Welcome to the Virgil Crest Ultras.

We're pretty excited about a few updates this year:

1. Hope Lake Park: Gatherings (http://gatheringsrestaurant.com/) were wonderful hosts with a great venue for years one and two and we can't thank them enough. This year we're making the move to Hope Lake Park with increased involvement and support from the community at large. Hope Lake Park will provide pavilions, bathrooms, a lake for families in for the event, and a beautiful view overlooking Greek Peak's Alpine Resort and course. One great resource lost is the cabins at the staging area. These may still be open for reservations (1-800-955-2854) and will be 1/2 mile from the most-repeated AS on the course and thus still great for crews and families. Greek Peak's beautiful new Hope Lake Lodge (http://www.hopelakelodge.com/hope-lake-lodge/hope-lake-lodge.aspx) is adjacent to the park. They have owner and resort-owned rooms that can be reserved. A tip: although the rooms are pricier than the cabins and local motels, the Lodge is beautiful, great for families, and the rooms can accommodate groups of up to 8. They cost a bit, but packing families and crews in makes them doable.

2. Redesigned Course: We took the original course that has received consistent praise and hopefully improved further upon it. Instead of a small loop and two out-backs it will instead use one loop and one out-back for the 50/repeated for the 100. In doing so we've eliminated a few confusing turns, retained common aid-stations, each only a few miles from the start/finish and therefore quite crew friendly, and increased the trail percentage from 77 to 88. We're working on increasing the trail and decreasing the paved miles even further to offer a course that's 95% trail.

3. Awards: We'll continue to offer options allowing entrants to only pay for the schwag that they want. Based on consistent inquiries we're providing finishers' buckles to all finishers of the 100 this year, carved by Micky Roof and the Jewel Box in Ithaca, NY (http://www.ithacajewelbox.com/).

4. Date: We've pushed the races back one weekend this year based on a conflict with the newly-dated North Coast 24. We're hoping the extra week also allows entrants of the Green Lakes Endurance Runs (http://www.gleruns.org/) an opportunity to use those wonderful races as potential build-ups to Virgil.

A Few Words from last night

The word on the trail is Bees. Nasty stinging bees. The good news is that the area where they seem to be is on a section of trail that the Ultras will not use. The bad news is that I'm sure they're elsewhere. So if you don't plan on being the leader, be mindful and prepared to take cover if need be. The Virgil Fire Department has 2 Epi-pens and we're purchasing an additional two for them. We'll plan on having one at the aid station before and after the targeted area (even though we don't use that section of trail) with two additional pens with the fire vehicles on the course. For anyone who has a history of allergic reactions to bees, please be prepared and bring an Epi-pen with you if possible.

The word on volunteers is that we're getting there. I should have the volunteer grid completed shortly and will get it out to all for planning.

The word on entrants is that we're up from last year, despite about 10 people dropping out thus far along the way. There should be several quicker efforts this year with a solid group stabbing under that 24 hour mark for the 100. With 3 prior Big Horn 100 wins, Jeff "Bronco Billy" Browning (OR) is the favorite going into the 100 with the potential to run under 20 hours. Bob Ayers Jr. (VT, 19 hour finish at VT 100 this year) has his sights set on the 20-hour mark and Dan Larson (MA, 18-hour VT 100 finish) and Tom Griffen (CA, 8:20 at the Headlands 50 mile) may not far behind in 21 and 22 hours respectively. Seven others are targeting 24 hours or under, including the inaugural 3rd place finisher and overall female winner Kelly Wilson of Vermont, local rising talent Ryan O'Dell (NY) and the Iroquois inspiration Greg Loomis (VA). In the 50-mile race Marco Chun Cheung (NY) and Tim Ingall (NY) both have the stated intention of challenging the 9-hour mark and inaugural record. Cheryl Yanek (NY) has also set a goal of the inaugural women's record with an 11-hour intention. Rounding out the event will be four 100-Mile Relays. The fourth team (still bickering about who’s going to pony up for paying for the entry) is capable of setting an outstanding inaugural record with a guesstimate of besting the 10-hour mark. All in all we're hoping to see a higher finishing rate this year and, most importantly, will be focused on not losing John Pati (NY, veteran of over 200 ultras, indicates having no directional sense whatsoever with over 20 miles off course at the MMT 100) on the course. John still needs a pacer in case anyone is up to the challenge...and if his directional capabilities are as bad as he says, I may just pay someone to do it!

The word on the weather is that the 10-day forecast is calling for sunny skies on race day with a high of 66 degrees. Fingers are crossed that it stays that way!

The word on the relay is I have just finished updating the projected 100 Mile Relay time charts based on the relays that have signed up (or are about to sign up). Based on the information I have and how it lines up with Aid Station scheduling, I'm moving the start of the relay from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Hopefully this doesn't mess anyone up too much and gives you still enough lead time to plan accordingly. We have updated charts that break down Crew access for Relay as well as revised cut-off times.

Additionally from today...

I met with Mike Tenkate and his trusty steed of a 1954 farm tractor to mow the Greek Peak Alpine Loop this morning. The line got a little squiggly as we ascended Arcadian Gate (reversing the course) in the wet nasty rutty sections so it will be choose your own adventure in a couple of spots (clean line slightly out of the way, muddy rutted line in the shortest direction as you blaze downhill). The tractor held in there despite some bucking and wheel y popping and mowed down grasses that were chest high in spots. Now that's a nice tractor. Mike also mowed down the Pipeline AS location, removing it from the intersection with Clute Rd and tucking it into a perfect parking area just in from Clute Rd on the north side of Pipeline Rd. This will be controlled at night by the Ithaca Hash House Harriers. There will be beer. There will be ridiculous songs. There will be cross-dressing. You have been warned.

Additionally I've spent 5 hours on a 3/4 mile stretch on the near side of Bell Hilsinger Rd prior to dropping into the Daisy Hollow Rd final stretch removing roots. There's quite a few stemming from trees right next the trail who I didn't want to harm too much, but the trail has a good hundred or two less roots than it did last week, so hopefully the amount of diggers taken in this stretch will be down this year (I don't know if anyone actually fell here last year but I wouldn't poke fun at you if you did, those were some nasty roots).

Alex and Michele Gonzalez, Joe Dabes, Mike Tenkate, the keepers of the various Trail sections that you'll be running have all been out in the past few weeks clearing downed trees and beating back briers. We all owe them a huge thank you for all of the hard work that they put into their trails each year. So if they're around and you happen to meet them give them really big hugs.

The word on the 10-Day Forecast as of today: Showers through the race weekend with a high of 62. Now how did we go from all sun to showers. Who wasn't crossing their fingers?

Identity Crisis

To all those that have made the Iroquois Trails Ultras a wonderful reality thanks so much. At the conclusion of this year's event I'll be looking to make a name change. In finding original inspiration for the creation of the ultras I stumbled upon a book entitled Old Indian Trails of Tompkins County. At that point the course was plotted in, around, and in some cases on documented trail networks used by the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Nation. It was also the hope to pair the event with the Tutelo Homecoming Festival in a larger celebration of the area's history. When the original course was not approved and the event moved to Virgil, an area not documented to be as frequented and/or with documented trail use, the potential was diminished to have the race build upon a deeper connection to that history. Since then I have not been able to establish any consistent leads or return contacts in having the Haudenosaunee present at the Iroquois Trails Ultras. In an effort to respect and not misrepresent the Haudenosaunee and the history of our area, the event in year three will become the Virgil Crest Ultras. All stats will carry forward. My apologies for the confusion and thanks for your understanding!

Sincerely,
Ian

Hello. Thanks for visiting us at the Iroquois Trails Ultras. We have a lot of new things to share:

• We've been pretty excited to add Jeff Browning's design to the functions provided by Ed Edington for the web site.
• We're thrilled that Gatherings Restaurant is on board for year 2 providing a venue for dinner on Friday and brunch on Sunday. It's a wonderful venue and hopefully we can all make an attempt to stop in and grab an additional bite while in town.
• Mike Tenkate and the Virgil Fire Department are looking forward to plugging in even further in providing not only road safety, but also search and rescue capabilities over their terrain.
• We've changed the cost structure for the races in order for entrants to pay for only what's required, and not another shirt if they don't need another shirt.
• We've also added a 100 mile relay that we'll hope to stage on the Finger Lakes Triennial Relay’s off years that will be open for teams of up to 5 and have a 28 hour cutoff.
• The handbook has been revised and tables updated to reflect anticipated leader and closer splits based upon inaugural performances.
• We've made a small change to the Pipeline Out and Back section, diverting runners into the woods and onto trails rather than underneath the powerlines, making the course just over 100 miles rather than just under.
• We have a better idea of where to beef up course markings and what to add at a few aid stations.

All in all, things are on track and we're excited to keep moving forward to September. Thanks again and drop us a line if you've any questions!

Volunteers have really stepped up the past two weeks and the course should have good coverage. We've found several local sponsors for some of the food and my wife and friends will continue baking and cooking this week. The course is in good shape, ground damp but not boggy and we're planning on starting the course marking tomorrow.

Only setback has been on the shirts. The order was placed weeks ago for Brooks Tech T's to get printed up for the race. Two weeks ago the Brook's warehouse closed and new computer system implemented. All orders placed around that time have been bogged down in the chaos of the transition. The shirts have been sitting all week tagged for overnight delivery and printers here are ready to go but still no shirts have made it out of the warehouse. Chances are it isn't going to happen by raceday. I'll get them mailed out after the event as soon as they're in house and printed. Sorry about that all, it's been pretty frustrating really.

Spent a little bit of time on the Greek Peak Alpine loop a few nights ago. The mountain is gorgeous. Flowers are fading but the resort has the entire course mowed down and ready to go. Days and nights are getting cooler. It will surely change this week but the forecast for next weekend is partly cloudy with a low of 48 and high of 70 and a 20% chance of precipitation. Perfect.

Hope all are well and looking forward to next weekend.