Late breaking news!

11/15/2007
This just in from a statistical genius who must have too much time on his hands! Read it if you have an interest in the High School Participation contest. It was written for a more private audience but it is still good reading. The author’s name has been removed to protect his standing in the community!

We’ve enter the final turn as we go into the last weekend before the Turkey Chase Race!

Alan Goodwin’s Walt Whitman Vikings signed up a group of 91 folks in just the last 2 days, BUT Chris Garran’s WJ Spartans 89 new entries. The Vikings are closing the gap from 7 to just 5. Can the Vikings sustain their drive and actually pull ahead of those Spartans. “I don’t think so,” says Principal Garran. Tune in Monday to see how this battle of the titans unfolds.

BCC Principal Sean Bulson….How’s the view from 3rd place? That 49 person jump was nice but it ain’t going to get you there by Wednesday night. Isn’t it time for those cross country racers to kick it into gear????

And Richard Montgomery, it’s time to stop looking over your shoulder because Churchill finally woke up exploded past you guys. But if you do have to look over your shoulder, you’re going to see Blair and Wooten hot of your trail. Now’s not the time to fade….

Look at Einstein and Gaithersburg!!! They jumped from 3 to 14! And 2 to 13! Keep up the good work!!

And in the Private School Division:
Even if you took all the entries from Landon AND Georgetown Prep they wouldn’t add up to the entries from Charles Smith Jewish Day School. Not only does it look like Jewish day is going to win the Private School’s Principal’s Prize of $500, but it looks they are going to have some serious bragging rights!

Hey Holy Cross, while you’ve been jogging along comfortably ahead of Landon and Prep; you weren’t paying attention to Stone Ridge. Stone Ridge DOUBLED their participation in just 2 days! They are only 2 steps behind you!!!!

Private Boys Schools: What’s going on here? If you take 2 private girls schools (Holy Cross and Stone Ridge) with 82 entries and put them up against, not 2, but 3 premiere Boys Schools (Landon, Prep and Bullis) with just 75; the boys can’t beat the girls!!!! Tssk; tssk; tssk!!

Here are some fun facts:
WJ’s participation rate (as a measure of participants against student body) is a respectable 20.3%
Whitman’s comes in at 20.0%
With BCC following distantly with 11.3%

Remember, the Public School with the most entries will receive the Principal’s Prize of $1,000.
The Private School with the most entries will be presented with their Principal’s Prize of $500.

The Standings going into the final weekend Are:
Late breaking news!

Remember, the Public School with the most entries will receive the Principal’s Prize of $1,000.
The Private School with the most entries will be presented with their Principal’s Prize of $500.

Here’s how it works:
To sign up for the Turkey Chase 10K Run; go to www.TurkeyChase.com
Click on “Online Registration” and follow the prompts to register for the run.

11/12/2007

New Private High School competition Award Announced

The MarkIV Homebuilding and Remodeling Company announced yesterday that they would contribute $500 to establish a YMCA-Rotary Turkey Chase Private Montgomery County High School Competition Scholarship Prize. This scholarship will go to the Private High School in Montgomery County that has the most “votes” as of race morning of the 2008 YMCA-Rotary Turkey Chase Race – November 22nd. One vote may only be cast for a high school by each entrant into the race. The prize will be awarded at the conclusion of the race awards ceremony – at approximately 10:15 am - at the YMCA on Thanksgiving Day. The award will be know as the MarkIV Builders Private High School Scholarship competition Prize.

The B-CC Rotary Club had previously established a $1000 prize which appears will be one by one of the public high schools in the county. This prize will also be awarded at the conclusion of the awards ceremony on Thanksgiving Day.

Because the private high schools are smaller that the public schools MarkIV Builders wanted to give the private schools a chance to win in this competition. Hence, the prize.

Check out the current standings at http://www.turkeychase.com/25th_2007/highschoolprize.htm

Go to www.turkeychase.com for general news about the race.

11/10/2007

Race entry costs are going up and so is the fun!

The last day for the $23 entry fee for the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Turkey Chase 10K is this coming Sunday November 18th. The rate goes up to $30 on Monday and then $40 on Thursday – Thanksgiving Day.

The 2 mile is now $16 but goes up to $20 on Monday and stays there, and

The 50 Meter for Kids goes from $10 now to $15 and stays there.

Every day the fun level seems to be going up. Here is what we have now:

A Disc Jockey,
a percussion band (will play softly!),
the Walter Johnson Choir,
a soloist to sing the Star Bangled Banner (along with you all),
a moon bounce and other attractions for the kids,
and plenty of chair and tables to enjoy your fresh coffee and bagels.

In addition we have:

Long sleeve Brooks Podium technical shirts (in addition to the regular cotton shirts),
ChampionChip timing and chips,
a wave start (by ability) in the 10K so everyone gets a good start,
a $1000 High School participation contest (check the status on this web site)
double the number of port-o-johns
digital clocks at every mile
much easier packet pick up on race day
a new 50 Meter kids run scheduled for 9:45 on the track. (all kids get everything plus a ribbon)
and, good weather (we can always be optimistic, can’t we?)

If you are planning to run and your spouse/friend would like to help we have a great volunteer process and program. Most jobs are right on the YMCA campus where all the excitement will be. Check out the direct and easy sign up process at at the volunteer icon on the main page.
We will be in touch with you if you volunteer.

Come! Join 5,000 other of your close friends as they work off a few calories and enjoy the morning before the family traditions begin at home.

John Sissala
Race Director