Once again Theron Eirish will have his team of LMP's available at the finish line to aid in your speedy recovery. This is a donation based service and I hope each of you will recognize the value of post race massage and if you do find yourself on the table, plan to tip this team generously.
There is nothing sexy about porta-potties, yet they serve a huge purpose at our events to make sure we leave our area as good or better than we found it. Still, I found it funny to be so excited about the opportunity to help support a Utah business that is getting off the ground and making something pretty amazing from this particular type of race waste. The Eco Commode model is an inspired race director that is looking for a solution to problems bigger than our human waste at races, yet is sharing this vision with events as he grows and learns more in this new line of business. You can read more about his story and hopefully embrace this new system of disposal.
We will have EIGHT Eco Commodes at the start / finish area. There will be one Eco Commode placed along the Interurban Trail. Since we are not passing through the Clayton Beach Parking lot as we have in the past you will notice an Eco Commode placed at the last street intersection (Dolphin Place) on the Interurban Trail before you get to the first Aid Station just inside the park boundary. Please make use of this facility to avoid having a tree visit later in the race. The Eco Commode will still be there for your return visit.
Thank you for your support in our efforts to reduce race waste.
The Chuckanut 50k is very fortunate to have the support of local Fairhaven and Bellingham businesses. Last year, Al Coyle introduced me to a number of locals that jumped in to support the 20th Anniversary in a big way. While not celebrating as big a milestone this year, it is exciting to continue these supportive relationships. Charles of the Book Fare Cafe is adamant about nourishing the Chuckanut 50k finishers and this year is cooking up his special Vegan Red Lentil and Potato Soup. A tall order to make soup for 400+ runners! We are very, very thankful for this donation.
Additionally we have secured a great price from the local Great Harvest Bread Company and have purchased many of their hearty loaves. Probably one of my favorite post run meals is yummy bread dipped in hot, hearty soup.
We are working hard to reduce our use of consumables and need each runner to take part by bringing these items. Your car will be close when you finish and packing a bowl & spoon is easy.
Soup and bread will be provided for runners with bib numbers and volunteers of the race. Please understand that we can not feed family, friends and spectators. There will be some snacks at the finish line for all to share in, but the soup, bread and hot drinks are for those with race bibs and the volunteers that have donated their day to help make the race a success.
The Mountain Runners film is an official selection of the Slovenia Mountain adventure film festival! The film, which sold out in its first DVD edition and just completed a run at the Spokane International Film Festival, will be screening in April in Slovenia (http://www.imffd.com/) The DVD is currently selling online at www.themountainrunners.com/dvd.htm
Also, don’t miss the opportunity to win an autographed Mountain Runners Poster, DVD and race pennant prop (used in the film) just by “liking” the Mountain Runners facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TheMountainRunners
Once again the Chuckanut 50k will be a part of the Trail Runner Trophy Series. Participants of the series will accumulate points by completing the 21st running of the Chuckanut 50k.
Each year we have limited the number of disposable cups on the course by insisting that runners carry at least one water bottle over the 50k distance. Still, to provide runners with a gulp of EFS drink, or cola we have had to have some cups on the course. This year there will not be any cups.
Instead, we have joined with UltrAspire to provide each runner with a reusable cup. This cup will be given to you when you pick up your bib number. If you want anything to drink outside of what you would like to put in your water bottle, then you will need to carry your own cup.
This thing is awesome! UltrAspire has provided the cups to the race at a discounted price (retail is $6.50). Runner Girl Races paid for them, this is not an added cost to you. They are a phthalate free, BPA free and PVC free 6oz cup that racers can carry for their aid station drinking needs. Completely foldable to stick in a small shorts pocket, and also are equipped with a loop to clip on somewhere with a carabiner or cord.
Hopefully most of you will be psyched with this option. I assume there will be some racers unhappy with breaking the tradition of the aid station tables lined with pre-filled cups of cola and electrolyte drink, but think of the reduced waste! If you use a disposable cup at each of our five aid stations and say half of the field also does the same thing that is 1,000 (400 field size /2 = 200 runners x 5 aid stations) cups going straight in the garbage. Even if recycled it is still added waste. Now each of you will have your own cup to carry not only at the Chuckanut 50k, but to every race you attend. Start a new trend! It is a small way, but a great step towards reducing your waste.
The Hampton Inn has provided discounted room rates to our runners for four years. Easy access from I-5 the hotel is 9 miles from the start using the freeway, or 6.5 miles using back roads. I have placed a pin on the Chuckanut 50k Race Start & Finish Area Google Map for you to see.
Hampton Inn hosts an easy website page that allows you to book your rooms online. The rate is $94 per night for March 15-17, 2013. Rooms must be booked on or before March 2. There is a block of rooms reserved at this rate, so once they are all reserved then they are gone.
A great option for out of towner runners that want to be close and enjoy the known comforts of Hampton/Hilton Hotels.
If you are looking to spoil yourself over the Chuckanut 50k race weekend the Chrysalis Inn and Spa is the place to stay. The fact that it is located less than a mile from the start/finish area of the race is the first perk to staying in this beautiful water front Inn & Spa. I have posted it's location on the Race Start/Finish Area Map and their website has enough information to convince you to come up Friday and leave Sunday.
The details that I need to share with you:
Chrysalis Inn & Spa
804 10th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
1) Rooms are reduced to $199 a night for a Full View (of the water) King or $189 for a Side View King. These rates are good for 3/15 and 3/16. You can stay for one or two nights.
2) We will be hosting our prerace packet pickup in their Baker Conference room on Friday night. (more details on that in a future post!)
3) To make a reservation call 360-756-1005 and let them know that you are a participant in the Chuckanut 50k.
Enjoy!
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
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.
We're kicking off the New Year with a contest!
Flora is excited to once again be sponsoring the Chuckanut 50K! To kick off the New Year, we've partnered with Udo's Oil Ambassador, Krissy Moehl, to give away one entry to the Chuckanut 50k (March 16th, 2013) plus a one month supply of Udo's Oil to one lucky winner!! Visit the link below to enter!
Click here to enterhttp://bit.ly/VVPR1D
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.