Creemore Vertical Challenge: One Week to Go!

Okay, technically the CVC is 8 days away.

With help from friend Everhard who is running the 25K, the trails are ready to be flagged.  Creemore Springs Brewery is back on board to stave off life-threatening thirst for runners after their race.  The race has reached cap (250).  The week leading up to the race is a hectic time for me, so I stop making changes to registration at 23:00 on Sunday (this year, July 31).  This gives me time to focus on race set-up without incurring 18 hour days.  As such, I decided that creating a waiting list would not be of much benefit or worth the time and effort.

Please note:  No changes will be made, such as dropping from 50K to 25K, after Sunday.

This also allows me to provide the information to Enfield Timing, race kit set-up, aid station supply estimates, etc. at a more leisurely pace.  In the past, I have found it is the "last minute" changes that create registration and timing havoc.

Race entries are 175 for the 25K, 51 for the 50K and 26 for the 75K.
Race bibs will be 1 - 175 for the 25K, 201 - 251 for the 50K and 301 - 326 for the 75K.

The above does not factor in complications that are almost certain to arise!

Again, I would like to emphasis that the course is more challenging this year.  Since the Creemore Vertical Challenge is now part of the Canadian Skyrunning Series, there is more vertical.  The old course was approximately 850 meters vertical gain per (25K) loop.  This year, the figure stands closer to 950 meters.  Hence, the 50K runners will enjoy about 1.9 kilometers of vertical gain...  And love every minute!

In the past 4 days, the forecast for Creemore has changed from a high of 24, to 25, to 26 and now it is 28 degrees.  This is the part where I tend to lie, so my prediction is that we will have a gentle rain and a high of 22.  Bring a light jacket!

Parking at the start/finish (my house) is always a bit dicey.  Please try to carpool with your running buddies.  Think of the drive up as a pre-race meeting where you discuss strategy and who will draw the first beer.  In that order.  Laneway parking (the driveway) usually fills up before 7:30 AM, so if you arrive later, expect to park on the shoulders of the road.  Please follow the directions of the parking marshal and note that the driveway will be closed at 6:00 (75K start), 8:00 (50K start) and 9:00 (25K start).

Most importantly, enjoy the day.  If it is a hot one, walk the hills.  You are not going to set a PB on this course!  Try to enjoy the views at the top of the hills.  I'm usually too busy trying to get oxygen into my lungs to look about, but I hear the views are splendid.  With the exception of deer flies, the bugs are not bad.  There will be sunscreen at the aid stations, but consider putting it on before you start.  The creeks and river are low this year, so little chance of getting your feet wet, unless you actively try to do so.

For those going long, Kinga Miklos will be sweeping the course, starting at about 2:00 PM.  For 75K runners, 2:00 PM is the 50K cut-off (must finish 50K within 8 hours), so hopefully no one spends the night in the wilds of Creemore.


Enjoy!