Chaffee County Running Club - Salida, and Buena Vista Colorado running

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Third Annual Salida to Turret Marathon - March 15, 2008

March 15, 2008 - Run Through Time Marathon, Half Marathon and 2 mile fun run. Entry Form

Runner information for Run Through Time - updated March 13, 2008

trail conditions

-There are still ~50 spaces available in the 2008 Run Through Time Marathon and Half Marathon fields. We can not guarantee race day entry. Be at the log cabin in Riverside park early on Saturday if you want to register race day.

-We do not mail out confirmations to let you know that your entry has been accepted. Your cancelled check will serve this purpose.

-Route update: The races will go on, despite the snowy winter. Race directors plan to use our normal course. The road to Turret is plowed. Half marathon is dry as of Today Thursday. Marathon is dry to mile 8. Mile 8-16+ will have some mud and slick sections on it. Much of the route is covered with snow, some of it 12” deep, between miles 17.5 and 23 on the marathon course.

We ask that you consider this snow if you are a marathoner. It could be tough at times and will slow everyone. If you entered the marathon, you have the option of officially switching to become a half marathoner at number pick up Saturday morning. You can not switch to become an official half marathoner once the race starts. If you are not ready for the snow, please change to the half marathon. If you get to our final aid station at 17.5 miles and are feeling weak, consider dropping from the race and running down the plowed route as you came.

-We request that you please not enter/start our longer races unless you have trained, are ready, and have a reasonable chance of finishing them within the time cut-offs. Having to evacuate runners from the route places a burden on race personnel and disrupts other runners.

-We are a smaller non-profit race and there are no bands, dancers, jet flyovers, etc. along the course.

-Your number must be worn on the front and visible at all times

-Stay on the designated route. Do not cut corners. Stay on the route even if muddy. When in doubt take the main route. Please do not go off the road tread to avoid mud/snow/water.

-No Dogs, crew, spectators, pacers, friends/family, wheeled vehicles on the course. Move under your own power only. We need to be safe and fair.

-Do not Litter. Pack it in/pack it out. Bury human waste 6”. Primitive restroom at 6.5 mile aid station

-Obey Race Officials

-Help other runners in need. Send word to an aid station if a runner needs help. Sacrifice your race to help others that require it.

-If you drop out, turn in your number name tag at an aid station or the finish so we do not search for you.

-You cannot change to another event during the race once you have picked up the number for a race. You can only be an official finisher in the race you have a number for.

-Take care of yourself. We suggest carrying extra fluid (container)and food. The aid stations only have so much.

-Watch the weather. You will be spending most of the race at higher/colder/windier/wetter paces than the start/finish. Take appropriate clothing. -Beware of traffic. Roads are open to vehicle travel (most are dead ends during race).

Watch for motor vehicles. NOTE: listening to music with earphones seriously limits your ability to hear traffic and this is not safe. We do not recommend using earphones at all.

-If you drop out, turn in your number name tag at an aid station or the finish so we do not search for you.

-We do not provide a finisher medal, bouquets of flowers, space blankets, etc. at the finish.

-We have time cut-offs of 7 hours for the Marathon and 4 hours for the Half Marathon. These are reasonable and attainable by most runners. We have them in place so as to keep you moving, not burden our aid and safety people, and to get you back before dark.

Cut off Times

6.5 mile aid. Half marathon turn around
1:50 into race to continue on for marathon
2:15 into race to turn around for Half marathon

12.1 mile aid. Turret marathon turn around
3:30 into race

17.2 mile aid. at road 181 turn
4:40 into race

If you do not leave these aid stations by these times you will be offered a ride back to the finish. If you wish to continue on your own after these times your pull tag will be pulled from your number and you can continue on your own but not as part of this event.

Awards

We will include drawing prizes randomly in the finisher envelopes
Half marathon awards: Noon in the Hut
Marathon awards: 3p.m. in the Hut
All finishers 13 years of age and under in the fun run get a special award at the finish.

Enjoy your run, try hard, play fair and have fun!

Run Through Time Update

Please note that the number of entries in our run is limited and we are about 65% full today March 7th. There may be places available for Race Day entry but we are sorry we can not guarantee this. There is still time to mail in a form, using various mail options, to try to ensure yourself a spot with preregistration. Even at that, we do not know what the mail might bring tomorrow. Just a guess in that you will have a better chance of getting into our event if you register in advance.

We limit the number of runners to preserve the quality and experience of our run.

The ½ marathon course is totally dry as of today. Most of the marathon course is dry/snow free today. There is a 5 mile section between 18-23 miles that is 55% covered in 3-8” of snow that is packed by some motorized use. Despite recent warm weather, not all of this snow will disappear before race day. Marathoners should expect to encounter some of this snow, and perhaps some ice/slick spots, on race day. If it is warm, marathoners might encounter some mud, but it is not likely to be as bad as last year because 1)With the time change the race will start earlier in the day. It normally freezes at night so things should be cooler than last year 2)Last year was unusual in that the route received some new snow a few days before the race and it was cool enough that this did not melt. However the day and night before the race were warmer, it did not get below freezing at night, and thus there was more liquid water around than solid water at times.

We all that said, we can not predict the weather so please be ready for anything.

-We are a small non-profit running club directing this race. Please compare our entry fee to other marathons, and plan accordingly. We are not providing many of the fluffy perks that some runners may expect from “professional” marathons. We will not have mile markers, chip timing, bands along the route, cheerleaders, exotic dancers, special trinkets because you finished, fully stocked aid stations every mile, etc. like some other events provide. If you feel these are important elements to a marathon, we suggest you participate in another event. We feel that there is a wild and rugged element to the setting of our event, and want to maintain that with our race.

-There are numerous lodging options in and around Salida. Remember that this is Spring Break, so your choices may be limited if you do not plan in advance. Please go to the Salida Chamber visitor/lodging page for ideas and choices at http://www.salidachamber.org/visitor.htm

Thanks for your interest and we will see you out there!

Map in pdf form

2007 Run Through Time Results.

First Annual Salida to Turret Marathon
March 18, 2006
From Jon MacManus

Turret, Colorado is located in the low but rugged Arkansas Hills, 13 miles from Salida. The original inhabitants of Turret came in search of wood to turn into charcoal for the town of Nathrop in the valley below. There was always a hope of great riches to be had in the earth around Turret which would be the only thing that kept the town alive. Although hope was abundant, riches were present but not copious. It was not precious metal but Iron which finally almost put Turret on the map. A railroad was built up Railroad Gulch to transport ore from the nearby Calumet Mine. Upon cursory inspection of the distorted and constricted gulch in which the trestles were laid, it’s not difficult to surmise the outcome. A flood in 1901 ended the dreams of a viable Turret. Again, during the depression, a group of squatters took up residents in the aging ruins of Turret and lived off the land until jobs became available in the larger towns.

Today, County Road 175, or the Ute Trail passes a short distance from what is left of Turret. This is our mark for the Salida Marathon. The distance of 13 miles and the past hope of those who poured their lives into Turret, make this event not only too perfect to pass up but a wonder as to why it hasn’t taken place earlier. This is no downstream race and due to the altitude, hills and general roughness of the course is consistent with the rugged pioneers who eked a living out of this earth. It will probably not be your fastest marathon but it may be the one you never forget.

We have great hopes for this run as much effort will be made to publicize this race and people from outside the area are encouraged to participate. Locally however, we have encountered much interest and excitement about running in the first Salida Marathon. With this in mind, we are determined to give local runners as big of an advantage as possible to not only participate but to compete in this momentous event. Beginning on Saturday, January 14th at 8:00 AM and continuing every Saturday until the marathon, anyone who wishes may meet at the F Street Bridge for weekend Marathon training. Many of these sessions will take place on the actual course and will familiarize you with not only the lay of the run but help to give you comfort with the hills and general hazards of the terrain you will encounter.

March 18th is just around the corner and one who plans to participate in this run should not procrastinate. We encourage everyone to participate. You might wonder about the weather conditions on a race this time of the year. Anytime you plan a race in March around here is a craps shoot. On the positive side, I have run this exact rout for the last three years in the beginning of March. Most of the course is totally free of snow but in the shade there may be some packed snow and ice. We can only hope for the best.

This event will also be held in conjunction with and as a kick off to the Zebulon Pike 200 year anniversary to our valley. To train and run the Salida to Turret Marathon compliments the spirit of those brave and rugged men. Plan to make this event one of your goals for 2006.

Happy New Year! Hopefully you are getting things off on the right foot (pardon the pun) this year by establishing a running pattern and committing to some races. Speaking of races, the Turret Marathon is only 11 weeks away. That means that training must begin right away. Today we started a series of Turret training runs to help our members prepare for the race. We do out and backs on the route. You can run/walk as far and fast as you feel comfortable. You will need to prepare for steady hill climb. For most people the race will involve some walking. So don’t be intimidated to come out and join us, no matter what your current condition. We’ll be meeting at Riverside Park at 8:00am on every Saturday morning from January 14 through and including March 4. That is 8 weeks of runs! We will do sections of the route, drive up to do other sections, drive up to let people run down, stash water, etc. depending on the interest. We have numerous people who have committed to this ranging in ability from fast to walk/run just want to finish. There are people coming to this with years of experience and expertise that can advise, coach, encourage and help you if you wish and ask.

Watch for a series of articles in the Mountain Mail discussing the event and preparing for it.

CCRC • P.O. Box 1441 • Salida, Colorado • 81201 • chaffeerunners@yahoo.com