Race artwork, designed by Seattle artist, Baylie Peplow of Red Umbrella Desig ns
Hi Beacon Rock runners, volunteers, and crews!
 
We hope you are getting excited for the race! This is your official pre-race email and should answer any questions you have about the upcoming race weekend! Please read all the way to the bottom as some info may have changed from previous races.

Here's what you will find in this email:
  1. Cancellations/Bib Transfers
  2. Check-in/Timeline
  3. Driving Directions/Parking
  4. Volunteer check-in
  5. Dogs
  6. Course
  7. Aid Stations
  8. Cut-offs
  9. Drop Bags
  10. Lodging/Camping
  11. Bathrooms
  12. Coffee
  13. Pre-ordered items
  14. Finish line festivities
  15. Raffle prizes
  16. Rules
  17. Weather
Cancellations/Bib Transfers

If you cannot make it to the race, please click here for instructions on removing your race registration. You have until the end of the day, Wednesday July 31st, to remove your registration and not be listed as a DNS. 

Remember that all bib transfers must be completed (by both parties) on Ultra Signup at least one week before the race (the end of the day on Saturday July 27th) No transfers will be accepted the week of the race, no exceptions.

Also, if you are receiving this email, but plan to transfer your bib to someone else in the next day or two, please forward this along to the new runner.
Check-in/Timeline

Friday August 2nd
  • 3:00 pm: Gate at park opens for camping
  • 6:00 pm: Group potluck, BYOB (we will provide hot dogs/veggie dogs, please bring something to share)
Saturday August 3rd
  • 6:30-7:50 am: 50K bib pick up at Beacon Rock State Park, group campsite don't forget photo ID!
  • 7:50 am: 50K race briefing
  • 8:00 am: 50K starts
  • 8:15-9:50 am: 25K bib pick up at Beacon Rock State Park, group campsite, don't forget photo ID!
  • 9:30 am: Kids 1K
  • 9:50 am: 25K race briefing
  • 10:00 am: 25K starts
  • 12:30 pm: Cut off Camp aid station (50K only)
  • 2:15 pm: Cut off Hardy Ridge aid station, second time, mile 11.8/kilometer 19 (25K only)
  • 4:15 pm: Cut off Hardy Ridge aid station, fourth time, mile 27.3/kilometer 43.9 (50K only)
Sunday August 4th
  • 9:00 am-Noon: Clean up at group camp, please email Elizabeth if you are available to help
  • Noon: Group hike to secret swimming hole (the more help we get with clean up, the sooner we will be finished and can play!)

A few reminders about check in:
  1. You must present your photo ID (driver's license, passport, student ID, anything with your name and a picture) to pick up your bib. Yes, our volunteers will make you go back to your car to get the ID.
  2. Bib pick up is only race morning. No bib pick up the day before.
  3. If you are not going to start the race, let the check-in volunteers know but please do not take your bib if you do not plan to start the race .  If the bib is gone and your name is highlighted, we assume you started the race and we will treat you as a potentially lost runner during the race which is not good.
  4. No bib-swapping.  We allow runners to exchange bibs, but the transfer must be completed (by both parties, the recipient needs to sign the waiver and fill out the registration) on Ultrasignup by the end of the day, Saturday July 27th).  No week or day-of bib transfers.
  5. No pacers allowed on the course.
  6. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome on the trails and at the group camp.
  7. No day of registration.
  8. Poles are ok, just be very mindful of others around you.
  9. Remember to pick up your shirt during check in if you pre-ordered one.

Driving/Parking Directions

The start and finish area will take place at Beacon Rock State Park, in the group camp area. If you put the park into google maps, it will not lead you to the group camping area. Use this address for the driving directions: 2184 Kueffler Rd Stevenson WA 98648.

You will be coming in on WA-14. If you are coming from the west, you will turn left onto Kueffler Road and if you are coming from the east, you will turn right. Continue on this road and follow the EVENT PARKING signs. You will eventually turn left into the group camping area.

We will have parking volunteers on Friday evening until 8:00 pm and again Saturday morning at 6:00 am to help you find parking. If you are arriving past 8:00 pm on Friday evening, please park anywhere along the tree line to camp. Leave the roped off parking area free for day-of parking.

Cars do not need to display a Discover Pass if they are parked in the group camp (our site rental includes the parking fees), however, if you want to park anywhere else in Beacon Rock State Park, you will need the Discover Pass.
Volunteer Check In

All volunteers will check in with Elizabeth at the start/finish area.  Volunteers will receive a separate confirmation email by Monday, July 29th with specific instructions related to your shift. Volunteer discount codes will be sent out via email after the race.

We still need a few more volunteers so if you or someone you know is able to volunteer, please email volunteer@rainshadowrunning.com. All volunteers get to eat and drink for free and are eligible for a discount on a future Rainshadow race (not to mention the warm fuzzies you will get from helping out and the immense gratitude of all the staff)!

Our races would not happen without our amazing crew of volunteers, so remember to thank anyone you see out there helping during the day! :)
Dogs 

Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails for the race and at the group camp.  Keep in mind that it will probably be too warm to leave your dog in your car while you run and as we do not allow people to leave their dogs tied up at the start/finish area, plan to have someone there who can watch them during the day.

Please remember to pick up after your pet and dispose of the waste in a garbage can.  Please, please do not leave the poo bags on the side of the trail! 
Course

The course will be  marked with pink and yellow ribbons and yellow arrow signs.  You should not go more than one mile without seeing a ribbon or sign.  If you do go more than a mile, turn around and go back to the last place you saw one.  Ultimately it is up to the runner to know the course, so we encourage you to study the map. We will have maps posted at the start/finish area, but there will not be extra copies, so if you would like to run with one, please print a copy and bring it with you. You can download a copy and the turn by turn directions from our website

We would like to give a shout out to Sean Harrasser, of Wonderland Mapping, for creating all of our course maps!

Remember that these are public trails and we are sharing them with other hikers and mountain bikers who may not be involved or aware of the race. Please slow down, alert people of your presence, and give them time to move to the side of the trail. Mountain bikers are supposed to yield to those on foot, but keep in mind they may be going very fast, so stay alert and step out of the way if necessary.

Most hikers are likely to step aside and let you pass, but proper trail etiquette says that downhill yields to uphill, so please follow these practices to help us be good examples of the trail running community.

Aid Stations/Crew Access

50K:


Mile/Kilometer Cut Off Drop Bags Crew Access
Hardy Ridge, 1st time  5.5/11.8 N/A No Hike in only (~3 miles one way)
Hardy Ridge, second time 11.8/19 N/A No Hike in only
Camp 15.5/25 12:30 pm Yes Yes
Hardy Ridge, third time 27.3/43.8 N/A No Hike in only
Hardy Ridge, fourth time 27.3/43.8 4:15 pm No Hike in only

 

25K:


Mile/Kilometer Cut Off Drop Bags Crew Access
Hardy Ridge, 1st time 5.5/11.8 N/A No Hike in only (~3 miles one way)
Hardge Ridge, second time 11.8/19 2:15 pm No Hike in only

 

We strive to be a cup-free race so please bring your own reusable cup or flask to drink water/electrolyte/soda at the aid stations. We will have  UltrAspire cups  
for sale during check in if you need to buy one. Please bring a cup to drink beer or water out of for the finish line as well. Help us GO GREEN!

 

The aid stations will be stocked with PB & J, fresh fruit, potato chips, pickles, candy, water, Nuun Endurance electrolyte drink, and soda. We have gels at the aid stations, but we do not supply enough for all runners to rely on what we provide. Please plan to bring your own and use ours to supplement or if you run out. We also have first aid supplies, sunscreen and feminine hygiene products for issues that arise on the course.  Just ask one of the volunteers for any of those items.
 
If you need to drop from the race, you must do so at an aid station! Please find the volunteer who is tracking numbers and make sure they record your bib number as a DNF (did not finish). If you have an emergency please dial 911 immediately.  If you are unable to make a phone call, our sweeps can help get you to safety where we will have medics stationed at the finish line. Once you are back at the finish line, please come to the timing table and let our volunteers know you are dropping from the race. If we do not know you have dropped, we will continue to look for you after the race and that stresses us out!  
 
On that note, please take a minute to make sure your emergency contact information is up to date on UltraSignup.  Please do not use your own name or phone number as your emergency contact in case we need to get a hold of someone on your behalf.  You should be able to edit this information on your UltraSignup profile.
 
Crew Access
Crew access is available at the Camp Aid Station (which is also located at the start/finish area).  There is crew access at Hardy Ridge, but only by foot.  Only aid station volunteers are allowed to drive there.  The hike-in takes about 3 miles from the start/finish area.  Remember that the aid station food and water is only for runners and volunteers.  If you are crewing or cheering at an aid station, plan to bring your own snacks/drinks.   

Women Who Run The World

We want to give a huge shout out to Nina Hadley, Kari Vigerstol, and their crew of volunteers who will be staffing the Hardy Ridge Aid Station.  They will be out at the aid station all day (from well before the start of the race to after the last person has finished), ensuring that each and every runner has the best support possible! 

Please give them a big thank you and also check out their website for more info on what WWRTW is all about! 
Cut Offs

The following cut-offs will be enforced during the races:

50K: 

  • 12:30 pm: Camp, mile 15.5
  • 4:15 pm: Hardy Ridge, mile 27.3
25K:
  • 2:15 pm: Hardy Ridge, mile 11.8
  Note: the cut-off times are when runners should be leaving the aid station, not arriving. Any runner arriving to the aid station after the times listed above will be given a ride back to the finish area, where they can enjoy beer and pizza.

We have cut off times for a lot of reasons: for your safety, to stay in compliance with our permits, to keep the race on schedule, and so our volunteers can go home at a reasonable time. We realize these are public trails, but we cannot let any runner continue on behind the sweeps who are pulling course markings.  Violating this rule puts our permits in jeopardy and we want to continue to put on this race for many years.   If you refuse to leave the course and continue on past cut off, you are in direct violation of our race rules and will be subject to penalty (including a ban from future Rainshadow races).  
 
Please accept your fate with grace and please do not put unnecessary pressure on our lovely volunteers (aid station captains and sweepers) to allow you to continue on past cut off.  They are following specific directions given to them by race staff and they should not be asked to break the rules for you. If you have an issue, come find a staff member after the race, but do not argue with our volunteers. We appreciate your help in this matter.

Drop Bags

50K runners are allowed a drop bag at the Camp aid station only. There are no drop bags allowed at Hardy Ridge (we have to limit the number of cars we take up, thus limited storage space). No drop bags for the 25K.

We will have a tarp set up at check-in before the race for you to leave your bag (in the aid station location).  Please label your bag with your name, bib number, and aid station. There will be duct tape and sharpies available in the morning.
Lodging/Camping

There is free camping at the start/finish area.  Please plan to camp along the treeline, anywhere outside of roped off areas.  Though we do have a small space that would accommodate RV's, the road to get to the group camp is somewhat steep and windy and there are not a ton of level parking spaces for the campers.  There is a regular campground in the park, so if you are bringing a large RV, we recommend camping there.  We will not be able accommodate any campers over 20 feet.  

Keep in mind there are no hook-ups and no showers at the group camp area.  The main campground has showers that people can use, but it is far enough you would probably want to drive there.  

There are bathrooms at the group camp and we will have extra portable toilets available for the weekend.  

The closest towns for hotels are Skamania, Cascade Locks, or Stevenson.  Portland and the surrounding towns are about 50 minutes away. 
Bathrooms

There will be porta-potties set up at the start/finish area, but not at the Hardy Ridge aid station. Please do your best to use the bathrooms before you start or at the halfway point, but if nature calls outside of an aid station, remember to step off the trail and follow the leave no trace policy. If you are near the back of the pack and need to step off the trail, leave your pack/water bottle/etc in the middle of the trail so the sweeps know to wait for you.
Coffee

We will be brewing Tony's Coffee on race morning for runners and volunteers and there will be Tony's/Smith Brother's cold brew available after the race. In an effort to reduce waste, please bring your own coffee mug for race morning.
Pre-Ordered Items

Any pre-ordered items will be available at the merchandise table when you pick up your bib on race morning.

Any shirts that are not picked up at check-in will become available for purchase once the merch table opens, so please remember to pick up your shirt during check in.
Finish Line Festivities

It would not be a Rainshadow race without the post-race party! We will have wood-fired pizza courtesy of Pizza Rocks as well as our standard spread of post-race goodies (fruits, veggies, chips and dips, wraps, cookies, pies). We will be offering up cold craft beer and live music courtesy of bluegrass band, Vito & the One Eyed Jakes. We strive to create as little waste as possible, so we will not have plastic beer cups. Please bring your own favorite cup or buy a stainless steel Rainshadow cup at the merch table. As stewards of the outdoors, we appreciate your help in reducing the race's footprint and this one step saves us bags of garbage.

We encourage all runners to hang around, cheer on your fellow runners while swapping race stories! One of the most important parts of Rainshadow is the community we strive to create so bring a lawn chair and make a day out of it!
 
We are happy to have the ever-so-talented Glenn Tachiyama taking pictures out on the course and his photos will be available for purchase the week after the race.
Kids 1K race will be at 9:30 am on race morning, parents can register their kids in the morning.
Raffle Prizes

Thanks to all of our sponsors, we will have lots of fun prizes to give away to both runners and volunteers! We will have gift certificates to Seven Hills Running Shop, coffee beans from Tony's Coffee, & goodies from Nuun.
If you have a sticker on your bib, it means you are a raffle winner! All raffle items can be picked up at the merchandise table.  If you are a volunteer that won a raffle prize, our volunteer coordinator, Elizabeth, will come find you!
Rules

  • Be nice: please be courteous of other trail users as well as fellow runners and volunteers.  If you come upon hikers or other day users, please alert them of your presence and give them a chance to move over before you pass. Please note that proper trail etiquette says downhill hikers yield to those going uphill. If you come across hikers, please do your best to follow these guidelines (unless they are clearly letting you by in which case thank them as you descend!) 
  • Passing : please let the person you'd like to pass know you want to pass and if you're being passed please allow the person to pass when safe to do so.
  • One ear bud only: if you wish to wear headphones while running, they may only be in one ear and the volume must be low enough that you can hear others around you (we had an injury at one of our races due to someone not being able to hear while wearing both earbuds)
  • No continuing on past cut off: for liability and safety reasons we cannot let any runner continue on their own past cut off time.  We take this rule seriously.  Please treat our aid station and sweep volunteers with respect.  If you have an issue, find a race staff after the race and we are more than happy to have a conversation with you
  • No cheating/course cutting/bandits/anything deemed unsportsmanlike : this could result in a ban from Rainshadow races and we just do not want to do that
  • Dogs: well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on the course and at the start/finish area
  • No drugs or other banned substances
  • No receiving aid outside of the designated aid stations
  • Be on time: our sweeps go out shortly after the runners start and we cannot let any runners go out behind the sweepers
 
To find all of Rainshadow Running's rules and policies, please click here  

Weather

The current extended forecast calls for a sunny day with no chance of rain.  With a high of 85 and a low of 61, be sure you come prepared for the heat (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc).  We will send ice to the aid stations so bringing a buff or bandana would be a good idea.  

Be sure to hydrate early and often, keep up on water before you feel thirsty.  
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

James, Elizabeth, William, Steph, Rob, & Jessie
Rainshadow Running 
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