New Blogsite for Orcas Island 50k and 25k

The link to the online registration, which is now open, and all the other info about the races are now at the new Orcas Island 50k and 25k Blogsite.

2009 cle elum results

wow! cle elum turned out to be a wee bit tougher, slower, longer than i had thought. but hey it's not a road race so s**t happens and besides it made everyone that much stronger (including me--this was not an easy race to direct but that always seems to be the case at my races so maybe it's me not the course...anyhow...). the weather was not typical "rainshadow" weather but again it added another element for the runners to overcome and from what i hear made things interesting. but despite it all we had a 100% finisher rate (although a couple 50k runners opted to downgrade to the 25k mid race and age defying bob stoyles ran his own slightly altered 25k route out of respect for the volunteers) so that's pretty stinking cool!

congrats to everyone and big thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors!!!

click here for the results

volunteering or how can i run for free?

hey everyone

to help me sleep better the nite before the upcoming cle elum 50k and 25k i'm putting the word out that i'd love to have 4-5 more volunteers to help with things at the race such as runner check-in and other start/finish stuff or at an aid station or sweeping the course. i have folks for all of those things already but just the bare minimum.

so if you or someone you know is interested you'll be fed well at the race and will get a credit for a free entry for one of my races for either you or someone you transfer it to. you'll also get my undying love and affection and other great benefits that don't show up on your accountant's books!

thanks and i hope to see you all soon one way or another!

james

509 846 5019

2010 calendar coming in october

The Sun Mountain Races will most likely happen again in 2010. the date has not been set yet but will either be in the summer or fall instead of april-- 4th saturday in october is currently the most likely date but nothing has be confirmed yet. in october i hope to set the Rainshadow Running race calendar for 2010 which will hopefully contain all the old favorites and a few new really exciting races!

Big Cle Elum News!

Ok folks you're hearing it here first: there will be a cle elum 25k and the 50k has gotten a "facelift" now with 2000ft more of elevation gain, more time up high on ridges and a new start/finish area! check out the brand new Cle Elum "blogsite" for all the details. or just go straight to databar events and sign up!

Okanogan Outlaw Fun Run

Next weekend (saturday june 27th) is the the Okanogan Outlaw Fun Run! This is an informal training run on the course of a 50 mile race i hope to get approved for 2010. The route goes through remote high country in the Okanogan National Forest and spends the majority of the time above 6000 feet and goes as high as 8242 at the summit of Tiffany Mountain. the 50 mile course has atleast 10,000 feet of elevation gain and is often on technical ridge top trails. it can be hot at times and often there is little or no shade. water is also scarce and you should be prepared to carry enough water to get you from each drop bag or to get water from the few creeks you cross along the way (the longest dry section is between mile 19 and 33. there will be no creeks or springs and it's the highest part of the run). folks wanting to run but not all 50 miles are also welcome to run (and would be a big help with some of the logistics--see below!) to any of road crossings and stop there.

This is not a race. there is no entry fee. no aid. no search and rescue volunteers waiting around. you will need to take care of yourself if something happens. there are only three road crossings, at mile 15.3, 33.0 and 44.0 and at all times you're atleast an hour's drive from civilization. we will have drop bags and hopefully an unmanned vehicle (with keys hidden) parked at each road crossing just in case something goes wrong. but you really need to be aware of the risk of such a remote and difficult training run. and you need to bring you're own green trails maps for the course: Doe Mountain #52, Coleman Peak #20, Horseshoe Basin #21, twisp #84 and Tiffany Mountain #53.

Friday evening we will meet at the finish at the lightning creek trailhead, off of upper beaver creek rd (see driving directions below) which is about a 15-20 minute drive from Twisp. we'll organize the drop bags and coordinate which vehicles will be left at the road crossings and which vehicle/s will shuttle us to the start and which vehicle/s will stay at the finish to drive folks back to their cars after we're all done running. i'll have three medium sized coolers, with ice, to put our water jugs in and anything else to be kept cold.

we'll need atleast 5 cars to be able to do all of the shuttling and to have a car at each road crossing. so far my car and one other have been offered so we need three more. if we have less than 5 total cars available we'll still have drop bags and water at each road crossing but we won't be able to have an "emergency car" at each road crossing or if we don't have a car there obviously the shorter distance runners can't stop there. the rough plan is to meet friday evening, shuttle the emergency cars and the supplies to each of the road crossings and then camp at the finish friday nite. we'll then get up early, around 5am and drive over to the start and get running! then after everyone finishes we'll repeat the process of shuttling everyone to their cars. and obviously if a shorter distance runner stops at one of the road crossings they'll drive the car back after all the other runners have come through.

please email me at jvarner1313@yahoo.com to let me know you're planning on running, and which distance and if you're vehicle is available and if so how many folks can it carry. also let me know what time you plan to arrive friday, it would be great if everyone could arrive by 7 or 8pm so we're not all up very late doing the shuttling which will probably take about three hours if we're going to all three road crossings.

Driving directions to the finish (where we meet friday evening): Lightning Creek Trailhead (see greentrails map: twisp #84)

go south of the town of twisp on hwy 20
in 2.5 miles turn left to stay on hwy 20 and go towards loup loup pass
go 3.1 miles and turn left onto beaver creek rd (rd 1637)
in 5.9 miles go through the intersection with rd 4225 continue straight
in 0.33 mile turn right into the unsigned lightning creek trailhead/unoffical camp

Cle Elum Ridge 25k!

hi everyone

i'm excited to announce that for the first time at cle elum there will be a 25k option! i'm still waiting for final approval from the forest service on the new route so i'm not going to post all the details yet. stay tuned for more info and real soon we'll have the registration available too so you can sign up!

thanks!