With under a week to go until the second running of the Quad Rock 25/50, some final thoughts and instructions, including details of a slight course re-reroute:
Packet pick up will be at Runners Roost on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Roost is located at 2720 Council Tree Ave #112, just west of I-25 off the Harmony Rd exit. If you can, we ask that you come by Friday to pick up your race gear to help smooth race day parking and sign in. Pearl Izumi will be at packet pick up for anyone interested in demo’ing their new E:Motion shoe line.
Bib numbers will be distributed race morning beginning at 4:30 a.m until 5:20 a.m. Please keep bib numbers visible during the race, and the pull tag at the bottom intact. Those of you who can’t pick up packets Friday afternoon, EFS gel flasks will be distributed with your bibs in the morning.
The race will begin at 5:30 a.m. sharp, so we recommend you give yourself plenty of time to get your bib and do whatever it is you do to get ready to run 25/50 miles. Race packets, including T-shirts, will be available after you finish if you don’t pick up on Friday at The Roost.
Parking passes will be distributed at packet pick up on Friday or by parking volunteers at the entrance to the park in the morning. Lory Park will be open for parking at 4am. Carpools will be given priority parking close to the start at the Soldier Canyon trailhead. All others will be directed to the Timber trailhead parking area and down the main park road to loop left back towards the start on the Lodgepole Loop. Parking on Lodgepole will be on the right (east) side of the road. The earlier you get there, the closer to the start you’ll be parked. Directions and parking details here.
Horsetooth drop bags must be dropped off by 5:15 a.m. There will be a short pre-race briefing five minutes before the start. Bib numbers have been assigned on the entrant list if you want to pre-label your drop bag with name and race number. Horsetooth drop bags will be returned to the start/finish area by 5:00 pm. It is a 20 minute drive from Lory to Horsetooth if you need to pick up your drop bag before then.
Aid station fare is detailed here.
The Bellevue Bean Coffee Shop in Bellvue will be open from 6:00 a.m. if crews need to get food, coffee or tea after the start of the race. We will also have a (limited) supply of BB Coffee at the race start for runners and volunteers. The Bean is the most convenient stop for crews, spectators, and volunteers to get coffee, food, and wifi on race day. The shop is 3.5 miles from the race finish. Exit the park on 25G and turn north on 23 to the corner of Rist Canyon Rd in Bellvue.
Pateros Creek Brewery will be providing a special English Mild brew, ‘The 51st Mile,’ for the post-race BBQ. Please remember to bring an i.d. if you wish to partake. Runners will receive a meal ticket in their race packets. For those bringing family/friends who didn’t order extra meals when registering, food and brews will be available for $10 (cash). All proceeds will be donated to the Animal House Shelter along with race sponsorship funds from Countryside Vet. The race is also benefiting Larimer County Search and Rescue.
Lee Holiday and the Time Off will be playing at the post-race BBQ from 12:45.
In addition to the Pateros Creek recovery blend, First Endurance’s Ultragen recovery drink will be available post race, as will massage and PT help from Colorado Physical Therapists.
Since March we have had a 1,000 acre+ fire in Lory State Park and 5 feet of snow, including 2 feet of snow in the last week. The snow has melted out super quickly, and we expect – but are not guaranteeing – reasonably dry conditions for Saturday. There is rain in the forecast for this week, and the current forecast for Saturday shows a high of 60 and a chance of rain. Conditions should be great for running, but bring a layer or two for after the race.
Needless to say, the the last two months have been challenging for Lory State Park officials. We are incredibly thankful for all their hard work in getting the park reopened. Ten bridges on the lower valley trails burned out during the March fire, and thanks to the heavy snow since then, the parks have not yet had a chance to rebuild. This means we will have a very minor re-route of the course. Details as follows & updated on race website and on race map:
Runners will take the Lory Service Road all the way to the Arthurs Rock trailhead (mile 2) rather than hopping on the East Valley trail at Eltuck picnic area. From Arthurs, runners will run the West Valley Trail to Sawmill rather than the East Valley Trail. Additionally, in Horsetooth, some trail work on Sawmill has resulted in a slightly lengthened section of trail there. 50 mile finishers will return through Arthurs via the West Valley Trail, run the road to Eltuck and then finish on the East Valley Trail. The current loop comes in at about 26 miles, a quarter mile longer (give or take a quarter mile) than last year. We consider this year’s slightly altered route to be no faster or slower than last year’s course.
There will be an unmanned water drop at the intersection of Westridge and Timber on the 7 mile stretch between Arthurs aid and the Start/Finish.
Course markings will be pink ribbons, hung every 1/4 mile or so, with a run of three ribbons leading up to and beyond each turn. Flour markings on the ground will supplement at key intersections.
Activities for family and friends:
Trails are open to everyone to enjoy all day; however, crewing outside of designated areas is not allowed. There is a BMX bike park right by the start/finish area, so feel free to bring a bike for the kids. Trails are also open to bikes. The reservoir is just a short walk down from the start/finish area and there is a small cove ideal for paddling or submerging battered legs. There will be a half mile kids race (half (closed) road, half trail) beginning at 1:30 ish.
Crew access info is available here.
Early 25-mile finishers who want to shower before the post race can use the facilities at Horsetooth South Bay, located at the southern end of Horsetooth Reservoir off 38e by the Stout sign and shop. Showers are coin operated and cost $2. It is an approximately 15 minute drive to get there. Alternatively, a cold dunk in the reservoir is also available.
And, finally, if you have questions that can’t be answered here or on the race website, feel free to drop us a line and we’ll do our best to get back to you.
On behalf of Pete, myself (Nick) and our outstanding battalion of volunteers, we look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
Cheers!
Gnar Runners Event Management
