Final Instructions
1)
bring to the start: (more details below)
- your drop bag for miles 13/16/26 aid
station
- some drinks for the drop points (if you
plan to consume any out there!) and maybe a food donation for the main aid
station
- your maps, directions, or a really focused
memory
- your own timing device
2) We plan to have limited water/drink drops at
miles 5/11/28; 20; 23;
and 41/47 (maybe a shot of food
at this one too)
Please
bring a jug or two of water, soda, or electrolyte to the start to help stock
the main aid station and these drops. Only
water is guaranteed at these drops, but if we get donations of soda and
electrolyte we will put it out
3) Please bring your drop bag, drink donations,
and maybe a small community food donation for the aid station to the start area
at least 15 minutes early… volunteers will transfer this to the aid car. Be sure you have your own specialty food in
your drop bag.
4)
50 mile runners: leave your car at the start/finish at Houghton's with your own
aid (mile 31 and 38). There will be no community aid at Houghton's. There will
only be finishers from the 50K laughing at you because you have 19 or 13 to go.
-------
course information ---------
5)
BRING YOUR OWN MAP AND DIRECTIONS! As far as I know, the course information on
the trail animal website (http://www.trailanimals.com/photos/),
is correct except for the map of the last 0.5 mile of the 50 miler (the written
description is accurate.)
6)
This event is self timed! Bring a watch. There will be a sign-in clipboard at the
finish.
For
any event related questions, offers, or comments, contact me at breinan@alumni.stanford.org
See
everyone on the 14th!
-
Howie
About the run
This is the oldest TARC event, with the 50K founded in 1997. It has always been run as a free, fun, minimalist event. Typically entrants contribute fluids or food for the drops or aid station. This year we have added a small fee to cover the cost of electronic signup. Extra proceeds will be donated to the Blue Hills Trailside Museum.
For anyone new to the race and from out of town, the
run is unmarked and you should expect to be mostly self-supported (although
there should be ample aid drops as described below). The run is not permitted so we need to respect
the reservation's policy of organized events being no more than 25 people.
50 miler starts at 6:00 am. 50K starts at 8:00 am.
Entry
The lottery has taken place and invitations sent out (see below). The 50K is filled. There are a couple of spots open for the 50 mile. All 50K entries will be made via the waiting list. The waiting list will be somewhat fluid... late entrants will be assigned random numbers and if they are lucky enough could be placed as high as high as #2 on the list. There are separate waiting lists for first timers vs. those that have run in the past.
Because of 1) the strict limit on the # of runners due to reservation policy, and 2) extremely heightened interest in recent years, entry will be by lottery on February 2. All entries prior to this date must be made to the waiting list. I will reserve a "to be decided" number of slots for returning runners and those who have served the running community in one pool. If you have volunteered at TARC races or are an RD or a "run organizer" please email me to describe your service- it will improve your chances or gaining entry. Newcomers will be placed in another pool.
You will be notified by email after February 2 if you have been selected and will need to confirm. Do not accept an entry if you do not fully (I mean FULLY) intend to run. There will be no refunds. If your plans change and you are not able to attend, let us know immediately so we can offer the spot in a timely manner to someone else... no shows will likely not be welcomed back in the near future.
About The Courses
The
course is not marked and not easy- Josh Katzman and Scott Traer's 4:49 50K record is a very good run, but was a friendly split in the 50 mile.
That can come down more, but no one is running 3:30 on this course!
Josh and Scott would have run a bit sub 8:00 in the 50 mile if they didn't stop to bite a dog.
The course has many turns and navigation is as big an obstacle as the
rocky hills for new runners. You can find maps for both the DRB and
TARC50 on the Trail Animals web site in the Photos section (http://www.trailanimals.com/photos/).
If you can't train on the course your best bet is to follow someone on race day
that has run before (although many returnees still manage to get lost).
Volunteer and Aid Info
Important Aid Information
We try to keep a low profile. We always manage to park a car
or truck at the crossing for miles 13,16, and 26 where people can dump drop
bags and food. If each runner brings a random selection for "community" food, there is usually a nice selection beyond what you bring for yourself. This station is usually partially manned, but there are no
promises and we DON’T “spread out” and set up an
official looking aid station. There is also an easily accessible drop at
miles 5, 11, and 28. Finally we drop water at mile 21, another easily
accessible spot, and maybe mile 24. For the 50 mile, your car at
Houghton’s Pond (mile 31 and 37) will serve as one additional aid
station. There will also likely be a drop around miles 41 and 46
(also close to mile 9).
How you can help
Both runners and non-runners can help. Please contact Howie if you are interested. Needed tasks include:
- Someone at each start time to collect drop bags or food at the start and park it 0.3 miles down the road at the 13/16/26 aid station for access to all. You can run the race and still do this.
- Volunteers to make/purchase and/ or drop drinks at the drop points.
It helps to have a few people kicking around during the day to man the aid station cars, and to double check supplies at drop points or to collect them when all runners have passed.
More course Info
Important Course Information
1) BRING YOUR OWN MAP AND DIRECTIONS! Click on the "Map" button above to see the
revised (April 2012) 50K course and description reflecting the close of Hemlock Bound
path. Remember the course is not marked! The revised
course information is now also on the Trail Animals website (http://www.trailanimals.com/photos/
), scroll down to DRB and TARC50 event to download both maps and course
descriptions. The TARC50 is the DRB50K plus 19 additional miles, so print
out both maps and both course descriptions.
2) This event is self-timed! Bring a watch. There will
be a sign-in clipboard at the finish.