Relay Racers Update
PLEASE READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS UPDATE as there are many, many pertinent details to your race day success contained within it.
Thanks for joining us for the inaugural Arc'teryx Squamish 50! There will be over 30 relay teams running along with 130+ solo 50 mile runners. We are SO EXCITED to show you this new course!!
Please, please, please ensure ALL TEAM MEMBERS review this information.
Package Pickup
Anyone on your team can pick up your packages but THEY MUST take the race packages for the entire team all at once.
**VERY IMPORTANT** If your team was not in the initial 200 runners to sign up, and hence not asked for your shirt sizes during online registration, the team member collecting your packages will also be responsible for collecting your teams full allotment of race shirts. There will be a follow up email to clarify who was and was not on that list.
Please take the time now to discuss amongst your teammates if this applies to you or not. If it does apply please ensure you figure out your shirt size requirements in advance of package pickup so as to expedite the process.
We do not need to know the order of your runners on race day BUT your runners must wear and display your bib numbers in order of appearance. As an example a seven person team will have bib numbers
303-1 / 303-2 / 303-3 / 303-4 / 303-5 / 303-6 / 303-7
Parking
Parking at the start will be tight but sufficient. Please arrive early to allow a few extra minutes to be directed into place.
Relay teams are only allowed TWO VEHICLES on course throughout the day. Please park any remaining vehicles at the race start.
Your two vehicles that you will be using throughout the day must NOT be parked at the Squamish Oceanfront prior to race start. These two cars must be parked by the large sign that marks the end of the pavement as you drive towards the Oceanfront. This is approximately 300 meters from the race start itself.
As you know we are starting out on the Squamish Oceanfront at 6:15am sharp. Our starting line is less than 1km from our finish line. Parking at the Oceanfront is on a gravel surface.
The start and finish are both dog friendly as long as they are on leash.
Parking at Quest University is limited to the area surrounding the lower buildings. The relay exchange is at the main campus buildings on the high point. You are NOT ALLOWED to drive up to this high point, even to drop off a runner. Parking is just a few hundred meters away from your relay point.
You MUST PARK AT LEAST 500 feet away from any exchange point, as all exchange points also act as aid stations for our other race distances.
Flagging / Signage
Our course colours are PINK. Yes we like to put extra letters into some of our words up here.
There will be a mix of pink SQ50 branded placards stapled to trees/trailhead signs at all intersections. Realistically you could navigate our entire course just running intersection to intersection and following these 8x10 pink cards with black directional arrows.
On top of that we will have plenty of pink flagging tape and over 1,000 pink ground flags. Predominantly the ground flags will be used around intersections or convoluted sections of trail and flagging will be hung as confidence marking. As a general rule you will see a flag at least every 1/2 - 1km. There will be slightly less flagging on sections of trail where you can not deviate and slightly more flagging around areas with the potential to take a wrong turn. All in all, there will be A LOT of flagging on course. Know however that there will be sections on course where you may be running for three to five minutes without seeing a flag. Again this will only be the case where a wrong turn would be impossible once we have flagged you into that section.
Confluence of Races
Our 21km race follows the final 21km of your race. This event will have over 100 additional runners on hand. The starting point for the 21km race is located at your half way point at Quest University, and the starting time is 11am. For those of you who cover the first 26miles / 42km in a timeframe of less than five hours you will be encountering some traffic once you arrive at Quest.
We have a plan in place to ease possible runner conflict, and will make every possible effort to ensure that this goes as smoothly as possible. For those of you fortunate enough to time your arrival right at 11am you will have to pay special attention to the directions of the volunteers on hand so as to avoid the oncoming stampede. To make things more fun the 21km runners will be careening downhill as you make your way up the slight incline to the top. We promise you won’t get run over but please pay special attention if the timing of this will affect you.
Your Baton
Your race day baton will consist of a finger mounted scanner that is typically used for orienteering events. These weight next to nothing and are approximately two inches long. There is a strap to wear it right on your finger if you prefer. This MUST BE inserted into the appropriate flagged scanner at each relay point BEFORE handing it off to your teammate.
If you lose it, you are disqualified.
Relay Exchanges
All relay exchange points are listed on our website with appropriate maps. Please reference these in advance of race day.
Two exchange points worth mentioning in more detail:
a) Exchange #3 for runners heading into Leg #4 at Bob Macintosh Trail.
There is a map on our site that will direct your driver from Alice Lake parking lot to a yellow gate near the end of Alice Lake Road. This gate will have a SQ50 volunteer stationed there allowing traffic in and out. From this yellow gate the exchange is a further 2km up a dirt road. The road is fully passable in any 2WD vehicle BUT you might get dirt on your car! :) Runners are also welcome to walk the 2km up this road if they prefer.
You are only permitted to drive up this dirt road to drop off your outgoing runner onto Leg #4, collect your incoming runner off of Leg #3 and return down the road again. Please be VERY AWARE of two way traffic via other relay teams doing exactly as you are.
b) The final relay point with runners coming off of Leg #6 and heading into Leg #7 at the entrance to The Farther Side Trail is quite a drive from the previous point at Quest University. The Google maps listed time of 26 minutes rather generous. We recommend that teams do not linger between these two points and that they drive straight between these two points as soon as possible.
Please know when referencing the online map for this drive that once you turn left off the Sea to Sky Highway (Hwy 99) you are on a forest service road. DO NOT confuse this left turn with the paved left turn at the gas station / casino. Your gravel road turn off is a few hundred meters further south, just prior to The Chief rock face. Basically as you are heading south away from Squamish there is a left turning lane directly under the big sign board that posts highway updates. Take this turn onto the dirt road.
Continue up this forest service road for approximately 4km until you come to a junction with a blue arrow pointing you left and saying “Powerhouse Springs Road”.
Follow this left turn for an additional 1.7km until you hit the aid station.
Aid Outside Of Established Exchange Points
This is strictly forbidden. This is grounds for disqualification and denied entry into future events
Following Your Runner At Car Accessible Points
This is strictly forbidden. There are over 350 total runners partaking in this event. You must always be aware of runners within your vicinity and never drive along any points of the course during the race.
Cut-Offs
There is one official cut off and it will be strictly enforced at Quest University. If your team does not clear the Quest aid station by 1pm you will have two options. You can pull out of the race altogether OR you can skip the following 10mile loop and continue to the finish for a 40mile day of running.
Aid Stations
All information regarding where aid stations are located and what will be available and not available has been listed on our site here
Dogs
Are not allowed on course.
Aren’t we allowed to run with our incredibly cute and exceptionally well trained and behaved best trail friends ever?
Sorry still no.
Musica
YES ...BUT, you must be aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES. We request that you only run with one ear bud in but if you chose to run with both in you MUST have the volume low enough so that you can hear other runners, mountain bikers, and crazy wild forest creatures at all times. Bears love runners who can’t hear anything, cougars even more so. Think we’re joking? See below.
Other Trail Users / Mountain Bikers
Squamish is an outdoor haven and on a sunny summer Saturday there will be plenty of people outside playing on the trails. The town is a mountain biking mecca and as such you will undoubtedly encounter riders during your run. Everyone is very friendly and very accustomed to sharing the trails with other users.
Your general rule is this. Bikers are faster than you. Every single step of our race is bike friendly terrain. Even the steepest of the steep stuff and the most technical of the technical stuff will see local riders on it. When you're going UP the steep stuff, please pay special attention to things coming DOWN the steep stuff. Communicate with any riders you see and know they have the right of way. The steeper the terrain, the faster the oncoming riders. Most riders will let you know how many are in their group so if someone simply says "three, or two more" as they pass you it means you can expect two more riders closely behind them.
Railway Crossings
We will have two points during our race where a train can potentially cut you off. You're welcome to play chicken with them but our insurance won't cover you if you lose.
We have addressed both these areas so that the overall race outcomes will be minimally affected.
Your first rail line crossing happens approximately four miles / six kilometers into the race. First and foremost no trains are scheduled as of right now. Secondly there is a clear cut trail that goes under this rail line. We will have a volunteer in place to direct you appropriately. Ideally you will run straight over and not even notice the tracks to begin with, but if our volunteer is directing you down towards the river it's not to get you in his/her van, it's to keep you from having to stop for a few hundred tonnes of steel.
Our second crossing is only a kilometer away from our finish line. Oh the drama! There will likely be at least a few of you throughout the day who face sixty second to a few minute delays. We have addressed this as such. We are placing a timing mat on either side of the tracks. As you cross the first mat your time will freeze, as you cross the second mat on the opposite side of the rail line your time will start again. If you run straight across without any interference you'll simply be five seconds faster than your watch time at the finish line. This is the best we could do and ensures that if you are held up by a train you are not penalized for it whatsoever.
Keep in mind that if you have to stop for a train, and there are already people waiting, they will likely finish ahead of you in the final rankings even if you out kick them at the line. If you notice a train blocking your path please ensure you run across the timing mat before you start your yoga poses to pass the time.
Littering On Course
If anyone is caught intentionally littering on course they will be immediately disqualified and banned from the race for life. We’d prefer a public flogging but times have changed so a lifetime ban is the best we can do.
There will be a Trail Runner Magazine subscription drawn for amongst ONLY the runners who pick up and turn in other peoples trail trash along the way. This will be on the honor system. If you find and remove trash from the trail please let us know at the finish line and you’ll be entered into the draw.
RULES OF RELAY
Teams of 3: Every team member must run at least TWO legs of the race. Choice of strategy is up to you.
Teams of 5: Every team member must run at least ONE leg of the race. Two team members must run TWO legs of the race. No runner is allowed to run three legs. Choice of strategy is up to you.
Teams of 7: Every team member MUST run one leg of the race, obviously.
Important Course Information
The course will be immaculately flagged but ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION will make your run just a little bit smoother.
After departing Quest University at mile 26 / km 42 you will proceed up the Mamquam forest service road. Just under two miles / three kilometers later you will pass a water only station on the right hand side of the gravel road.
This is THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERSECTION of your entire day. We will have volunteers in place but PLEASE REMEMBER THIS:
You will see this water station THREE TIMES. The first two times you see it you will continue straight along the forest service road. It gets slightly steeper immediately following the water station. The third time you find yourself at this water station you will veer right, leaving the forest service road behind and proceeding down a double wide trail that filters you into singletrack.
As an additional point of reference you will PASS BY this water station at
Miles 28 and 38
Kms 45 and 61
You will TURN RIGHT at this water station at
Mile 40
Kilometer 64
I hope that is now as clear as mud.
Course Changes
Logging is affecting two areas of our proposed course and we were told these operations would be clear of these areas by race day. Unfortunately that won't be the case but there's nothing to worry about. Thankfully as Squamish is littered with trails we are able to solve this with two minor detours.
For those who don't know the course, don't worry about it, you'll just be following the flagging all day anyways.
For those who do know the course. Rob's Corners is open, Cliff's Corners is not. Instead of running Cliff's Corners and Tracks From Hell we will detour down the fsr until the left junction at Four Lakes Trail. We will run this straight all the way to the tip of Tracks From Hell before turning right and heading up towards Of Mice And Men. The difference in overall distance is negligible.
Lower Powersmart and Plum Smugglers are now out and instead we will simply follow Word Of Mouth from top to bottom. The difference in distance here is about one mile. Here's the funny thing though, our course was actually 52 miles long. More Miles = More Fun RIGHT! SO, now you're only running 51miles. As an aside I'd like to keep this course as genuine as possible from here on out so this will be a permanent change going forward.
Dropping Out
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and YOU MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and YOU MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and YOU MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
If you do otherwise we'll end up calling in search and rescue and sending out the dogs after you. Once we learn that you're on a couch watching Olympic highlights it won't be pretty.
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and you MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
Plus we will have medical on site and it's not a bad idea to check in with them as well.
Finish Line Showers
To provide finish line showers we have rented two hotel rooms immediately adjacent to our finish line at The August Jack Motor Inn. We will have two street-access rooms labeled as SQ50 with patio sliding doors at ground level so that you can walk straight in.
Showers are limited to 5mins max and it is 100% BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL.
Wildlife
Squamish is blessed with backing onto a mountain range and seemingly endless wilderness. This is part of what makes this area and our race so unique.
With true wilderness however comes wildlife, as we are playing in THEIR backyard.
Two animals to be aware of in Squamish are black bears and cougars.
Black bears are common site in these parts and locals usually celebrate these encounters rather than fear them. We feel that given the number of people in attendance it would be extremely unlikely that you’ll encounter a bear during the event. If you do however here are a few things to keep in mind along with a link to more in depth information for bear – human encounters.
We do not feel that is it necessary to carry bear spray. Some people choose to run with bear bells but it is more effective to simply make some noise or engage in friendly conversation with your new running friends.
First and foremost IF there are cubs NEVER get between a mama bear and her cubs.
Our number one piece of advice is if you are uncomfortable with bears and you come across one, simply wait until more runners arrive to assist you. An experienced local will likely make some noise until the bear retreats into the forest.
Here is the link for further information and as a reference if you spot a bear there a 99% chance that it’s a black bear:
www.bearsmart.com
Cougars have been spotted in Squamish. Personally I/we have never seen a cougar in all our travels. Cougars would typically be more of a threat to smaller animals such as a dog or a small child. If you happen to come across a cougar here is the proper behavior:
Stay calm and keep the cougar in view. Pick up children immediately - children frighten easily, the noise and movements they make could provoke an attack. Back away slowly, ensuring that the animal has a clear avenue of escape. Make yourself look as large as possible. Keep the cougar in front of you at all times.
Never run or turn your back on a cougar. Sudden movement may provoke an attack.
If a cougar shows interest or follows you, respond aggressively. Maintain eye contact with the cougar, show your teeth and make loud noise. Arm yourself with rocks or sticks as weapons. Crouch down as little as possible when bending down to pick up things off of the ground.
If a cougar attacks, fight back. Convince the cougar you are a threat and not prey. Use anything you can as a weapon. Focus your attack on the cougar's face and eyes.
How’s that for the end of our update?
If ANYTHING tackles you, animal or runner – POKE ‘EM IN THE EYES!
Thanks for joining us for the inaugural Arc'teryx Squamish 50! There will be over 30 relay teams running along with 130+ solo 50 mile runners. We are SO EXCITED to show you this new course!!
Please, please, please ensure ALL TEAM MEMBERS review this information.
Package Pickup
Anyone on your team can pick up your packages but THEY MUST take the race packages for the entire team all at once.
**VERY IMPORTANT** If your team was not in the initial 200 runners to sign up, and hence not asked for your shirt sizes during online registration, the team member collecting your packages will also be responsible for collecting your teams full allotment of race shirts. There will be a follow up email to clarify who was and was not on that list.
Please take the time now to discuss amongst your teammates if this applies to you or not. If it does apply please ensure you figure out your shirt size requirements in advance of package pickup so as to expedite the process.
We do not need to know the order of your runners on race day BUT your runners must wear and display your bib numbers in order of appearance. As an example a seven person team will have bib numbers
303-1 / 303-2 / 303-3 / 303-4 / 303-5 / 303-6 / 303-7
Parking
Parking at the start will be tight but sufficient. Please arrive early to allow a few extra minutes to be directed into place.
Relay teams are only allowed TWO VEHICLES on course throughout the day. Please park any remaining vehicles at the race start.
Your two vehicles that you will be using throughout the day must NOT be parked at the Squamish Oceanfront prior to race start. These two cars must be parked by the large sign that marks the end of the pavement as you drive towards the Oceanfront. This is approximately 300 meters from the race start itself.
As you know we are starting out on the Squamish Oceanfront at 6:15am sharp. Our starting line is less than 1km from our finish line. Parking at the Oceanfront is on a gravel surface.
The start and finish are both dog friendly as long as they are on leash.
Parking at Quest University is limited to the area surrounding the lower buildings. The relay exchange is at the main campus buildings on the high point. You are NOT ALLOWED to drive up to this high point, even to drop off a runner. Parking is just a few hundred meters away from your relay point.
You MUST PARK AT LEAST 500 feet away from any exchange point, as all exchange points also act as aid stations for our other race distances.
Flagging / Signage
Our course colours are PINK. Yes we like to put extra letters into some of our words up here.
There will be a mix of pink SQ50 branded placards stapled to trees/trailhead signs at all intersections. Realistically you could navigate our entire course just running intersection to intersection and following these 8x10 pink cards with black directional arrows.
On top of that we will have plenty of pink flagging tape and over 1,000 pink ground flags. Predominantly the ground flags will be used around intersections or convoluted sections of trail and flagging will be hung as confidence marking. As a general rule you will see a flag at least every 1/2 - 1km. There will be slightly less flagging on sections of trail where you can not deviate and slightly more flagging around areas with the potential to take a wrong turn. All in all, there will be A LOT of flagging on course. Know however that there will be sections on course where you may be running for three to five minutes without seeing a flag. Again this will only be the case where a wrong turn would be impossible once we have flagged you into that section.
Confluence of Races
Our 21km race follows the final 21km of your race. This event will have over 100 additional runners on hand. The starting point for the 21km race is located at your half way point at Quest University, and the starting time is 11am. For those of you who cover the first 26miles / 42km in a timeframe of less than five hours you will be encountering some traffic once you arrive at Quest.
We have a plan in place to ease possible runner conflict, and will make every possible effort to ensure that this goes as smoothly as possible. For those of you fortunate enough to time your arrival right at 11am you will have to pay special attention to the directions of the volunteers on hand so as to avoid the oncoming stampede. To make things more fun the 21km runners will be careening downhill as you make your way up the slight incline to the top. We promise you won’t get run over but please pay special attention if the timing of this will affect you.
Your Baton
Your race day baton will consist of a finger mounted scanner that is typically used for orienteering events. These weight next to nothing and are approximately two inches long. There is a strap to wear it right on your finger if you prefer. This MUST BE inserted into the appropriate flagged scanner at each relay point BEFORE handing it off to your teammate.
If you lose it, you are disqualified.
Relay Exchanges
All relay exchange points are listed on our website with appropriate maps. Please reference these in advance of race day.
Two exchange points worth mentioning in more detail:
a) Exchange #3 for runners heading into Leg #4 at Bob Macintosh Trail.
There is a map on our site that will direct your driver from Alice Lake parking lot to a yellow gate near the end of Alice Lake Road. This gate will have a SQ50 volunteer stationed there allowing traffic in and out. From this yellow gate the exchange is a further 2km up a dirt road. The road is fully passable in any 2WD vehicle BUT you might get dirt on your car! :) Runners are also welcome to walk the 2km up this road if they prefer.
You are only permitted to drive up this dirt road to drop off your outgoing runner onto Leg #4, collect your incoming runner off of Leg #3 and return down the road again. Please be VERY AWARE of two way traffic via other relay teams doing exactly as you are.
b) The final relay point with runners coming off of Leg #6 and heading into Leg #7 at the entrance to The Farther Side Trail is quite a drive from the previous point at Quest University. The Google maps listed time of 26 minutes rather generous. We recommend that teams do not linger between these two points and that they drive straight between these two points as soon as possible.
Please know when referencing the online map for this drive that once you turn left off the Sea to Sky Highway (Hwy 99) you are on a forest service road. DO NOT confuse this left turn with the paved left turn at the gas station / casino. Your gravel road turn off is a few hundred meters further south, just prior to The Chief rock face. Basically as you are heading south away from Squamish there is a left turning lane directly under the big sign board that posts highway updates. Take this turn onto the dirt road.
Continue up this forest service road for approximately 4km until you come to a junction with a blue arrow pointing you left and saying “Powerhouse Springs Road”.
Follow this left turn for an additional 1.7km until you hit the aid station.
Aid Outside Of Established Exchange Points
This is strictly forbidden. This is grounds for disqualification and denied entry into future events
Following Your Runner At Car Accessible Points
This is strictly forbidden. There are over 350 total runners partaking in this event. You must always be aware of runners within your vicinity and never drive along any points of the course during the race.
Cut-Offs
There is one official cut off and it will be strictly enforced at Quest University. If your team does not clear the Quest aid station by 1pm you will have two options. You can pull out of the race altogether OR you can skip the following 10mile loop and continue to the finish for a 40mile day of running.
Aid Stations
All information regarding where aid stations are located and what will be available and not available has been listed on our site here
Dogs
Are not allowed on course.
Aren’t we allowed to run with our incredibly cute and exceptionally well trained and behaved best trail friends ever?
Sorry still no.
Musica
YES ...BUT, you must be aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES. We request that you only run with one ear bud in but if you chose to run with both in you MUST have the volume low enough so that you can hear other runners, mountain bikers, and crazy wild forest creatures at all times. Bears love runners who can’t hear anything, cougars even more so. Think we’re joking? See below.
Other Trail Users / Mountain Bikers
Squamish is an outdoor haven and on a sunny summer Saturday there will be plenty of people outside playing on the trails. The town is a mountain biking mecca and as such you will undoubtedly encounter riders during your run. Everyone is very friendly and very accustomed to sharing the trails with other users.
Your general rule is this. Bikers are faster than you. Every single step of our race is bike friendly terrain. Even the steepest of the steep stuff and the most technical of the technical stuff will see local riders on it. When you're going UP the steep stuff, please pay special attention to things coming DOWN the steep stuff. Communicate with any riders you see and know they have the right of way. The steeper the terrain, the faster the oncoming riders. Most riders will let you know how many are in their group so if someone simply says "three, or two more" as they pass you it means you can expect two more riders closely behind them.
Railway Crossings
We will have two points during our race where a train can potentially cut you off. You're welcome to play chicken with them but our insurance won't cover you if you lose.
We have addressed both these areas so that the overall race outcomes will be minimally affected.
Your first rail line crossing happens approximately four miles / six kilometers into the race. First and foremost no trains are scheduled as of right now. Secondly there is a clear cut trail that goes under this rail line. We will have a volunteer in place to direct you appropriately. Ideally you will run straight over and not even notice the tracks to begin with, but if our volunteer is directing you down towards the river it's not to get you in his/her van, it's to keep you from having to stop for a few hundred tonnes of steel.
Our second crossing is only a kilometer away from our finish line. Oh the drama! There will likely be at least a few of you throughout the day who face sixty second to a few minute delays. We have addressed this as such. We are placing a timing mat on either side of the tracks. As you cross the first mat your time will freeze, as you cross the second mat on the opposite side of the rail line your time will start again. If you run straight across without any interference you'll simply be five seconds faster than your watch time at the finish line. This is the best we could do and ensures that if you are held up by a train you are not penalized for it whatsoever.
Keep in mind that if you have to stop for a train, and there are already people waiting, they will likely finish ahead of you in the final rankings even if you out kick them at the line. If you notice a train blocking your path please ensure you run across the timing mat before you start your yoga poses to pass the time.
Littering On Course
If anyone is caught intentionally littering on course they will be immediately disqualified and banned from the race for life. We’d prefer a public flogging but times have changed so a lifetime ban is the best we can do.
There will be a Trail Runner Magazine subscription drawn for amongst ONLY the runners who pick up and turn in other peoples trail trash along the way. This will be on the honor system. If you find and remove trash from the trail please let us know at the finish line and you’ll be entered into the draw.
RULES OF RELAY
Teams of 3: Every team member must run at least TWO legs of the race. Choice of strategy is up to you.
Teams of 5: Every team member must run at least ONE leg of the race. Two team members must run TWO legs of the race. No runner is allowed to run three legs. Choice of strategy is up to you.
Teams of 7: Every team member MUST run one leg of the race, obviously.
Important Course Information
The course will be immaculately flagged but ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION will make your run just a little bit smoother.
After departing Quest University at mile 26 / km 42 you will proceed up the Mamquam forest service road. Just under two miles / three kilometers later you will pass a water only station on the right hand side of the gravel road.
This is THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERSECTION of your entire day. We will have volunteers in place but PLEASE REMEMBER THIS:
You will see this water station THREE TIMES. The first two times you see it you will continue straight along the forest service road. It gets slightly steeper immediately following the water station. The third time you find yourself at this water station you will veer right, leaving the forest service road behind and proceeding down a double wide trail that filters you into singletrack.
As an additional point of reference you will PASS BY this water station at
Miles 28 and 38
Kms 45 and 61
You will TURN RIGHT at this water station at
Mile 40
Kilometer 64
I hope that is now as clear as mud.
Course Changes
Logging is affecting two areas of our proposed course and we were told these operations would be clear of these areas by race day. Unfortunately that won't be the case but there's nothing to worry about. Thankfully as Squamish is littered with trails we are able to solve this with two minor detours.
For those who don't know the course, don't worry about it, you'll just be following the flagging all day anyways.
For those who do know the course. Rob's Corners is open, Cliff's Corners is not. Instead of running Cliff's Corners and Tracks From Hell we will detour down the fsr until the left junction at Four Lakes Trail. We will run this straight all the way to the tip of Tracks From Hell before turning right and heading up towards Of Mice And Men. The difference in overall distance is negligible.
Lower Powersmart and Plum Smugglers are now out and instead we will simply follow Word Of Mouth from top to bottom. The difference in distance here is about one mile. Here's the funny thing though, our course was actually 52 miles long. More Miles = More Fun RIGHT! SO, now you're only running 51miles. As an aside I'd like to keep this course as genuine as possible from here on out so this will be a permanent change going forward.
Dropping Out
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and YOU MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and YOU MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and YOU MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
If you do otherwise we'll end up calling in search and rescue and sending out the dogs after you. Once we learn that you're on a couch watching Olympic highlights it won't be pretty.
If you choose to drop out YOU MUST DO SO AT AN AID STATION and you MUST COMMUNICATE IT TO US.
Plus we will have medical on site and it's not a bad idea to check in with them as well.
Finish Line Showers
To provide finish line showers we have rented two hotel rooms immediately adjacent to our finish line at The August Jack Motor Inn. We will have two street-access rooms labeled as SQ50 with patio sliding doors at ground level so that you can walk straight in.
Showers are limited to 5mins max and it is 100% BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL.
Wildlife
Squamish is blessed with backing onto a mountain range and seemingly endless wilderness. This is part of what makes this area and our race so unique.
With true wilderness however comes wildlife, as we are playing in THEIR backyard.
Two animals to be aware of in Squamish are black bears and cougars.
Black bears are common site in these parts and locals usually celebrate these encounters rather than fear them. We feel that given the number of people in attendance it would be extremely unlikely that you’ll encounter a bear during the event. If you do however here are a few things to keep in mind along with a link to more in depth information for bear – human encounters.
We do not feel that is it necessary to carry bear spray. Some people choose to run with bear bells but it is more effective to simply make some noise or engage in friendly conversation with your new running friends.
First and foremost IF there are cubs NEVER get between a mama bear and her cubs.
Our number one piece of advice is if you are uncomfortable with bears and you come across one, simply wait until more runners arrive to assist you. An experienced local will likely make some noise until the bear retreats into the forest.
Here is the link for further information and as a reference if you spot a bear there a 99% chance that it’s a black bear:
www.bearsmart.com
Cougars have been spotted in Squamish. Personally I/we have never seen a cougar in all our travels. Cougars would typically be more of a threat to smaller animals such as a dog or a small child. If you happen to come across a cougar here is the proper behavior:
Stay calm and keep the cougar in view. Pick up children immediately - children frighten easily, the noise and movements they make could provoke an attack. Back away slowly, ensuring that the animal has a clear avenue of escape. Make yourself look as large as possible. Keep the cougar in front of you at all times.
Never run or turn your back on a cougar. Sudden movement may provoke an attack.
If a cougar shows interest or follows you, respond aggressively. Maintain eye contact with the cougar, show your teeth and make loud noise. Arm yourself with rocks or sticks as weapons. Crouch down as little as possible when bending down to pick up things off of the ground.
If a cougar attacks, fight back. Convince the cougar you are a threat and not prey. Use anything you can as a weapon. Focus your attack on the cougar's face and eyes.
How’s that for the end of our update?
If ANYTHING tackles you, animal or runner – POKE ‘EM IN THE EYES!
