Loco Relay FAQ

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Thank you so much for your interest in The Loco 200 Relay 2016.

Date: July 29th-30th, 2016

Start Line: Jonesville Snowmobile Park, Butte Meadows, Ca

(5 miles down from Bambi Inn, on Humboldt Rd)

Finish Line: Bambi Inn, in Butte Meadows

(just north of Chico, Ca, up HWY 32 from Chico

or up Skyway from Paradise).

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions. We hope they help!

01

What are the different choices for creating a team?

Each team has either 6 runners (ultra team) or 12 runners (regular team).

*There is a special category for 2-3 person Ultra Supreme Teams. Please email the race director at intrepidadventures@outlook.com for more information on this option.

02

Do we need to have a vehicle to hold all 6-12 runners?

You and your teammates will be riding in your vehicles from point A to point B, following your runner on their leg, while you are not running. You must have team vehicles, this is how to you get from place to place.

You will need to supply one vehicle per 6 runners (preferably a large SUV or van to give you ample space, as this will be your "home" for 2 days).

In a regular 12 person team, the team is split (you choose the split in advance) into two groups of 6 runners, therefore you would need 2 vehicles in a 12 person team and one for a 6 person team.

*It is strongly advised that each vehicle has a driver designated that is not a part of their running team to help drive the vehicle throughout the whole race. They will stay with the vehicle the entire time and be part of that vehicle's support crew. They are separate from the volunteer that the team provides.

03

What is the breakdown of legs for a 12 person team and how do we know who runs which legs?

On a 12 person Regular Team each person MUST run 3 legs, one from each set designated to their van.

Van #1 (with runners 1-6) will run legs 1-6

Then, Van #2 (with runners 7-12) will run legs 7-12.

Then, Van #1 will run legs 13-18

Then, Van #2 will run legs 19-24

Then, Van #1 will run legs 25-30

Then, Van #2 will run legs 31-36

Runners 1-6 always stay with and run legs from Van #1

Runners 7-12 always stay with and run legs from Van #2

The current van will "tag" the previous van to switch sets at the end of the last leg of the previous van's set, beginning of the first leg in current van's set (end leg 6/beginning 7, end leg 18/beginning 19, end leg 24/ beginning 25, end leg 30/ beginning 31). These switch points are called Designated Vehicle Switch Points (DVSP). There are 5 DVSP.

There will be absolutely no stopping to rest and sleep anywhere other than a DVSP along the relay course. Vehicles are permitted brief stops only along each leg to cheer, wait for and check on their runners (no longer than 15-20 minutes). Any deviation from this may result in disqualification.

Your team will choose in advance which runner will run which legs following the rules that each runner runs 3 legs (one in each set of legs belonging to their van) and that runners 1-6 stay with Van #1 and runners 7-12 stay with Van #2. Always. Period.

Each team will have a roster of which runners will run which legs submitted to intrepidadventures@outlook.com no later than August 20th, 2015. Please use TEAM NAME - LEG DESIGNATION as the subject header.

***PLEASE NOTE - Your teammates and drivers are your support crew and running family along the route! Be prepared to refill water bottles along the route for teammates, hand runners Gu and Fuel, change headlamp batteries, check in on health and moral and give ample high fives and words of encouragement! There will be major aide stations at each DVSP and minor check in and water refill aide stations at all other beginning/end of each legs. Please plan on carrying snacks, hygiene supplies, medication, sleeping bags/mats, water etc in your vehicle during the race. There will be long stretches of the relay course where there are no stores or other options to purchase these things.

04

In a 12 person team, where does the van not in use and runners not running go when it isn't their turn to run?

At every Designated Vehicle Switch Point (DVSP) there will be a station set up where you can either safely pull over and lay out a sleeping bag or small tent or there will be the option of paid camping. You will know in advance which locations will have what available.

Each vehicle (and runners inside) has the option of staying a few hours at the current point where they just "tagged' the vehicle on the move, before moving on to the next DVSP to be "tagged" and begin running again or moving on to the next DVSP immediately to wait there the entire time to be "tagged". It is up to the runners in the van as to which they choose to do as long as they plan enough time to get to the next DVSP before the van in motion arrives to "tag" them to begin their next set of legs.

For example: Van #1 has just completed their first set of legs (legs 1-6) and tagged Van #2 at DVSP #1 (located at the end of leg 6/beginning of leg 7). Van #1, as the resting van, now has a choice. They can stay at DSVP #1 for a few hours before driving to meet van #2 at DSVP #2 (located at the end of leg 12/beginning of leg 13) or immediately drive to DSVP #2 and wait the entire time there.

05

What is the breakdown of legs for a 6 person Ultra Team and how do we know who runs which legs?

In a 6 person Ultra Team, each runner MUST run 6 legs.

There are two options for this.

OPTION #1

Runners rotate through legs 1-6 and repeat for legs 7-12, 13-18, 19-24, 25-30,31-36 (each runner runs one leg in each set.

OPTION #2

Runners run an ultra distance, choosing either legs 1-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24, 25-30 or 31-36. Each runner will run one of these blocks of six legs and remain with their team, in the van, while their teammates complete their designated ultra set (acting as support crew).

IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT 6 PERSON ULTRA TEAMS HAVE A DRIVER THAT WILL BE WITH THEM THE ENTRE RACE TO HELP WITH DRIVING DUTIES AND BE PART OF THE SUPPORT TEAM.

IMPORTANT: If a 6 person ultra team chooses to have 2 separate vehicles, the 2nd vehicle must act in the same manor as the 2nd vehicle of a 12 person regular team & ONLY switch out runners & rest at DVSP. Any deviation from this may result in disqualification.

06

What is leapfrogging and is it allowed?

Leapfrogging is basically having one or more of your runners on the course running separate legs simultaneously to save time on your overall finish time (if you have runner 1 and 2 running their respective legs simultaneously, it takes less time to complete the full relay course.

Example: Your van drops runner 1 off to run their leg and before runner one finishes, your van drops runner 2 off to run their leg at the same time. Your van then goes and picks up runner 1 at the end of their leg and drops runner 3 off on leg 3 and returns in time to pick up runner 2 at the end of leg 2...etc, etc.

LEAPFROGGING IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ALLOWED! IF YOUR TEAM IS CAUGHT LEAPFROGGING, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM WILL BE DISQUALIFIED IMMEDIATELY! JUST SAY NO TO LEAPFROGGING!

*You may have more than one runner on the course running with another runner on the same leg for moral support, this is not leapfrogging.

07

How Far Does Each Person Run?

If you have a 12 person regular team, each runner will complete 3 legs of the relay over a 44 hour period of time totaling approximately 18-24ish miles per runner. Each leg is approximately 4.5 - 7.5 miles (except for the 2 loco legs, 8.4 miles).
If you are on a 6 person Ultra Team, double the above (6 legs each runner, 36-48 miles each)
If you are on an 2-3 person Ultra Supreme Team, you are crazy and we think that's awesome. Contact the race director at intrepidadventures@outlook.com

08

Does the car follow the runner?

The vehicle that the runner belongs to can follow the runner but more likely what happens is that the van drives about half a mile ahead and waits for their runner to catch up. When their runner catches up, the teammates have water, etc ready in case their runner needs it and then the runner indicates how much further down the road to drive and meet back up again (usually a mile or so). This goes on until the runner completes the leg. Then the next runner gets out and you repeat the process. Some runners like for the vehicle to stay with them the whole time and some don't. It is really up to the individual runner as to whether the van will follow closely or at a distance.

There may be a couple of places where the vehicle does not have access to the trail that the runner is on (all along the paved recreation trail at Lake Almanor, a safe, populated area with cabins and other trail users around). If that is the case, the vehicle meets the runner either at the end of the leg to switch runners. For the most part, the vehicles will have access to stay with the runner throughout the entire relay.

09

Where do we sleep the first night?

Most people bring sleeping bags and sleep in their vehicles (if you rent a12 person passenger van their is plenty of room to sleep. The Loco Crew has done this in the past with other races and it works out fine). Other people bring small camping or yoga mats and lay on those with their sleeping bag. Jonesville Snowmobile Park has a designated area with carpet laid out for runners who want to roll out their sleeping bags and catch a few Zzzs.

Depending on which van you end up in will determine what time your van has their rest periods between running. When Van #1 is running, Van #2 is resting (either at the Designated Vehicle Switch Point where they last ended or at the Designated Vehicle Switch Point where they will begin running again). There will be approximately 3-6 hours rest for each vehicle between runs.

10

How do we know when to switch runners, etc., etc.

The legs and routes will be marked so each runner knows where they are going. When the leg ends and runners switch, there will be volunteers and aide stations indicating switch time. There will be specific volunteers helping vans park to wait for their runners and other volunteers who will be in charge of recording the runners arrival time. Unless your vehicle chooses to stay with the runner the whole way, generally your teammates in your vehicle will arrive at the finish of the leg before you and be there waiting to cheer you in and switch out runners.

11

Where will we get gas for our vehicles during the race?

Please make sure that your vehicle is full when you begin the race in either Van #1 or Van #2.

There will be a list of gas stations along/near the race route provided to you in your race packet. Every time you are near one of these gas stations, please be sure and top of your gas tank. The last thing you want is to be stranded and out of gas in the woods!

12

If we end at The Bambi Inn, how do we get home?

The Bambi Inn is 35 miles north of Chico (around 45 minute drive). If you (or someone from your vehicle) is sober, you are more than welcome to drive back to Chico after the after party (or completing the relay). If you are all planning on hanging out at the after party and don't feel like driving back, there are several smaller cabins within walking distance from the Bambi Inn and there is also a campground (The Loco Crew is currently working on a list of phone numbers to reserve different cabins in the area and will be posting them on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/theloco200).

If you decide to drive back to Chico (or surrounding area) and are from there, great, you are home! If not, there are quite a few hotels that you can stay in. We should be speaking with the hotels within the next month or two to negotiate deals for The Loco 200 Relay participants.

13

Is registration $85 per person, or per team?

It is $85-100 (depending on when you register) per person. Registration fee includes a tech shirt, race medallion, goodie bag, prizes, BBQ dinner and after party at the finish line on Saturday and other snacks and goodies along the relay route at aide stations.

A portion of the entrance fee is also being donated back to Lassen National Forest Wildfire Fund (California) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Registration is open. Initially, you only need one person from your team (and a team name) to sign up to hold your team's place. As you create (find/invite) the rest of your team, they will each go onto the registration website (www.active.com) and individually register, using your team name. Your whole entire team must be registered before race day to participate!

14

15

Our team doesn't have an adequate vehicle to use, where do we get one?

The Loco Crew will be negotiating with Enterprise Car Rental to get a good deal on 12 person passenger vans (to hold 6 people each and all of their gear) for Loco 200 Relay participants. We will post on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/theloco200) when Enterprise is ready to take reservations. If you live close to Sacramento or Medford, you may consider picking your van up there and driving it to the relay, rather than picking up your van in Chico, as their availability and pricing may be better.

If you do not want to use Enterprise rentals, your team can contact any other rental agency of your choosing.

Can I get a refund if I can't run?

You can request a refund up until April 1st, 2016. After that date, there will be no refunds issued. You may transfer your registration to someone else to take your place on your team.

If you have any further questions, please direct them to intrepidadventures@outlook.com

See you out there!

The Loco Crew