ATHLETE GUIDE
Pre-Race Packet Pick-up
Pre-race packet pick-up will be offered for participants on:
Friday, June 5, 2026 from 3:00pm - 6:00pm
If you are not able to pick-up your packet, someone else can pick it up for you.
RnR RV Center
23203 E Knox Ave,
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
Race Day Packet Pick-up
Race Day packet pick-up will be available at the Taft Parking Lot.
Packet pick-up will start at 5:15am PST on race morning. Please arrive early so you have time to park, get your packet, and board a shuttle bus to head to the start line.
Shuttle Buses
The shuttle bus is only a 5 minute ride to the start. Shuttle buses will begin at about 5:15am on race morning or whenever the first bus fills up.
Priority will be given to 50K runners on the first couple buses.
Race Day
Parking
Runners need to park at the Taft Parking Lot off Exit 5 on I-90 and take the shuttle to the start.
If you are typing the location into google maps please use "Taft, Montana" for the most accurate directions.
You can also use:
47.420189, -115.604525
No runner or spectator parking spots at East Portal. All runners and spectators will need to ride the shuttle from Taft Parking Lot.
Spectator Tickets
No parking at race start location
Spectator shuttle bus tickets will be $10 cash.
Payment will be taken at the Taft Parking lot near check-in.
Start Times
Start times are in PACIFIC TIME since most of the trail is in Idaho.
All 50K runners will start at 6am. All 25K, 15K, and 10K runners will start between 6:30am - 8:45am. Runners will select their start wave based on availability. Early start wave priority will be given to longer distance runners with all distances starting by 8:45am. Runners will be able to self select their start time. Start wave selection will be based on estimated finish times with the runners needing the most time to finish starting earliest. We ask that you arrive at the shuttle bus at least 15 minutes before your start. The shuttle bus will be doing trips all morning between the Taft Parking Lot and East Portal (Start Line). This is only about a 5 minute bus ride (2 miles).
50K
6:00am
25K
Runners needing 4:00hrs or more
6:30am
Runners needing 4:00hrs or less
6:45am
7:00am
7:15am
15K
Runners needing 4:00hrs or less
7:15am
7:30am
7:45am
8:00am
10K
8:00am
8:15am
8:30am
8:45am
Race Village
Race Village Area
Race Village near the Start / Finish line will have water and snacks. Swag will be available to purchase. Portable toilets and hand washing stations will be available near Race Village.
Awards
Due to the staggered starts and lack of cell service, Awards will be distributed for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall for Male and Female for each distance.
Awards will be announced after 12:30pm once everyone has finished.
No Age group awards will be given.
If you are not able to stay for your award, they can be shipped to you for a $10 shipping and handling fee.
Gear Check & Gear Drop
Gear Check
This is for gear before you start and after your run.
Gear check will be available for ALL runners near Race Village.
In an effort to reduce waste, we ask runners to please bring your own bag to put your belongings in. We will provide a tyvek hospital type wrist band to label your bag with your bib number. You will need your bib number showing when you drop off and pick-up your bag. Gear check is only available for athletes wearing bib numbers.
Gear Drop
This is for gear during your run available at the below drop points.
Gear drop is available for ALL runners after the first tunnel.
25K, 15K, and 10K runners is at Aid Station One at Roland Trailhead at Mile 2.
50K runners is located at Mile 4.
We are NOT transporting gear after the event, all leftover gear at the gear drop will be donated. You are responsible for picking up your own gear dropped at the gear drop aid station. This gear drop is primarily for dropping off jackets and warm clothing. DO NOT drop off your headlamp as you will need it later.
Special Needs Bag
This is for your halfway point gear pickup.
50K Runners will be allowed to drop one ziploc gallon sized bag or smaller at the Taft Parking lot BEFORE boarding the shuttle bus.
This bag will be transported by race officials to the Pearson aid station (Mile 16) for 50K runners ONLY.
Runners will need to supply their own bag and label it with their bib number if they are planning to use this service. Please do not place anything of value in this bag. Many runners use this bag for simple comforts they may want at Mile 16 of the race (special sports drink, anti-chaffing gel, extra socks, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, etc.).
THESE BAGS WILL NOT BE RETURNED!
Runner Info
Aid Stations / Nutrition
This is a cup free event! Runners must bring their own cup or bottle to fill at Aid Stations.
Aid Stations will be located roughly every 2-3 miles along the course.
Aid Stations will be equipped water and sports drink, GU gels, and gummy bear chews.
50K & 25K runners will have additional sweet and salty options near Adair (Mile 7.25). 50K will also have additional options near Pearson (50K turnaround).
Water will be provided at Race Village.
Toilets will be available every 3-4 miles along the course.
First aid kits will be located at all Aid Stations on each course and at in Race Village.
Headlamps
Every runner will need to run with a headlamp!
All distances will run through tunnels that are very dark when you are in the middle.
A cell phone or flash light is not adequate enough to run through the tunnel.
We will be monitoring the start line & you are unable to cross the start line without a headlamp.
Headlamps are available for purchase during registration and you will be given your fully functioning light at packet pick-up with batteries.
If you are bringing your own light, we strongly recommend a light with 500 lumens or more.
Please make sure your light has a fresh set of batteries and we recommend turning your light off when you are not in the tunnels to preserve battery.
Course Support
There is ZERO CELL PHONE SERVICE at the start/finish or along the course.
We will have bike patrol throughout the course and volunteers at aid stations with communication systems & first aid supplies if needed.
Turnaround volunteers will also be equipped with communication systems.
Cutoff Times
50K
Runners are required to finish in 6 hours and 30 mins.
We are sorry, but the 50K is not for walkers and has strict time cutoffs.
There will be two strict checkpoints along the course to ensure finishing in a timely matter.
The first time cutoff is at mile 10.25 at the 25K turnaround. Athletes will need to be past this checkpoint by 8:15am. If an athlete arrives at this point after 8:15am, they will be turned around by a race official and moved into the 25K race distance category.
The second and last time cutoff is at the Pearson turnaround at mile 17 on the 50K course. All athletes must reach the Pearson turnaround before 9:40am. Athletes reaching the Pearson checkpoint after 9:40am will be placed on a shuttle bus and transported back to the Roland side of the Taft Tunnel where they will need to walk or run back through the Taft, Tunnel to the finish area at East Portal. These athletes will be given a DNF.
25K
Runners are required to finish in 4 hours and 45 mins.
There are not actual time checkpoints on course for the 25K, but instead race officials will monitor athletes to make sure they are meeting the time requirements.
Race officials will educate athletes if they start to fall behind and give athletes 2 warnings before making a decision to pull an athlete from the course or turning the athlete around at the 15K turnaround point.
