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PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE MESSAGE

* Read all the information on the web page, especially the TRAIL GUIDELINES and FAQs.

* http://www.trailrunevents.com/ul/trail-guidelines.asp
* http://www.trailrunevents.com/ul/faq.asp

* It is always a good idea to check the Trail Run Events Blog on the night before each run in case there has been a last minute change of location or even run cancellation.

* http://www.trailrunevents.com/info.asp?ns=ul

* This run will be held "rain or shine".

* Please remember that this is a volunteer group and it is "free" to run with the group. That said, there are rules and recommendations as posted on the ULs website. The course arrows are made by volunteers who are not responsible to babysit you during the runs. You are running entirely at your own risk and if you arent willing to accept this risk, you are also free to leave the group.

~ TRAINING RUN: Saturday, June 2 - Caballero Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook and beyond. Round-Trip for 22-Miles.

LOCATION: Caballero Trail

* Exit the 101 at Reseda Blvd. Go south.
* Caballero Trailhead is about a mile below Marvin Braude Mulholland GatewayPark
* Look for the Caballero Trail Marker on the left side just before the stop sign at Country Club Place.
* Free Parking is on the street.
* Be sure to lock your vehicle.

~ MEETING SPOT: We will meet at the trail head on the left side of Reseda Blvd.

~ TIME: 7:00AM SHARP- Please arrive EARLY; bottles full and shoes tied; ready to run at 7:00AM.

~ DISTANCE: 22-miles (more-or-less).

~ MAX RUNNING TIME: 5h30m -- -- Designated turn-around time is 2h30m. This allows 3h00m to return.

~ CUT-OFF: All runners please turn around at mile 11.0 or 2h30m, whichever comes first.

~ SIGN IN SHEET: Please use the sign-in sheet at the beginning and end of your run. Please note that if you fail to "check off" at the end of your run, you may risk having search and rescue called out at your own expense.

~ WATER: Water available at Trippet Ranch; mile 7 and mile 15.5

~ TOILETS: At Trippet, per above.

~ ARROWS: Trails will be marked with minimal flour arrows. You will follow the same arrows out and back. There is no guarantee that you wont get lost. Hikers may erase the marks; other running clubs mark their own arrows also; fatigue may cause you to miss an arrow. Pay attention to landmarks to avoid getting lost or better yet, carry your own bottle of flour and make your own arrows (seriously)!
Remember, if you want to follow our arrows, you should stay behind the arrow marker.

~ If you leave the trail for any reason, please leave your belt or pack on the trail to mark where you went in the bushes. Please remember to "leave only footprints"; pack everything out.

~ Everyone runs for "time on their feet". The slowest runners will need to maintain a pace of 4-mph overall. A cut-off time for each run will be established in the email update and if you are a slower runner, you will run for time rather than mileage. This means that although the run is tagged at xx number of miles, some of you may actually run fewer miles but will still complete enough "time on your feet" to finish a 50K race. It doesnt benefit the slower runner to spend more "time on their feet" than the others; it only risks injury and impedes recovery. The time on your feet will be extended
gradually over the weeks.

~ RUNNING IN THE HEAT: There is a lot of concern being expressed about running a 50K in August. Actually, running a half marathon in June can be more problematic than running a 50K in August because our "June gloom" weather doesnt adequately prepare us to run when the temperature suddenly spikes into the 90s on race day. As the weather warms up, we will be running in the heat and the best way to handle running in the heat is through gradual exposure to the heat. The more you gradually expose yourself to heat, the more your body will begin to sweat for cooling but at the same time will spare electrolytes. Be aware to carry enough fluids including hypertonic fluids (with electrolytes added). Wear a shade hat and light colored clothes and use water stops to wet your clothing. Overall, when running in the heat, be aware to slow your pace down to keep your engine running easy. If you have access to a sauna, it will help you become heat
acclimatized; just spend a little time in the sauna each day.

~ RATTLESNAKE ENCOUNTERS: As we are well into rattlesnake season, it is good to review what to do if you encounter a snake. Be aware that in the cool hours of morning and evening, snakes may be sunning themselves. In the hot hours of the day, snakes tend to avoid direct sunlight and may be resting under rocks, logs, bushes, or even in shady sections of fire roads and trails. Note to self: when running on fire roads, especially keep an eye out when running through shade.
What to do if you encounter a rattlesnake on the trail? First, keep a wide distance. A snake that is not coiled generally won’t strike so you can usually safely walk around the snake keeping a distance of about 5-feet between you and the snake. Uncoiled snakes can often be entices to move along by giving a couple of squirts at the snakes tail from your water bottle, from a safe distance away. Never throw stones at a rattle snake; this always going to aggravate the snake.
A snake that is coiled, rattling, or has its head lifted off the ground is capable of striking. Snakes are known to be able to strike to a distance of about ½ of its overall length. On a wide fire road, you can usually safely pass around the snake however on a narrow trail, Ii is always best to leave this snake alone and find another route or just wait it out. Here is a link to more info:
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-a-Rattlesnake-Attack

ROUND TRIP FROM CABALLERO TRIAL HEAD PAST PARKER MESA OVERLOOK FOR 22-MILES

1-Start at Caballero Trail Head
2-Follow Caballero Trail to Mulholland fire road -- mile 1.5
3-RIGHT turn on Mulholland fire road to Bent Arrow Trail -- 1.8
4-LEFT turn on Bent Arrow trail to Temescal fire road #30 -- mile 2.3
5-LEFT turn on Temescal fire road to Hub Junction -- mile 3.7
6-RIGHT turn on Eagle Springs fire road and continue to Eagle Junction – mile 5.0
7-CROSS STRAIGHT over Eagle Springs fire road and take Musch Trail down to Trippett Ranch Visitor Center (TOILETS/WATER) -- mile 7.1
8-Leave Trippet Ranch Visitor Center to junction of East Topanga fire road -- mile 7.3
9-RIGHT turn on East Topanga fire road and continue approx. 2.5 miles to Parker Mesa Overlook Junction -- mile 9.8. Here you have the option of turning RIGHT to Parker Mesa Overlook OR...
10-Continue on East Topange fire road past the Parker Mesa turnoff  until you come to mile 11.0 or 2h30m, whichever comes first.

RETURN

11-U-TURN on East Topanga fire road and return to Trippet Junction -- mile 14.7
12-LEFT turn at Trippet Junction and go 0.2 miles to Trippet Ranch Visitor Center (TOILETS/WATER) -- mile 14.9 -- Be sure you have enough fluid; the last miles have some up hills with sun exposure.
13-Leave Trippet Ranch Visitor Center via Musch Trail to East Topanga fire road -- mile 17.0
14-CROSS OVER East Topanga fire road take Eagle Springs fire road to Hub Junction -- mile 18.3
15-LEFT turn onto Fire Road #30 (look for signs to Mulholland) and continue to Bent Arrow Trail -- mile 19.7
16-RIGHT turn onto Bent Arrow Trail to Mulholland fire road -- mile 20.1
17-RIGHT turn onto Mulholland fire road to Caballero Trail -- mile 20.4
22-Caballero Trail is on your LEFT. Take Caballero Trail to the finish – mile 21.9

To view a map of this run, go to:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/34687240

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ULTRALADIES BY RUNNING OR VOLUNTEERING AT OUR EVENTS:

VALLEY CREST HALF MARATHON – JUNE 10, 2012

BULLDOG 50K/25K TRAIL RUNS – AUGUST 25, 2012

Happy Trails,

NSD

http://www.trailrunevents.com