SUNDAY, September 6, 2009 Welcome to the Breck Crest! We are honored
to have you visit Breckenridge on Labor Day weekend and step up to the
start line for the 14th year of the event. What is it? A tough,
honest challenge. Marathon and Half Marathon courses top out above tree
line and offer beautiful views in the Ten Mile Range. Aside from the
start and finish sections, the courses are on soft surface trails and
service roads. Come prepared because this one will test you! Three different course lengths are offered...5 Mile Trail Run, Half Marathon, and Marathon. The Summit Foundation will receive $5 for every race entry. For information on The Summit Foundation visit www.summitfoundation.org
2009 MARATHON INFO
MARATHON COURSE The finishing stretch of the Marathon course was redesigned in 2008 to eliminate ALL of the climbing on the ski area after the Peaks Trail section. Again in 2009, the course will exit the Peaks Trail, go through the Cucumber Gulch Preserve and access the Breck Nordic Center trails. In other words, it's essentially downhill all the way to the finish from the Peaks Trail! The Town of Breckenridge has granted a variance to a town ordinance that prohibits events from being operated in the Preserve. Please stay on the trail and refrain from discarding any aid station materials in this area. Special thanks to the Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Council (BOSAC), Town Council, and Town Staff for their support of the re-route.
MARATHON TIME CUT-OFF For safety reasons we have established a cut-off time for the Marathon course. The cut-off point will be Mile 7, Aid Station #2, at the Half Marathon/Marathon Split. Any marathon racer not reaching this point within 2:20 from the start (9:50am) will be directed onto the Half Marathon course. This time frame allows for an average speed of 3mph (20 minute miles) over the first 7 miles of the course. Any marathon racer who does not make the time cut-off, and finishes the Half Marathon, will be re-categorized as a Half Marathon racer and will appear on the Half Marathon results.
LODGING
Great Western Lodging is the preferred lodging partner for the Breck Crest. Great Western is offering 30% off published rates this time of year. A two night minimum is required. For more info visit www.gwlodging.com.
For other lodging options visit www.gobrecknow.com. Go Breck Now offers discounted rates for last minute planners. Don't have a place to stay and you are coming to Breck within the next two weeks? This may be an option for you!
DIRECTIONS and PARKING
To get here: From Denver take I-70 West to Exit 203, Frisco. Take Highway 9 south toward Breckenridge (9 Miles). Stay on Highway 9 (N. Park Ave.) Go straight through 2 sets of lights. The second set of lights is Ski Hill Road. Take first left onto Washington Ave. and take immediate right into Riverwalk Center parking lot. The Start/Finish area is adjacent to the Riverwalk Center lawn.
Other Parking options: There are many public parking areas throughout Breckenridge that are a short walk from the Riverwalk Center. Gondola Lot-you'll see this on the left on your way to the Riverwalk Center. "F" Lot- using the directions above, continue past Washington Ave and take next left into large parking area. On the east side of Main St. there are many smaller parking lots. Exchange Lot Parking Structure-Corner of Ridge/Lincoln French St. Lot-French St. between Lincoln/Washington Klack Placer Lot-French St. just south of Jefferson Wellington Lot-Main/Wellington
PRE-REGISTRATION Click the Register Now button for SportsBaseOnline registration. Online registration closes September 4th at 8:00pm MST. Waivers will be available on site!
CLICK HERE for a mail-in registration form. Mail-in forms must be received by September 3rd...please include a signed waiver! CLICK HERE for a waiver.
You may also register in person, through September 4th, at The Summit Foundation, 111A Lincoln Ave, Breckenridge .
PACKET PICK-UP At the Riverwalk Center on Saturday, September 5th, from 2:30-6:30 pm. Packets may also be picked up on the day of the race, Sunday, September 6th, beginning at 6:30AM, at the Riverwalk Center, site of the start/finish.
DAY-OF REGISTRATION Day-of race registration will be available at the Riverwalk Center, site of the start/finish, beginning at 6:30 AM, September 6th. A $10 fee will be charged for all day-of registration. Entry Fees: Breck Crest Mountain Marathon- $55 Half Marathon- $45 Five Mile Trail Run- $35
Entry includes: Event T Shirt Aid Stations (5 for the Marathon, 3 for the Half Marathon, 1 for the 5 Mile Trail Run). Complimentary finish line refreshments. Post race meal discount at the Start/Finish area, provided by Hearthstone Catering. $5 from each entry donated to The Summit Foundation.
START TIMES
7:30AM All Marathon and Half Marathon competitors.
7:45AM All 5 Mile Trail Run Competitors
CATEGORIES
The following categories will be offered for Men and Women in all three distances...Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5 Mile Trail Run.
19 & Under 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+
PRIZES/AWARDS
Awards will be presented as follows:
The First Place man and woman in each age group will receive medals (see category section for age group breakdown). Medals will be given in all three races.
Cash will be given to the Top 3 Overall MARATHON Men and Women racers as follows: 1st Place= $150 2nd Place= $100 3rd Place= $75
Approximate times for awards:
10:00 5 Mile Race
11:30 Half Marathon
1:30
Marathon
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS and MAPS
ALL COURSES ARE MARKED WITH A COMBINATION OF ORANGE SQUARES WITH BLACK ARROWS AND PINK FLAGGING. THE ORANGE SQUARES ARE USED AT ALL MAJOR INTERSECTIONS AND AREAS CLOSE TO TOWN. THE 5 MILE SPLIT AND THE MARATHON/HALF MARATHON SPLIT ARE SIGNED AND WILL BE MARSHALLED.
5 MILE TRAIL RUN(Actual Distance = 5.7 Miles Click this thumbnail for the 5 Mile Course Map. Click this thumbnail for the 5 Mile Elevation Profile. Note: The profile appears 4.5x steeper than it actually is! See Vertical Exaggeration in lower left corner. 5 MILE COURSE DESCRIPTION Start at the Riverwalk Center and run south on paved path next to the Riverwalk Tent and Box Office entrance. Cross Adams Ave., stay on paved path, and run past 10th Mountain Division Statue. Stay on paved path, cross S. Park Ave., enter Village at Breckenridge driveway and run up the ramp. Run through the Village between the Maggie Restaurant and Breck Medical Center buildings to Service Rd. Run uphill on Service Road toward Beaver Run, go through a gap in the Buck and Rail fence and access the Burro Trail on the left. Run up the Burro Trail to "T" intersection...go right...all others go left. Cross Carter Gulch and turn right onto Flapjack. Descend through metal gate and go under Falcon Superchair. Turn left and uphill onto Service road. Turn right onto Peak 9 to Peak 8 Trail singletrack. Peak 9 to Peak 8 Trail crosses Service Road...AID STATION HERE. Continue on Peak 9 to Peak 8 Trail. Turn right onto Prospector Trail and descend. Turn left at Peak 9 Storage onto road. Bear right onto singletrack. Turn right onto dirt road for a short distance Turn hard left onto wooden bridge. At end of bridge turn right and then... immediately left onto singletrack trail and climb. At switchback stay straight onto 4 O'Clock Trail. Turn left off of 4 O'Clock Trail through tall grassy area. Descend Skiway Skyway. Run down stairs and through tunnel beneath Highway 9. At top of steps on other side of tunnel, turn left. Run on sidewalk, southbound along Highway 9, and turn left onto Ski Hill Road. Cross Ski Hill Road, with Police assistance, and access paved path behind River Mountain Lodge. Run paved path to finish at the Riverwalk Center.
BRECK CREST HALF MARATHON = 13.3 Miles Click this thumbnail for the Half Marathon Course Map. Click this thumbnail for the Half Marathon Elevation Profile. Note: The profile appears 3.4x steeper than it actually is! See Vertical Exaggeration in lower left corner.
HALF MARATHON COURSE DESCRIPTION Start at the Riverwalk Center and run south on paved path next to the Riverwalk Tent and Box Office entrance. Cross Adams Ave., stay on paved path, and run past 10th Mountain Division Statue. Stay on paved path, cross S. Park Ave., enter Village at Breckenridge driveway and run up the ramp. Run through the Village between the Maggie Restaurant and Breck Medical Center buildings to Service Rd. Run uphill on Service Road toward Beaver Run, go through a gap in the Buck and Rail fence and access the Burro Trail. Stay on the Burro Trail ignoring any smaller spurs. (The Burro Trail is marked with Blue Diamonds) Burro Trail merges with a jeep road, take left (south) onto the jeep road. Cross Crystal Creek Road and stay on singletrack. Singletrack merges with Spruce Creek Road. Take Spruce Creek Road approx. .7 miles to AID STATION #1. Climb Wheeler Trail to intersection of Peak 9 Road AID STATION #2 HERE. Turn right and downhill onto Peak 9 Road. Descend Peak 9 Road...a long way...past the Peak 9 Restaurant...zigzag your way across the frontside of the Peak 9 intermediate ski terrain...and turn left onto the Peak 9 to Peak 8 Trail. AID STATION HERE Continue on Peak 9 to Peak 8 Trail. Turn right onto Prospector Trail and descend. Turn left at Peak 9 Storage onto road. Bear right onto singletrack. Turn right onto dirt road for a short distance Turn hard left onto wooden bridge. At end of bridge turn right and then... immediately left onto singletrack trail and climb. At switchback stay straight onto 4 O'Clock Trail. Turn left off of 4 O'Clock Trail through tall grassy area. Descend Skiway Skyway. Run down stairs and through tunnel beneath Highway 9. At top of steps on other side of tunnel, turn left. Run on sidewalk, southbound along Highway 9, and turn left onto Ski Hill Road. Cross Ski Hill Road, with Police assistance, and access paved path behind River Mountain Lodge. Run paved path to finish at the Riverwalk Center.
BRECK CREST MOUNTAIN MARATHON = 23 Miles Click this thumbnail for the Marathon Map.
Click this thumbnail for the Marathon Elevation Profile. Note: The profile appears 5.9x steeper than it actually is! See Vertical Exaggeration in lower left corner.
MARATHON COURSE DESCRIPTION Note: The actual distance for the Marathon is 23 miles. For the purists out there wanting a true Marathon...believe me...when you get done with this race, you'll be glad it was a bit short. Start at the Riverwalk Center and run south on paved path next to the Riverwalk Tent and Box Office entrance. Cross Adams Ave., stay on paved path, and run past 10th Mountain Division Statue. Stay on paved path, cross S. Park Ave., enter Village at Breckenridge driveway and run up the ramp. Run through the Village between the Maggie Restaurant and Breck Medical Center buildings to Service Rd. Run uphill on Service Road toward Beaver Run, go through a gap in the Buck and Rail fence and access the Burro Trail. Stay on the Burro Trail ignoring any smaller spurs. (The Burro Trail is marked with Blue Diamonds) Burro Trail merges with a jeep road, take left (south) onto the jeep road. Cross Crystal Creek Road and stay on singletrack. Singletrack merges with Spruce Creek Road. Take Spruce Creek Road approx. .7 miles to AID STATION. Climb Wheeler Trail to intersection of Peak 9 Road AID STATION HERE You are now truly on "The Crest" of the Ten Mile Range...enjoy the view. Continue on Wheeler Trail to Miners Creek Trail. AID STATION HERE Take Miners Creek Trail northbound toward Frisco and to the Upper Miners Creek Trailhead...AID STATION HERE. Turn right onto Peaks Trail toward Breckenridge. At the Peaks Trailhead, on the Breckenridge end, turn left onto County Road 3...AID STATION HERE. Turn right onto Peaks Connection singletrack. YOU HAVE NOW ENTERED THE CUCUMBER GULCH PRESERVE. PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL AND DO NOT DISCARD ANY AID STATION MATERIAL. Peaks Connection merges with Toad Alley. Turn right onto Gold Digger Trail Descend Gold Digger, ignoring any spurs, and merge onto Shock Hill Trail Descend on Shock Hill Trail to skier bridge. Turn right onto Pence Miller Ditch Trail Turn left onto Morning Thunder Trail Merge onto Skiway Skyway and descend Run down stairs and through tunnel beneath Highway 9. At top of steps on other side of tunnel, turn left. Run on sidewalk, southbound along Highway 9, and turn left onto Ski Hill Road. Cross Ski Hill Road, with Police assistance, and access paved path behind River Mountain Lodge. Run paved path to finish at the Riverwalk Center.
AID STATIONS and SAFETY
There is 1 Aid Station for the 5 Mile Run, 3 Aid Stations for the Half Marathon, and 5 Aid Stations for the Marathon.
The aid station locations are on the course maps and in the course descriptions. The locations and distances are: Aid #1-Intersection of Spruce Creek Road/Wheeler Trail-MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON at 4.2 Miles. Aid #2-Intersection of Wheeler Trail/Peak 9 Road-MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON at 7 Miles. Aid #3-MARATHON ONLY at 10.2 Miles Aid #4-Upper Miners Creek Trailhead-MARATHON ONLY at 15 Miles. Aid #5-Peaks Trailhead-MARATHON ONLY at 20.5 Miles Aid #6-Intersection of Peak 9 Road and Peak 8 to Peak 9 Trail-5 MILE and HALF MARATHON ONLY-
Aid Stations will be supplied with Water and Gatorade, ClifShot and mini ClifBars. Water and Gatorade will be dispensed in large drink coolers. Racers may refill personal hydration systems and or use cups that we will provide. We will provide Bag Drop for
Marathoners and Half Marathoners. Simply bring your personal items
CLEARLY MARKED with your NAME and the AID STATION you wish to have it
delivered to and we will drive it out there for you. Personal bags MUST
be delivered to the Start/Finish by 6:45AM the day of the race for you
to take advantage of this service. At the actual Aid Stations, personal
bags will be set aside and you are responsible for your own feed. The
only Aid Station this will NOT be provided for is the Aid Station at
the intersection of the Wheeler Trail and the Colorado Trail, Aid #3 The key to the aid stations is simple...Use Them! You'll be glad you did. Each Aid Station will be staffed with an EMT that will have radio communication. If there is an issue on course, get to the next aid station if you can. If not, sit tight and wait for course sweep to arrive. Course sweep will depart immediately after the last start wave.
If you grab a snack at an aid station, we ask that you do one of two things: 1. Consume as much as you want/need in close proximity to the aid station. If you choose this option, you may discard your empty bottle or wrapper in this vicinity and we'll gladly clean up and lug it out for you. 2. If you choose to "grab and go", then please hang onto wrappers and bottles until the next aid station and discard them there.
