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2013 Mount Werner Classic - 50K Trail Run

“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better, It's not." - Dr. Seuss

NEW in 2013 - In order to help ensure the safety of our runners and respect the time of our volunteers there will be an OUTBOUND CUTOFF time of 3 hours and 15 minutes (10:15 am) at the top of Mt. Werner (9.5M).  This cutoff will be strictly enforced by my husband.  No runner will be allowed to continue running after the outbound cutoff has passed (with or without a bib).  Runners missing the cutoff will be transported by vehicle to the top of the gondola to download on their own.  This is a difficult 50K and not recommended to anyone as their first 50K.  If you don't think that you can make the cutoff, please consider trying another 50K first before signing up for this event.  There will be no refunds for people missing the outbound cutoff.  This cutoff time was set based on the 2012 race splits.  All runners who missed this 3 hour and 15 minute cutoff in 2012, ultimately ended up missing future cutoffs.  No runner who finished the 2012 race would have missed this cutoff.

What people are saying about our race:

• Trudgin Along Blog by Patrick Garcia
• Rocky Mountain Raider Blog by Peter Jones
• Single Track Mind Blog by Matt Wiencek
• Kind of Like Fun Blog by Mike Randall
• Race video by Sherpa John
• Single Track Summits Blog by Ethan Lockwood
• Post-race article in the Steamboat Today
• Pre-race article in the Steamboat Today

The Mt. Werner Classic is a sustainable, environmentally friendly green trail running event. Our most ambitious effort to date was to completely eliminate cups from the 2009 race. Instead that year we offered handheld water bottles from Ultimate Direction (UD) for runner's on the course.  In 2013, we will remain a cupless trail running event!  What does this mean to you, the runner; bring your own water container to run with.  There will be plenty of water at the aid stations, but you will need something to put it in.

• The Mt. Werner Classic is a one distance race and in 2013 will NOT include the 5M and 12M courses as run in previous years.    
• The race is directed by the same group as the five previous years.
• We continued as a Zero Waste Green trail running event.
• Once again, no cups on the course.
• Online registration only and no day-of registration.
• New in 2013:
  • Small cash prize for the first man and first woman to the top of Mt. Werner
  • We are a participating race in the 2013 Trail Runner Trophy Series
• We will continue to award a special prize and recognition to:
  • Best Young Runner - first race finisher (male and female) 26 years and younger

What: 50K trail run

When: Saturday, August 3rd, 2013. Packet pick-up is from 6 am to 6:45 am on race day in Gondola Square between the new stage and the new promenade.  Race starts at 7 am and the course is open for 9 hours until 4 pm.  We will also have packet pickup the evening of Friday August 2nd, 2013 at Straightline Sports in Downtown Steamboat from 6 to 8 pm.

Where: All runners meet at the base of the Steamboat Ski Area next to the Gondola in Gondola Square.

Registration:  Registration for 2013 is open at www.runningseries.com.  The 2013 race will be capped at 125 runners.  There is no race day registration for this event.  There is no paper registration at Ski Haus for this race; online registration only.  There will be no wait list for runners.  Once the event if full, we will close registration.  The race is currently 30% full as of 5/16/2013.

What you receive: Entry gift, great food, finisher medal, custom race bib, prizes for Top 3 M & F Open as well as Top 3 M & F Masters (45 & up) and raffle entry prizes for all registered participants. We are still deciding on the 2013 entry gift but in 2012 the entry gift was a long sleeve Patagonia technical shirt made with e-fibers (This product is made from an environmentally conscious fabric like organically grown cotton, Tencel® lyocell, hemp, chlorine-free wool, recycled polyester or recycled nylon).

The Course:

Course Map & Race Profile

• A course map and elevation profile has been posted in the upper right hand corner of this page as an image. 

• 2013 Mt. Werner Classic 50K Course / Elevation / Distance via Garmin Connect (info provided by two runners of the 2012 event)

  • http://connect.garmin.com/activity/206669984
  • http://connect.garmin.com/player/206675190

Elevation

• Starting and Ending Elevation - 6,896 ft.
• High point - 10,400 ft.
• Elevation Gain - 6,300 ft.

Aid Station Mileage & Cutoff times (7 am race start)

Course Descriptions:

The Mt. Werner Classic is a 50K trail running race.  We will have only one distance this year and will not have a 5M or 12M course as in year's past.  Look for this these shorter distances to return in future years.

This will be an out and back course with a slight variation on the return.  There will be four different aid stations on the course (seven in total) including one next to the Snowmaking Building at the top of the Christie Lift, one at Rainbow Saddle, one at the top of Storm Peak and one at the Long Lake turnaround.

Runners are advised to bring their own water bottles or a camelback for those in-between sections. Those interested in volunteering for this race will be compensated with post race food and whatever else we can come up with to thank you!

• Zig Zag to Yoo Hoo to Valley View Trail (Aid Station 1 near the Snowmaking Buiding).
• Continue up the Valley View Trail, down Spur Run Trail, left onto Moonlight, right onto Elkhead Trail (Aid Station 2 at Rainbow Saddle).
• After Aid Station 2, follow Duster to Pete’s Wicked Trail to the top of Storm Peak (Aid Station 3 near Buddy Werner’s statue).
• From the Top of Mt. Werner continue onto Mountain View Trail (FS Trail 1032) right onto Fish Creek Falls Trail (FS Trail 1102) to Long Lake, around Long Lake to Intersection with Fish Creek Reservoir Road (Aid Station 4 and the race turnaround).
• Runners will then retrace their steps around Long Lake, back onto Fish Creek Falls Trail, taking a left onto the Mountain View Trail back to the top of Storm Peak (Aid Station 5).
• Descend Pete’s Wicked Trail to the intersection with Cathy’s Cutoff, taking a right onto Cathy’s Cutoff.  Descend Cathy's Cutoff to the intersection with Sunshine Trail, taking a right onto Sunshine Trail.  Descend Sunshine Trail to the junction with Storm Peak Challenge and take a left following it back to Rainbow Saddle (Aid Station 6).
• Runners will then follow the same course, in reverse order, as they did on the ascent; Elkhead, Moonlight, Spur Run and Valley View, passing through Aid Station 7 near the Snomaking Building.
• Runners continue to descend via the combination of the Valley View, Yoo Hoo, and Zig Zag Trails on the lower mountain, finishing where they began, in Gondola Square.
• Total Mileage: 31 miles
• Elevation Gain: Roughly 5,100 ft.
• Note: Ski Area Mountain bike trails can be viewed online by name using Trail Map -> Mountain Biking Trails  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What is going to be at the aid stations?

There are 4 different aid stations (7 in total), all of which you will pass by twice; with the exception of the turnaround of course.  Each aid station will be stocked with water, Gatorade, energy bars, energy gummies and a variety of ultra running snacks (think pretzels, PB&J, turkey and cheese wraps, potato chips, etc).

Please bring your own water carrying device because the aid stations won't have cups.

Can I have a pacer / can I bring a drop bag?

No and No.  This is not an easy 50K.  With roughly 5,100 ft. of elevation gain and considerable time spent above 10,000 feet; if you think that you need a drop bag or a pacer than you likely should try another 50K first. 

Do you have a distance/elevation chart profile for both courses?

I have had someone create an elevation profile of the course, a "Map My Hike" as well as a Google Earth fly-over video.  Check them out as they are all quite impressive.

Do you have a cut-off time for the 50K?

We ask that all runners be able to finish the 50K in 9 hours or less.  Detailed cut-off times are provided in the above Aid Station distance table. New in 2013 is an outbound cut-off of 3 hours and 15 minutes, at mile 9.5 (the top of Mt. Werner).

When is packet pick-up for the race?

Packet pickup takes place on the morning of the race, Saturday August 4, 2012, at the Base of the Steamboat Ski Area in Gondola Square from 6 am - 6:45 am. We will also have packet pick-up the evening before the race at Straightline Sports in Downtown Steamboat from 6 to 8 pm.

I don't know the area very well, how do I get to the race start?

There are many ways to get to the base area, but the simplest for someone unfamiliar with the area is to take Hwy 40 and exit at Mt. Werner Road (the only overpass exit in Steamboat).  Head up towards the ski area.  There is a parking garage between the Steamboat Grand Hotel and the Sheraton Hotel that is free.  Walk towards the gondola building in Gondola Square and you will find packet pick-up set up next to the Gondola building.

Here is a link to a Google map

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Additional Information on the Mt. Werner Classic Event

2012

Final 2012 Race Results with Aid Station Splits 

Race within a race award winners

If any runner has aid station mileage splits from the 2012 race that they could share with me, I would greatly appreciate it - emilyconjura@hotmail.com

Thanks to all of the runners and volunteers that participated in the race!

Lost and found items from the race (email me emilyconjura@hotmail.com if this is yours)

• Earrings
• Yellow Amphipod water holder
• Black McDavid compression band

2011

Great Photos from the 2011 Mt. Werner Classic

Miscellaneous

What follows is a list of green initiatives that the race has undertaken:

• In 2011 & 2012, continued to use reusable plates, forks and spoons for the finish line meal & organic post race meal.
• In 2010, we became a Zero Waste event and recycled or composted all but one gallon zip-lock bag full of trash.  We also had HeadSweats visors made out of Cocona® - a material where the activated carbon in the fabric is made from recycled coconut shells – a natural and renewable resource.
• In 2009, handheld water bottles were provided and the race went completely cupless. All cups were eliminated from the start, finish and the aid stations. Runner's were encouraged to bring their own hydration devices or to use the free Ultimate Direction FastDraw handheld water bottle that were given away at the race.
• In 2008, reusable logo'd shopping bags were given out to each racer.
• Ongoing:
  • Online registration, race information and race results
  • Recycling dead trail and road running shoes at the race start. Shoes were donated to Soles4Souls .
  • Recycling bins for any plastic water bottles or drink bottles that runners bring to the race. In 2008-2012, we recycled nearly all post-race waste.
  • Reusable forks, knives, spoons, plates, etc.
  • Serve Organic locally grown food at the post race meal.
  • Encourage runners to ride their bikes and/or carpool to the event from out of town.

If you can think of other ways to help us green-up our event with product sponsorships or good old ideas – please feel free to send them to Race Director Emily Conjura.

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Race Director:
Emily Conjura

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