January 26, 2013
The weather forecast for race day is looking perfect for a long run: 65 and partly cloudy. Be cautious as you may find these pleasant temps more taxing than you expect, particularly if you are coming here from a cooler locale.
I’ve had some questions about lodging for the race. A couple of suggestions would be:
Larkspur Landing Sacramento–these are reasonably priced suites located three, easy miles from the venue. From the hotel, take Howe Avenue south to Fair Oaks Blvd east (left). Proceed approximately 2 miles to Watt Avenue. Turn right (south) on Watt avenue and exit at La Riviera.
Comfort Inn and Suites–modestly priced motel conveniently located at Howe Avenue and Highway 50, three easy miles from the venue. From the hotel, get back on highway 50 East, and exit at Watt Avenue north. Proceed north on Watt and exit at La Riviera Drive.
If those don’t suit you, check out the recommendations from Hornet Sports (CSU Sacramento is near the venue.)
See you next Saturday!
January 17, 2013
Prices for registration go up at midnight on the 18th, so don’t wait any longer to register!
If you ran Jed Smith last year, you’ll notice a slight course modification in this year’s race. The Army Corps of Engineers did some levee work and wiped out about 1200 meters of the course. As a result, there will be a little bit more running on top of the levee, and then a short, downhill switchback onto the dirt road.
As usual, parking is dicey (in the main lot) so carpool if you can. Collect a parking voucher on the way into the lot and place it on your dash. We had a couple of people get tickets last year, so be sure to remember this detail. Also, if the lot is full, there is parking out on La Riviera Drive.
We’re working hard to ensure you have the best time possible at this year’s race, and we’re looking forward to seeing you on race day!
John
November 3, 2012
Registration for the February 2, 2013 Jed Smith Ultra Classic goes live tonight at Ultrasignup.com!
Hope to see you there!
February 5, 2012
A lot of folks brought their “A” game to this year’s race! Holy cow were there some fast times!
Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help make the event a success! We’ve had great positive feedback on the race and I attribute all of this to the volunteers and the amazing weather we enjoyed.
Thanks, also, to all of you who carpooled to the event. If we can keep that up, we can continue to grow this race at this venue.
We hope to see you all again on February 2, 2013!
February 1, 2012
If you are using a GPS or Google maps, use 8731 La Riviera Drive, Sacramento, CA for directions to the venue. Please carpool if possible.
January 30, 2012
I’m happy to announce that the great folks with Team Mad Cat will be serving as your lead bikers this weekend!
January 29, 2012
It looks like next Saturday is shaping up to be a beautiful day! As of now, the long-range weather forecast is calling for some clouds and warm temps for this time of year.
Jed Smith is run on a loop course of around 4.9 miles and there will be at least two aid stations in every lap. The aid station at Howe Avenue on the North side of the river will have water, electrolyte beverage and some light snacks.
The start/finish area aid station will be the most substantial (sandwiches, fruit, etc.). Some hot food (soup, hot dogs) will be available there as the day progresses. We generally don’t fire up the stove until around 10:00 because no one is looking for hot soup until after they’ve been running a few hours.
The electrolyte will probably be GU2O and we’ll try to have some gels for you. If you want a specific food or electrolyte, you should bring it yourself.
Jed Smith has a long tradition of allowing runners to set up their own mini aid stations near the start/finish area. This venue will accommodate this. If you are unable to park right along the course, ask the volunteers at registration where you can set up your stuff. There is quite a bit of room right near the start/finish area and we’ll have a designated area for this.
You can also set up a chair or small table behind your car, but please keep any tents out of the course and do not set up a tent in a parking space. Last year, some people set up a tent over their car and had it standing a few feet off the back to get a covered sitting area. That is just fine as long as you can keep it within your parking space.
Please carpool. When you check in at registration, we’ll provide you with a voucher that goes into the envelope and the iron ranger. You need to put the tag from the envelope on your dashboard. The parking lot has about 80 or so paved spaces and it’s looking like the race will have somewhere around 140 runners (plus dozens of volunteers) so car pooling is imperative. There is also a gravel parking area under the Watt Avenue Bridge. Please follow the instructions of the volunteers as they try to pack as many vehicles as possible into this area.
Please carpool if at all possible. If the lot fills, there is parking out on the street and in further down river in the park, but you’ll have to hike (400 meters) in to the starting area and we won’t be able to keep an eye on your car. Please—No RVs. There just isn’t room.
Also, please carpool, if at all possible. Please.
Thanks and we’ll see you on race day!
John Blue & Dennis Scott, Race Directors
January 22, 2012
Just under two weeks until race day and things are looking good for the event. The numbers are up a bit over the past couple of years and it’s looking like we have a pretty fast field in the 50k and 50 mile races. Expect some impressive times.
With the larger numbers, parking will be a little more challenging. Additionally, there have been some large construction dumpsters hogging a bit of our parking area, so please car pool if possible. We may cone off a couple of spaces near the start/finish so there will be room for everyone to set up a chair or other gear.
We’ve had questions about pacers for the 50-mile race. Pacers are fine–starting with your 6th lap. (After around 25 miles.) That allows for most of the 30k folks to clear the course so it doesn’t get too crowded out there. Pacers cannot carry your stuff during the run. (i.e., No muling.)
It’s been raining the past few days here, but the long-range forecast is clear. The dirt part of the course drains extremely well (it’s packed sandy loam) and if it doesn’t rain for a few days before the race, it won’t be an issue at all.
To get the mileage right, we take you out on a little out-and-back run along a dirt road off the main course. They’ve been doing work on the levees this past summer and Dennis noticed they’d regraded this dirt section so it is much more smooth than last year.
See you in a couple of weeks!
John
December 31, 2011
We’re a little more than a month from race day! Don’t forget that prices go up for all events tonight, so don’t put off your registration!
We’ve had absolutely no rain this past month so while it’s terrible for everything else, it’s good for running. The course is pretty much bone-dry right now.
Read Jean Pommier’s nice write up about last year’s race. (His headline says 2010, but he’s writing about the 2011 race.)
Happy New Year!
John
November 26, 2011
It’s hard to believe that 2011 is wrapping up and we’re already planning for our first race of 2012! This year’s Jed Smith will be pretty much exactly the same as last year, except that this year you’ll all be faster. We’ve confirmed Capital Road Race Management as the timing company, and registrations are already rolling in, so I’m looking forward to a great race.
On-line registration is at Ultrasignup.com. A downloadable application is also now available.
I hope to see you there!
John Blue
February 6, 2011
Wow! What a beautiful day! It was a great day to be running around the American River, although it got a little breezy for the folks still running late in the afternoon.
We hope you all had a great time running this year and will be back again next year. Many thanks are due to our fellow Buffalo Chips (and Youth Chips) and the all the tremendous aid station personnel, course marshals, registration, and start/finish line area helpers.
Results are at Capital Road Race Management.
There were a few items left behind. Send us an email at buffaloblue@sbcglobal.net and we’ll see if we can reunite you with your stuff.
The feedback on the course was quite positive and we are planning to use the same one again next year. The 2012 date will be February 4th. We hope to see you there!
January 26, 2011
Things are shaping up nicely for the race. Last week, Dennis finished up and filed the paperwork for the course certification. Jed Smith is now one of only two 50 mile races in California that have been certified under USA Track & Field guidelines. (Ruth Anderson is the other one.)
There will be two aid stations. A large aid station at the start/finish area (every 4.9 miles) and a fluid aid station at the Howe Ave bridge on the north side of the river. Additionally, there are multiple water fountains (and a couple of toilets) along the trail.
Each race will begin with a short out-and-back loop before you start your laps to make up the exact distance for your race: approximately 1.5 miles for the 50 mile race, 2 miles for the 50km, and 3 miles for the 30km. This make up distance will be run along the south side of the river away from the course. You’ll get to the turn around and head back through the start/finish line area and out onto the loop course. It will be well marked, simple, and you won’t get lost.
We look forward to seeing you on race day!
January 20, 2011
I’ve been meaning to put up a “news” page for some time but have been a little preoccupied this year. I’d like to apologize to folks for the nomadic nature of the event over the past couple of years, but it looks like we have a really excellent venue for this and future years.
In crafting the new course, we’ve tried to keep with the tradition of Jed Smith. Namely, we’ve worked hard to keep this a fast course. While there is some dirt, this is not a trail run. It is about 60/40 pavement to dirt, and the dirt portion is smooth and well draining. I ran it a day after we’d had a lot of rain and you’d never know I’d been on dirt at all. There will be a couple of puddles, but you’ll easily be able to run around them.
This will be faster than our historic Gibson Ranch course or last year’s William Pond route. There is no single track and the steepest hill is running down from the Watt Avenue bridge into the start/finish aid station area.
It is our intention that the race continue as a PR type ultra and a likely destination for folks needing a fast 50 mile/100K time to make the 100K National Team.
Please check back here for updates. Thanks for your patience!
