the piece of food my toddler just dropped.  The advantage with working dogs is that they have learned that “leave it” means they should ignore whatever it is and keep doing their job.

Yes, with working dogs, running can be their job.  For working dogs, doing a job is almost as fun for them as playing.

But, you also need to watch for things that your dog might react to.  I usually run with my dog long before sunrise, in the dark, and one time she about killed me because of a trash bag on the side of the trail.  She cut in front of me, nearly tripping me.  Watch out for those type things to warn your dog to “leave it” or so you can take a wider berth.

The other primary obedience skill is getting your dog to heal, or to run by your side.  Running with a dog is not a game of “pull my owner” or “drag my dog.”  It should be a run with your dog at your side, preferably on your left side (or whatever side puts you between traffic and your dog).

 

Dashing Dad at Mile 18 of Running with the Bears 

 

I am a bit militant on this subject, but you should always run with your dog on a leash.  Not a retractable leash, but a real leash.  I use a hand-held leather leash, but I know lots of people who use the leash that ties to your waist, leaving your hands free.

The reason I am adamant about using a leash is because an off-leash dog can cause issues as they can run off or get into a dog fight if you can’t pull your dog off.  Your dog may be the best behaved, friendliest dog in the world.  But my dog probably won’t like your dog bothering her while she is running. With a leash I can keep her from attacking another dog that gets into her face.

All in all, once your dog is trained up, you will have an amazing running partner for years to come.  They will know when you have your running clothes on and would put your shoes on for you if they could.

Dashing Dad

Running with the Bears Interview Bart Yasso: Part IV

Continued from Part III:

Part IV: Bart Yasso Explains to Running with the Bears Why the Back of the Pack is a Powerful Place to Be~ 

Dr. Shauna Rossington (Executive Director of Mountain Circle Family Services): We’ve heard a lot about this famous Yasso 800’s…

Bart: Ahhh yes. This thing goes way back I just like to work out. I found that my times in the 800’s equal my marathon times, 37 years ago. Then a guy by the name of Amby Burfoot, who was the editor of Runner’s World for many years (and won the Boston Marathon), he was the guy that liked the whole idea and named it the Yasso 800’s. It was in our magazine in 1993, and I thought, people will talk about the Yasso 800’s for 30-days and it will just disappear. But that has not been the case! They are still out there and they talk about it all around the world! So it’s kinda fun to have a workout named after you. And Andy did it just because I have an unusual last name. It wouldn’t have worked if I was… you know… Jones.

Shauna: The Jones 800’s doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

Bart: I hear people all the time talk about it, and I’m standing right there, and they say, “I don’t even know what Yasso means! It’s named after some Yasso guy. I’ll be standing right there and I hear this stuff all the time. I get a kick out of it.

Shauna: We were wondering if you have decided to create a Yasso 800’s app??

Bart: I never got into this stuff for the money or the fame. I’m a pretty low key guy. I mean, I do my job, and I work a lot of hours and travel non-stop. But I really focus on trying to get people to become runners, trying to get people who are already runners to take their running to the next level, and trying to get people to use this sport to get others involved. To change people lives for the better- to get them off of drugs and alcohol, and out of depression. I have met so many people who have had their lives changed through running.

People have to share their journey. I never really wanted to really share my journey, but I never realized how much it would help people, so I’m glad I did it. To use myself as an example, to get people out there to realize they really are a mentor to a lot of people and they can change people’s lives. They can save people’s lives. When they look at it that way, they are more willing share their journey and go out there and share their stories. It’s a powerful spot in so many ways.

Shauna: That’s one reason we have decided not to close our course or have a cutoff. Last year we had a woman finish in ten hours. It was actually her 70^th birthday, and she was a previous foster parent. It was the most powerful story of the whole day, and it would have broken my heart to say, “ugh, you’re at mile 20, sorry, we’re closing and we’ve got to kick you off the course…”

Bart: That’s a great selling point. You can get away with that in a small community. An urban area, the police force you to open up the roads at a certain time, that’s just the reality. I would promote that to your advantage because that’s the coolest thing. When I’m working a finish line, I don’t leave. Until the street sweepers show up…until everyone is in. Because there are these stories at the back of the pack. I remember at the Route 66 Marathon two years ago, this woman came to my talk. She was so sure she was last, and I guaranteed her that she would not be last. And dang it, she was last!! I was there when she came in, she hugged me and was crying. She said, “you promised I wouldn’t be last!!”

The odds were incredible darn it. But she has overcome a lot just to get to the start line, so the finish line was a celebration. She was very happy, she didn’t really care that she was last, her goal was to finish, and she did change her life. But I remember looking her right in the eye and guaranteeing her that she would not be last!!! I get a lot of people who think they will be last, and they’re not near to the last one. They come up to me and say “you were right, I beat like 30 people!” But that was the first time that someone I had tried to convince they would not be last…was actually last.

Shauna: She was just glad she finished.

Bart: Those back of the packs tend to be amazing stories. They tend to be new to the sport, they tend to have something that got them into the sport and a lot of times it’s something that really changed their life.

Josie: Our last finisher last year, we gifted her a new pair of Brooks running shoes. But she was so touched that she then re-gifted them to one of our foster teens who had just completed the 10K.

Bart: There is no other sport that rewards everybody, that gives medals to everyone, and treats the last runner as special as the first runner. That is rare to running and it’s what really makes the sport unique.

Shauna: This last year we gave all of our 10K runners finishers medals too, they were feeling left out. Because you know what? For some of them, running 6.2 miles is like running a marathon for the others…

Bart: Yep! 6.2 is a long way to run!

Shauna: Well if you ever are looking to become an ambassador for a race, we’d love to have you run with us.

Bart: I get asked that question about 100 times a week! Being a full time employee of Runners World, I am an ambassador to EVERY race! I try to spread running love to all of them…

Shauna: Then you are spread pretty thin for sure!

Bart: There are a lot of races out there. I do try to promote every race that I possibly can.

Shauna: Well we would love to have you come Run with the Bears. Or Announce for the Bears…

Bart: What is the date again?

Josie: August 20^th 2016~

 

We’ve Got Bart’s Seat Reserved

 

Shauna: And our starting temperature was 36 degrees this year!

Bart: Wow! That elevation comes in handy….

Shauna: Bart, is there anything else you would like to add?

 

Bart: I’m just glad you guys are doing this. I can tell how much passion you have for it. When races come to me for advice on how to make their race bigger and better, and they know I have gone to millions of races, and… you know I start out with the number one thing: If you don’t have the passion to do it, I can tell you ten tangible things that will help. And I can come up with another ten great ideas.

But if someone doesn’t have the passion, it doesn’t mean anything. I can tell you guys have the passion, you want to share this. You want to do this, you know you’re making change, and doing good things. I can hear it in your voice and see it in your faces, that is the most important thing. You keep that attitude and keep doing what you’re doing, and things will fall into place.  Your race will get bigger and better and you will raise more money, and connect with more people, and change more lives. That is the beauty of what you are doing. Don’t ever lose sight of that! You have to have the porta potties, you have to have the police in the right spot, the mile markers, and all that stuff. But the bottom line, you are changing people’s lives for the better.  Number one, that is paramount.

Josie: This is what Mountain Circle staff do every single day for foster kids, so it carries over…

Bart: Keep that passion. You have it. Don’t burn out and say this is so much work, it’s not worth it. Keep it fun. And don’t overwhelm yourselves, because you’ve got real jobs and this is just something else you do…

 

Shauna and Josie

Shauna:  This is the cherry on the top! I do have to say, right after the race I say, “Why did I come up with this hair-brained idea?? It’s like 48-hours of no sleep, and complete exhaustion. Then about a month later it starts to kick in again. By about now every year, I get ramped up again. But, you know, it’s a whole year of event planning.

 

Bart: Being a Race Director is a marathon, it’s not a sprint. You’ve got to pace yourself and look at the big picture and the long haul.  If you look at it like a sprint and try to do everything real fast it doesn’t work out. You guys have the right attitude and that’s what it’s all about. That’s kind of how I live my life, and do my job. It sounds crazy to go fly from Philadelphia, to Cabo San Lucas, back to Philly, then to L.A., then to New York City then back to my office but I make great connections at all these events. I heard great stories, met great people. That’s what keeps me motivated. That’s what throws me on an airplane for eight hours just to get there.  The life changing things that I have physically witnessed through the sport of running keeps me motivated and gives me that incentive to keep going.

Shauna: Well we hope to see you at our Hoedown…

Bart: Yes, with a bib that says I’m single. I will see what I can do!

Josie: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, we really do appreciate it.

Bart: Awesome. From the sport of running, we thank you a lot for everything you do so keep up the great work.

Shauna: Thank you Bart, we’ll see you on twitter!!

Bart: It’s a deal!

THANK YOU BART! 

 

 

Running with the Bears Interviews Bart Yasso: Part III

PART III: Bart Yasso Explains Why Runners Are Great Fundraisers For Charity, and What Bears Call Bicyclists in Denali National Park~   

Dr. Shauna (Executive Director of Mountain Circle Family Services): Another question we have for you! Obviously, we’re a cause-based running event, this is for foster care children and adoption, and we were wondering if you have participated in cause-based events, and what is the main motivation for runner’s to participate in Charity races?

Bart: Certainly. I would say that over 90% of races are cause based or have some affiliation with a charity. Maybe 95%. It’s very common, throughout the sport of running, and has been for years. I just think it’s the way to go because runners, we’re out there running to be healthy, to take care of ourselves, but we want to help other people. It’s a perfect scenario to have this come together. Stay healthy, be happy out there, but also raise money for a specific charity. And a lot of runners to fundraising on their own. But the race is a part of that- without the race, they couldn’t raise the money for Charity. I sponsor two South African children through Teen world vision and when I went over to South Africa to do a race called Comrades, which is a 56-mile race, I got to meet my sponsored children which was really cool. It was one of my favorite memories ever, and had nothing to do with running. You know that the money goes to the kids, but to actually get to meet them. And they live in a very poor part of South Africa so the odds of that happening are not very easy. But World Vision made that happen- uniting the runners with their sponsored children.

Shauna: You know one of the challenges we’ve had is that most Charity Races are actually managed by production companies and only a small percentage of the money raised goes to the cause…

Bart: Exactly

Shauna: And so a lot of runners have automatically assumed that about Running with the Bears. But yet it was Mountain Circle, ourselves, that oversee this. This is our fundraiser, it’s the staff of Mountain Circle that work for foster kids all year long that are out there during the Bears weekend. And so, we’ve had a little bit of a challenge in changing that mindset- that we’re not a racing company, we are the actual charity, and all the money raised goes back into the non-profit.

Bart: I mean I think you need to tell your story. People may know your cause because you promote it, but people don’t realize how much of the money goes to the cause, verses if you raise money for another society or cause, a lot of the money may go to how the business may work, instead of specifically the set cause, or person. You guys are in control of it, so I think you’ve really got to tell this story, and the runners will embrace it.  And if you can actually have that come to life during race weekend- that’s what makes the difference.

Josie: Yes!! The last few years we have invited some of the older teens up on the stage during the Pasta Dinner, to talk about where the money raised goes, which is a Mountain Circle program called PowderQuest. We take them all an all-expense paid outdoor leadership ski trip, for about 30 foster teens… for our younger kids, because of confidentiality, it’s harder for us to share their stories or our work with them.

Bart: I see that stuff really hits home with people. Because people are willing to give, they just want to give to the right thing, and that they really know it works, that is the icing on the cake.

Shauna: We’re working hard to get better at that each year, but thank you, it’s good to know we’re on the right track.

 

Running with the Bears Charity Runners 2015

 

 

Shauna: In talking about the course.. our course record was set by Marathon Junkie, do you know him?

Bart: Chuck? Of course! I was just with Chuck the other night!

Shauna: He set our CR at 2 hours, 48 minutes 8 seconds, and we were wondering how this compares to other courses and times. Because my understanding is that many courses are rated for this. Such as CIM, that is a fast course~

Bart: Well 2:48 is a great time. And I really wouldn’t worry too much about the course record. I don’t think that’s what people really pay attention too. They pay attention to the amenities more than the CR. Because there is a small small small percentage of people that come to your race to set a CR or to win your race. Most people are just happy to run it, happy to finish, try to be competitive in their age group.

Shauna: That is one thing we try to promote in our race, because it’s so small, we tell the runner’s that this will be a race they can actually win an awards medal in! In their age group, there may only be five other people so the odds are pretty good they may place in first, second, or third. Our elevation is 3400 feet, but it’s a relatively flat course. Just one 300’ hill…

Josie: We named the hill ‘Bear Bait’ hill. We got some great advice in the beginning that if you have something challenging on the course, like a hill at mile 23, you just need to give it a really good name…

Bart: When I rode my bike through Denali National Park in Alaska, the Ranger at the gate said to me, “you know what bears call you guys on bicycles? Dinner!! Have a nice bike ride!!” Of course, those are grizzly bears up there, not black or brown bears…

Shauna: OK, we’re going to make that a Yasso quote!!

Bart: So, Running with the Bears then is a pretty easy course to have such little of a variance.

Josie: Yep! It’s just a windy country road that goes around the base of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. But not up the Mountains.

Bart: That’s a great selling point.

Josie: We have a lot of first-time marathon runners which has been really enjoyable for our Team. They have really powerful stories about what got them to that day. It’s such an honor for us…it makes me emotional. As an example, we had a runner who fractured his foot at mile 23. The paramedics brought him to the finish line to rest, and he was lying on the grass just watching everyone finish. After a couple of hours, he saw two sisters in their eighties cross the finish line together, holding hands. All the staff and volunteers were so moved by this moment! And this guy was so inspired by the sisters that he asked to be returned to mile 23 where he hobbled the last 3.6 miles to finish the race. Just these powerful stories that motivate us all too…

Bart: Those are those stories that you’ve gotta tell! And you guys should be using video more…

Shauna: Yes, that’s one of our goals for this year. It’ll be our sixth year, so we’re still novices in some ways. Each year we learn a little more about what to do, and what not to do. But we would love to have the event videotaped… and we’re blogging now too! In fact this interview will be in blog form~!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the final part of Bart Yasso Interview Series: PART 4: Bart Yasso Explains Why the Back of the Pack is a Powerful Place to Be~ 

 

Running with the Bears Interview Bart Yasso: Part II

Part II: Bart Yasso’s Thoughts on Running with Bears, and How to Meet Other Single Runners (sneak peek: it has to do with the after party…)

Josie (Running with the Bears Race Director): You clearly love the outdoors and the rustic life, so you’ve got to come visit us in Plumas County, CA!

Bart: Yes I know the area that you guys are in, it’s pretty!

Josie: Have you traveled much around Lake Almanor and Lassen National Park?

Bart: Oh yea, I’ve traveled all over Northern California. You guys live in a really pretty area, and outdoorsy stuff is what it’s all about. It’s such a pretty setting; you have to take advantage of it!

Shauna: Well that’s how the race started- I was out jogging. I’m not a runner per se, a jogger, and I had just come back into the office one day and said to Josie (Race Director) we have to share this with the world! Because you can have the worst day and you go out for a run here and it’s medicinal. Hence how Running with the Bears was started so it’s just kind of grown from there. It’s been surreal.

Bart: I love the name Running with the Bears! What a cool name, I love it.  But that makes sense! And Shauna, jogging is running, first off. You came back from a run. I could see that, you just want to share- it was such a cool experience. You want to share it with other people!

The Running with the Bears Course

 

Shauna: Oh I see deer, I see hawk, you know, you can see potentially… a bear.

Josie: We should note that we only have nice bears around here. So far we have had some runner’s in contact with bears, before the race, while driving home, during the race. Every time, the bears run away. Our bears are babies.

Bart: Kind of like the bears we have here in Pennsylvania. I have been running on trails for nearly 40 years and we have our fair share of bears, and yea, they run away when they see you coming. They’re more afraid of you then you have to be of them. Of course when there is a situation when there are little ones involved. I would never want to corner a bear.

Josie and Shauna: Nooooo…

Bart: usually they want no part of you and they move out of the way.

Shauna: For sure. We do give every runner a bear bell in their goody bags.

 

The 2015 Running with the Bears Goody Bag

 

Bart: Ha! What do you think those bears are thinking about the runner’s with a bell??

Shauna: (laughs) It’s more of a symbolic gesture of safety. We have some true city slickers  that come here and the idea of a bear is..umm..

Bart: Freaks them out!

 

Shauna: Right. This makes them feel a little more safe. Even though we assure them that the bear is way more afraid of them, then they are of it, but it’s all kinda fun. I coined the term off of Running with the Bulls, trying to capitalize on a great name.

Josie: That leads us to our next question- RWTB is a really tiny race. We had 93 in the marathon division last year. We call it frontier rural because some people think about ‘rural’ as a race with 5,000 people. But we’re wondering if you have advice or suggestions about how small races like ours can market ourselves better in the racing world?

Bart: Sure! Well one thing you have already done with your race is to come up with a cool name, a cool theme. And that is what runner’s want to know- what you have to offer them, that’s how they make their decisions. And to go to a pretty area, that’s great.

 

A view of the Running with the Bears Course from above

 

I don’t know how tough your course is, but that comes in to play a lot when people make choices. If it’s really difficult, people need to know that in advance.  Some people don’t want difficult courses, they want everything flat. I’d love if I designed every course it would be uphill. Every inch. But some people don’t like that, they want it all flat, or downhill. I don’t know where that mindset comes from, but I love the challenge. But that’s the thing about a small race. You’ve got to create a personality, like you all have done. And stick with it, make it fun. Entice people to come to your area. And the other part is the travel.

Josie: Last year we had folks fly in from all over the world. It’s just so much fun for us. They pick our race, not knowing much about it. We even picked up some of them at the Reno airport two hours away. They arrive in the Indian Valley and it’s just a whole other world… the stars are so bright…the beauty of the quiet..

Shauna: We do draw mainly from Reno, Sacramento, and the Bay Area.

Bart: Those are three incredible, large, diverse running communities.

Shauna: We also found out recently that we have the highest percentage of female runners for any race in California…

Bart: Really! I’m single, I should go to this race!

Shauna: I know! I started this race as a single woman, thinking it would be a great way to meet single guys and then, of course, it ends up all women, so just my luck (laughs!!)

Bart: So all of us single people should wear a different colored bib number…

Shauna: Last year we did put everyone’s names on the bibs and people really loved that personal touch.

Bart: It’s a fun thing. I’ve been doing that at my races for the last 16 years, I think it’s a smart thing to do, it just makes a nice personal touch.

Shauna: We announce their names as they cross the finish line. We try to pay special attention to every single runner. In fact, our motto is, it’s like Cheers, where everyone knows you name. With 500 runners that’s pretty easy to do. One of the things I wanted to ask you about- you had stated in a previous interview, “In my life running has also been a vehicle of introduction to people, places, cultures, and animals. I have run on all seven continents, but it’s not the details of the races that I recall, it’s the interesting stuff, the humorous stuff, the memorial, life-affirming and worth reading stuff. So that’s kind of what we’ve been talking about, for capitalizing on small races. Is there anything else that you would like to add to that?

Bart: I literally have used running as a vehicle to take me around the world.  Like you said, I’ve been to Antarctica, the Arctic Circle, Mount Everest; I’ve run all over the place.

And I do go there wanting to meet the local people, be engaged in their culture, it’s more fun than just reading about it in the history books. So I, you know, it’s amazing how a sport can do this, and how it’s changed my life tremendously. But it is easier to meet people at a smaller race than it is at a larger race. Larger races tend to be in bigger cities, and it’s just arduous. It a mass of humanity. A smaller race, especially one like yours where you can spread out and have open areas at the finish, you really get to meet people and that’s one reason I like smaller races. I’m not against the bigger races- I still go to New York, Chicago, Boston, L.A., I still go to them, but I find that I can connect better and really get to meet people at a smaller event and that’s what I really love.

Shauna: We do say that Running with the Bears is small, but do you think we should capitalize on that more- that this is a place where you get to meet people, connect with people, hear stories…

Bart: Yes! Saying the race is ‘small’ is just too big. I mean does that mean there are 20 of you, or 2,000 of you? You don’t know. But I like the idea that instead of small, I like ‘quaint.’

Shauna: One of the things we really promote is that Running with the Bears is a Saturday race, with a big Hoedown after party, a BBQ and bar– we even have this thing called Turkey Pie Bingo where we put a turkey in the middle of a bunch of squares and we wager on where the turkey is going to.. you know… last year we had over 400 runners return after the race to participate. They all wear their medals and t-shirts, and sit around talking and getting to know each other. Some of them even dance, we call it ‘Dance ‘till you ‘cramp.’

Bart: I love it. That is the strength of having a Saturday race. A Sunday race, everyone heads home afterwards because they have to work on Monday.

Shauna: Can you explain that one?  Why are most races on Sunday?

Bart: I think most races are on Sunday because there is less traffic, less retail, if you are in a big city it’s easier to tie up the streets on a Sunday. You’ve got Churches on Sunday so you need to work with that, but all the police I talk to prefer a Sunday race because there is less traffic.

Shauna: Well our ‘less’ traffic is the difference 10 cars instead of 20 cars (laughs)

Bart: There are other Saturday races, but they’re in the minority.

Shauna: That was a fluke, it just made sense to us. We didn’t realize that was unique until we got out there.

Bart: Also, if you have a lot of singles, the Saturday post-race party would be a great place to promote that. It’s hard to meet during a race. The whole idea of the dance…

Josie: Our finish line is pretty sweet though, most people hang out there for quite a while. They all get a free beer, and a massage. There is a big green lawn with a view of the whole Indian Valley…

Bart: I love it!

Stay tuned for Part III of our Interview Series tomorrow: PART 3: Bart Yasso Explains Why the Back of the Pack is a Powerful Place to Be~ 

 

Running with the Bears Interview Bart Yasso: Part I Getting to Know The Other Side of Bart Yasso

This week, the Executive Director of Mountain Circle, Dr. Shauna Rossington, and Running with the Bears Race Director, Josie Litchfield, were lucky enough to spend an hour interviewing Bart Yasso! We were eager to learn his advice for small races like our Running with the Bears race, his thoughts on running for charity, and of course, his experience of Running with Bears.  Bart offered so much advise and wisdom and we needed to break this up into four different blogs!  How lucky are we?

Yasso joined Runner’s World in 1987 to develop the groundbreaking Runner’s World Race Sponsorship Program, creating a vehicle for Runner’s World to work with over 7,000 races representing 4 million runners per year. Inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions. He also invented the Yasso 800s, a marathon-training schedule used by thousands around the world. He is one of the few people to have completed races on all seven continents from the Antarctica marathon to the Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon.

Our interview took place via Skype

PART I: Getting to Know the Other Side of Bart Yasso

Shauna: Hi Bart! Can you see us?

Josie and Shauna

 

Bart: I can see you! Out of nowhere!

Shauna:  How are you doing Mr. World traveler?

Bart: I’m doing well! I slept in my bed last night, man did that feel good. I came right back from L.A. I was a Mexico, flew back East was home literally twenty-five hours and flew back. And then flew back to L.A, then home on a red eye.

Shauna: Yes, we saw you were in New York last night!

Bart: Yes I got home at Midnight, got a couple hours of sleep. Tonight I’m going to try for a normal six hour sleep; I’ll come back to life if that happens. But I should be used to it after doing it for twenty-nine years. But it doesn’t get easier the older I get, I can tell you that.

Shauna: Yeah, I am with you on that one! I’m starting to feel it, I’m turning fifty this year.

Bart:  I hit 60 last year, so you’re a youngster.

Shauna and Josie adjust the skype camera…

Bart: Can you see my crazy Runner’s World Office? Here at Headquarters in Pennsylvania. We have a great set up here, it a wonderful company that owns Runners World.  I live in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and we are very close to Bethlehem. You know it’s just pretty aesthetic; the snow is melting which I’m really happy about.

Shauna: You guys have been pummeled this year with the weather.

Bart: Actually, this winter one has been easy compared to last two or so we’re happy ,but we did get that three feet in one day a couple weeks ago, that was pretty crazy.

Josie: So have you been offering advice to folks about running safely in this weather?

Bart: Runner’s World posted my favorite treadmill workouts because I’m sure a lot of people either own a treadmill or go to the gym and use a treadmill because they live in these brutal climates, cold snowy places.

Shauna: OK so we have about ten or so questions to ask you. Obviously yesterday we were Googling Bart Yasso a lot…

Bart: Well, unfortunately I’m the only Bart Yasso out there, so I can’t blame any of this stuff on anyone else. I wish my name was John Smith but that’s not the case.

Shauna: Well it’s all good stuff, that’s for sure! We read your bio, but we were wondering what it is you would like us to know about you?

Bart: Yea most people don’t know that I’m a pretty quiet and shy person in real life. You know, I speak to groups of a thousand people all the time, on stage or at a race. But in real life, I’m pretty shy and quiet, and when I get free time, man I’m at home just kicking back. Or on the golf course kicking back. I try to play a lot of golf to relax, most people don’t know that I golf as much as I do, or try to golf as much as I can. Unfortunately I don’t get to golf enough. But I do get out there–that’s my relaxation, but also my competitive side too because I can’t run competitively anymore but I can golf competitively. So it’s fun!

Josie: Do you have some good courses where you live?

Bart: Oh we have lots really close to the Runner’s World Office so it’s easy to get out and play. A lot of time I just play 9 holes but it’s still fun to get out there and play.

Josie: Just to be outside…

Bart: Yes that’s what I love about it. The game can be competitive but you’re outdoors. And I always walk and get a little exercise. It’s just a fun game if you play it with the right people and make it fun. I play with some good friends so it’s fun.

So Bart… you’re just kind of a casual kicking back guy when you’re not in the spotlight?

Bart: Yes, since I travel so much for work, I really don’t travel when I get time off.  I mean, a vacation for me is just lying in the yard. That’s a great deal for me, just kicking back at the house. I do have a nice old home and a nice backyard and a hot tub in the backyard so that is my way to kick back…a little house built in 1749- it’s an old, old, place. So it’s a fun setting and I really enjoy being at home when I can get away from all the crazy travel.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part II of our Blog Series on Bart Yasso: Bart Yasso’s Thoughts on Running with Bears, and How to Meet Other Single Runners (sneak peek: it has to do with the after party…)

Regular Registration is SOLD OUT!

PRESS RELEASE: Greenville, CA. The Running with the Bears Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K has sold out regular registration for the third year in a row, a record 176 days before Race Day.

This valued Boston Qualifying marathon is one of the smallest in the Country and is managed entirely by the Charity it benefits- Mountain Circle Family Services.

The 2016 Running with the Bears (RWTB) event, on Saturday August 20^th, will welcome 500 athletes from all over the County and world,  plus an additional 100 Charity Runners. Participants who did not register in time can still sign up for Mountain Circle’s Charity Division.

“We are so excited that this many people want to come run in the Indian Valley,” says Race Director Josie Litchfield, “and selling out early gives our team more time to prepare for Race Day.”

Just like in 2015, female RWTB athletes vastly outnumber male participants.  The final tally has 342 female participants and 158 male participants- this is the highest % of female road runners in any race in California!

A breakdown between the three races shows 111 runners in the Marathon division, 241 runners in the Half Marathon, and 143 in the 10K. The largest segment of runners will be in the 50-59 range, with the following breakdown in the other age categories:  Under 18 years old:  18, ages 19-24: 9, ages: 25-29: 38, ages 30-39: 113, ages 40-49: 101, ages 50-59: 133, ages 60-69: 73, ages 70+ 15.

The top three winners of each category will receive additional medals and gifts from Running with the Bears sponsors, including stays at local hot springs and a winery.

Running with the Bears is the annual fundraiser for Mountain Circle Family Services, a local foster care and adoption agency. Mountain Circle has now opened up a limited amount of registrations for Charity Runners only. To learn more about this program please visit: www.Runningwiththebears.Org

Where to Stay During Running with the Bears

We get this question a lot! Although there are just a few hotel rooms in the town of Greenville, the Indian Valley actually has a lot to offer in the way of accommodations! In the next few months’ we will be highlighting some of our favorites.

First up? Coppercreek Camp!! 

 

Coppercreek is located on 200 acres of private land and surrounded by 1,000 acres of National and private forest with miles of trails for riding, biking, hiking and playing. This summer camp is just a short 5-min drive from Greenville (and about 20 minutes from the Running with the Bears start line). Last year during the Bears weekend, the camp was full of…campers. But NOT in 2016, wahoo!! This means that Coppercreek Camp is all yours 🙂

Twenty bucks a night gets you your own bunk bed (bring bedding) and access to Coppercreek’s facilities.

Camp amenities include: 

Women’s shower house with 4 shower stalls & single stall toilets.

Handicap bathroom with a bathtub.

Men’s shower house with 4 showers & private toilet stalls.

Hot water (of course!)

Cabins sleep 8 – 10 people.  Twin size beds.

Sand volleyball court, kitchen use (oven, stove, fridge), ice machine and drinking water from Copper Creek’s spring, ice cream machine, ping pong tables, covered dining deck, ponds on site, basketball hoop.

If you are looking for luxury accommodations…this is not your place (unless you consider peace and serenity a luxury….) But if you’re on the hunt for a totally unique, affordable, and fun adventure then book your reservation today.  As always, kids and dogs are welcome.

Questions? The Bears team is here to help match you with the best accommodations. Email Anna at ALawson@MountainCircle.org and she will be your Running with the Bears accommodations guide!

 

Small Boston Qualifier Is Almost Full

Running with the Bears is a fundraiser BY and FOR Mountain Circle Family Services and the nearly 100 foster care children, teens, and caregivers we serve each day. Are you registered yet? Tell us in the comments!

Quite a few runners have asked us, “Why does Running with the Bears limit regular registration to 500 participants? As a Charity Race for foster children, why not welcome as many runners as you can?”

Two Reasons Why We Limit the Numbers of Runners.

First, we want to keep it small for you, the participant. You registered for a laid-back, small-town, won’t-charge-you-to-park, type of event, right?

It cracks us up when we hear about a race with 5,000 runners being called ‘small’- clearly, they have never been to Plumas County! With only 95 finishers in the marathon division, Running with the Bears is FRONTIER-style small. In fact, we are one of the very smallest Boston Qualifying races in the whole United States, and we pride ourselves on treating the runners like family. Do you have questions about the best place to stay? Give us a ring. Looking for a local swimming hole?

There’s a map in your fully-stocked goody bag…

Personalized service is tough with 5,000 runners!

The second reason we keep it small is logistics. In a town with no stoplight, two little restaurants, and very few hotel rooms, 500 visitors is a LOT. Logistics is the reason why Boston Qualifying Races don’t often occur in small towns-  For example, where do you all PARK?? (We rent out a cow field…)

And where do participants stay?? (We provide a concierge service to match you with local accommodations, just email your questions to Anna at ALawson@MountainCircle.org).

In the past five years, we have found that we really enjoy putting on a small race- we get to know you all a little better, and you get to know us too. We plan to keep it that way.

Do you think small races should keep it small? Please tell us why in the comments! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t registered for this small town Boston Qualifier, get on it! Otherwise, you can always sign up in the Running With The Bears Charity Division.

We had a dream that our small non-profit could build a race that would make a big difference to children in foster care. You make that happen!!  Thank you for registering, and thank you to our Charity Runners for getting more involved. You are all part of our Bears family!

Cheers to the small, but mighty!