| Tips & FAQ |
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Clothing and Equipment Be prepared. Check the weather before you leave home. January in the Everglades can be quite unpredictable. Bring clothing to match conditions, and don’t forget extra socks and shoes. Aid stations will be placed 2 to 5.5 miles apart, so carry enough fluids and food with you to cover those distances. (Most will be 4 miles or less.) Also, every runner will be given, and required to carry, a whistle, small air horn or similar device that will be provided at pre-race check-in. We recommend that you wear a waist pack, backpack or similar product to hold this item so that you do not have to carry it in your hand the entire distance. Aid Stations Aid stations will be positioned as follows— 50 mile race—10 stations located at intervals ranging from 2 to 5.5 miles. Most are 4 miles apart or less. Two of these stations will be visited twice. 50 kilometer race—5 stations from 2 to 4 miles apart. Three of these will be passed twice. 25 kilometer race—4 stations, each less than 4 miles apart. One of these will be passed twice. Aid stations will be fully stocked with “runner food”, water, ice, Heed, soft drinks, Endurolytes, and more. Portable toilets will be located at certain aid stations that can be accessed by truck. Pacers and crew support are not allowed on the course. Plan your race to take advantage of aid station support and drop bags. Drop Bags A limited number of aid stations will be identified for runners before race day as designated sites for drop bags. These locations will be chosen for their strategic importance. For example, if a section of the park is likely to be particularly wet or muddy on race day—and conditions can vary significantly—drop bags will be allowed at the next aid station for runners to access dry socks or shoes. The "Mud Tram" aid station on the 50 mile route will be designated for runners to leave headlamps or flashlights in case they are still on the course after sundown. Runners may choose to leave food, drink mixes or other items at any of the designated drop-bag sites. Limited sites will be able to accommodate drop bags, and these will be identified prior to race day in plenty of time for runners to make their plan. On Friday afternoon at the orientation session, or on Saturday morning before each race, runners will be able to place drop bags into specially designated containers. Bags must show clearly the runner's name, race number AND checkpoint name. Bags will be delivered to each checkpoint indicated and handed to the runner when he/she arrives at that checkpoint. After the race, all bags will be returned to the finish line for runners to retrieve. Note that the race organization, officials and volunteers will do their best to safeguard these items and care for them properly, but cannot guaranty their return or condition, either en route or at the conclusion of the race. Wet weather could also be a factor during the race, so pack accordingly. Terrain The three race routes will include swampy areas, grassland prairie and wooded uplands. Most trails were originally old logging “trams”—i.e., raised road-beds—used to haul logs out of the forest areas. These trams have been maintained to a greater or lesser degree by Fakahatchee staff for access to various sections of the park. Races will utilize these trams. Some will be grass or other trimmed plant material, and others will be rocky ground, dirt or muddy sections. Although not likely, some areas may be covered with water on race day. Each race will conclude by running approximately 6 miles on a portion of “Jane’s Scenic Drive”, a gravel and dirt road that is open to automobiles. Trail shoes are not required, but are highly recommended. Cut-off Times 25 kilometer race begins at 8:30am. Runners will have 6 hours--until 2:30pm--to complete the distance. 50 kilometer race begins at 7:00am. Runners have 9.5 hours--until 4:30pm--to complete the course. 50 mile race begins at 6:00am. Runners have 14.5 hours--until 8:30pm--to complete the course. However, 50-milers must also have cleared the “Mud Tram” aid station at approximately mile 42 by 5:30pm (11.5 hours) or will not be allowed to finish the race.. |