Hello Fellow Crazy ET Runners!

We are just about 1 week until race day- I hope that you are just as excited as I am! Welcome back to the many of you that ran in last years' ET race or one of the many other Calico Racing events. Your return to another one of my events is a great compliment, so thank you. For all of the others, welcome to the growing Calico Racing family! I hope to make this a special event for everyone. Don’t forget your costumes!

Below is some information about race day that will ensure for a smooth event. Please read it in its ENTIRETY as it will answer 99.9% of questions you may have.

Packet Pick Up:

Thursday August 6 from 5:30pm- 8:30pm at the REI in The District at Green Valley Ranch, Henderson. Locals and anyone already in town are highly encouraged to attend packet pick up this day to alleviate Saturday's packet pick up. You'll also get first bibs on shirts and merchandise!

Saturday August 8: Hours: 4-8pm. Located at theHyatt PlaceHotel, 4520 S. Paradise Road/ Las Vegas, NV 89169across the street fromthe Hard Rock Hotel, behind the Haufbrau Haus Restaurant. Enter thru the front doors, take aright after reception and the banquet room is rightthere.PLEASE – do not wait until the last minute to check in! If everyone waits until the end of this time we will not be able to depart the buses on time and the entire event will be delayed. I suggest beating the crowd and checking in early- then head to one of the many nearby restaurants for dinner.Those of you who bought the bus ticket and/ or spectator breakfast tickets will receive yourtickets at packet pick up.

NOTES: YES- you may pick up a friend's packet for them. But, ONLY take the race envelope if they are RACING as it contains their loaner timing chip.

** I expect everyone to make an HONEST effort to come thru packet pick up during one of these times. ONLY as a last resort will packets be given out at the start line. Packets come up from Las Vegas with me on the contracted bus and it is a very tight and stressful timeframe for me to handle start line packet pick up. Please do not email or call me to ask permission- just make an honest effort.

Transportation:

BUS: For those of you who’ve paid for the contracted bus service, your ticket will be available at packet pick up, likely in your race envelope. Please check the "Confirmed Bus Tix" list that is now posted to the website to ensure your name is on it.Any discrepencies, please email me ASAP and get it sorted out sooner than later. If you would like to ADD A BUS TIX to your entry pleaseget in touch NOW! Limited space is still available and will only be confirmed once paid, at this late stage of the game via a credit card called in. Tickets MAY be available at packet pick up, but there is no guarantee.We are using a new system to load the buses this year which should be much quicker. You MUST write your name on the ticket and MUST hand it in upon boarding the bus. The buses will load outside of the Hyatt Place Hotel at 8:15pm and will depart at 8:35pm. Therewill be7-8buses, 57 passengers each complete with bathroom.After the event, the first bus will depart to return to Las Vegas when there is a completely full bus of runners, ROUGHLY at 3am. With the increased number of runners, and buses, there will be more frequent departures back to Las Vegas after the race than last year. Thefinal bus will depart at 8am. **Special note for 10K runners riding the bus**Depending on the final number of registrants, we may need to drop youoff at the A'le'Inn (your start line) before the start of the marathon.Thiswould be to alleviate seats for the 1/2 marathoners-ALL of which must be bused to their start. IF we do this, the10K bus will depart the Black Mailbox at roughly 10:45pm. Please listen for this announcement.

DRIVING: For those of you driving yourselves, please check the “directions” page for directions to the start line. If you are racing the marathon, 51K, or ½ marathon, please report to the Marathon & 51K Start line “the Black Mailbox”. This is 20 miles from the turn off of Highway 93. Please park along the dirt road out of the way, not blocking traffic. ALL Half Marathon runners will be bused to their start lines. There is NO parking nor drop off at the 1/2 marathon start!

10K runners driving themselves: Please report directly to the Little A’le’Inn Restaurant in Rachel. This is 40 miles from the turn off of Highway 93. The Little A’le’Inn is the start line for the 10K, the finish line for all 4 distances, and the location of the post race breakfast. IMPORTANT NOTE: Contracted troopers have been instructed to hold all traffic at 11:55pm for a clear start for the marathoners and 51K runners. After their start the buses will depart, then you will be allowed to follow behind. PLEASE plan on passing by this point no later than 11:50pm en route to your start line. Otherwise you WILL get stuck behind traffic and will likely miss your start time.

Transportation will be provided back to the Black Mailbox to collect your cars for those of you driving yourselves. This will run roughly every 45 minutes, based on demand. 10K runners driving yourselves: if you're heading home after your race, are passing by the black mailbox, and have room in your car; perhaps you could offer a ride to someone needing to collect their car?

A'le'Inn: For those of you arriving into Rachel before the race, PLEASE do not go inside and ask the A'le'Inn personel about the race. They are busy getting ready for the post race breakfast and are not informed about "all things race".

Costumes: We highly encourage costumes at the race and have had some great ones in the past! We award "Best Costume" awards to the the best male and female alien inspired costumes. If you would like to be considered for the award, please SEE ME either at packet pick up or your start line while in costume. Your bib number must be visible. A race committee will make the final winner decisions.

Dry clothes bags: Yes, you may have a dry clothes bag. Use your own bag and clearly mark it with your name. ALL marathon, 51K, and 1/2 marathon bags should be LEFT ON THE BUS. They will be transported to the finish line for you where a volunteer will remove them at the Little A'le'Inn finish line and lay them out on a tarp. Buses and tarps will be numbered corresponding to each other, so that bags from bus #3 are laid out on tarp #3. These will not be guarded so we are not responsible for lost belongings, so no valuables please. If you are driving yourself to the marathon, 51K or half marathon start, you may place your dry clothes bag on any of the buses and it will be transported for you to the finish line- note the bus number.

Aid station and portable toilet locations are listed on the website. Visit the "aid stations" tab listed under the event title. Aid Stations are 3-4 miles apart so Remember your water bottle!

* Please note: I will be coming up from the packet pick up in Las Vegas, and it is likely I will not arrive at the marathon start until 11:15pm. If you show up before then, please do not be concerned. I will be starting each of the 4 distances, so 10K runners, sit tight- have fun and I’ll see you before your race! A volunteer should be present until I get there.

*** Please also note: Don’t forget- when you’re driving there may already/ still be runners on the road. Please drive slowly and give them the same level of respect you would desire. Thanks.

**** There is no GAS in Rachel. Gas is available in Alamo and Ash Springs.

***** DO NOT EXPECT CELL SERVICE AT THE RACE VENUE.

Safety: All runners are required to wear reflective clothing as well as use either a headlamp or a handheld flashlight. All runners will be provided with 1 Glo necklace- please wear it! These will be handed out at your start line. Additional Glo necklaces and bracelets may be purchased at packet pick up. Also available at packet pick up is reflective tape. You can purchase 12 inches for $3 and cut and place it to your preference. Two contracted Troopers will be on site at either end of the highway. They will be controlling traffic, however the roads will be open. Exercise extreme caution at all times. If you experience blurry vision or spacial disorientation while running, it is advised to stop or slow down. Concentrate and focus on one area, such as the white line of the highway.

• You must run on the shoulder of the road. Running 2 abreast is only permissible if both of you are out of the roadway.
• Runners are not permitted to cross over the roadway. Stay on the south side of the Highway.
• Please appreciate the fact that this permit was extremely difficult to get, and a successful event is imperative to the perpetuity of this race. Your cooperation is required and appreciated. Anyone conducting themselves in such a way to jeopardize the safety of the event will be disqualified.
• Anyone dropping from the event MUST inform an aid station volunteer or report to the finish line. ALL timing chips must be returned!
• Yes- you may wear an Ipod as long as the volume is reasonable and you can hear the possible rattle of a snake. In the 2 years there was 1 snake sighting. They are rare, but possible so best to keep your ears and eyes open and your light on.
• Yes- it is open range so you may see cattle on the roadway. Thus far we have not had any cattle encounters during the race, but I have seen them in the road mid-day. If you see them, approach slowly and proceed with caution along the course.
• There are 2 cattle guard crossings on the marathon, 51K, and 1/2 marathon courses. These will be covered and a cautionary sign will advise you.

Volunteers: Please remember to thank your volunteers! They are out there in the middle of the night likely 2+ hours from home- true Angels! We are still looking for a few more volunteers! If you have a spectator coming with you, or any friends or family that may be interested in helping out, please email me: info@calicoracing.com or call 702.812.2609 (10am- 10pm PST). Volunteers will have complimentary breakfast and transportation can be arranged.

Breakfast: Breakfast is included in your entry fee and will be available at the Little A’le’Inn from 2am-8am. Runners’ bib #’s will function as your ticket. For those that have purchased “spectator breakfast”, a wristband will be in your race envelope at packet pick up. Please ensure that your spectator wear it. Breakfast is buffet style and you may make as many trips as you like. Please avoid taking more than you’ll eat. Food is served inside the Little A'le'Inn, even though the door may be closed.

Finish Line: Wet and dry towels will be available at the finish line to clean off. Please return these to the bin labeled “towels”.

Timing: Your loaner timing chip will be in your race envelope. You must wear it on your shoe in order to be timed! For the 51K, marathon, and 1/2 marathon: Technically you will still have just one GUN time, but the finish time is chip captured. There will be no timing mat at your start line, just the finish line. The event sizes are small enough that this should not be a factor. The largest race distance will take roughly 30 seconds for everyone to cross the start line. Line up according to pace, please. You MUST return your timing chip.  10K will be chip start / chip finish so please be sure to cross over the mat.

Mile Markers: Mile markers will be at each mile split for each of the 4 distances. They are signs placed inside traffic cones on the side of the road. The mile number is reflective! Signs are color coordinated: Marathon= blue; 1/2 Marathon= Green; 10K= Silver. 51K is concurrent with the marathon until mile 23, then you will continue in Red for markers 25, Turn Around (25.8) and 30. ** All 10K, marathon, and 51K runners must give their bib number to the clipboard volunteer at your turn around. **

Cattle Guards: There are 2 Cattle Guards on the marathon and/ or1/2 marathon course. There will be a sign alerting that it is coming up, and they will be covered. There may be a "lip" to the covering, so PLEASE watch your step!

Event shirts: Event shirts are included with your entry and you have a choice between 2 unisex long sleeve styles. One is a Zorrel Dri Release "t-shirt feel" and the other is a Zorrel "silky feel". Same color/ same graphics. First come first served. If available, you may purchase additional event shirts for $20 at the packet pick up or the finish line.

Weather: Expect temps in the low 70s at the start, cooling to mid 60s- no sun : ) Great running weather, but expect to get a little chilly after your finish. A great debut for your new long sleeve event shirt!

Boy- that’s a lot of stuff! Safety first….now let’s have some fun!! Any questions after Friday evening, please contact me on my cell (702) 812-2609, with the understanding I will be swamped and brief.

See you all next week!

Joyce