Saturday, August 5, 2023
Join DPMR for the second running of the Point Mariah Trail Marathon! With immense gratitude to the Truckee Donner Land Trust, the course will primarily run through the protected Royal Gorge land near Soda Springs, CA. Special thanks to our other land use partners at the Soda Springs Ski Resort and the National Forest Service.
Point Mariah offers expansive views of the Granite Chief Wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail between Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley, and the breathtaking Royal Gorge of the North Fork of the American River (one of the deepest canyons in the western US).
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023
- Location: Soda Spring Ski Resort
- Start Time: 8:00 a.m.
- Check-in: 7:00 a.m.
- Bib & Info Pickup: Saturday 7:00 a.m.
- Race Options: Marathon, Partner Marathon (2 people), 5-Person Team
- Entry Fee: $80 Marathon, $135 Partner Marathon team (price increases June 1), $250 5-Person Team
Marathon
Course Description
This is the cool part – we’ve designed a very unique, fun, multi-loop style course with five segments that tours different parts of the Royal Gorge land, and brings everyone together at our Soda Springs Rd. central aid station each time you pass through!
- Distance: ~26.4 miles
- Elevation: ~4,300 ft of vertical gain, ranging from 6,800′ at the start/finish to just over 7,600′ on Razorback Ridge.
- Trails: the course features 85% single track, 15% double track and dirt road.
Section 1 – Emigrant: Runners start with a hardy climb up and over Soda Springs hill, and down along the fun, flowy Emigrant Trail singletrack to the Soda Springs Rd Aid Station. 5.8 miles; approximately 950 feet of vertical gain.
Section 2 – Point Mariah: Follow your first loop route out to the breathtaking Point Mariah overlook and swing (and back to the central aid station). 4.85 miles; approximately 700 feet of vertical gain.
Section 3 – Rowton Peak: The next loop takes you up to the expansive views of Rowton peak via the Royal Gorge Rim Trail and Bogus Basin Trail (and back to the central aid station). 5.75 miles; approximately 850 feet of vertical gain.
Section 4 – Rowton Peak: Your third loop heads up to Rowton peak again, but this time via the Rowton Peak Trail, along the amazing Razorback Ridge, and return to the central aid station via the Claim Jumper/Switchback Trails. 4.26 miles; approximately 900 feet of vertical gain.
Section 5 – Emigrant: After your final stop at the central aid station, head back along Reindeer Trail, then follow the Emigrant Trail up and over the Soda Spring hill to finish at the resort. 5.8 miles; approximately 900 feet of vertical gain.
Course Map
Planned Route: https://caltopo.com/m/PPGF3 (pending full land use approval; subject to adjustments)
Course Profile
Partner Marathon
Course Description
In an effort to welcome runners of different ability levels to this new event, we’re also offering a Partner Marathon option! You and a partner can run the full marathon route as a relay team – sharing the fun and the challenge and dividing up the effort. Pick a fabulous team name, then plan your hand-offs at the aid station however you’d like: how you divide up the segments is totally up to you! You can run 1 segment then have your partner run the rest of the race, you can swap each segment, you can run the first 3 segments then have your partner take it home to the finish line, etc. There are no rules on how Partners break up the course, but all hand-offs must take place at our central aid station. Again, you are not allowed to drive to the aid station in personal vehicles, so if you’re on a Partner Marathon team please plan on walking/running/biking or taking the shuttle from the Start/Finish line to the aid station and back.
It’s the same exact route as the full marathon, just make it a team effort! We will provide each partner team with some type of “baton” or bracelet to pass from one runner to the next.
5-Person Team Marathon
Course Description
Same deal as the Partner Marathon, but with five of you now! Gather a team of five and each of you take one of the five race course sections. All hand-offs happen at the central aid station.
L: Race Director Chris Cloyd gets the runners started (Credit: Riley Bathurst). M: Helen, our female winner, crosses the line (Credit: Diane F). R: Racer set off from the start of the race (Credit: Diane F).
Logistics & Parking
Course Access
Runners and spectators are only allowed to park at Soda Springs Ski Resort. DO NOT attempt to drive to and park near the central aid station or anywhere along the course, as parking is extremely limited (for race staff only) and we want to give the utmost respect to the Serene Lakes community and TDLT land. There is ZERO street parking allowed. We will provide regular shuttle service between the resort and the aid station for anyone wishing to travel to/from the aid station. Or, consider walking, running or biking the 2.5 miles to the aid station from the start area parking lot.
Aid Station
As mentioned above, the course will feature just one amazing, fun aid station that runners will pass through a total of 4 times. This centralized aid station will allow family and friends to come out and support runners on the course in person and afford runners a huge base of energy and enthusiasm throughout their race as they refuel and reset between each segment. It is our hope that this central aid station serves as much more than a traditional aid station – we’re visualizing an environment of positive encouragement, good community energy, tasty snacks, music, merrymaking, and fun. Even if you’re not planning on running, you should come out and see what we’re dreaming up – all are welcome. You can access this aid station location by walking, running, or biking from the start line (about 2.3 miles) or utilizing our DPMR shuttle bus that we will be providing throughout the event. The shuttle bus will allow everyone supporting runners an easy way back to the finish line after your runners head off on their last segment back to Soda Springs, so you can cheer them on in person throughout their marathon and still get back to the finish line in time to celebrate their race! No personal vehicles will be allowed to drive to/near the aid station, and parking in Serene Lakes to shorten the walk over to the aid station will be prohibited. Please plan on walking, running, biking, or taking the shuttle from the Start/Finish line.
Getting to the Race
Google Maps: Soda Spring Ski Resort
Racers and spectators are only allowed to park at the Soda Springs Ski Resort. Do not attempt to drive and park anywhere along the course.
Time Limit
There is an 8-hour time limit to finishing the race. If you don’t think you will be able to finish in time, you can stop at the aid station and catch a ride back to the finish.
Refunds
We understand priorities change, timing doesn’t work, injuries happen, so we try to balance that with our costs of putting on a race when we consider refund requests. Here is our fairly simple but firm policy:
- Prior to July 1st: 100% refund
- On/After July 1st: 0% refund
Volunteer!
If running doesn’t interest you, but you want to be a part of the fun – volunteer! We welcome any and all help to put on this race – it’s gonna be a total blast! Fill out this volunteer form to sign up to help. We will need help in all of the following areas:
- Pre-race setup and logistics
- Race day registration
- Aid station
- Shuttle drivers
- Finish line aid station and logistics
- Post-race clean up and packing
