Greetings Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent Runners,
With just days until race weekend, this is a good time to go over some key highlights and some new items. All the information you need is in the Information Booklet located on our website: www.pikespeakmarathon.org. The website also goes into more detail with additional maps and photos. I strongly suggest printing the booklet and bringing it with you as a reference.
Cup Free Racing: The Race Committee is excited to introduce our support for Cup Free Racing. Although we'll still have pre-filled cups available at our aid stations (this year) we ask that each runner consider carrying a fluid bottle of some sort or a HydraPouch that can be quickly and easily filled, instead of using a paper cup. There will be a demonstration of how this works at the race expo. We greatly appreciate your help in reducing the trash collected on "America's Mountain!"
Parking: Parking in Manitou Springs can be difficult during large events. We have updated our website;www.pikespeakmarathon.org/parking with parking option updates. Please review new parking options and please follow all parking rules and regulations.
Competitive Runners Press Conference: Everyone is invited to the press conference on Thursday, August 18, at 1:00pm in Memorial Hall. So come and see whom the top runners are this year and listen to what they have to say.
Packet Pickup: A photo ID is required to receive your packet and your wristband. Packet pickup will start on Friday, August 19 at 9:00 AM and continues through Sunday. See page 4 in the Information Booklet for times. Directions to packet pickup at Memorial Park are on page 6. Note that all pre and post race activities will be in the Big Top tent at Memorial Park.
You must appear in person with your photo ID in order to receive your packet and wristband. A friend or family member cannot pickup your packet for you.
No Bib Transfers: If you will be a "no show", do not transfer your bib to another runner. This will seriously disrupt the results as well as the awards. In addition, it could end your chances of running the race again.
Safety First - Be Prepared: First and foremost is your safety and the safety of our volunteers. In short, be prepared for adverse to severe weather, be it rain, hail, snow, lightning or high temperatures. You veterans know how weather conditions can quickly change. For you first timers, be prepared. There may not be a cloud in the sky at the start. However as many learned the last few years, conditions may be treacherous by the time you reach timberline. For Ascent runners, be sure to use the sweat check service and pack plenty of warm clothing. See page 7 of the Information Booklet.
El Paso County Search and Rescue, who provides our race rescue support, tells their members the following two things. First, historically on every race weekend there will be a period of rain, thunder, lightning, graupel, wind and perhaps snow. The second is that cotton kills. The following are their clothing and accessories recommendations:
1. Light shell waterproof jacket, ideally with a hood
2. Hat (running hat for the sun if desired and wool type cap for the cold)
3. Gloves, ideally a wind stopper although wool mittens can work
4. Water-resistant pants, primarily as a wind barrier. The runners at the front of the pack may not need these, but everyone should consider them for the 3 miles above tree line
5. Sunscreen and sunglasses
6. Consider water repellent barrier spray for your gear, a good inexpensive race solution
Cut-offs: Also for safety concerns, you must finish the race prior to all cutoff times, see page 11, in order to receive the finisher shirt. Cutoffs are enforced so that neither runners nor support crews are exposed to the dangers of extreme afternoon thunderstorms - and after all, these are races.
Ascent Transportation and Finisher Shirt: To prevent crowding at the summit and to get runners off the mountain as soon as possible, we provide a post-race staging area at Glen Cove. This is 6 miles from the summit at 11,440 feet where there will be a tent and post-race refreshments. This is also where you will transfer from the vans to the school buses for your return to Manitou Springs. It is strongly advised that once you finish the Pikes Peak Ascent, you get your sweat check bag, change to your warm cloths, grab something to drink and load on the vans to Glen Cove. We want to avoid past situations where runners are stranded at the summit due to adverse weather by having you get off the summit as soon as possible. You can then meet your fellow runners at Glen Cove and share your amazing accomplishment of finishing the Pikes Peak Ascent. Note that you will receive your finisher shirt when you return to Memorial Park in Manitou.
Race Expo: Be sure to check out the expo displays. As always, many of your favorite Pikes Peak Marathon & Pikes Peak Ascent merchandise items will be for sale in the event tent. However, we have been known to run out due to high demand. So, your best bet is to visit the booth as soon as you can. Expo dates are Friday, 9:00am to 7:00pm and Saturday, 1:00pm to 7:00pm. If merchandise items are still available on Marathon day, you can find the sales booth at the finish line area. Copies of the updated 50th Running commemorative book and last years race video will also be available.
Friday Expo, Awards Ceremony, Dinner and Speaker Program: The race expo opens at 9:00am Friday. The Kiwanis start serving at 4:30pm so that you can enjoy their famous spaghetti dinner and watch the awards ceremony starting at 5:00pm. The presentation and discussion session starts at 6:00pm with a Pikes Peak Pundit Panel question and answer session. This gives Pikes Peak rookies a chance to ask veteran runners for race day suggestions and to learn about their amazing accomplishments. Following the panel, Marshall Ulrich, an ultra runner, Seven Summits mountaineer, adventure racer and Pikes Peak veteran will share his experiences and thoughts on life and endurance running.
Leave No Trace: Participants are to observe the same etiquette concerning litter, as we would on non-race days. The races are by permission of the U.S. Forest Service, which ask that we follow their "leave no trace behind" policy. We gladly comply by placing trash zones at each aid station for you to drop your cups, gel packs and such. Otherwise, throwing any form of litter outside of these zones is prohibited. The trash zones will be clearly marked. Blatant littering outside of the aid stations will be grounds for disqualification.
Course Information Highlights: Now for some general information, suggestions and guidelines. Water will be available at all aid stations. Gatorade Endurance Formula will be available at the start and at all aid station. Plenty of fruit and other food items will be at No Name Creek, Bobs Road and Barr Camp. Due to the challenge of packing in supplies, only water and Gatorade will be at the other aid stations, so plan accordingly. See page 8 for a course description if you are not familiar with these aid-station locations. Also, see pages 9 and 10 of the booklet regarding refreshments.
Course Etiquette: Registration limits are ultimately for safety reasons, as well as to keep crowding to a minimum. Even so, it will be crowded for the first three or so miles. To pass slower runners announce, "on your left," a couple of times to make sure they hear you. This is one reason why earphones are prohibited. If this does not work, gently tap them on the shoulder and go around. Likewise, if someone is trying to pass you please make an honest effort to let him or her pass. You will expect the same when it is your turn to pass.
Contrary to normal trail etiquette where uphill traffic has the right of way, during the Marathon the downhill runners own the right of way. The front-runners especially will be going very fast and cannot make quick course adjustments. When you see a runner coming down; yell out, "runner," so others know to be prepared. This is another reason why earphones are prohibited. Overall, be sure to stay alert, as the lead Marathon runners on the descent are averaging 6-minute miles and you do not want to be in their way! See page 8 for further rules and guidelines.
Post-Race: After the races, please join fellow runners for a post-race celebration and snack consisting of pizza, beer and other beverages. Note that the snack is for runners only. Also, be sure to treat yourself to a well-deserved massage provided by the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy. See page 13 for details.
Prize Money: In order to continually attract the world's best runners, prize money and a time bonus will be awarded again this year. The prize money breakout can be found at: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/awards.htm. The time bonus of $1000 will go to the male & female runner with the weekend's fastest ascent time.
In closing, please note that the above information is not meant to replace, but to supplement the Information Booklet and our website. Please read your booklet carefully and thoroughly. And to reiterate, don't forget to bring appropriate clothing in preparation for the wide range of weather conditions experienced while on Pikes Peak.
For Pikes Peak rookies, some helpful pointers follow this letter. A events schedule follows as well.
Have an enjoyable and safe race. The Race Committee and all 800 volunteers look forward to seeing you in a few days. And we wish you the best of luck!
Live to run.
Ron Ilgen, Race Director
The Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent Race Committee
www.pikespeakmarathon.org
While totally cup free is a nice goal, I don't see how it can be practical. The top runners move too fast to refill the things without stopping (especially on the downhill). The other option is to have the top folks treat it like an ultra, but then getting a crew to each of the aid stations for bottle hand offs would be a royal pain (and so would bottle hand ups like at a bike race).
ReplyDeleteBut if it can help cut down on the total number of cups then I'm all for it.
John - my thoughts exactly. I don't carry a water bottle now and frankly I'd prefer not to. I appreciate the sentiment though.
ReplyDeleteGood thing there will be a demo on how the water filling will happen. Otherwise you may have racers holding their bottle sideways or upside down, or against a tree or a rock wondering why it's not filling up.
ReplyDeleteAin't that grand? I might have to do a keg stand if things are going awry.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, at UTMB they explicitly make you carry a cup to use at the aid stations for any beverage other than water. They will apparently only serve you coke/coffee/sport drink etc. in your personal cup. In some sense, it is a pain, but at the same time, if everyone has to do it then it somewhat evens things out.
ReplyDeleteIf they did the same thing at Pikes, i.e. make everyone carry a cup bottle, yes you would have to slow down, but if everyone has to do it then it is fair from a competition point (although times could be a few min. slower), no?
Well, sure ... I get it and sort of support it. I also see the other side. The effort with the aid stations is moving all that crap up there. The cups are not that big of a deal to move up there. Nearly all folks toss their cups in the aide area so that they don't have to carry it. The trash issue is NOT the cups then. It is the crap they toss down elsewhere (energy gel wrappers, etc).
ReplyDeleteYeah, I see your point...it sort of eliminates some of the trash but there is still plenty other trash. Although, I don't know what % of the trash is cups vs. other stuff - so is eliminating cups a 10% trash reduction or 75% ? In some sense, something is better than nothing.
ReplyDelete