Feb. 11, 2008 — The 12th annual 8 Tuff Miles race is set to go at 7:15 a.m. Feb. 23, and organizer Peter Alter expects 800 people to participate.
"They have a good time," Alter said.
In 2007, 710 people crossed the finish line at the ball field in Coral Bay. The race starts in Cruz Bay on the road that runs behind the V.I. National Park Visitor's Center, and the course goes up and downhill 8.375 miles from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay.
In 2007, Jeremy Zuber of St. John won in the men's division with a time of 50 minutes and 14 seconds, his fourth first-place finish in a row. Sally Roberts of Watertown, Mass., took top honors for the women with a time of one hour, four minutes and 12 seconds.
Zuber set the course record in 2006 with a time of 49 minutes and 20 seconds. Letitia Dusich of St. Croix set the record for women in 2004 with a time of 57 minutes and 15 seconds. Alter expects Zuber to race this year, but hasn't heard from any of the recent top women.
While most of the entries hail from the territory and other nearby Caribbean locations, more than 150 showed up last year from the U.S. mainland and international locations.
Everyone who participates goes home with a medal, but the top three finishers in each age group get a trophy. The first place man and woman each win $300.
Registration runs $31 for adults and $15 for those 19 and under.
Most of the money goes for scholarships, Alter said. They include $500 scholarships each for boys and girls 12 and under, $800 scholarships for boys and girls ages 12 to 16 and $1,000 scholarships for men and women ages 17 to 19. The top finishers in those categories get the scholarship money, which can be used for continuing education after high school, Alter said.
The remainder of the money goes to several St. John organizations, including St. John Rescue, St. John Landsharks, St. John School of the Arts, Love City Pan Dragons and the Gifft Hill School. Money also goes to two schoolchildren in Africa and St. John skeleton racer Alexa Putnam, who is racing on the world winter sports circuit.
Registration runs through Feb. 22 at various locations.
Register from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant in Coral Bay and at the Tap Room in Mongoose Junction shopping center on St. John every day until Feb. 21 when the bar is open.
Register Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. at Baked in the Sun, located at the Marketplace shopping center, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 18 through 21 at Connections in Cruz Bay, from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 18 through 21 on the ground floor of the Marketplace near Starfish Market, and from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Maho Bay Camps Pavilion Restaurant.
On St. Thomas, register at Caribbean Surf Co.'s Havensight Mall, Waterfront and Red Hook locations until Feb. 20. Registration takes place during normal store hours.
For more information, call Peter Alter at 779-4035.
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