Pit & Quarry, July 2017

COMMUNITY RELATIONS EXPANDING THE CONCEPT To expand the race series the event model in place at the Columbia Quarry was one other Vulcan sites could replicate and adapt as they each ventured down the road of establishing a trail race Not every quarry site is necessarily a good candidate to host a race though Executing a race to the standard Vulcan has set requires a sizable population center from which an event can draw the number of participants it needs to consider the event a success Thats why the other races in the Quarry Crusher Run Series are held near metropolitan areas including Atlanta Baltimore Birmingham San Diego and San Antonio The races near Atlanta Baltimore and Birmingham are in their second years while San Antonio and San Diego host their first races in 2017 The uniqueness of the series is that if you participate in one event then you havent done all of them Jeff Johnson says Each mine is unique in the way its been developed and in its location So its a different experience with all six of the races we have across the companys footprint For its inaugural 2016 race Vulcan attracted 674 runners to the Atlanta area Norcross Quarry You need a quarry but also a population of folks to participate says Carol Landrum a human resource manager in Vulcans Southeast Division who also handles community relations I imagine the races in San Diego and San Antonio with their nature of being metro areas will do well Landrum had the opportunity to learn from the hosting experiences of the Columbia Quarry Hosting a race at Vulcans Norcross Quarry for example meant developing or enhancing partnerships with individuals and organizations that could support the necessary components of a successful race Landrum also coordinated with Big Peach Running Co which helped to promote the event and provided its seven area stores as venues where runners could pick up race day materials She also worked closely with the local schools which lent their support The high school last year provided a lot of volunteers Continuous creativity As if running a race through a quarry isnt exciting enough Vulcan Materials puts some fun twists on the trail races in its Quarry Crusher Run Series to keep runners coming back Most runners wind through Vulcan quarries one time each in what the company calls its Single Crusher runs about 37 miles but the company offers a Double Crusher opportunity 74 miles for those interested in a more intense challenge Some runners can even challenge themselves by saddling a rucksack on their backs during a race Those who raced with a rucksack earlier this year at Vulcans Columbia Quarry in South Carolina did so in support of Operation Restoration CDC a nonprofit organization The mission of Operation Restoration is to educate and assist low income families in upstate South Carolina with the goal of developing self sustaining community building lifestyles Runners filled rucksacks with as much sand as they wanted says Darla Oldham who handles the companys community relations in South Carolina They did it to honor a fallen hero This was the first time weve done that and Operation Restoration CDC was thrilled at the opportunity 54 PIT QUARRY July 2017 pitandquarry com ISTOCK COM RADIONPHOTO