Quad Rockers – we are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday morning at Lory State Park for the 15th running of the Quad Rock 25 & 50 Mile Trail Races. Before we send you on your way, we’d like to draw your attention to some important details for race week.
Weather & Trails
It is currently snow/raining here in Fort Collins. We’ve had a good bit of moisture over the last 24 hours and have some more to come tonight. The forecast shows a drying trend from Wednesday afternoon into the weekend. The forecast for race day is currently showing a high in the low 70s.
As regards potential re-routes due to wet trails, we will be meeting with our permitting partners on Thursday to assess route options for Saturday. In the eventuality that the valley trails are not sufficiently dry for race day, we will be deploying the Quad Rock ‘Wet Route.’ We will provide updates as we have them, with a final decision no later than Friday afternoon.
Packet Pickup
Two opportunities to get your packets:
- Friday, May 8 – 4:00-7:00p at Altitude Running (2531 S Shields St #2N, Fort Collins, CO 80526)
- Saturday, May 9 – 4:00-6:45a at Lory State Park’s Soldier Canyon TH (race start/finish)
Picking up your bib either day tells us that you are starting the race. If you pick up your bib, but miss the start, please notify us (racedirector@gnarrunners.com) so we know that you are not lost on course.
Altitude Running will be offering 15% off all KEEN shoe purchases during packet pickup.
Thursday Shakeout Run
Join us Thursday night at 6pm for a fun shakeout run with KEEN. This will be the regular social run hosted by the Fort Collins Trail Runners with an opportunity to demo the KEEN Seeks. If you’re coming in from out of town, this is a great opportunity to meet local runners and get your Quad Rock course questions answered.
The route is a largely non-technical 5 mile loop around Dixon Reservoir. The group splits into a couple of pace groups. Each group will stop and re-group at three points along the route. This is a no-drop run, and all paces are welcome. There are options to go shorter if desired.
The meetup is by the Spring Canyon Park Dog Park.
Race Start
The 50 mile race will start at 5:30am and the 25 mile race at 7:00am. Both starts will be single-wave starts.
The park will be open to 50 mile runner traffic beginning at 4:00am. For the 25 mile race, morning check-in will begin at 5:45am after the start of the 50 mile race.
Bib Numbers & Runner Tracking
Bib numbers will be assigned no later than Wednesday morning. You will be able to check yours on RunSignup as well as our runner tracking platform, OpenSplitTime, at that time.
At each aid station, volunteers will record your bib numbers, and that data will go out near-live to RunSignup. You are responsible for making sure that your number is recorded. Have your bib visible from the front. Call out your number when entering and leaving the aid station.
If you need to drop out of the race for any reason, you must check out with the timing staff at the nearest aid station. If you do not inform us that you have dropped, we will assume that you are lost on the course.
If you have friends or family who are interested in following your progress on race day, aid station splits will be published on OpenSplitTime.org (OST). Once bib numbers are posted, they can subscribe to free live updates on specific runners:
- Visit OpenSplitTime and sign up for an account
- Log in
- Find your runner and click their name
- Locate the box that says “Notify me” and click the email or text button
Parking
Parking for 50 mile runners will be available beginning at 4:00am, and for 25 mile runners beginning at 5:45am. We are asking any runners who are able to arrive in a vehicle that already has a state park pass to please do so. We WILL provide passes for any that do not. Due to recent permitting changes, we now have to cover fees for any vehicles without passes and appreciate your help keeping costs down. Any other vehicles (crews/spectators) will be required to have a Colorado State Parks Annual Pass or purchase a park entry pass on-site for $10.
As always, we strongly encourage you to carpool. Premium parking spaces in the Soldier Canyon lot nearest the start/finish will be given to carpools of 2 or more registered runners on a first-come-first-serve basis. All other vehicles will be directed to park on the Lodgepole Drive spur road and the Timber trailhead lot with overflow parking at the Eltuck Picnic area.
**Please give yourself an extra 20-30 minutes to park and get to race check-in on time. Late arrivals may have up to 1 mile or longer to walk to the start.**
Cut-Offs
The 50 mile race will be limited to 14 hours and will end at 7:30pm. Course cut-offs will be enforced at the following aid stations:
- Soldier Canyon (Mile 25) at 12:15pm. 6:45 total time
- Arthur’s Trailhead (Mile 32.3) at 2:30pm. 9:00 total time
- Horsetooth Trailhead (Mile 39.5) at 4:35pm. 11:05 total time
The 25 mile race has one intermediate cut-off at:
- Arthur’s Aid Station (mile 17.5) at 2:30pm. 7:30 total time.
This is a challenging course so some runners may find it difficult to meet these cut-off times. Any 50 mile runner who drops out or fails to meet the course cut-offs after completing the first 25 mile loop will be given a finisher award & time for the 25 mile race, but will not be eligible for 25 mile overall and age group awards.
Runners who choose this option should report to the 25 mile aid station and NOT come down the finish chute to avoid confusing our timing team.
Performance Nutrition
At this year’s Quad Rock, our primary performance nutrition at aid stations will be provided by Näak. Näak offerings will include a variety of drink mix flavors, in addition to Boost Energy Gels, Waffles and Purees.
There will also be a mix of supplemental products from VFuel, Gnarly Nutrition, Gatorade, Hammer, GU, Carbs Fuel, SiS and more.
These performance products will be available alongside the cornucopia of offerings you’ve come to know and love from Gnar aid stations.
Drop Bags
Drop bags are allowed at the Horsetooth Trailhead (50 mile race) and the finish/25 mile turn (Soldier Canyon).
Horsetooth Drop Bags must be dropped off at the start by 5:25am on race morning. We will not have a second transport shuttle for the later 25M start.
Soldier Canyon (Finish/25 mile turn) drop bags may be dropped off any time before the start of each race.
Please keep your drop bag to a reasonable size (small duffel bag or stuff sack). They should be clearly labeled with your name and bib number. Please do not leave any valuable items in your drop bags – volunteers are not responsible for lost items.
Drop bags will not be returned to the start until the Horsetooth Aid Station shuts down and packs up at the end of the day (after 5p). If you finish early and need your drop bag before heading home, you are welcome to drive around to the Horsetooth trailhead (25-30 minutes) to pick up your drop bag. Unclaimed bags will be left in a lost and found box at Altitude Running for two weeks after the race, before being donated.
Crewing
Crew access is available at the Arthur’s Rock Aid Station, Horsetooth Aid Station, and the Soldier Canyon turnaround/finish area.
Please make sure to pass the parking instructions above to your crews! Also note that access to the Horsetooth Aid Station requires a Larimer County Parks Pass or day-use pass ($10). The Horsetooth trailhead is very popular on the weekend and will likely be full by 9:00am. Access later in the afternoon for returning 50 mile support teams should be better but not guaranteed.
Post-Race BBQ & Expo
We will be hosting a finish line BBQ at the Soldier Canyon Group Picnic Area, featuring:
- Burgers (beef & veggie)
- Trimmings
- New Belgium Beer
- Mary’s Mountain Cookies
- Bean Cycle Roasters Coffee
Reusable dishware – cups at aid stations and all finish line meals will be served on reusable dishware. When you’re done with a piece, simply hand it back to any volunteer to get washed.
All runners are welcome to the BBQ by showing their race bib. Extra meal tickets purchased in advance can be redeemed at the BBQ and can also be purchased on site for $10 (cash preferred).
We are also thrilled to welcome Eco-Minded to our post-race team. They will be handling all race waste to ensure as much gets recycled, composted, or otherwise diverted from the landfill as possible. They will have a central waste station at the finish line – please bring any & all waste to them; don’t use on-site receptacles.
Park Visitors
The parks are open to the public. Please be courteous of other users. Yield when Appropriate.
Post Race Expo
Presenting sponsor KEEN will be on site with a post-race recovery zone featuring Normatec leg massagers and their all new trail running line.
Be sure to check in with all our vendors and stick around or awards that will go three deep in 4 categories: Overall (male, female, non-binary), Open (U-40), Masters (40-49) & Grandmasters (50+).
Thanks, and once again, we look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
Nick Clark & Brad Bishop
Gnar Runners
