Team Z Luray Race Weekend Camping and Grub Details

LURAY IS HERE! The most popular Team Z race of the year!

This race is not until next weekend –but we need to have food information finalized by this Friday in order to allow our partner/vendor to order/purchase food and plan his cook.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING AND IF SO WHAT MEALS YOU WILL BE HAVING WITH US BY THIS FRIDAY.

We have an event brite up for the Luray Weekend.  The Event Brite will cover both Camping and Food, as well as general participation information (free tickets – like a vote for attending).

Click on me or copy and paste this Event Brite address into your browser:  https://teamz-2016-luray-weekend-grub-and-camping.eventbrite.com

The race is still open – but will be closing soon.

• “TeamZ-LT2016-$20off” ”“ This is our discount  code that works  through August 17 as long as the race does not fill.  It will give you $20.00 off.
•  If you would like to do a relay leg (any leg you are comfortable with, or any leg that you would like to practice) please contact Jennifer Medina (medina-jennifer2002@yahoo.com).
• Its not to late to get in the game!  This is one of the more popular races of the year.  You do not have to race to come and hang out, camp (or not), eat with us, generally get to know the team and enjoy a beautiful park in the Blue Ridge.
• This race is the Regional Club Championship.  The Championship in no way interferes with the general race. The Luray Sprint Triathlon will operate as normal and is open to all levels. There is no qualification to be a part of the Championship. By simply entering the Luray Sprint Triathlon you will be eligible for the Championship awards. In 2015 we experienced all levels of athletes including many beginners.  The Luray Sprint Triathlon will run exactly the same way with all the same categories and awards as with previous years. Short Course Regional Champions will be awarded an additional award by placing first in their age group and top three overall. USA Triathlon will be providing the awards for the Short Course Regional Championship winners. The Short Course Regional Champions will be awarded during the awards ceremony.
• This race is also the “special qualifier” for 2017 USA Triathlon Nationals. Anyone who finishes in the top 33% of their age-group at Luray will be invited to race at Nationals Next summer.

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In this email:

• “Fired up To Help” background and To Go orders (our food vendor for this weekend)
• NEW – Cost for Camping
• General Race information, directions, parking, packet pickup, etc
• Grub Fund Details for the weekend
• Team Z Weekend Itinerary
• Additional Camping Details and Instructions

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A.  “Fired up To Help” background and To Go orders (our food vendor for this weekend)

*For newer Zrs – at certain events we partner with a not-for-profit to prepare a good portion of our meals a certain races.

• This company is owned by Sean Kirgin and is called “Fired Up to Help“.  Sean specializes in BBQ.  People on our team tend to LOVE his cooking.
• Sean does things like take his vacation to drive his smoker to Louisiana and cook food for the volunteer workers.
• Today – he cooks for profit which is donated to other charities.
• Sean will not be onsite at Luray this year, but he is preparing our bbcue in advance for us to bring on Friday for the weekend.

NOTE:  You can order grub “to go” and Sean will make it for you to take home during the weekend BUT THIS  ORDER HAS TO BE IN BY FRIDAY 8/12 – this is when ticket sales for to-go orders end.

The “to go” orders will be cooked and refrigerated in vacuum sealed bags to be taken home.   If you are not racing but would like a “to go” order – please have designate a teammate to pick up your food for you.

Fair warning – any “pre-ordered to go orders”  not claimed by the end of the race will be donated to the town and park employees.  Regardless of name on the order – we just can’t chase people down after the race ends.

Click on me or copy and paste this Event Brite address into your browser:  https://teamz-2016-luray-weekend-grub-and-camping.eventbrite.com

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B. NEW Cost for Camping:

There is onsite “car camping” (don’t carry stuff anywhere).  Just park and set up your tent.  If you eat with us you won’t drive all weekend. There are warm showers and bathrooms onsite.

• This year – the park is asking for $10/night/person to camp.  It is a small tribute on an individuals behalf – but it will add up quickly to help the park with improving is infrastructure.
• I have been asked to collect this $10 on behalf of each Team Zr camping and to provide one large payment to the park. This will help their administration tremendously.
• You may “reserve your spot” by voting on event brite for each day that you will be camping.

Click on me or copy and paste this Event Brite address into your browser:  https://teamz-2016-luray-weekend-grub-and-camping.eventbrite.com

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C. General Race Information:  

• Athlete Guides: Click on me.
• Location: Lake Arrowhead,Luray, VA
• Address for Park/Race Site: 265 Lake Arrowhead Road, Luray, VA
• Google Map for Park/Race Site:  Click on me

Packet P/U Times:

International: Friday 3:30-7 PM at Appalachian Outdoor Adventures, Saturday 6-7:30 AM at Race Site

Sprint: Saturday 3:30-6 PM at Appalachian Outdoor Adventures, Sunday 6-7:30AM at Race Site
Expect long lines at the day-of packet pick-ups and plan accordingly.

Packet P/U Address: Appalachian Outdoors Adventures, 2 West  Main St, Luray, VA 22835. Or at the race site the day of.

Start Times: International: Saturday, 8 AM. Sprint: Sunday, 8 AM
Water Temp: Typically around 80 degrees. Wetsuits may not be legal, wrap your head around that fact now. Then – if you are nervous would you please let me know?  I can help, I’m certain.

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D. Grub Fund details for this weekend  

Contributions for the weekend – $15 per breakfast/lunch, $15 for dinners, $1/beer or soda. Prepay Via Event Brite.

Menu:

• Friday Dinner: Catered in Italian Dinner – Mix of Pastas types, both  meat and non-meat sauce, grilled chicken breast option of some kind, Green Salad with dressing,  Garlic Bread
• Saturday Breakfast: Pancakes, Bacon, Toasted Bagels, English Muffins, Assorted Fruit, Coffee
• Saturday Lunch: Pulled Pork, Pork Tenderloin, Chpped BBQ Chicken, Pasta Salad, Smoked Mac & Cheese, Slaw, Watermelon (Burgers/Dogs/Chicken on request)
• Saturday Dinner: Pork Spareribs, brisquit, grilled chicken, Garden Salad, smoked mixed vegetables, bread (Burgers/Dogs on request)
• Sunday Breakfast: Pancakes, Bacon, Toasted Bagels, English Muffins, Assorted Fruit, Coffee
• Sunday Lunch: Pulled Pork, Pork Tenderloin, Chopped BBQ Chicken, Pasta Salad, Smoked Mac & Cheese, Slaw, Watermelon, Burgers/Dogs/Chicken on request

Click on me or copy and paste this Event Brite address into your browser:  https://teamz-2016-luray-weekend-grub-and-camping.eventbrite.com

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E. Team Z Itinerary for the Weekend

FRIDAY

• 10 AM ish – Team Z Village Construction
• 4:30-7 PM – Packet Pickup for International at Appalachian Outdoor Adventures
• 6:00 PM – Dinner is served at Lake Arrowhead/Team Z tents

SATURDAY

• 6:30 AM – Breakfast is Served
• 6-7:30 AM – Packet pickup for international at race site (expect long lines)
• 8:00 AM – International Race Starts
• 10:30 AM – Lunch is served (whenever people start finishing the race or spectators get unruly)
• 3:30-6 PM – Packet pickup for sprint at Appalachian Outdoor Adventures
• 6:00 PM – Dinner is served at Team Z tents

SUNDAY

• 6:30 AM – Breakfast is served
• 6-7:30 AM – Packet pickup for sprint at race site (expect long lines)
• 8:00 AM – Luray Sprint starts
• 10:00 AM – Lunch is served (whenever people start finishing the race or spectators get unruly)
• 12:00 PM – Team Z Village Tear Down (or whenever people stop hanging out). All hands. Help appreciated.

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F. Additional Camping Details and Instructions

You will likely have turned left into the park off of 669 (see map) follow the road to right (take your first right past our purple pin (team z tents), just don’t go straight to the lake. At the very end of the road you will be in this little culdesac – with a yellow gate and a sign for the boy scout campground (or something like that”¦ troup so-and-so, er, you get the idea).

Advised to not park your car in the scout grounds – allow more room for others and you don’t want to be “tented in”. There should be an overflow tent/camping area identified clearly near the entrance to the boy scout camp should it be full.

You will have access to showers and bathrooms just a short walk from our campground.

This is not “on your own and private camping” – and you are not in Yellow Stone.  There will be noise at night whether it is cows in a field, chickens early in the morning, snoring neighbor??? Bring ear phones, ear plugs, etc – just a friendly warning.

Please, do not arrive late on Friday if you are camping. It is pretty frustrating for those trying to sleep when you have lights/headlights on and are setting up a tent in the dark.

REPEAT: NO PARKING IN OUR CAMPING AREA- OUR TENTS ARE GOING TO BE CROWDED ENOUGH ALREADY! AND THIS AREA IS AVAILABLE FOR OTHER RACERS TO CAMP. BE MINDFUL OF SPACE!

Lions and tigers and bears! No, just bears”¦ the park manager asked us to be super careful about leaving anything out, or in our tents, that would attract bear. Anything with a scent, like food, toothpaste, deodorant, should be left in your car. While I have not been advised of bear issues this year, there is always the possibility in the mountains.

Link to google map:  Click on me to get a visual of where the campground is.