The 2000 Alferd Packer Trail Challenge

by Race Director Scott Weber

Photos

This year's Alferd Packer Trail Challenge began with guitarist, Rick Roberts, and singer, Eric Houck, doing their version of Phil Ochs' "Ballad of Alferd Packer". Their unique take on the ballad was set to the tune of "Gilligan's Isle". This was quite appropriate as I had promised the racers a 'tad slower time' than they usually might expect for their typical race whether it be the half-marathon, marathon, marathon and a half, or the double marathon-all of which are offered at the Alferd Packer. The 'three hour tour' would be extended a bit.

The course began with a nice 1.5 mile dash through the cactus covered hills just to the north of the starting line. I tell the racers that if these first couple of miles are disconcerting or not to their liking, then it is probably best to stop there, hide behind a cactus for awhile, let everyone pass, and then scurry back to the car as the rest of the course will be even tougher. No one ever takes me up on this and on this day the parking lot stayed full with the cars of the 164 starters, a record for the Alferd Packer Trail Challenge.

After exiting the cactus covered hills, the runners looked forward to the first of four river crossings per 13.1 mile loop. I had pondered whether to include this first crossing many times during the days prior to the race. Was it too deep? Was it too cold? Well, everyone can thank Vince Gerber for helping me make the decision to include it. Vince convinced me that he would be disappointed, and so would many others, if a deep crossing were not included. Now, I need to point out that Vince, despite this pre-race 'shield-beating', did not ultimately take advantage of the full 16 crossing featured in the 4 lap double-marathon. He opted out a bit earlier than expected on race day...something about a previous engagement that he had forgotten and suddenly remembered mid-race!

To the credit of the runners, the first river crossing was taken on fiercely and without hesitation by all. Each runner, without exception, leapt from the muddy 3 foot high embankment, bolding striding into the cold waters like Moses Kiptanui coming off the water jump barrier in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Well, maybe there was a little hesitation by a few. Double-marathoner Larry "The Legend" Ridgeway remarked of this first crossing: "I suggest you lower the level of the Platte River 6 inches next year so the water does not reach certain anatomical features on runners 5' 7" or less."  I needed to explain to my bow-legged friend Larry that this was not the Western States 100, but the Alferd Packer, where the river is not controlled nor are row boats are provided for the convenience of the competitors...one must rise to the occasion so to speak.

Having forded the river, which one runner compared to a double quad shot of espresso at sun-up, the runners began the 'nature walk' section of the course. I included this 1 mile section of course to enhance each participant's experience of nature on race day. You see, it is my experience that all too often in trail racing the runner goes home having so quickly passed through many spectacular natural settings, that they do not even remember doing so. To have such disappointment at the Alferd Packer would be unthinkable,  so I included several bottle-necks that allowed each runner to stop and truly enjoy the setting. Additionally, I routed the runners near, over, and under (whichever was most fun) fallen trees, spiny cactus, abandoned beaver dams, swamp, mud holes and the like. I could tell on this day that the runners were silently thanking me for this beautiful encounter with nature. Some runners even wanted to get closer to nature on this section. In fact certain runners actually 'pretended' to have fallen into the rancid swamp mud...oh those runners...always joking!!

The nature walk had to come to an end at mile 4. Luckily there was some fine hill running to be had ahead. In fact, 8 hills were packed into the roller-coaster-of-a-ride mile 5. Up and down and up and down the runners went. Much of this was cross country. The nearby trails needed a rest. Some visual entertainment was had as the runners approached what appeared to be a cliff. After burning the brakes on this approach, the runners realized that there was plenty of sand below to insure a safe run down to the lake's edge.

From mile 5 to 7 the runners were treated to a very easy section of cross country and downhill trail running where most of the snakes who live there were still groggy from the crisp morning temperatures. Not one runner was bitten or even scared this year by even a small snake. I call this area 'Broken Nose Pastures' in honor of one runner who did a face plant a couple years ago in this section.

Mile 7 began with the second crossing of the Platte River. After the first crossing this was child's play. Shortly after the second crossing was a wondrous 8 foot wide mud hole. Now for safety, course marker Jeff Kildahl and I had removed all the 'stepping stones' (logs) that had spanned this mud hole. I find such logs can be slippery and thus it is in the best interest of safety to remove them whenever possible. Additionally, I am a firm believer that immersing the feet, ankles, and calves...perhaps even the knees...the face?...in squishy, yet appropriately clingy and aged, mud is both comforting and healing during a long run such as the Alferd Packer. Unfortunately, some runners on race day saw this differently and reconstructed the crossing much to my disappointment. A couple hundred yards later was the third river crossing.   It was a 'double-dipper' as a cobbled 'safety island' had to be negotiated mid-river.

Miles 8 and 9 were friendlier.  Easy trail running along the banks of two lakes relaxed the runners.  The 'Mud Puddle of Shame' was along the way.   Here, inspired words, in the honored high-school football coaching tradition from the 60s, were written in orange paint to encourage the front runners to take the direct route through the mud puddle rather than the 'Route of Shame' which circumnavigated this puddle.  I am confident that these front runners, as well as all the runners on this day, went directly through the sickeningly putrid and shoe grabbing 'Route of Honor'.

Mile 9 ended with 'Head Banger Hill'.  This precipitous drop off is named in honor of a 1998 racer who accelerated hard at this point and, without care for his personal well-being or the fragile bones of his skull, blasted downwards fearlessly right smack into a rather sturdy branch at head level.  Video of this incident has been submitted to Wide World of Sports for their 'Agony of Defeat' opening segment to replace the ski-jumper guy and his mishap.

Mile 9.5 finishes off the last river crossing.  From there on in to the 13.1 mile end-of-loop, the runners are lulled into complacency so that they feel refreshed and ready to embark on another loop.

All in all the runners seemed to have a good time negotiating this year's Alferd Packer Trail Challenge Course.  Finishers received a simple medal and a can of Vienna Sausages upon crossing the finish line.  Those who were unable to finish will receive a certificate that proclaims that "I Got My Ass Kicked At Alferd Packer".

Boulder Running Company and Running Delights were the sponsors of this year's Alferd Packer Trail Challenge.  Their support of this wild style of trail racing is appreciated.

Official List of 52.4 Mile Double-Marathon Survivors

Official List of the 39.3 Mile 'Marathon-And-A-Half' Survivors

Official List of the 26.2 Mile Marathon Survivors

Official List of the 13.1 Mile Half-Marathon Survivors

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