GENERAL
INFORMATION
Join
us for the sixth Heart of the South 500, April 9, 10 and 11, 2010OR
the Heart of the South 200 on April 10th.
The
"Heart of the South 500 and 200" were created to:
-
Give a racer a chance to qualify for RAAM,
www.ultracycling.com/events/raamqualifiers.html
- Give
those already entered in RAMM an opportunity for a great tune up ride and/or
exercise
a new crew;
- Provide
those long distance riders in the southeast a "RAAM" type long ride;
- Raise
money for disabled athletes via Athletes for Charitable Causes;
- Provide
John Marino events in Alabama; it carries 3 Difficulty Points for the
500, 1 point for the 200;
- Give
me an opportunity to support and publicize the sport of UltraCylcing in the Southeast.
- Have some
fun!
The Heart of the South
500 is a Ultramarathon Cycling Association Sanctioned race. It is a qualifier
for
solo riders wanting to race in the Race Across
America (RAAM) (www.ultracycling.com/events/raamqualifiers.html).
It covers roughly 500 miles and travels through north central and northeast
Alabama, then through the northwest corner of Georgia, over Fort Mountain State
Park to Ellijay - back to Piedmont, Alabama, then to the top Mount Cheaha and
then back to Birmingham. The course climbing elevation is roughly 35,000 feet.
We
welcome all who want to participate, solos and teams. The race follows
RAAM rules, so you have to have a crew and following vehicle(s).
SOLO
START TIME is 8 PM ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND TEAMS AT MIDNIGHT.
Please note the meeting times for solos and teams.
The map
on this “link” shows
the location of the host hotel and starting location. We will start the
500 in the parking lot between the BankCorp South building and Cracker
Barrel Restaurant.
Sunrise is at roughly 6:30
AM and sunset is at 7:00 PM.
AND,
again in 2010…The
Heart of the South Double Century!!
START TIME---5 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Heart of the South Double Century
covers the first 75 miles of the 500 mile race and then cuts across to the
last 125 miles. This is a John Marino
event and carries 1 difficulty point. THE DOUBLE DOES NOT REQUIRE A CREW—OR
FOLLOWING VEHICLE!!
The double is supported at four points on the route and a moving vehicle for
food, bags, sagging (if necessary). There are many stores along the way for
food and drink.
The double starts at 5 AM on Saturday, April 10th.
Please stop by the host hotel between 3 and 7:00 PM on Friday, April 9th to
pick up
your materials----OR----if
you are driving in you can register at the start at 4AM.
Registering for the 200
gets you T shirt, a place to have some snacks and talk with other racers AND a
shower at the hotel after the race!
Sunrise is at roughly 6:30 AM and sunset is at 7:00 PM.
The map
on this “link” shows the location
of the host hotel and starting location. We will start the 200
in the parking lot between the BankCorp South building and Cracker Barrel
Restaurant.
If you have an interest in helping
out please send me an email, and thanks ahead of time. Any event must have help, please consider doing so. Thanks.
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| SCHEDULE
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The Start Time
for the 500 MILE race is 8
PM FRIDAY NIGHT for solos, 12 MIDNIGHT for teams. The race
is over at 8 PM Sunday.
The 200 will Start
at 5 AM Saturday from the same location as the 500.
| Friday,
April 9th
Below
Meetings at Marriott 280
3:00-7:00 PM Registration for 500/200,
please come by and pick up materials
3:30 PM -- Solo 500 Meeting
4:30 PM Teams 500 Meeting
Starting
location between BankCorp South and Cracker Barrel Restaurant. (Click
here for map)
8 PM HOS 500 solo start
Midnight-HOS 500 team start
Saturday,
April 10th
Double Century riders can pick up materials from 4 AM to 5 AM
5 AM 200 Start -- Double Century
Double Century riders finish between 4 PM and 10 PM Saturday
Sunday,
April 11th
500
mile riders finish between 1 AM and 8 PM Sunday.
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| ACCOMODATIONS | Host
Hotel
The Marriot is offering a rate of $99.00, please call the
hotel at 205.368.3775 and ask for the Heart of the South rate. There is a
room stocked with snacks, Recoverite and water for relaxing from 4PM Saturday
to 5PM Sunday. There is also a room at the Marriott Saturday and Sunday
night for showers. The Marriott
is on route 280 one mile east of the intersection of 280 and I459.
(Click here for map.)
Restaurants
(within 3 miles) - Kobe
Steak House
- Romano's
Macaroni Grill
- California
Pizza Kitchen
- Bahama
Breeze
- Logan's
Roadhouse
- Copeland's
- On
the Border
- Tavern
on the Summit
- Panera
Bread
- Taziki
- Edgar's
Deli
- Superior
Grill
- Joe's
Crab Shack
- Johnny
Rockets
Bike Stores
Cahaba Cycles, 967.2003,
2 miles from Start.
Bike Link, 991.3335, 3
mile from Start.
Other Stores
Wal Mart, 3 mile
Lowes, 2 mile | |