Dec. 31, 2003– The stage is set for the third St. Croix Marathon Relay Road Race, which begins New Year's morning at 6.am. Teams of six runners each will start off from Grapetree Bay Road, wending their way through various stages of the course to finish at Fort Frederik.
Organized by V.I. Pace Runners, this year's event is "low maintenance," meaning that streets on the relay course will not be closed to traffic. Wallace Williams of V.I. Pace urged motorist to drive with extreme caution.
In a press release issued today, Williams instructed participants to "run as far left with traffic as possible," and to "exercise extreme care, particularly as we approach the more heavily trafficked areas."
A van will accompany the race to assist runners to the next leg and/or pick up runners as needed. According to Williams, water and Gatorade will be on the van. Transportation back to the start will be provided as required.
"We expect to have a half-dozen teams," Williams said. This year's field will include everyone from serious runners — like the St. Croix Road Runners, who are training for the Los Angeles Marathon — to recreational runners, who are just out for exercise and a little bit of competition
Since traffic will not be closed off, Williams says that no more than ten teams can be accommodated.
The entry fee for each team is $60.
The course:
First leg (3.1 miles): Start at Grapetree Bay Road, go south, then west approximately 500 meters past the driveway to Jan and Sephan Larsen (house with wind generator).
Second Leg (6.2 miles): West to Mt. Washington, left to Sally's Fancy, turn left at South Shore Café to the bridge before South Shore Road.
Third Leg (3.1 miles): West to the sharp turn right, just over the top of the hill.
Fourth Leg (6.2 miles): North to Junie's Bar & Restaurant turn left at Junie's, west past HOVENSA to the main gate, turn right, continue on the road (which has 4 more sharp turns) to Melvin Evans Highway, turn left, continue
west through three traffic lights, go approximately 800 meters beyond the third traffic light (Airport Road East).
Fifth Leg (3.1 miles): through four traffic lights.
Sixth Leg (4.7 miles): go to the end of the four-lane Melvin Evans Highway, turn right and north through the traffic light to the Post Office at the "T" intersection in Frederiksted, turn left and north to Strand Street (the last street and parallel to the waterfront), turn right to Fort Frederik and finish.
Total course distance: 26.2 miles.
For more information on entering, call Wallace Williams at 643-2557.
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