2014 Yellowstone Half Race Guide by Vacation Races

YELLOWSTONE HALF

RACE GUIDE June 14, 2014

EVENTSCHEDULE JUNE 13-14, 2014

Friday 11:00 AM

Packet pickup and Race Expo start.

12:00 PM

Bear Spray Demo

5:38 AM

Sunrise

6:00 AM

Open starting line parking

6:15 AM

First prize raffle (every 5 minutes).

3:30 PM

Bird Demonstration

5:00 PM

Bear Spray Demo

7:00 AM

Last prize raffle.

6:00 PM

Race Expo ends.

7:30 AM

7:00 PM

Packet pickup closes.

Cars parking should be in start line parking lot.

7:45 AM

National Anthem

7:48 AM

Pacers lineup

7:50 AM

Runners lineup

8:00 AM

Race starts!

8:10 AM

Starting line closes.

RACE EXPO - The expo will be held at the Union Pacific Dining Lodge (298 Yellowstone Ave., West Yellowstone, MT 59758). Since it is our inaugural year the expo will be a little small, but there will still be some great vendors. We will also have forest service there as well as a bird demonstration and bear spray training! PARKING - There will be plenty of parking at the start line, but please get there early to avoid any rush that would cause you to be late to the start line. See page 4 for more parking details. *Please see page 4 for more details on parking and drop off.

Saturday

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

10:45 AM

Awards Ceremony

THECOURSE

EXCEPT MILE 9

THE COURSE - The road is all dirt and depending on your definition, you may consider it a trail run. There are a couple sections that get a little technical and could be a bit muddy because of the snow melt. If you have never run off-road before, this course might be challenging for you. If you prefer to run off-road in trail shoes, you might consider wearing them for this course, though you should be fine in regular shoes. This course is remote, but beautiful. With the recent snow melt and possible rain this week, expect there to be mud on the course. Please take necessary precautions. Also pay close attention to the aid station guide. Because of the remote nature of this part of the course there will be WATER ONLY at mile 9 - no bathrooms. There will be limited bathrooms at mile 7. GEAR CHECK - You will be given a Gear Check bag at the starting line if you wish. It will be a white garbage bag that you can fill with anything you want held until you finish the race. There will be permanent markers you can use to write your name and bib number. Avoid putting valuables in your bag. CLOTHING ON COURSE - We will have a clothing bin to dump items in at mile 3. Anything else found along the course will be treated as trash. ELEVATION (ft) - You can see the elevation map below. The overall elevation change on the course is marginal, but there is a challenging hill between mile 5 and 7.

RACE GUIDE

JUNE 14, 2014

RACE GUIDE >>COURSE INFO & RACE LOGISTICS

SPECTATOR INFO - Because the course is mostly off the main road, it isn’t a very spectator friendly course. Spectators are welcome at the starting line, and the finish line.

“A man on foot will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles.”

Another good place to cheer on your runner would be at mile 3. Once you cheer on your runner at the start and they are running the course, the Mile 3 aid station is just a short walk from the start line. Spectators are encouraged to be at the finish line to cheer on all our runners. OTHER COURSE INFO - Please do not litter on our course! Any kind of road markings with paint or even chalk will not be allowed. Please help us keep the area pristine for those who come after us. There are no vehicles allowed on the course. The only vehicle allowed on the course will be for a medical emergency. Deciding you don’t want to run anymore is not an emergency. COURSE RECORD - Since this is an inaugural race we currently do not have a course record. The runners that set the course record for men and women will receive a FREE RACE ENTRY every year that their time remains the course record!

2014 AVERAGE “EXPECTED” TIME:

(based on answers to registration questions)

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

Male 2:15:56

Female 2:28:57

PARKING & DROP-OFF PARKING - We will have plenty of parking to accomodate all of our runners. All the hotels are a short walk from the start line if you are staying in town and feel like walking. Parking will be at the old aiport in West Yellowstone by the start line. We will also have a warming tent and plenty of hot chocolate/coffee.

All Blues are Pantone 273

Orange is Pantone 165

DROP-OFF - If you are dropping a runner off, please enter the parking area and drop your runner off just past the parking lot exit. This will allow cars parking to enter the parking area and avoid any traffic jams from runners being dropped off.

Fitful Recovery Box - At the finish line we will have a Fitful Recovery Box (full of recovery snacks), bananas, and chocolate milk (as well as water and Nuun hydration). Please help yourself to one box, chocolate milk, and banana per runner. In an attempt to reduce waste, we will provide a place to trade/leave any unwanted snack items. =

We will also have nuun tablets. Please help yourself to one per runner.

45 mm White

RunSum

Use 2 ties

This is your timing chip

www.runsum.com

Wear it on your shoe

Timing

57 mm

It’s all about

Return at Finish Line

Usage and return instructions at

www.runsum.com

TIMING CHIPS - We will be using shoe chips. Unfortunately the bib chips we like to use have been having too many misreads.

“For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

Green dots represent holes in chip.

RACE GUIDE

JUNE 14, 2014

RACE GUIDE >>RUNNER INFO

RACESTATS

Who is coming?

44STATES 6COUNTRIES UNITED STATES | CANADA | MEXICO | JAPAN THAILAND | UNITED KINGDOM

TEAMS

Age Divisions BOYS/MEN

<11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75< 2

GIRLS/WOMEN

<11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75< 3

161

293

331

220

147

All runners will receive a finisher medal. Place medals will be given to the top 5 male and female runners overall as well as the Masters 40+ group. Additionally, the top 5 in each age group and the top 5 teams will also receive a place medal. *If you qualify for a place medal but are not present at the awards ceremony to receive it we will happily ship it to you. Go to our online store and request your medal and pay the cost of shipping ($8).

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

RACE GUIDE >>SOCIAL MEDIA

CONNECTONLINE We will be making a slideshow video using all the pictures YOU post! Be sure to follow us and use the official race hashtag #YShalf

We will be giving out prizes from our store (t-shirts and other merchandise) to the best photos. Be sure and look for out for unique parts of the course to snap a photo of. Also, use the hashtag all week so we can all share in each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventures in Yellowstone!

@VacationRaces #YShalf

PRIVACY SETTINGS - If your privacy settings restrict who can see your posts, then we will be unable to see them, even if you use the race hashtag. If we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the posts then they will not be considered for prizes or included in post race celebrations. If your settings restrict who can see them, it is likely a deliberate choice and we completely understand and respect that. Just FYI.

RACE GUIDE

JUNE 14, 2014

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

OSPREY CLUB WASHBURN CLUB & THE YELLOWSTONE TRIFECTA

RACE GUIDE

JUNE 14, 2014

RACE GUIDE >>CLUB & TRIFECTA

WASHBURNCLUB Our club hikes are a salute to the hardcore among us. We want to reward anyone who completes a designated club hike after the race. To join the Washburn Club, submit a picture of yourself at the summit of Mt. Washburn within 72 hours of the end of the race which includes: 1) A clear view of your face 2) Your bib with bib numbers clearly visible 3) Your finisher medal in plain view Mt. Washburn - Mt. Washburn is located in the northeast section of the park. It is a 6.2 mile out and back hike with a total elevation gain of 1,400 ft. The views from the lookout are some of the best in all the park. After leaving the parking lot at Dunraven Pass you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Hayden Valley, and the Grand Tetons farther to the south. The trail has several switchbacks, offering different and unique views. The trail is likely to have some spots covered in snow (around mile 2.5 is where the most snowpack is). It might still be hikeable, but you should check conditions before attempting this hike. Snowpack might make it very difficul. You can read a detailed hike description here. UPDATE: As of Monday (June 9th), there are still big patches of snow (several feet) at Dunraven Trailhead. There seems to be a lot less if starting at Chittenden Trailhead. Snowpack will make this hike difficult. Hike at your own risk. You can see up to date info on each trailhead here.

*These hikes are challenging and can be dangerous. Please take the hike seriously, and do not act irresponsibly if you decide to attempt the hike. It is not intended to be accessible to everyone. Bring lots of water and make necessary preparations. Weather can be unpredictable. Wear layers.

OSPREYCLUB Osprey Falls - The hike to Osprey Falls starts 5 miles south of Mammoth on the Old Bunsen Peak Road Trail and is 8 miles round trip. The trail follows the old roadbed for 2.5 miles through grassland and burnt forest, and then follows the canyon rim for a half mile. Sheepeater Canyon is the second largest canyon in Yellowstone (the largest is the Little Grand Canyon). The trail veers off the old road and follows the rim of Sheepeater Canyon before descending in a series of switchbacks to the bottom. There are about 11 switchbacks in total, amounting to a mile of trail. The switchbacks are VERY thin, sometimes less than a foot wide. The trail ends about 30 feet from the falls, but previous hikes say you can hike to the base of the falls if you’re cautious. You should bring WAY more water than you think you need. The altitude is high and the climate is dry, so dehydration happens fast. We would also recommend starting earlier in the day. You can read a detailed hike description here.

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

RACE GUIDE >>CLUB & TRIFECTA

MT. WASHBURN Difficulty: Moderate Total Mileage: 6.4 mi /10.2 km round-trip Type of Hike: Out and back Elevation Gain: 1,400 ft. Trailhead Elevation = 8,838 ft. Lookout Elevation = 10,243 ft. Trailhead Coordinates Latitude: 44.784432 Longitude: -110.453871 Summit Coordinates Latitude: 44.797402 Longitude: -110.433835

OSPREY FALLS Difficulty: Moderate to difficult Total Mileage: 8.8 mi /14.1 km round-trip Type of Hike: Out and back Elevation Gain: 800 ft. Trailhead Elevation = 7,200 ft. Canyon Elevation = 6,400 ft. Trailhead Coordinates Latitude: 44.932329 Longitude: -110.728111 Waterfall Coordinates Latitude: 44.929827 Longitude: -110.680245 All runners that join EITHER Club (Washburn OR Osprey) will receive 50% OFF next year’s race entry AND a free water bottle from UltraSpire! After the race there will be a submission form online where you can upload your photo(s) and send them to us. We have a hard cutoff of 72 hours! If you don’t get it to us before Tuesday at 11 AM (MDT) then we will only give you a virtual hi-five. This picture is from our Angels Club from the Zion Half and is an example of what yours should look like (for both the Clubs AND the Trifecta). CLUB SUBMISSION FORM www.yellowstonehalfmarathon.com/club YELLOWSTONE TRIFECTA SUBMISSION FORM www.yellowstonehalfmarathon.com/ystrifecta RACE GUIDE

JUNE 14, 2014

RACE GUIDE >>CLUB & TRIFECTA

YELLOWSTONETRIFECTA The Grand Canyon Trifecta is comprised of 3 different activities. You must complete all 3 in order to complete the Trifecta. Same rules as the Skeleton Club apply: take your picture at each of the 3 with your bib and finisher medal and send them to us 72 hours after finishing the race. The Trifecta is meant to be challenging, but less strenuous. These are iconic activities inside the park that should be experienced, but are doable with children. The 3 activities that makeup the Trifecta are:

1 Old Faithful - Watch Old Faithful Erupt! Old Faithful is the most famous and celebrated geyser in the world. The 1870 Washburn Expedition camped near Old Faithful and discovered the geyser had frequent and regular eruptions over 100 feet. They dubbed the geyser Old Faithful. It erupts once approximately every 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the duration of the previous eruption. Schedules for predicted eruptions are posted in the NPS buildings near Old Faithful.

2 Bison in Lamar Valley - You can’t leave Yellowstone without seeing bison! Yellowstone is the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. While you might be able to find bison in any area of Yellowstone, we’re going to have you take your picture with bison in Lamar Valley. Lamar Valley is a wide, expansive valley in sort of a remote north-eastern corner of the park. This is where you are most likely to see a large variety of wildlife.

3 Artist’s Point - Artist Point is just a short hike off of south rim drive, and offers very popular and iconic views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It was difficult to pick just three activities for the Trifecta. For more of our recommendations of sites to see in the park check out our quadrant breakdown on page 14.

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

PARKINFO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK All visitors are required to purchase a pass in order to enter Yellowstone National Park. There are no park shuttles. Private Vehicle: Per Person: Annual Pass:

$25 (valid for 7 days) $12 (valid for 7 days) $80 (grants entrance to every National Park in the country)

Seniors over 62 can purchase a lifetime pass for just $10. Active members of the U.S. Military are eligible for a free pass as well as U.S. citizens with permanent disabilities.

RECOMMENDATIONS Yellowstone is a big park. It would be difficult to get around without a car, but the best things are seen on foot. We’ve broken the park into 4 quadrants and listed some of our recommendations. This is by no means a comprehensive guide, but hopefully it helps as you plan your stay. QUADRANT III - Northwest corner. • Mammoth Hot Springs • Norris Geyser Basin

QUADRANT IV - Northeast corner. • Inspiration Point • Tower Falls • Mt Washburn • Lamar Valley • Grand Canyon

QUADRANT I - Southwest corner. • Firehole Canyon Drive • Old Faithful • Opal Pool • Midway Geyser Basin • Grand Prismatic Spring • Turquoise Pool...

QUADRANT II - Southeast corner. • West Thumb Geyser Basin • Yellowstone Lake • Uncle Tom’s Trail

THE YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON

RACE GUIDE >>TRAVEL

RUNNER FRIENDLY

RESTAURANTS We have four host restaurants this year, each offering a 10% discount for our runners race weekend. All runners need to do is show their bib to get the 10% off (only good for runners and does not include drinks). These restaurants are offering this discount Friday and Saturday! Expect these places to be busy, so try to plan accordingly (call ahead and check availability and wait times) and maybe have a backup plan in case they’re full.

Three Bear Restaurant - Three Bear will only be offering the discount on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. They have a kids menu and decor which features the history of Yellowstone. 217 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT (800) 646-7353 · www.threebearlodge.com/amenities/restaurant/ Gusher Pizza & Sandwich Shoppe - The Gusher provides casual dining in West Yellowstone. They’re open for lunch and dinner, and offer delivery and take out. The restaurant has a casino setup with a pool table and video games. They will offer the discount Friday through Sunday! 40 Dunraven Street, West Yellowstone, MT (406) 646-9050 · www.gusherpizza.com Running Bear Pancake House - The Running Bear Pancake House will also be offering this discount Friday through Sunday! They’re open for breakfast and lunch and are known for their delicious pancakes. They offer family style dining and a kids menu. 40 Dunraven Street, West Yellowstone, MT (406) 646-7703 · www.runningbearph.com Bar N Ranch - The Bar N Ranch Restaurant is your fanciest option, however it is a few miles outside of town. They offer gluten free pastas and breads. For groups larger than 6 they would appreciate a reservation, but its not required. The food is great, and they do not have any sales tax. They’re open for breakfast and dinner and will offer the discount Friday through Sunday. 890 Buttermilk Creek Rd, West Yellowstone, MT (406) 646-9445 · www.bar-n-ranch.com/dining-wine

Runner Recommendations - We asked for recommendations on Facebook a little while back. Here were the responses we got: GUSHER PIZZA & SANWICH SHOPPE | CAFE MARDIZ | BUCKAROO BILL’S | RUNNING BEAR PANCAKE HOUSE | MORNING GLORY | PETE’S PIZZA | BAR N RANCH | FREE HEEL AND WHEEL | WILD WEST PIZZERIA | THREE BEAR LODGE Food Tips - There is a Safeway in town if you are planning to buy and prepare your own food. Another (and probably less expensive option) would be to stop somewhere in Idaho Falls (if coming from the south) or Bozeman (if coming from the north) and stocking up on any necessary supplies.

RACE GUIDE

JUNE 14, 2014

Training Camps, Running Vacations, Endurance Coaching & Mental Training “To be able to meet women with my same interests and spend an entire week doing activities to make us better athletes physically, spiritually and mentally, was an experience of a lifetime.” Dena Jordan, NC

Ofﬁcial Training Partner for Vacation Races! Details at Vacation Races Training Blog on our website - sign up for our free training programs Come and be inspired, educated and empowered! We provide training camps, running vacations & mental training for athletes of all abilities in Estes Park, Colorado - home to the best training terrain you could wish for! Camps include accommodations, coaching, incredible group runs, interactive workshops, and much more....

Women's Running Camps - May, June, July, August & September Trail Running Camps - May & September Running Vacations - all year round! Contact Camp Director Terry Chiplin for details of special oﬀers for Vacation Races runners! See you at the races, and happy running!

www.activeataltitude.com / 303-304-9159

POST-RACE GENTLE YOGA — SAT & SUN SAT 4:30-5:15 PM AND 5:30-6:15 PM SUN 7:30-8:15 AM AND 8:30-9:15 AM POVAH COMMUNITY CENTER DONATION-BASED The 45-min yoga sessions offer a gentle practice to bring ease to sore muscles and restore balance to body and mind helping prepare you for your next Yellowstone adventure!

Saturday, June 15 – 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM Sunday, June 16 – 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM At the Povah Community Center Located at the corner of Yellowstone Ave and Geyser St

Donation-based (minimum $5 donation suggested) Yoga is provided by Turi Hetherington with Molte Wellness & Adventure and use of the Povah Community Center is graciously provided by the Town of West Yellowstone. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats if possible.

#stayhydrated BEYOND RACE DAY WITH NUUN. Save 20% with code: vacationraces at shop.nuun.com. Promo code valid at shop.nuun.com through December 31, 2014. Some items are not applicable.

VIRTUAL RACE SERIES $35 = SHIRT + MEDAL + PRIZES all the bling minus the hassle - enjoy the flexibility

www.vacationraces.com/virtualraces WHAT IS A VIRTUAL RACE?

Technology allows community interaction, without demanding that we all be in the same place at the same time. Virtual Races provide runners the opportunity to participate in an awesome race event from wherever they are!

WHY SHOULD I RUN?

Filling out your race calendar is becoming increasingly more expensive and wasteful! Virtual Races keep race entries low and allow you the flexibility to run when and where you want.

RUN AMER

COLLECT TH

vacationraces.com

RICA

HEM ALL

POST RACE SURVEY Watch for our post-race survey email - After each of our races, we like to send out a survey to all of our runners to find out how their race experience was and how we can improve. We are a young company, and this being an inaugural event we are sure to have areas we will want to improve. Your feedback is critical to us and helps us shape a race experience that future runners will be able to enjoy. Please watch for our email following the race and take a few minutes to give us some feedback. We will also have some random prizes to giveaway to several lucky runners who complete the survey including race entries, store merchandise, and more! Thank you.

Thank you!

TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

And a special thank you to the US Forest Service for their cooperation and for maintaining such a beautiful part of our country.

“EVERYBODY NEEDS Beauty AS WELL AS , PLACES TO PLAY IN AND PRAY IN, WHERE NATURE MAY HEAL AND GIVE STRENGTH TO BODY AND SOUL.”

BREAD

-John Muir

PLACES TO PLAY

IN AND PRAY IN

AND RUN

Photo by Ben Jackson Photography

YELLOWSTONE HALF MARATHON JUNE 14, 2014 www.theyellowstonehalf.com #YShalf