GTR "LIVE" RACE UPDATES
Live Updates will be available starting on Saturday, September 4 at 7am Mountain Time.
FREE CAMPING & RV PARKING @ GRAND TARGHEE RESORT
Grand Targhee Resort has offered free camping space and free parking for RVs on the Resort property over race weekend. If you are not staying in the Lodge, or in Teton Valley, this will allow you to be very close to the Start/Finish/Main Aid Station area.
The camping area is 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 should 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!
VASQUE RUNNER DUNCAN CALLAHAN AT SKINNY SKIS
Team Vasque athlete and GT 50 competitor Duncan Callahan will be giving an informal presentation/clinic at GTR sponsor SKINNY SKIS in Jackson Hole, WY, this Friday, September 3, at 8am. Duncan will share stories and insight on his training, nutrition, gear, etc. So, if you find yourself in Jackson Hole and have time, please feel free to stop by to hear him speak. Skinny Skis is located at 65 W. Deloney Avenue, just off the town square. Please call the store directly at 307-733-6094 for more information. Duncan's website: http://www.duncancallahanrunning.com/
BOOK SIGNING AT PACKET PICK-UPS
Dane Rauschenburg, who in 2006 ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks, will be present at packet pick-up over race weekend to sign copies of his book, See Dane Run. Like many people we know, Dane uses his running to raise funds for charity, which is something we truly respect. To learn more, please visit: http://danerunsalot.blogspot.com/
FREE NUUN WATER BOTTLE
Courtesy of NUUN active Hydration, we will be providing a free water bottle to the first 100 runners who check-in over race weekend.
GTR MERCHANDISE / SUPPLIES
We will have a limited supply of GTR merchandise for sale over race weekend and a limited supply of nutrition products from Hammer, Clif, Gu, Honey Stinger and the Ginger People. Additionally, we'll have some Nathan hydration packs and water bottle holders for sale.
Unfortunately, we will only be able to accept cash and checks during race check-in.
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.
DRINKS ON THE COURSE / AID STATION FOOD
We are happy to offer NUUN and Hammer HEED as our electrolyte replacement drinks on the course, as well as sodas (Coke, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, and Sprite) 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.) Please remember that all runners in all races MUST carry a water bottle or hydration pack while participating in the GT Races.
Aid station food will include: Tram Bar pieces, chips, pretzels, candy, bananas, oranges, sandwiches (PB&J, turkey), potatoes, gels (limited supply), cookies, soup (at night), jerky and other items throughout the day. As of 8/31/09, we WILL have food at all of the 'staffed' aid stations on the course: Fred's, Base (a.k.a. Main), Ski Hill-Lower and Cold Springs. So, please disregard our earlier post about food not being available at Cold Springs.
RACE MORNING CHECK-IN
Please do not forget to check-in with a race official on race morning (Saturday & Sunday). We will have a sign posted on the Plaza to direct you to the check-in location, which is typically inside the Main Building, near Wild Bills Snack Bar. If you do not check-in prior to starting your race, you will not receive an official time. A limited selection of fruit, coffee, tea and bagels will be available in Wild Bills on Saturday morning.
PACER WAIVER
Pacers are allowed (after 50 miles) for anyone competing in the 100 mile run. Please remember all pacers must sign a Pacer waiver form in order to be allowed on the course. These forms will be available at packet pick-up and at the main aid station during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
VERIZON CELL COVERAGE
If Verizon is your cell phone provider, you will unfortunately have little, if any coverage in and around Grand Targhee Resort. (AT&T has the best coverage around Targhee and Driggs.) There is one 'sweet' spot in the parking lot, near the Sioux Lodge building, that occasionally sees one or two bars of service from the Verizon tower, but it is typically unreliable. There should be coverage at the Ski Hill Road aid station, however.
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. (We do offer race day registration for the Kid's Races, however, with all of the proceeds from that race benefitting Teton Basin Ice & Recreation, a local non-profit dedicated to building an ice rink in Teton Valley.) Registration for the 100 Mile, 50 Mile 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 the following link on Active.com!
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.
PRE-ORDER YOUR RACE SUPPLIES
If you wish to travel light, please consider pre-ordering your race supplies from our store. We carry products from: Hammer Nutrition, NUUN, Clif, Gu, Honey Stinger, Ginger People, Petzl and others! Contact Jay for more information: info@tetonraces.com
10K RACE OPTION NOW AVAILABLE
The Grand Teton Races has added a 10K option to the weekend race festivities. (Saturday, September 4, 8:45am) 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 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
We are proud to have the Vasque Project as our presenting project again this year. They have agreed to match any funds we donate to our local non-profits, which is an amazing benefit for those we support. Please read more about the program by visiting their website: http://www.vasque.com/vasqueproject/index.cfm
KID'S FUN RUN
Once again, we will have a kid's fun run on Sunday morning at 9:15(ish)am. Entry fee is $5, which includes an official bib number and every 'competitor" receives a medal. All proceeds benefit Teton Basin Ice & Recreation.
Post-Race Stretching Session
Augie Hernandez of Training-To-Be-Balanced (and the Fred's Mountain Aid Station) will conduct a post-race stretching session at 3:30pm, just before the awards ceremony and prize give-away. We invite you to learn specific stretching techniques that will help you run pain free. Enjoy!
Hardrock Qualifier
The Grand Teton 100 is an official qualifier for the Hardrock 100. Please see point #3 in the following link: run100s.com/HR/entryreq.html
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. 100 Mile runners MUST check-in on Saturday morning between 5:15-5:45am. 50 Mile runners MUST check in on Saturday morning between 6:15-6:45am. Marathon runners MUST check in on Sunday morning between 6:15-6:45am. 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
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.
