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Priority Health Sporting Event

MrsB918

By MrsB918
in Grand Rapids Coffee House

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MrsB918 Unincorporated Area

MrsB918

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From WOOD TV...

Sporting event announcement expected from Priority Health

GRAND RAPIDS -- A big announcement is expected Thursday from Priority Health. The health plan company has let us know they will announce a first of it's kind sporting event that will take place during this year's Celebration on the Grand. Organizers say the new program will attract elite athletes from across the country.

The announcement will be made Thursday at 1:30 p.m. outside Van Andel Arena.

Huh? Does anyone know something about this? I'm totally curious...

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Veloise City

Veloise

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From WOOD TV...

Sporting event announcement expected from Priority Health

GRAND RAPIDS -- A big announcement is expected Thursday from Priority Health. The health plan company has let us know they will announce a first of it's kind sporting event that will take place during this year's Celebration on the Grand. Organizers say the new program will attract elite athletes from across the country.

The announcement will be made Thursday at 1:30 p.m. outside Van Andel Arena.

Huh? Does anyone know something about this? I'm totally curious...

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Veloise City

Veloise

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Above the fold coverage!

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grpress/index.....xml&coll=6

...

"Professional and amateur cyclists will compete on a 1.2-kilometer course beginning at West Fulton Street and Ionia Avenue and will tackle some of Grand Rapids' historic brick streets.

Riders will head north on Ionia, northwest on Louis Street to Ottawa Avenue, travel south to Westin Street, continue to Grandville Avenue, south to Oakes Street and then east to Ionia, where the course heads north again to Fulton.

There will be five races plus a children's race, and all races are timed. Action will begin at noon and conclude with the 90-minute Men's Pro division race. ..."

Criterium racing is fun to watch. Not like a road race where you arrive several hours before Lance and the rest to watch them zip by for 30 seconds. Now might be the time to scope out a good viewing spot on a parcking deck where you could watch the peleton (group of riders) go up one street and down another.

I mentioned corners. Plenty of them in this event. And lost of dazed spectators wandering around. Should be more exciting than a roller derby!

100_0046.jpg

Road marshall at the Tour de Gaslight. I brought all this stuff down to the site on my bike.

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BigBinder Crossroads

BigBinder

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This was SUCH a great day. My 4 year old was in the 'race' and my husband volunteered as a marshall (that is a fancy word for 'bike race crossing guard'). We loved it and talked to some of the riders who said they had a great time and the bumpy brick roads were very 'European'.

They took great care of the volunteers and the kids got a bike flag, stickers and bracelets (of the Lance Armstrong variety but with Priority Health on them) in addition to the t-shirts. Also for any kids without bike helmets they had some to give away as well.

I am sending emails all over town to try and figure out who exactly at Priority Health I need to rave about this to in hopes of making it an annual event? My undestanding was that it was sort of a trial.

Jen

http://bigbinder.wordpress.com/

^bump

Pics. What a lovely day.

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Veloise City

Veloise

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This was SUCH a great day. My 4 year old was in the 'race' and my husband volunteered as a marshall (that is a fancy word for 'bike race crossing guard'). We loved it and talked to some of the riders who said they had a great time and the bumpy brick roads were very 'European'.

They took great care of the volunteers and the kids got a bike flag, stickers and bracelets (of the Lance Armstrong variety but with Priority Health on them) in addition to the t-shirts. Also for any kids without bike helmets they had some to give away as well.

I am sending emails all over town to try and figure out who exactly at Priority Health I need to rave about this to in hopes of making it an annual event? My undestanding was that it was sort of a trial.

Jen

http://bigbinder.wordpress.com/

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BigBinder Crossroads

BigBinder

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Jen, I am guessing that you might have a shot of one of the kids' races to post here?

The best part: a "big bike" escort rode with each of the kiddie heats. Here's a Cat - something cyclist in full team kit, coasting in his lowest gear, casually talking to the kids who were all pedallingashardastheycould! What a sight.

Also the training wheel girl who rode the entire course with a flat rear tire. Mom trotting on the sidewalk encouraging her to finish. That kid got extra cowbell from moi.

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BigBinder Crossroads

BigBinder

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I think we do; I'll check and see. My husband was busy 'marshalling' and holding our 2 year old daughter while I ran along with our son who ended up in the bottom of a crash pile (peletons and training wheels apparently are not a good combo) and I don't know if we ended up getting any pictures but I will post 'em if I got 'em.

Jen

http://bigbinder.wordpress.com/

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