Discussion: U.S. Relay Champs course lengths

Just to help you in your planning and preparation, preliminary distances for the courses at the U.S. Relay Champs on September 23 are as follows --

4 point teams:
Green A - 4.5 km
Orange - 3 km
Green B - 4.5 km
Red A - 6.2 km

8 point teams:
Orange - 3 km
Yellow - 2 km
Green B - 4.5 km
Red B - 5.9 km

12 point teams:
Orange - 3 km
Yellow - 2 km
Brown - 3 km
Green C - 4.3 km

More information about the Relay (and the Sprint Finals the day before) is here

Note that the special price on the rooms is only good until August 31.

Peter

The special price on the rooms is not available today (August 31) - the "block sold out". They were willing to give me a room for an extra $30/night, so I declined. My amazing procrastination ability costs me, once again.

Let me see what I can do with the hotel. They agreed in writing to honor the rate until 8/31.

Please let me know what you find out as well. I've gone ahead and booked a room with the extra $30/night for now, but will be searching for other more economical options.

The hotel manager just emailed me and said he would call the hotel and make sure they honor the rate.

I just called the 800# and they couldn't change my rate on the reservation I made this afternoon at the higher rate. So I called the hotel directly and they apparently switched it in their system. It sounds like it is fixed, but I don't think I will be getting a new confirmation.....

Susan - you should forward Email to anyone who could not get room for promised lower price, so, check-in clerk cannot give "run-around" like "I am not aware of any discount for blah, blah, blah..."

I hate people. After three tries on the phone I finally managed to talk to the front desk clerks who were, after all, unable to give me the group rate. Apparently I'll need to talk to the general manager when I arrive in order to get the price knocked down.

Well I tried to make a reservation two weeks ago and at that time the hotel site said it only had smoking rooms left. I would rather pay more for a non-smoking room elsewhere, so I didn't make a reservation there.

I just called the hotel and they agreed to continue honoring the rate, for non-smoking rooms, through today. The rooms in the block are sold out but they can "force sell" them (I think that's what she was saying). Anyway, you can reference Chrystal or Sue for authorization or Stu Schader, the manager.

Kudos for following up here - I think it was "fair" for the original deal and for them to sell out. It is "better" to get the rate after the organizers called back and the hotel manager agreed to extend it for us. Please accept my appreciation now, and I'll let the hotel know directly when I get there.

Steve - if it was me - I'd give hotel extra $30,- as my appreciation for honoring early bird rates... ;)

Hold your applause. Calling the hotel directly still yields the higher rate because the extended deadline for the reduced rate hasn't been entered into the computer. I'm hopeful that the note entered into my reservation will work to get us the lower rate.
Thanks, Susan, for talking to the hotel folks.
(ps, got a non-smoking room. :-)

I think that overriding the computer rate was the idea behind the "force sell" business and the person should have been able to get you the rate. Peggy, do you want me to foreward you an email and/or the agreement from the manager so you can present it, if needed?

Wouldn't hurt! I appreciate it.

I'd like the email too, please. I'll need evidence to present at the hotel when I arrive.

Thanks for the references on this thread - just booked at $79 (with less than an hour to go.) Dropping the manager's and other's names helped a lot.

There will be a special relay for "junior juniors" at the US Relay Champs on September 23, hosted by WCOC at Osbornedale SP in Derby, CT.

It will be a 2-person relay, both running a white course. There is no entry fee for anyone age 12 or younger, but please sign up in advance. More information at the WCOC web page.

Just trying to make sure we have something for our stars of tomorrow!

Peter

PS. If you could post this on any club e-mail lists that you have access to, that would be appreciated and help spread the word. Thanks!

Any information on forking, will there be one this year? I thought it is a desirable feature in a relay.

From the relay notes, which will be posted on the meet website shortly --

Courses are not forked. In other words, everyone running any particular leg of any relay has exactly the same course. Plan your teams and your strategy accordingly.