Thank You!!

As I reflect on this past weekend, the laughter, the music, the drama of a road race - I cant help but think of everyone who made it possible. So many thank yous are in order! The day goes by so fast it is hard to spend time with people and let them know how much we appreciate their presence and support.

So I just want to say a personal thank you to everyone.

First, to Anita Mathur for her tireless commitment to all things Bobcat related. It was a rocky road this year, a few moments of controlled panic for the organizers, and Anita kept working at it and took it right to the finish line - quite literally. She was actually managing the finish line after finishing the race…!! Well done Anita. No one has a bigger heart when it comes to Oyster River.

A very very special thanks to Andrew and Robyn Gault of Gault Builders - without their commitment - this great day would not be possible. Andrew and Robyn not only underwrote the event as the presenting sponsor, they were also deeply involved with the marketing, the set up, the tear down, the commercials, and so much more. Andrew was at the school with me at 930pm the night before filling water jugs and was back at 6am to set up the aid stations. If you need work done on your home - I can assure you that this man will not stop working until it is done. He and Robyn are amazing people and the community is lucky to have them. The Gault family is an Oyster River legend and treasure and Andrew and Robyn have continued the legacy that Mary Ann and Ralph started years ago by giving back to the community in an extraordinary fashion.

Thanks to all of our volunteers on event day and to ORAA and the board: Ben Hardy lined up the artists and made the Festival an amazing day of musical talent. Chris Hansen, Jim Devlin and Ian Katz on the sound - making it all hit our ears just right. Bridgette Beagan, Matt Smith and Emily Dube all worked before and during this event to make it possible. And to our UNH intern Anthony Baum who did everything from sponsorship sales to hauling tables and chairs, to flyer distribution. Guy is a workhorse and a talent and is graduating from UNH this month. So if you need a solid employee - hire Anthony.

Thank you to Mary Westfall, the Oyster River Teen Initiative and her congregation and the Durham Community Church. The vision and awareness for the Teen Center is the higher purpose of the Bolt and Festival.

Thank you to the Oyster River High School faculty and facility managers: Don Maynard, Deb Poulin, Laura Rogers, Randy, Mark our custodian on event day, Jill our kitchen manager - all of these people made the day come together smoothly.

Thank you to Durham and Madbury Police Departments who spend an early morning keeping the road closed for the runners and making sure safety was paramount.

Thank you to all of our other sponsors, partners and individual donors who contributed time, energy, money and love to make this day happen: Sperry Tents, Minute Men Painters, Durham Market Place, Isles of Shoals Steamship Co., Bugaboo Creek Steak House, Direct Capital, Lenk Orthodontics, The Great Bay Rotary Club, Fosters Daily Democrat, Durham Chiropractic, Runners Alley, Durham Its Where U Live, Wonder Lake Media and Paul and Jeremy Gasowski, 2-way Communications, Breaking New Grounds, The Bagelry and Portsmouth Sign Company.

Special thanks to Erl Hardy, Shirley Thompson and Bruno Welt for their extremely generous individual donations to the cause.

Thanks to Todd’s Trot, the Friends of Oyster River Track, the Huechlings, Todd Allen and John Parsons for the support, example and advice on how to make a great community event. Todds Trot continues to be the inspiration for what the Bolt could be one day.

Thanks to my friends and family who support this event and the efforts of the organizers: Nicole Birkhold and Josh Bishop from Freeskier who came from Colorado to help. My incredible girlfriend Tracy who supports her absent boyfriend and his “other woman” …the Bobcat Bolt… My parents, Robert and Charlene who house and feed the brood who descend on Durham for 4 days - and store things in their garage for years at a time. My brother Jason who donned the Bob D Cat mascot suit, much to his dismay, at Todds Trot to promote the event for us. My brother David who traveled from Colorado with his girlfriend Tiffany and her sister Whitney. My sister Robyn who traveled from Seattle for a 2-day turnaround. My aunt Maureen, cousin Rachele and her family. My cousin Jim and his family (Jim had the crowd on the cruise screaming for “one more song” over and over on Saturday night). My lifelong friend Darren Miller who brings it all magically alive with his talent for capturing the moment with photography.

Thanks to all my friends and those who went out of their way to bring family and travel to this event. It was so great to connect with all of you! Ambre and Javor, Jeff and Beth, Donaldo and Vanessa, Dan and Sarah, Gray and Rose, James and Steph, Jeff and Kelly, Jim and Jen, Stacy and Ryan, Bill and Nancy Jenkins, Pat and Jerry Lang, Rick and Susie Renner, Michelle, Melinda, Seamus, Chuck, Ben…the list goes on and on.

And finally, and most importantly for me, thank you to the Hardy family.
Thank you Josh and Nate Hardy for providing so much inspiration and guidance in my life. And thank you Ben, Donna and Steve for being truly exceptional people and great friends.

I hope we see you all again next year!
And if anyone is interested in getting more involved…let me know. ;-)

Christopher Jerard
Race Director
cj@bobcatbolt.com

Bobcat Bolt Results

Thanks to everyone who made it out to the Bobcat Bolt 5K and 10K! The weather was perfect and the start line was electric at the 2010 Bobcat Bolt.

We had a very strong field of runners this year - with the top runners in both the 5K and 10K posting times near 5 minute mile pace. Amazing! BOB WILES, 32, of Kittery, ME, came in at 15:33 on the 5K to take 1st overall for men. I was riding a bike to pace the runners and check the course this year and could barely stay in front of him on a 10-speed! What an athlete! Not far behind him was SCOTT ROWE, 35, of Dover, NH, who was pushing for the 10K and posted a 33:54 to take the men’s honors. On the women’s 5K side it was HANNAH HERZ-KHAN, 13, of Durham, NH coming in at 22:29. LESLEY HOCKING, 29, Dover, NH posted a 38:35 at 6:14 pace to take home 1st in the Women’s 10K.

In the stroller, skateboard division, and walker division, James Dolan dominated and took home first place.

To see the complete results, click here

2010 start

2010 start

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UPDATE, 545pm, MAY 13TH: REGISTRATION BACK UP

After a full day of Active.com being down - we are back up with pre-registration. Im so sorry to everyone who tried to register on this final day. We have 6 more hours before online registration will be down and you will have to register in person at ORHS tomorrow or at Durham Market Place. 4pm-7pm.
TO REGISTER: Click here
Thanks!

One week away!

Some things to remember and take note:

1. Race starts at 8am. If you are not pre-registered - get there early!

2. If you are pre-registered (good job) you can pick up your bib and gift bag at ORHS the day before, Friday, 4pm-7pm.

3. If you want to volunteer - email me at volunteer@bobcatbolt.com. We will have a 3pm voluntary volunteer orientation at ORHS on Friday the 14th.

4. First 500 runner get t-shirts!

See you there!
Christopher Jerard
Race Director

Bobcat Bolt 5K & 10K Run/Walk, May 15th, Oyster River High School, 55 Coe Dr., Durham, 8am Start

REGISTER

Details:
55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH
Directions: Click here
Course: Click here
Followed by the Oyster River Festival: 9am-5pm: FREE!

Registration Fees:
General: $35
UNH students: $25
Oyster Rivers Students: $20

Click here to register: REGISTER

ONLY 20 Days Until the 2nd Annual Bobcat Bolt!

How’s your training coming along? If you’re like me, you feel like you might need to start “cramming” for race day to be ready! Get out there and get ready! And even if you dont run, register to walk with the community in honor of Josh and Nate Hardy and to benefit to ORTI.

Last year was an amazing day and we expect year two to be even better. I cant wait to see all the faces that I grew up with and catch up. It’s a really special time and means a lot to have a place to go home to like Durham and the Oyster River community. It’s certainly worth celebrating!

Listen for our ads on WHEB and see them in Fosters Daily Democrat as we get closer to race day.

Thanks to all our sponsors - especially Presenting sponsor Gault Builders and our Silver level sponsors Minute Men Painters, Sperry Tents, Durham Market Place and Isles of Shoals Steamship Company. Without all of you we couldnt make this day happen!

Christopher Jerard

27 Days Until Race Day!

Today is the Boston Marathon! So while we’re all in a running state of mind - lets register for the Bobcat Bolt!
With only 27 days until the 2nd Annual Bobcat Bolt - it’s time to register today! Walkers are welcome and encouraged!

Come help us celebrate the lives of Nate and Josh Hardy and raise money for the future of Oyster River - the kids! The Oyster River Teen Initiative is our beneficiary and the vision is an amazing work in progress that includes a Teen Center.

Also, the music line up has been announced for the Oyster River Festival and it’s great. Check out these bands online to see the quality of music we’re bringing on the 15th. It’s going to be amazing.

930-10:00 Sam Southworth
10:20-11:00 Chris Merenda and the Wheel
11:20-12:00 Mike and Ruthy
12:20-1:00 ASUM Klub
1:20-2:00 Esoteric Generation
2:20-3:00 Rockspring
3:20-4:00 7th Child

Thanks to all our sponsors, Gault Builders, Sperry Tents, Fosters Daily Democrat, Durham Market Place, Isles of Shoals Steamship Co, Exeter Hospital, Bugaboo Creek Steak House, Durham Chiropractic, The Great Bay Rotary Club, Runner’s Ally, ORAA, Durham Its Where U Live.

Local Community Joins in Support of 2nd Annual Bobcat Bolt & OR Festival

As many of you have heard, event organizers and the presenting sponsor, Gault Builders, have scheduled the 2nd Annual Bobcat Bolt 5K/10K and Oyster River Festival, for Saturday May 15th, 2010. The success of the inaugural year of the event, generated a donation of $5,000 to benefit the Oyster River Teen Initiative (ORTI) to help improve the experience of the future youth of the area. Proceeds will be used to build a Teen Center in the names of Josh and Nate Hardy. Click here to read about Nate and Josh.

“A teen center for Oyster River Youth got an incredible boost from this event and we are thrilled,” said Mary Westfall, Chair of the Oyster River Teen Initiative. “Though it was the loss of two of our community’s best, Josh and Nate Hardy, that was the impetus for the event, we hope to take the loving memories of those young men and create something inspiring, nurturing and engaging for many other young people in our community.”

Gault Builders has committed their support for a second year, as presenting sponsor for the event. “Last year’s Bobcat Bolt brought the community together in a way that was pretty extraordinary,” said Andrew Gault, President of Gault Builders. “The strong participation across the community and our ability to successfully donate to the ORTI in the first year of the event, brings great optimism for what we can do this year.”

The 2009 Bobcat Bolt drew 300 participants last year for both the 5K and 10K “The early and growing support of runners, volunteers and sponsors as we enter our 2nd year is powerful,” said Christopher Jerard, Race Director. “We are hopeful we can build on last year’s success and double our participation and donation to ORTI.”

The Bobcat Bolt is a USA Track & Field sanctioned and certified event and features a 5k and 10k course for runners and walkers. Prizes will be awarded to men and women in both distances. Registration is $35 and can be completed online at BY CLICKING HERE. The Bolt will be followed by the Oyster River Festival where the community will join to celebrate local live music, arts and business.

For more information on how your business can participate in the Bobcat Bolt or the OR Festival, please contact Christopher Jerard at cj@bobcatbolt.com

About the Bobcat Bolt: The Bobcat Bolt was formed by the Oyster River Alumni to honor the Hardy brothers, 2 men who lost their lives at a very young age. Josh Hardy lost his 18 month battle with brain cancer in 1993. His younger brother, Nate, dedicated his life to his country and served as a Navy Seal for 10 years. In February 2008, Nate was killed while conducting combat operations in Iraq. On Saturday May 15th, the community will join to honor these 2 brothers. Proceeds from the race will benefit the OR Youth Initiative to build a Youth Center in the names of Josh and Nate Hardy.

Register for the Bobcat Bolt!

We’re just two month away from the 2nd Annual Bobcat Bolt!
Dont forget: The first 100 runners will get free tickets to the Bobcat Bolt Harbor Cruise, hosted by Bobcat Bolt sponsor The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company on Saturday night.

Join the community on May 15th and run the Bobcat Bolt! Click here to register today! The 2nd Annual Bobcat Bolt is presented by Gault Builders.

Race Director
Christopher Jerard

Gault Builders Presents: The 2010 Bobcat Bolt and Oyster River Festival!

Gault Builders has re-joined the Bolt and OR Fest as the presenting sponsor in 2010. Andrew and Robyn Gault’s support of the community vision has been absolutely essential to the success of this event in year one! Thanks Gault Builders!

“Last year’s Bobcat Bolt brought the community together in a way that was pretty extraordinary,” said Andrew Gault, President of Gault Builders. “The strong participation across the community and our ability to successfully donate to the OR Teen Initiative in the first year of the event, brings great optimism for what we can do again this year.”

The community support for this event is amazing. The Gault’s are in the center of that support leading the way. Check out GB’s amazing quality work at www.gaultbuilders.com.