2013 Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon

Date: September 29, 2013

FAQs | Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon:

• Qualifying | Dirty Invitational
• Registration | Dirty Invitational
• Venue Information | Dirty Invitational
• Who Will Be There? | Dirty Invitational
• Cheating | Dirty Invitational

Registration: 
Online registration will be open May 27th thru June 10th on Ultra Sign Up. At the time of registration you will be asked to provide the race and time that qualifies you for the Dirty Invitational.

After registration is closed 200 runners will be selected. The final list of runners will be posted on the Dirt Devil Racing Web Site on the Dirty Invitational Marathon page on Thursday June 14th.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Entry Fee:  $99.00

Location:
Green Valley Falls Campground
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Julian, CA 92036
(760) 765-3020
http://www.greenvalleycampgrounds

Race Capacity: 200

Click Here to Read Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon’s FAQ Page

Who:
Runners qualify by breaking 2 hours in any of these 2013 Dirt Devil Half Marathons: Wildhorse Half, Foxy Half and Cougar Half are all qualifiers. (Raptor Ridge is a qualifying race for the 2014 Dirt Invite!)  Those that broke 2 hours in Stairway to Heaven will also qualify.  It is not necessary to run a Dirt Devil race to qualify (although it helps).  Any Trail Half Marathon will work….see the FAQ’s for the Dirty Invite for more detail.

What:
The Dirt Devil “Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon” is an invitation-only race and is meant to pit the fastest and most competitive runners against each other. There will only be 200 competitors allowed in the 2013 race, as that is all Cuyamaca State park  permitting will allow.  Runners will compete against runners in their speed divisions, not age or gender divisions.

How:
This is the Boston Marathon of Trail Running (with the exception of all the annoying Red Sox Fans!)! It is a unique event with nothing else like it out there. Runners will get to compete with other runners in their SPEED category not their gender or age! Runners will be assigned to speed divisions based on their Half Marathon qualifying times and other runners who have done the same qualifying times. In the event there are not enough runners to compete effectively in a division, the runners may be assigned to a slower division, with the slower runners being given a handicap to their time. This ensures fair competition.

There will be five Divisions (A thru E) … and each having between 20- 60 participants. Divisions are based on fastest finish times from all qualifying races combined.

Runners will compete in these divisions against other runners … male or female, old or young. You will be competing for overall in each category. Each division will be assigned 20-60 runners so you have a great chance to place in your category! Once again winners are not male/female or age categories, but based on speed and limited to 20-60 runners in your same speed division.

Course Description:
The Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon will start at Green Valley Campground located approximately 4 miles north from I-8 roughly 45 minutes from Mission Valley. It will consist of double track and single track trail, and be completed in 2 loops. The Green Valley campground boasts one of San Diego’s most beautiful waterfalls.  You will run across streams, through meadows and along the Sweetwater River.  The start/staging area will also be the main aid station and the 13.1 mile mark. After crossing this point, the runners will continue on to complete their second loop and return to the start/finish area.

Course cut-off:
There is a 5 hour cut-off that will be enforced. If you do not make cut-off times for any reason our Race Staff will take your bib and escort you back to the start/finish area at Green Valley Campground. Due to permits we cannot remain on the trails for any reason. Please follow the instructions of all Race Staff.  Run fast, run hard and you will make the cut.

Aid Stations:
There will be 4 aid stations on the course.  Yes Only 4!  Maybe 5 if we can get access.  Either way 4-5 aid stations in 26 miles means you must carry enough water to make it for at least 5-6 miles between stations.  Plan accordingly, dehydration sucks!  Aid stations will have water, electrolyte drink and some form(s) of carbohydrate replenishment in the form or gels, chews, beans, or simply PB&J bites.  If you want something specific make sure to have it in your drop bag or carry it on your person.

Drop Bags:
Will be allowed at the Start/Mile 13/Finsh area only.  Make sure your bag is clearly marked as it is possible we could have 200 bags!  Bags will be laid out in numerical order so if you are bib #1 your bag will be first and so on.

It is MANDATORY that all runners carry at minimum 12 oz. hand bottle for hydration. This is a trail race and we are trying to eliminate the use of cups at Aid Stations to truly go green. We need you to do your part. We will meet you half way this year … but may go completely green in 2014. So get your practice runs in now!

Trail Map:
Trail Map to Follow

Directions To The Start:
The Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon will start at Green Valley Campground located approximately 4 miles north from I-8 roughly 45 minutes from Mission Valley.
Click here for directions to Green Valley Campgrounds, Descanso, CA 91916

Parking:
Parking will be at Green Valley Campgrounds and will cost $8 per vehicle.  Overflow parking will be at Sweetwater and you will have to walk over to Green Valley. Please carpool if at all possible as space is limited.

Race Check in:  6:00 am – 6:45am
Race Start Time:  7 am

Prizes:
Dirt Devil Racing is proud to bring you this awesome experience. There will be beautiful technical shirts and finisher awards for ALL runners’ (see 2012’s awesome shirt below). Over $1,000 total dollars in prizes go to all the Winners, and each Division will separately be competing for:

1st Place: $100 Value running prize + Bragging rights
2nd Place: $75 Value running prize + Bragging rights
3rd Place: $50 Value running prize + Bragging rights

Pat and his Professional Team of Photographers will have your pictures from the race on display at the After Party for you and your loved one’s to see … and they will be awesome!!  You can have Pat take post-race pictures of you, your family, your group, or your team to capture your special day. All race-day photo purchases will be discounted!!!  See Pat for details.

Unable to make the after-party, go to…… Photos By Pat ….. to purchase all your race photos … even previous season if you’ve run with us before.

Race Results:
Race results will not be available at the finish line. Please do not interrupt the professional timing team. Just as you want an accurate time, so do the racers that have yet to finish behind you. We will have the Overall & Division Winner times available at the Post-Race Party & Awards Ceremony. All race times and distance placing will be available on the DirtDevilRacing.com website no later than the Wednesday after the race.

Post-Race Party and Awards Ceremony:
Awesome Post-Race Party & Awards Ceremony will be held at Green Valley Campground.  Bring your family and cooler and come hang out for the afternoon and enjoy the falls!!

Packet Pick-up Location: Packet Pick-up will take place at the San Diego Running Institute (SDRI) on the Friday and Saturday before the race:

• Friday, September 27th … hours to follow
• Saturday, September 28th … hours to follow

MANDATORY Race Day Check-in:
All race participants MUST check in on race morning. Failure to check in prior to starting the race will result in automatic disqualification. Check-in begins at 6AM.  Please read ALL the “MANDATORY READ” race day rules prior to race day to ensure you have the best experience possible.

Traveling to San Diego for the Dirty Invitational Trail Marathon?
San Diego has a long list of great attractions and activities for you and your family to enjoy.  If you will be traveling to the race for the weekend here are a few hotels close to the start, as well as some places the Dirt Devils love to check out after a run in the area.  Be sure to book early for this Holiday Weekend!!!

Places to Stay:

• Hotels, Lodges and Inn’s

Things to Do:

• Historic Downtown Julian
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
• Agua Caliente Park
• Gold Mine Tours
• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
• Cleveland National Forest

Dirty Invitational FAQ

What distance must I run to qualify for the Dirty Invitational?  Half Marathon or longer or you must of completed Dirt Devil Racing’s prior year Stairway to Heaven race in under 2hrs.

What time must I run it in?  Any Half Marathon in 2hrs or less, any Marathon in 4hrs or less, any 50K in 6hrs or less or any 50 Mile in 10hrs or less.  MUST be within the last year. MUST BE TRAIL!!!

Can I run any race or does it have to be a Dirt Devil Race?  It can be any TRAIL RACE within the last year…..but qualifying in a Dirt Devil Race automatically gives you priority.

How will I know if I have a qualifying time?  There will be a list posted on the Dirt Devil Racing web site that will be updated after each of our Half Marathons.  Make sure to check it out and see who could be selected and who you might be racing against!

How will I register for this event?  Registration for this event will be on Ultra Sign-Up.  Registration will be open for 2 weeks only.  At the time of registration you will be asked to provide the race and time that qualifies you for the Dirty Invitational.  After registration is closed 200 runners will be selected.

How will I know if I have been invited?  The final list will be posted on the Dirt Devil Racing Web site on the Dirty Invitational Marathon page one week following the close of registration.

How many people will be running the Dirty Invitational?  The number each year depends on the approved permit.  Approximately 200 runners or less.

Who will I be competing with?  Runners compete against other runners that ran a similar time. Categories are not based on age or gender but only qualifying times. Because of this runners who qualify with a faster time will have a better chance of receiving an invite than a runner who barely qualifies simply because there would be many more runners in that bracket.

Where will the Marathon be held?  Each year the location will change.   The 2013 race is scheduled to be run at Green Valley Falls Camp Grounds.

Can I camp at Green Valley Falls camp ground?  Yes!  You can call 800-444-7275 to make reservations – reservations are strongly recommended for weekends from Easter through Thanksgiving.  Camp sites range in price from $30 to $40.

Is there going to be beer and donuts??   Only if you are fast enough to get to the finish before they are all gone!  

YIKES the mountains??  Will I get lost up there?  Are there bears?  Yes the mountains!  It will be beautiful and amazing.  The campground boasts one of San Diego’s most beautiful waterfalls.  You will run across streams, through meadows and along the Sweetwater River.  This trail freakin’ rocks! The trails will be well marked just like all of the other Dirt Devil Races and you should not have any issues with getting lost.  There will be a lot of beautiful wildlife but a bear is not likely!   You have a better chance of running into Shamu than you do a bear!  Now a mountain lion….that’s another story.

Can you cheat?  Only if you get away with it!  Anyone caught cheating or cutting the course will be DQ’d and banned from future Dirt Devil Racing races.

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