I'm going to post the emails that I've sent out here for those that signed up last minute:
emailed on June 15th
---------------------------------
2 days til start!
OK, I didn’t get many questions, so sounds like y’all are ready to go.
Course Conditions
The course is snow free. From the Mt Ashland Lodge, follow the summit trail to Dream and head straight up Dream. The course will be flagged from the lodge up to the finish. See instagram posts @ashland_uphill_running for some pics.
Finish
Is the Radome. Touch the structure to stop your time. Yell out your bib number to make this easier for the finish line timers. The summit access road still has deep patches of snow on it, so we will NOT be able to drive up there and provide aid goodies. The gate is still closed, but if it does open between now and race day, please do NOT try to drive up the summit road. There are a few patches of snow that are quite deep and the summit will not be accessible by vehicles. Take a few minutes to rest, catch some nice views (go get a glimpse of Shasta), and cheer on your fellow racers. Then make your way back down for some food and bevys.
Check in
Make sure to check in on race morning so we know you are racing (even if you went to packet pick up on Fri). We’ll hand you a raffle ticket at this check in. Muy importante!
Hoka
Thanks to Hoka, we’ve got 6 vouchers for the new Tecton X2s! The first male and first female winners will get a voucher, then the other 4 will be raffled off.
Cupless
We are going cupless this year. I suggest everyone carry at least a small handheld bottle or a collapsible cup for the race.
Weather
Looks like we’ll luck out with this weather and the temps will stay nice and cool the entire race. In fact it could be hottest at the start and stay in the mid 50s during the race. Perfect hill climb weather!
Ashland - high of 82F (60F at start)
Summit - high of 59F (55F at 11am, 59 at 1 pm)
Age Groups
Prizes for top 3 overall (M/F) and Top 3 from M&F 0-14 will get Matcha Boba Gift Certificates.
Podiums for: M&F 0-14; M/F 15-30; M/F 30-39; M/F 40-49; M/F 50-59; M/F 60+
Packet pick up
3:30 - 6 pm at Rogue Valley Runners on Friday! Please try your best to come on Fri. It’ll be a good time to pick up some last minute items (a new HOKA?) and sandbag your buddies about how out of shape you are. But if you really can’t make it, we’ll have packet pick ups at 6:30 am on race morning. That’ll probably end at 7 am, so show up early.
Volunteers
I’m still looking for a few volunteers for race morning. We just need a few more folks to help direct traffic. Ideally we can have 2 folks per spot. Let me know if you know of a friend or a family member who can help out. This would be from 7 am - 8:30 am, so you’ll be able to catch the runners at the finish still.
Poles
Mt Ashland has graciously offered up some poles for the last section of the race so we won’t have to carry your poles up in your drop bags. There will be various sizes. Prior to that section it’s all fire road and not as steep, so you won’t need poles. You can use your own poles if you have friends or family driving up to meet you at Mt A. *Please no poles in the drop bags, we won’t have room.
Drop Bags
Please keep it small, it should just be a change of clothes. The lodge will be open, there’ll be plenty of food, snacks, and beverages. You really won’t need anything up there. Make sure to mark it with your bib number so we can keep it organized. No poles in the drop bags please (we don’t have room)!
Shirts
We will have older shirts from previous years on sale. Most of them don’t have a year on them. Some are tech shirts from Craft or Nike and we’ve even got some long sleeve tech shirts. Those will be 20$. Bring cash.
Thanks for reading through this email!
See you at packet pick up tomorrow! And just FYI, I crashed mtn biking two days ago, so I have a band aid above my eye.
Emailed June 8th
----------------------------------------------------
Dear runners!
Hope you are getting excited for the Mt Ashland Hill Climb! I certainly am, as you can see from all the exclamation marks (I’ll stop). But please read this and review the information on the website (I’ve added more details).
Packet pick up
Will be at Rogue Valley Runners in Ashland on Fri from 3:30 pm to 6 pm. Home of the best running shop in Oregon. We’ll have a few extra race shirts on sale for 25$, bring cash. We’ll also have a variety of older shirts (with no year) long sleeve and short sleeve on sale for 20$. If you really can’t make it to RVR on Fri, we’ll do some packet pick ups at 6:30 am - 7 am race morning near the start line.
Race Day Check In
We will be enforcing a mandatory check-in on race day so that we can get an accurate headcount of who is on the course.
Drop Bags
Please keep it tiny! Remember that the lodge will be open, so you won’t freeze, and we’ll provide snacks and drinks so you can recover.
Course conditions
I know we had a big winter, but the course is melting out quickly. I ran up to the summit today and there are patches of snow to the lodge which will be gone by race day. And the summit trail is actually in decent shape. Mostly snow-free except for the very top. I will head up again next week to keep you updated on the conditions. Keep an eye on the Instagram page for updates @ashland_uphill_running
Cutoffs
We’ve got two cutoffs - 10 am at 4 Corners & 1 pm at Mt A Lodge. If you don’t make your cutoff you are on your own and not part of the race any more. You’ll be asked to remove your bib, but you are free to continue and finish the race (take extra water and food from the aid station) or negotiate a ride down with one of the volunteers at the aid station.
After you finish
You’ll be asked to hike back down to the lodge. That Common Block beer will taste extra yummy that way. We’ll also have a few cases of Athletic Brewing for those who want a non alcoholic beer option. If you ordered a burger, get your burger. And the lodge will be open for other refreshments and food.
Spectating
This is a tough race for spectators. After sending off your racer at the start line, you may be able to catch them at the top of Terrace st or Morton st. Note that there will be road closures for the race within city limits, so that may delay your viewing. Once the racers are past Morton St the next spot to spectate will be at Mt Ashland. We encourage families and friends to join us at the lodge to cheer on the racers as they tackle the last mile. The lodge will be open, serving refreshments and food. We’ll also have help cheering on the racers from the Elbow Room Taiko Drummers, so come up and enjoy the festivities!
Weekend Events
Questions?
Send me your questions and I’ll try to answer them in the next email, which will have last minute updates.
And I’d like to thank Erik Taylor at the US Forest Service and Andrew Gast at Mt Ashland.
Finally, thanks to our sponsors for making this possible:
emailed on June 15th
---------------------------------
2 days til start!
OK, I didn’t get many questions, so sounds like y’all are ready to go.
Course Conditions
The course is snow free. From the Mt Ashland Lodge, follow the summit trail to Dream and head straight up Dream. The course will be flagged from the lodge up to the finish. See instagram posts @ashland_uphill_running for some pics.
Finish
Is the Radome. Touch the structure to stop your time. Yell out your bib number to make this easier for the finish line timers. The summit access road still has deep patches of snow on it, so we will NOT be able to drive up there and provide aid goodies. The gate is still closed, but if it does open between now and race day, please do NOT try to drive up the summit road. There are a few patches of snow that are quite deep and the summit will not be accessible by vehicles. Take a few minutes to rest, catch some nice views (go get a glimpse of Shasta), and cheer on your fellow racers. Then make your way back down for some food and bevys.
Check in
Make sure to check in on race morning so we know you are racing (even if you went to packet pick up on Fri). We’ll hand you a raffle ticket at this check in. Muy importante!
Hoka
Thanks to Hoka, we’ve got 6 vouchers for the new Tecton X2s! The first male and first female winners will get a voucher, then the other 4 will be raffled off.
Cupless
We are going cupless this year. I suggest everyone carry at least a small handheld bottle or a collapsible cup for the race.
Weather
Looks like we’ll luck out with this weather and the temps will stay nice and cool the entire race. In fact it could be hottest at the start and stay in the mid 50s during the race. Perfect hill climb weather!
Ashland - high of 82F (60F at start)
Summit - high of 59F (55F at 11am, 59 at 1 pm)
Age Groups
Prizes for top 3 overall (M/F) and Top 3 from M&F 0-14 will get Matcha Boba Gift Certificates.
Podiums for: M&F 0-14; M/F 15-30; M/F 30-39; M/F 40-49; M/F 50-59; M/F 60+
Packet pick up
3:30 - 6 pm at Rogue Valley Runners on Friday! Please try your best to come on Fri. It’ll be a good time to pick up some last minute items (a new HOKA?) and sandbag your buddies about how out of shape you are. But if you really can’t make it, we’ll have packet pick ups at 6:30 am on race morning. That’ll probably end at 7 am, so show up early.
Volunteers
I’m still looking for a few volunteers for race morning. We just need a few more folks to help direct traffic. Ideally we can have 2 folks per spot. Let me know if you know of a friend or a family member who can help out. This would be from 7 am - 8:30 am, so you’ll be able to catch the runners at the finish still.
Poles
Mt Ashland has graciously offered up some poles for the last section of the race so we won’t have to carry your poles up in your drop bags. There will be various sizes. Prior to that section it’s all fire road and not as steep, so you won’t need poles. You can use your own poles if you have friends or family driving up to meet you at Mt A. *Please no poles in the drop bags, we won’t have room.
Drop Bags
Please keep it small, it should just be a change of clothes. The lodge will be open, there’ll be plenty of food, snacks, and beverages. You really won’t need anything up there. Make sure to mark it with your bib number so we can keep it organized. No poles in the drop bags please (we don’t have room)!
Shirts
We will have older shirts from previous years on sale. Most of them don’t have a year on them. Some are tech shirts from Craft or Nike and we’ve even got some long sleeve tech shirts. Those will be 20$. Bring cash.
Thanks for reading through this email!
See you at packet pick up tomorrow! And just FYI, I crashed mtn biking two days ago, so I have a band aid above my eye.
Emailed June 8th
----------------------------------------------------
Dear runners!
Hope you are getting excited for the Mt Ashland Hill Climb! I certainly am, as you can see from all the exclamation marks (I’ll stop). But please read this and review the information on the website (I’ve added more details).
Packet pick up
Will be at Rogue Valley Runners in Ashland on Fri from 3:30 pm to 6 pm. Home of the best running shop in Oregon. We’ll have a few extra race shirts on sale for 25$, bring cash. We’ll also have a variety of older shirts (with no year) long sleeve and short sleeve on sale for 20$. If you really can’t make it to RVR on Fri, we’ll do some packet pick ups at 6:30 am - 7 am race morning near the start line.
Race Day Check In
We will be enforcing a mandatory check-in on race day so that we can get an accurate headcount of who is on the course.
Drop Bags
Please keep it tiny! Remember that the lodge will be open, so you won’t freeze, and we’ll provide snacks and drinks so you can recover.
Course conditions
I know we had a big winter, but the course is melting out quickly. I ran up to the summit today and there are patches of snow to the lodge which will be gone by race day. And the summit trail is actually in decent shape. Mostly snow-free except for the very top. I will head up again next week to keep you updated on the conditions. Keep an eye on the Instagram page for updates @ashland_uphill_running
Cutoffs
We’ve got two cutoffs - 10 am at 4 Corners & 1 pm at Mt A Lodge. If you don’t make your cutoff you are on your own and not part of the race any more. You’ll be asked to remove your bib, but you are free to continue and finish the race (take extra water and food from the aid station) or negotiate a ride down with one of the volunteers at the aid station.
After you finish
You’ll be asked to hike back down to the lodge. That Common Block beer will taste extra yummy that way. We’ll also have a few cases of Athletic Brewing for those who want a non alcoholic beer option. If you ordered a burger, get your burger. And the lodge will be open for other refreshments and food.
Spectating
This is a tough race for spectators. After sending off your racer at the start line, you may be able to catch them at the top of Terrace st or Morton st. Note that there will be road closures for the race within city limits, so that may delay your viewing. Once the racers are past Morton St the next spot to spectate will be at Mt Ashland. We encourage families and friends to join us at the lodge to cheer on the racers as they tackle the last mile. The lodge will be open, serving refreshments and food. We’ll also have help cheering on the racers from the Elbow Room Taiko Drummers, so come up and enjoy the festivities!
Weekend Events
- Sat (June 10) - SOB training run #2 - Meet at the Mt Ashland Parking Lot at 8:30 am. 50 Nike bucket hats up for grabs.
- Sun (June 11) - AWTA Trail Work! - Meet at the top of Granite St at 8:30 am. Pizza and refreshments provided
Questions?
Send me your questions and I’ll try to answer them in the next email, which will have last minute updates.
And I’d like to thank Erik Taylor at the US Forest Service and Andrew Gast at Mt Ashland.
Finally, thanks to our sponsors for making this possible:
- Shepherd’s Dream
- Momentum
- Rogue Credit Union
- Full Circle Real Estate
- Neuman Hotels
- Rogue Valley Runners
- Common Block Brewing
- Athletic Brewing
- Jackson County Physical Therapy
- Matcha Boba House
- Case Coffee
- True South Solar
