New co-RD

The work that goes into directing a race, while is exciting, can be a bit daunting.  For the past three years Ellen Parker has been a huge asset to the event jumping in and making many of the details come together.  Countless hours in the months leading up to the race and many sleepless nights the week of the race are rewarded by seeing the runners come across the finish line on race day.  All of the behind the scenes details, most that runners don't even realize have to come together for a successful event, would not be possible without the help of our many volunteers and a co-RD.  A huge thanks to Ellen for her contribution in growing and enhancing the Chuckanut 50k.  

co-RD Heather Anderson

co-RD Heather Anderson

I received amazing interest from many great individuals regarding filling the co-RD position for 2013.  After a bit of email communication with everyone I am excited to sign on and work with Bellingham local Heather Anderson.  Heather brings a healthy resume of race volunteer work, co-RD experience and a great list of races she has completed as well.  No stranger to the ultra and trail scenes I look forward to Heather's insight and ideas to this year's race.

Registration OPENS

For the first time the Chuckanut 50k will host a lottery for registration.  To be considered for the lottery participants must register on UltraSignUp.com between 8am, January 4th through 8pm, January 6th.

The list of the 400 registered runners will be announced on January 7th as well as a wait list.  We will update the registered runners list from the wait list as we learn of people having to withdraw.

Refund Policy:  We hope everyone that registers will be able to join us on March 16 for the race, but realize that life happens and it may be impossible for one reason or another.  We will refund $50 of the registration fee to those participants that withdraw from the race by February 10.  Purchased shirts are not refundable, but we will mail them to you.  If you must withdraw please email Krissy (chuckanut50@gmail.com) by February 10 with your name (as used to register) and your mailing address.  Refund checks will be mailed soon after February 10.

NEW - Start & Finish area

For those runners that have participated in Chuckanut in the last ten years you know that parking has always been an issue.  Typically runners have to walk around a quarter mile from their cars to the start and back again after they finish.  In the highly likely icky weather that we can have in the PNW in March, plus the mileage from the days race having your vehicle a bit closer at the finish might be a little more comfortable and convenient.

For the 20th Anniversary we had to think beyond our current planning for the race and find additional parking for the increased number of participants.  We were lucky enough to find the Haskell Corporation and their parking lot a mere mile from our normal start finish.  This worked well to accommodate the morning parking and the shuttles back to the car in the afternoon worked, but I still felt like it wasn't completely ideal.  

This year I requested the use of the parking lot for both the start and finish.  It is a little difficult on this RD to relocate from the cool iconic Fairhaven Park finish area, but with a few extra details to beef up the finish line, I think we can create a great gathering spot and everyone will be more conveniently located for both the start and the finish.  

Below is a link to a Google map showing the start and a line following the addition (same as the start last year) to connect runners to the established course.  The change from last year will be that instead of turning off the interurban into Fairhaven Park on their run for the finish, runners will continue along the interurban back to the 6th & Harris parking area where they started hours earlier.

Having the ability to park everyone's cars near the start and return you to them at the finish is a great solution to the parking dilemma that we have dealt with as the race has grown.  I am excited to see how this solution works and am very thankful to Haskell Corp for allowing us the use of their space.

Race Registration

Registration for this year's (2013) Chuckanut 50k will not be first come first serve as it has been for many years.  Last year we increased the race field to celebrate the 20th running of the Chuckanut 50k and filled 500 spots in 1 hour & 15 minutes making it difficult for people with slower internet connections to get in to the race.  This year registration will open at 8am on Friday January 4th and close at 8pm on Sunday January 6th. 

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This year's race field will be a random lottery chosen by the UltraSignUp computer system with a few spots reserved for past winners, long time volunteers, etc to be assigned by the race director.  Race entrants will be announced Monday January 7th.   We will host a wait list as well and will notify people if/as spots become available.

Please note this is the first time we have done the lottery drawing for Chuckanut and will do our best to make it a well run system.  Suggestions are welcome at chuckanut50@gmail.com.

21st Running... getting started

This year marks the 21st running of the Chuckanut 50k and we are looking forward to another great season starter... I hope you will join us.

All race information will be posted to this website with 2013 race specific updates posted in this feed as your information resource.  There is a Chuckanut 50k page on Facebook where we will post links when we add updates to this site.  Runners and volunteers can also use the Chuckanut 50k Facebook page to coordinate carpools as we get closer to race day.

Race registration will open Friday, January 4th at 8am on UltraSignUp.com.  Apparently people would much rather register on a Friday morning than miss their Saturday morning training run.  I get it!  :)  

Looking forward to putting this together!

Best,

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