Your Packet Pickup Location(s) will be:
 
Today! Friday, July 20, 3PM to 8PM, in the conference room at the Official Race Hotel –
Comfort Suites
3000 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, KS 66109
(I-435, exit 15, just slightly east on Leavenworth Rd).
This location is 1.5 miles from the race start. 
 
And: On Saturday, July 21 (Race Day) at the Race Location, starting one-hour prior to start of your race.
 
Pacers for the 50K need to sign a waiver and get a pacer bib at packet pickup on Friday or Saturday.
 
Special Note:
No Canines are allowed in this event (or any of our July or August events).  It’s too hot for dogs!
 
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Race Day PARKING for the 10-Miler will be off-site, due to the size of the races (and the small size of the main parking lot).  But, if you are car-pooling / riding with a 20-Mile or 50K entrant, you can tag along with them for the ride. 
ONLY 50K and 20-Mile entrants and pre-signed-up volunteers can park in the lot by the race start.  Please carpool!

10-Miler Race Day parking will have a shuttle service starting at 6:45 AM, and will be leaving from this lot:
The BACK PARKING LOT of:
Open Door Baptist Church
3033 N. 103rd Terr.
Kansas City, KS 66109
 This church is right behind the Comfort Suites motel, near Leavenworth Rd & I-435.
 
Directions:
From I-435 South
Take exit 15A for KS-Highway 5 S (Leavenworth Rd East). Merge onto KS-Highway 5 S/ (Leavenworth Rd.) Turn right on N. 103rd Terrace.
 
From I-435 North
Take exit 15A for KS-Highway 5 S (Leavenworth Rd East). Merge onto KS-Highway 5 S / (Leavenworth Rd.) Turn right at N.103rd Terrace.
 
The shuttles will run until 3 PM.  We have volunteers that can take you there, after that.
 
Friends and families are allowed on the bus, too. The shuttle will run continuously during the event. Parking in the ranger station lot will be reserved for 50K entrants and 20-mile entrants and volunteers, only...NO EXCEPTIONS!
 
The shuttle only has to go 1-1/2 miles, so don’t worry about it taking a long time.  There will be a shuttle leaving the lot, every 10 minutes or so.
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Course Conditions
Trail conditions on the course are very good and mud-free, due to the hot and dry weather.  Of course, this can change. :-)

We've put a lot of work into making this course as runnable as possible.  A lot of individuals have helped weed-whack, lop, and take out fallen trees.
 
WEATHER: The forecast for Saturday's event: A mainly sunny sky. High 91F by 4 PM. 
UV index will be very high, but luckily the course is 85% shaded.
 
This is from our race physician, Dr. Gay Siriwangchai Purcell:
 
I'll be there volunteering as race physician, again. Please remember to hydrate well leading up to the race, limiting caffeine if possible. Also remember to eat some salty foods and even consider taking a little salt packet the day before the race. The staffed aid stations will have S-caps & Endurolytes (electrolyte capsules), etc, which will be great during the race as well. Consider bringing a bandana that you can fill with ice and wrap around your neck during the race. For the women, don't forget you can fill your sports bra with ice too! (AKA "boob ice") All of these things will help you keep your core body temperature down. Remember to pace yourself in the heat. We'll have the usual ace wraps, bandages, moleskin, Biofreeze, etc. with me as well. RUN HAPPY!

Bad Ben will add to that: you will need to carry a hydration device or water bottle with you if you want to be included in the results.  This is for your own safety.

 

  

 

 
Race Start Times -
8:00 AM: 50K and 20-miler start.  
9:00 AM: 10-miler start. 
To avoid disqualification, please start with your appointed group.


Bib Numbers: Please pin your bib number to the FRONT of you somewhere, so that it is VISIBLE. This race is chip-timed, but we will still need to see your bib number, to have an accounting of you during the race and in the results.  The chip is part of your bib.  Do not fold your bib, if you want your electronic chip to work.


Course:
The 50K is a 3-loop course.  The 20-mile is a two-loop course, and the 10-mile is a one-loop course.  Each loop is a little over 10.4 miles long.  Your GPS device will measure it shorter, due to the twists & turns, tree cover, and normal 4-second interval data collection points.  Here is a map of the course from my marking day last year.  I was walking, so my Garmin got a lot of data points and measured the course at 10.33 miles.

The course is run through hardwood forest and is 85 percent shaded, with all of it on dirt trails, except when you cross pavement and when you cross the dam.  
 
Course Markings:
The course will be marked with bright pink ground flags.  All trail intersections and important diversions will be marked with directional arrow signs, and “Wrong Way” warning signs.  There will also be an attempt made to mark all overhead obstructions with bright pink tape.  Road crossings will not be staffed.  Please watch for automobiles at all road crossings.  
 
Aid Stations & Toilets:
You will encounter aid stations at these locations, per loop:  

 
Passing runners on the trail:
At the start of each race, there will be a "conga line" of runners as you enter the trail.  Be patient when you are part of this crowd of runners, as it will disperse soon enough.  Don't follow the runner in front of you too closely, since you won't have time to see obstacles, and may trip.
 
To pass a runner on a narrow, single-track trail: Let them know you are approaching. Yell out, “On your left.” If it is unsafe to pass, be patient, a space will open-up, soon enough. If you are the slower runner, find a spot to step to the right to make it easier for the faster runner to pass you.
 
Faster Runners:
Be courteous but assertive, consistent, and loud, when passing.  
 
Headphones/earbuds:
Personal Music WILL BE ALLOWED in this race, but the use of two earbuds or headphones is NOT, for safety reasons.  You are not the only runner in this race...tuning-out everybody around you is just RUDE, for the reasons above (of passing on narrow trails).  There are multiple race distances happening in this event, and there will be some VERY FAST RUNNERS approaching from behind you at certain points on the trail.  Please don't inhibit both of your ears by using both earbuds or headphones to cover your ears, unless you want to be pulled from the race.  (And I WILL pull you from the race and results).
 
 
Littering on the course will not be tolerated and will result in removal from the race and the results.  This is a park, after all.
 
Drop Bag:  A "drop bag" is a bag of custom items you might need during the race; special food, powders, etc.  Drop bags are only allowed for the 50-Kilometer and 20-mile race. At the morning check-in you will be given the opportunity to leave your drop bag at the Main Aid Station start/finish area on tables. Write your name, and bib number onto each bag. This location will give you access to your bag once per 10.4 mile loop, which should be about perfect. Please pick-up your drop bag after the race, or it will be donated to a needy local runner or tossed into the trash.

Special Weather-related Safety Information
Your safety is our primary concern. In the event of severe weather (lightning, flooding, high winds, or tornado), we will shut the race down. In the event of a tornado siren sounding, please find your way to a substantial shelter and wait for the sirens and danger to subside. Or, if severe winds suddenly hit your location, lay down in a ditch or low spot (that hasn’t yet filled with water), and put your hands over your head. After the danger has passed, make your way to a paved road crossing or to a staffed aid station, so that we can get you back to your car or civilization.

Injury Reporting:  If you sustain any type of serious injury while on the course, you must report it to the next aid station. We will have trained Doctors & EMT’s on staff to assess and/or treat minor injuries. If you sustain an injury that is deemed by the EMT staff to need further medical attention, you will not be allowed to continue in the race, and will be taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

Dropping-down to another Distance or dropping-out of the race: During the race, if you've bit-off more than you can chew, you can always drop down to a lower distance at the main aid station (by running through the finish line), but you will also need to notify the results team, so we know you are dropping to a lower distance.  You will get a generic finisher medal, but will be listed in the results as “Dropped to 10-miles or 20-miles”.  You will not be eligible for placement awards in the distance you’ve dropped down to.
If you drop out of the race for any reason, please let Ben, Coco, or our timer know at the finish line that you've dropped.
(Otherwise, we will be calling you and your emergency contact incessantly).

Cut-off Times: There are cut-off times for those in the 20-miler and 50K for leaving the main aid station for your final loop. 
You will not be allowed onto the course after:
11:59 AM for the 20-miler and 1:59 PM for the 50K. 
 
Post-Race Food and Beverages:  Upon completion of the race, participants can enjoy post-race food near the start/finish area. Note: The aid station table food is for those running in the race, only…it is not post-race food. There will be water, soft drinks, and Beer for the beverage selection.  Please imbibe responsibly.
 
Race Photos and Results
Photos taken during the race can be found afterward, at Mile 90 Photography.  The photos are already prepaid for, and are free to you to download.  Mile 90 is a business started by Rick and Kristi Mayo, themselves very accomplished UltraRunners (and accomplished photographers).
 
Results will be available as soon as possible…potentially by the night of the race, at RaceDay Timing Solutions.  If you have any concerns about your finish time, please contact Raul Flores at runsfar@kc.rr.com.
 
You can also check for results and photos on the Trail Nerds’ Facebook site.
 
Here is a searchable current list of participants for all three races.
 
My advice to first-time trail racers is:

• Do not run every up-hill; hike the steeper hills with intensity.
• Run all of the flat stuff and most of the down-hills.
• On down-hills, start slow and then speed up as the hill unfolds before you. 
• If a down-hill is too steep for your taste, make your way down it carefully.
• If you are strictly a roadrunner, your per mile pace time will typically be 2-3 mins/mile slower.  Don't obsess about this!
• Take advantage of the 2000 pounds of ice we use at this race! 
• If you feel hot…SLOW DOWN!
• If you are doing the 20-miler or 50K, EAT SOMETHING on your first loop, or you will bonk on subsequent loops.
• Keep hydrated with cold water and HEED sportsdrink.
• If your calves start to cramp and your hands are swelling, that can be a sign of a lack of electrolytes in your system.  We will have salty foods and electrolytes at all aid stations.
• Be courteous of your fellow runners.
• Have fun!

 
Have a SAFE and fun event!
 
Happy trails,
 
Ben Holmes & Coco Tieghi and the Trail Nerds