Later this week will have an updated list of race seedings, a preview of the competition, and a printable meet program for you to have all of the info in a concise place. But here, for your perusal, is a look at what we've got going on this year and the AMAZING stuff that Nike is doing with us. Seriously, props to Nike, because they are hooking you guys up with some amazing free stuff.
GENERAL MEET INFORMATION
Getting There and Course Maps
We have a page all about Chain of Lakes Park, with course maps, directions, etc. Just click this link.
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 1, 2010
1:00PM Gates Open, Course Preview Begins
2:00PM Team Packets Available for Pickup
3:00PM Coaches Meeting at Start Line
3:30PM JV Girls Blue 5K
3:55PM JV Boys Blue 5K
4:20PM Girls Small School 5K
4:45PM Girls Large School 5K
5:10PM Boys Small School 5K
5:35PM Boys Large School 5K
6:00PM College/Open Women 5K
6:25PM College/Open Men 5K
6:30PM Awards Ceremony
7:00PM Nike Celebrity Guest Speaker
8:30PM Friday Night Concludes
Saturday, October 2, 2010
6:00AM Gates Open, Course Preview Begins
6:30AM Team Packets Available for Pickup
7:00AM Coaches Meeting at Start Line
7:20AM Middle School Boys/Girls 2 Mile
7:40AM Opening Ceremony for Elite Races
7:50AM Girls Race of Champions 5K
8:15AM Girls Invitational 5K
8:40AM Boys Race of Champions 5K
9:05AM Boys Invitational 5K
9:30AM Girls Varsity Open 5K
9:55AM Boys Varsity Open 5K
10:20AM JV Girls White 5K
10:45AM JV Boys White 5K
11:15AM Awards Ceremony
Awards
We are known for our high quality awards! Custom printed medals. Huge, shiny, professional looking medal cup trophies with a marbleized base!
Race of Champions: 1st through 30th medals for individuals. 1st through 3rd teams trophies. Individual champion gets a statue trophy.
Other Varsity and College Races: 1st through 15th medals. 1st and 2nd trophies.
JV and Middle School Races: 1st through 10th medals. Championship team trophy.
Athletes and teams are encouraged to stay for the awards ceremony. Awards will not be shipped.
Timing, Results, Chips
Our races will be timed by Steeple Timing with technology from My Laps (formerly ChampionChip). All athletes must have a chip to run. No exceptions. You must turn in all chips after the race. Teams will be charged $15 per chip for unreturned chips. We will collect chips from runners in the back of the finish corrale.
T-Shirt Sales
T-Shirts will be available for $15 in Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large. We will have four colors for sale: white, crimson, yellow, and green. While supplies last.
There will be nothing printed on the back this year. You may be able to get your own custom saying screened on the back, courtsey of Nike. Based on demand, this may only be available to a certain number of people and is not guaranteed with sale. More on that below.
Where to Park
All buses must use the Chain of Lakes Park Entrance off of Jay Jay Road and enter at the Sports Complex. Everyone else may enter there or either of the two Brevard Community College entrances off of US Highway 1.
Parking/Admission Fee
$5 per vehicle will be charged to park. There is no admission fee. All private vehicles must pay to park. Buses and officially-marked school or rental vans do not have to pay.
Coach/Press Hospitality Tent
There will be snacks and refreshments available for coaches near the meet headquarters tent and finish line.
Food & Concessions
Various concessions will be sold from third party vendors including kettle corn, snow cones, burgers, drinks, etc.
NIKE VILLAGE
Chris Solinsky
This year at the meet, Chris will talk to the audience about his experiences as a high school athlete, his transition from high school to college to world-class competition, and what life is like as the fastest American in the 10,000m distance.
Friday Schedule
6:00PM - Chris will arrive at the meet
6:30PM - Will take part in awards presentation
7:00PM - Chris will speak and then take questions from the audience
7:45PM - Autograph Session in the "Wolf Pack Lounge" (30 Minutes)
Saturday Schedule
7:40AM - Chris will arrive at the meet
7:50AM - Firing the gun for the Girls ROC
8:40AM - Firing the gun for the Boys ROC
10:15AM - Autograph Session in the "Wolf Pack Lounge" (30 Minutes)
10:55AM - Nike Dance-Off, will serve as judge
11:15AM - Will help present awards during the award ceremony
Nike Big Top: "The House of Bowerman"
Nike will be bringing in an even bigger presence this year to show Florida athletes a great time! This will include their huge 40x80 tent, aka the "House of Bowerman". The Nike trailer and Nike van will also be on the scene.
Graffiti Arist
Local graffiti artist Evan Poirier (www.thesoutherndrawl.com) will be hanging out under the big top. This is a new addition to the meet this year. He will be painting one-of-a-kind custom designs onto your Nike spikes. This will be absolutely free for anyone who purchases Nike spikes at the meet or already has Nike racing spikes.
Trick Out Your Spikes
Alright, so now you've got the custom art for your spikes from the graffiti artist. What else do you need? Yes! Some custom colored laces and spikes! This will also be free.
T-Shirt Customization Bar
Our official flrunners.com Invitational t-shirts will have no sponsors on the back this year. So they will be a blank canvas and perfect to get your nickname or custom saying printed on it. We've got your back! (literally)
Nike will be offering two t-shirts bars for you to get your customizations printed on the back! You will drop off your shirt with a "T-Shirt Customization Form" for what you want it to say. They will heat press your custom saying on the back to make it your own. How cool is that?
You can also get other apparel personalized the you buy from the on-site Running Zone retail store. There will be two presses set up this year to roll these out as quickly as possible! This service is available to you absolutely free.
Hours of Operation: Friday 3PM-7PM, Saturday 7AM-11AM.
Hang Out in the "Wolf Pack Lounge"
There will be a designated area under the tent with tables and chairs for athletes and coaches to relax and get out of the sun. Chris Solinsky may have his feat up along with you! He will be signing autographs in this vacinity.
There will be NXN race footage showing up on the flat screen to watch. They will be distributing free cowbells in this area for you to use to cheer on the runners (limited to 500 on Friday and 500 on Saturday!).
Video Gait Analysis
There will be a separate tent set up dedicated to providing free video gait analysis. Trained professionals will study the video of your stride on one of two treadmills with high-speed video cameras to check out your gait and make footwear recommendations accordingly. They will also email you with the video footage so you can download it from home.
Nike Team, Spike Demos, Custom Uniforms
You will be able to try on and try out some of the latest Nike spikes and shoes including the new Victory XC and Streak XC. There will be a designated area for footwear trials.
Specialists will be able to show you on both computer and in person examples of the latest lines that is coming out from Nike. You can also jump on the computer and they will show you how you can design and order custom uinforms for your team.
Running Zone Retail Store
Local running speciality store, the Running Zone of Melbourne, will be on site with Nike offering Nike shoes and apparel for sale. The hours of operation for the store will be Friday 2PM-8PM and Saturday 7AM-12PM. This will be under the House of Bowerman tent as well.
LOCAL INFORMATION
Where to Eat
Italian
Kesley's Pizzeria - 2845 Garden St., Titusville, FL. (321) 268-5555 (Downtown)
Valentino's New York Pizza - 3241 Garden St., Titusville, FL. (321) 268-5999 (Downtown)
Portofino Italian Grill - 3350 S Washington Street, Titusville, FL. (321) 567-0636 (Downtown)
Pizza Hut - 2690 S. Hopkins Ave, Titusville, FL. (by Titusville HS)
Mama Rosa - 381 Cheney Highway, Titusville, FL. (near hotels)
Olive Garden - 205 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL. (a little further out)
Carrabbas - 60 Palmetto Drive, Merritt Island, FL. (a little further out)
Little Caesars, Domino's, Papa Johns are also in area.
Mexican
El Leoncito - 4280 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL.
La Bamba - 1817 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL.
Breakfast
Louis Bar-BQ - 2191 N US Highway 1, Titusville, FL. (Near course, great breakfast)
Sunrise Bread Co - 315 S. Hopkins Ave, Titusville, FL. (homemade breads, energy shakes)
Bus Stop Cafe - 3434 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL. (breakfast and lunch)
Cracker Barrel - 4745 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville, FL. (next to Hampton, Fairfield, Holiday Inn)
Denny's, Waffle House, IHOP, etc. are near hotels.
American
Dixie Crossroads (Famous, Seafood) - 1475 Garden St., Titusville, FL. (321) 268-5000 (Downtown)
Beef O' Brady's - 2825 Garden St, Titusville, FL. (Downtown)
Louis Bar-BQ - 2191 N US Highway 1, Titusville, FL. (Closest dining to the course)
Quillen's Taco Shack - 1090 Garden St., Titusville, FL. (popular with locals, tacos and burgers)
Paul's Smokehouse - 3665 S Washington Ave. (on US 1 headed toward course from hotels)
Durango Steakhouse - 3455 Cheney Highway, Titusville, FL. (in front of the Best Western)
Cracker Barrel - 4745 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville, FL. (next to Hampton, Fairfield, Holiday Inn)
Whistle Junction Buffet - 3135 Columbia Blvd, Titusville, FL. (near hotels, in front of Home Depot and Target)
Delis
Pumpernickel's Deli - 2850 S Hopkins Ave, Titusville, FL. (US 1/Downtown)
Mr. Submarine & Salads - 2400 South Hopkins Ave., Titusville, FL. (US 1/Downtown)
Subway - 1504 Cheney Highway, Titusville, FL. (near hotels)
Big League Subs - 1561 N. Singleton Ave, Titusville, FL. (near the course)
Quizno's Subs - 3045 Columbia Blvd, Titusville, FL 32780. (near hotels)
Where to Stay
You haven't already booked your room?? Well if you're looking for double-queen rooms then you're out of luck. But there are still a few king rooms around town!
Holiday Inn
* Brand new, opened this year
* Contact Diana at (383) 0200 x616
* $90-100 range
* Room Block set up under "Florida Runners"
Best Western
* Grass area in back to run/stretch
* Free continental breakfast, heated pool, fitness room
* Durango Steakhouse on property
* $70-80 range
* Call (321) 269-9100, block is under "Florida Runners"
Days Inn
* IHOP on Property, 20% coupon for guests
* Pool
* King Rooms $52
* Call (321) 269-4480?, block is under "Florida Runners"
Getting Around
There are basically four roads you need to know! You got I-95 going north-to-south on the west side of town. US Highway 1 runs north-to-south on the east side of town. Garden Street runs east-to-west downtown. And Cheney Highway (Highway 50) runs east-to-west south of town. The hotels are all located at I-95 and Cheney. The course is just north of town on US Highway 1, about 15-20 minutes from the hotels.
Things to Do
If you're into beachy/tourist attractions head on down the highway to the Cocoa Beach area and there is a great number of them. Your kids might also love the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Center, which is pretty cool with rides, 3D movies, and authentic space travel displays. Or of course head over to Orlando to be in tourist heaven.
If you want something more low-key then the closest beach is Canaveral National Seashore. This is a beautiful, natural and undeveloped beach that is just minutes from Titusville. It is part of the Canaveral National Seashore. Just take the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway (Highway 402) north from downtown Titusville across the bridge.