For the safety of you and your fellow runner, we must insist that you not wear both headphones during this race.  Only one earbud, in other words..  Why?  Single-track trails are narrow, and it makes it impossible to pass a slow MudderHumper "jamming to their tunes."  In a word, it's RUDE.  Also, most of the folks that we've had get lost or miss a turn during a race, were wearing headphones!

Rules for Passing Slower Runners & for Getting Passed:
When passing a slower runner on a narrow section of trail, yell out, "on your left," and then wait for the person to move to the right, to pass safely.  If you have runners approaching from behind, please look for a spot to safely pull to the right, to let them pass.


Drop Bags (for 50K and 20-Mile, only):
There is only one location for staging drop bags...at the Main Aid Station (which is the start/finish area).  There will be a row of long tables set-up to put your drop bag on, and you will pass these tables on your way to the aid area of the Main Aid station.  It is a very convenient location, so you won't be held-up looking for your bag.  Special Note: Please take your schtuff home!  While I am very good at preparing for, and race-directing races, I really suck at getting heavy, mud & sweat-soaked crap back to its rightful owner(s).  Any drop bags left at the race will probably be donated to "broke-as-heck" local trail-runners.  They thank-you in advance!

Dropping-down (or up) to another Distance, during the race:
If you've bit-off more than you can chew, you can always drop down a loop (or two), and still get a special finisher's medal.  You will not be eligible for  (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) placing in that new distance, though.

Dropping-out of the Race:
Please personally let our timing person know, if you're dropping out of the race.  We don't want to muster a search party for you!

Post Race Food: 
There will be hearty hot food waiting for you for after the event.  And good beer.  And hot beverages.

Shoes...should I wear trail-running shoes? 
In a word: YES.  Because of the sharp rocks, interesting terrain and various other course oddities, Bad Ben highly recommends a trail-running shoe with appropriate foot protection, for this course.  If you choose to run in "normal" roadrunning shoes, please be careful! 
Screwing Shoes: If it is really icy & slick on race day, you may want to screw your shoes, for extra traction.  Here's how you do it.

Eating During the Race:  If you want to finish this hilly race without bonking bigtime, you should fuel your body during the race. Our aid stations will be well-stocked with different kinds of carb-filled goodies and a few salty foods, too, along with offering water & HEED brand sports drink. Many non-ultra-runners would never think of eating "real food," during a race.  Now is the time to try-out this concept.  For Gel Fanatics: there will be a limited amount of Hammer Gels available at the Main Aid Station, only.  If you need gels elsewhere along the course, please buy and carry your own with you.  And Ten-Milers...please leave the gels for the multi-loop runners!

Course Marking:   This is not a road race, so there won't be folks standing on some street corner pointing and saying: "this-a-way." But our Trail Nerd races are very-well marked, as far as trail races go.  The course route will be marked with pink flags and signs that say, "Straight Ahead, Right Turn, Left Turn, and Wrong Way."  There will be very few "mileage" signs on the course.  If you're an anal mileage person, please buy local...purchase and use a Garmin product.  And you can cuss at it, while being freaked-out for only moving at a 12-minute/mile pace through the hills.

Time Limit: On the multiple-loop course, you will not be allowed to leave the start/finish Main Aid station to start your final loop after 1:59 p.m.  There will be an additional time limit for reaching the middle aid station: If you arrive after 3:45 p.m. at that station, you will be driven back to the finish area.  It gets dark early, in February...the safety of our runners is the main reason for these rules.  Thank you for your understanding.