Update 6 — July 30, 2024
Runners,
With a little luck, this will be the last you hear from me before check-in on Friday, August 9. You can view the complete event schedule here.
The Blind Bull fire is a thing of the past
As of this past weekend, the Blind Bull fire is 90% contained, and the Forest Service reopened the road up to the aid station. All systems go.
Bib numbers will be on UltraSignup by this Friday
I will assign bib numbers in UltraSignup by the end of this week. You must write your bib number on your drop bag.
Bring all the food and water you need to have breakfast and run to the first aid station
The race starts in the middle of the national forest, 30 miles from the nearest town. We will not have food and water at the start — bring your own!
You should arrive at the start with the nutrition and fluids you need to have breakfast and run to the first aid station. We will have portable restrooms at the start.
We are off the grid starting this Saturday, August 3
Most of your race management team is heading into the woods this Saturday, August 3. We won't have ready access to internet or phone throughout the week. Now is the time to ask questions.
If you have an urgent request next week, feel free to call or text me — but don't expect an answer right away. I'll do my best to find service late in the evenings.
We will host a crew/pacer Q&A session immediately after the start
I will hold a 15-minute Q&A session for pacers and crews immediately after the start. Pacers and crew should have the event manual and the course map with them. I reserve the right to answer questions with, "Please read the event manual."
Middle Piney Lake is open
During the pre-race Q&A call, a runner aptly noted that Middle Piney Lake is flagged as closed for construction on the Forest Service website. To confirm, the lake is open — and we should fully expect other users to be present throughout the event.
You can car camp at the finish — but you cannot tent camp
For the avoidance of doubt, you and/or your crew are welcome to sleep in a car/van/RV/truck at the finish. However, you cannot tent/bivvy camp at the finish.
Along the same lines, please ask your crew to limit the number of times they come and go from the finish during the race. Said differently, if your crew is looking for a place to rest during the race, please use one of the many dispersed camping sites in the national forest instead of the finish.
Great things ahead.
Denis
Update 5 — July 22, 2024
Runners,
Race day is fast approaching. We have a few more updates for you. (Prior updates are here.)
Our pre-race Q&A session is this Wednesday
I emailed a Google Meet invitation for our pre-race Q&A session this Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00pm MT. Here's what we'll talk about:
Course conditions
Hazards (bears, weather, smoke, etc.)
Runner tracking and accountability
Crew and pacer rules
Mandatory gear
Whatever questions you have!
Feel free to send questions my way beforehand. If you can't attend live, I'll make the recording available a few days later.
The Blind Bull fire continues to slowly burn
As of July 17, the Blind Bull fire had grown to 43 acres, and the Forest Service called in further resources. The Forest Service also implemented several trail closures, although none will impact the race.
The road closure up to Blind Bull, however, would materially impact the race if it remains in place. Although I still believe the fire will be long gone by race day, we are coordinating with the Forest Service on a potential reroute. We'll strive to keep changes to a minimum.
Smoke is just as big of a threat as fire
When it comes to remote mountain races, smoke is just as big of a threat as wildfire. If the air quality index is maroon or is close to maroon in the days preceding the race, we may have to cancel.
To be clear, nothing at the moment leads me to believe that smoke will be an issue. Still, I wanted to disclose how we think about smoke as it pertains to the race. Maroon is not our friend.
Runner tracking website is live
Our runner tracking page is live and linked on our homepage. The site shows last year's course, but we'll update it in the next week or so. Feel free to share the link with friends and family.
Oh, and don't be afraid to taper.
Denis
Update 4 — July 12, 2024
Runners,
We are a little under a month away from the start. If you're among the four folks who joined us from the waitlist last week, please read our prior update emails and provide your Garmin ShareString here.
Small wildfire near Blind Bull
On July 1st, the Forest Service got to work on a small wildfire about two miles from the Blind Bull aid station. As of yesterday, the fire had grown to 30 acres, and the Forest Service is allocating additional resources for a containment strategy.
Considering we are a month out, I do not believe the fire will impact the race. Positively, for example, there is no trail closure in place right now. However, the Forest Service has closed the road up to Blind Bull, so folks who want to preview the course should stay away from that section.
We're in close coordination with the Forest Service. If anything changes, I'll be in touch quickly. For folks who like numbers, I'd say there's a 5% chance the Forest Service puts a trail closure in place, in which case, we may have to implement a small reroute. Again, I'll share updates in real-time.
Final event manual available
I just posted the final event manual to the website. You can view and download it here. I highly recommend that you instruct your crews/pacer to download and/or print a copy, since they won't have service on the course.
Pre-race Q&A on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00pm
Save the date — I'll send a Google Meet invite soon! If you have questions beforehand, please send them my way!
Pacers can join you at Menace Falls
We had an inconsistency on the website — my bad. To clarify, you can have a pacer join you at Menace Falls. They cannot, however, leave their car at Menace Falls!
I cannot wait to see you all in the Wyoming Range. Get ready for something big.
Denis
Update 3 — June 24, 2024
Runners,
Welcome to your third email update. If you're among the folks who joined us from the waitlist, you can read our first two updates here.
Save the date: Pre-race Q&A session on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00pm MT
We are hosting an optional but highly recommended Q&A session via Google Meet on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00pm MT. I hope you'll join us. If you're unable to do so, we'll record the session.
Provide your ShareString
We're still waiting on about 20 ShareStrings. Submit your ShareString here. And if you have a password associated with your account, please deactivate it! If you do not provide it by Friday, August 2, I will remove you from the race and keep your money. This is a promise.
Send us volunteers for aid station #3, Roaring Fork Lakes
If you have friends or family who are interested in lending a hand at the race, we'd welcome their help at the Roaring Fork Lakes aid station. It's the third aid station on the course and a short drive from the start. (The first two aid stations are really, really far from the start in a car.) We'd love 3-4 more willing volunteers!
Request a refund or rollover by July 9th
Tuesday, July 9th is the last day to request a refund or rollover. After that date, we'll have committed your entire race entry fee to non-refundable costs. Please email me if you're unable to run.
Submit your trail stewardship form
Many thanks to the folks who have spent time helping our trail system. If you haven't already done so, please report your eight hours (or donation to FBT) here.
That's all for now, folks. Email or call with questions. Get out there and train.
Denis
Update 2 — April 11, 2024
Runners,
I need your Garmin ShareStrings. Please read this entire email, so you don't get removed from the race.
We use ShareStrings for runner tracking
We provide a tracking map on our webpage during the event, which allows friends, family, and race management to follow you.
Our tracking app only supports Garmin GPS devices — not Garmin watches!
To appear on the map — and be permitted to run — you must provide the ShareString from a Garmin GPS device. We recommend the Garmin Mini (1 or 2). Spots do not work. The device cannot be a Garmin watch. The tracking functionality of a watch is different and does not work.
How to find and provide your ShareString
Please follow these instructions to find and activate your ShareString. Then, provide it on this spreadsheet. If you're renting a Garmin from us, we've already assigned you a ShareString in the spreadsheet.
If you haven't provided your ShareString by Friday, August 2, we will remove you from the entrant's list
You must provide your ShareString by 4:00pm MT on Friday, August 2nd. This is when we send them to our software host for upload.
If you miss this deadline, I will remove you from the race. That is a promise. We will be in the field starting on Saturday and do not want to deal with last-minute distractions.
Knock this out right away!
Denis
Update 1 — April 2, 2024
Runners,
Welcome to the 2024 Wyoming Range 100. Consider this your first of several pre-race emails. (We publish all our communications on our website, including prior-year emails.)
Before digging into the meat and potatoes, I'd like to thank you for joining us in the Wyoming Range. I know this year's registration process took a few turns, but it was all worth it to get you into these mountains. They are special.
Save the date: Pre-race Q&A on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00pm MT
We are hosting a non-mandatory but highly recommended pre-race information/Q&A session via Google Meet on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00pm MT. This is a great opportunity to learn about the unique challenges of the WYR100 and ask questions.
We'll record the session for folks who can't make it.
Join a carpool
The WYR100 is a point-to-point course. Although the start and finish are two hours apart, we do not offer a shuttle. We've explored several options, and all are cost prohibitive.
So, we have a carpooling/shuttle page where you can self-organize rides — emphasis on "self-organize."
Volunteer your Starlink
Since there is no cell service on the course, we use Starlinks at our aid stations as part of our communications plan. If you're willing to share your Starlink on race weekend, we'll take excellent care of it — and gladly share a $100 discount on your race registration.
Stay tuned for the 2024 event manual
We're planning to publish the 2024 event manual in the next few weeks, pending final guidance from our permitting body, the U.S. Forest Service. To give you a sense of what to expect, you can review the 2023 event manual.
We call it an event manual (versus a runner manual) because it's designed for pacers, crews, and spectators, too. In fact, we've heard that crews find it the most helpful: there are 21 pages of detailed maps and driving directions and times. Several of our aid stations are literally hours apart.
Thanks, folks. Reach out any time with questions.
Denis
Update 5 — August 3, 2023
Runners –
We’re a little over a week away. If you haven’t started tapering, now is a great time to rest those legs. Speaking of tapering, this is your final update. Great things to come.
Bib numbers are on UltraSignup
We assigned bib numbers on UltraSignup. You must legibly display your bib number on your drop bags. It’ll be handy for check-in on Friday morning, too.
Runner tracking site is up
Our runner tracking site is up. For friends and family following along from afar, the page is accessible from our homepage. Please remind friends and family that GPS pings can be anywhere from ten minutes to an hour apart. GPS technology is imperfect.
We are off the grid starting this Saturday, August 5
Most race representatives will be in the field starting this Saturday, August 5. From then until race morning, we won’t have ready access to cell or internet. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask them!
Crew Q&A session at 7:15am at the start
We are hosting a brief Q&A session for crews at 7:15am at the start. If your crew is planning to attend, they should have the event manual and course map in their hands.
Your RD reserves the right to answer questions with, “Please read the event manual.”
Final event manual
We tweaked a handful of GPS coordinates in the event manual to make them more specific. The final version is here.
GPX track is available on our website. You’re required to carry it
You are required to carry a device with the course GPX track on it. A smart phone with navigation apps that work in offline mod — that is, without cell service — is a great option. We like the CalTopo and onX apps. You can download the GPX here. Aside from the name, the GPX file is unchanged from last year.
Bring all the food and water you need to have breakfast and run to the first aid station
The race starts in the middle of the National Forest, about 27 miles from the nearest town. We will not have food and water at the start — bring your own! You should arrive at the start with the nutrition and fluids you need to have breakfast and run to the first aid station. We will, however, have portable restrooms at the start.
See you at Fish Creek.
Denis
Update 4 — July 13, 2023
Runners,
Welcome to your July update. We are less than one month away. For folks who registered in the past four weeks, you can read previous update emails on our website.
Attend our pre-race Q&A session next Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm MT
We're hosting a non-mandatory (but recommended) pre-race information/Q&A session. You can join via Google Meet. If you can't make it, we'll record it.
Provide your Garmin ShareString
We use GPS-enabled Garmin devices to provide real-time runner tracking. If you're bringing your own Garmin device, please enter your ShareString here, so we can add it to our tracking software. Not sure how to activate your ShareString? Read this article.
Bring all the food and water you need to have breakfast and run to the first aid station
The race starts in the middle of the National Forest, about 27 miles from the nearest town. Therefore, we will not have food and water at the start — bring your own! You should arrive at the start with the nutrition and fluids you need to have breakfast and run to the first aid station.
We will, however, portable restrooms at the start.
Tell your crew/pacer they can meet you between Blind Bull and Deadman
Our rules state that runners may only meet their crew/pacer at aid stations. To decrease vehicle traffic on Deadman Road, however, we're encouraging runners to meet their crew/pacer at the intersection of Greys River Road and Deadman Road. We flagged this location on our course map as AS 06.5: Greys River Road. To be clear, there will not be an official aid station here — just a small dirt parking lot. Please do not make loud noise, especially at night, at this location.
That's all for now. Reach out with questions.
Denis
Update 3 — June 13, 2023
Runners,
Welcome to June and your third update email. You can read the first two updates here.
Attend our pre-race Q&A on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm MT
We're hosting a non-mandatory (but recommended) pre-race information/Q&A session on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm MT. Here is our agenda:
Course conditions
Grizzlies and other hazards
Mandatory gear
Aid station fare
Runner tracking
Crews and pacers
Non-profit and community partners
Q&A
I will send a Google Meet invite later this week.
Provide your Garmin ShareString for real-time runner tracking
We use GPS-enabled Garmins to provide real-time runner tracking on our website — your friends and family can follow along! If you're bringing your own Garmin, please enter your ShareString here, so we can add it to our tracking software. Not sure how to access your ShareString? Read this article.
Report your trail stewardship work
Seeing as how we're in 2023 and all, we're doing away with paper trail work forms. You can, instead, report your mandatory trail work here. As a reminder, you can satisfy our requirement by getting your hands dirty or by donating directly to Friends of the Bridger-Teton. And, no, volunteering at another race doesn't count.
Join a carpool
Since this is a point-to-point course, the starting and finishing lines are far apart. Like, really far apart. Accordingly, we've set up a carpool registration page for folks who are looking for a ride. Please "self-organize" your carpools. Patrick Grengs wants some road-trippin' buddies!
Big things to come.
Denis
Update 2 — May 2, 2023
Runners,
Another month, another update. For folks who registered in April, you can read our first runner update email here.
Lingering snowpack = downed trees + tall plants
Like most race directors in the mountain west, I've been following snowpack reports. While the Wyoming Range hasn't received as much snow as the Sierras or Wasatch, the winter here has still been tough.
And it's far from over. As of this email, the Blind Bull SNOTEL site, which is about 0.20 miles from the Blind Bull aid station, shows 66" of snow on the ground. We looked at satellite images of the course yesterday, and every inch still had snow on it. But we needn't worry too much. We're willing to bet a race entry that the course will be devoid of snow on race day.
However — and this is a big however — a cool spring, which extends the snowmelt process, will likely result in downed trees and taller-than-normal ground-level plants. We had the same issue last year: a wet spring helped plants grow taller and remain greener longer — in some cases, overgrowing the trail.
We'll log and brush the trail, but you should still be prepared for some burly conditions.
Calling all Starlinks!
Last year, we had two Starlink satellite internet systems on the course, and they worked wonderfully. At McDougal Gap, for instance, we had a computer connected to Starlink that showed our live runner tracking, so crews could see their runner.
We'd like to add 2-3 more Starlinks along the course. If you have one with the portability feature active, let's talk! We'd love to borrow it for the race — and will gladly compensate you for it.
Save the date for our pre-race Q&A on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm MT
We're hosting a non-mandatory (but recommended) pre-race Q&A session on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm MT. We'll share a calendar invite as the week approaches.
As always, reach out at any time.
Denis
Update 1 — March 31, 2023
Runners,
I trust everyone's training is coming along nicely. We're less than six months from race day. I have three updates for you.
The 2023 event manual is available on our website
We published the 2023 Event Manual on our website this morning. It's effectively a hardcopy of our website that you and your pacers/crew can download for race day (since there's no cell service on the course). We call it an "event manual" instead of a "runner manual" because it's designed for everyone — runners, pacers, volunteers, crew.
There is a link to the manual under the 'Plan' header.
Save the date for our pre-race Q&A on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm
We're hosting a non-mandatory (but recommended) pre-race Q&A session on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00pm MT. This will be a prime opportunity for y'all to hit us with questions and share a few laughs. We'll share a calendar invite as the day approaches. We'll also record the session for folks who can't make it.
We're officially a Hardrock 100 qualifier
Most of you registered before we got some surprisingly good news about three weeks ago: the Wyoming Range 100 is officially a Hardrock qualifier. Now, you have to finish.
Reach out any time. Great things to come.
Denis