SpeedForNeed is Back for the Hickory Region

June 16, 2018

Conover School Run & Roll 5k

Speed for Need has exploded within F3 Nation. About this time last year, YHC saw the mission Tolkien from Charlotte was planning. YHC knew that this mission was special and going to be huge, and knew the perfect place for Speed For Need in Hickory, so YHC began those discussions. Unfortunately, timing was not on our side in 2017, but in 2018, the plans are bigger and better than Tolkien or YHC could have imagined. For the PAX that participated in the Hickory Christian Academy 5k last August (YouTube Video here), they saw what service our Region can bring through Speed For Need. And for those PAX who didn’t and only heard, here is your chance. And Conover PAX – no excuses here!

The Conover School Run & Roll 5k benefits the Conover School, a public separate school for students with disabilities located in Conover, North Carolina. The school serves three school systems under the administration of the Newton-Conover City School System and has approximately 100 students enrolled ranging in age from 3 to 21.

The Run and Roll 5k is an opportunity to serve the children of The Conover School in a way that many of them would never imagine. The course is flat and fast (flatter than the HCA 5K) and will give our Track Commanders (aka athlete riders) a chance to experience some wind in their faces in a way they have never experienced. That feeling of speed, paired with the cheering fans and other runners along the course, have all the ingredients to make this an extremely special event.

Hickory will have at least four chairs available for the race that day, with a possibility of as many as eight: YES! EIGHT! The mission of Speed for Need goal is to provide our riders that awesome dose of F3 love and encouragement while giving them a great ride and awesome experience. The PAX that participated or supported the HCA 5k last August saw that true example of #Iam3rd and what it meant to those TC’s on that special August day.

Like the previous Speed for Need races, we’re planning for a huge F3 turnout. That’s where YOU, the Hickory Region PAX, come in. This is a good way to start your summer races.

What you need to know is:

#1 – REGISTER – This is register for the Race and HC to YHC as a pusher. If I get enough HC’s, I will ask for more chairs and more kids!

#2 – BE THERE TO RUN, SUPPORT, & CHEER

DETAILS:

1. If you were unable to participate in Hickory’s the inaugural official SFN event, take a minute to read the mission and other posts SpeedForNeeds’ website.
2. Ideally we would have groups of three men (with similar paces) who will each push the chair for a mile to maximize the speed effect.
   1. We have 4 track commanders lined up awaiting registration.
3. The Run & Roll 5k begins at 8:00AM and will start and finish at the Conover School (108 7th St Pl SW, Conover, NC 28613).  
4. Entry fee is $15 (+$2.75 fee) until June 8, then it goes up to $25. Save 10 bucks and sign up in the next couple days. There is NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION, so register beforehand. Register Here
5. There will be an Official F3 SPEEDFORNEED canopy near the start line, but we will still need plenty of Shovel Flags to help bring attention.  Please plan to congregate there before and after the race for a photo ops with the Track Commanders and race chairs.
6. Race Chairs: Friday, June 15. I will have the chairs at RAM for practice pushing before the race. If you are going to participate, please post for training and practice. (I may have them earlier for Arrow?)
7. Parking – tons of parking across from Conover School.
8. If you are running, we plan to stay together as a group as much as possible. (We will let those jackrabbits – yes, you, Herniator, Jordache , et. al – get the hardware if you wish). The race chariots will have a special start (~2 minutes ahead of the race). We want to keep the chairs in the lead and we will fan out in a group behind the chair. We need some PAX to be real men and run carrying shovel flags as well. Be careful, though, or you might get dropped by the chariots.
9. If you have no interest in running, please still come on out.  Lots of 2nd F and fun for the family. We also need a couple PAX to hang around the tent during the race in case any passersby have questions about F3 or SPEEDFORNEED.
10. SPEEDFORNEED is fully funded by donations – that means the PAX are the LIFEBLOOD of this program. Check out the SpeedForNeed website, and donate to support this effort.
11. Last thing – T-Shirts, what would an F3 Event be without another shirt. There are SPEEDFORNEED shirts and singlets for sale (and patches). Message me (bing@f3hickory.com or @wwightm on Twitter) in advance of the race and YHC will pick them up with the chairs.

This should be a ton of fun. I am excited and I know we have another awesome opportunity to impact the Hickory Region Community. Please help support this awesome cause and race.