The Back on My Feet Lone Ranger Ultra Marathon

The Third Annual Back on My Feet Lone Ranger Ultra Marathon - REGULAR REGistration is sold out - 3 charity spots available

*IMPORTANT* Regular registration for the Lone Ranger has closed. However, you can still participate with a BOMF charity entry - the fundraising minimum is $500 and you have until July 15th to raise your minimum. After registering, a peronal online donation page will automatically be created to you. Only 3 spots for the extended offer remain so register today.Contact Anne Mahlum with questions - anne@backonmyfeet.org

The BOMF Lone Ranger Ultra Marathon has become one of the most popular Ultra’s in the country. It’s for experienced runners who want to test themselves to see how many 8.4-mile laps they can do around the Schuylkill River Running Loop in 24 hours.

The course is certified, and you can see a picture of the Course Map here.

The race will be capped at 300 runners and starts at 10 am on Saturday, July 17th, 2010 in front of Lloyd Hall (One Boat House Row) and end at 10 am on Sunday, July 18th. Each time you pass The Beneficial Bank Starting Line, your time and mileage will be recorded. There is no minimum or maximum number of loops Lone Rangers have to run, but there will only be awards for those running 50 miles and 100 miles. Lone Rangers can start and stop at any point during the 24 hours to rest, eat, sleep, chill, get a massage, etc. Please note that all Lone Rangers must be 18-years old.

Registration

Regular registration for the Lone Ranger has closed. However, you can still participate with a BOMF charity entry - the fundraising minimum is $500 and you have until July 15th to raise your minimum. After registering, a personal online donatiosn page will automatically be created to you. Only 3 spots for the extended offer remain so register today. Please contact Anne Mahlum if you have questions at anne@backonmyfeet.org or 215-772-1080 ext. 107.

Prize Money

$2,000 will go to the top male and female who accomplish the most miles in the 24-hour time period with a $1,000 bonus for breaking the course record (146 miles for males and 118 for women). $1,000 will go to the second place male and female and $500 to the third place male and female.

Additionally, $500 will go to the first place male and female over 40.  This prize money was made possible by an anonymous donor who requested the donation be used for this purpose.

Packet Pick-up & Check-in

You are strongly encouraged to pick up your race packet on Friday night at Lloyd Hall (location of the start of the race) from 5 pm to 9 pm. If you absolutely cannot pick your packet up on Friday, you may do so on Saturday morning at Lloyd Hall from 7 am to 8:15 am. Packet pick-up will close promptly at 8:15 am.

All Lone Rangers must get their vitals taken when they check in (weight, temperature and blood pressure) – NO EXCEPTIONS. PLEASE DO NOT RUN or BIKE TO PICK UP YOUR BAG AS YOUR VITALS NEED TO BE PROPERLY RECORDED, or they will have to be taken again on Saturday morning. For those of you picking up your bag on Saturday morning, you need to arrive early enough to have your vitals taken by 9:15 am. Your vitals will be your reference point for our medical staff. If a medical staff asks you to rest or stop, you need to comply as what they say goes. No one wants to stop you from participating in this great race and you will only be asked to stop if your health is at danger.

Lone Ranger Start Time

10 am - Saturday, July 17th. There will be a meeting for lone rangers before the race begins. The race director will highlight important race and safety information and any last minute changes. These meetings will take place approximately 9:15 on Saturday morning at Lloyd Hall.

The Beneficial Bank Start/Finish Area

Situated on the banks and overlooking the Schuylkill River, just north of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Lloyd Hall is the only public athletic facility on Boathouse Row. This facility is air-conditioned and will be open the entire 24 hours to Lone Ranger and relay participants. Inside, you will be able to sleep, relax, eat, get massages and even take a shower. In addition, a 24-hour secure baggage check will be made available to participants.

SETTING UP YOUR TENT

While Lloyd Hall will be open and available for all lone rangers to rest in, many participants choose to bring their own tent to have outside to be a part of the great 20in24 atmosphere. There will be lots of space to set up camp and you can see the site layout here. Some people choose to rent a van or a RV and park in the parking lot. See a site map here.

IMPORTANT: There is plenty of outside space for you to set up tents, which is what the majority of participants decide to do and we encourage you to do the same. We will also be providing tented areas for participants.

Stroehmann Bakeries Re-Energizing Stations

There will be four re-energizing stations every two miles of the loop that will be stocked with plenty of food and fuels, bathrooms, sponges, medical kits, etc. Food items include fresh fruit, GU, pretzels, chips, etc. In addition, Lloyd Hall will have more substantial food, such as pizza, sandwiches, soft pretzels, etc. for the longer rests in between laps. GU Electrolyte Brew and Water will also be at every re-energizing station. In addition - there will be ice and wet towel stations every mile as well as a minimum of two misting stations on the course.
If you want to bring your own replenishment on the course, you must have it at Lloyd Hall by no later 9 am on Saturday morning. We will drive it out to half-way point around the Loop and you will also be able to put your stuff on the course right outside of Lloyd Hall. PLEASE make sure to put your items in an easy identifiable bag or container with your name on it.

Resting Rules

If you decide to take a break during the Lone Ranger, you must check out at the official “Lone Ranger Check-In and Out Table,” which will be clearly marked the Beneficial Bank Starting Line for safety reasons.

The Final Countdown

In the last two hours of the race, runners will have the option to attempt a partial lap instead of a full lap to get in as many miles as possible. At 10 am on Sunday morning, an air horn will blow at all the refreshment stations and a sweep vehicle will come by to pick up all runners still on the course.

Running at Night

From sunset to sunrise, runners must wear some piece of reflective gear or paint. We also recommend that night runners carry cell phones. The course will be well lit and marshaled by bikes and support vehicles that will constantly patrol the course. There will be a lot of additional light this year compared to 2008. NO HEADPHONES ALLOWED AT NIGHT OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED

Pacers

Pacers are only allowed for lone rangers after the 4th lap and they must be on foot – not bike. They must check in at the table and get an official bib. Anyone caught using an unofficial pacer will be disqualified.

Street Closings

While we are encouraging participants to run on the path, West River Drive will be closed during part of the day, allowing runners to run on the street during that time. However, Kelly Drive will remain open for traffic and all runners must run on the designated path when on that side. During the evening hours, all runners must run on the path - no exceptions. For safety, we encourage participants to stay on the path throughout the entire race.

What to bring

We recommend that Lone Ranges bring the following:

  • ID
  • Tent, blankets, etc.
  • Something reflective (vest, paint, tape, etc) required if running past sunset
  • Hat or visor
  • Cell phone - we recommend all runners carry a cell phone when running in the dark.
  • Extra running shoes, shirts, shorts, socks
  • Shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel
  • Sleeping bag, blanket, pillow
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
  • Vaseline, running lube
  • Water bottle
  • Plastic bags for wet clothes, icing injuries

Parking

 A map of street parking is available here. You may also want to consider getting dropped off.

Heat Index Risk Management

From race start to sundown, hourly assessments by race operations, medical personnel and EMS staff of race conditions will occur. We have instituted a flag system to keep all participants aware of the weather conditions and each flag color represents a different level. The flags will be shown at each of the four refreshments areas and our bikers will also have them on their back. In the case of unforeseeable circumstances due to weather or other extenuating circumstances that prevents the safe continuation the race, race officials may interrupt or end the race at any given time. Results will be based on team's placement at the time race officials determine. This rule will be implemented in the most extreme cases for the safety of the runners or officials.

  1. Green Flag - Race status is normal
  2. Blue Flag - Require all racers to carry electrolyte replacement (Gu Electrolyte Brew -supplied on course). In general, you can expect a blue flag when the heat index is between 90 and 101.
  3. Orange Flag - Require all racers to stop at both of the medical stations on course. This flag will be shown when heat index is 102-105. Heat cramps and/or heat exhaustion are a very real possibility; heatstroke is possible.
  4. Red Flag - Require all racers to walk. Please know that we are also runners on this end and we know the idea of having to walk is not appealing, but we hope you understand that we would only ask this of you if the heat index gets to a dangerous level of 105 or more.
  5. Black Flag - If the risk of lightening requires intervention. Runners should proceed to the nearest rest station and the rest station personnel will record the bib number of runners who took shelter at the rest station.

More Official Rules

Federal, state and county laws and ordinances must be followed at all times. There is only one road crossing, which will be manned, however there are some parking lots along the path. Watch out for cars entering/exiting parking lots. Obey all traffic laws.

Your race bib must be worn on the front and outside whatever clothing you are wearing. If scorers cannot see your number they cannot score you. It is the runner's responsibility to ensure that each lap completed is recorded.

While running a lap, stay on the designated course. Any racer that cuts the official course will disqualify that individual, or team from placing.