Hello Twinkie EATER!
Key Details and Suggestions:
• IMPORTANT Twinkie Eating information (REALLY!): If you are receiving this, you’ve indicated that you PLAN to eat Twinkies (we won’t hold you to it.) ASSUMING YOU WANT CREDIT FOR TWINKIES EATEN, be sure to cross over the Twinkie Counter maps AFTER you eat your Twinkie.
• For Twinkie Eaters only, there will be TWO mats at the start – one START mat right at the start line BEFORE the bridge, and a second for TWINKIE EATERS ONLY RIGHT AFTER CROSSING THE BRIDGE ON THE ROAD WHERE THE ROAD CURVES LEFT. (Twinkie Eaters will NOT take the HARD left onto the path right after the bridge – that is for Twinkie Skippers ONLY.) If you line up in the middle or right of the starting pack, it should be easy to just go straight after crossing the bridge to that Twinkie Counter Mat (don’t follow people taking the hard left onto the path — they skipped the Twinkie.)
• You’ll then proceed down the road paralleling the path all the way to the end of the road where you’ll merge onto the path (and into any Twinkie Skippers) just before the parking lot at the east end of the park.Easy… Here is a link to YOUR Twinkie Eater Course Map: TWINKIE 5K Course Map (Official) – for Twinkie Eaters.
• The SECOND Twinkie will be eaten just as you are finishing the first lap around 1.5 miles, as you leave the canoe area and veer left on the path heading back toward the bridge. STOP, eat your Twinkie on the path, and cross the Second Twinkie Counter mat on the path as you head back to the bridge.
• AFTER THAT, on the second loop, ALL RUNNERS will stay on the path (not the road) all the way around Gallup Park. So FOR THE SECOND LOOP, ALL RUNNERS will turn hard LEFT right after crossing the wooden car bridge to stay on the path. (this will be coned).
• PACKET PICKUP starts in earnest at 5:00pm at the Gallup Park Canoe Livery (3000 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI)
• HOT TIP! To get to/through the line quickly, GET YOUR RACE NUMBER IN ADVANCE! If you registered by Sunday afternoon 4pm-ish, you can look yourself up online on the preliminary registration list by sometime Sunday night. Note your bib number (write it down) and bring that to packet pickup line(s). If you forget, no worries… just go to the next bullet point…
• At the canoe livery, get your race number by looking up your name on the ALPHA LIST, which will be posted near packet pickup. Remember or write your BIB Number down and take it to the volunteers at the bib number lines to get your bib.
• Get your pre-ordered shirt AFTER your bib. If you aren’t racing with it, you MAY want to pick it up AFTER the race.
• If you want to buy a shirt, you’ll pay for that at the shirt table.
• You’ll pick up your first TWINKIE near the start line – don’t eat it until told to do so AT THE START!
• PARKING: THE BEST PLACE TO PARK IS AT HURON HIGH SCHOOL! There are only about 140 parking spots in all of the Gallup Park parking lots accessed through the livery driveway.
In fact, because of the pond, the parking lot at the far end of Gallup is actually FARTHER AWAY than almost all spots at Huron High School. Save time and aggravation by just parking at Huron High!
• Unless you arrive VERY early, we suggest parking across Fuller Road at Huron High School, where there are MANY MORE SPOTS. Check this map: Gallup-Huron High Map
• Frustration may ensue after driving all the way through Gallup Park to park and having to turn around and drive all the way back out and over to Huron High.
• Don’t forget that it can be a long walk from the parking lots in Gallup Park to the canoe livery! Huron High School is closer!
• SHIRTS! BRING $15 if you think you might want a shirt but didn’t order one! (pay at the shirt table!)
• PLEASE BE COURTEOUS DURING THE RACE! Since this is a TWO-LOOP course, the fastest runners may catch up to you during the race. If you hear the lead bikes coming, be ready to STEP TO THE RIGHT and let the bike and leaders pass. Some people take Twinkie Running very seriously – and it would be no fun to get hit by a bike!
• GRILLED TWINKIES, post-race goodies, grilled Twinkies, homemade Twinkies, and awards will be right after the race!
Questions about the run or about A2A3? Visit www.activeagainstals.org or contact A2A3 at twinkierun@a2a3.org.
HELP US OUT! Visit our Twinkie Run Facebook Page and “LIKE” it – and/or SHARE IT with your friends to spread the word and the latest info! Thank you! We will post photos and more on the Facebook page.
Thanks for supporting the effort to cure ALS!
See you at the run!
Sincerely,
A2A3 Twinkie Volunteer ALS Fighters
