Bear Creek Resort

Valley News – August 16

It sounds like everyone has been racing and training hard so far this month, many of you gearing up for the fall race season. If anyone is racing their very first race, whether it’s a 5k, half marathon, marathon, trail race, ultra race, etc. send me an email (jill@lvrunningscene.com) mentioning your name (obviously) and your race so that I can give you a shout out when the big day arrives. I will live vicariously through you guys this fall while I get this herniated disc taken care of.

UPCOMING RACES
We’ve got a big weekend ahead of us on the race calendar. This Saturday is National Trail Running Day, something I have never heard of before this year but hey, it gives me an excuse to hit the trails once again. More details on that below. Local races this Saturday include the Trout Creek Trot 5k in Slatington and the 7 Miler at 7pm in Lehigh Parkway which is part of Run Lehigh Valley’s point series races. (See race calendar for more details.)

Beyond the Valley on Saturday there is the Mount Cuckoo 15k taking place in Adamstown, an interesting race which Stephan Weiss has concocted, pitting road runners and trail runners against each other as the race is run half on the roads and half on the trails. You can also head over to Schuylkill County for the Run for the Eagles 5k or drive to Montgomery County Community College for the Livestrong Challenge 5k or 10k races. I know of at least one person locally who is running that one. Good luck!

On Sunday the Livestrong Challenge continues, Run4Sam 4 mile race is taking place at Gring’s Mill Park, and the Bear Creek Adventure Race will be happening at Bear Creek Resort in Macungie. This sounds like a fun race! It will include some orienteering, 4-8 miles of trail running, 8-12 miles of mountain biking, and water and rescue strategies.

Speaking of the Bear Creek Adventure Race, don’t forget that the Bear Creek Contest is still going on! You have one more day to enter, a winner will be chosen on Saturday. If you plan to enter the BC Adventure Race or the Big Bear Trail Run which takes place on October 16, do it today or tomorrow and select “LVRS” for the question “How did you hear about us?” you will automatically be entered to win a free night’s stay at the resort. Remember, the contest ends tomorrow.

RUNNER’S CHOICE AWARDS
The Runner’s Choice Awards is a fun contest in which you select your favorite local races. The survey includes a variety of race distances and types, fill in only the races you wish to include for you choices. If you’ve never run one of the race categories, no problem, just skip that one. There are three spaces for you to enter up to three favorite races, just rank them accordingly. Voting ends August 31 (two more weeks!) Why am I doing this? I thought it would be fun to see which races rank up there as a local favorite. It might also help local race directors when it comes time to plan their races. Vote today!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Run Wild at the Zoo is need of volunteers for their race which takes place on August 28. There is a 5k and 10k race as well as a family fun walk. Volunteers are needed at registration, water stations and for the awards ceremony. All volunteers will receive a race day commemorative bracelet and all day admission to Lehigh Valley Zoo. If anyone is interested, please contact Alan Raisman at araisman@lvzoo.org or by phone at 610-799-4171 x. 224.

NATIONAL TRAIL RUNNING DAY
There is a group run at Nockamixon State Park this Saturday morning that will be meeting up to celebrate National Trail Running Day. The run will begin at 9:30 am and we will run a loop around the lake which is approximately 8-9 miles. Following the run we will head over to Becker’s Corner, a cute restaurant just down the road, to refuel from our run. Meet at the Tower Road trailhead just off Route 611. Please visit the event page for details and directions.

LVRS WEEKLY RUNNING CHATS
Let’s talk about running! I have installed a brand new group chat feature on the website. It is located on the new toolbar here on the website which you will see on the bottom of all pages throughout the site. The button is shown on the right. You will connect via one of your online networks (Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo) and once connected you can talk with everyone else in the group chat room. Each week we will have a certain topic to focus our discussion on. Chats will take place every Wednesday. This week let’s start it at 10:00 AM and get a feel for how this will go. This week’s chat topic: Goal Fall Races and Your Current Training. Hope to see you in the chatroom! Remember, you need to come to http://lvrunningscene.com and click the chat button in the bottom toolbar on the site.

JOIN THE LVRS MAILING LIST
To receive a weekly email with the latest posts from the website, as well as an occassional email with an announcement (could be a sale, promotion or contest), enter your email address and name below.

Join the Running Scene Mailing List

News & Events Posted by Jill 16 Aug 2011 / 0 comments

Valley News – August 9

MARATHON REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON
Four more days to register for the LVHN Marathon for VIA. An email that went out yesterday said registration closes midnight on August 12th. This is your last chance to run the race on September 11th. The race includes a marathon, marathon relay, half marathon and a 5k walk. The 5k takes place on Saturday, September 10. New this year is a race expo and pasta dinner taking place at the new Steel Stacks in Bethlehem.

SUMMER RUNNING CLOTHES ON SALE
The Finish Line has all of it’s summer apparel marked to 25% off! Stop by the Finish Line today. A better idea is stop before the Group Run tonight (6pm), do a little shopping and then join the group for an easy 3-5 mile run through Emmaus.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL RACES
The first ever LVRS Runner’s Choice Awards is taking place right now. Visit the survey and vote for you favorite area races in several categories. You can list up to three favorites in each category. The winners of this contest get bragging rights as the area’s favorite race according to the runners who run them. Voting takes place now through August 31. Vote now.

FREE MASSAGE
This week’s giveaway contest is a free one hour massage at Spine & Sport Chiropractic. So far twenty-nine people are hoping to win this great giveaway being sponsored by Dr. Laurie Reinhart, chiropractor and massage therapist specializing in treating runners and athletes. Enter today!

MINGLE AND MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN
It’s finally here! Join us this Thursday at Bear Creek Resort and give yourself a break from the crowded streets of Bethlehem. Starting at 5:30 pm you can enjoy happy hour priced drinks ($2 domestic drafts, $3 imported drafts, $3.50 on well mixed drinks and $4 on house wines) and .50 wings. We’ll be hanging out on the back deck facing the mountain. Such a beautiful setting, and to top it off, live music starts at 7:00 pm. You can RSVP here on the website, http://lvrunningscene.com/rsvpmaker/mingle-music-on-the-mountain/. Hope to see you on Thursday!

CYCLOCROSS CLINIC
Chris Garges will be running a cyclocross clinic at Upper Saucon Park (Preston Lane, Center Valley) on Thursday, August 18. The clinic will start at 7pm and he’ll spend an hour or so going over the basics of cyclocross including starts, cornering & obstacles. If you don’t have a cross bike, feel free to come out and listen (or bring your mountain bike if you have one). A short course will be set up including two sets of barriers. As of now there is no one else practicing at that time / location, if we get there and find visitors we’ll just move to an open area.

This event is set up under the multisport club that Chris belongs to, Endurance Multisport, for insurance purposes. If you’re interested and not an Endurance Multisport club member you will need to sign a waiver. There is a suggested a minimum $5 donation to the HCM Foundation, but there is no cost for the clinic. Non-Endurance Multisport members must become a one day club member and sign the waiver. The cost for a single day membership is $5.

You can contact Chris at Garges@ptd.net if you have any questions.

WEEKEND RACES
Don’t forget to stop by the LVRS Event page for a listing of all the local races with links and descriptions. This weekend there are a couple of 5ks, a 5 mile race, triathlon, trail half marathon, and much more taking place throughout the valley and beyond!

News & Events Posted by Jill 09 Aug 2011 / 0 comments

Valley News – August 2

Several of you out there in the Lehigh Valley are now in training mode for your fall goal half marathon or marathon. I’ve run my fair share of long runs – sometimes solo, sometimes with friends – and know how grueling the miles can be after a while. I’d love to connect you guys through the website and help you find some people to train with. Please leave a comment below if you are looking for a training partner this fall and let’s see if we can hook you people up!

LOCAL FALL MARATHONS
September 11 – Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via
October 9 – Steamtown Marathon
October 23 – Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon
November 13 – Harrisburg Marathon
November 20 – Bucks County Marathon
November 20 – Philadelphia Marathon

LOCAL FALL HALF MARATHONS
September 10 – Amish Country Bird In Hand Half Marathon
September 11 – Capital Blue Cross Harrisburg Half Marathon
September 11 – Lehigh Valley Health Network Half Marathon
September 11 – Sol Lipton Run Fest
September 18 – Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
October 1 – Hands-on House Half Marathon
October 16 – Hershey Half Marathon
October 23 – Oktober Lauf Fest
October 23 – Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Half Marathon
October 30 – Gettysburg Blue-Gray Half Marathon
November 20 – Philadelphia Half Marathon

LVRR SUMMER SERIES 5K
Tomorrow night is the final summer 5k for 2011. This FREE race is hosted by Lehigh Valley Road Runners. Obviously, folks are loving the fact that this no-frills race doesn’t cost them a cent this year, the proof is in the numbers – the races have been averaging 155 racers. Registration opens at 5:15 am, race begins at 6:30 pm. Stick around afterwards for free hot dogs on the club. Bring a covered dish to share and join the feast that follows! It’s a lot of fun and should be a great night to finish off the series.

MORE FROM LVRR
This Thursday’s Family Hike will be held at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary in Emmaus. The hike starts at 1:00 pm and hikers will stroll through the woods on a woodland boardwalk, past the creek and a frog pond. The trail is jogging stroller friendly (but not street stroller friendly). Bring water to drink, bug spray and sun lotion and plan to have a great time. RSVPs are encouraged via LVRR website.

The final LVRR Kids Summer Series races take place this Saturday morning beginning at 10:00 am. Remember, if your kids ran in 4 of the 6 events they will receive a free t-shirt commemorating their summer races. This year’s winning t-shirt design and slogan are shown in the News section of the LVRR website. Congratulations to Christopher Chambliss and Hope Green, the winners of this year’s design and slogan contest!

XC SPIKE NIGHT
Aardvark Sports Shop is holding spike nights every Thursday evening at both their shops for local high school and college cross country runners. Spike night hours are from 5:00-8:00 pm. Compare XC spikes from Brooks, Saucony & Nike. You will receive a free Aardvark XC themed t-shirt with your purchase and I’m betting all of you college students are totally going to dig the free pizza! *** There will be NO SPIKE NIGHT on AUGUST 11 in Bethlehem due to Musikfest!!! *** Spike Nights will run through September 8th.

MINGLE ON THE MOUNTAIN
You’ve waited all summer for it. Wait no longer! Next Thursday, Aug. 11, is going to be one rocking night at Bear Creek! Forget Musikfest. I can guarantee less crowds, better food, and an intimate environment with live music. I will be ordering a light food platter. It’s not going to be enough to feed you if you are starving, but it should be a nice sampling of what is on the Bear Creek menu. In order to pay for this I’ll be selling raffle tickets for a 50/50 raffle. Half the money will go towards the platter, and one lucky winner will get the other half of the money. Sounds like a good deal, right? Raffle tickets are $5 each. (Hey, this website hasn’t made me rich (yet) so I gotta do something …) Please RSVP so that I can give Bear Creek a head count. Thanks everyone!

There is also a little contest going on right now sponsored by Bear Creek Resort, just for us. If you register for any of their three upcoming events (Bear Creek Challenge 8/13-14, Bear Creek Adventure Race 8/21, Big Bear Trail Run 10/16) you will be entered to win a very exciting prize. You will get one entry per race. Please read the details for this contest. You MUST enter “LVRS” for the question “How did you hear about this event?” during the registration process. Don’t come to me if you do this wrong. I have nothing to do with this contest other than telling you about it. The prize for this contest is one free night’s stay at the resort.

News & Events Posted by Jill 02 Aug 2011 / 0 comments

Upcoming Raffles at Mingle & Music on the Mountain

So far so good on the number of RSVPs for the upcoming gathering, Mingle & Music on the Mountain, at Bear Creek on , especially just 2 weeks out from this great night! Don’t forget to let me know that you plan to be there so that I can give a head count to Bear Creek. Thanks!

I am going to have a 50/50 raffle that night. What this means is that you purchase a raffle ticket and have a chance to win half of the earnings from the raffle. The other half will go toward some finger food. One ticket = $5.00.

There is also another great raffle going on which is being sponsored by Bear Creek Resort, just for us!
Bear Creek has three great events coming up and if you register for any or all of these upcoming races, you will automatically be entered into the raffle.

Here are the rules:

Read the following completely to ensure you enter this contest correctly.

1. You will get 1 raffle entry for each event. If you register for all three events, that means you get 3 shots at the raffle.
2. Raffle prize is non-transferable, non-refundable. It is what it is, nothing more, nothing less.
3. The time frame to enter the raffle begins now and ends on August 18th. The winner will be chosen at random from amongst all the entrants. The winner will be announced on August 20th.
4. Enter “LVRS” when you are asked the question: “How did you hear about this event?” THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED IN THE RAFFLE.

The three events to choose from include:

Bear Creek Challenge – August 13-14
The Bear Creek Challenge is back for the 2nd year. Once again the BCC has been designated as the Pennsylvania Cross Country Championships by USA Cycling. We will also once again host the Mid Atlantic Regional Series (MARC) finals. Anyone racing for the PA States must be a Pennsylvania resident and must have a USAC annual liscense. All other riders can purchase a USAC day permit. For more information on USA Cycling, go to www.usacycling.org

The big change this year is that we have been designated as a Triple Crown of Cycling event by the US Cup!. The Triple Crown is a stand alone event with the Short Track and Super D on Saturday and Cross Country race on Sunday. The 3 races making up the Triple Crown. Riders in each class will be awarded points based on finish towards an eventual Triple Crown winner. You do not need a USAC liscense for the Triple Crown. Riders must race in all 3 triple crown races to be eligible for the title. Scores from your 2 best races will count. For more information on the Triple Crown go to www.uscup.net
Registration is on bikereg.com

Bear Creek Adventure Race – August 21, 11:00 am
A 4 hour race which includes navigation & orienteering, 4-8 miles of trail running (& bushwacking!), 8-12 miles of mountain biking, water & rescue strategies, and special tests along the way. Race teams consist of 3 team members and there will be team time trials. Race fee is $135 per team and registration deadline is Aug. 17th. Register on Active.com

Big Bear Trail Run – October 16, 10:15 am
There will be two distances to choose from: 5k and 16k. Registration will take place from 9:00-10:00 am. The race fee is $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the event. Awards for the top three M & F age group winners and all pre-registered runners will receive a race t-shirt. Register on Active.com

The Prize:

Why should you enter this raffle? Well, this is one fantastic prize! The winner will receive one free night’s stay at Bear Creek Resort and Spa. While you are there, enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Bear Creek Resort, schedule a massage at the spa, take a swim in the pool, hit the trails for a run, and relax in the dining room afterwards for a wonderful dinnerfollowed by a night cap. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

In order to be included in this raffle – AND THIS IS IMPORTANT – you MUST make sure that you answer “LVRS” for the question: “How did you hear about this event?” If you do not enter that into the correct field, you will not be entered into the raffle.

You may sign up for any of these events on August 11th, in person, during the Mingle & Music on the Mountain event.

News & Events Posted by Jill 27 Jul 2011 / 3 comments

Bear Creek Resort

Valley News – August 16

Valley News – August 2