Breaking News! – Get outa here! Robert’s Run Walk Shop has stepped up big time for the shirt/bib pickup on Friday from 4:30P – 7:30P. Lola’s is delivering 25 pies at 5:30PM. They will have soft drinks to wash it down. Lola’s is some premium grub, but this is no fancy affair. Just runners standing around breaking bread and talking.

Come on down and enjoy. The more the merrier. Avoid the lines on race day.
 

The Dirty Dog is only a few days away.  Here are some more dirty details about Saturday’s event.  Please review some important race day notes to help make the day go as smoothly as possible.

Weather:

Running weather perfection is in the forecast for Saturday – It will be clear with an overnight low of 55 degrees warming to 82 degrees around 2PM.  the forest runs a few degrees cooler.  I suspect it will be in the high 60′s when the race starts.

Road Construction:

They started road resurfacing at the I-64 Eastbound at the I-64/I-77 split in Charleston causing nightly lane closures weekdays 8:00 pm – 6:00 am. and weekend lane closures from Fri. at 8:00 pm – Mon. at 6:00 am.  This shouldn’t impact you race morning, but please consider adding 5-10 minutes to your travel time.

Please be advised, after you get to city center in Charleston, it will take another 25 minutes to get you to the race registration and start line area within Kanawha State Forest.  The race start is in the back of the forest, down a two lane road, past the entrance to the campground.  There will be signs directing you in that area.  The race is NOT at the pool.  The race will start at 9:00AM.  Please anticipate the larger crowd and allow yourself enough time to get safely to the start and get parked.

Yummy Stuff:

We provide every runner with a bottle of water, fresh fruit, and snacks.  We also will have water for dogs and homemade dog treats, too.

Many people have graciously volunteered to bring homemade baked goods, but we could always use more.  Please considered bringing something to share.  Also, on race day please take what you can eat, but remember the slower runners that haven’t finished will be hungry, too.

Things to Do in Charleston:

There are several special events in Charleston this weekend.

Charlie  West Blue Fest – May 18-20 – Haddad River Front Park – Free

- http://www.charliewestbluesfest.com/

Sundown Showdown 2 mile Run Walk – Haddad River Front Park – $20

- http://www.iplayoutside.com/Events/2012/05/14055.html

Reality Cage Combat presents: WV VS The World (Mixed Martial Arts) – Charleston Civic Center – $25 to $125

- http://www.charlestonwv.com/news_events/events/event/MMA,968.aspx

WV State Track and Field Championships – Laidley Field – $8 – No Website.  It starts at 2P Friday and is all day Saturday.

The Color Purple by the Charleston Light Opera Guild – Charleston Civic Center Little Theater – $20

- http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org/

New! Early Bird Packet Pick Up Location

Avoid the registration line on race morning by picking up your t-shirt and bib number at Robert’s Runing and Walking Shop in Charleston on race day eve, Friday May 18 between 4:30P and 7:30P.  We will be set up in the parking lot with some music. There are also rumors of pizza and drinks being supplied by Robert’s.  Come check out the best selection of running gear in the area and grab any last minute supplies!
http://www.robertsrunning.com/

The store is at 607 Pennsylvania Avenue.  Directions from the north.  Take exit 58C Wasington Street/Civic Center:  Drive down ramp and stay in the middle lane until you get to the Go-Mart gas station. Pass the Go-Mart and get into the right hand lane.  Proceed through the stoplight at the intersection of Washington St.  Robert’s is the 2nd driveway on the right after the stoplight.

Directions from the south take exit 58C – Lee Street.  Drive down the ramp and proceed through the stoplight at Lee Street.  Staying in the left hand lane turn left onto Washington Street and the take your immediate left onto Pennsylvania Avenue. Get to the far right lane and Robert’s is the 2nd driveway on the right after the stoplight.

New – Parking Assistance
There will be volunteers guiding you in the parking areas.  Please park in the spot that they assign you.  We will fill the parting lot closest to the the starting line first, then we will fill the campground overflow lot, and finally we will park on the road side. The forest road is well traveled so if you park on the shoulder you will need to be completely off the road.

Restrooms
There are flush toilets and additional portajohns near the registration shelter.

T-Shirts and Dog Bandannas
T-shirts have been guaranteed to the first 200 runners.  We have 270
shirts to distribute, but please realize that pre-registrations get preference so that by race day morning, your particular size may not be available.  The shirt is included with the registration fee (based on availability of shirts) and we are unable to refund money or discount the registration fee if you do not want a t-shirt.  Bandanas will be provided to first 60 of registered dogs, with a maximum of two bandanas per registered runner.  If you wish to purchase additional bandanas, you may inquire about availability on race morning.

New – Bucks for Barks!
If you make a $3 donation to the Bucks for Barks bucket you will get a
DD15K euro sticker for your car.  These donations will go to the Mid-Atlantic German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue, Inc.  Last year’s Top Dog was a GSP rescue!

Donations
Donations to the Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association are accepted but there will be no prize raffle as in past years.
-Clay kitty litter
-Bleach
-Paper towels
-Hand sanitizer
-Laundry detergent
-Cat, kitten, puppy and dog food (dry and canned)
-Dog collars and leashes
-Dog and cat toys

Live Updates
Like the Dirty Dog on Facebook for real time updates and race information ?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dirty-Dog-15K-Trail-Run-Kanawha-State-Forest/381442318296

We are moving on all of these areas, but are very excited about participating with the Forest Service and The Mountain Institute on the newly developed Mountain Trail Monitors summer camp. These MTM week long camps for 15-18 year old youth will focus on the art and fun of trail work on the Monongahela National Forest. The Mountain Institute near Spruce Knob in Pendelton County is the location of the MTM camp. The week of July 8 – 13, 2012 has been set aside for WVMTR youth. See they flyer below for more information. There is no fee to attend. If interest is high a second session might be scheduled. Registration information on request.

For more information contact Kevin Stitzinger at kstitzinger@mountain.org
Or Dan Lehmann at irunwv@gmail.com

New! – Avoid the registration line on race morning by picking up your t-shirt and bid number at Robert’s Run Walk Shop in Charleston.  We will be step up in the parking lot with some music. There are rumors of pizza and drinks being supplied by Robert’s.  Come check out the best selection of running gear in the area, too.   http://www.robertsrunning.com/

Friday’s Packet Pickup at Robert’s Run Walk Shop will be from 4:30P to 7:30P.

The store is at 607 Pennsylvania Avenue.  From the the north take exit 58C – Wasington Street/Civic Center.  Drive down ramp and stay in the middle lane until you get to the Go-Mart gas station.  Pass the Go-Mart and get into the right hand lane.  Proceed through the stoplight at the intersection of Washington St.  Robert’s is the 2nd driveway on the right after the stoplight.

From the south take exit 58C – Lee Street.  Drive down the ramp and proceed through the stoplight at Lee Street.  Staying in the left hand lane turn left onto Washington Street and the take your immediate left onto Pennsylvania Avenue. Get to the far right and Robert’s is the 2nd driveway on the right after the stoplight.

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This weekend Greg and Paula Smith will be holding a Dirty Dog 15k training and course orientation run.  Saturday, May 5 at 10A they will meet runners in the parking lot of shelters 5/6/7.  Greg will be running at a faster pace and leaving rough trail marking at critical turns.  Paula will be running sweep to help people new to the course.

Make sure you bring all the water and supplies you will need for the whole 9 miles with you.  The Smiths will not be providing any aid stations or supplies.

The entry fee for the Dirty Dog 15K Trail Run will increase on May 8th to $27.   You may preregister with no additional transaction fee at Active.com or via mail by completing the this entry (postmarked by May 7th).

The benefits of preregistration are:

-Guaranteed a technical t-shirt in your size

-Avoid the race day registration line by stopping by packet pickup on Friday afternoon.  Detail TBA soon!

Last minute updates on the race will be posted to Facebook first so make sure you LIKE the Dirty Dog 15K Trail Run fan page.

The second annual Ridge to River 10 Mile Trail Run will happen on June 2, 2012. The race is sponsored by St. Mary’s Hospital and will take place at the Barboursville Park. Race starts at 8:00am. New this year is a 4 mile trail run on the sane course.

Go HERE for more details and registration information

Questions? Contact  Greg Bridgewater   gbridgewater@masonbarry.com   (304) 561-8703

Hey folks, our annual excursion will be the weekend of August 3-5 and again take us to the high country. In fact we will camp near the Spruce Knob, the highest country in West Virginia. We have access to private land with plenty of camping space, water and showers. Your critters are welcome too.

We’ll do a short run Friday afternnon and plan some loops in the Spruce Knob Seneca Creek Area for Saturday morning. Bring something for the Saturday dinner table and $5 camping fee, what a deal!

Contact Lehmann at irunwv@gmail.comwith your reservation. I will send you directions.

We will clear the winter plunder on Boars Nest and South Prong Trails on Saturday April 7, 2012. With three crews this will only be 4-5 hours work. We will meet at the Laneville Wildlife Cabin, the Highlands Start, at 8:00am. You’ll still have time for a run!

Drop me a note at irunwv@gmail.com if you can make it. Lehmann