Your $10 entry fee includes a colorful event t-shirt, timing of the race, and limited course support. Prizes awarded to the top male and female runners - something more awesome than a medal, but less awesome than a new car.
Register
Registration is $10, payable in cash. No checks. You can mail the entry fee along with your shirt size to Aaron at P.O. Box 2472. Delivery in person also works. You can use credit card via paypal; $11 due to the fees from paypal. If you use paypal be sure to specify your shirt size in the comments. Entry fee goes to $15 on August 5. Race day entry is available from 8am to 8:45am at the start area, payable in cash. No refunds. Send any questions or comments here.
*Paypal button removed, no more entries for the race now that it has happened :) race results here
The Course
A map of the course can be found here. The course starts with a mildly annoying out and back of .21 miles required to get the distance up to the full 13.1 miles, then runs to the shot up sign at the end of the semi-maintained part of the Mineral Creek gravel road. Approximately the first and last mile is a non motorized area. A volunteer, possibly with a small amount of water available, will be recording runners at the turn around point. The whole course is an unpaved gravel road. The gravel road is a fine running surface - softer than pavement, but graded and smoother than a trail. There are tons of pot holes and it will likely have puddles and wet areas. There are rolling hills gaining about 600 vertical feet on the way out, and dropping that same amount as you return to the finish line. The course is beautiful, with dozens of waterfalls pouring down both sides of the steep valley walls.
Limited Support
There will be water available at the start and finish, and it's possible the course volunteer at the turn around point will have some water available, but there won't be additional water stops along the way. Snacks might be provided at the end of the race if I feel like baking the night before, but no guarantees. Most of the course allows motorized traffic, and in my experience you can expect to see a couple of cars or four wheelers during the course of the run. The course will not be closed to other traffic of any kind. It's a dead end rough road, so it's not exactly a rush hour thoroughfare, but people occasionally hike, bike, or drive along parts of it, generally turning back by the broken down bridge around the 2 mile mark. You are on your own for medical support of any kind. Expect the weather to be gray and drizzly. Plan on your shoes and clothes getting wet. Mosquitos are not unheard of. Bears live in this valley. Bring a bear bell, bear spray, etc if that's your kind of thing. There's a 3.5 hour time limit, and the finish line will not be supported after that time. You are welcome to take longer than that, and the t-shirt is yours regardless of time or finishing status, but after 3.5 hours you should not expect finish line timing or water.
Partial Course View
This shot looking back toward Valdez shows part of the road you will be running on and Mineral Creek. There won't be any snow in August.
