ALFERD PACKER

WARNING: THIS AIN'T THE BOLDER BOULDER...IF YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR WHOOPING AND COME OUT SMILING, THEN THE ALFERD PACKER AIN'T FOR YOU...NOW IF YOU ARE A CERTIFIED HARD ASS, YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR EVENT! CRY-BABIES...WE WILL HAVE EXTRA KLEENEX TO DRY YOUR TEARS OF DESPAIR...AND...A LITTLE YELLOW SCHOOL-BUS TO TRANSPORT YOU BACK TO YOUR CAR...OH WAIT...THE LITTLE SCHOOL BUS IS ON LOAN TO THE KIDDY KAMP LEPRAUCHAUN RUN 1K...SO, YOU'LL HAVE TO WALK BACK...

The Alferd Packer Trail Challenge is fast becoming a traditional 'rite of passage' for runners in Colorado. The race's namesake-Alferd Packer-was America's first convicted cannibal. Thus, the Alferd Packer Trail Races are designed to "eat you for breakfast". We guarantee your slowest half-marathon or marathon or you get an additional lap FREE! (redeemable on race day only, must be used after completion of your race!).

The course is just the way Alferd would have liked it. Some pleasant single and double track trail to lure you into the trap; some brushy cross-country to season you; some stream crossings to baste you; some mud puddles to add a secret sauce; and just enough distance to insure you are 'well-done'.

All are invited, though whiners and cry-babies and the chronically mal-content will be dealt with Alferd Packer style. There are no finishers at the Alferd Packer Trail Races, only 'survivors'.

Survivors are greeted at the completion of their run with a simple medal. A generous supply of band-aids and maps to the emergency room are provided free of charge.

52.4 Mile Men	Chad Ricklefs	7:35:31	2000
52.4 Mile Women	Kathy Pidcock	10:43:34	2001
39.3 Mile Men	Charl Mattheus	6:01:20	2002
39.3 Mile Women	Helen Cospolich	7:25:16	2003
26.2 Mile Men	Eric Szabo	3:22:36	2001
26.2 Mile Women	Darcy Piceu	4:08:19	2001
13.1 Mile Men	Jeff Mason	1:30:04	2000
13.1 Mile Women	Erica Wedel	1:53:58	2001

Course: The Alferd Packer Trail Challenge Loop is 13.1 miles long. Altitude of course swings between 5600-5800 feet...it's not the 'height' of the hills that kills you, it's the 'number' of hills. The course is an ass-kicker. X-country, trail, dirt road. Lots of cactus, stream crossings, river crossings, swamp muck (as available), and other challenges. We feel your pain and applaud you.

Participation: Experienced trail runners only. Cry babies, the under-insured, the thin-skinned, the aqua-phobic, and the humor-less should stay home on this day and watch some Tele-Tubby re-runs! No doggies allowed for this one, sorry. While the hard and fast rule is 18 years of age or older, runners 16-17 years of age will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please email Coach Weber to be considered if you are 16 or 17 years of age and wish to participate.

Volunteers: If you would like to help, the race can sure use you. Please contact Coach Weber.

Sponsors: Please contact Coach Weber if you would like to make your goods or services available to the participants.

Weather Conditions : Check the forecast at www.accuweather.com zip code 80125

Start Time 39.3 & 52.4 Milers: 6:00 AM Saturday, March 13, 2004. Time limit of 12 hours. 39.3 & 52.4 mile runners must be onto final 13.1 loop by 3:00 PM. Course closes at 6:00 PM. No exceptions.

Start Time 13.1 & 26.2 Milers: 9:00 AM Saturday, March 13, 2004. Time limit of 9 hours. No exceptions.

Field Limit: 275 Hard Asses Only! Expect this race to close well before raceday, so enter earlier than later to guarantee a spot!

13.1 & 26.2 Entry Fee: $50 through 02-29-2004. The price will go to $55 on 03-01-2004. Raceday registration is $60. Please enter early!

39.3 & 52.4 Entry Fee: $70 through 02-29-2004. The price will go to $75 on 03-01-2004. Raceday registration is $80. Please enter early!

Raffles: Every Sunday from December through February, Alfred Packer pre-entrants will participate in a prize raffle. Winners and prizes will be announced each Monday morning on the Alferd Packer Entrants page. Winners will receive their prize on raceday morning in their packet. Prizes not picked up by start-time on raceday will be forfeited and re-raffled.

Guaranteed T-Shirt Deadline: Enter by February 29, 2004 and you are guaranteed a t-shirt...note you have to START the race to pick it up. 'No-show' shirts are not sent but are handed out (as available) to the deserving procrastinators who signed up late but at least got their ass to the starting line.

T-Shirts: 252 shirts were ordered. 252 are spoken for as of Mar. 10th at 5:00 pm. Shirts not picked up by the start of the race will be reassigned first to volunteers, then to finishers who signed up sooooooo late that they did not get a shirt. No boo-hooing as there was 3+ months to sign up and get a shirt guaranteed.

Raceday Check-in/Packet Pickup: 5:30 AM - 5:45 AM March 13, 2003 for 39.3 & 52.4 Milers. 7:30-8:30 AM for 13.1 & 26.2 Milers.

Rules: No dogs for this one (sorry). No escorts/pacers/personal injury lawyers. Must be 18 or older unless specifically approved by Coach Weber.

Aid Stations: Every 13.1 miles at the end of loop. None on course. Competitors must carry their own fuels, fluids and crying towels out on the course.

Results: Published to the internet within 48 hours. Go to: www.coachweber.com

Directions to the Race Site: Chatfield State Park is located one mile south of C-470 on Wadsworth Blvd. (Colorado 121) in Littleton, Colorado. Littleton, Colorado is a southwest suburb of Denver. Enter the park through the main park entrance off Wadsworth, then follow the signs to the Wetlands Trailhead Area near B & B Stables where the parking, number pickup, the start and the finish are all located.

Release and Waiver: Entries are accepted at the sole discretion of the race director. Entry fees are not refundable for any reason. Entry is not transferable. Race run rain, snow, etc. Runners & spectators participate at their own risk. Please note I broke my wrist just marking this course a few years back.