If you haven't heard, we put the Challenge back in Loco Challenge.
Get ready!
Welcome to Running Loco - the game where you run until your toenails fall off & things change at the last minute (usually due to weather or delayed shipping). We like to think the adversity that is thrown at all of us every year makes us a little bit stronger and a lotta bit more Loco!
Disclaimer:
As we said last year...and the year before...and the year before that...
We keep the price for this race lower than most other 100k races because we can't guarantee it won't suck. Seriously, it was almost named the Suck It Race because well, you know. What we can guarantee is that you will cross some creeks (please don't ask us how may...we always get it wrong). You will go up some hills and down some hills. You will run on dirt & gravel. You will run logging roads, "no" track, "some" track, and bushwack. You'll hit a very small amount of pavement. You will inevitably enjoy many types of weather (rain, snow, cold wind, hot wind, blazing heat). We will most likely change something on the course close to or on race day. At least one of you won't use a drop bag and wish you did, and at least one of you won't bring a change of shoes...and you'll wish you did. We are serious about donating your left behind drop bags to ultra-running orphans. Lastly, you are going to love/hate this race!
Below are a few things you might find helpful:
Swag & Awards:
All participants get a race shirt, post-race meal & a few surprise pieces of swag.
Medallions are so last year...all finishers who make it through the finish line by, or before, cut off get something super rad, like a custom Loco buckle (buckle NOT belt...come back the following year and run the Loco 100k to get your belt)!
Start Time:
6:30am
Pick Up
5:30am-6:10am
Start line, race morning
(Race Brief, Start Line, 6:10am)
Location & Directions:
Butte Meadow, CA
Aid Station, Drop Bag & Crew Info
Aid Station Mileage is as follows (we work on the "ish". All mileage is approximate)
Lonely AS #1
NO ACESS
NO DROP BAG
MILE 10.3
(HEAD OUT ON LONELY LOOP)
Lonely AS #2
NO ACESS
NO DROP BAG
MILE 19.5
CROSS HWY 32 W/REFLECTOR VEST & COMMON-SENSE SHORTLY AFTER LONELY AS @ YELLOW GATE
Loopy AS #1
CREW
DROP BAG
MILE 20
(HEAD OUT ON SKINNY LOOP)
Loopy AS #2
CREW
DROP BAG
MILE 22.6
(HEAD OUT ON SAMURAI LOOP)
Loopy AS #3
CREW
DROP BAG
MILE 26.4
(HEAD OUT ON LOWER LOOP)
Loopy AS #4
CREW
DROP BAG
MILE 30.5
CROSS BACK OVER HWY 32 W/REFLECTOR VEST & COMMON-SENSE SHORTLY AFTER LOOPY AS @ YELLOW GATE
Lollipop #1
CREW
DROP BAG
MILE 34.3
(HEAD OUT ON LOLLIPOP LOOP)
Lollipop #2
CREW
DROP BAG
MILE 37
Party Animal #1
NO ACCESS
NO DROP BAG
MILE 43.7
(this is a very basic aid station)
Start Finish Line #1
CREW
DROP BAG
PACER PICK UP
MILE 48
(NO pacer pick up before this mileage)
Start Finish Line #2
CREW
DROP BAG
PACER PICK UP
MILE 50.5
Start Finish Line #3
CREW
DROP BAG
PACER PICK UP
MILE 54
Start Finish Line #4
CREW
DROP BAG
PACER PICK UP
MILE 62
CUT OFF 2:00AM, SUNDAY, 6/2
Don't let this mess with your head! Keep going. NO official finish for quitting your race here!
Party Animal AS #2
MILE 66.5
(this is a very basic aid station)
Lonely AS #3
Crew
Pacer Pick Up
MILE 72.5
(HEAD OUT ON LITTLE LONELY LOOP)
Lonely AS #4
Crew
Pacer Pick Up
MILE 79.3
* DO NOT CROSS THE HWY AFTER THIS LOOP! *
Lollipop #3
CREW ACCESS
PACER PICK UP (DRIVE SLOW & CAREFULLY)
Drop Bag
MILE 82.5
(HEAD OUT ON LOLLIPOP LOOP)
Lollipop #4
CREW ACCESS
PACER PICK UP, (DRIVE SLOW & CAREFULLY)
Drop Bag
MILE 85.3
Party Animal AS #3
NO ACCESS
DROP BAG
MILE 92.1
Start Finish Line #5
Crew
Drop Bag
Pacer Pick Up
MILE 96.33
(don't forget to do the out and back "Coyote Tongue")
FINISH LINE CUT OFF FOR THE 100M is 1:30PM, SUNDAY, 6/2.
*NOTE: On map, Yellow Gates are literally yellow gates before or after the highway, where you cross the highway safely, with a reflector vest and common sense.
*NOTE: Any runner wishing to drop at the 100k finish when they reach Start Finish Aid Station at mile 62 may do so HOWEVER RUNNER WILL NOT PLACE ON THE LEADER BOARD FOR THE 100K DISTANCE. THEY CAN CHOOSE TO EITHER SHOW AS A DNF FOR THEIR ORIGINAL 100 MILE DISTANCE OR NOT TO HAVE THEIR RESULTS RECORDED AT ALL. These runners will receive a 100k finisher's medallion (as available) but no belt for completing 100k distance and no buckle for 100 mile distance since they did not complete it...don't ask and make it awkward.
*NOTE: During the first 62 miles, you will encounter and run a loop BEFORE Yellow Gate/HWY 32 crossing called "Lonely Loop". During your last 38 miles, you will go back to this same spot and run a SHORTER version of the same loop called "Little Lonely Loop". Don't forget that during the second visit you will need to follow signs for the shorter version. If you don't you will have many bonus miles.
*NOTE: Know your loops and loop order. There is an aid station you will come back to after each loop, but it is up to you to follow the correct signs for the loop you need to be on, when you leave the aid station.
*NOTE: Bring a reflective vest for HWY 32 crossing so you don't become a runner pancake. Vest is MANDATORY to wear (only across the hwy) and so is common sense. If you see a vehicle WAIT until you do not see a vehicle anymore.
*NOTE: YOUR DROP BAGS WILL COME BACK TO THE START FINISH LINE WHEN THE AID STATIONS CLOSES DOWN. THIS MIGHT BE LONG AFTER YOU COME THROUGH THE FINISH LINE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO GO TO THE AID STATION AND RETREIVE IT (KEEPING IN MIND THE RUNNERS STILL LEFT ON THE COURSE YOU ARE DRIVING ON). DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR DROP BAG. IF YOU LEAVE THE EVENT WITHOUT YOUR DROP BAG, WE DO NOT HOLD IT OR MAIL IT. WE TAKE OUT THE PERISHABLES AND DONATE THE REST TO ULTRA RUNNING ORPHANS. DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR DROP BAGS.
Course Info:
Click HERE for the first 62 miles .
Click HERE for the last 38 miles.
*Please note, kick ass changes are here!
Looking for the elevation profile?
Click the route link. Once there, click the red route with your mouse. A little box will pop up. Choose "profile". The elevation profile will load at the bottom of the map. You can expand it and see some pretty neat info. Check it out. ALSO...before you expand the profile, move your mouse curser over the line of the elevation profile. It will place a red dot on the route and show you where that part of the profile lines up with the route. If you start at the beginning of the profile and slowly move your curser over the profile (from left to right), the red dot will follow, on the map, from start to finish. This will allow you to see the direction of the course. We find it pretty handy.
COURSE MARKINGS:
The course will be marked with pink survey flags that have a specific color tape tag on it that matches your bib color (green). Sometimes there will be a small white laminated sign attached to it. Oftentimes it will be an arrow or directions. Do what the sign says and, if the tape tag isn't your color, don't follow it. DO NOT FOLLOW ANY COLOR TAPE IN THE TREES AND BUSHES!!! ITS NOT MEANT FOR YOU!!! IGNORE IT COMPLETELY!!! PINK FLAGS OR SIGNS WITH YOUR DISTANCE LISTED ON THEM ONLY! If you do not see a survey marker for a mile, you are going the wrong way. Turn around and go back to where you saw your last flag and figure out where you went wrong. We try and lay them every half mile but, occasionally the wind, an animal or some super inconsiderate person takes a flag, and you end up with a gap larger than a half mile.
During the parts of the course that will be ran in the dark, the pink survey flags will have LED pin lights affixed to them and/or reflective tape.
The last bit about the survey markers should be taken seriously and filed away in your brain. We know some of you lose your minds out there. Remembering your course marker info will help you stay on track.
OTHER STUFF
Below are a few important things to keep in mind on race day.
LOCO MANRTA: We love you. We want you to finish. We encourage shenanigans and for you to be your best, weirdest self. We will be there, during your race to help keep you going. We will be there at the finish line, ready to celebrate you when you come running, jogging, walking or crawling through that finish line. Your job is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward!
CHANGE: Change can be good, especially if it is spare change. While Loco doesn't typically throw spare change at you (ouch), occasionally - or often - there are last minute changes on or close to race day. Due to the nature of this beast we call Loco, the nature surrounding it, the tons of people involved in every step, the weather, and a whole host of other weird and bizarre things one could insert here...expect change and stay flexible!
MILEAGE: As always, all mileage is approximate. For the love of Loco, if you are upset that the mileage is not dead on, make peace with the fact that it won't be before race morning. Everyone's watches read a bit (a lot) differently out in them thar' woods. If you get to the finish line and are short, we aren't going to judge you for running past us to get that tenth of a mile in. If you are over, you're welcome.
CELL SERVICE: Do not count on cell phone reception at this race. Most people do not get any service at the start/finish line or on the course. We've tried talking Verizon into installing a Loco cell tower, but they say we aren't cool enough...yet.
PARKING: Along Humboldt Rd, as far off the road as possible, leaving as much room for the next runner as you can. Do not park in the road at all. Please be sure not to park in front of any yellow gates or driveways, or directly in front of the entrance to the start/finish line. We repeat DO NOT PART DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE START/FINISH/LINE.
POST RACE MEAL: All runners & volunteers are invited to indulge in a delicious, complimentary post-race Sammie (our infamous-ish and signature post-race meal). Friends and family members are welcome to purchase a meal for $10, either at the meal line, while food lasts, or in advance (suggested) during the registration process. Vegan and gluten free options available.
REFUNDS: CONSIDER YOUR UNUSED REGISTRATION A GENEROUS DONATION TO THE LOCO YOUTH VOLUNTEER SCHOLARSHIP.
UP UNTIL 30 DAYS PRIOR TO RACE DAY YOU CAN ROLL YOUR REGISTRATION OVER TO ONE OF OUR OTHER LOCO RACES IN THE LOCO RACE SERIES. LESS THAN 30 DAYS UNTIL RACE DAY, THIS OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE.
TRANSFERS TO ANOTHER RUNNER ARE OK, UNTIL RACE DAY (30 MINUTES PRIOR TO YOUR RACE'S START TIME).