Updates and Semi-Useful Info for the MM50
THANKS
First we want to thank you for signing up for this challenging race. Not only is a 50 Mile race difficult in the best conditions, you incredible men and women will be trying to complete it in the mid summer Oklahoma heat and humidity on unforgiving asphalt.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We have been working hard to make sure there are enough volunteers to help cheer and motivate you to keep going and finish this incredible goal, but we still need many more volunteers. Please click the link below to sign up to help....
Volunteers Link
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course will consist of three 16.66 mile out & backs. Below is a course map that shows the Aid Stations...
Click to print
The course is 100% on a paved trail. The trail will be marked with orange pylons/cones and there may be some sidewalk chalk and signs with arrows. While the trail is very straight-forward, and will be marked well, like many races, you still need to pay attention to your surrounding and look for the course markings. We will hope to have a lead cyclist for the first lap.
The course is mostly flat except for the area near Turkey mountain where there is one long gradual slope and one very steep slope that will make you curse as you are on the "back" portion of the out and back.
The route should be lit for 80% of the course, but there will be stretches of darkness. The area is considered safe, but as with any run through the night, please pay attention to your surroundings.
About half of the trail is a multi-use trail that branches into two parallel trails. The trail closest to the river is for runners and the trail furthest from the river is for bikes, and other wheeled vehicles. Please stay on the trail closest to the river.
Around sunrise the trail will become inhabited by local runners, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts. You will get lots of "way to go's" as the sun comes up!
There will be indoor restrooms at both the start/finish line as well as at Turkey Mtn (mile 4.5) We also may have a porta-potty near mile 7 to 8.5.
PARKING
There are only about 75 parking spots in the lot adjacent to the start finish. However there is additional parking in the neighborhoods across the street from the Start/Finish location.
SAFETY
We are making it mandatory for all runners and/or pacers to wear some type of light (preferably a headlamp or flashlight) for the entire first out and back. This is for us to see you out on the course as well as for you to see the trail. After the first circuit, if you feel you do not need a light to see, we still ask that you wear some type of "blinky light" or something so that we can find you if you get lost, hurt etc.
50 miles is a long way to go and the heat will be definitely be and issue. Please drink more than you think you will need. Make sure to mix electrolytes with water. Do not drink all water and no gatorade or visa-versa. In addition to the aid stations there will also be water fountains along the course.
If you feel like you cannot make it for another lap, find a cool shady spot, relax and rest for a while. Then re-evaluate and make the determination if you can go on. Many times you will get a second wind and your attitude will change after rest and hydration.
We want to give you that medal!!! However if you cannot finish, we will give a you hug and/or a handshake and take off your bib#.
CUTOFF TIMES
Cut-off time for finishing the second out and back will be generous, at 10am. Any runner who crosses the start/finish line at mile 33.3, after 10am will have their race tag pulled and strongly advised to stop running. Results will NOT be posted for runners who do not complete their second out and back (33.3 miles) by 10am.
There is also a cutoff time for finishing the 50 miles. This time is 3pm in which we will start packing up and going home.
These are STRICT CUT-OFF TIMES. Please do not try to persuade a race official or volunteer to allow you to continue.
FREE GPS RUNNER TRACKING
We are excited to announce a new feature this year that will benefit both the runners, pacers, friends, family and cheerleaders.
This is our real time runner GPS tracking. Tatur Racing's Chronotrack timing system and Run Sign Up online company both support Race Joy's Advanced Runner Tracking.
This means if the runner decides to enable this feature, the race organizers as well as pacers, crew and anyone with the app can watch the "blue dot" travel along the course in real time and know where up to 50 runners are along the course.
If you want to allow others to track you, you must do three things...
1) Download and enable the app to track you.
2) Carry your smart phone in your hydration pack, gear belt or pocket.
3) Ensure that your phone will stay charged for all or most of the race. If you do not have an external battery pack, you should! We recommend a 7,000 to 15,000 mAh (milliamp hour) charger that can be picked up fairly cheaply nowadays at any Best Buy, Wal-Mart or electronics store.
Links to learn more....
CHIP TIMING INFO
Chips for the 2017 race will be a small strip on the back side of your bib number. This way you can change shoes without worrying about messing with your chip. If you plan on taking off and on your shirt, we ask that you pin your race number to your shorts. If you crumple your shirt (with bib number on the shirt) you will damage the timing chip.
Each time you go over the timing mats, you may be credited for a lap. So PLEASE stay away from the start/finish timing mats unless you are completing a lap!
PACKET PICKUP INFO
We will have packet pickup ONLY at the race. There is no need to make any extra trip anywhere to get your packet.
There should be no need to pick up packets for a friend or family member.
Each runner will get a bib with the chip on back as well as a bib for one pacer. The pacer bib will not have a chip on the back.
DROP BAGS
Runners can leave drop bags at just about any spot at the Start/Finish as well as a designated area where we will transport your drop bags up to Turkey Mtn. Drop bags for Turkey Mtn. need to be in place no later than 11:45pm.
Drop bags need to be labeled with the runners bib # and Full Name. We also ask that if you have ice chests that you duct tape them closed so that they do not leak on others' drop bags.
Most runners will need their drop bags before 3pm and we will give you directions to Turkey Mtn. which is about a 7 minute drive and you can pick up your own drop bag.
Turkey Mtn. drop bags will not be returned to the Start/Finish till 3pm, when the race is over.
Pacers DO NOT need to sign up for the race. You will however need to arrange for your pacer to pickup the pacer bib number that you will have in your packet. Please try to have your pacer wear the number as they are running with you.
Pacers are only allowed after mile 16.6 (start of the 2nd out-and-back) unless you are 60 and older or feel you need a pacer.
With the race occurring during the Fourth of July weekend, we anticipate some the party crowd to be out and about. If for safety reasons you feel that you want a pacer for the first out-and-back, please talk to the race directors, Brian and Chris, and we may be persuaded to allow it.
Runners can have more than one pacer at a time as long as one of the pacers is one pacer is wearing the bib number.
Pacer cannot carry water, clothing, gear etc for the runner. This is called "Muling" and is not allowed as it gives the runner an unfair advantage over runners who are not using a pacer. We do allow bicycles to function as pacers as long as they obey all the above pacer rules
Other than a medical emergency, pacers cannot provide physical assistance to the runner. This includes holding their hand, helping them up if they fall etc.
Other than a medical emergency, friends and family (crew members) may only meet runners at either of the three aid stations or water drops and may help the runner with anything they need at these 3 spots. We ask that crew members stay off the course as much as possible.
AID STATIONS
There will be a full aid station at the start/finish and Turkey Mountain (~mile 4.5) There will also be a less well stocked aid station at the turnaround point (mile 8.33)
Aid stations will have a large assortment of food. The three S's will be well covered. We will have the salty's, sweets and some sustenance. There are just too many items for us to list them all and each aid station will have different items
Aid stations will also have water, gatorade, limited medical supplies and salt tablets. They will NOT have Gu's, Shot Blocks or other such items!!
BLING
Each finisher will get a 3.5" glow-in-the-dark finishers medal. All entrants will receive a shirt. The top three male and female runners will also get an award. We will NOT give out age groups awards.
We are still looking for a food truck who can serve anearly lunch from 10am till 3pm. Tatur Racing would pay for the lunches.
NO ICE TUB IN 2017
Unless we can find someone to donate a large water trough or hot tub, we will not have an ice tub as we have in years past.
MORE INFO
We know that we cannot cover everything even in a long email. There is more info on the
website
and you can always email us at
brian@tatur.org
or schnelle4@me.com
Brian's cell# is 918-244-6918.
We will do our best to keep our phones close by and get back to you, but please keep in mind that all day on Monday July 3rd, we will be out on the course and extremely busy getting things ready so you may not get a quick reply. If you have an urgent question or issue please call, if it is not urgent please email us. We will be also be checking the Tatur Facebook page in the next few days.
DNF's
We once heard a good way to determine if you should quit or not.
"If you that there is even a small chance that you may look at yourself in the mirror come Monday morning and say I am a big ole "*%&$* and I know I could have finished but I just wimped out......then you should keep going !"
If you think you will look in the mirror on Wednesday morning and say to yourself, thank goodness I quit and I really did give it all I had, then you should stop.
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