Yours Truly 50K - Cedar River
Sunday, January 24, 2010

 

General Info
The Yours Truly 50K 2010 is the eighteenth running of a world-wide 50K race. This race is free but registration is limited to about 30 runners. I don't have a registration form set up yet so email me if you're planning to run.
It sounds as though the correct Yours Truly 50K date this year is January 31 so maybe someone else would like to host a run on that date. I'll go ahead and keep this one on the 24th, the day after Pigtails' run for double-minded folks.

NOTE on Yours Truly - the correct date is Jan 31, so this race is not an official Yours Truly 50K. This 50K will however count for Maniac statistics.

For 2010 our local race will start at 8:00AM on Sunday, January 24 at the Landsberg trailhead of the Cedar River Trail for a double out-and-back on the Cedar River and Lake Wilderness trails. 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.
Timing is on the honor system. Please email me with your finishing time so I can include you on the results page on this site. 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 bars at the start (mp 0/15) and the turnaround (mp 8/23). Bring your own bottles because there won't be any cups. I also won't have any gels on the course, so you'll want to bring your own if you use them. At the finish I'll serve hot chocolate, hot chili, chips and various other items.

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 0.1 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 2009 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, cycling and dog-walking 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.