Volunteers Needed for 5th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium.

West Chester, Pennsylvania – Due to the steady growth of the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium and the expected spectator turnout associated with its rise in popularity, event organizers are looking for additional volunteers to help with racecourse marshaling, security, medical support and traffic control. The event is taking place in downtown West Chester on Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 5 PM to 9 PM.

Interested parties who are 18 or older are asked to contact Frank Dulin at 610-696-0789 or fdul@ccil.org. Marshals are located throughout the racecourse—in prime viewing areas to help make the event safe for competitors and spectators. Each volunteer will receive an official Iron Hill Twilight Criterium T-shirt. “Volunteering promises to be the thrilling way to experience the action, up close and personal,” said Katie Walker, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater West Chester.

As in years past, the racing action begins and ends at the intersection of Gay and High Streets in front of the title sponsor, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant. The featured event is the Pro-Men’s Criterium at 7:45 pm, when professional and elite athletes battle it out for 60 laps. Immediately preceding the Pro-Men’s event is the Elite Women’s Criterium, at 6:45 pm, where current and former Olympic athletes and national champions will vie for $5k in prize money. The Amateur Men’s Criterium, for intermediate and advanced USCF riders, will start the racing excitement at 5:00 pm. Awards will be presented immediately following each race.

All children between 3 and 10 will have the opportunity to participate in the Kids’ Race, which will take place at 5:45. These friendly races for riders of two- and three-wheel give kids a chance to discover the fun of competitive cycling. All participants receive free prizes, including a helmet (if needed) and an official Iron Hill Twilight Criterium medal. Sign up begins at 4 PM for those who don’t pre-register at the Philly Pretzel Factory before the Monday, June 29, 2009.

Presented by the West Chester Cycling Classic, a subsidiary of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium is part of the USA CRITS Championship Series, the first nationally-promoted series dedicated solely to short-circuit races.

For more information, go to www.IronHillTwilightCriterium.com or call (610) 696-4046. Requests for press credentials need to be made no later than Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Volunteers Wanted! Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via

BETHLEHEM, PA –Volunteers Wanted!! The Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via is Sunday, September 13, 2009 and Via needs your help! Volunteers are needed along the course to support more than 2,000 runners and walkers.

Volunteers do a number of things like cheer on the runners, staff hydration stations and help keep runners on course. Come out for a day of fun and help keep the runners moving! Be creative, bring a radio to play music, wear a funny hat, decorate your hydration station in a theme – you’ll be part of the inspiration that keeps the runners moving. Register as an individual or make it a group outing and volunteer with your: Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Church Group, Neighborhood, Play Group, Fraternal Society, Civic Club, Fraternity or Sorority, Book Club, Alumni Group, School Team or Group (students can receive community service credit)

A volunteer training will be held Wednesday, August 26 @ 6pm at the Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Kaysch Pavilion, Rooms 6 & 7. Learn what makes a great volunteer and sign-up to help on race day. All volunteers will receive a volunteer T-Shirt for race day. Volunteer opportunities for the marathon include (shifts vary from 2 to 6 hours, with times varying from 5:30 am to 2 pm):

Sample Volunteer Description –Hydration Station Volunteer (detailed descriptions are available online)

Part Safety Officer: Our first priority is to provide a safe course for our runners. Please keep the course free of debris and communicate any medical/safety issues to your Medical Team member and Communications Team member.
Part Cheerleader: Cheer the runners on – it’s a long course, for some runners 26.2 miles, and you’ll be the only people they see for miles. Get up, get excited, and keep them moving. Be creative, decorate your hydration station in a theme, bring a radio to play music, wear funny hats – you’ll be part of the inspiration that keeps the runners moving.
Runner Hydration: As runners pass by, shout what you are holding (water or Gatorade) and hand to runners as they pass. As you hold out cups to runners, hold cup at the bottom so runner can easily grasp cup from you. Continue to pick up cups that runners have discarded on course to maintain safe and clear course for runners.

Volunteer, register or donate online at www.ViaNet.org.

More than 1,650 walkers and runners participated in the 2008 Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via supported by 400 volunteers. This unique event features a five-person Team Relay, full and half Marathon, and 5K Walk. The 26.2 mile course starts at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest in Allentown and takes runners through the Lehigh Parkway to the Lehigh River Canal Towpath continuing through Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. Along the way, runners will enjoy the scenic beauty of the Lehigh Parkway and the Lehigh River, pass through Bethlehem’s Historic Quarter, utilize miles of beautifully canopied trails including cinder, paved and grass surfaces, and end at Center Square in Easton.

Registration for runners closes on August 23, 2009. Walker registration continues right up to 10am on Sunday, September 13, 2009. Volunteer, register or donate online at www.ViaNet.org. Email or call with questions Via@ViaNet.org or 484-893-5389.

The LVHN Marathon raises funds for Via’s services for people with disabilities so they can connect and live in their communities. Via of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit human service agency that provides services for children and adults with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Serving the community since 1954, Via’s staff help individuals and families from birth through retirement focusing in Children’s Services, Community Connections and Employment. Visit www.ViaNet.org to learn more about Via’s services.

Beat the Heat this Summer with Cool Fuel
By Kate Filicky

Chris Figureida, cyclist for the America Heart Association, recalls a hot and humid day on one of his four cycling journeys across America, “I was cycling though the Pennsylvania Appalachians, the humidity was 90 percent that day and it was so hot the skin on my hands was peeling off. I drank water every 10 minutes and unzipped my jersey to keep a breeze. I kept repeating ‘cool, calm, and collective’ to myself to get me through the day.”

Whether you are training for a marathon or taking a Sunday hike at a state park, proper hydration and nutrition are equally important. Problems can be easily be avoided by following a nutrition and hydration plan that fits your body’s needs. Beat the heat this summer with the following food and fluid recommendations before, during, and after endurance activities. More