UltraLadies and UltraLadies’Men…
We had a great group of runners on May 4, who ran the 18-miler in the Angeles National Forest. I realize that the meeting time is a bit early however this allows for time to drive up to the run location at Red Box/Mt. Wilson. Now that the runs are reaching 20+ miles and the temps will be warming up, you will all appreciate the early starts.
The schedule of training dates has been posted on the ULs wesite
(www.trailrunevents.com) and also on the Ultra-Ladies (with hyphen)
Yahoo Group. Please refer to the schedule of training dates and mark
your calendar to run with us. Before joining us for your first
training run, please read all the “warnings” and “rules” of engagement
on the UltraLadies website, http://www.trailrunevents.com.
Remember, if you are looking for a couple of great trail races to
test your training, please join us for the VALLEY CREST HALF MARATHON
on Sunday, June 8 and the BULLDOG 50K ULTRA RUN & 25K TRAIL RUN on
Saturday, August 23. For more information on these races, go to
http://www.trailrunevents.com.
ULTRALADIES’ MAY 18, 2008 TRAINING RUN (SUNDAY):
RUN WILL BE HELD RAIN OR SHINE!
MEETING TIME: 6:30AM
DEPARTURE TIME: 6:40AM, SHARP (to drive to run location).
MEETING LOCATION: Angeles Crest Highway (2) approx. ½-mile north of
the 210 freeway. We will caravan/carpool from here to the run
location. You are welcome to drive your own car or share a ride.
DIRECTIONS: From the San Fernando Valley, Take the 210 Freeway east
to Angeles Crest Highway (2) in La Canada/Flintridge. Turn left onto
Angeles Crest Highway (2); go about ½-mile and park on the right side
of the street (parking is free). Meet there and caravan to the start
of the run. Directions from other areas can be found on the ULs
website (www.trailrunevents.com).
PARKING: Street parking is free near the freeway. A Forest Pass is
needed to park up on the mountain. Those without Forest Passes should
park by the freeway and carpool with others to the run location, space
permitting.
FOREST PASSES: Please be aware that you must display a Forest Pass to
park your vehicle at the run locations, on the mountain. Passes are
$5.00/vehicle for a day pass or $30./vehicle for a season pass (a
second vehicle season pass can be purchased for an additional $5.00).
I suggest you buy 2 passes for $35.00 as you can always sell the
second pass to someone who needs one on training day. Passes can be
purchased at stores such as REI and Sport Chalet. Passes can also be
purchased at the Shell Gas Station located on Angeles Crest
Highway(2), ½-block south of the 210 freeway (located on the left side
of the street). The gas station is usually open 24-hours.
RUN DESCRIPTION: From Marisol; The starting point will be Redbox once again; this gives us a loop and a few out and back options plus it allows us to refill water bottles each time. It’s a beautiful run and a great climb up to Josephine saddle and around the ridge to Colby Canyon and finally along Strawberry Peak to get back to Redbox; Once we fill up here, we’ll do an out and back and head up for a short but tough climb on Mt. Disappointment and a little beyond to make about 20 miles. It should be lovely. There isn’t water on our first loop until we get back to Redbox, our cars and it can feel quite long going up to Josephine saddle so we all need to make sure we have plenty of water. This portion is a long 14-miles so I’ll make this clear and stress the importance of water. It’s been relatively cool but you never know, if it’s hot, naturally we drink more.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Trails and fire roads at altitude in the Angeles
National Forest. Runs are usually out-and-back; mileage varies,
depending on your pace. The course will be marked with flour arrows.
RUNNING DISTANCE: Run distance will be approximately 18-miles.
RUNNING TIME: Approx. 4 - 4.5 hours.
WATER: See Run Description (above).
BOTTLES: 4 bottles recommended (80-100oz); 2 with electrolyte drink.
TOILETS: Not guaranteed. Please discreetly go off trail to pee or
poop. Remember to bury your poop and pack out your used tissue in a
zip lock bag. It is a good idea to leave your bottle belt on the trail
to alert other runners that you are off trail.
SIGN-IN SHEET: Please sign the ULs Liability Release on the clipboard,
giving your vehicle license number. Please sign this release at every
run you attend. Please check off your name after your run ends, before
leaving.
TAILGATE POT LUCK AFTER THE RUN: Bring drinks and a snack to share
while waiting for stragglers.
SAFETY ON THE TRAIL: Trail running is hazardous! There is a general
level of risk involved with trail running. In 18 years that I have
been running and racing on the trails, I have had the following happen
to me: falls (lots of bloody knees, elbows, hands, twice needing
stitches); getting lost; twisted ankles; poison oak; rattlesnake bite;
altitude sickness; dehydration; heat exhaustion; close encounter with
mountain lion; head-on collision with a speeding mountain biker! Once
during a fall, I was impaled in my thigh by a broken branch (required
3 stitches for that). You can imagine that if any of the
aforementioned happens to you, it may be several hours before you get
to your car… or to the hospital. SAFETY ON THE TRAIL IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY! It is your responsibility to be prepared for each run
and to bring the correct equipment and running gear. Before the first
training run, all runners should go to the ULs website at
http://www.trailrunevents.com and read the Trail Guidelines. Failure
to read, understand and follow the Trail Guidelines may put you or
someone else at increased risk for injury, illness or death! The
bottom line is that you are RUNNING AT YOUR OWN RISK. If you are not
willing to take on this risk, please run on the streets where it is
safe 
LIMITATIONS AND LIABILITY RELEASE: AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE
ULTRALADIES’ TRAINING RUNS, YOU MUST AGREE TO AND SIGN THE
FOLLOWING WAIVER: “As a participant in the UltraLadies’ training runs,
I am aware of the rigors and dangers of trail running. I understand
that trail running involves being in remote areas for extended periods
of time, far from services, that these areas may have many natural and
man-made hazards which Club Management can not anticipate, identify,
modify or eliminate and injury can happen to anyone, at any time. By
running with the UltraLadies, I agree to take full responsibility for
myself. I, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby for
myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, waive and release any
and all rights and claims for damages I may have against the
UltraLadies, Nancy Shura-Dervin, Larry Dervin, Club Management,
RoadRunners of America, all State and National Parks and all
representatives, successors, and assigns for any and all injuries
suffered by me as a result of my participation in the UltraLadies’runs
and activities, even if said damages are the result of negligence. I
further assume any and all financial responsibility that may be
incurred in the event I require emergency evacuation from the training
site, including but not limited to air evacuation. I attest and verify
that I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained to participate
in the UltraLadies’ training runs and my physical condition to
participate in these training runs has been verified by a licensed
medical doctor. I understand that the UltraLadies reserve the right to
enforce rules intended for the safety of runners and/or may create new
rules, as required during training runs. I have read,understood and
agree to abide by the UltraLadies’ Trail Guidelines, as posted on the
UltraLadies website. I understand and agree to the use of my name,
pictures and interviews in association with the UltraLadies for use in
broadcast, telecast, advertisements, books, films, videotape or any
other reproduction thereof, with no monetary or other compensation to me”.
RACE DATES:
VALLEY CREST HALF MARATHON - SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2008
BULLDOG 50K/25K - SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2008
To access the Races and the UltraLadies, go to
http://www.trailrunevents.com.
VOLUNTEERS: Although no fees are charged to train with the ULs, we do
ask that you support the races by running and/or VOLUNTEERING. If you
are able to help out, please e-mail: trailrunvolunteers@yahoo.com.
Happy trails,
Nancy