The Big Race at Tamarack

With great disappointment, I must tell you that we have decided to cancel The Big Race at Tamarack.  A few factors led to this decision, but with the ongoing fires and continued smoke, we have been struggling to get the number of runners signed up that we had anticipated. Because of this, we have decided it is best to cancel the event with enough time for you to make alternate plans, rather than waiting until the last minute to see if we could have reached the numbers we need.  We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that we may have caused you, and we hope that you understand why we made this decision.

The 5K and 10K share the same start and finish line adjacent to the Village at Tamarack. Both courses begin on wide residential trails before transitioning to winding forest trails. The 10K takes you through scenic Forest Service land before getting back to the 5K course and onto a forested single-track trail nestled between the Osprey Meadows Golf Course and Lake Cascade. You’ll enjoy a beautiful tour of Tamarack, complete with expansive mountain and lake views and charming meadows.

5K Course

10K Course

Course may vary pending trail conditions. 

Are you ready for something BIG? The BIG Vertical Challenge will be one of Idaho's biggest vertical events. This is no ordinary trail race - no rolling downhills here, only lung-searing and leg-burning ascent for this two-tiered race. Enjoy beautiful views of Lake Cascade as you ascend 1,700 vertical feet to the first tier. And for those looking to take it to the next level, you have the option of continuing on to the second tier for a leg-wobbling total of 2,800 vertical feet, finishing at the top of the Tamarack Express lift!

Big Vertical Course

BIG VERTICAL CHALLENGE

How far/high is the BIG Vert race?
There will be two "Tiers" to the race. "Tier 1" finishes at Mid Mountain. Tier 1 is 1.7 miles with 1,700 ft of elevation gain. For those that wish to continue to the summit (Tier 2) - you will add 1 mile and 1,100 ft of elevation gain. The total for Tier 2 is 2.7 miles and 2,800 ft of gain. 

Is that steep?
Yes. For reference, Lucky Peak in Boise has roughly 3,200 ft. of gain, but over 5.9 miles.

Is it a designated path/trail?
The BIG vert course will follow a direct route up ski trails to Mid Mountain and then the Summit. There is no designated "path", but you will not be required to do any bushwhacking.

Will the route be marked?
Yes, there will be bright-colored flagging and markers along the designated route.

Should I use hiking poles?
Poles are not required but definitely recommended - due to the steepness you will be hiking more than running.

Will there be water or aid along the way?
There will be one aid table along the way, and another at Mid Mountain.

Do you know how long it will take to run/hike?
Our RD Mike has tested the route - he "speed hiked" up to Mid Mountain in 33 minutes, and then up to the summit in 22 minutes. 

How do I get back down?
You will be responsible to run back down to the start area - there is a service road that zigzags down at a more gradual grade. If you are unable to get down on your own, we will have a vehicle available.

Is the descent part of the race?
No, after hydrating and refueling at either Mid Mountain (Tier 1) or the Summit (Tier 2), you can relax and take your time going back down.

5K / 10K       

Will there be aid stations along the way?

Yes, there will be aid stations at M1.5 for the 5K, and M1.5 and 4.0 for the 10K.

Do I need to bring my own water bottle or cup?

Cups will be provided at aid stations, but bringing your own is always great to reduce waste!

Is it a designated path/trail?

Yes, both the 5K and 10K will follow designated hiking paths and trails around Tamarack.

Are there hills?

There is one short hill at M1.0 of the 5K/10K course, but most of the terrain is either flat or rolling. 

Can I walk or hike the courses?

Yes!  The BIG Race is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters, so we encourage you to enjoy the event and beautiful scenery at your own pace.

EVENT DETAILS

Will there be awards?

The Top 3 male and female finishers in each event will receive beautiful, unique finisher awards. All participants will receive some fun items and a medal.

Where will the outdoor concert be?

The live music performance and post-race party will be in the Village area at Tamarack - very close to the starting line.

Who is performing at the concert?

The Emily Tipton Band will be performing for a few hours following the award ceremony. She is going to get us all dancing?

Will I finish in time to enjoy the live music?

We are coordinating the event times so that we can hold awards presentations and the live music will begin shortly after the races finish.

Are there things for my friends and family to do on race day?

Of course! After cheering you on, there are lots of amenities at Tamarack Resort to enjoy. There is axe throwing, spa services, delicious restaurants, and beautiful scenery to enjoy. 

I’m not from the area, where should I stay? 

Although our races will start later in the morning, we encourage making this a fun weekend and staying in the area! Tamarack Resort is offering 20% off lodging for our BBBS crew. Use the code BBBS to get the discounted rate. There are also plenty of RV parks and camping spots nearby.

Awards will be given to the top three (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) male and female runners in each race. These awards are custom wooden awards that you will be proud to display! There will be prizes to go with these awards.

The Big Race at Tamarack – Co-Race Director, Mike Postaski:

Mike was born and raised in New Jersey, moving to Boise in 2019, mainly to have better and easier access to outdoor adventure. He is the proud papa of a very energetic 4-year old daughter, and husband of 8 years to a very supportive wife. Before packing up for the big cross country road trip, he worked as a consultant and software engineer based in New York City.
 
Picking up running in his early 30s, starting on roads, progressing to marathons, he eventually discovered a passion for trail running. These days he enjoys the challenges of running all distances, especially long mountain ultras. He has completed five events over 100 miles as well as many other ultra-distance events. He trains and races year-round, recently winning the City of Trees Marathon, Boise Marathon, Zeitgeist Half Marathon, Dirty Dog Trail Marathon, and Bogus 50M, all here in Boise. He also recently became a run coach - leading weekly classes with the BoiseBits Kids Run Club program.

---

The Big Race at Tamarack – Co-Race Director, Kelly Crockett

In the role of director of strategic operations, for Tamarack, Kelly Crockett reports directly to the president and leads a portfolio of cross-functional projects that enhance performance across all of Tamarack’s departments, including critical initiatives like the resort’s inclusion efforts, new homeowner transition services and resort-wide project management. Crockett is a certified associate in project management (CAPM) and Air Force veteran (Major, Inactive Ready Reserve) with a proven record leading cross-functional teams in high-pressure environments and experience in operations, personnel management, training and project management. Prior to her project manager role at Tamarack, Crockett lived and worked in Shanghai, China, where she was Monster Energy’s new product development program manager for North and South Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in international administration from Central Michigan University.

Kelly is also on the Tamarack Ski Team Board and currently holds the title of “Queen of the Mountain” for her running prowess at Tamarack. Kelly has been a runner most of her life, running Track & Field and Cross Country collegiately while at the US Air Force Academy. She continues to run recreationally in races from the 5k to ultramarathons.  

Make a weekend of it and book an RV spot, campsite or hotel! 

Tamarack Resort

List of Campgrounds and RV Parks

Hotels within 50 Miles of Tamarack on Trip Advisor

USE CODE BBBS FOR 20% OFF TAMARACK RESORT LODGING

Thursday, October 6th 3:00 pm-6:00 pm

BBBS Office

7609 W. Emerald St.Boise ID 83704

Friday October 7th 5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Tamarack Village

311 Village Dr, Tamarack, ID 83615

Saturday October 8th 8:00 am-10:00 am

Tamarack Village

311 Village Dr, Tamarack, ID 83615

We will have our race directors on available to answer any questions you may have.

Health & Safety Plan, including Covid-19 response – BBBS will adhere to current recommendations from the CDC, Tamarack Resort, and the local health district of Valley County. Due to the changing status and the impacts of Covid-19 on a local level, BBBS will post any Health & Safety requirements at least 8 weeks prior to the race.  

The race will not be canceled for weather.  In extreme circumstances and if a situation presents itself outside of our control, participants will be encouraged to defer their registration to another year. No refunds available.

General Transfers & Deferral Policies – Due to the nature of event planning and financial commitments made ahead of time, we have a no refund policy. We understand that unforeseen injuries and other situations come up, and therefore allow transfers and deferrals to another year