Ultra-Marathon Participant Guide
100K Ultra-Marathon Participant Guide Title Sponsor:
Welcome to Birkie Trail Run Festival 2017! This ultra-marathon participant guide contains everything you’ll need to know to be prepared for a great race day on September 30. The Birkie staff has been hard at work making certain that from bib pick-up, to the course, to aid stations, to post-race festivities, and everything in between, we’ve created the best possible race experience for you. As always, our number one priority is that you have a safe and successful race. Thanks, for participating in the ultra-marathon event at the 2017 Birkie Trail Run Festival! We look forward to seeing you on Friday night! Let’s get started!
100K Ultra Presented by:
Please note, pets are not allowed on the race course In the festival area, or in the event tent at any time. Thank you!
Friday, September 29 Bib Pick-Up Bib pick-up is available at Birkie Ridge from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, September 29. Directions to Birkie Ridge are found under “Get There.” There is no race day bib pick-up available for ultra-marathon runners.
Bibs Your bib is a unique identifier and must be worn and visible on the front of your body at all times on race day.
MANDATORY Pre-Race Briefing All ultra-marathon runners must attend a mandatory pre-race briefing on Friday, September 29, at 6:00 p.m. at the Veteran’s Community Center, 10534 Main Street, Hayward, Wisconsin. Questions? Call us at 715-634-5025.
Vendor Fair Birkie Ridge is also home to the Birkie Vendor Fair your source for great gear, clothing, and more! The Birkie Vendor Fair will be open during bib pick-up on Friday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm and again on race day from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. • • • • • • • • • •
SALOMON FITS Altra Running Shoes Bjorn Daehlie Bliz Eyewear Craft Gear West GU Energy Hayward Coffee Company Hostel B&B
• • • • • • • • •
Julbo Eyewear Leki Poles Mainstream Boutique Nemo Camping Gear New Moon Ski & Bike Riverbrook Bike and Ski Salming Running Shoes Trek Bikes Plus, the Birkie Store!
American Trail Running Association Elite Athlete Meet and Greet Join us at The Rivers Eatery in Cable, WI at 4:00 pm on Friday, September 29 for a presentation from ATRA Executive Director, Nancy Hobbs, and Rich Bolt, ATRA Marketing Director. ATRA has been the leading advocate for Mountain, Ultra & Trail Running for two decades. They will share their experience with the Pike Peak Trekker project with Google and introduce some of the Elite Runners who will be in contention for the USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships.
Saturday, September 30 Getting There The race start is located at Birkie Ridge Trailhead on U.S. Highway 63. Whether coming from the north or south, Birkie Ridge is very easy to find. Watch for large yellow parking signs marking the entrance to Birkie Ridge on U.S. Highway-63. From Hayward, take U.S. Highway-63 north to the Birkie Ridge trailhead, located 12.5 miles north of Hayward, WI, and 2.4-miles north of Seeley, WI. From Cable, take U.S. Highway-63 south to the Birkie Ridge trailhead, located 5-miles south of Cable, WI.
Parking There is ample parking for the start available at Birkie Ridge trailhead. Note: The town of Cable will host its annual Fall Fest on Saturday, September 30. As such, portions of County Highway M and Kavanagh Street, in Cable, will be closed until 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. If your crew is arriving in Cable before the end of Fall Fest, they’ll need to follow the signs for parking. However, later in the afternoon Kavanagh Street will be open for parking. The Cable Municipal lot is located one block south of Pine Street off Randysek Road. A shuttle will be provided from the finish back to Birkie Ridge for those needing transport.
Race Day Event Schedule • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
5:30 AM Ultra-Marathon Start 6:30 AM Bib Pick-Up Opens 8:00 AM Marathon Start (25.8 miles) – Presented by CARLSON MD 8:30 AM Marathon Relay Start (25.8 miles) – Presented by FITS 9:00 AM Dive for the Dirt Opens – Presented by Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Water’s Edge 9:15 AM Birkie Half Marathon Start (12.4 miles) – Presented by HydraPak USATF Half Marathon Trail Championship Start 9:30 AM Nordic Trek Start (10 miles) 9:45 AM 5K Start 10:30 AM Birkie Ridge Bash – Food, Live Music, Celebration! 11:00 AM 5K Award Ceremony - Overall & Age Group 11:30 AM Half Marathon Award Ceremony - Overall, USATF, & Age Group 11:45 AM 1K Race for Kids 12:15 PM Marathon & Relay Award Ceremony - Overall 12:45 PM Marathon Award Ceremony - Age Group 3:00 PM Final Marathon Finishers 6:00 PM Ultra-Marathon Champion Awards & Celebration at Rivers Eatery
On the Course New for 2017! The Ultra race will finish on the rail trail behind The Rivers Eatery, located at 43455 Kavanagh Street, in downtown Cable, WI!
Race Courses The Birkie Trail Run Festival shares common trails for each of the different race distances. As such, the route for each race will be fully marked with color-coded signage unique to each specific race. At various times during your run or trek you will see signs for other events. Please read the Ultra Course Description document, emailed to you, for detailed information about the Ultra course. Please note the color designated for your event (it also matches the color on your bib), be alert, and follow the correct event signs located along the trail!
Course Marking and Signs Ultra-marathon runners will follow purple arrows and signs located throughout the race course. The ultra-course will be fully-marked by Friday, September 29, with purple directional arrows and barrier tape. On race day, the post-sunset sections of the course will be marked with green glow sticks to aid you along your way.
Arrows confirm your direction! Indicates a right turn onto a new trail.
Indicates a left turn onto a new trail.
Indicates you maintain a straight course on the current trail.
In addition, throughout the Ultra course, purple mile marker signs will count down in 5-mile increments to the finish.
Aid Stations Each aid station will be supplied with water, nuun performance hydration, Coke, GU energy gels, fruit, cookies, salty snacks, and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. Grilled cheese sandwiches and soup will be available at stations 9, 10, 11, and 12. There are toilets and basic first-aid supplies available at each aid station.
Runners must check in at the start and at each aid station along the race course. Failing to do so may result in disqualification! Additional aid station information is available in the Ultra Details and Directions document that will be emailed to you.
Drop Bags Runners may have drop bags transported to aid stations. All drop bags must have the runner’s name and the name of the aid station clearly marked on them. Large sturdy plastic bags will be supplied at the pre-race briefing on Friday evening or you may drop your own bags at that time. Drop bags will also be accepted prior to 5:15 am at the start. Drop bags may be picked up by crew members at the aid stations. Any bags not picked up at aid stations will be transported back to the finish.
Cut-Off Times Participants will not be allowed to continue past the cut-off times noted below and must reach the finish by 11:00 pm to be considered an official finisher. Transport back to Birkie Ridge will be provided for those not making the cut-off times. Please review the chart below which illustrates aid station locations and associated cut-off times.
Aid Station
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Birkie Ridge - Start Boedecker Southbound Highway 00 Southbound Gravel Pit Southbound Mosquito Brook Southbound Hatchery Park Mosquito Brook Northbound Gravel Pit Northbound Highway OO Northbound Boedecker Northbound Timber Trail Northbound Birkie Trailhead Timber Trail Southbound Cable - Finish
Miles from Start 0 3.7 6.4 12.1 16.7 20.6 24.9 29.3 35.1 38.6 43.7 47.2 52.9 60.7
Miles to Next Aid Station 3.7 2.7 5.7 4.6 3.9 4.3 4.4 5.8 3.5 5.1 3.5 5.7 7.8 0
Cut-Off Time N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4:30 pm 6:00 pm 7:30 pm 9:00 pm 11:00 pm
Pacer No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dropping Out If you need to drop out of the race you must report in at an aid station or to a race official at Birkie Ridge, notifying them of your status.
Crew Support For crew details, please see the Ultra Details and Directions document that will be emailed to you separately. Please note, pacers will be allowed from Hatchery Aid Station to the finish. Pacers may not carry gear for racers. Spectators are encouraged to share their photos from the day’s events on social media using the hashtag #BirkieFever.
Safety For the safe of every participant, it is very important that we are able to track runners at every point along the race course. Ultra runners are required to check in at the start, at all aid stations, and if they drop out of the race! Runners will need a head-light for at least a portion of the race. Sunrise on Birkie Ridge is it at 7:06 am and sunset at 6:44 pm. Runners will not be allowed to leave an aid station after 5:00 pm without a light. Please note that no headphones or ear buds are allowed on the course. Runners may be asked to withdraw from the race if, upon assessment, the event medical team feels that it is too dangerous for the runner to continue.
Kids Activities Dive for the Dirt - An obstacle course for kids, Dive for the Dirt will include a slack line, tunnel crawl, hay bale leap, balance beam, agility ladders, hurdles, and even a cargo net belly crawl! Birkie volunteers and Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Waters Edge staff will supervise and help kids as needed. CXC Experience - Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC Skiing) will be on hand with their experiential vehicle featuring a museum and a range of sports including: mountain biking; biathlon; ski jumping; adaptive sport; Ski-Ergs; and an agility course; allowing visitors to try their hand at any number of activities. Kids 1k (0.6 miles) Fun Run – Kids will gather at the Dive for the Dirt area where they will be led through pre-run warm-ups. Then, kids will line up for the fun run beginning at 11:45 am. The run will end at the main finish line and is untimed. Kids can enjoy cold Kemps chocolate milk after their run.
Birkie Ridge Bash Celebration There will be a celebration with live music following the other Birkie Trail Run Festival events, from 10:30am to 3:00pm in the big tent at Birkie Ridge. Runner’s crews and supporters can purchase a meal for $5.00 and beverages are available to all for a small fee.
Ultra Awards and Post-Race Party in Cable All runners who reach the finish before the official cut-off time at 11:00pm will receive a custom HydroFlask insulated bottle commemorating their achievement. First place overall will receive a certificate for a pair of Salomon trail-running shoes. Cash prizes: • 1st Place - $125 • 2nd Place - $75 • 3rd Place - $50 The Ultra Awards Ceremony and Post-Race Party begins at 6:00pm at The Rivers Eatery in Cable with live music, the awards ceremony, and lots of celebrating! All ultramarathon runners will be treated to a hot meal and a cold beverage at The Rivers Eatery after their finish.
Where to Stay Lodging information for locations in and around the Hayward, Seeley, and Cable areas is available from regional tourism offices. If you prefer, you can pitch your tent or park your camper within sight of the start/finish area! Camping is available at Birkie Ridge Trailhead on Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th, for a $10 per night fee. There will be portable toilets, water, and a community fire pit available. No generators or pets are allowed at the campground. Camping pre-registration is available until Thursday, September 29, at 11:00pm. • Check-in and register on site from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday and at bib pickup on Saturday. • Check-out is by noon on Sunday • Click here to register for Camping at Birkie Ridge Trailhead Please call 715-634-5025 or email us at birkie@birkie.com with any questions!
Have a great race & thanks for participating in the 2017 Birkie Trail Run Ultra-Marathon!
Good luck runners!
Our Amazing Sponsors We’d like to give a shout-out to our amazing sponsors without whom the Birkie Trail Run Festival would not be possible! Thank you! • Salomon – Title Sponsor Birkie Trail Run Festival • CARLSON MD - Presenting Sponsor Marathon • FITS - Presenting Sponsor Marathon Relay • HydraPak - Presenting Sponsor Half-Marathon • The Rivers Eatery - Presenting Sponsor 100K Ultra-Marathon • Corner Deli - Post-Race Food & Beverage • GU – Official Energy • NUUN – Official Hydration • Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Waters Edge – Presenting Sponsor: Dive for the Dirt • And, all our other fabulous sponsors!