No Crewing at Lambs Canyon Aid Station for 2008

The Utah Department of Transportation has just replaced Interstate 80 bridges in Parleys Canyon including the one at the Lambs Canyon exit. This has serious consequences for our Lambs Canyon Aid Station location. The actual bridge replacement has been completed, but the aid station and parking area is totally occupied by machinery, equipment and dirt. There is zero room: it’s gone. So the race committee is actively working with various government agencies and the private contractor to set up our aid station in the nearby vicinity. We are making good progress and are confident on having a fully stocked aid station very near our previous site. However, we see no chance for any other vehicles at the site. We will provide runners with food, water and drop bag support at Lambs Canyon aid station as before. However, we regret that we cannot accommodate crews at Lambs Canyon for the 2008 race as there is no parking.

Nevertheless, the committee plans to accommodate pacers by allowing drivers to pick up, drop off, or exchange pacers at Lambs Canyon. The problem is that there is no parking there. The only solution is for a driver to drop off a fresh pacer at the bottom of the off-ramp and leave before the runner arrives or to pick up a previous pacer after the runner has left. Consequently, a pacer exchange will require driving through the aid station twice. Vehicles MAY NOT WAIT for runners to arrive, although this is by far the preference in any other situation. You must drive in, drop or pick up a pacer, and drive out. No extended stopping.

Also, support crews might be tempted to use the Lambs Canyon road for pacer exchange or for “road-side” crewing. The road is too narrow and will be crowded with runners, with few places to turn out, park, or U-turn. It would be unimaginable to have a stream of crew cars on this stretch of narrow 2-lane road trying to avoid runners. The road would be choked with cars and it would be very dangerous for the runners. Please understand this is why crew vehicles MAY NOT GO up into Lambs Canyon.

The race committee is also working with Salt Lake County to provide a park and assemble area close to the Lambs Canyon and Big Mountain Aid stations. This would allow crews to park their cars and wait until their runners get close to Big Mountain or Lambs aid stations. The committee hopes to have radio communication at the park and assemble area to let crews know where their runner is and when they might car pool to Big Mountain or do a pacer-run to Lambs. The committee will publish the location of the park and assemble area when this information becomes available.

The Wasatch 100 Mile Endurance Run committee is very reluctant to establish new rules as we love the historical freedom and openness of this race. However, we place runner safety and race reputation with permitting agencies as our primary responsibilities, and we trust that you will understand that these changes are necessary.