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2012 Mt. Werner Classic - NEW! - 50K Trail Run

“Live simply so others may simply live.” - Mother Teresa

In 2012, the Mt. Werner Classic is becoming a 50K trail running race!  See below for details on the new course.

Items of note for 2012:

• The Mt. Werner Classic will be a one distance race and will NOT include the 5M and 12M courses as run in previous years.    
• The race will continue to be directed by the same group as the four previous years.
• We will continue as a Zero Waste Green trail running event.
• Once again, no cups on the course.
• Online registration only and no day-of registration.

What: Newly designed 50K trail run

When: Saturday, August 4th, 2012. Packet pick-up is from 6 am to 6:45 am on race day.  Race starts at 7 am and the course is open for 9 hours until 4 pm.

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

Registration: This race is capped at 125 runners.   All runners who pre-register by noon Friday July 27th will receive a custom printed bib with your name on it. There is no race day registration for this event. There is no paper registration at Ski Haus for this race; online registration only in 2012. 

What you receive: Entry gift, great food, prizes for Top 3 M & F Open as well as Top 3 M & F Masters and raffle entry prizes for all registered participants. We have not finalized the entry gift for 2012, but in prior years we have always tried to make it unique and well worth your entry fee.  Stay tuned for more information on this as it becomes available.

Rendering of 2011 custom Mt. Werner Classic embroidered Headsweats race visor is available on the right side of this page. Please remember that post race food is for runners and volunteers only.

The Course:

Course Map & Race Profile

• Once available, I will upload a course map for this new course.
• The first runner to send me a course elevation profile for the completed 2012 race will receive a free entry into the 2013 event.

Elevation

• Starting and Ending Elevation - 6,896 ft.
• Elevation Gain - Roughly 5,100 ft.

   Aid Station Mileage

Course Descriptions:

New this year, the Mt. Werner Classic is becoming a 50K event.  We will have only one distance this year and will not have a 5M or 12M course as in year's past.

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 the 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 and a variety of ultra runnering 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. 

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

Because this is a new event, I have not yet had someone run the full course to create a distance / elevation profile.  However the first 10M of the 50K is the same as the first 10M of last year's 12 mile trail run.

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.

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 from 6 am - 6:45 am. 

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 Event

Great Photos from the 2011 Mt. Werner Classic

The Mt. Werner Classic is excited to announce that it is continuing efforts in 2012 to be 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 2012, 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.

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

• In 2011, 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 2008-2011, 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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Contacts:
Emily Conjura

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