Uwharrie Family!!!

We are just days away from the most exciting day of the year in the Uwharries, and race prep is in full swing.

Below is the final Pre-Race letter to review as you finish your own plans and preparations for this upcoming weekend. A lot of the info here is similar to the email from last month; but it’s not a bad idea to give the entire thing a read again.

See you SOON!

How to Get There:

DIRECTIONS TO START/FINISH

Wood Run Trail Head located on HWY 24/27 approximately 9 miles west of Troy, NC.

GPS Coordinates of: 35.310293, - 80.043726

https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA

Pre Race:

This year’s Pre-Race Briefing will be posted online in the week leading up to the race. Watch out for the Facebook post Mid Week.

**There will also be a short pre-race briefing on the morning of the race at 5:40am at the start/finish for 100 Mile/100K Runners & at 7:40am at the start/finish for 50K Runners.

PACKET PICKUP

Packet pickup will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Wood Run Trail Head (our Start/Finish Aid Station located off of HWY 24/27).

A google maps link to Wood Run Trail Head can be found here.

https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA

We will also have packet pickup on race day from 4:30 am to 5:30 am at the start/finish for 100 Mile/100K Runners and 6:30 am to 7:30 am for 50K Runners.

PRE-RACE MEAL

**There will not be an “official” pre-race dinner on Friday 10/18/24, but for any runner/pacer/volunteer who is hanging around Friday evening at the Start/Finish, we will provide pizza and snacks.

LODGING

Lodging is available at the Best Western in Albemarle.This hotel is located only 12 miles from the start/finish. To make a reservation call 704-985-1111.

There is also a wide variety of camping options available in the Uwharrie National Forest. Information on camping options can be found here

(https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368418.pdf)

Race DaY

THE START!!

The 100 Mile and 100K races will start promptly at 6:00 am at the Wood Run Trail Head at the Start/Finish Aid Station (https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA)

The 50K event will start promptly at 8:00 am at the Wood Run Trail Head at the Start/Finish Aid Station (https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA)

***Parking is limited at the start/finish so we request that each runner bring no more than one vehicle per registered runner.

***IMPORTANT*** you MUST check in on Saturday morning PRIOR to your race start, REGARDLESS of if you picked up Friday. This is to ensure everyone who picked up their packet is on course. Ankle trackers will be handed out on Saturday morning.

DROP BAGS

Drop bags are available at all three of our Aid Stations; Start/Finish (Mile 0), Crossroads (Mile 6/15) And Kelly’s Kitchen (Mile 11.7) for our 100 mile and 100k runners.

***50K runners are welcome to leave a drop bag at Start/Finish (mile 0, 12 and 32/finish of your race). Remote drop bags are not an option for the 50K.

***Drop bags can be dropped off at packet pickup on Friday, or they can be dropped off at the start/finish on the morning of the race no later than 5:30 am Saturday morning.

PACERS

Runners can have pacers after completing 41 miles (two laps).

**There will be no Volunteer Pacer Registration, so if you plan on having a pacer, please make arrangements.

Please be aware pacers are not allowed to carry any of the runners equipment/food/water (“no muling”).

Pacers are required to report into the Start/Finish aid station PRIOR to picking up their runner, so they can be issued a Pacer bib and also so race officials can be aware of all runners that are on the course.

CUTOFFS and Medical DNF's

Cutoffs are STRICTLY enforced. This is for the safety of our runners and in consideration of our race crew and volunteers who are giving of their time to support your run!

Please respect the direction of the RDs and Race Crew if asked to drop due to missing a cutoff or if our medical team believes continuing may negatively impact your health. Failure to do so will jeopardize your ability to participate in any future UwharrieUltra events.

The cutoff for both 100K and 100 Mile races is 6:00 pm Sunday, October 20, 2024 (36-hour cutoff).

***100M/100K Runners must START their last lap by 11:00 am Sunday and LEAVE Kelly’s Kitchen on their final lap by 3:00 pm Sunday.

The cutoff for the 50K is 8:00 pm (12-hour cutoff), Saturday, October 19, 2024.

AID STATIONS

“Start/Finish” - Mile 0 and 20.5 of each loop and is crew accessible

Captained by Kim & Steve Haemmerle

“Crossroads” - Miles 6 and 15 of each loop and is NOT crew accessible

Captained by Vinny Swendsen & Mike Detrick

“Kelly’s Kitchen” - Mile 11.7 of each loop and is crew accessible

Captained by Jenna Koenigshofer & Amanda Paige

COURSE INFORMATION:

The Uwharrie 100 Mile Trail Run is held on a 20.5 mile single track course in the Uwharrie National Forest.

Follow this link to the Course Description for 100M/K:

http://www.uwharrie100.com/raceinformation

Follow this link to the Course Description 50K:

http://www.uwharrie100.com/uwharriegoldrush

Medical Emergencies

If you experience an emergency out on the course; please consider the following:

1. If you experience a "setback" on course (fall, twist an ankle, stub your wrist), if you can keep moving, please make your way to the nearest aid station where help will be waiting and available.

2. If you get lost, need someone to come assist in a non-emergent manner please call the RD's at 724-833-1029 and we will arrange for someone to come assist ASAP.

3. If you are experiencing a true medical emergency, dial 911. Search and Rescue are aware of our event and have intimate knowledge of the course and the park. In many instances, a 911 call will go through when nothing else does, and they are often times able to pick up your location on GPS.

IMPORTANT LOCAL CARE CENTER INFORMATION

Atrium Health Stanly

301 Yadkin St.

Albemarle, NC 28001

First Health Montgomery

520 Allen St.

Troy, NC 27371

Montgomery County Search & Rescue

911

RACE AWARDS & SWAG:

Awards for the following placements will receive a custom gift crafted by Cary Pottery. Awards will be handed out as finishers cross the finish line. (No “awards ceremony” held after the race)

100 Mile Male and Female: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place

100K Male and Female: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place

50K Male and Female: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place

100 Mile FIRST PLACE MALE / FEMALE will receive a pair of LOWA ATR’s.

100 K FIRST PLACE MALE / FEMALE will receive a pair of LOWA ATR’s.

Finishers of the 100 Mile Trail Run within the published time limit will receive a custom buckle.

Finishers of the 100K and 50K Trail Runs within the published time limit will receive a custom 10 year anniversary medal.

COURSE MARKERS, TURNS, WEATHER & UPDATES:

The course is marked entirely by NATIVE course markings:

DUTCHMAN'S IS MARKED BY YELLOW DIAMOND BLAZES.

UWHARRIE IS MARKED BY WHITE DIAMOND BLAZES.

And as our daughter Graycie says, "BLUE is poo". Meaning, if you find yourself running on a trail with blue blazes, STOP and look for yellow or white markings. BLUE is for the mountain bike circuit at Uwharrie and is NOT part of the Uwharrie 100 race course.

THE ONLY NON-NATIVE TRAIL MARKINGS ARE YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE PLACED AT A FEW CRITICAL TURNS AND ROAD CROSSINGS. IF YOU SEE YELLOW TAPE PAY ATTENTION.

THIS RACE IS 99.999% SINGLE TRACK, with the only exceptions being a few forest service road crossings. You are only on forest service roads long enough to cross them. If you find yourself running on road for more than 10-15 steps, STOP and look for the trail markers to get you back on track.

There is one critical turn which is heavily marked with flagging tape and a sign around mile 11.5 of each full loop where DUTCHMAN'S trail dead-ends into UWHARRIE.

When you reach this junction, turn LEFT, following the flagging chute. You have just transitioned from Dutchman's (yellow markers) to Uwharrie (white markers).

You will run a short .5 mile out to Kelly's Kitchen Aid Station on Uwharrie, turn around and come back to that same intersection with the flagging tape. This time stay LEFT at the intersection and you will run on white markers down the hill.