We’ve moved! Please visit www.ultra-adventures.com for race info!

Please visit our new website at http://www.ultra-adventures.com for updated information about the 2014 Zion 100.  All information on this site is from previous years.

2014 Registration Open

Follow this link to register for the 2014 Zion 100!

2013 Wrap Up

Thanks for an incredible year.  So rewarding to see you guys out there running in our neck of the woods.  Can’t wait to run into many of you at future ultrarunning events near your home and share more beautiful trails together.

A GINORMEOUS THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS THAT MADE THIS YEAR’S EVENT SO WONDERFUL!!!   YOUR SELFLESSNESS IN GIVING OF YOUR TIME TO HELP THESE RUNNERS PUSH THEIR LIMITS AND REACH FOR THE STARS WILL FOREVER BE APPRECIATED!!! On behalf of our volunteers’ tireless service in welcoming you to our community, donations have been made to the Virgin Town Old Church Restoration Project, Grafton Heritage Society, The Zion Canyon hiking/biking path project (to connect Springdale and Rockville), the Dixie Amateur Radio Club, and a local troop of boy scouts.

The tentative date of the 2014 Zion 100 will be April 4th-5th.  

Here are some pictures that Zion Motion captured on race day that can be purchased for just $1 each at this website.

Overall, I was very pleased with the way the race came together.  Still plenty of room to improve, but I felt that we stayed focused and addressed the bigger issues from last year’s event.

Thank you so much to those of you that helped carry a Boston baton along the course.  Each time one came into the finish line I got a little choked up knowing that it had traveled the entire distance of the race, up and down each of those plateaus.  The amazing Cory Reese (www.fastcory.com) is doing the follow up work with the Boston Marathon batons- getting them engraved, tracking down everyone’s personal contact info, etc.  It has proven a bit tricky, but we’ll get them to their rightful owners one way or another.  Please send any letters/thoughts that you’d like included with a baton to Cory at coryreese1AThotmail.com

Thanks for all of the valuable feedback.  Things went well enough that 90% of the race experience will be on repeat mode for next year.  All aid stations will remain the same in 2014.  The course has been designed so that more singletrack can be added if/when it becomes available in the future without having to switch things around too much.

After listening/reading your thoughts, here are some things that we’ll be improving for next year:

– The rope WILL be long enough next year to scale the boulder on the face of the Flying Monkey trail (at mile 85ish) next year.  That wasn’t a sadistic joke to try and increase the drop percentage.  So sorry about that.  We will have a thick rope that is long enough and has knots tied for aided grip and reaches to the BOTTOM of the boulder this time.  My bad on that- I made the false assumption that the rope that I sent out was the same piece used last year.  Hope nobody was too scraped up or traumatized.

– We already are working with the Ham radio operators on a tracking system that should be one of the most accurate out there next year, including exact time in/out of each aid station.  It will require wearing a bracelet (or carrying it in your hydration pack), but should be well worth it.

– Runners that drop from the 100 mile the 100k will have a more accurate time reading next year.  Those that took the 100k drop option this year will have times posted shortly.  Please excuse the delay.

– A few junctions were not well enough marked.  Those locations have been noted and will be fixed for next year.

– Some improvements in aid station food will be made per runner’s requests.  Feel free to send your requests in at least 3 weeks before the race and we’ll see what we can do to get your favorite aid station item there for you.

– Pre race festivities will be moved to a Springdale location that can be moved indoors if necessary and is much closer to the majority of runners’ hotels.

– Running 100 miles and a post race party within a few hours after are perhaps not the best combination.  Attempting to MC an awards ceremony totally deflated an otherwise beautiful weekend for me.  We’ll just be handing out awards as runners cross the finish line in the future, barring a re-opening of Pah Tempe Hot Springs.   Runners will now be given 2 gift certificates for Rise Up Pizza Company’s unbelievable wood fired pizzas, to be used however they’d like pre and post race.  Feel free to swing back by the finish line any time we’re still open and hang around and get some more of Steve’s dutch oven potatoes and a drink.  We’ll still offer the river float for anyone that’s up for it if conditions allow.  We’ll have a designated hang out for anyone that would like to get together on Saturday night, but no official awards ceremony.

– We’ll be sticking with a Friday/Saturday event instead of a Saturday/Sunday event, based on your feedback.

– Please send me a copy or link of your race report if you have one to add to the others already on the race report page!

Race Results

Click here to see 2013 100 mile results

Click here to see 2013 100K results

Drop bags are at my house, 810 S. Peachtree Dr., Toquerville, UT

Support for Boston Victims

I’ve been thinking all week about the tragedy in Boston and how lucky I am to be able to continue to run and enjoy these amazing surroundings. Runners of the Zion 100 will have the opportunity to show their support for the victims and families of the 3 dead and 17 critically injured in Boston on Monday by carrying a blue or gold baton (Boston Marathon colors) dedicated to a bombing victim. The batons will be sent to the surviving victims or the family of those lost, letting them know that it was carried 100 miles with them in our hearts and minds. The batons are lightweight and can easily be put in a hydration pack or carried. Pass it along to another runner on the trail as you get to know them. Hopefully everyone interested will get a chance to show their support and will have some time to reflect on the situation as they carry the baton towards the finish line.

Apparel

The apparel is in.  Here’s a look at what we’ll have available.  The T’s, Tech T’s, and long sleeve tech T’s look the same as the hoodies.  Our supplier wasn’t able to get us the handheld bottles, so if you ordered one of those you’ll have to choose another item instead.  We have extras of everything that will be available for purchase at the pre and post race gatherings.

Some Handy Information for Race Day

Hola, Runners of Zion!  Here is the email that I sent out last week, posted here because about ten of your email addresses didn’t work.

1. YOU MUST CHECK IN EACH AID STATION.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE COUNTED BY THE AID WORKER WEARING THE REFLECTIVE TRAFFIC VEST.  FAILURE TO BE COUNTED AT AN AID STATION CAN RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.

2. With a 6am start, it will be dark for the first half hour or so.  We will have a volunteer with a headlamp drop bin about 5.6 miles into the run.  If you don’t want to leave it there, you can hang onto it until the aid station 5 miles later.  We will mark your headlamp with duck tape and take it to the Goosebump aid station, where you can rummage through the bin for your headlamp at mile 58.3 if you’d like.  Just in case you don’t have an extra.  You’ll want it going down the Goosebump if it’s dark.

3. We’ll be updating your status at 4 different points on the course (3 for the 100k) through a Google Doc linked to the website.  These updates will be given at miles 19, 31, 58.3, and 83.

4. Camino del Rio Crew Access has been moved around the corner and had a name change.  She’s now known as “Dalton Wash Water Station”.  This will allow crew to see you twice at this location, miles 63 and 81.  All “Crew Access” stations have been renamed to “Water Stations”.  The name was too confusing and implied that these were the only crew access points.

5.  Thanks for being understanding on all of the changes made to the course this year.  I know it is frustrating for some of you, but I was fighting to the end to get what I perceive as the best course I could put out there for you guys, while staying within the many limitations placed upon us.  We are getting close to what I would view as an absolute home run of a course, I’m hopeful that we’ll be there in 1-2 more years if things go well with the status changing on certain existing trails that parralel our current route.  Once these trails are approved, we could have over 20 miles of singletrack added to this course without changing the aid station locations.

6. I’m feeling very confident about our trail marking system this year.  Barring someone tampering with the markers, I don’t think many will be getting off route.  Here’s a blog post from a runner that came out to our mock up marking session on one of the most difficult sections of the course (at night): http://www.fastcory.com/2013/04/zion-100-night-preview.html  Some will complain about the course being overmarked.  On Gooseberry and at Guacamole, we will not be taking any chances.  At Guacamole, the trail winds in and out of draws and around different features and it would be very easy to shortcut, especially with the lighting from the trail markers making it obvious where you’ll be running in the not too distant future.  Do not shortcut.

7. There is a stream crossing around mile 82.  Your feet might get wet if you’re not an agile rock hopper after running 82 miles.

8. You will monitor your own weight this year.  We’ll have scales and will record your baseline weight at packet pickup.  Scales will be at Goosebump Aid and Walsh Aid for you to use to make sure you’re not suffering from dehydration or hyponatremia.  The use of the on course scales is optional- a tool to help you stay on top of your game and identify possible serious health issues.

9. Some roads can get pretty dusty.  Crew will be accessing Goosebump and Grafton Mesa aid stations via the same roads that you’ll be running.  I’ve restricted them on Eagle Crags, Dalton Wash (Guacamole access), and Smith Mesa roads.  It’s a compromise.  We’ll have traffic signs to remind them to be aware and keep their speed down.  You may want to consider a dust mask.  (This inconvenience will hopefully be alleviated in future years with the status change of existing trails that provide access to the same areas that the roads do.  They are currently considered “illegal” trails but are in wide use by humans and even cattle.  Makes little sense that we can’t use them, but it is what it is for now.)

10.  We’ll have showers set up at the finish line (both hot and cold) with a privacy barrier around the hot showers.

11.  Dutch oven potatoes at the finish line (vegetarian, meat lovers, and breakfast variations).  And your preferred cold beverage.

12. Be prepared for heat.  Plan for mid 80’s with little shade.

13. Free group campsite location is 5 miles up Kolob Terrace Road, tucked away on the right hand side, just after crossing the creek.  Eco Commode will provide a portable toilet.

14.  We’ve got a great post race lineup put together.  Make sure to bring your race bib to the theatre, BBQ, and tube rental shop in order to avoid having to pay.  See this post if you haven’t yet: https://zion100.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/the-bad-and-good-news-about-the-post-race-fiesta/

15. CLOSE ALL GATES.  You will pass through 5 cattle gates during your 100 miles.  You must close each one as you go through, or you will be jeopardizing future permitting for the race.

16. We have been granted access onto private land for the last half mile to the turnaround point at mile 91.  Any chance that we have to get off of the main road, we’ll take it.  The turnaround point is at a little slickrock patch with some nice views, much better than some random spot on Smith Mesa road.  Please be respectful and leave no trace.  Do not trespass on this piece of property before or after the race or we will not be allowed to use it in the future.

17. Be aware that the Grafton Heritage Society has granted us permission to use the historic wagon trail to climb up onto the mesa at mile 49.  This trail was built in the late 1800’s, so please go out of your way to make sure there is no litter or damage done to the trail by any of our runners to ensure future use.

18. UltrAspire’s headquarters are located in southern Utah and they’re having a retreat for their sponsored runners the same weekend as the race. Many of their athletes will be at packet pickup on Thursday evening, so don’t miss your chance to meet them and pick their brains for tips that could help you on race day!

19. Drop bags can be dropped off at packet pick up or on race morning.

20. If you’re planning on running in one of the early start options, make sure that you check in beforehand and are on the list for that wave of runners.

Best of luck! I’m excited for you to run this course!

Matt

The Good and Bad News About the Post Race Fiesta

Pah Tempe Hot Springs has been fighting a legal battle with the Washington County Water Conservancy District for some time now and the judge recently ordered them to shut their doors to all commercial activity. This is heartbreaking news, as the hot springs are sacred and special to so many. We will no longer be able to have our post race soak at the hot springs.

“Plan B” has been set into action. We will now be heading over to the new Brew Pub at the main entrance to Zion National Park (next to Cable Mountain Lodge). Runners will receive a complimentary brat, burger, grilled chicken, or veggie burger. You can enjoy the only draft beer in southern Utah (from Zion Canyon Brewing Co.) on the patio overlooking the Virgin river while listening to the live music of Erik the Red.  (Shameless plug-  Erik the Red regularly opens for the Mother Hips and will be playing Hipnick next month.  Sean is my partner in Eco Commode, and is the one that built this cool trailer out of recycled materials that will be at the start and finish line.)

I’m so excited to announce that JB and Jen Benna will be sharing their epic ultrarunning film “Unbreakable” at the Zion Canyon Giant Screen Theatre as part of our new post race line up! The Bennas will host a Q&A session at 3:00pm on Saturday, followed by the film. Zion 100 runners will be admitted free of charge! $10 cover for the public.  The size, sound, and picture quality in this theatre are absolutely amazing, so you’ll want to be there even if you’ve seen the movie 8 times already.  And guess how far it is from the theatre to the Brew Pub?  About 100 steps across the parking lot…

One more option available to Zion 100 runners as part of the post race festivities is to float the Virgin river in a tube.  Next door to the Brew Pub is Zion Outfitter, which rents inner tubes to float the river right from their back door.   It’s a mellow float with amazing views of the canyon walls on both sides and would be a great way to ice your feet.  The float takes about 30-45 min depending on water levels and you just leave your tube at the designated location and catch the free shuttle back to the Brew Pub.  Any Zion 100 runner brave enough to do this will have their tube rental fee waved upon showing their race bib.

So even if you are beat to a pulp,  get out there and live up to that “Billy and Jen” ultrarunner party image after the race!

Teaser of what’s to come…

For anyone interested in seeing the entire course the day before the race, we’ve arranged for Zion Helicopter to take runners out for a preview.  The tour will fly right over the 5 mesas that you’ll be climbing the following day (in the same sequence) so you will have a nice mental image when you go to bed Thursday night of exactly what you’re in for on Friday and Saturday.  Their price is $145 per person for this 30 min. tour, and if enough people sign up then they’ll take our photographers out on race day to get some awesome footage of you guys while you’re out running the race.

Click here to see a little video clip that 3D Media threw together which includes some footage from a flight that we took with Zion Helicopters a few weeks ago.

To book your spot on the pre-race tour at 2pm on Thursday, April 18th call 435-668-4185.  Make sure to let them know that you’re with the Zion 100 mile trail run preview group.

Updated Map and Course Description

Updated map is up. Scroll through the course description for photo highlights of sections of the course in the order that they’ll appear on race day. Notice that we’ll be running along the JEM/Hurricane Rim trail now before heading up onto Gooseberry. This may give good reason for some to rethink the early start option so that you get out of the lower elevation desert early. Sorry for the late notice on these changes but the circumstances were unforseeable and out of our control. Still an incredible course as you’ll see in the photo tour on the “Course and Map” page: https://zion100.wordpress.com/maps/