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Note to Runners:
Please check here from time to time for breaking news and important updates. In addition, all race-related e-newsletters are archived below for your reference.
LATE REGISTRATION SPECIAL! FROM JANUARY 6 THROUGH JANUARY 15, ENTRY FEE IS REDUCED BY 30%. IF YOU ARE ACTIVE MILITARY OR FIRST RESPONDER, THE DISCOUNT IS 50%!! At the Check-Out Screen, Use Discount Code "EU30". If Military/1st Responder, Use Code "MIL50".
Pre-Race Notes and Tips
Greetings, Everyone! It’s less than a week now until the start of our very unique and exotic race through the Everglades! I’m very glad that you will part of the inaugural, and can’t wait to hear your stories and feedback at race end. The diversity of physical environments, and plant and animal life in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, is quite astonishing. Park management and I are excited to introduce you to this amazing 80,000 acre wilderness—the largest state park in Florida.
Below are a number of facts, tips and observations that will be of value as you prepare for the race. Please read them carefully. As always, if you have any questions, contact me anytime.
Weather:
The forecast is calling for a high of 77 and a low (early morning) of 58. It will be partly cloudy with a 10% chance of rain.
Bib #s:
By tomorrow, the Competitors list with Bib #s will be published on the race website.
Park directions, parking:
From I-75 (“Alligator Alley”), drive to Mile Marker/Exit 80. Exit there onto State Route 29, and drive South for 15 miles. Within a mile or so of the turn to the park, you will see a sign for “Jerome”, FL, where there are some scattered houses. Shortly thereafter the speed limit drops to 45, and you’ll see the “Copeland”, FL sign. Look for County Road 837, “Janes Scenic Drive”, where you will turn Right. There is a brown wooden sign for the “Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park” at the turn, and we will place “UltraSports” arrows there, as well. Turn onto “Janes Scenic Drive”, then make the first hard right to continue on “Janes”. Proceed about 5/8’s mile, turning left toward the lake. There will be signs and people to show you where to park. Race HQ will be there at the big tent.
From US 40, “Tamiami Trail”, drive to the flashing light at the intersection of State Route 29. (Look for signs for Everglades City.) At that flashing light, turn Right (North) and drive approximately 2 miles. Look for the signs as above and turn Left onto County Road 837--Janes Scenic Drive.
Arrival time and orientation options:
You must attend either the orientation session on Friday afternoon at 4:00 or the pre-race meeting to be held before the start of each race. Those attending Friday may arrive anytime after 2:00 to pick-up their race packet. The meeting at 4:00 on Friday will include a very special presentation about the Fakahatchee from resident park biologist, Mike Owen. Otherwise, the park is open to the public during the day and you may run, walk or bike on any of the existing roads or trails if you want to check it out. For 50M and 50K runners arriving Saturday morning, plan to arrive at Race HQ at least 45 minutes before the starting time to pick-up your packet and be in attendance at the orientation that will start ½ hour before each event. 25K runners should arrive for packet pick-up between 7:00 and 7:30 am, followed by orientation at 7:30. The additional time will be necessary to get you to the starting line for the 8:30 race start.
Aid stations:
There will be ten (10) aid stations along the course. They are not equally placed, but average about 5 miles apart. CARRY A WATER BOTTLE, BLADDER, WAISTPACK OR OTHER HYDRATION DEVICE WITH YOU. All aid stations will offer water, ice, Heed, Coke, Diet Coke and either Mt. Dew or Ginger Ale, Hammer “Endurolytes” electrolyte replacement capsules, PB&J sandwiches, potatoes, oranges or bananas and runner junk food (candy, cookies, chips, pretzels, etc.) Some will offer granola-type bars or home-baked “breakfast breads”. Late in the race, two sites will offer grilled cheese sandwiches. Three sites will offer Hammer “Perpetuem” sports drink (which includes soy protein). Hand cleanser and paper towels will be available at each site, and bug spray and Tums at some. Portable toilets will be in place at four sites.
Course condition, drop bags, prescribed burning and recommended dress:
The course has been drying out nicely and water levels in the swamps are relatively low for this time of year. There will, however, be muddy sections and there will be standing water in some areas. Most of these will allow you to make your way around them, but there could be a couple of areas where you will get wet. For that reason, we recommend that you place dry socks and possibly a change of shoes in personal drop-bags at the Four Stakes and Mud Tram aid stations. 50 Mile runners may want to do the same at the Jones Grade aid station. We will collect drop bags at pre-race check-in and transport them to these stations where volunteers will hand them to you when you arrive. They will be delivered to the finish line during the day so that you may retrieve them after your race. BE CERTAIN TO WRITE YOUR BIB NUMBER AND LAST NAME CLEARLY ON EACH BAG. You may include any other items you wish in your drop-bag: change of clothes, food, drink mix, etc.
Prescribed fire: the health of the preserve is assisted by prescribed burning of specific areas of the park from time to time. Active burning has been taking place in the Fakahatchee this month. You will see areas that have recently been burned and notice that it does not decimate the area. In fact, some species of plant will only reproduce after a fire!
50 Mile runners only: you will be starting in the dark at 6:00am, and should carry or wear a light. You may leave these at Gate 12 (6.3 miles into the race) and they will be returned to the finish line for post-race retrieval. If there is any possibility that you will still be running after 6:00PM, you should leave a light in your drop bag at the Mud Tram aid station. That way you will have it available should you still be on the course after dark.
Dress: Clearing trails is very difficult work and impossible to groom 100%. (When you see how thick these areas are, you will appreciate the incredible amount of work done by park staff and volunteers to prepare for the EVERGLADES ULTRAS.) Trees and limbs fall and plants grow rapidly, even in winter. So, expect in some areas to have contact with plant material, which could include poison ivy. As such, we recommend wearing tights or leg covering of some kind, and long-sleeve shirts for protection. This is not a “must”, but is recommended.
The course and safety:
All trails will be carefully and fully marked with ribbons and flags, color coordinated for each event. Color coordination includes matching color racing bibs. Bibs for 50 mile runners are blue, so these runners will follow the blue ribbons and flags. 50 Kilometer bibs are orange and runners will follow the orange ribbons and flags. 25K bibs are pink and runners will follow the pink markings. Pay attention and follow the course markings and you will not get lost. Each section of trail where there are active runners will be patrolled by a park ranger on an all-terrain vehicle. These race marshals will be monitoring the course for safety, including moving critters off the trail! We will be running in areas that do not see much human activity, so with active vehicles and runners on these trails on race day, most animals will head for other parts of the park. Still, reptiles, including alligators, will often lie in open areas to sun themselves and you may see them along the course. While they are not particularly interested in you—they have plenty to eat out there!—they generally don’t want to move back into cold swamp water, either! Remember that these are wild animals, so keep your distance should you see an alligator on the trail. Wait until the ranger gets there and he/she will move the animal. Each runner will be given at check-in and MUST CARRY a safety whistle. This is to be used to call a ranger should you encounter an intransigent animal, become sick or injured or for any other reason. Rangers will be covering miles of trail, so be patient and occasionally blow that whistle. Should you be running and pass an alligator partially hidden in the grass, just keep going. In general, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. No matter the species, keep your distance and try not to startle them and you’ll be fine.
Should you want to “drop” before completing the race or become sick or injured, try to get to an aid station. Otherwise, use that whistle and signal for a ranger. You will be transported to the finish line. Most rangers and aid stations will be able to communicate with each other using either cell phones or radios. There is cell coverage available in some parts of the park.
Race timing:
Mike Melton of MCM Timing will time this race and post results at the finish. Results will also be uploaded to the “Results” page on the race website.
Awards and Finish line—hang out and welcome other finishers:
Each finisher will receive an EVERGLADES ULTRAS finisher’s medal. Winners in each race will receive very unique awards made from material taken directly from the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. For each race, top three male and female and top Masters male and female, plus 10-year age range winners, both male and female, will all receive race awards. A few raffle items will also be given away at the conclusion of each race. For winners who will be leaving shortly after completing the course, you may receive your award then, or wait until the presentation toward the cut-off time for each race.
Food and drinks: Beef, turkey and veggie burgers, and Ball Park and kosher hot dogs, will be grilled and offered at the finish line after all races to runners and volunteers. Beer and soft drinks will be offered as well.
Viewing the park:
During daylight hours, the Fakahatchee is open to the public to run, walk or ride a bike on existing road or trail. Cars may also be driven on the eleven-mile long park road, Janes Scenic Drive. The 2,000+ foot long park boardwalk is accessible on Route 41, Tamiami Trail. It is a little more than 6 miles west of the Route 29 intersection. The park boat ramp for canoes and kayaks is also located in that general area along Route 41. Park office number: 239-695-4593.
Other activities on race day:
Space is still available for the race day swamp walk, boat coastal cruise and guided boardwalk tour. For family and friends, go to the “Non-Runner Activities” page on the race website for links to all the details.
Friends of Fakahatchee:
Each state park in Florida has a volunteer Citizens Support Organization (“CSO”) that provides vital support to the park, both financial and volunteer help. “Friends of Fakahatchee” is a very active support organization. Without them, there would be no EVERGLADES ULTRAS and far fewer amenities and activities in the Fakahatchee. You and your family and friends are strongly urged to join “Friends” and make a contribution that will directly benefit the park. This may be done online or at the park on race day.
See you on Saturday!
Bob Becker
Race Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
954.439.2800
A few additional notes
Conditions report—update: The one area of the route that we were unable to see last week was a 1/2 mile section of “Mud Tram”. This section of trail is east of the Mud Tram aid station, and just west of Janes Scenic Drive. Runners in all races will navigate this section. A report I received last night indicates that there is significant standing water in that section in 5 or 6 pools, mid-calf deep at its worst, some of it without a work-around. I will not be able to personally confirm this until Wednesday or Thursday, so suggest you prepare for that challenge just in case. (Also note that there may be cypress knees and cap rock in those puddles, so tread carefully when making your way through them.) The next aid station after that area is Gate 12 (“2nd Janes”), which is the entranceway to East Main Tram. Drop bags will be allowed at Gate 12 should you choose to leave dry socks and/or shoes there. (It appears that making this choice will be a good idea.) Therefore, drop bags will be allowed at three aid stations for all runners: Four Stakes, Mud Tram and Gate 12. For 50-milers, the Jones Grade aid station is a fourth drop bag option.
Directions correction: Tamiami Trail is US #41, and not US#40 as written in the last memo.
Race start and finish line(s): All three races will finish, and the 50 mile and 50 kilometer races will start at the same spot—race HQ. The 25 kilometer starting line is 4 miles from this point. 25K competitors will be transported to the starting line from the headquarters area at approximately 8:00am.
Friday’s pre-race orientation: The pre-race meeting at 4:00 will last 30-45 minutes, followed by a presentation from Park Biologist Mike Owen about the plant and animal life found in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. Mike’s talk will last approximately 45 minutes.
See you in the “Fak”!
Bob Becker
Race Director
Just Posted!
Photos along the race course.click this link, Course Photos, or on the menu at the left.
Family & Friends Update:
Family and friends traveling with runners to the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park on race weekend will not be disappointed. There will be lots to do, with special Boardwalk tours, a real swamp walk opportunity and a coastal boat cruise of the waters and islands around Everglades City, Fakahatchee Bay and the 10,000 islands. For further information and links to the various activities, click this link, Non-Runner Activities, or on the menu at the left.
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