Greetings Runners! 

Race day is only one week away!  Spring rains have awakened the forest, the sun is out and the trails are in excellent shape. We're looking forward to welcoming you to the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest on May 9th.

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 Times

The start time for the 50k race is 8:15 a.m.  The Half Marathon begins at 9:00 a.m.

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 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

50k and Half Marathon runners must park at Palmyra High School (PEHS). PEHS is about a 10-minute drive from the Nordic lot. The parking lots at PEHS will open at 6:30 a.m., with shuttles running to Nordic from 6:30-8:30 a.m.

If you are running the 50k, please arrive at PEHS no later than 7:30 am. If you are a Half Marathoner, be at PEHS by 8:15 a.m. There will be one final shuttle at 9:00 a.m. for late arrivals, but there are no guarantees after that time.

Two bathrooms will be available for runners and crew at PEHS: Through Door 1, which is up front where we load the buses and through Doors 2 & 3 on the north end of the lot. 

Passenger vans will be circulating between Nordic and PEHS between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

You will not need a state pass if you are a 50k or Half Marathon runner, unless your vehicle returns to the Nordic area. All vehicles parking in the Nordic lot must have a state parking pass. 

Drop Bags

50k and Half Marathon runners can stash a drop bag in the Start/Finish area.  When you arrive, there will be one tarp for the Start/Finish area (AS2).

50k runners will have access to their AS2 drop bag four times during the race (Start, mile 13, mile 22 and Finish).  Half Marathon runners can access their bags at the start, 6.5 miles and finish.

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 have enough gels 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

50K RUNNERS:  Your course will be marked with ORANGE flags. When passing through the Start/Finish area, STAY TO THE RIGHT.

HALF MARATHONERS:  Your course will be marked with BLUE flags. BEAR LEFT when passing through the Start/Finish area. If you don't, you are likely to run a 13.1 mile PW or perhaps complete your first ultra.  Which would be sort of cool.

Crew and Spectators

Crew and spectators can also take the shuttle to the start, although runners will have priority seating. If the bus is full, they will be asked to take the next bus. Late arriving friends and families can park in the Nordic lot after 9:30 a.m., but they must purchase a pass at the park entrance.

Only service dogs are allowed in the buses.

FYI, the Start/Finish area is the best location for spectators to watch the 50k and Half Marathon races.

The roads that weave 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 free beer 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 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 the top runners.

Here for You

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

Everyone associated with the race is a volunteer, including the medical team from Mercy South Hospital. Please take a moment to say "thank you" to a few of the almost 300 volunteers who will be on the course to help you get to the finish on race day.

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.

FYI, volunteers will be positioned around the course recording bib numbers in order to verify finishing times. 

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.  Thank you.

Taper time!  See you on May 9th!!