Capitol Peak last minute updates

Greetings Capitol Peak entrants:
If you haven't gotten your mud flinging fix by now, Capitol Peak will surely take care of that! Although muddy, the trails are in good shape with minimal snow on Capitol Peak northern slopes and most of the down trees have been cleared with a few small ones remaining. We have had tremendous volunteers working hard on the Capitol Peak ridge and we thank everyone who were able to come out and help out. The following are updates or answers to questions..

1) Packet Pickup will be at South Sound Running at 3-6pm this Friday April 29, 2011. South Sound Running is located at 3409 Capitol Boulevard Olympia, WA. See the website for more details: http://www.southsoundrunning.com/contact_locations.php
If possible, please try and make the packet pickup, otherwise registration opens at 4:30am-5:45am at the start. Also, everyone must checkin at the start even if you already got your bib number at the packet pickup!
Tshirts (for those that purchased them) and bib numbers will also be given with your packets. If you cannot make the race and still want your tshirt please try and get someone to pick it up for you. Or email me to set up shipping costs and mailing. Otherwise we will sell your tshirt at the finish!

2) Camping at the start at Margaret McKenny campground is on a first come first serve basis and is free. That means, if you show up after dark, you might not find the optimum place to camp but you can still park your car and set up up your tent in some mud. There are no reservations for camping, just show up early if you are worried of pitching a tent in the mud;^). The gate will open at 12:00noon this Friday. If it's closed, it is only dumby locked and the lock just needs to be detached from the gate latch. Please respect the camp host if you do show up late!

3) We finally got a chance to finalize the course last week now that the snow has mostly melted. Thanks to Roger Michel (Evergreen Trail Runs RD) for helping measure the course! See the course page for the both 50 mile and 55k cue sheets as well as a planning spreadsheet for the 50 mile and 55k. We will also have a course profile up on the website soon. Thanks for all your patience on this information.
https://capitolpeakultras.com/Course.html
As you'll notice there is a spreadsheet for aid station planning (cutoff times, drop bags, crew access, and food/fuel). The cutoff times are based on a 13 hour total cutoff time at 7pm. So if you think it will take you longer covering an average speed of 3.8 mph (that is based on the 13 hour finishing time average speed), then you should consider the early start at 5am to get the full 14 hours! The cutoff times are needed in order to keep our wonderful aid station volunteers happy (that includes our awesome South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue radio team)! The cutoff at Capitol Peak A4 station (2nd time- which is about 20 miles after the Grunt) is at 11:30am, thus if you make it there at 11:31am and your in the 50 mile, you will need to back down to the 55k. But this gives everyone a chance to still attempt to finish at the 55k distance. Please respect this cutoff times as this will help us effectively sweep the course and make certain everyone is accounted for and safe. For anyone that misses the cutoff at Capitol A4 or anyone else that wants to cut it short to the 55k, please make sure you get marked "55k" on your bib so we keep track of 55k finishers for timing at the finish line.

4) Hammer Nutrition were very generous to offer 1 Hammer Gel and 1 Hammer Fizz tab per person in your packet. Hammer Heed drink mix was also offered to enjoy at the aid station . However, we purchased additional Hammer Gels but as every year we always have so much left over and decided to purchase more sparingly this year (to also help towards donating to Friends of Capitol Forest). Please be generous and only take one Hammer gel per aid station and also pack some of your own in your drop bags. We also purchased Hammer Fizz and Hammer Endurolytes (ECaps). Regardless, you won't go hungry as we also have the usual ultra food stocked at all the aid stations. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition for all their support!

5) We thank all the volunteers and sponsors who have come forward to help. Please thank your volunteers either at aid stations or at the finish. The main groups involved as volunteers include, Friends of Capitol Forest (Falls Creek station), Guerilla Running(Capitol jct station), Olympia Trail Runners (Wedekind station), Club Oly (A6 station) and Route 16 Running and Walking (timing at finish), Evergreen Trail Runs (registration), SPSMSAR (radio communication), Kris Ryding and Karen Wiggins (packet pickup). There are also so many other ultrarunners, my immediate family and friends from all over that will be out there to help support this event. We will have pint glasses with the Capitol Peak logo to show our thanks for all your help at the race. If you know anyone interested in volunteering, please let me know. Stay tuned volunteers for more details...I will be sending an email to you all soon!

6) Awards will be presented as you finish for the following categories. Thanks to our sponsors including Scott for providing running shoes, South Sound Running, The Balanced Athlete, Patagonia, Trail Runner magazine and Mug Revolution!
Awards to the first three men and women overall and first three men and women masters (40+) overall.
Mugs Awarded to the winner of each age group: 29 and under, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & Over
“First to the Peak” Award: Runner who reaches the top of Capitol Peak first and then finishes for male and female.
Capitol Forest Triple Crown Series: The fastest cumulative time for male and female to complete the Mega Fat Ass 34/17 mi, Guerrilla Running’s Mountain Marathon 26.2/13.1 mile, and Capitol Peak 50mi/55k. Winners will be rewarded of each long and short races divisions.
Middle of the Pack - male and female runner of the 50 mile and 55km
7) Post race meal will be served as you finish for all runners, volunteers and crew. Thanks in advance to my parents who will be cooking the awesome soup. Also special thanks to San Francisco Street Bakery and Olympia Food Coop for all the generous food donations!

Thanks to everyone for signing up and supporting Friends of Capitol Forest and South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue! Please let me know if you have any other questions.

See you all at 5:45am this Saturday at the race briefing!

John Pearch
RD- Capitol Peak Ultras
360-250-2006
capitolpeak@gmail.com