Welcome to Race Week! Weather looks pretty darn good!

Here are the important things upfront:

Saturday:

1. MAKE SURE YOU ENTER FROM RAMSEY STREET!! See map below. If you enter from the wrong side it is a 20 minute drive 

2. Schedule:  Park opens at 6AM. Parking will be handled by the park rangers. Follow all directions from them.

Carvers Creek State Park - Sandhills Access, 995 McCloskey Road, Fayetteville, NC  28311

• 6:30 AM - Packet Pick Up Opens
• 7:45 AM - Packet Pick Up Closes
• 8:00 AM - Race Start
• 12:15 PM - Cutoff to start second lap (50K ONLY)
• 5:00 PM - Course closed

Now for the rest of the important stuff:

Race Admin: At Packet Pick up you will get your race bib (safety pins available and wear on your front) and your race shirt. No exchanges until after the race. If available, you can potentially swap for a different available size.

Bathrooms: If you have to go #1 or #2 there will be porta pottys and park bathrooms only at the start/finish. Please do not throw trash in them.

Dogs: Yes, if you are an experienced Canicross runner with a North American Canicross registered dog that has a minimum of 50 miles logged and have contacted us. No, if you don't have this.

The race start is on the trail near the park information board. This is a GUN START race. The finish line is near the parking lot; it will be obvious. See map below. 

25K runners: When you finish, we will stamp your medal with the distance and then hand it to you.

50K runners: For you awesome folks just pass through the chute and hit the aid station on your way back to the start line for you second loop. When you finish, we will stamp your medal with the distance and then hand it to you as well.

Course: The loop consists of 16.2 miles of trails, firebreaks, and the boundary line dirt road. There are sections with sand, tree lined trails, some technical parts, some areas may have water on it, you may have to cross a stream or two, roots, ruts, and other natural trail obstacles. There will be ample signs (White signs with blue/red arrows and Red Arrows) and trail flagging (Police Line yellow tape) to make sure you stay on course. You will have to pay attention as you run. There is a link to view the map. You can also download the GPX file as well. This map is spot on.  

Aid Stations: There will be water and light snacks at mile 5.5 and mile 11.6. THERE WILL BE NO CUPS AVAILABLE AT THE AID STATION. We are CUPLESS, you MUST have a hydration vest, handheld or the like with you. When you get back to the start/finish area there will be a fully stocked aid station with water, gatorade, coke, PB&J, hummus/avocado wraps, chips, fruit cups, pickles, granola bars, beef sticks, assorted candies, fig newtons & gummy bears to help you get a couple hundred extra calories for your second loop.

Drops: If you need to drop, please get to an aid station and call us at 740-646-0727. If there is an emergency, please call 911 and notify us ASAP. The park staff will be able to respond quickly as well. If you are a 50k runner and you need to drop to the 25k, just let us know when you finish the first loop.

Results: Will be posted during the race and will also be posted when final on Run sign up after the race. We'll send out a race email.

Trail Etiquette: Do not litter. If you take it in, take it out. If you’re speedy, start in the front & make sure you call out passing. Pass on the left when possible. If you’re going at party pace, start in the back. Be mindful of others that may be attempting to pass & step aside in areas that are single track. Listen to your body. Have the required gear of a hydration vessel & fuel to meet your physical needs out there. If you prefer poles to help you climb, those are absolutely allowed! Anyone that needs to drop from the race during the event will have to do so at a water point when on the course. Help your fellow runners. If there is an injury notify us (740-646-0727). The first person to locate an injured runner should stay until help arrives. We will have the State Park Rangers there with full medic capabilities. Kindness. Be respectful of others on the trail. The park will not be closed to the public and so you may encounter others in the nonrestricted areas. Any disrespectful behavior towards other runners or volunteers will result in removal from the event.

This is a small field of runners and that will help us take notes, observe, and listen to you guys about what is good and what is not for next year.

We look forward to seeing you all and hope you have a great race!!

-  Shawn and Stacy