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Weather/trail conditions/be prepared to prevent hypothermia
It's too soon to have any kind of definitive forecast for race week, much less race day. But it's probably going to be cold and wet. How cold? How wet? We'll have to wait to find out. But right now there's 3+ inches of snow currently on the higher elevations of the course could be joined by a little more. But will it still be there on race day?
We mostly bring this up to get y'all thinking about your shoe and clothing choices. If it's icy you may want traction like Micro-Spikes, Yak-Trax, or shoes with built-in metal studs or DIY screws. Folks who need extra help keeping their extremities warm might want to consider Gore-Tex shoes, very warm gloves, hand warmer pouches, etc. Plus a variety of warm clothing made of synthetic or natural fibers that excel at keeping you warm even when wet, running tights or pants, buff/neck gaiter, a truly waterproof jacket, a warm hat, etc. We also recommend carrying extra layers with you and having extra layers in all your drop bags. It's better to have these and not need them than to not have them when you do need them.
Hypothermia is a major danger for this race. Please don't underestimate how much the trail conditions can slow you down, how long it might take you to do the course and go between aid stations, and how cold and windy it can be on top of Mt Constitution compared to down at the starting line which is 2000 feet lower. Please don't just assume you'll be able to move fast enough to stay warm, even if you're "fast" and trying to be competitive. Anyone in the race could sprain an ankle (or worse) and could have a long time before help arrive or to limp out or even if you don't get injured you might slow way down for any number of reasons (bonk, upset stomach, slick trails, you stop to help someone else, etc.). This is a hard race even when conditions are good, nasty weather and or tough trail conditions only make it harder and slower. This is not a race to skimp on your precautions.
Pacers are Now Allowed
For safety reasons we've decided to now allow pacers for all runners, starting at mile 25. We had never allowed them before to make the race harder. simpler and to reduce the ease in which some runners could cheat by having their pacers carry stuff for them. We feel like safety outweighs all those other concerns... by a lot. But we really don't want to hear about runners get stuff from their pacers -- unless they are at an aid station or it's an emergency. Runners who get aid from their pacers (or crew) any where other than at an aid station can be disqualified as it's an unfair advantage and against our rules.
No pacers before mile 25. And no muleing aka carrying stuff for your runner or giving your runner anything except at aid stations.
Ferry Reservations
For those who are unfamiliar with Orcas. It's an island. You gotta take a ferry to get there. You gotta make reservations for the ferry.
If you've tried to make an advance ferry reservation and saw that it was sold out, you have one more chance to make a reservation:
2 days before each sailing date at 7:00 a.m. PST:
- Final 30% of standard vehicle space is released
Carpool
To reduce carbon emissions, to reduce our impact on the park and to make race day even more fun we encourage folks to carpool! It'll also save ya money on the ferry! Please reach out to your friends who are running to see if y'all can ride together and or fill out this form to coordinate rides with folks you don't yet know.
Post Race Party/Pizza Options
With the race being 25 mile loops the start/finish/Camp Moran Aid station is race headquarters and party central for the weekend. All the regular aid station fare plus fresh, delicious pizza handmade on site by our good friends at Pizza Rocks (they also do GF and Vegan options grab one of the merry folks and ask them to make something for ya). And as runners finish their last lap (and sometimes sooner) folks start digging into the local beer and cider. Everyone is of course welcome to help themselves to whatever but we do ask that friends and family chip in $10/person (you can pay for that when you register or just slip one of the RDs some cash day of). As the day progresses and we have more and more finishers the finish line party grows in numbers and exuberance culminating with huge ovations for the final handful of finishers who come in well after the 2nd sunset of the race.
Speaking of local beer we always get the beer for the race from the great folks at Island Hoppin' Brewery. We highly recommend stopping by their tasting room/brewery when you're on the island! Kids, dogs and outside food allowed. 33 Hope Ln, in Eastsound (but kinda out near the airport not downtown).
Awards Ceremony
We highly recommend staying for the awards ceremony Sunday morning! We put together a slide show, thank all of the volunteers, and recognize each and every runner on stage. The awards ceremony will be at the SeaView Theater in Eastsound. Doors will open at 10:00 am (free coffee/snacks, and the theater will have beer/wine for sale) and the ceremony will start at 10:30 am.
Each runner will be presented their belt buckle, finisher hoodie, and the Tower Club award (if applicable). We will also bring all of the leftover drop bags to the theater Sunday morning for runners to pick up.
Cup-less race & Merch for sale
Speaking of being prepared, our races are "cup-less" meaning we don't provide drinking cups at the aid station and start/finish. Please help us reduce waste and bring your own cup, bottle and or hydration pack to drink from. We will have purpose made reusable cups for sale for $10 at runner check-in if you want to buy one.
We'll have a variety of Rainshadow merchandise for sale as well!
Bunks at Camp Moran
Camp Moran bunkhouse lodging available. Click here to reserve and for more info
Our Orcas Island races have the awesome benefit of starting and finishing at Camp Moran, Moran State Park's Environmental Learning Center. This "summer camp" makes for a fun and very social home base for our races and you can make it home for the race weekend by booking one of the bunkhouses for your whole family/group or just book a single bunk in one of the "dormitory" style bunkhouses.
The prices are: $43.02 for a bunk, $172.08 for a 6 person bunkhouse, $516.24 for a 12 person bunkhouse All prices include taxes and are for the whole race weekend Thursday night to Sunday morning. The price is the same whether you stay for the whole weekend or not.
You can check in as early as 4pm on Thursday and you need to check out by 9am on Sunday.
The accommodations are rustic. Again think summer camp. These are bunkhouses with bunk beds. They're not fancy at all and you'll be in close proximity to others. The dormitory style bunkhouses have toilets, sinks and showers in the building. The private bunkhouses are situated close to a separate but nearby heated bathroom building with sinks, toilets and showers.
The bunkhouses all have electric heat and electric lights and electric outlets. No wifi. And cell service is spotty or non-existent.
A mattress is provided but other than that you'll need to bring your own bedding (sheets, blankets or sleeping bag, pillow, towel, toiletries. The bathrooms will have toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels.
No smoking, no firearms, no fireworks. If you're sick or showing any symptoms please stay home.
Pets are only allowed in one of the two pet-friendly dormitory style bunkhouses. No pets allowed in the main lodge.
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. You can pull up to the main lodge to drop off your stuff but you'll likely have to move your car and walk back to the camp after you unload your stuff.
Other Lodging & Camping
The closest hotel is the Rosario Resort, located just about 3 miles from the race start. There are other lodging choices available in Eastsound and various other places around the island including: Village Inn and Doe Bay Resort, who are offering a deal just for our runners and volunteers -- If you book 3 nights they're offering a 20% off discount for the 3rd night -- use the code RUN100 and they're offering 50% off reservations for their fantastic outdoor hot soaking pools.
Check out the Chamber of Commerce website, Airbnb and VRBO for more options.
There is camping in Moran State Park, in the winter but it's limited to Midway and Mountain Lake Campgrounds. Reservations can't be made in advance, it's first come/first serve at this time of year.
No camping/overnight parking at the start/finish parking lot area.
Volunteers wanted
If someone you know is interested in helping out please fill out this quick form and we'll get in touch. Volunteers not only earn a discount that can be used for any of our races but they also get all the food and drinks they want at the finish line/post race party they also can get a free bed in one of the bunkhouses. Oh and they get all the warm fuzzy feelings of helping make the race awesome for everyone!
If you need to cancel your registration -- deadline approaching
As runners ourselves we understand that shit happens and sometimes you can't make it to the race for one reason or another. We are sympathetic to what a bummer that is, on a variety of levels. NEW! We now are offering folks two options when they cancel their event registration 31 days or more in advance:
Option 1, you can rollover 100% of your race entry and other add-on charges (merch, meal tickets for guests, etc.) to the same event the following year.
OR
Option 2, receive a 50% credit that you can use for any of our events + 100% of merchandise or anything else extra you may have ordered.
If you're canceling 30 days or less in advance of the event a credit is your only option.
After you fill out the form we'll email you to confirm you've been rolled over to the next year's event or to give you a coupon code for a credit that you can use for one of our future events. We try to email you your code within a week of when you submit this form.
NO REFUNDS and NO BIB TRANSFERS TO OTHER PEOPLE
If you choose the credit option the amount of credit is based on when you submit this form to cancel your registration:
31 days or more before event day: 50% of your entry fee + 100% of merchandise or anything else extra you ordered.
30 days to 7 days before event day: 50% of your entry fee + 50% of merchandise or anything else extra you ordered.
Less than 7 days before event day or after the event: 0% of your entry fee + 0% of merchandise or anything else extra you ordered.
The coupon code can be used for any Rainshadow event.
The coupon code will be good for two years from the date we email you your coupon code.
If you choose the rollover option you can rollover your entry no more than two years in a row and it can only be rolled over to the same event.
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