PPTC Supports 2 Reach the Beach Teams

On September 18th and 19th, 14 PPTC members are spending a long weekend running the length of the state of New Hampshire. They are participants on two relay teams - one all women, the other coed - who are competing in the 11th annual Reach the Beach relay. The race starts on Friday in northern New Hampshire at Cannon Mountain, passes by (but fortunately does not climb) Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast, circles around Lake Winnipesaukee, one of the largest lakes in New England, and finally ends 210 miles and anywhere from 24 to 30 hours later at Hampton Beach, midway along New Hampshire's 18-mile (shortest in the U.S.) seacoast. About 400 teams with up to 12 runners each have entered the race.

During the relay, each runner will complete 3 separate legs that range from 3 to 9 miles in distance. Overall each person will cover a total of 14 to 22 miles during their runs. The terrain along the way varies significantly - often rolling hills and not a lot of flat until the last few miles. Everyone will have to endure at least one nighttime run, the luckiest having to complete their legs at 2, 3, 4 o'clock in the morning! They will get to spend lots of quality time with their teammates as they travel by van between the relay points.

The team captains, Corre Kombol and Staci Pearson, requested that PPTC help to defray some of the teams' travel costs, which includes van rental, gasoline and tolls, and food supplies. The PPTC Board has agreed to provide funding for their efforts. After the race is over, the club will reimburse $30 to each eligible PPTC member. To be eligible for the reimbursement, runners must be members since September 2008 or have represented the club in 3 races in 2009.

We wish them well in their efforts, and the teams have promised to provide a complete race report that will appear in a future newsletter.