Good evening. You are the unfortunate recipient of this note because you foolishly ran the 2015 Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon. Which means you ain't bright. Since you ain’t bright, I figured maybe you want to run this fool race again.

Nothing new under the sun: registration for 2016 will involve a weighted lottery via the registration website. The registration website will be open for one week. That is, you will have one week to put your name in the hat. After this weeklong period closes, we will use a weighted lottery to select those who will have the misfortune of running the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon this Fall. If selected to run your credit card will be charged $90, and we will notify you of your poor luck. If you are not selected to run, you can thank your lucky stars.

Approximately 300 runners will be selected to run the marathon through the weighted lottery.

Registration for the weighted lottery would begin on August 1, 2016 at 8AM Central Daylight Time. Registration for the lottery would then close on August 8, 2016 at 8am. The lottery to be held a short time later.

When the lottery registration opens on August 1, you can access online registration here: http://www.runningahead.com/events/Monkey

Please note: there will also be an option to make an additional tax-deductible donation to the Friends of Warner Parks, which will allow you to bypass the lottery and get right in. This options will be available on a first come, first served basis. Details are provided on the registration website. The Friends of Warner Parks dedicates itself to the preservation, protection, and stewardship of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks, where the marathon is held. FOWP works to protect the natural and historical integrity of the area by supporting appropriate recreational activities, maintaining and enhancing its features, and promoting programs that inspire appreciation and conservation of the Parks. Friends is a 501(c)3 organization.

This is the Year of the Monkey
Trent

Ack!

Barkley training ≠ Monkey training

Damn.

Maybe it'll snow this year.

Where is the volunteer link on the website?

Nevermind.

Our being flows through universally-devined cycles, ebbing and flowing as the greatest of the planets circles through the skies once every twelve years.

The planet’s path touches us all and forms our fates. From its position in each year, it inspires in us a different character. Each year it guides us, gives us character. Those born in some years are stoic as an ox. Those born in other years may be stubborn, as a horse. And in others, they may be thinkers, as if they were a rooster. Our very person is made by our position in the skies.

We know from our stories that the Monkey is clever and intelligent, full of quick wit and longevity. The Monkey is filled with life. The Monkey is social.

The Monkey is mischievous. The Monkey is adventurous.

This, my friends, is the Year of the Monkey.

—————

Periodically I will send you emails and share info on social media. This is info about the race. As always, if you don’t find this in your email, check your junk mail and spam filters. Here is some info to get you started. There will be more. Later.

- Your registration info is posted on the Monkey's website AND here: http://www.runningahead.com/events/Monkey/participants. Please take a look to make sure it is correct. If you have run this race before, please make sure your monkey count is correct.

- As always, we will not have automatic text messaging of your splits from this race, to be sent to friends and family everywhere. There will not be SnapChat filters, Twitter hashtags or Facebook live streams. We will not have finish line videos on the web, indexed with your bib number. We will not have cheer squads along the way, with a competition for best spirit and costume. We will not have pace groups. We will not have timing mats every quarter mile.

- Packet pickup will be at the Gordon JCC on November 19, 2016 between 2pm and 4pm. The JCC is located at 801 Percy Warner Blvd, Nashville, TN 37148. This is less than 2 miles from the race start/finish area. Packet pickup will also be available race morning adjacent to the starting line.

- Running is stupid.

- You cannot train for Monkey.

- You may as well give up now.

- GPS, pacers and energy gels are allowed at this race.

- If you do find a Monkey’s wisdom while out thinking you are training, and you realize you won't be able to make it to the race, please let me know so I can offer your spot to one of the foolish fools on our wait list.

- We are always looking for volunteers on race morning AND in the days leading up to the race. So if you know of anybody smart enough not to run who wants to come out and spend a sweltering or freezing morning in the park helping out, please let us know. Volunteers are awesome!

- The website lists information about where there is lodging near the race and restaurants where you can dine over the weekend. In addition, if you have further questions, feel free to holler or to put out a query on our message board: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/HHFMM/forum . If you post there, please don't mind the monkey business.

- We do still have charity registration spots available. Please share this with your friends. The charity slots help out the non profit organization that helps curate the park where we hold the race.

This is the Year of the Monkey | 它是飞行猴的年

The weather at monkey is always good