Welcome to the 2010 North Country
Trail Relay (NCTR). Organized by North Country Trail Relay, LLC, the race is
run on the North Country National Scenic
Trail, which is a footpath that one day will stretch more than 4,000 miles
to link communities and wilderness areas across seven northern states from
Registration:
In the first part of June we will e-mail a copy of these directions and a set
of maps to the team captains. We will not have any extra copies of the maps or
directions at packet pickup. Team captains will pick up packets at the start
from 5:15 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. Shirts,
numbers and vehicle permits for the entire team will be in one packet. At 5:45
a.m. we will have announcements on any last minute updates. The race will start
at 6:00 a.m. Each team will be given six of the same numbers; runners are
required to wear their number while running. We will have a sheet at the
registration table to aid you in exchanging shirts if you prefer a different
size than was originally ordered.
Trail - Runners must yield the trail to hikers; if you come
up on a hiker from behind let them know you are approaching. Bikers are required to yield the
trail to foot travel; some bikers follow this better than others. Follow the trail markings; it is marked with blue rectangular paint blazes.
In some sections of the trail you
will still encounter the gray or
blue nailed-on diamonds (the
previous markings in the
Road - Park only on the right side of the road past the
exchange point in the direction of the race flow unless
directed otherwise. Do not use the trailhead parking areas at legs 2, 3 and 9;
these are fee areas and are reserved for hikers using the trail. Remember to
reset your vehicle odometer at the various corners in the instructions. If you dont it can be easy to drive right past the trailhead.
Roster Changes:
Team rosters complete with a waiver signature for each participant are due
by June 1st. They may be mailed to:
Exchange Points: You may only exchange at the designated exchange points. If an incoming
runner reaches an exchange point and the next runner is not present, the
incoming runner may wait until the next runner appears or they may continue on
for the entire next leg. Once a runner starts a leg they must finish the
leg. While waiting for your runner at
exchange points refrain from straying into the middle of the road.
Awards: Each
runner must run a minimum of 10 miles. We have two divisions, mixed and open,
with awards to the fastest teams in each division based on a handicap scoring
method. You must pick up your award; we are not able to mail them. The mixed
division will include teams with two or more females. The winning teams will be
the ones with the fastest handicapped time based on: women 13%, men and women
age 14 5%, age 15 5%, age 16 3%, age 17 1%; men and women 40 - 49 years
old 1% for each year over 39, and men and women over 49 years, 10% plus 1.5%
for each year over 49 years. Results will be e-mailed to team captains and
available on the web at www.nctrelay.org
the week following the race.
Automobiles:
You must display the NCTR vehicle permit on the dashboard for each vehicle you
intend to have on the course. You are limited to no more than two vehicles
per team. The safety of runners is of the utmost concern. In some sections
runners and vehicles will be sharing the road. Please use caution and reduce
speed at exchange points, areas where the trail crosses the road, or sections
where runners and vehicles will be sharing the road. You have plenty of time to
get to each of the exchange points while driving at the posted speed limits.
Runners have the right of way at all times when relay automobiles and runners
are in the same area.
Injured/Lost/Aid to Runner: An injured runner may be replaced,
however, the injured runner is done for the race. If the
injured runner has not completed the minimum distance their entire handicap
will be lost. The trail is very well marked. If a runner goes off
course, you may take them back to the point where they went off course. The
trail often times merges onto and off of an occasional two-track road. A word
to the wise - it can be very easy to run past the trail where it leaves the
two-track so pay attention. Starting with leg 6 you may have a teammate run
with the official runner if you so choose. On leg 7 and 14 you may use your
vehicle to help your runner in finding the turn off of the road and back into
the woods. Biking the course with the runner is
prohibited. Make sure to have plenty of fluids in your vehicle and maintain
proper nutrition and hydration levels; it can be a long hot day.
Severe Weather:
In the event of severe weather you may want to have your runner wait before
starting the leg. You must sit the runner out in increments of 15 minutes. Report the lost time at the finish so the results can be adjusted
accordingly.
Gasoline/Food Stops: There is a gas and convenience store located in Mesick at the corner of
M37 and M115 that is four miles east of the start and normally opens at 6:00
a.m. The next opportunity for gas and food will be on the way to
Penalties: We
will impose penalties in the form of minutes added to your time up to team
disqualification for infractions of the rules including, but not limited to:
reckless driving, more than 2 vehicles, excessive speed, no number, failure to
follow the instructions of a race official or course
Concurrent Running: If you fall behind and wish to run concurrently you will not be
eligible for awards. Keep track of your total time and turn it in at the finish
so we can correctly post the time for your team.
Thanks: This event would not be possible
without the help of the many individuals who have worked to make it successful:
Ramona Venegas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest; Kathy Bietau
of the Baldwin Ranger District; American Land & Leisure who maintains the
campground at the finish; the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians for allowing
the event on sections of the trail that cross tribal land and the Spirit of the
Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association that is responsible for
the section of the trail we are running on. Special thanks to the volunteers
who get up at 3:00 a.m. to help make the event a success.
Emergency Contacts:
Police: Emergency Dispatch 911
Legs 1 - 7 run through
Legs 8 15 run through
Hospitals:
Manistee
Ludington
Cadillac -
TO GET TO THE START:
FROM BOWMAN BRIDGE CAMPGROUND: Turn left on
FROM M-37 AND M-115 In Mesick: Head West on M-115 for 4.0 miles to the
Leg 1 -
Elevation
Change Gain 612 Loss 823
Trail: Cross
M-115 and follow the unmarked trail 0.3 miles emerging onto No. 14 Road, cross
No. 14 road onto No. 3 Road, (a seasonal road). Follow No. 3 Road for 1.0 miles
to No. 16 Road, a paved road. Continue straight on No. 3 Road another 0.2
miles, at this point the road turns right and changes name to Forest View
Trail. You will enter Forest View Estates; follow the road1.7 miles to the wire
barricade on the left. Cross over the barricade and ascend 0.2 miles on the
abandon road to the top of the hill. Cross over another wire barrier and
continue straight on Hillside Trail. Follow Hillside Trail
0.7 miles to the stop sign at
Road: Turn
left from the
Your second vehicle must continue straight on Beers Road from the Dam Road 2.7 miles to T,
turn left on Marilla Road (sign says Manistee County
Road 598). Follow
Leg
Elevation
Change Gain 2019 Loss 2034
Trail: Turn
right follow the trail for 8.8 miles to the Manistee River Trail (at 0.7
continue straight, at 1.2 miles continue straight do not turn right on the
trail that leads to the Marilla Trailhead). At 8.8
miles turn left following the trail 0.3 miles down to the exchange point at the
trailhead parking area. The last 0.3 miles on the spur trail will be marked
with white paint, you may encounter runners heading out on leg 3, please share
the trail. A challenging leg with a number of long steep up-hill sections
followed by long downhill sections and some fantastic views, you will want to
come back and run this one over again. Use caution descending the hills
especially the last hill to the exchange point. If you come to a paved road you
missed your turn to the exchange, turn around and go back 0.6 and follow the
Manistee River Trail down to the exchange.
Road:
Continue straight on
Leg 3 Manistee River Trail Leg: 7.2 miles Total 21.6 Scenery: Visually Orgasmic Difficulty:
Gut Buster
Elevation
Change Gain 1741 Loss 1856
Trail: Head
back out the trail retracing the direction of the incoming runner and follow
the Manistee River Trail for 0.3 miles to the North Country Trail. Turn left
and follow the trail for 6.7 miles to the edge of the bluff overlooking the
Road: Head
south on Upper River Road 0.1 miles to Coats Hwy. Continue South on Upper River
Road from Coats Hwy for 4.2 miles to a stop sign, turn right for 0.1 miles to a
second stop sign. Turn right on
Leg 4 Sawdust Hole Leg: 6.9 miles Total 28.5 Scenery: Visually Orgasmic Difficulty:
Gut Buster
Elevation
Change Gain 885 Loss 1099
Trail: Head
back out the trail retracing the direction of the incoming runner, follow the
trail along the bluff 0.2 miles until you reach the North Country Trail marker.
Turn left, really going straight. Follow the trail, at 2.8 miles you will make
a sharp left turn after running up a hill on a short section of an old two
track road. At 5.0 miles the trail crosses the
Road:
Continue down Dilling Road 2.1 miles to Coates Hwy.
Turn left on
Leg
Elevation
Change Gain 241 Loss 164
Trail:
Continue on
Road:
Continue straight on
Leg 6 FS5502 Leg: 5.9 miles Total 39.0 Scenery: Visually Orgasmic Difficulty: Gut Buster
Elevation
Change Gain 571 Loss 598
Trail: Follow
the trail, at 5.0 miles you will come out to a gravel road, follow the trail
across the gravel road and back into the woods. At 5.4 miles the trail will
come out to a paved road,
Road: Continue down
Leg
Elevation
Change Gain 367 Loss 292
Trail: Turn
left on
Road:
Continue on
Leg 8 FS5203 Leg: 2.5 miles Total 46.9 Scenery: Scenic Difficulty: Easy
Elevation
Change Gain 192 Loss 320
Trail: Follow
the trail to
Road:
Continue straight on FS5203 for 1.9 miles to
Leg
Elevation
Change Gain 429 Loss 380
Trail: A
relatively flat section, follow the normal trail markings to the exchange at
Road:
Continue straight on FS5327 for 3.8 miles to
Leg 10 West 5 Mile Road Leg: 2.3 miles Total 53.2 Scenery: Scenic Difficulty: Easy
Elevation
Change Gain 41 Loss 109
Trail: The
trail turns left and follows the road to the exchange where the trail re-enters
the woods. Use the road directions below. The last two miles are on a paved
road with rolling hills that can be busy, run against traffic.
Road:
Continue straight on
Leg 11 East 5 Mile Road Leg: 3.5 miles Total 56.7 Scenery: Gorgeous Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation
Change Gain 487 Loss 449
Trail: Follow
the trail and exchange at
Road:
Continue straight on
Leg 12 3 Mile Road Leg:
6.1 miles Total 62.8 Scenery: Visually Orgasmic Difficulty:
Gut Buster
Elevation
Change Gain 1146 Loss 981
Trail: - Follow
the trail crossing several two track roads to the exchange at
Road:
Continue straight on
Leg 13 8th Street Leg: 4.7 miles Total 67.5 Scenery: Gorgeous Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation
Change Gain 1498 Loss 2233
Trail: Follow
the trail to the exchange at
Road: Go back
0.5 miles to FS5441. At this corner FS5441 changes names to FS5197. Turn right
on FS5197 for 1.9 miles to US-10. Turn right on US-10 for 3.9 miles to
Leg
Elevation
Change Gain 388 Loss 355
Trail: Turn
right on
Road: Go back
0.7 miles to
Leg
Elevation
Change Gain 984 Loss 1068
Trail: Turn
right and follow the trail for 3.1 miles where you will cross 56th
Street, a busy paved road (at 2.9 miles a spur trail branches off to the right,
continue straight on the main trail). Continue straight across the road
following the trail for another 1.3 miles to the spur trail that leads to
Bowman Bridge Campground. Turn left on the spur trail for 0.4 miles to the
finish. For the last 0.4 miles you will be following white blazes instead of
blue. With 0.2 miles to go you will cross back over 56th Street.
This last leg of the day has a little of everything, you will be able to cool
off in the
Road:
Continue straight on 40th Street for 3.0 miles to 56th
Street (no street sign, you will come to a stop sign, at 2.6 miles 40th
Street turns right.) Turn left on
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