Hello Runners,
Things are looking good for the race next week. I have attached the Email that I sent to the runners below, just in case some of you did not get it.
Also, I noticed that I omitted one of our sponsors. The
LA Cooperative Market is a great place to purchase some last minutes supplies. They also make very tasty organic sandwiches! Don't forget about the valuable coupons in the runners manual for some of our local sponsors.
Although the on-line registration has closed, we still have spots available in the 50 km and 50 mile events. Email us for more information.
The weather has been cool and wet in Los Alamos for the past several days, but the currently long range forecast is calling for warm and dry conditions next weekend. Check the forecast as we get closer to race days, as this is likely to change.
Below is the runner information Email:
Jemez Mountain Trail Runs 2012
Runner Info
Welcome to the 2012 Jemez Mountain Trail Runs. We are busy preparing for the race and wanted
to share some information with you. We
have a great group of volunteers to help you reach your goal of finishing the race
and also to ensure your safety. Although
we will do everything to help you finish, we do need you to take some
responsibility to understand what we will provide during the race, understand
the course and the course marking philosophy, and to know the race rules. If you are new to the event, I encourage you
to read this entire Email and review the information on the web site
(http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/JemezMt.htm). We also encourage you to read the Runners
Manual which can be downloaded off the JMTR web site. If you have done the race in the past, at
minimum, please take note of the changes since last year and the very important
rules. For those that are not coming,
please excuse the mass email.
Changes since last
year:
-
The 50 km and 50 mile course are very different from
last year. Please review the course
description at:
http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/course.htm
-
The race will again be cupless this year. We strongly advise that all runners carry at
least a hand bottle to get water and HEED at the aid station. We will provide cups for soda only.
-
The 50 km race will start at 6:00 am. This is a half hour earlier than last year.
-
New cutoff 12:00 (noon) at Pipeline Aid Station for 50
mile runners to enter the Valles Caldera National Preserve on the outbound (mile
19.2). Runners arriving after 11:30 am
will be encouraged to switch to the 50 km race.
-
We will be collecting the pull tags off the bottom of
the bibs when you finish the race or if you have to drop. Please do not remove the pull tags.
-
Only one drop bag per runner in the 50 km and 50 mile
races is allowed and will be at the Ski Lodge Aid Station. The 50 mile runners will pass through this
aid station twice during the race.
-
We will have a traditional format for the prerace
dinner. Runner check-in will be from
4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. The pasta dinner
will be served starting at 5:00 pm. We
will have a race briefing at 5:30 pm, a presentation on the Las Conchas fire at
about 6:15 pm, and a late race briefing starting at around 6:45 pm. Advanced packet pickup is on Wednesday and
Thursday (see Runners Manual for details).
-
North Mesa Road (which runs in front of the Posse
Shack) will be closed during the start of the half marathon race from approximately
7:45 am to 8:30 am. During this time,
the closest vehicle access will be from San Ildefonso Road. Please see the Runners Manual for details on
the road closure and parking.
Additional details on these changes can be found on the web
site and in the Runners Manual:
http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/jmtr/docs/JMTRRunnersManual2012.pdf
Very Important
Rules:
All runners must
check in on race morning even if you have already picked up your packet
before race day. For your safety, we
need to know who started the race.
Do not remove the pull tag off the bottom of your bib
number.
Please make sure that the aid station staff has recorded
your bib number at all the aid stations with the exception of the first
one. (Depending on runner volume, the
aid station on top of Guaje Ridge may also not be recording bib numbers).
Any runner who drops out of the race must ensure that the
aid station captain knows and has taken the pull tag off of their bib.
Entries
Entries are shown on ultrasignup.com if you want to know who
is coming. We have filled the half marathon race, but still have spots
available for the 50km and 50 mile distances. We have runners coming from at
least 29 states and two international locations.
The Schedule
Wednesday, May 16th at Los Alamos National Bank:
11:30 am: Early
packet pickup
1:00 pm: End of early
packet pickup
Thursday, May 17th at the Crossroads Bible
Church:
4:30 pm: Early packet
pickup
6:00 pm: End of early
packet pickup
Friday, May 18th at the Crossroads Bible Church:
4:30 pm: Packet pickup
5:00 pm: Begin
serving pasta dinner
5:30 pm: Race
briefing
6:15 pm: Presentation
on the Las Conchas fire
6:45 pm: Late race
briefing
7:00 pm: End of
packet pickup.
Saturday, May 19st at the Posse Shack:
4:00 am: Packet
pickup, runner check in, and drop bag collection for 50 mile race.
4:50 am: Cut off for
50 mile check in and drop bag collection.
5:00 am: Start of 50
mile race.
5:10 am: Packet
pickup, runner check in, and drop bag collection for 50 km race.
5:50 am: Cut off for
50 km check in and drop bag collection.
6:00 am: Start of 50
km race.
7:00 am: Packet
pickup and runner check in for half marathon race.
7:45 am: North Mesa
Road closed from traffic circle past Posse Shack
7:50 am: Cut off for
half marathon check in.
8:00 am: Start of
half marathon.
12:00pm: Half Marathon Awards Ceremony
12:00pm: Cut off for 50-mi runners to leave Pipeline for the
VCNP
2:00 pm: Postrace
food and party for all runners
5:00 pm: Cutoff at
Ski Lodge for all runners
Food
and refreshments will be available at the Posse Shack when you finish.
Course
Course marking is orange tape and orange flags on wire
stakes. Critical spots are marked with flour. All courses have the same
marking. Please study the maps – elk may eat some of the ribbon in the Valles
Caldera National Preserve. The sections
of well defined trails with no junctions will be marked very sparsely but trail
junctions will be marked with several flags.
For the 50km and 50mi runners, please be very cautious when
leaving the Pipeline Aid Station.
You
will pass through this Aid Station twice.
When departing the first time, the 50km and 50mi runners will leave the
aid station in different directions.
(
http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/course.htm)
The 50 km runners will run a one-mile total out-and-back at this aid station
before heading toward the finish line.
At the out-and-back turn around, the 50 km runners need to place a
sticker on their bib.
Runners must check in and out of every aid station. Make
sure you get a verbal confirmation that they saw you.
Cut Off at Pipeline AS – There is a 12:00 noon cutoff time
(first time through at mile 19.2) for 50 mile runners and runners arriving
after 11:30 am will be encouraged to switch to the 50 km race. All runners (50-mi and 50-km) must leave Pajarito
Ski Lodge by 5:00 PM. That is 12 hours for 36.7 miles of the 50-mi race.
We allow 50mi runners to switch to the 50km race at the
Pipeline Aid Station (mile 19.2). Any
runner who wishes to switch to the 50km race must inform the Aid Station
Captain. Your bib will be marked and you
should also alert the finish line timing personnel that you have switched
races. If you switch, be sure to
complete the one-mile out-and-back from the Pipeline Aid Station.
If you leave the Pajarito Ski Lodge Aid Station after 4pm,
we recommend that you carry a flashlight or headlamp. If you think you are going to be near the cut
off, please place a flashlight or headlamp in your drop bag as you will likely
finish after dark.
Dropping instructions – If you drop, report to an aid
station for instructions on dropping.
The Aid Station Captain will take the pull tag off your bib number. Stay on the course to the exit point as
instructed by the aid station volunteers. Return to Posse Shack and check in so
we know you are safe. At remote aid stations, you may need to stay with the aid
station staff until they close.
Course conditions:
We have had a very dry winter this year. The course is currently snow free and the
trails are in good shape. We’ll update
conditions on the race website, blog, and facebook.
Volunteers have been clearing down trees and brush, but some
may still be on the course. Some sections are rocky and some surfaces are loose. Please proceed at a pace within your comfort
level.
Trail gaiters are recommended.
Note to 50-mi runners – the descent from Pipeline Aid
Station into the Valle Grande is steep and a little more rugged than last year!
Please be prepared!
Aid Stations
Check the Aid Station list on the web site. Aid stations
marked “Full” will have plenty of food, water, and other supplies. Others
marked “Limited” will have water, Heed, and fewer supplies, only what the
volunteers decide they can haul in. Please plan accordingly.
This year the race will be cupfree. We will not have water in cups at the aid
stations. All runners are encouraged to
carry a water bottle or small portable cup to use for water at the aid
stations. The aid station volunteers
will assist you in filling your water bottles, but if you want to get through
the aid station quickly, we recommend that you open your water bottle before
entering the aid station.
Weather:
Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. In the past
four years we have had snow, rain, thunder, high winds, heat, and cold. Prepare
for anything. A rain jacket is a good precaution for the afternoon in the
mountains. If you want to follow conditions leading up to the race, a good site
is
http://www.skipajarito.com/ under
snow report and forecast.
Drop Bags:
Flashlights or headlamps are recommended for the first half
hour or so of the 50-mi race. A box will be located at Mitchell Trail Head Aid
Station where flashlights and headlamps can be dropped. These will be returned
to the Posse Shack. Please mark them with your name and race number.
Drop bags for 50-mi runners may be sent to the Ski Lodge Aid
Station (mile 16.4 and 36.7). Drop Bags
for 50km runners may be sent to Ski Lodge Aid Station (mile 16.4). Drop Bags
must be turned in during check in Saturday morning before the race start.
Mark bags CLEARLY
with your name and race number. Place drop bags in the marked area next to
the fence in front of the Posse Shack.
Drop bags will be returned to the Posse Shack some time
before 6:30pm. We will not mail drop
bags! Any bags not picked up Saturday night will be hauled to Kris Kern’s house
– 751 46th St (off Trinity Dr) and will be available for pickup on
Sunday morning.
Parking:
Parking is limited near the start. Please obey our parking
volunteers, and do not park in areas that are not designated for the run. North
Mesa Road will be closed for the start of the half marathon from approximately
7:45am to 8:30 am. Please see the map in
the Runners Manual for more information about parking on race day.
Crews:
The café at the ski hill will not be open for lunch this
year.
Crews are allowed at all aid stations EXCEPT Obsidian Valley
and Valle Grande. They are also discouraged from going to Guaje Ridge and
Pipeline. Driving instructions are available in the Runners Manual. Note that
Camp May Road and Ski Lodge Aid Stations can now be accessed without going
through the guard checks at Los Alamos National Lab. The route through the check
points is open to the public and can still be used. See maps on the web site
for directions through Los Alamos Canyon. Note that the runners cross these
roads in multiple locations. Please be careful.
Crews at aid stations may assist their runners. However,
please do not interfere with the aid station personnel or other runners while
assisting. Crews MUST obey direction from the Aid Station Captain. Failure to
do so may result in disqualification of your runner. Crews are not allowed to assist their runners
outside of an aid station.
Sponsors
Stocking up
Los Alamos is a small town, but some supplies are available:
- CB Fox department store (Central Ave., near Starbucks) has
Cliff products including some gels, shot blocks, and bars. They also carry
hydration packs and shoes. CB Fox is a
sponsor of the race and has a coupon in the Rrunners Manual for a discount off
running shoes and Los Alamos souvenirs.
- Smith’s grocery store (Central Ave) has a variety of
energy bars and gels.
Santa Fe has several running stores and outdoor stores:
- REI (race sponsor) is located at the Railyard
- Running Hub (Cordova Rd) is a running specialty shop
- Bike n’ Sport (Cordova Rd) is a cycling shop, but has a
good selection of gels and energy food
Before you leave
After the race, please check to see if you have won any
prizes in the raffle. If you finished
the 50km or 50 mile race, please be sure to collect your finisher’s award
(original pottery from the Jemez Pueblo).
If you used a drop bag, please be sure to collect that also, plus your
flashlight or headlamp. We will not mail
any drop bags or prizes/awards to you.
We would also appreciate if you would fill out a survey on your race
experience. This will be used to improve
our race in future years.
Questions
Feel free to email the race directors with any questions.
Bill Geist and Kris Kern
jemezruns@gmail.com
