Running Routes & Other Information

 

Running Routes and Other Information

Happy Fall,

I'm sure many of you - minus our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, Carribean, Hawaii, and other warm locales - are beginning to experience the signs of Fall. Leaves are dropping, morning temps are a little chillier, and it's about time to break out sweatshirts.

It also means we are getting ever closer to our trip to Italy. I know I've said it before, but it's worth repeating; it probably seems to many of you that nothing is going on, but I can assure you that there's a whole bunch of folks working incredibly hard behind the scenes to make this a spectacular Final Leg. 

Normally, you would have known virtually everything there is to know about the Final Leg by now, but the late start in planning has resulted in a shortage of information to share. However, that translates into the fact that very shortly, we will be flooding you with information and tasks to complete - like drinking from a fire hose. We will have some incredibly tight deadlines, so we will need your absolute full cooperation. 

Running Routes

The LOC has begun providing us draft running routes, and so far, they look fantastic. We will be experiencing everything northern Italy has to offer. As we've said before, we likely will be running over plenty of cobblestones, so sturdy running shoes are a must.

Uniform Kits

Our uniform kits should be finalized next week. We are very fortunate to have such a great relationship with Columbia Sportswear, which means you know our gear will be of the highest quality.

We will be doing all of our runs wearing a "jogger" style pant. They are fairly light weight and very comfortable. We strongly recommend you bring a thermal undergarment for those days that are very cold. For those cold days, I really like the brand 32-Heat. It provides a nice extra layer but is also thin. We will provide another reminder of "what to bring" when we get a little closer to go time.

We will have multiple layered options as well, with vests, half-zips, hoodies, beanies and gloves, so we should be prepared for anything Mother Nature has to throw at us.

If you live in the United States, Canada, or are participating in Athens, we will be shipping your gear directly to you. All other team members will get their kits when they arrive at the hotel in Turin.

Team Meeting

As soon as we get the go ahead to start booking flights, we'll schedule another full team meeting to make sure we're all on the same page. We promise you an absolutely life-changing experience!

Until then, KEEP RUNNING and stay safe!

RE-LAUNCH OF THE FINAL LEG TEAM PORTAL

The next time that you jump onto the LETR website and decide to have a look at the Final Leg Team Portal, you will hopefully be pleasantly surprised that the site has been refreshed (although not quite complete yet) and its' focus has changed from being a place where information was collected from you to one where information about the event will be stored and displayed.

The Team Portal now has the following sections:

• TORCH RUNS
• FINAL LEG SCHEDULE
• FINAL LEG BLOG
• POLAR PLUNGE
• ATHENS & ROME
• MEET THE TEAM
• ON THE GROUND
• GENERAL INFORMATION

As I said earlier, the site is not yet complete.  There is no content in the ON THE GROUND or GENERAL INFORMATION sections and limited info in the TORCH RUNS and FINAL LEG SCHEDULE sections.  But that will only expand as we move closer to February (a mere 4 months away).

There are two ways for you to access the Portal - you can go to the Final Leg website and navigate to the FINAL LEGS section then click on the Portal button - or you can go directly - https://letr-finalleg.org

Either way you will be presented with a splash screen showing the circle logo you see at the top of this post.  Click on that logo to enter the Portal - you will need to know the PIN Code of course.

Did you know that the first Final Leg for a Special Olympics World Games was held in 1987.

That's a pretty significant 4 digit date to remember and use.

I'd like to think that the Portal is fairly easy to navigate - one tip is when you are on a sub-page (Meet the Team as an example) and you want to return to the main page of the Portal - you just need to scroll to the top of the page and click on the TEAM PORTAL banner.

I am away travelling for the next couple of weeks and won't be doing any further work to the Portal until I return - however if you have any ideas, comments or questions about the Portal, drop me an email and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

I hope the creation of this site will start to put some meat on the bones of the experience ahead of you all.

Scott

 

Fundraising Update #1

Update #1    

Just a few fundraising thoughts. Some of you may have never asked anyone to donate money before. This is the perfect chance because people and businesses like to donate to the great combination of Special Olympics and Law Enforcement. As we all know we can’t take gifts from people doing our cop jobs but people donating to the Law Enforcement Torch Run on your behalf is a different story. The first time you ask someone to donate is the hardest and then you will realize that rarely people say no. Being the Final Leg runner that was handpicked from your state or country is all the more reason they will want to donate. We all need to capitalize on this because it is truly a special honor. For example, you can tell people, post on social media or write a letter stating that “I was the only police officer chosen from the State of Missouri and I am taking this opportunity to raise some money for Special Olympics.  

Special shout out to our team member from Kentucky, Chuck Adams, who secured a $10,000 donation. Great job Chuck.

While it is absolutely voluntary to seek donations, it is such a great opportunity to benefit your local program and the LETR Final Leg.

Upcoming Goals: It would be great to get every team member to personalize their fundraising page with a photo and some individual info. This is a great place to tell your LETR Special Olympics story. Toot your own horn, you have earned it. Even if you don’t plan on doing any fundraising you never know someone might see your page and decide to donate.

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Thanks for reading this. 

 

Bill. 

 

Athens Flame Lighting

 Information Needed: Athens Flame Lighting

Hello Team,

It is common for significant others to travel for pre and post Final Leg trips (they are expressly prohibited from traveling on the Final Leg event itself). If you expressed interest in attending the Flame Lighting Ceremony AND you intend to bring a significant other with you, they are welcome to attend the Flame Lightning as a VIP Guest. If that is the case, I need you to reply by email ASAP (by no later than Friday, 20 September) with the name of the person who will be traveling with you. 

I apologize for the short notice, but as you know, everything about this planning process is occurring at warp speed!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

2025 Final Leg Schedule

Zappeion Hall - Athens, Greece

 

2025 LETR FINAL LEG SCHEDULE

Hello Team, we are pleased to present to you our schedule for the 2025 LETR Final Leg leading up to the World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Please note that once this schedule has been chiseled in stone, Scott Whyte will place it into a much more palatable format:

Monday, 24 February 2025: Flame Lighting Rehearsal, Zappeion Hall - Athens, Greece

Tuesday, 25 February 2025: Logistics Team Arrival - Turin, Italy

Tuesday, 25 February 2025: Flame Lighting, Zappeion Hall - Athen's Greece

Tuesday, 25 February 2025: Flame departs Athens to Rome

St. Peter's Square - Vatican City

Wednesday, 26 February 2025: Host Nation Arrival Ceremony / Papal Blessing, St. Peter's Square - Vatican City, Rome

Wednesday, 26 February 2025: Team Leaders Arrival - Turin, Italy

Wednesday, 26 February 2025: Flame departs Rome by train, enroute to Turin, Italy

Wednesday, 26 February 2025: Flame arrival ceremony - Turin, Italy

Thursday, 27 February 2025: Torch Runners and Athletes Arrival - Turin, Italy

Friday, 28 February 2025: Individual Team Meetings; Management / Logistics Team Meeting; Welcome Dinner (mandatory attendance for full team)

Saturday, 1 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Sestriere* & Pragelato*

Sunday, 2 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Bardonecchia* & Turin*

Monday, 3 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Cuneo* & Alessandro*

Tuesday, 4 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Asti* & Vercelli*

Wednesday, 5 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Novara*

Thursday, 6 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Verbania*

Friday, 7 March 2025: Final Leg Torch Run - Biella* & Ceremonial Run from hotel to Opening Ceremony Arena (2.3 km, or about 1.4 miles) * & Opening Ceremony Rehearsal

Pala Alpitour - Turin, Italy

Saturday, 8 March 2025: Opening Ceremony (evening); Polar Plunge*

Sunday, 9 March 2025: Polar Plunge*, Team visit competition venues, Farewell Dinner (mandatory for all team members)

Monday, 10 March 2025: Team members relieved of Final Leg duties and return home, or continue personal travel

Tuesday, 11 March 2025: Management Team departs

You will note a number of asterisks in the schedule. Some of the towns we are scheduled to visit may be adjusted to different days and times due to a number of factors.

There are pieces of the schedule, primarily the Opening Ceremony rehearsal that we may not know until we are in Italy. That is a mandatory team function, and we are at the mercy of the Opening Ceremony producer in terms of when they will want us at the arena.

At the Opening Ceremony rehearsal, we will also announce which Torch Runner and Athlete will represent the Team in delivering the Flame of Hope into the arena. We will discuss in our next whole Team meeting how we select those individuals.

The Polar Plunge is on the schedule for both Saturday and Sunday. While it will likely take place Sunday morning, we do have some flexibility. 

If our Opening Ceremony rehearsal ends up being Friday afternoon/evening, we may push our Ceremonial Run to the arena to Saturday morning. If it is Saturday morning, this is another mandatory event for all team members. In other words, no sleeping in if we end up having an early morning run.

PLEASE DO NOT BOOK YOUR TRAVEL. WE HOPE TO GIVE YOU THE GO AHEAD SOON!

Just a reminder, the Final Leg is a mission, and part of your duties as a law enforcement officer, or Athlete representative of Special Olympics; it is not a vacation. We will work very hard, with very long hours, but we do have time to decompress, enjoy our new friendships, and possibly celebrate with a cold beverage or two (ask any of the Team Leaders or Logistics folks about decompression time in Berlin).

The key to any Final Leg is to remain flexible. I will promise you right now, something will happen - likely last minute - that will impact our schedule and cause a change. Or, we will make you rush to get somewhere, only to end up waiting. No big deal. As a Torch Runner, you have four simple responsibilities: ALWAYS BE ON TIME; BE READY TO RUN; SMILE; TAKE CARE OF THE ATHLETES.

Greg Dawson, our fantastic SOI partner Kami Delameter and I will be travelling to Italy the day after the International Conference to meet with our Italian colleagues in person. During our visit, we will stay in our team hotel, do reconnaissance on all of the running routes, the Polar Plunge location and the Opening Ceremony arena. Additionally, we hope to meet with all of the Italian Torch Runners and Athletes.

Upon return from that trip, we'll schedule a full team Zoom meeting and share with you what to expect.

I can tell you right now, based on the commitment of our Italian colleagues, this is going to be an extraordinary Final Leg, and an event that will likely change your life in many positive ways.

Folks, I can't emphasize this enough; we will likely have many inclines and declines in our runs, some of which are in ski villages. Also, we will likely have a number of runs over cobblestones. Make sure you have supportive running shoes, and possibly consider some type of ankle support. Our goal is that everyone starts and finishes every run!

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to do so by making a comment in the blog. If you have the question in your head, you know your teammates do as well.

Can't wait to see you all soon!

Winter - Turin, Italy

Fundraising Update

 

Flanery Takes Commanding Lead!

Jason Flanery from the great state of Missouri has jumped out to a commanding lead in the fundraising race! Jason has amassed over $4,170 so far! Overall, the team has raised just shy of $9,000. We're off to a good start.

If you have not done so already, and your agency allows you, please create your fundraising page and start raising money. There are three fundraising goals for you to hit in order to earn some awesome memorabilia.

$5,000 raised earns you an official 2025 Final Leg Torch

$7,500 raised earns you the CHOICE of an official 2025 Final Leg Torch, or a ceremonial miner's lamp like the one used to transport the Flame of Hope

$10,000 raised earns you an official 2025 Final Leg Torch AND a miner's lamp  

If you are a Torch Runner, 50% of your fundraising dollars go back to your program and help defer the cost of your travel to and from Italy, and your uniform kit. If you are an athlete, 100% of your fundraising dollars go back to your program.

Good luck!

2025 LETR Final Leg Polar Plunge

 

2025 LETR Polar Plunge 

Fundraising Information

Hello Team, I hope this message finds all of you well. We are extremely excited to announce the fundraising information for the 2025 LETR Final Leg Polar Plunge. It will take place at the spectacular Piscina Stadio Momunentale in Torino (pictured below). In addition to being a beautiful venue, it sports multiple diving/jumping platforms, which could add another level excitement to our plunge. Now, this is being billed as a Polar Plunge, so the Planning Committee is at work on ideas for the "Polar" part of that plunge. Any team member is more than welcome to provide suggestions. 

We have assembled a number of resources to maximize your fundraising efforts, and I know you will find them very helpful.

This fundraiser is 100% voluntary, understanding that some law enforcement agencies do not allow fundraising. If you are not able to fundraise, you still are able to participate in the Polar Plunge.

There are also a number of fundraising incentives to encourage you to raise as much money as you possibly can and receive in return some very special memorabilia.

Our goal is to raise $300,000 USD, but we know we can do much better than that!

In order to access all of the fundraising information, follow this link:  Polar Plunge (letr.org), 

In addition to the individual incentives, the Team that raises the most money will receive a very special reward, which will be announced at our Welcome Dinner when we are all in Italy.

As usual, please don't hesitate to ask any questions, and let the competition begin!

How many miles did you run today?

Thanks!