With under a week to go until the third running of the Quad Rock 25/50, some final thoughts and instructions, including details of a slight course 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 4:00 a.m until 5:20 a.m. Please keep bib numbers visible during the race, and the pull tag at the bottom intact. We will be pulling 50 miler bib tags at the 25 mile turn and at the finish. Those of you who can’t pick up packets Friday afternoon, goodie bags including VFuel gel samples and race T-shirts 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 park (up to a half mile away from check-in), get your bib, and do whatever it is you do to get ready to run 25/50 miles.
Parking passes will be distributed by parking volunteers at the entrance to the park in the morning. Lory Park will be open for parking at 4am. Carpools of two or more 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 will be assigned on the Ultrasignup entrant list by Thursday 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. VFuel gel will be served from bulk containers, so we recommend that you carry a 5oz flask (or similar) if you want to use aid station gels. We will also have dixie cups at the aid stations for gel ‘shooters’.
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 a brew will be available for $10 (cash). First beer is free for everyone, we then ask that you make a cash donation for additional beers. All proceeds will be donated to the Animal House Rescue along with race sponsorship funds from Countryside Animal Hospital. The race is also benefiting Larimer County Search and Rescue and the Friends of Lory.
The Swashbuckling Doctors will be playing at the post-race BBQ from 12:30.
Massage and PT help from Colorado Physical Therapists will be available after the race.
There is a bit of rain in the forecast for this week, and the current forecast for Saturday shows a high of 70. Conditions should be great for running.
No wildfires yet this year, but we will have a very minor re-route of the course, using the new Nomad connector up to Sawmill. In addition, we are keeping the opening two miles on the Lory service drive – as we did last year – to allow runners to space out before hitting the East Valley trail at the Arthurs Rock trailhead. 50 mile finishers will return to the finish via the East Valley Trail. This year’s 1st loop is slightly shorter than last year (~25 miles) and the 2nd loop brings the course right in line with the inaugural running (~50.2 miles).
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, with a run of three ribbons leading up to and beyond each turn. Flour markings or red Runners Roost pin flags 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 (or yourself). 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 one mile kids race (half (closed) road, half trail) beginning at 1:30. Lory State Park’s naturalist will also be on hand from 11:00 with kids’ games and education at the Lory booth.
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
