Initial Race Entrance Fees Due!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

The Race entrance fee deadline is fast approaching and we want to tap all of our resources to ensure we secure our spot in the 2010 Baker to Vegas Race.

For this year, runner participation fees are $150 and Support staff is $100. The fees cover the same items as last year, accommodations, entrance fee, runner fuel (hydration and food on the course) support staff food and beverages on the course, first aid, and Team supplies necessary for participation. Race entrance fees imposed by LAPD have increased to $1700, up from $1500 last year.

Please click on the "Donate Now" button on this page to pay your fee by 12/31/09 (the Race deadline for team fees) if possible. Your support will help us be successful again next year.

If you should have any questions, please email us at teamacso@gmail.com.

Team ACSO

Still Have Questions?

We have answers!

View Team ACSO'S power point presentation here:

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AU3M0AQoqaCKZGcyOWo1eDJfMTVmNmg3ZG1meA

If you should need further clarification, please email us at Teamacso@gmail.com.

Team ACSO

Win free participation in this year's race!

Hello All!

Team ACSO is in need of an official logo and catch phrase. The logo will be used as a symbol to identify us, as well as appear on our team t-shirts and team merchandise.

We are looking for creative original art along with a catch phrase or motto that captures the essence of the team, our spirit and camaraderie.

Please submit your ideas to teamacso@gmail.com. The individual who's submission/submissions we choose will gain free participation in this years race! We will also have prizes for those person's who wish to submit an idea, but do not wish to participate in the race.

Please remember, art and mottos MUST be original and not subject to copyright. Please keep your submissions "PG." Profanity and "obscene" materials will not be considered. "Prizes" are not redeemable for cash and are not transferable.

Thank you all for your support and we look forward to viewing your ideas.

Team ACSO

Team ACSO 2009 "The Movie"

Ready for 2010!

Team ACSO had such a great time last year, We've decided to participate again in 2010!

Race entries are limited again for next year so we have to get movin now to secure our spot. We are again seeking both runners and support staff to become involved as well as assistance with fundraising efforts and other tasks in support of our participation.

We have scheduled two informational meetings at the Regional Training Center in the next few weeks to answer questions. Please join us at one of the following dates and times:

December 15, 2009 5:30 PM

December 17, 2009 5:30PM

As always, if you have questions that need immediate response, please email us at Teamacso@gmail.com.

Look forward to seeing you.

Team ASCO

We're Off!

The Team ACSO Follow Vehicle shadowed runners the entire 120 mile race course.

Race day began at 0500 hours for Team ACSO. The first shift of follow vehicle drivers and runners met at "Base Command" to get last minute details and head out to the race start in Baker, CA. The starting gun sounded at 1000 hours and runners were off! D. Durbin started us off with leg one run of 5.2 miles. C. Haendel took the baton at exchange point one and headed off on an 8.2 mile run, the last four miles of which were uphill. This leg is ranked a difficulty level one and is the most difficult leg of the race. Haendel attacked the leg completing it in about 1 hour 7 minutes, an 8.17 minute mile!


C. Kolos takes the baton at exchange point 4, while C. Haendel "catches" D. Freligh and offers him water at his leg's end.

Legs 3-8 averaged around an 8.30 minute mile and were run by R. Wilson, D. Freligh, C. Kolos, L. Thuman, G. Durbin, and M. Saldivar.


G. Durbin offers L. Thuman some well earned water.

As the sun set, runners slowed the pace a bit due to the lack visibility. Temperatures dropped to around 32 degrees heading into the pass from Parump into Las Vegas. Although runners averaged between 8.30 and 10 min miles, the majority of runners remained around an 8.30 min mile. These legs were run by C. Sass, J. Worley, S. Majoros, S. Crew, D. Covington, H. Nguyen, C. Comfort, A. Theobald, and R. Gaitan.
J. Worley runs an 8.4o mile as the Nevada night sets in.

Bringing us home to the finish line inside the Hilton hotel was legs 18-20 run by A. Ha, A. Palmer, and J. Arone. Lt. Arone was even interviewed by ABC News at the finish! Overall, Team ACSO finished the race averaging a 9.37 min mile and came in 28th place in our division! Official leg times will be posted at http://www.bakervegas.com/ after Monday March 23,2009.


J. Arone at the finish line, 0514 hours.

Inspirational speaker "Mr. T." spoke at the awards banquet. It was a pleasure to experience a room full of first responders exude excitement and glee as he took the stage and paid homage to the work we do every day. After the ceremony, Mr. T took photos with Race participants.

Team ACSO is very proud to have accomplished our goal of forming a team and participating in the 2009 Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Race. All participants had an amazing time and are keyed up and ready for next year. With a new plan to conduct formal training runs and training races, Team ACSO intends to dramatically reduce the overall time on the course improving to an average 8.30 min mile across the race in 2010. We are anticipating bringing two teams to next year's event.

Fundraising efforts and team meetings for 2010 will begin in early April. Check back often for news and updates. For more information and to become a part of Team ACSO in the Baker 2 Vegas 2010 as a runner or support staff, please email TeamACSO@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support and see you on the road!

Greetings from Las Vegas

Race day is only one day away and Team ACSO is ready to rock n roll! We are excited to be on our way to the start line.

Many thanks to the Freligh's as they graciously hosted a welcome dinner in their hotel room for all of the Team ACSO runners and support personnel as we went over last bits of information and hammered out any remaining kinks.

The follow vehicle passed inspection and rule and regulation changes were addresses. Runners finalized leg assignment and start times. We spent a little more time getting to know each other as many people work at different duty stations. We were joined by three recent academy graduates who were eager to take on the challenge and help out Team ACSO on the road. One, Dep. Haendel, was assigned to the hardest leg of the event at 8.2 miles, the last half being a 700 foot climb over four miles!

We connected a GPS device to the follow vehicle in order to track real time progress along the course through a dedicated website, and make adjustments to our schedule of runner and follow vehicle relief shuttles as needed.

Time to get some rest...tomorrow is the big day!

Last Meeting!

We are almost at race day!

Just a reminder that we are having our last meeting before we head off for Vegas, tomorrow night, Wednesday 031109, 6PM at the Regional Training Center (RTC) Computer room.

We are giving out runner leg/team assignments; follow vehicle teams, shuttle teams and our initial race plan. I will also need to confirm how many vehicles we will have to use for the event.

See you there!

T Minus 7 days....

The big day is fast approaching!

At our last meeting we were able to hammer down some of the particulars. Team ACSO will be staying at Circus Circus. The hotel is located just one block east of the Hilton where the race end and event banquet will be held.

Sunday starting at 9:00 AM, the LAPD Homicide Bureau is hosting its annual Baker to Vegas BBQ in the parking lot of Czarnowski Industries. Food and beverages are free to anyone associated with the race, but donations are welcomed and appreciated.

This is the break down of runners and support staff as it stands today in no particular order.

Runners
Lt. Thuman, Lt. Theobald, Dep. Freligh, Dep. Majoros, Dep. Gaitan, Dep. D. Durbin, Dep. G. Durbin, Lt. Worley, Dep. Crew, Dep. Covington, Dep. Comfort, Dep. Wilson, Dep. Heandel, Dep. Kolos, Sgt. Sass, Disp. Palmer, Lt. Arone, Dep. Nguyen, Dep. Saldivar, Dep. Ha

Support Staff
B. Comfort (event volunteer), Disp. Wiggins (driver), Disp. Palmer (driver), L. Freligh (driver), A. Majoros (driver), Sgt. Realph (photo/video), S/T Croghan (photo/video), S/T Reddy (driver), C. Miller (driver).

As you can see we are right at 20 runners. So if you know of anyone who would like to run, let us know! We can always use alternates in case someone can't run last minute. Email Teamacso@gmail.com.

Again, if you'd like to support our efforts, donations are greatly appreciated. Please click to "donation" button to the right. You will be directed to paypal where you can show your support for TEAM ACSO!

Runner and Support Staff deposits may also be made through the "donate" button. Simply add your name and the word "DEPOSIT" in the comment box in pay pal.

Runners and support staff have also given funds towards their participation, however many of the event requirements in equipment and incidentals have put us over our budget.

For those of you wishing to donate, the following is a list of some of the costs associated with the race:

1) Rental vehicle to follow runners on the course. The event requires a "Follow Vehicle" stay behind the runners for the entire Race! This vehicle does need to be a van to hold support staff, alternate runners, water, granola etc.

2) Radio support there is no cell phone coverage in the desert so FRS radios are required and must be configured by the race event staff so that teams and event staff can communicate with one another

3) Required event equipment such as flashing vests for night sighting of runners, "caution runner ahead" signs for follow vehicles and team number etc.

4) Water and food for runners on race day (to rehydrate and replace nutrients during the run through the desert)

We are meeting one last time before we head out on Wednesday March 11th at 1800 hours, location to be determined.

Thanks for your continued support!

We are almost there!

Previous Posts

To view previous posts, please see the "Archives" link on the lower right side of this site and click "2009."

Thanks for visiting our blog, your continued support is appreciated.

Team Meeting

The next team meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 3, 2009, 6:00PM at the Regional Training Center in Dublin. Be prepared to discuss leg assignments, travel arrangements and meeting times in Vegas. Light food and beverages will be provided.



Note: The location HAS changed from the DSA to the RTC

Team Captain's Meeting, Los Angeles Ca

Well the last team captain's meeting was held on Tuesday February 24 at the Los Angeles Police Academy in Los Angeles. I was overwhelmed at the number of people in attendance and the amount of vendors on site to help teams prepare for the event and pick up last minute required items. Team ACSO is geared up and set to go with our flashing vests and magnetic car decals displaying our team number and "caution runner ahead."

Our current start time for the race is 1000 hours in Baker Ca. The folks there are very excited to have us for the 25th year anniversary. In addition, the Moose Lodge 808 and Parump Valley Chamber of Commerce have invited all runners and staff to a special dinner celebrating the 25th year of the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay! The dinner will be held at the Moose Lodge on Friday March 13, 2009 from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. If you would like to attend, please let me know by March 5th so I can make a reservation for you.

Additionally, donations of cash and gym equipment were made to the Baker School through the Baker Unified School District as they are in need of a weight room for their student athletes!
More details on the race and our progress will be posted shortly.

Thanks for your support!

Team Meeting

Tuesday February 17th 6:00PM; Applebee's "The Crossing's" in Dublin.

We will be discussing logistics, more fundraising and last minute details. Please email TeamACSO@gmail.com to let us know you are coming so we can reserve a space large enough to accommodate everyone.

Thanks for your support!

Update #3 February 2009

The account is open and the paypal link established! Everything is starting to fall into place. But now we are facing the biggest challenge yet. Raising funds to support our runners!

Now is the time to put forth our best efforts to garner financial support for us to get to the race. To start, please email your friends, family, co-workers or businesses you know that can assist us in our endeavor and give them the link to this blogspot (TeamACSO.blogspot.com), the race (bakervegas.com) and reference the paypal link on this page to solicit financial support for Team ACSO.

Again any and all support is appreciated. We will be meeting in the next week to shore up logistics. I will keep you posted of the time and date as the information becomes available.

Forging ahead!

Update #2 January 2009

Thank you all for you continued support. The entrance fees have been paid, thanks to a generous donation from the Alameda County DSA and the first set of deposits recieved from runners and support staff. At present we are still working on getting a bank account set up at the SF Police Credit Union located in the DSA building in Dublin. The Credit Union will be operational in about two weeks.

As soon as the account is created, we can begin fundraising efforts. A paypal link will be embedded in this site which will allow anyone who wishes to donate to do so from the privacy of their home at the click of a button! I know this is shorter notice than we would have liked but we are moving along okay and about to pick up the pace with two months to go!

Thanks again for your support!

Update #1 December 2008

Hello all,

Thank you so much for your interest in running and supporting Team ACSO in the 2009 Baker to Vegas competition.

I apologize for the delay in getting back to each of you. I have been working on securing financial support to raise our initial race fees of $1600. Fees are technically due by the end of December, however there is so much interest in the race, spots are filling fast and we have been urged to get our fees in and paid ASAP to ensure a spot in the race. I have been in contact with both the Deputy Sheriff’s Sports Association (DSSA) and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) to garner support with payment of our fees as a non profit donation from either of them; however, the DSSA is focused on providing assistance to youth in our community and I have been unable to hammer out some details with the DSA in a timely fashion. We are still working on making it happen, but also need to look forward so we do not miss the opportunity to reserve a space in the race.

The current plan, as we move forward with fundraising efforts, is to create a bank account whereby people (friends, family etc) who wish to support us financially, can do so with the appropriate tax advantages. Donations would be made via pay pal (or something similar) so supporters can donate with the click of a button from the comfort of home. This would eliminate the need to create an address to mail checks, picking up said checks, taking them to a bank and depositing them. It would also create better oversight for us.

That being said, we still need to raise startup funds and do some initial housekeeping. Thus we are currently requesting the following:

From Runners:

1) $100 deposit – a. This would be used to pay for race entrance fees, until we are able to garner support from the DSA

b. Additionally, money will be used to provide deposits for rooms and or vans and begin securing airfares into Las Vegas. With the prices of gas, flying would be a cheaper option then paying extra days for van rentals and the gas it would take to get to Las Vegas.

c. Depending on the amount of funding we raise over the next few months, this deposit could be returned to runners under the following conditions - Affected runner arrives in Las Vegas and completes their assignment (their leg of the race, barring emergency, or standing by as an alternate) - If a runner is unable to participate and must withdraw, s/he does so prior to January 31, 2009 (barring emergency) - Forfeited deposits will be used to augment associated costs for any new runners we have to plug in.

2) Pace – a. In order to get your estimated pace, chart out a course of approximately 5-6 miles (about a 10K). Run it using a timer then divide the total time by the mileage (i.e. 1 hour 5 minutes = 65 minutes divided by 6 miles = 10.83 min mile.)

b. If you routinely run 10ks or half marathons, then submit your official chip time from the last race you participated in.

c. don’t let this freak you out, we are not eliminating people based on speed, but will help us to determine the level of runners we have and what leg of the race we should cover with whom.

3) Schedule and Duty Station –

4) Two forms of contact information - a. Email (written out)

b. Phone number

From Support Staff (who wish to help out in Las Vegas):

1) $50 deposit – a. again to be used to provide deposits on rooms, vans and airfare etc

b. Depending on the amount of funding we raise over the next few months, this deposit will be returned to support staff under the following conditions - Affected support staff arrive in Las Vegas and complete their assignment - If a support staff person is unable to participate and must withdraw, s/he does so prior to January 31, 2009 (barring emergency) - Forfeited deposits will be used to augment associated costs for any new support staff we have to plug in.

2) Schedule and Duty Station

3) Two forms of contact information - a. Email (written out)

b. Phone number

From Support Staff (those helping out only from here)

1) Fundraising ideas that require little overhead
2) Schedule and Duty Station
3) Two forms of contact informationa. Email (written out)

b. Phone number

From everyone

1) A commitment to raise at least $500 each.

Keep in mind that $500 is not a requirement, but a goal. If we reach that goal, based on our current level of interest, we should have enough to cover our expenses and return the deposits. If any funds remain, they will be rolled over to the following year’s participation.

First and foremost we must get our entrance fees paid, once that happens we can begin moving forward on fundraising, and logistics. In the interim, I will continue to forward information as it comes to me.

Again, please check out the website at http://www.bakervegas.com/ for more information about the event. It is pretty much LA’s version of Urban Shield for runners!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or there is a change in your status.

Thank you for your time, efforts and support.

Team ACSO Needs You!

Every year, for the last 25 years, the Los Angeles Police Department has hosted a relay race called the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay. The race began with 19 teams as a way for police officers to improve their physical fitness. This year 250 teams have entered. Of those 250, four are from outside the United States and includes Australia, Germany, Royal Mounted Canadian Police and Calgary, Canada. The race begins in Baker, California and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though the course is 120 miles long, each of the 20 legs is only 5-7 miles in length. This race has been described as “highly competitive” and promotes camaraderie, physical fitness, pride and team work. Former participants have also stated that the race is extremely fun and challenging.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office previously participated in the race but has been inactive for the last several years. We would like that to change by resuming our participation in 2009.

I wanted to take a moment to invite you to participate with “Team ACSO” in the 2009 Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay race. We are seeking both runners and support staff to become involved as well as assistance with fundraising efforts and other tasks in support of our participation. Please note that runners must be sworn staff, but support staff may be civilian staff and/or volunteers.

Though the race is not scheduled until the weekend of March 14-15, 2009, race entry deadlines are fast approaching. Please respond to this email as soon as possible if you are interested in participating.

Send emails to csass@acgov.org or TeamACSO@gmail.com. Please make sure that “Baker to Vegas” is in the subject line, and that you indicate whether you’d like to participate as a runner, support staff, or would simply like to assist with fundraising efforts or other tasks in support of our participation.

Thank you for your time and support.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Team ACSO Does Baker to Vegas Website! Here you can track our progress, post encouragment, helpful hints and donate to the cause. We are very grateful for any and all support you can give.

To gain more information on the Baker to Vegas Run, please follow the link below to the official site and read up.

If you would like to donate, please do so by clicking onthe paypal link entitled "Donate." You can donate any amount you wish, and again anything is appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Team ACSO