25K, 50K, and 50-mile trail races
Saturday, March 22, 2008

The 2007 Frary Peak Hill Climb was also a great run. Read the race report and results here.

Here's your chance to run where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play (oh, give me a home etc.). Sing along! Antelope Island State Park is on the largest island (28,000 acres) in the Great Salt Lake. There are about 45 miles of trails there with 500 head of buffalo to dodge. Sometime they move, sometimes they don't. Anyone in the Salt Lake area who's run these trails enjoys them.

Course
The 25K and 50K course will be the same as last year. See the nifty new maps. There has been some new trail cut on parts of the White Rock trail. These new sections are now open and you will be running on them. The race director has not had a chance to GPS them, but has heard that the new sections are actually a little longer than the old sections were.

The 50 mile course will be different than the 2007 race. There is a map on the website now. Guess what? You don't have to run up the Sentry trail twice this year. The 50 mile course will take runners out the same trail as the 25K and 50K runners. So, here's a course narrative. Go from the start out to the White Rock trailhead. Follow the trail out to the Lone Tree aid station. Stop there, get drinks, food, drop bag stuff etc. About 1/2 mile beyond the Lone Tree aid station will be a trail called "Elephant Head" 50 mile runners must run this trail. It is a short out and back (3.6 miles total). You have the option of doing it as you're going out to run the Split Rock loop or as you're coming back from the Split Rock loop. Either way you gotta do it. To verify that you've done it, there will be a plastic container with a roll of stickers in it at the turnaround. Take a sticker and put it on your race number. If you don't have a sticker on your number when you finish, then we don't know if you ran it or not. BTW, while you're out there, enjoy the views to the west of the island, they are breathtaking. Anyway, go back to Lone Tree, do your thing there, then finish up the White rock trail. Once you get back to the trailhead, turn right and follow the dirt road going east down to Mountain View trail. Once at the trail, turn left and go one mile to the trailhead. Say hi to the aid station people, grab something to eat and then head south to the ranch (11.8 miles). Along the way, say hi to the wonderful aid station folks at the Lower Frary Peak parking lot. When you get to the ranch you can pick up your pacer, more drop bag stuff, something to eat from the good folks at Roosters Brewery. Then head north to the Mountain View trailhead. Say hi to the folks at Lower Frary again. Once you get to the Mountain View trailhead, grab something to eat and drink, turn around again and run the one mile down to the fence. Turn right and go up the hill following the dirt road along the fence. As you top the hill you'll see a dirt road that veers off to the right. Take this road. Follow it to the paved road to the park office, then continue north about 200 yards to the T intersection. Turn left and go up the paved road about 100 yards to a trail that goes off to the right. Follow this trail to the Bridger Bay aid station at campsite #18. Get your eats and drinks and get ready for the final four miles. Follow the campground road for about 200 yards to the Lakeside trailhead (campsite #8) and then follow the trail around the north end of the island and back to the start/finish. There you go,

Start Times
Pay attention, especially you 25K runners. This year the start times are as follows:
- The 50 mile race will begin at 6:00am, the same as last year.
- The 50K race will begin at 8:00am, the same as last year.
- The 25K race will begin at 9:00am, this is NOT the same as last year.
Here's the reason(s): First, we're hoping to alleviate some of the parking issues. With limited personnel, getting all the cars parked correctly becomes something of a nightmare. Second, starting all three races at different times will spread out the slam that the Lone Tree aid station will experience. Hopefully this will keep you runners from being delayed on your quest for that PR. Third, it will bunch up the initial finishers for all three races and should bunch up all of us mid-packers as well. We think it makes it a little more exciting to have several runners crossing the finish line close together rather than one very couple of minutes.
Everyone will still have until 6:30pm to finish their race, so you should still have plenty of time.

Training Runs
Come join us on some training runs out on the island. Check out the schedule here.

Schwag
We hope to have some good schwag for everyone. Everyone who enters and starts the race will get a T-shirt (technical type shirts again) and whatever other stuff we can get companies to give us or sell to us cheap. We'll have both men's and women's style shirts again as well. Keep in mind that these tech shirts run on the slightly small side. Big news for 2008, new colors for the entry shirts. The men's shirts are a gray and the the women's shirts are a very fashionable rose. Every year we end up exchanging some out because they're too small, so order accordingly. Your entry also gets you a pass to the island for your car and everyone in it (normally $9) for all day Saturday. If you want to visit the island on Friday, you'll have to pay the park entry fee. 25k finishers will get a baseball type runner's hat, the 50k and 50 mile finishers will get a long sleeve technical shirt.

Drop bags
You will be able to have drop bags at every refreshment stop for the 25K and 50K if you want (we only have two). For the 50 mile, we'll have at least two places you can have drop bags. One will be at the Lone Tree station, the other will be at the Ranch. There may be another one, but we won't know until the course is set. Make sure that they are labeled with your name and the refreshment stop. We'll bring them back after the race. If you leave anything behind after the race, we may donate the stuff to charity, or we may just go thru it and claim whatever good stuff is left for ourselves and toss the rest.

Aid
There will be numerous refreshment stops, the start/finish area and a place called "Lone Tree" for the 25K and 50K, you'll understand when you see it. For the 50 mile, there will be refreshment stops at Lone Tree, Mountain View trailhead, Lower Frary parking lot, the Ranch, and Bridger Bay campground. There will be an unmanned water table out on the Elephant Head trail for you 50 mile runners. In addition, the Fielding Garr Ranch and the Bridger Bay campground have decent bathrooms to use. For the 25K and 50K, after you start, "Lone Tree" is at about 3.5 miles, then again at 8 miles, then the start area at 15.5 miles, rinse and repeat for the 50k, so carry sufficient water or your liquid of choice to get you through 7 miles. These stops will be stocked with the usual assortment of ultrafood and beverages.

Watching the race
The course is a wide open trail, no cover, and in certain areas, you can see for several miles. Friends and family are welcome to hike the trail, bring your horse along, bring the kids, dogs (must be on a leash at all times). Bring the binoculars too. There are numerous places from which family, friends, and anyone who's interested can watch your progress, or lack thereof. We'll have some maps available pointing out the best places to watch and cheer your runner (or slogger) on. Once the 50 mile runners are on the Mountain View Trail. You will be able to see them almost the entire way to the ranch from the road. There are two places where the trail actually crosses the road and numerous places where you can view several miles of the trail. Keep in mind that you must remain on the road or designated trails when in this area of the island. The park also requests that you not park along the shoulders of the road. There are turnouts at several points along this road where you can get a good view of the trail and the runners. As always, you can go to the accessible aid stations (Lower Frary and the Ranch) as there is parking available there.

Other Activities
Don't want to watch the race? There's a wonderful visitor's center at the north end of the island and the Fielding Garr Ranch at the south end of the island. Also, there are many other trails to explore. One other thing, we can always use the help from you family members that get bored going to these races. Volunteering at a race is a definite good time. If you've never done it, try it.

Awards
Awards will be given three deep in the usual 10 year age groupings as well as overall male and female winners. We will also have some giveaways just for showing up. Overall and age group awards will be given out as you cross the finish line.

Some Rules
Here are a few of the rules. We'll make up others as needed. First, NO TRASHING THE PARK. If you are observed purposely dropping litter of any kind (including the little gel tab thingies), you will be removed from the race. Period. We will have trash cans setup a ways outside each refreshment stop. Second, no cutting the course (it'd be hard to anyway) or leaving the trail. There's no prize money for this race, so no incentive. Third, no crew aid allowed between aid stations. That just makes it a little unfair for those who don't have the luxury of a crew. Fourth, no pacers for the 25K or 50K. Come on, they're only little races with lots of time to finish. You can handle that without a pacer. The 50 mile race will allow pacers, you can pick up your pacer at the Ranch. Fifth, please yield to the horses when you're on the trails. Let them know you're coming up behind them well ahead of time and if you are coming head on, step to the side and wait for them to pass. Sixth, make sure you check in at every aid station so we know where to start looking if you don't show at the next aid station. Seventh, and we shouldn't have to say this, but be very nice to the volunteers and park employees, they've given up their day of cleaning house, shopping, yard work, to be out here catering to your needs, thank them profusely. The point of these rules is that Antelope Island State Park has been more than enthusiastic about us having the race. We want to keep it that way so we can do it again. We also plan on having course marshals out to help with any problems etc.

Registration
The 2008 race registration is now closed. The race is full. We have put together a waiting list. In 2007, we were able to clear the first 20 or so names off the list.

Post Race Feed
There will be a post race feed. It will begin at 1:00 p.m. We're thinking buffalo stew, so here's the deal. Everyone attending the race and planning on eating after needs to bring ONE can of veggies of some sort. We really don't care what it is (although the RD is not a big fan of olives or mushrooms). Also, come on people, please don't clean out your pantry on us. We received several cans of old fruit cocktail and other stuff unsuitable for a stew unless you were desparate. Obviously, we couldn't put fruit cocktail into the stew. Stop by the store and spend less than a buck on something we can use. What we'll do is dump it all in a big kettle with the buffalo meat and stir it up. The stew has turned out pretty good the last couple of years, should be pretty good again, especially on a cool day in March. The race will also provide the drinks and, now pause and everybody say oohh!, dessert. We'll also have a pot for you vegetarians out there as well. For you intrepid 50 mile runners, we'll hold on to your food cans until 50 mile finishers start crossing the line

Camping and Lodging
We are renting the group campsite at the start/finish area Friday and Saturday night. Tents only. It will accommodate about 30-40 people. If you want to camp there, it will be an extra $2/family. Bring your own food for dinner and breakfast. Keep in mind that you will need to pay the $9/car entry fee on to the island for Friday night as your race entry is good for Saturday only. There is also a campsite on the north end of the island with individual campsites. These are $12/night and you'll need to pay the park for that. If camping isn't your thing, there are plenty of hotels just off the Antelope Island exit of I-15. We have a link to the Davis County CVB on this site. The closest hotel to the island is the La Quinta Inn, however, there are several other hotels/motels within a mile of the La Quinta. Here's the deal with the hotels. We have a rate with Holiday Inn Express ($69/night 1-801-773-3773). When you call them, tell them you are with the Antelope Island Buffalo Run.

Refunds
There are no refunds after March 1st. Before that, we'll send you your money back, although why you would want to back out of this race is beyond us. This year, for those who enter after the race is full, we'll put together some sort of wait list. Also, please don't ask to switch names with someone else if you can't run. It gets too confusing for the timers (and the race director) to switch names and races. If you can't run, then get your money back and tell your friend that they'll have to get on the waiting list like everyone else.

Weather
March weather in Utah can be nice or not (there's a profound statement). Typically, Antelope Island is drier than the cities to the east and nearer the mountains. Here are the averages for March 22nd for Hill AFB (10 miles away as the crow flies and 600 feet higher). There shouldn't be any bugs, which is a good thing on the island. If it rains or snows, the trail may get muddy in spots, but generally it drains pretty well. Keep in mind, this year daylight savings time will be in force on race day. This means that you 50 mile runners will be running in the dark for about 1 1/2 hour. Bring a flashlight.
Sunrise 7:34am
Sunset 7:38am
Average High 53 Deg F
Average Low 31 Deg F
If we get an average day with sunshine, it'll be a great race day.
2007 was a perfect day for the race, cool in the morning, warmer during the day with a nice breeze (wind) most of the day and sunny.

Directions to Antelope Island
If you're coming from either the north or south on I-15, take exit 332. This exit has a state park sign on the freeway. It's also the Antelope Drive exit. Once at the traffic signal off the exit, go west on Antelope drive. This means turn left off the northbound exit and right off the southbound exit. Drive about 4-5 miles towards the Great Salt Lake (west). Just before the lake you will run out of houses, etc. and see the main gate on to the island causeway. Just prior to the main gate, there is a paved parking lot on the left. This is where you will initially check in either Friday evening or Saturday morning. You will pick up your goody bag, etc. here. Your goody bag will contain a pass for the island that you will place on your dash. This pass is good for entry on to the island for Saturday only. It can be used multiple times, so if you or a family member needs to leave the island, you will be allowed back on.

Go across the causeway towards the island, enjoy the scenery of the mud flats, water and definitely enjoy the smell affectionately known as "lake stink". The smell isn't apparent on the island unless there is a good breeze blowing. Once on the island, follow the road as it veers left. Do not take the road to the visitor's center. Follow the signs to White Rock bay for the 25K/50K and 50 mile. We'll have some race signs out on race day to help those that are directionally challenged. Once you get to the race area, you will be directed where to park by our friendly staff of parking enforcers. Please, please, please do not park off of the road. The park management will get very upset if you do.

Miscellaneous Stuff
You may encounter Bison out on the course. We will have the services of the volunteer Trail Patrol to hopefully keep them off the trail. If you encounter bison on the trail, generally they will get out of your way, however, some of the bulls (1500-1800 lbs.) are obstinate and won't budge. Bison will also charge you (and not with credit cards) if you enter their personal space (seems to be about 10-25 yards or so based on the RD's experience). The charges are generally short but can scare the you-know-what out of you. To our knowledge, only one person has been hurt by the bison on the island (happened in summer 2007). Head for a rock field if you can, they generally won't follow. Don't look them directly in the eye, they take it as a challenge. Go off trail enough to get around them. You'll possibly see all sorts of other animals, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyotes, bighorn sheep, porcupines, and countless birds (chukar, meadowlarks, seagulls (the Utah state bird), shore birds, etc.).

Why are we putting on this race?
You may wonder this, you may not. Those of us on the race committee love to run trails. We feel that this is one way to give a little back to the trails and those who provide and maintain them (the State Park) and introduce people to Antelope Island State Park. We're certainly not in this for monetary gain. Antelope Island State Park has a fund that is used to provide park equipment such as picnic tables, etc. If we have any race proceeds, they will go to this fund to help improve the park for all visitors.