2011 News Updates

Race Day Photos

As in the past, local photographer Tony Jewell was out on the course taking pictures.  And as usual he took some absolutely great shots.  Click here for the link to his site and check them out.

What a Day!  

Well, if you weren't up at Targhee with us on Saturday, you really missed out.  The weather was perfect, and as always, the scenery was spectacular.  Thanks to all the participants in the 4 races, and congratulations to the winners.  Also, a big thanks goes out to the sponsors and volunteers, without whom the event could not have taken place.  For complete race results, click here. 

Race Registration Re-Opened: 50 Mile, 50K and Trail Marathon

We had several calls this morning from runners still wanting to sign up for this weekend's races.  So registration has been re-opened until 3:00 PM today for the 50 Mile, 50K and Trail Marathon Races.  The 10K registration is open until 3:00 PM Friday. 


In your Goodie-Bags: 
 

24K™: A Healthy Energy Shot

 http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/24K-Healthy-Energy-Shot.html

 

 Our daily activities can leave us feeling worn out, unfocused and stressed. Turning to high-sugar caffeine drinks only brings an artificial lift — and a hard crash. But now there’s a better way to keep your edge: 24K, a healthy energy shot. Formulated with a synergistic blend of 24 active ingredients, 24K taps into your body’s natural vitality to provide energy, focus and stress relief. And with no caffeine, no sugar and only 5 calories per serving, it’s healthy energy for body, mind and spirit. Available in a multi-serving 28-ounce bottle and in two-ounce “double-shots” for when you’re on the go.

 

 

What will we be drinking?

AID Stations on the course(s): Apart from the 2 Water-only (self-sufficient) aid stations, we’ll be serving Hammer HEED at the full-service aid stations.  The Main/Base AS will have Orange and Strawberry; Fred’s will have Orange; Ski Hill Lower will have Orange; Cold Springs will offer Strawberry. Check the race web site for additional details about the Aid Station locations and new Course Layout.  

 

 

AID STATION UPDATES

Please note, the 2 satellite water stations on the course are both self-service.  Participants in all events, including the 10K, should carry a hydration source (water bottle or bladder system) while on the course. There will be a limited food supply at the Cold Springs AS (due to bear sighting) so you can expect the following there: drinks (Hammer Heed and sodas), gels and a small selection of food (chips, hard candy).  While we suggest that every participant carry a supply of things they like, all of the other full-service aid stations will have: Hammer Heed (Strawberry or Orange), sodas (coke, ginger ale, mt. dew, sprite or similar), snacks (eg: Hammer gel, chips, pretzels, hard candy, cookies, m&ms, pb&j sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, fruit, plus other random selections); electrolyte tablets; vaseline; sunscreen; bug spray and ice. 

NEW COURSE MAPS NOW AVAILABLE

As noted earlier on the Course Description Page, there have been some modifications to the 50 Mile and Trail Marathon courses.  And we have also introduced the 50K course for the first time this year.  These course maps are now available on the Maps Page of the site.

2011 NEWS UPDATES 

We look forward to seeing all of you bright and early on Saturday morning for this year’s running of the Grand Teton Races.  We just want to pass on some important updates and general information regarding the event. 

Packet Pickup will be at the Dreamchasers shop in Driggs (47 S. Main) from 2:00-7:00PM on Friday, September 2nd.  We will also allow Packet Pickup on race day morning at Grand Targhee Resort (see the Schedule of Events page of the web site for details: http://www.dreamchaserevents.com/Races/Grand-Teton-Races/Schedule-of-Events.

Starting times for the 50Mile, 50K and Trail Marathon have changed:

- 50 Mile                6:30AM

- 50K                     6:30AM

- Marathon            8:00AM 

- 10K                     10:00AM (unchanged)

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:

A mother bear and cub(s) have been spotted up at Targhee in the general vicinity of our race courses.  As always when running on wilderness trail courses, please use good judgement and extreme caution in the event of any wildlife encounter.  Bear spray is always a good idea in these  environments, and Dreamchasers strongly recommends that all runners carry a can and be prepared to use it if necessary.  Refer to the folowing link for complete information about bear encounters and appropriate response:

http://www.mountainnature.com/wildlife/bears/bearencounters.htm

Please continue to check here and on our Grand Teton Facebook for ongoing race updates: 

http://www.facebook.com/#!/grandtetonraces

_______________________________________

2011 OTHER NEWS  

2011 PHOTOS: Tony Jewell will again be photographing the competitors in the 2011Grand Teton Races. So make sure to have your 'game face' on when you see him clicking away.  Please click here to be directed to Tony's page where you can view and purchase photos from the event. 

WEATHER UPDATE: The snow is gone and the weekend forecast looks great for Saturday and ok for Sunday.  Hopefully the rain will stay away until after the course closes!  Regardless, we're excited to see everyone this weekend here in the Tetons!

RACE MORNING CHECK-IN: Don't forget to check-in on race morning.  We need to know who's on the trail in order to run a safe event.  This year you will only be given your bib during race morning check-in.  Thank you! 

WILDFLOWERS & SNOW:  not an everyday occurence, but today offered both wildflowers and a dusting of snow on the Grand Teton Races course.  Luckily, the weather for the weekend looks to be very nice!   Check out the phtos on the Grand Teton Races Facebook page.  We are expecting great weather this weekend, however...be prepared for anything.

WEDNESDAY, August 31st is the LAST day to register for the marathon and ultramarathons.  Friday, September 2ND the LAST day to register for the 10K.

LOOKING FOR AN AIRPORT SHUTTLE TO GRAND TARGHEE?  Local guide Greg Eich can provide airport shuttles from Jackson Hole or Idaho Falls airports at competitive rates. Please call Greg for more details: 760-799-0630. Rates: Jackson Hole to Targhee: $90/1 passenger; $110/ 2 passengers.  Idaho Falls to Targhee: $100 / 1 passenger; $115 / 2 passengers.  Additional rates available upon request. 

GTR "LIVE" RACE UPDATES FOR 2011
Live Updates will be available starting on Saturday, September 3 at 7am Mountain Time.

FREE CAMPING & RV PARKING @ GRAND TARGHEE RESORT AGAIN FOR 2010
Grand Targhee Resort has generously offered free camping space and free parking for RVs on the Resort property again over race weekend. If you are not staying in the Lodge, or "down the hill" in Teton Valley, this will allow you to be very close to the Start/Finish/Main Aid Station area.

Portion of the Race Course

The camping area is situated in a nice wooded area in the lower parking lot near the large, two-toned (khaki/brown) building with the Grand Targhee logo at top of the curved peak. After crossing under the Log Arch entry way at the Resort, turn left and head down the gravel road which will end right at the camping area. Please do not leave any food items inside of your tent. Be sure to bring some bug spray!

If traveling to the Races with an RV, parking will be available in Lot #4. To enter Lot#4, make a sharp/hard left (almost a u-turn) after passing under the log arch entry way at the Resort and this will bring you to the appropriate lot.

Signs for both areas will  be posted by Thursday. Showers and restrooms are available in the same two-toned building. While the camping, RV Parking and restroom facilities are free, we do ask that anyone utilizing these options consider making a donation to the Teton Basin Ice & Recreation center, which is an official race non-profit. Please make checks payable to TBIR and bring your donation to your packet pick-up. Thank you! 

DRINKS ON THE COURSE / AID STATION FOOD FOR 2011

We are happy to once again offer Hammer HEED (orange or strawberry flavors) as our electrolyte replacement drink on the course, as well as sodas (Coke, Mountain Dew, Ginger Ale), at all four of the fully stocked aid stations. Additionally, water will be available at those four stations, as well as the 2 unsupervised aid stations on the course. (The 10K will have only one, unsupervised water station on the course so it's wise to carry fluids.) Please remember that ALL runners in ALL races MUST carry a water bottle or hydration pack while participating in the Grand Teton Races.

Aid station food will include: Hammer Gels (mixed flavors), Tram Bar pieces, chips, pretzels, candy, bananas, oranges, sandwiches (PB&J, turkey), potatoes, cookies, soup (at night), jerky and other items throughout the day. We WILL provide food at all of the 'staffed' aid stations on the course: Fred's, Base (a.k.a. Main), Ski Hill-Lower and Cold Springs. 

_______________________________________

PRE-RACE DINNER OPTION AT GRAND TARGHEE RESORT

For anyone looking for a dinner option after the pre-race meeting on Friday night, the Branding Iron Restaurant at Grand Targhee is offering a pasta dinner special for $14.99/person, which includes pasta, 2 choices of sauce, chicken, salad bar and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Other restaurant options are available in the town of Driggs, and a list is available on our website. 

NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION (for the 'adult' races)
Unfortunately, due to the number of events taking place at the Resort over the weekend, we are unable to offer Race Day Registration for the main running events, including the 10K. Registration for the 50 Mile 50K and Marathon races closes on August 31st. Registration for the 10K trail race closes on September 2nd. If you wish to participate in one of the Grand Teton Races, please register early via Ultra Signup. 

COURSE
The course is very good condition again this year and we hope it will remain that way for Race day. Please remember that you will be running in the mountain west and weather is unpredictable. In fact, it snowed here in Tetons two weekends in a row this month. So, anything could happen on race weekend.

10K RACE OPTION NOW AVAILABLE
The Grand Teton Races has added a 10K option to the weekend race festivities. (Saturday, September 3, 10:00am) The 10K loop course will start and finish at the base of Grand Targhee Resort and run clockwise around Rick's Basin. This is an extended version of the last section of the Ultra and Marathon race courses. There will be one water only aid station on the course (around the 4.5 mile point), however, runners must carry their own bottle or hydration system. Entry fee is $25 ($35 after 8/25) and all participants will receive a race t-shirt; medal to all finishers and awards to top three in each race. Registration is limited to 55 competitors.

AID STATIONS
Due to a US Forest Service "Bear Container" requirement, the Cold Springs Aid Station (AS#5 on the course map) will most likely NOT contain any unwrapped food items. That is, AS #5 will provide drinks (Water and Hammer HEED) and possibly some gels, but nothing else in the way of food. It will be maintained with volunteers, medical supplies, sunscreen, bug spray and will have radio contact throughout the race.

Additionally, drops bags being sent down to the SKI HILL ROAD - LOWER Aid Station (AS #4) must not contain any food items, as the Forest Service will consider these 'food stashes" and halt the race if they are found. We will do our best to stock this lower aid station with food that is easily contained, stored and monitored by the Aid Station personnel.

WATER BOTTLES / HYDRATION SYSTEMS
As always, every competitor is required to carry some form of hydration system (a bladder or water bottle) while on the course. Not only is this for runner safety, but also so we can reduce the waste produced by the event. While the distances between Aid Stations are relatively short, there are some steep climbs, some with considerable exposure on sunny days that can slow paces considerably.

LITTER
The Grand Teton Races are not like a big city marathon. They are held on US Forest Service trails which require a permit for activities. Part of our permit requirement is that no litter will be found on the trails during or after the event. We do not have street sweepers cleaning up after us. Trash boxes will be placed about 100 yards from each station (when possible) so please use them. Please do not leave cups, gel wrappers, clothing or other items anywhere on the trail. If you produce trash while away from an aid station, and have already passed the trash box, please carry the trash with you until the next aid station.

FUNDRAISING
As in the past, the Grand Teton Races are proud to sponsor the Teton Valley Trails and Pathways.  Please visit thier web site at:  http://tvtap.org/

KID'S FUN RUN
Once again, we will have a kid's fun run on Saturday at noon.  Check-in will be  from 11:15 - 11:45 on the Plaza at Gran Targhee. Entry fee is $5, which includes an official bib number and every 'competitor" receives a medal. All proceeds benefit Teton Basin Ice & Recreation. 

Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc
As of 2008, the Grand Teton Races are an official qualifier for the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc.

 

Race Day Check-In
This is MANDATORY! All runners MUST check-in with a race official before their event commences. We will have someone located by the tables on the patio at the base of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift, but may move inside of the Lodge in case of inclement weather. If you DO NOT check-in for your respective race on the morning of the event, you WILL NOT be provided with a finishing time. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Litter
Please, no littering anywhere on the course...at any time. Need we say more?

Medjet Assist

Medjet Assist

Hopefully you're not, but if you happen to be concerned about suffering an injury during one of our events, or any other around the globe, please check out the medical evacuation service provided by MedJet Assist. Unlike other evacuation services, Medjet Assist lets you decide which hospital will be your final destination. And there's no medical necessity clause. If you are hospitalized, MedJet Assist will be there to pick you up - regardless of the nature of the illness or injury.