Greetings Runners!

We're only one week from race day! Spring rains have reawakened the forest, the sun is out (today) and the trails are in excellent condition. We're looking forward to welcoming you to the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest next Saturday.

This is our final newsletter. Please spend some time reviewing the information here, since there are several important changes that may impact your weekend schedule and race experience.

Start Time

The start time for the 50-mile race is 6:00 a.m. sharp on Saturday, May 9th.

Start/Finish Location

All three races of the Ice Age Trail 50 start and finish at the Nordic Trail Head. The street address is N9084 Co. Hwy H, Whitewater, WI 53190

New Friday Packet Pick-up Location

Duesterbeck's Brewing Company is the new location of our Friday afternoon packet pick-up. If you go to Rushing Waters, only a few fish will be there to greet you. The packet pick-up opens at 3:30 and closes at 7:00 p.m.

Friday is a great time to pick up your bib and race gear, meet fellow Ice Agers, have a snack (and a homemade craft beer, if you like), peruse the history boards and grab some Ice Age merchandise at a family-owned and operated Wisconsin farm (super cool!).

Parking

50-mile runners can park in the Nordic or Muir lots before the race. Both lots will open at 4:45 a.m. (50k and Half Marathon runners must park at a remote lot at the Palmyra High School).

Traffic will be heavy between 4:45 - 6:00 a.m., so please watch for signage and obey the volunteer parking attendants.

All 50-mile vehicles must have a Wisconsin state pass. Passes will be provided at no charge to registered runners at the Friday night packet pick-up and on the morning of the race. Please help us with planning by letting us know if you need a parking pass here.

Passes should be affixed to the lower inside left corner of your vehicle's windshield.

Drop Bags

When you arrive in the start area, there will be a tarp for each drop bag site:

1. The Start/Finish Area (AS 2): Miles 9 & 50.

2. Hwy 12 (AS 5): Miles 18 & 26.

3. Horseriders Camp (AS 9): Miles 37 & 43.

Leave your bag(s) on the appropriate tarp. Ice Age volunteers will transport them to the aid stations and return them to the start area later in the day.

There will be "express return" tarps at Hwy 12 and Horseriders. If you'd like your bag returned on the first boat back to the start area, please make sure to use these tarps.

Please write your last name (and bib number, if possible) on every drop bag. Do not overfill -- and make sure they are fastened properly. Keep it simple!

Aid Stations

Aid stations will be stocked with some of the best people you'll ever meet, as well as water, HEED electrolyte drink, soda, fruit, cookies, candy and assorted other treats.

NEW THIS YEAR! Meat sticks and boiled potatoes, courtesy of Lakeside Foods.

Aid stations will also have a LIMITED supply of Hammer gels and e-caps. Do not depend on aid stations to fuel your entire race. Please bring your own supply.

We are cupless this year! The aid stations will not have cups. You can grab a reusable cup courtesy of HyrdraPak at the Friday packet pick-up.

Course Alert

The 50-mile course will be marked with YELLOW flags.

Highway 12 Crossing. Highway 12 (miles 18 & 26) is a dangerous intersection with the Ice Age Trail, with vehicles passing at highway speeds. We have introduced new precautions to warn drivers of the trail crossing this year, but it is ultimately your responsibility to look both ways and LISTEN to the sentries stationed there. It pains us to say this, but runners who do not obey the sentries at the Hwy 12 crossing will be disqualified.

Crew and Spectators

Crew and spectator vehicles must purchase a Wisconsin state parking pass if they park in the Nordic or Muir lots or visit the Hwy 12, Esterly, Rice Lake or Emma aid stations.

Please advise your crew that if they park on the side of the road near aid stations, they must have all four tires off the asphalt or they will be ticketed. And under no circumstances are crew vehicles allowed at aid stations that are listed on the website as "NO CREW ACCESS." Don't make us get nasty.

Finally, crew and spectators should be cautious and mindful when waiting at aid stations. The roads that wind through the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest are open on race day and there will be traffic, often traveling at speeds above the posted limit. Please advise your friends and family to be careful and stay off the roads.

Post-Race Festivities

We'll have a BBQ lunch ready for every registered runner beginning at noon and delicious craft beers courtesy of Central Waters Brewery.

Spectators and crew members can also enjoy a beer, but they will have to purchase a wristband for $15. All proceeds from wristband sales will be donated to the Kettle Moraine State Forest Alliance, a nonprofit group that helps to fund projects in the Kettle Moraine Forest.

To reduce the amount of waste generated by the race, we ask all runners to bring their own beer cups. Ice Age pint glasses will also be for sale a few steps away from the beer tent.

Given the span of finishing times for all three races throughout the day, we will not be hosting an award's ceremony on Saturday. However, please check with Scott at the award's table before you leave. All runners finishing in the top three of their five-year age division are award-winners (first place awards will be available at the table; second and third place awards will be mailed upon request). Performance Running Outfitters will also be awarding gift cards to top runners.

Here for You

The Ice Age Trail 50 is sponsored by the Badgerland Striders, a nonprofit running club.

There will be almost 300 volunteers on or near the race course next Saturday, including physicians and medical staff from Mercy South Hospital. Please take a moment to say "thank you."

Race Results and Timing

Your race bib will include a tag (chip). Please be careful not to fold the chip portion of your bib.

Official finishing times at Ice Age are based on gun time. So when the clock hits 6:00 p.m., all the races are over.

Cutoff times for the 50-mile race are posted here.

FYI, volunteers will be positioned around the course recording bib numbers in order to verify finishing times. Timing mats will also be placed at the Rice Lake and Emma Carlin aid stations.

Race results will be posted on Saturday night at: MTECRESULTS.COM

Race Day Weather

Check here for the latest.

Why Isn't Anyone Listening to Me?

The race organizers will be largely unavailable via social media or email after Wednesday, May 6th as we prepare for Saturday's race.

Can't Run?

Please email the race director at iceage50rd@gmail.com.

Taper time! See you on May 9th!!