January 28, 2010 (Craftsbury Common, Vermont) – Thanks for your patience as we work to put on the best races possible after the recent rain event. U.S. National Masters’ 10k FS – As noted yesterday, tomorrow’s 10k FS will be run on the virtually the same course as has been planned all winter, with the one exception of the Race Loop bypass at the end.

The course will stay on the traditional finish of Ruthie’s rather than cutting west to pass right next to the Road. Waves will be as advertised for tomorrow’s 10k Freestyle. Watch the website later in the day for the amended course maps.

Onion River Sports Dash for Cash – The plan is to move the Dash course to the Center. Qualifying will be a solo effort as before, the head to head sprints are planned to start from the upper soccer field before looping down and around the Touring Center back to a finish on the upper soccer field. Friday night bib pickup, the BBQ and Common Games will all be moved to the Center – same times as previously (5-7), just here.

Craftsbury Tour – Regrettably, the Tour will be postponed to March 7th. At this point, we don’t feel we can offer tourers the sort of tranquil, scenic, gourmet experience that the Craftsbury Tour has delivered in the past because of the conditions-mandated short loop. The postponement date will allow us to offer full gourmet food stops and a well-groomed 25k loop uncluttered by speeding racers.

TD Bank Craftsbury Marathon – The plan is as listed yesterday: running a course similar to the 10k Freestyle course, with the addition of most of Lemon’s Haunt to put the total classic loop to between 12 and 13k. The 50k division would do four loops, the 25k 2 loops. Start and Finish will be at the Center. Watch the website for updated course maps later today.

Friday Bib pickup will be at the Craftsbury Touring Center from 5 to 7pm. The BBQ, Toko/Swix waxing clinic, Common Games and the rest of the Friday events will all be moved to Center, same schedule as noted above.

Saturday Bib pickup will remain on the Common, as will awards/raffle, post race meal – all the Saturday events EXCEPT the racing itself will remain on the Common. Parking will be also remain on the Common except for the High School relay racers and race volunteers. Busses will be circulating every 10 minutes between Center and Common for ease of transit from one location to the next.

PLEASE ALLOW TIME FOR SHUTTLING TO MAKE YOUR RACE WAVE START. Race waves will go off as previously scheduled at 5 minute intervals. Warm, indoor areas at the Center are only a heated 20◊20 tent by the shuttle bus stop, the yurt, and limited space in the Touring Center. Guest accommodations, while invitingly well heated, are off limits to racers. Portolets will be available by the North end of Cedar lodge, not far from the start areas.

All racers are reminded to honor nordic race ethics by keeping right except to pass and yielding track to faster racers at all times.