Somersault News

FREE Souvenir Shirt Offer Deadline – February 29
We have good news for those who haven’t yet entered a 2008 Somersault Event(s). From now until February 29th each new entrant will receive a “sorry - gotta run” or a “For tri-ing out loud… Just Du it!” t-shirt – FREE with your entry (1 per entrant only). This free shirt is in addition to the 10% entry fee discount, which expires on March 16th.

If you enter by February 29th, you will receive an email confirmation of your souvenir shirt on March 9th, and will be able to pick up the shirt at a convenient location after March 15th.

We encourage you to enter now or by February 29th and receive this FREE souvenir. All you have to do is go to http://www.somersault.ca/runningevents.htm, select your event, and enter.

10% Entry Fee Discount Deadline – March 15
You are also reminded that the 10% entry fee discount deadline is March 15. Entries received by midnight March 15 will receive that discount. The regular entry fee kicks in after that. Save some bread and enter early.

It’s a Somersault Series
We are proud to announce, that all programs and events organized and hosted by Somersault Promotions, will be named “Somersault” events and programs. Gone are the Eastern Series and the Ottawa Series. So the new Series’ names are:
Somersault Triathlon & Duathlon Series
Somersault Kayak Triathlon Series
Somersault Run Series

Last Chance Triathlon & School/Corporate Relay Championships – September 21, 2008
That is exactly what this, a chance for one more triathlon before winter. It is also a great event for those who were thinking about doing one all summer, but didn’t want to swim in a river – this one’s in a pool. And what a pool it is – the Nepean Sportsplex. Take a look at this unique event at http://www.somersault.ca/eventlastchance.htm

It is also a chance for you regulars to recruit school mates or fellow employees and get their feet wet by joining you in a corporate or school relay event. Let’s see who the fastest companies and schools in the region are.

Ottawa Winterman Marathon, Half Marathon, 10Km, & 5Km – February 28, 2009
Why shouldn’t the second coldest capital city in the world, have its own winter marathon and half marathon? We couldn’t think of a good reason, so we decided to partner with Search and Rescue Global I of Ottawa, in establishing the “Ottawa Winterman Marathon”. “Winterman” will be an annual event in the National Capital. It will be held in Ottawa on February 28, 2009 – and on the last weekend of February in future years.

We have some great ideas to make it a run for everyone, regardless of ability, so stay tuned in the coming months for more information on Winterman.

Somersault Sponsored Programs for Kids and Youth
Somersault support for children and youth programs and events, is taking a big step forward in 2008. The primary approach we are taking is to support existing and developing “aerobic mass participation start and finish line” programs, as a supporter or sponsor.

To that end, we have beefed up our Champions Challenge to include those 14 years and up. This expanded program will serve to recognize, reward, and encourage the more competitive in these age groups, who don’t have many competitive opportunities in the region.

We are also excited to be partnering with the Bytown Storm Triathlon Team to support and sponsor its “Sunset Youth Mulit-Sport Event Series in 2008. The program promises to be the most important addition to the multi-sport youth event scene in many years, and will hopefully serve to entice newcomers in the 12-18 age group to come out and swim, bike, and/or run.

We will of course continue to offer our Wylie Ryan Runs, and Surf & Turfs (for kids up to 12 years) at the adult events. We are particularly excited about the Somersault Half Marathon for Kids program, about which you will here much more next month.

Somersault Wylie Ryan Kids’ Series – for ages up to 12

Somersault - Junior Champions Challenge – for ages 14-19

Somersault - Bytown Storm Sunset Series for Youth – a fun introduction to multi-sport for ages 12-18

Somersault - Half Marathon for Kids – a Home & School Program for ages 8 - 12

Somersault Kilometre Klub – It’s Free and its coming soon!
We thought many of you might like a site on which you could track your training distances by discipline – swim, bike, run, paddle. This won’t be a coaching or training advice site, it will be just a distance tracking site – with a few other features.

It is anticipated that the Somersault K Klub will be up and running by the start of the 2008 event season. The Somersault K Klub will be FREE to anyone who enters a Somersault event. There will be no cost for Somersault registrants to access and use the K Klub Distance Charts.

Endurance Nutrition – They’re Back
We are very pleased to announce that “Endurance Nutrition” has agreed to continue its generous sponsorship of the Somersault Series in 2008. They are famous for their Carb-Boom Products. Welcome back!

Goodlife Fitness Clubs – We’re Teaming Up
Somersault and Goodlife Fitness Clubs are hooking up in a strategic relationship that will provide lucky participants with free – 3 month memberships at a draw being held at each event this year. We are offering members of the Goodlife Learn to Run programs with a discount on the regular entry fees for Somersault running events. We hope the relationship will be one that benefits Soemrsault participants and Goodlife members.

Emilie’s Run Update – It’s Growing
The RunnersWeb.com Emilie’s Run for Women Only is filling up fast. This year’s field appears to be faster and slower than in 2007, when 45 women ran under 20 minutes for 5Km. The fast ones are vying for the prize money being provided by RunnersWeb.com. We will also be a bit slower too, because we have added an “official” Walkers participation category to recognize and reward offical walkers. An honour system will be used to ensure that walkers walk..

Check out Emilie’s Run at http://www.somersault.ca/eventrunnerswebwomen.htm, and enter now!

Rent a Wheel Program
We have had a potential supplier inquire as to whether a “Rent a Racing Wheel” program might be popular. What do you think? We would like your feedback on an idea they are considering. It would seem to have some merit, but your feedback would be most appreciated. Please email christine@somersault.ca if you think this program would be embraced. Thanks!

Brockville Newspaper Article - A Feature Article
Hey, Tamara Baldwin-McNamee, our Thousand Islands Race Director, was able to get great coverage for the sport in the Brockville Recorder Times (BRT) a couple of weeks ago – way to go Tamara! We understand that Ron Smith, the Sports Editor with the BRT, is planning a series of articles profiling the fast, the medium, and the not so fast triathlon trainers over the next few months. Thanks Ron. Check out the article at
http://www.recorder.ca

Summer Race Crew Opportunities
It is that time of year again, when we wonder which of our crew from last year are returning and what holes we will have to fill. We think we will need a few new key people, and are eager to find good people to work as part of the Somersault Race Crew. If you or someone you know (who doesn’t do triathlons or road races – at least not regularly) would like to work real hard on event weekends for a decent fee, please forward your/their names to me.

Talk to you all again on March 25th!
Cheers!
Terry