The complete UltraLadies Training Schedule can be found at http://www.trailrunevents.com/ul/train-with-ul-50k.asp.
Whether you’re a "newbie" or a veteran ULs runner, please take the time to read all the information on the web page, especially the TRAIL GUIDELINES and FAQs, that includes information for your safety. With fairly large groups of runners, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of each and every one of you reading the entire information found on the training pages of the ULs website found at http://www.trailrunevents.com/ul/index.asp.
It is always a good idea to check the LATEST INFO page on the night before each run in case there has been a last minute change of location or even run cancellation. This has happened on occasion due to park closures due to fire, for instance. This can be found at
http://www.trailrunevents.com/info.asp?ns=ul.
TRAINING RUN FOR SATURDAY, MAY 4
BULLDOG RACE COURSE
ONELOOP: 16.5 miles (from the car)
MEET UP TIME: 6:30AM. Please arrive early, shoes tied, bottles full.
RUN START TIME: 7:00AM - We will meet up at the parking site at 6:30AM. Walk into the park together to use the bathrooms and start running at 7:00AM - SHARP!
LOCATION & PARKING: Malbu Creek State Park. 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA. Meet outside the park for free parking on the corner of Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Highway. Please pay attention to "no parking" signs. Be sure to hide valuables and lock your vehicle.
DIRECTIONS:
~Exit the 101 at Las Virgenes Rd.
~Go south.
~Park at the corner of Las Virgenes and
Mulholland Dr.
~Parking is free on the corner.
~Note: Can also be reached from PCH.
MILEAGE: 16.5 very hilly miles
RUNNING TIME: 4h15m.
MANDATORY CUT-OFF TIME: You must reach Corral Canyon parking lot (mile 7.9) by 2h00m into the run. If you have not reached Corral Canyon by 2h00m, please turn-around and follow the arrows back to the cars.
50K NEWBIE RUNNERS - If you would like to run the 50K but you have not met the qualifying requirements, you may use this run as your qualifier. Be sure you check in with Nancy at the start of the run, for approval.
SIGN-IN SHEET: When you arrive, please use the sign-in sheet on the clipboard located on the windshield of the gray Honda Element. Please print legibly and remember to check off when you return from your run or S&R may be called out at your expense.
HOW MUCH FLUID DO YOU NEED TO CARRY?: Recommend a minimum of 20oz per hour for this run = 80 oz minimum.
AVAILABILITY OF WATER/TOILETS:
- Available inside Malibu Creek State Park at START/FINISH.
- Water may or may not be available elsewhere on the run. Some of the water and toilets have been locked due to state park budget cutbacks.
- YOU MUST CARRY ENOUGH FLUIDS, CALORIES AND ELECTROLYTES TO SUSTAIN YOU THROUGH 16 VERY
HILLY MILES! RECOMMEND 20oz per hour; MINIMUM!
- If there is additional water inside the park, it will be as follows:
- Tapia Park (mile 14) when you come into Tapia Park West (on the dry side of the creek), there is a toilet/sink in a small building to your right. May or may not be unlocked.
- When you come up to the Tapia Park East parking lot on the wet side of the creek, instead of going left towards the trail that leads to the Salvation Army Camp before Spur trail, walk straight across the parking lot to the bushy area in the middle. Its just a few feet. There is an upright water fountain right there.
- Next, if you continue on course, exactly .5 mile from the closed single bathroom, on the right side of the course and about 50 yards from the trail, there is a picnic ground with open bathrooms and running water.
- Finally, once you cross the little mean Chihuahua (Spur Trail) back into Malibu Creek Park, there is a faucet right where the trail meets
the parking lot and paved road. These were all open and working last we checked.
OKAY, it happens every year! On July 21, Some Bozo attempts to run the race course with no water, no hat, etc. and ends up needing an ambulance ride to the hospital. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO THIS RUN WITHOUT BEING FULLY PREPARED PER THE INFORMATION BELOW!
ELECTROLYTES & CALORIES: Recommend packing electrolytes and some solid form of calories ie., snacks.
SUPPORT: THESE TRAINING RUNS ARE UNSUPPORTED. Please print and carry the course directions for navigating the route.
ARROWS: Trail marking is not permitted inside state parks. We will use minimal flour arrows at major turns only. Arrows will be off to the side so as not to be scuffed out by trail users. Please be aware that getting lost is a possibility. Hikers may erase the marks. Other running clubs mark their own arrows too. Fatigue may cause you to miss an arrow. Pay attention to landmarks to avoid getting lost! Please print the course directions and/or the pocket mod and carry with you.
CREEK CROSSING: Please note; there is a creek crossing between Tapia Park west and Tapia Park east.Please use the creek; DO NOT RUN ON LAS VIRGENES ROAD.
BY ATTENDING THESE RUNS, YOU AGREE:
- That you are running at your own risk.
- That you are trained for and prepared to run 16.5 very hilly miles.
- That you will carry enough fluid, calories and electrolytes to sustain you through the entire run (minimum 80 oz).
- That you will run unsupported; finding your own way around the course, following the printed directions.
- That you will observe the mandatory turn-around time.
- That you are fully prepared to run in the heat.
- That you may encounter poison oak.
- That you may encounter rattlesnakes and/or other wildlife.
- That you will wear hats, visors, bandanas, sleeves, and sun block.
- That you will not wear headphones while running on the course.
- That you will not litter the course.
- That you will not hold Trail Run Events LLC or its agents or officers responsible for injury or death to yourself resulting from your training run.
- That you assume responsibility and expense for your own rescue and removal from the course should it be required. This includes, but is not limited to air evacuation.
COURSE DIRECTIONS - PLEASE PRINT AND CARRY ON THE RUN:
Here is a link to a nifty Pocket Mod guide of the Bulldog race course. Easy to print and fold to carry on the run. Thanks to Michael Royer for making this.
http://www.michaelroyer.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Bulldog-25K-50K-Course-Preview-Directions-PocketMod-Booklet.pdf
And another link showing how to cut/fold the pocket mod.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAb31rIeGZo
COURSE DIRECTIONS:
- Park your vehicle on the northwest corner of Mulholland Drive and Las Virgenes. Optional parking is on the southwest corner; use crosswalk at signal to cross.
- Walk west on Las Virgenes Road approx. 1/8 mile to the entrance of MCSP.
- Turn RIGHT into MCSP and proceed through the guard kiosk.
- Follow the paved road to the end of the parking lot on your left – mile 0.4.
- The start of the Bulldog Race is here at the driveway at the end of the parking lot.
- Follow the paved road to the fire gate at the entrance to Craggs Road (across from the day use parking lot). Toilets are located in the parking lot on the left.
- Turn RIGHT onto Craggs Road – mile 0.7.
- Follow Craggs Road to the junction – mile 1.5 and continue RIGHT to the top of the hill overlooking Century Reservoir – mile 2.0.
- Continue down hill. Continue straight to the river(bridge) – mile 2.6.
- Cross the river using the bridge and bear RIGHT. Take the narrow trail through the dry creek that opens back up onto Craggs Road
– mile 3.1.
- Coming out of the dry creek, stay on the main trail, past the MASH site, to the bottom of Bulldog
Motorway (mile 3.4). Turn LEFT on Bulldog Motorway, go up hill.
- At the junction of Bulldog Lateral (approx. mile 4.4) bear LEFT, and continue up hill.
- Follow Bulldog Motorway to the top of Castro Crest – mile 7.1.
- Turn LEFT at the top of Bulldog Motorway and proceed down to Corral Canyon – mile 7.9 - Go through the locked fire gate, down to the parking lot.
- Leave Corral Canyon via Backbone Trail (aka Mesa Peak Motorway) to the southwest (to the left of the fire road straight in front of you). This trail goes up and over some very big rock formations. It soon opens up onto an unmaintained fire road (Mesa Peak Motorway).
- Continue along Mesa Peak Motorway (bear LEFT at Puerco Canyon fire road) all the way into Tapia Park (mile 13.9)
- NOTE: Do not go right on Puerco Canyon fire road.
- NOTE: About 1-mile before Tapia, you will leave the fire road and go straight on a single track trail. If you miss the trail, you will end up at a fence to the DWP Water Plant. In that case, turn around and go a short distance to the single track trail
which will be on your LEFT side.
- Follow this trail into Tapia, bearing LEFT down to the Tapia toilet which will be on your right (check for water if toilet is unlocked).
- From the Tapia toilet, follow the trail LEFT; the trail immediately turns RIGHT and heads down to the paved service road. Cross the road and take the trail by the chain link fence down to the creek.
- Cross the creek (do not run on Las Virgenes Road) and follow the trail up to the Tapia parking area; look for porta toilets and water faucet in the parking lot.
- Follow the trail left along the parking lot and through the fire gate – mile 14.2.
- You will see a day use picnic area on your right; toilets and running water may be open there.
- Continue on the dirt fire road to Spur Trail -- mile 14.5.
- Cross over the paved driveway to pick up Spur Trail.
- Follow Spur Trail up and over the mountain and down the other side into Malibu Creek State Park – mile 15.5.
- Leave Spur Trail by running through the dirt parking lot and turn RIGHT and proceed along gravel road.
- Turn LEFT at the pavement (mile 15.9) and proceed to the locked fire gate at the river crossing at Craggs Road – mile 16.1.
- Continue on pavement past the Craggs Road fire gate to the ranger kiosk at park entrance – mile 16.4.
- Turn left on Las Virgenes Road to corner of Mulholland Highway -- mile 16.5.
OTHER NOTES:
~ 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 should plan 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 should expect to turn around at the cut-off time and head back to the cars. 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.
~ Bring a cooler with some drinks and snacks. A folding chair will come in handy as you wait for others to come in. It is a good idea for us to be sure that the last runners have made it in safely before leaving. This is the reason we expect you to all sign in and sign out and to respect the imposed turn around cut-off times.
Happy trails,
NSD
