Important update (December 12): Friday’s packet and shirt pickup for cross country will be in the convention center adjacent to the hotel, not the hotel. I have asked for signs to be put in the hotel to alert people of this, but at this late date, that might not be possible.
As of now, we have 51 people (17 men and 34 women) going to Tacoma for USATF club cross-country nationals. Now that you’re registered, it’s time to prepare for the race. It’s a good deal more formal than Stumptown.
• First, make sure you have submitted proof of age and citizenship (instructions here). This has to be done in advance, and cannot be done on site. If you are an open-division runner, tell me when your documents have been accepted (unless you’ve previously told me). You can text me at 503-702-4534. Masters runners do not need to notify me–I get notice from USATF if they have not done it. (Everyone has.)
• Next, if you are on any medications, review them on the list at Global DRO to make sure they are not banned. If they are, you will need a TUE Pre-Check. Since none of us are pros, that’s a five-minute process that produces rapid acceptance. Meds that can surprise people are some blood pressure meds (diuretics), iron infusions, and tamoxifen. None of these are performance enhancing, but they are used by cheaters as masking agents for micro-dosing other things.
• On race day, you will be required to wear the new singlet. If you don’t have one, we might be able to arrange a loaner, but plan that in advance. Women should be able to wear either the singlet or the crop top, but if that’s your plan, please arrange to have a backup singlet with you, and be prepared to change into it as little as 15 minutes before the race. You can wear anything you want to under the singlet. Bottoms do not have to match, but if you want to look more consistent, I would suggest black, either shorts or tights, because almost everyone has those.
• Unlike in previous years, packets can be picked up individually or by team captains. (This is a change from what has happened in prior years.) If you can make it to the HQ hotel on Friday, I would suggest doing this, or having someone you are rooming with do it for you.
• Make sure your team captain knows how to contact you, either the night before the race or on race morning, if you have the team captain pick it up, so you can get your bib. They are expecting 1500 people, plus spectators, so it could be busy.
• You may have as many as 3 different numbers to pin on for each runner. Open A team runners get it easy: just one bib, in front as usual. Open B team runners have to wear “B” on the back. Masters runners have to wear their normal front bibs, plus back bibs with their ages. Masters B runners get all three. Each bib must be affixed with 4 safety pins.
• On race morning, arrive at the starting area at least 60 minutes early. Please allow time for traffic and parking. If you have not picked up your packet yet, you might allow a few minutes extra for that.
• Once at the starting area, find your team captain and stay with your team.Each team will be required to present itself for uniform check to make sure we look substantially identical. If you don’t match, or miss the check, you will be DQed. There is a fairly narrow time window for this, which is why it’s important to stay together.
• After the race, don’t scatter. We may have to find you in a hurry if there is an error in the results, because there is a limited protest window. Online results do not count as official, so don’t think everything is ok, just because the website looks good.
• For those in competition for medals, awards will be on site, after the protest deadline ends. They are saying “between races,” but the races are close enough together that I doubt that that is practical.
• Each team will have an assigned starting box. (B teams get their own.) These will not be announced until quite late in the process, possibly not until 7 pm Friday. They will not be posted online.
• Look for emails from your team captains about lodging opportunities, carpooling, the after party, etc.
Team captains are:
• Open Men: Sandy Dittell and Alex Matteson
• Open Women: Sky Hall
• Masters Men: Steve Short
• Masters Women (40+ and 50+): Carre Heineck
• Masters Women (60+): Joanna Harper
• Masters Women (70+): Jeannie Groesz