[Author’s Note: This article is the seventh in an 11-part series in AJW’s Taproom celebrating under-the-radar races.]
The Kenai Peninsula, off the southern coast of the Alaskan mainland, is residence to many wondrous issues — grizzly bears, Chinook salmon, huge stands of native conifers and, annually in late July, the Resurrection Cross Extremely Races.
Directed by cousins Brandon Wooden and Sarah Hurkett, this occasion is a throwback to the early days of ultrarunning. There isn’t any entry payment, though donations are welcome. There are not any awards on the end line, though in recent times, runners have taken it upon themselves to create handmade buckles, design t-shirts, and, better of all, for a number of years now, a runner has supplied stickers for everybody.
The beginning line of the Resurrection Cross 100 Mile is a decidedly low-key affair. All pictures courtesy of Resurrection Cross Extremely Races.
The course has modified a number of occasions over time, however the essence of the race stays the identical. The 100 miler begins at 3 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and the 50 miler at 6 a.m. the following morning. Legendary Alaskan ultrarunner Geoff Roes holds the present course report, however that doesn’t actually matter to those of us all that a lot.
What issues to the organizers and the contributors is well summarized by Wooden — it’s these timeless qualities that introduced many people to the game to start with.
Woods says, “From the very starting, these have been very low-key, community-driven occasions. There has by no means been an entry payment. It’s all donation-based. I wish to check with this occasion as a well-organized fat-ass. This occasion has gone via a lot of completely different RDs [race directors] over time (this would be the twenty eighth yr for the 50 mile, and the twenty first yr for the 100 mile), nevertheless it’s at all times managed to keep up the identical low-key vibe.”
The surroundings of the Resurrection Cross Extremely Races is just not missing.
Like several extremely, particularly one held in a distant, environmentally delicate space, the race has confronted some obstacles.
Woods says, “The expansion in reputation of the occasion over the previous few years has triggered us to strategy issues a little bit in a different way. For a few years, this race operated and not using a allow and even a lot of an official registration course of. Lately, now we have a allow with the U.S. Forest Service and deal with registration via UltraSignup to assist make issues extra manageable.”
Few races in North America have embraced the low-key, old-school vibe of early ultramarathons fairly like this one. Once I requested Wooden about this, he stated, “These have at all times been, and certain will at all times be, low-key, principally self-supported races. Because of the nature of the paths we use, that are distant with little or no entry, racers must be principally self-sufficient and assist different racers. The 100-miler has two assist stations on the solely two accessible trailheads at mile 42 and 70, and the 50 miler solely has one at mile 22, and even for that, volunteers should hike in 4 miles simply to arrange the help station.”
The Resurrection Cross Extremely Races are principally well-organized, self-supported journey runs with solely a few checkpoints and assist stations.
These days of big-time occasions producing big-time experiences, the Resurrection Cross Extremely Races select to maneuver to the opposite facet of the boat by embracing neighborhood, shared struggling, and the easy pleasure of being collectively.
Annually, it’s clear what the complete crew seems ahead to most. Woods says, “[It’s] the folks. We see a variety of the identical runners come again yr after yr, so we at all times say it looks like a household reunion. We additionally get a variety of first-time ultrarunners, and it’s at all times nice to see folks pushing their limits and getting their first extremely end. There’s an awesome vibe on the end line all day lengthy, with a number of family and friends coming to hang around, younger youngsters operating in with their mother and father, and runners hanging out lengthy after they’ve completed to cheer on different runners and swap tales.”
There isn’t any fanfare on the end of the Resurrection Cross 100 Mile, simply the comfy Alaskan floor to get well on.
This yr’s race begins on July 26, and whereas it’s full, there’s at all times subsequent yr.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Alaskan Brewing Firm in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaskan Amber is a traditional old-school amber ale with hints of malt and a refreshingly hoppy end. Typical of most issues that come from Alaska, it’s a little bit completely different, however not an excessive amount of.
Name for Feedback
- Have you ever had an opportunity to race the Resurrection Cross Extremely Races?
- Do you like low-key vibes or big-production occasions?
