General Info
The Yours Truly 50K 2008 is the sixteenth running of a world-wide 50K race. For 2008 it will be
run on both Sunday January 27 and Sunday February 24 in multiple locations around the world.
According to the
Official Yours Truly 50K site the race is free of charge, you may run anywhere
you choose, you have up to 24 hours to complete the 50K and you have until Feb 12 to submit your
results (for the Jan 27 race) or Mar 12 (for the Feb 24 race). If you run both races you can have
both results displayed on the official results page.
Note for Maniacs: Both dates count.
Inspired by Jon Yoon's organization of a Yours Truly 50K run at Game Farm Park in Auburn last year, I decided to do a Yours Truly run this year. The run will start at 7:30AM at the Landsberg trailhead of the Cedar River Trail (basically at the start of the Cedar River Marathon course) for a double out-and-back loop on the Cedar River and Lake Wilderness trails on Sunday, January 27 and/or on Sunday February 24. I'll measure and mark the course, provide some limited aid and food and some slowish company. You can start earlier or later but I probably won't mark the course until race morning. For the January race I didn't start until 9AM but plan to be earlier for the February race since I'm not runnng another 50K the day before.
Timing is on the honor system. You will need to submit your own time here before February 12 (for the January run) or March 12 (for the February run) in order to be included in the official results. Please also email me with your finishing time so I can include you on the results page. Advance registration is not required either but if you're planning to run email me so I know how much Gatorade to bring. I'll supply Gatorade, pb&j sandwiches and some gu's and bars at the start (mp 0/15) and the turnaround (mp 8/23). Bring your own bottles because there won't be any cups. When I reach the finish I'll serve hot chocolate and/or hot chili after the race if anyone is still around. In January Monte Pascual, Steve Walters, Tim Lawson and Rich Nalley graciously waited for me to finish but it was too late to break out the chili.
Directions
The start
is where 276th Ave SE crosses the Cedar River about 12 miles south of Issaquah. From I-90
take Front Street, which becomes Issaquah-Hobart road, which becomes 276th Ave SE. From I-405 in
Renton take the SE Maple Valley highway (Hwy 169) SE about 10 miles, then turn L at a light onto SE
216th Way (a short distance past where you go under Highway 18). Bear right onto SE 216th St after
a half mile then go 2.5 miles and turn right on 276th Ave SE. Go 2.2 miles and park on either the
right or the left just before the bridge over the Cedar River. The Start is on the right (downstream)
side of the road. There's room for about 20 cars in the parking area. There's a porta-potty across
the street from the start but elsewhere along the course the woods will have to suffice.
Here's a map and directions from
Renton.
Course
Here's a map of the
course.
From Landsberg follow the Cedar River trail 4.7 miles (crossing three bridges over the Cedar River)
then turn sharp left onto the Green to Cedar Rivers trail (aka Lake Wilderness trail). If the trail
changes from gravel to pavement you missed the sharp left turn. Run up the Green to Cedar Rivers
trail 3.1 miles (passing through two short tunnels and under two underpasses) to the aid station and
turnaround about 0.2 mile past the second smaller, underpass. If you reach a major road crossing
you've gone a little too far. From the turnaround return via the same route to Landsberg to
complete 25K. Repeat for 50K. The turn at 4.7 miles and the turnaround will be marked with flour
arrows and signs.
Both trails are old railroad rights-of-way with a hard-packed pea gravel surface. In January the
trail was quite icy but that was unusual; normally the surface is dry or just damp with a few small
puddles, but no mud. Elevation gain/loss per loop is a very gradual 300'. The route is quite
scenic, mostly through woods along the Cedar River and Lake Wilderness. In good weather it is a
popular walking and cycling route though not so much when it's 38 and raining.
Participants in the Cedar River Yours Truly 50K assume all risks associated with participating in this event, including but not limited to personal injury, damage to property, getting cold and wet and stepping in dog doo. This invitation to join us in running the race does not constitute any sort of legal promise of support or assistance during the event itself.