PCTR Eldrith Trail Run

Description:

Welcome to the 4th annual “Eldrith” Trail Run. We have changed the name from Eldrith Gosney’s Pure Ultra to “Eldrith” because all great women are known by one name. We love you Eldrith.

The event will start and finish at Old Mill Park in Mill Valley. This is the famous park made famous by the Dispea, Double Dipsea and Quadruple Dipsea. Even more famous is the Dipsea Trail home to the oldest trail race in the United States. You will experience the famous Dipsea Stairs (671 of them up and then down) through the Mill Valley Hillside of beautiful homes before it opens up into Mt Tamalpais State Park. You then get to run around Muir Woods before ascending to one of the most iconic aid stations in the world, Cardiac Hill. The views start to get better as you descend off Mt Tam and towards Stinson Beach where you will turnaround to see what it looks like in the other direction, including the Steep Ravine Ladder. We are honored to name an event after someone who is as sincere, generous, and accomplished as Eldrith.

At 77, Eldrith is a legend in the Bay Area running community. She started ultra-running long before the internet or Ultrasignup.com tracked results and no one knows how many ultras Eldrith completed. We know of 172 events in the last 27 years that she completed, including

– 150 Ultra Marathons
– Four 100-mile trail races, including Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
– Forty-six 50-mile trail races
– Sixty 50km trail races
– 12 Quad Dipsea finishes, and she is the current 70-79 age group record holder

Running “An Eldrith”: The true “Eldrith Training Run for the Quad Dipsea” starts at Stinson Beach and runs up the Dispea Trail to Cardiac Hill, then down into Old Mill Park of Mill Valley. She would then complete a “Double Dipsea” returning to Stinson Beach. Then, its back up to Cardiac Hill on the Dipsea and then reversing direction, she heads back down to Stinson Beach… and that’s “”An Eldrith”.

Summarizing: Stinson Beach –> Old Mill Park –> Stinson Beach –> –> Cardiac Hill –> Stinson Beach

Distances & Elevation Gains
– 50K: 9,336 ft
– 36K: 6,449 ft
– 24K: 4,973 ft
– 14K: 2,887 ft

Entry Fees
– 50K: $85, $97, $109
– 36K: $75, $87, $99
– 24K: $65, $77, $89
– 14K: $55, $67, $79

Add $15 on Race Day if not sold out.

Mail-In Registration is available

Start Times*
– 50K: 7:30 AM
– 36K: 7:30 AM
– 24K: 9:00 AM
– 14K: 9:30 AM

ABSOLUTELY NO EARLY STARTS.
*Start times subject to change for any reason.

Time Limits and Cutoffs
– 50K and 36K Time Limit is 9 Hours 30 Minutes
– 24K and 14K Time Limit is 6 Hours
– 50K Cut-Off is 2PM at the 36K mark on the course (Start/Finish Aid Station)
– Cut-off will be strictly enforced at 6 hours 30 Minutes (21.4 Miles 18:13/mile pace) at completion of your 36K loop that ends at Old Mill Park (Start/Finish).
– You will then need to complete the final 7.9 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes, or a 19 min/mile pace.

Race Perks
– High performance Tech or Cotton Blend Shirt
– Bib with race number and meal ticket
– Free on course race photos
– Professionally chip timed results
– Handmade wood finisher medal
– Age group award if qualified
– Ultramarathon finisher coaster if qualified
– Scenic course with high quality volunteers and Team PCTR Support
– Aid station nutrition & hydration
– Chef Yaku post-race meal & beverage (Craft brew too)

Post-Race BBQ
We take great pride in knowing that when you finish a PCTR trail run, it is of the highest importance that you have a meal and tasty beverage to reward your finish. All entrants receive a “post-race meal ticket” to get the nutrients your body needs right after you finish. You will have the option during registration to purchase additional meal tickets. Our post-race BBQ chefs are in tune with incredible creations to meet all palates and will always provide a vegetarian option. We have served amazing tacos, incredible fajitas, delicious sliders, killer cowboy/cowgirl BBQ treats, and more. In the cold months, and night races, you will always be able to enjoy our super tasty soup creations. So bring a chair, a friend, and relax a bit with us.

Cup-Free Racing Policy
Effective January 2018, Pacific Coast Trail Runs is following the lead of other trail races by taking steps to “green” our events. We recommend that all participants carry hydration devices on them during the race. We will sell HydraPouch portable cup with Universal carry clip – hooks easily to shorts, tights, number belts, hydration belts, etc. These are available at checkout for $10. You will receive it when you check-in for the event. We will also have a few for purchase for $10 the day of the event.

Event Location Details
Start/Finish
Old Mill Park
320 Throckmorton Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Getting There
Please use your favorite app with the above mentioned address. From San Francisco: Take US-101 N. Take exit 445B (CA-1N). Continue on CA-1 N. Take Miller Ave to Cascade Dr in Mill Valley. Left on Throckmorton. From Sonoma County: Follow US-101 S. Take exit 447 E Blithedale Ave in Marin County. Left on Throckmorton. From both directions: Park will be on your left side intersecting Cascade Drive.

Parking Info
Please find parking on the streets. You should follow all parking laws and department of motor vehicle

Pre-Race Runner Bib, Swag Pick-up
Friday, February 1, 2019. 12pm to 6pm.
San Francisco Running Company
247 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941
*All Runners must be prepared to have ID when picking up bib and swag.

Race Day Runner Check-In & Race Briefing
Runner Check-In
All runners must check-in race day even if you pick up your bib at San Francisco Running Company. Your specific distance check-in opens one hour before your event start time. You must be prepared to show ID to pick up your own bib and swag. You may not pick up for any other runners.

Race Briefing
15 minutes before your event at the Start Line. It’s very important for the safety of you and others to be present and alert for the Race Director Pre-Race Briefing. Here you will learn about how to have fun, be safe, and not get lost.

Course Description
Utilizing some of Mount Tamalpais’s most beloved trails – Dipsea, Heather Cut-off, and Steep Ravine- Eldrith Trail Run & Pure Ultra has strung them into a unique and extremely challenging run. Eldrith has four distance options:

50K Pure Ultra: As Eldrith says, “This course is not for weenies.” It starts at Old Mill Park in Mill Valley and heads up the Dipsea Stairs and trail to Cardiac Hill in Mt. Tamalpais State Park running through Muir Woods National Monument. Then you will continue down the Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach. After you will return up Dispea Trail and but turn left up the gorgeous Steep Ravine Trail where you will encounter the famous ladder. Back up to Cardiac and then down to Santos Meadows and the Heather Cut-off Switchbacks. This is a gentle down and back up to Cardiac before you head back to Old Mill Park. But wait, now you need to head back up to Cardiac Hill and back to earn your PURE ULTRA status and receive your coaster.

36K: Similar to the 50k, rather you will not run back to Cardiac for the second time.

24K: It starts at Old Mill Park in Mill Valley and heads up the Dipsea Stairs and trail to Cardiac Hill in Mt Tamalpais State Park running through Muir Woods National Monument. Then you will continue down the Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach. After you will return up Dispea Trail and but turn left up the gorgeous Steep Ravine Trail where you will encounter the famous ladder. Back up to Cardiac and then down to Old Mill Park.

14K: Starting at Old Mill Park you will run up the world famous Dipsea stairs and trail to the equally famous Cardiac Hill Aid Station. Then you will run back down to the finish for what will be a very challenging 14K.

Course Map, Markings, and Aid Stations
Course Map
Click here for the course map, elevation charts, mileage, and aid station sheet

Course Markings
– 50K: Green Outbound to Blue to Pink to Green Inbound to Green Out’n’Back
– 36K: Green Outbound to Blue to Pink to Green Inbound
– 24K: Green Outbound to Pink to Green Inbound
– 14K: Green Out’n’Back

Aid Stations (A/S) Information
– Cardiac Hill is a full aid station.

– Full Aid Station consists of H20, GU ROCTANE Electrolyte Drink, Coke, Ginger Ale, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Bananas, Tangerines, and GU Electrolyte Capsules. Snack Pack assortments incuding lays potato chips, trail mix, Rice Krispy Treats, Oreos, Nutter Butters, Ritz/peanut butter or cheese.

– Santos Meadows A/S: H20 and GU ROCTANE Electrolyte Drink Only.
– Stinson Beach A/S: H20 and GU ROCTANE Electrolyte Drink Only.

On-Course Information
Crew & Pacer Information
– Crews are allowed and welcomed on the course. Crews can access all three aid stations, and must obey parking and daily use fee rules when crewing. Please see map for locations.
– Cardiac Hill can be accessed by parking at Pantoll Ranger Station and Campground.
– Stinson Beach can be accessed on Panoramic HWY at HWY 1.
– Santos Meadows can be accessed by foot only on Muir Woods Road (AKA Frank Valley Rd).

Pacers are not allowed.

Drop & Finish line Bags
– Drop Bags: Allowed at Start/Finish line area only.
– Finish line Bags: There will be a designated area at the Start/Finish line Area to place your bag. Please note this area will be near people and protected from the rain, but will not be secure or protected and PCTR will not be responsible for any lost or misplaced items.

Restroom Locations
– Start/Finish Line: Bathrooms
– Cardiac Hill Aid Station: Port-a-potties

More Details
Woof Alert
– Park Policy: No dogs allowed on course.
– PCTR & Park Policy: Dogs are allowed at the start/finish line area and must be on a 6 foot leash and under control at all times.

Hikers Welcome
– Hikers are welcome! We kindly ask all hikers are trained and select a distance that reflects their ability to complete the course within the cut-offs and/or time limits.

Headphones & Trekking Poles
Headphone Policy: You are not allowed to wear headphones in both ears. You must have one ear (preferably your left) exposed to hear incoming runners, horses, or bikes. For the safety of you and others, and following the lead of all Dipsea trail events, NO poles or sticks of any kind are not allowed during the race because of the single track and technical nature of the trail.

Blind Athletes & Sighted Guides
Since 2018, PCTR has embraced visually impaired and blind athletes. We add a question to registration so that we can fully prepare for your race and sighted guide with proper race bibs. If you need a “Guide Runner”, please email us at [email protected].

Awards
– All finishers will receive a handmade wooden medal by Elevation Culture.
– Age group awards to be presented to the top 3 male and females in each of the following categories:
– 12 and under
– 13 to 16
– 17 to 19
– 20 to 29
– 30 to 39
– 40 to 49
– 50 to 59
– 60 to 69
– 70 +

Withdrawing from Event or Changing Distance
Changing Distance & Withdrawing
If you would like to change distance, please do so by emailing us at [email protected] at least 72 hours before the event. We assign event distance specific bibs with timing transponder at this time and it makes the event less complicated for you, volunteers, and Team PCTR.

NO Refunds, Transfers, or Rollovers
Entry fees associated with Pacific Coast Trail Runs Events are non-refundable, non-transferable, and we do not provide rollovers to future events. The amount of time and expense that goes into a PCTR event is high. Contracts, permit fees, awards, shirts, insurance, food/beverage and all things associated with your event happen a long time before your race day. Surely, if many of you wanted a refund because you got injured, become sick, have to attend a family function or your babysitter fell through, then all trail running companies would be out of business. We also do not transfer entries for numerous reasons including liability. You are not allowed to sell or give your bib to someone else. If we find out about this, we will ban you from our events. We do, and will provide race credits for a future PCTR event (less Ultrasignup.com registration fees) shall something come up that prevents you from attending the event you paid for. Please see our Race Credit Policy.

Race Credit Policies
PCTR has a very friendly race credit policy. With some of our races requiring signing up well in advance, we understand that life happens and you may be prevented from attending the event. Here are the days of notice we require you to provide us shall you want to withdraw and earn PCTR race credits for a future event.

– 45 plus days from the event date = 100% PCTR Race Credits
– 15 to 44 days from the event date = 50% PCTR Race Credits
– 14 days to 72 hours from the event start time = 25% PCTR Race Credits

Consider Volunteering to earn race credits. By volunteering, you can earn up to 100% of your entry and more depending on how many hours you volunteer.

Race credits are required to be used within one year from the time you earned them. This means you need to have signed up for an event by the one year date, not necessarily have completed the event. You also, also cannot extend the credits shall you sign up for a race and need to withdraw again. Race credits are not transferable to anyone but yourself.

Race Fees associated with Ultrasignup, our registration provider, at the time of your registration are not included in your Race Credits.

Race Cancellation Policy
Runners, their families, crews, volunteers and Team PCTR safety is our first priority. Pacific Coast Trail Runs events will run come rain or shine, with the exception of park closures, threatening or extreme weather conditions. When conditions present a danger to our runners, their families and our volunteers. PCTR maintains the right to cancel or postpone the start of each of the events. Parks may also shut down the event if the trail or weather conditions are so bad that first responders will also be challenged.

If any event is cancelled less than 24 hours prior to the official start time, all participants will be notified via email that you provided in your registration, and the information will be posted on our Facebook page.

PCTR reserves the right to move the event to another venue, change the course & start time, cancel, and/or reschedule the event. PCTR will always try to reschedule before cancelling an event. Shall the event be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, and not rescheduled, then we will offer race credits to a future PCTR event to be used in one year.

Threatening weather conditions at PCTR events may be cancelled or delayed if any of the following weather conditions exist: Fire Danger, Poor Air Quality (Air Quality Index (AQI) >150 = Unhealthy), Flash Flood Watch, Extreme Thunderstorms, Tsunami Warnings, and lightning in the vicinity of the race.

The Race Director, in accordance with the Land Managers, City, County, the State of California, and the National Park Service, has the authority to cancel the event. If threatening weather conditions force cancellation of the events, no refunds will be provided, since funds were already spent in preparation for race day. However, if the race is cancelled outright and not rescheduled than 100% of race credit value (less ultrasingup.com registration fees) will be provided to use at a future event in one year from the time earned.

Notification of cancellation will be done as early as possible. You will be notified via the email address you used when registering for this event. We will also post updates on our Facebook page regularly: https://www.facebook.com/pacificcoasttrailruns/

Volunteering
Volunteer Policy
– Earn $10 in PCTR Race Credits for every hour worked. (For example: 4 hrs = $40; 3.5 hrs = $35, etc.)
– Volunteer 8+ hour shift and earn $40 bonus credits for event.
– Earn 2X Credits for bad weather volunteering in rain.
– Earn 2X Credits from 8pm to 6am. (Headlands & Night Sweats Only)
– Receive the coveted PCTR “Go Run a Trail!” shirt. *Must volunteer a minimum of 5 hours to get the shirt. If you already have too many of these shirts and want a race shirt instead, then come by the finish line tent to see if we have any more in your size.
– Enjoy a meal from our Post Race BBQ Chef Team.
– You will not earn credits for volunteering unless you sign up to volunteer.
– If you sign up to volunteer and bring one or more friends with you to volunteer (who have not signed up), then they will not earn credits.
– If you are entered in an event and bring a friend or family to help volunteer a few hours or more, then you can earn their credits for another race… that is if they don’t run. 😊
– All credits must be used in one year from the time earned or they will expire.

If you are unable to participate in the event you paid for and miss the 45-day or 15-day withdraw notification window because you are unable to run due to whatever reason, then consider volunteering to earn race credits. By volunteering at the intended event or another event within 30 days before your event, you can earn up to 100% of your entry and more depending on how many hours you volunteer. Email PCTR at [email protected].

Volunteer Link
Click here to volunteer: https://www.pacificcoasttrailruns.com/volunteer

Rules & Trail Etiquette
1. Trail running is a very special sport that shares trails with the public including hikers, bikers, horses, and even dogs. Please be kind to all. Because we have a permit and you paid for the event, does not give you more right of way than others. Please be courteous of others and share the trails as you would a store aisle at your neighborhood store.
2. Absolutely no littering. “Leave No Trace.”
3. When passing a runner announce yourself politely by saying “”May I please pass? or “On your left please.”
4. All runners must wear bib on front of person. (Not on your back, pack, hat, butt, or calves).
5. Downhill Runners have the right of way. Uphill runners and hikers, please keep your head up
6. If you quit before or during the event, then you must turn in your bib and/or notify a race official at the start line or aid station when applicable.
7. Volunteers give up their time to make your day special, so please thank them many times over.

Clean Sport Pledge
We pledge to support clean sport by inviting to athletes to compete at our events who are committed to training, racing and living clean and not inviting athletes to compete who have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. We are in favor of random drug testing, especially when there is prize money offered at the event. Our organization also chooses to not work with coaches and agents that have athletes that are currently working with athletes that have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. We understand we have a responsibility to protect a level playing field and we will be role models in the community as ambassadors and advocates for clean sport. We pledge to honor clean sport by inviting and supporting clean athletes at our races.