ATRA Notes – April 2013

ATRA Notes is a monthly email newsletter for race directors, trail runners and members. You can now find ATRA Notes reprinted on this blog! If you are not already an ATRA member, simply visit this link to join today.  


New! ATRA Socks:
If you are interested in having your own pair of ATRA socks…send a check for $15 (includes  shipping) to: ATRA, PO Box 9454, Colorado Springs, CO 80932 – we’ll ship a pair out to you — they are Core-Spun CoolMax socks proudly made in Colorado and in lovely packaging from the manufacturer (Save Our Soles by Colorado Knitting Company). On the instep they have American Trail Running Association imprinted. They are super comfy and black for those of us who love to run on trails and hate to wash whites! We’re hoping to use this as an ATRA fundraiser! If you want to buy two pairs — send another $10 for the second pair since we only have to pay once for shipping. Just let us know which size you’d like and we’ll ship them out and…included with your order, a free ATRA bumper sticker!
Trail Race Calendar:
While on our website, be sure to browse our schedule of races both in the U.S. and abroad. We update our calendar weekly. Please enter your event at www.trailrunner.com, if you don’t see it listed.  
Writers Wanted:
We welcome your trail run, or trail race reports that can be included in a future edition of our quarterly newsletter Trail Times. Our spring ’13 issue is in production and we’re also planning our summer ’13 edition which will e-publish in June. All members of ATRA receive a copy and the issues are also posted on our website.

Movie Night:
In addition to presenting Haulin’ Ass on April 4, ATRA is also presenting a special night of running films in Colorado Springs, onWednesday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. at Stargazers Theatre and Events Center. Featured will be, There is No Finish Line: The Joan Benoit-Samuelson Story; A Runner’s Life, by Alex Nichols about Colorado College XC & Track Coach Ted Castaneda; and Running the Rockpile, about the legendary Mount Washington Road Race. Advance tickets are $11 at imathlete.com/events/tinfl, or $15 night of the show.

Upcoming RRCA Convention:
Join ATRA in Albuquerque, NM, May 2-5 at the RRCA Convention. We’ll be enjoying the many activities planned by the host club, the Albuquerque Road Runners, and ATRA has a seat on a panel discussion – Putting on your first ultra – on Friday, May 3.
Join this session to learn about the ins and outs of putting on your first ultra race.  Seasoned race directors will discuss lessons learned from their ultra races.  You will also learn about the American Trail Running Association’s Labeling Program, which outlines standards for trail races.  

Upcoming 2013 USA Track & Field Trail Championships:

USA 10km Trail – June 29, Beech Mountain, NC-Beech Mountain 10km
USA Mountain – July 21, North Conway, NH – Cranmore Mountain Race
USA 100 Mile Trail – July 27, Cleveland, OH-Burning River 100 Mile
USA Marathon Trail – August 18, Manitou Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Marathon  
USA Half Marathon Trail – November 2, Moab, UT-Moab Trail Half Marathon
USA 50km Trail – November 9, Boulder City, NV-Bootlegger 50km
The 2013 USATF Trail Championship Sub-Ultra Series will include the 10km, Mountain, Marathon, and Half Marathon with points awarded at each event. The best three of four times will considered for final scoring, but runners will be scored whether they participate in one, two, three, or all four events. The top male and female point getters will receive an award at year end.