*****NOTE: NO EARLY START, REQUIRED SIGN UP, AND NOW SMALL FEE

*****UPDATE 11/18/09: BECAUSE OF PERMIT ISSUES, NEW START/FINISH LOCATION, NEW COURSE, AND NEW START TIME

DATE:  Saturday, December 19, 2009

NEW START TIME!
50K and Marathon 8AM. In previous years I started at 7:30am (still dark) when we started in Renton on pavement and there was little chance of tripping and hurting yourself. But with a new start (see below), even though the trail surface is not too technical, I now have liability insurance and need to be certain that no one gets hurt. So that means no running in the dark. The almanac shows that sunrise will be at 7:51AM. Also, as previously mentioned, I will not have an early start. Too hard to keep track of everyone because people wanted to leave at different times. Please don’t ask me for an early start and make me say no. If you feel you are slower and don’t want to be alone at the end, run the marathon instead of the 50K. Don’t worry about making me wait for you to finish, that’s what I’m there for. People were anxious to get started because of the cold in past years, but I recommend checking in and huddling in your car until starting time. Thanks for understanding!)

FEE/DONATION: $5 minimum at the start. I wanted to keep this a free event but am forced to charge a small fee to cover costs of a permit and liability insurance (required to obtain a permit). I still want this event to benefit the Maple Valley Food Bank and would like people to remember to bring non-perishable food items.

REGISTRATION: Runners must sign up at databarevents.com. Please don’t delay in signing up. I need to know how many medals to make.

Register HERE <<< FREE - Please bring $5.00 to the start.

CHECK-IN: From 7:15-7:50AM. Race briefing at 7:55AM. Race starts at 8AM. All runners must check in at the start.

NEW START/FINISH!
Cedar River Trailhead at Landsburg Park

DIRECTIONS:  Mapquest SE 253rd St & Landsburg Rd SE Ravensdale WA 98051

BATHROOMS: There are three porta potties at the start/finish across the street from the parking area in the park. No other porta potties on the course.

NEW COURSE!
The race start/finish is at Landsburg Park in Ravensdale. There is a main parking area, some across the street, and more around the corner on the other side of the river. Please carpool as there is not an unlimited number of spots and there is not much parking along the road. The reason for the new start location and course is because if I wanted to use the Renton end of the trail, the City of Renton required road closures and police trafficking for two very small intersections, which I could not afford, so we will not be venturing into their part of the trail.
I will start all runners at the gate of the power line trail that parallels the Cedar River Trail for ½ mile out and ½ mile back. This will spread out runners before having to squeeze on the trail next to the gate where runners will run a little road on the bridge over the river, through the parking area and finally on the Cedar River Trail (this is only 0.15mi from the power line gate). All runners will run the slightly downstream packed gravel rails to trail to the 1st aid station at 5.85mi, continue straight to 2nd aid station at 11.25mi, 2.45 miles to the boundary of King County Parks/City of Renton at 13.7 miles at turn around and now slight upstream, 2.45mi back to 3rd aid station (same as #2) at 16.15mi, and back to 4th aid station at 21.55mi (same as #1). At that point marathoners will continue straight back to the finish (4.7mi to go). 50K runners will turn right/uphill towards Lake Wilderness for 2.45mi out (slightly more uphill grade) before turning around back to last aid station as #4 with 4.7mi to the end. The finish will end at the end of the Cedar River trail, so you won’t have to run through the parking area and on the road over the river as in the beginning. This new course will be a much more sociable run, will involve less paved trail, and will use the more pretty parts of the trail, which I expect will make times a little slower.

AID STATIONS: **Approximate mileage (Aid stations #1, #4, and #5 are the same and #2 and #3 are the same)
Aid #1: 5.85mi (next aid 5.4mi)
Aid #2: 11.25mi (next aid 4.9mi)
Aid #3: 16.15mi (next aid 5.4mi)
Aid #4: 21.55mi (finish for marathoners in 4.7mi, next aid for 50K 4.9mi)
Aid #5 26.45mi (finish 4.7mi)

Total mileage marathon: 26.25mi     Total mileage 50K: 31.15mi
Aid stations #1, #4, and #5 (all the same stations) will be manned and are major aid stations. There will be the usual ultra fare: candy, chips, cookies, gels, and probably something hot. If you want a drop bag for this station, please pack in a waterproof bag with your name on it. They will be returned to the finish as soon as possible. Please be patient. Aid stations #2 and #3 (same aid station) will be unmanned and will have water, Gatorade, and possibly some gels.