2023 Runner Email #2
SENT TO ALL REGISTERED RUNNERS ON APRIL 27, 2023
Hello runners!
I hope this finds you all neck deep in successful 100 mile training! We are only 85 days away from race day, which is hard to believe! Spring has finally hit the Sawatch, and trails are starting to melt out. There's not a lot to update you on at this point, so this email is fairly short. Please give it a full read and let me know if you have any questions!
DROPPING OUT:
As a reminder, if you're not going to be able to run, please let me know ASAP. Our deferral policy is here for those eligible. So far, we've only had two runners drop out and the waitlist is beginning to get antsy. While we'd love for you all to be able to join us, we also appreciate giving the waitlisters as much time to prepare as possible. If you do drop, please note that I'm happy to refund your camping reservations...make sure to let me know if you're dropping and if you have a site reserved.
RUNNER AND CREW MANUALS UPLOADED:
I've uploaded the 2023 Runner and Crew Guides! Please read them thoroughly! Let me know if you see any problems or typo's.
VIRTUAL COURSE PLANNING NIGHT:
Join us on Thursday, May 11th from 7-9pm (mountain) for a virtual race planning night. We'll jump onto a zoom call and cover a lot of the key details for planning a successful race. We'll focus on questions, so please feel free to bring a list of things to talk about. Crews and pacers are also welcome to join. We'll have some OG HiLo runners there as well to give some advice and answer questions. We'll record it and post it to youtube for the folks that can't join live. I'll send out the invite link the week of the event.
REMINDERS ABOUT KEY THINGS:
Crew access is limited to one vehicle per runner at Cottonwood and Hancock. There is very little parking, so please consolidate with other crews if you are able.
Shuttles to Cottonwood are $10/person (cash please). ADA access (no parking) is allowed above the shuttle point, but all non-ADA crews must park and shuttle up.
No dogs at Cottonwood. No dogs within 100ft of any aid station, and no dogs within 300ft of the finish line. All dogs on leashes. We recommend boarding your pups.
Make sure to review the gear list! Make sure your pacers know what they have to bring.
We'll be organizing group runs on our trail work weekend that you're welcome to join even if you're not doing trail work. Details are still up in the air, but we'll do a run on July 1 and 2...plan for 12+ miles minimum. More details as we get closer.
TRAIL WORK DEADLINE:
Don't forget, the trail work deadline is coming up fast. Our two scheduled work days are full and have a waitlist. If you don't yet have plans for doing your trail work, please get on that ASAP. If you paid the opt out fee, please forward me a copy of your donation receipt.
If you have already sent me something AND I replied back, you're 100% set. You don't need to do anything more.
TRAIL/SNOWPACK UPDATES:
The Sawatch is sitting just over average and we are on track for our usual melt out points. The Colorado Trail should be 95% melted out within the next 7-14 days. Expect drifts on north facing slopes until mid-may. Little Browns will be the first alpine stuff to melt out, with each week increasing the elevation that runners can get to. I haven't been up it this spring, but usually by mid May, it starts having enough vert to it that it's worth running. The upper stuff (Laws/CDT) won't be melted enough to run until mid-June. By July 4th, 99.9% of the course should be dry. All the trails on the east side of the valley (in the Banana belt) are running really well and are bone dry.
Alright, that's it for now! If you have any questions, please reach out! I'm looking forward to seeing you all in July!
See you in the Sawatch,
--
Caleb Efta