Making the call for 2020
EDITED 7/22 - refund processing changed
It has taken three and a half months to wrap our heads around the idea of canceling the 2020 Chuckanut 50k. On March 11 when we announced our postponement due to COVID and Washington State Governor’s group size order (weeks before we really understood the implications) we held on to the hope of putting together a fall Chuckanut 50k. In our current Phase 2 status that limits group sizes & travel, the City of Bellingham not issuing permits through August (at a minimum), and in having multiple conversations with our staff and other race directors, we have decided to cancel the 2020 event.
I intend to cover all questions associated with this decision below - please read through and then of course email me if you have any other concerns and I will add them to this post.
Unique Cancelation and Refund Opportunity: our cancelation policy does not allow for refunds, but our team worked through our numbers, and taking this whole situation into account, created a Covid refund policy that we posted on March 20. We will offer a $50 refund to each runner that requests it by email to Krissy. All refund requests must be submitted by September 18, 2020. Refunds will be issued through mailed checks. Please ensure your mailing address is current on your UltraSignUp account or include your current mailing address in your email request.
(We originally planned to use UltraSignUp.com for refunds, but we are past the allotted 90 days that the credit card companies allow. Thank you for your patience as check writing and mailing will be a slower process.)
Shirts: Each year runners have the option to buy a long sleeve Patagonia Cool Trail shirt at registration. Those of you that bought shirts for the 2020 event - the fronts are screen printed and we see them as yours. We are planning a special design to add to the back to acknowledge the uniqueness of 2020. Once they are screened we will ship them to each individual that ordered one. If we have any leftovers we will sell them to anyone else at the original cost of $25.
Decision to cancel: In addition to the above stated immediate reasons, our team decided to put our energy into creating necessary options and be prepared for 2021 event possibilities.
2021 planning: RD Krissy Moehl has been working with the Race Director Alliance to create a document of best practices for putting on an event amidst the Covid era. This document is available for all to review, download and adapt for their events. The Chuckanut 50k will follows these guidelines when race production becomes possible.
In the meantime: There is amazing creativity happening in the ultra/trail space, from personal backyard adventures, to Virtual Races to connect globally. We are inspired by the massive efforts to create community utilizing technology until we can gather in-person again.
GRGR2020 - July 6-12
WallaTrails Hamster Runs - August 22-23
iRunFar To the Moon Relay - June 29 - July 5
BuDu Racing Beat the Virus - complete 6/28
These are just a few. Please feel free to add others in the comments below. Also, please share with us the adventures you have created.
We will continue to post updates on the race website as we create options and make plans for 2021. Thank you for the incredible level of understanding and support we have felt from this community for the past 28 years and especially in this challenging cancelation. WE MISSED YOU in MARCH! And really look forward to gathering again in Fairhaven Park and the Chuckanuts when it is safe.