June 24th, 2004
Welcome to the 16th Annual Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run. This email/letter outlines some of the important points to keep in mind as you approach race day. See also the detailed schedule of 2004 Knee Knacker activities.
There are many important details in this letter, but I’ll mention two of them up front (in case you decide not to read any further):
1. There is absolutely NO day-of-race registration. If you have not picked up your race packet and registered by Friday night (July 9th), you will not be in the race. Please bring along picture identification, as we will be attaching a plastic medical wristband to your wrist once we have correctly identified you as the registered runner. If you have someone else picking up your race package, you MUST produce picture identification prior to the race Saturday morning.
2. Your entry is NOT transferable, i.e. you cannot sell or give it away to anyone else. If you are injured or do not intend to run this year’s race for other reasons, please let me know by phone, fax or e-mail ASAP. There are no refunds.
Please continue reading, but don’t forget that all this (and more) can be found on our Web site at www.kneeknacker.com.
New Venue for Awards and Banquet! – Now you can shower before dinner and walk (or crawl) to the banquet! We are fortunate enough to have the use of the Parkgate Community Center in North Vancouver just a few miles from the finish. Showers are available for a nominal cost of $2.00 payable at the Community Center.
Sponsors – More Good News! We are pleased to have North Shore Athletics as our main sponsor again this year providing equipment and advice for all of your trail running needs! They will be offering great divisional and draw prizes, as well as the “Most Knackered” award. We are also being supported by Montrail, Hammer gel, Honey's donuts, Delany's, Columbia water, Gatorade, Polartec, Bone-dri, Ultrafitness, Specialty gourmet, R&B brewing, ZonePerfect, Calona Vineyards, St. John's Ambulance, Landsea Tours, dazil Internet Services and Capers.
Please show your support of our sponsors by purchasing or recommending their product or service! Additional sponsorship opportunities are always welcome – just give me a call.
Volunteers – Treat them well! Once again, we will have over 200 volunteers working together to help you meet your individual Knee Knackering goals. Your thanks and co-operation ensure that many of these volunteers come back year after year. Volunteers are the backbone of the Knee Knackering family (kinda like your parents) – without them we would not be able to put on the run. In keeping with their importance we invite all volunteers to the Awards Banquet free of charge. Please take the time to recognize their work both during the run and at the Awards Banquet.
Race Proceeds - All proceeds go to North Shore Rescue to help them buy and maintain their equipment that they need to save wayward trail runners, hikers and the like!
Registration & Race Package Pick-up – North Shore
Athletics
#101 - 1200 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 990-6888
As you will notice from the Schedule of Activities, the registration & race packet pick-up is on Thursday and Friday night at North Shore Athletics. This is Mandatory for all runners. There is absolutely NO day-of-race registration. If you haven’t registered by Friday night, you will not be in the race. First-time runners of the Knee Knacker are also required to attend the course briefing on Friday @ 7 p.m. Please bring along picture identification as we will be attaching a plastic medical wristband to your wrist once we have correctly identified you as the registered runner. If you have someone else picking up your race package, you MUST produce picture identification prior to the race Saturday morning.
Day of Race Check-in – There is a mandatory check-in for all runners in the Eagleridge parking area from 5:15 am to 5:45 am. Please do not confuse this with the Mandatory registration on Thursday & Friday nights. There will be no race packets or race numbers given out on race day. These must be picked up on Thursday or Friday evening. If someone else picked up your race package, you will be required to produce picture identification prior to the race Saturday morning.
Cut-off times – The following cut-off times will be strictly enforced: Cypress Bowl 9:00 am (3 hours), Cleveland Dam 11:00 am (5 hours), Seymour Demonstration Forest 1:30 pm (7.5 hours), Mt. Seymour Road 3:15 pm (9.25 hours) and Panorama Park, Deep Cove (finish line) 4:00 pm (10 hours).
3 Checkpoints - As in past years, there are three mandatory checkpoints (Cypress Bowl, Cleveland Dam and Seymour Demonstration Forest). It is the runner’s responsibility to ensure that they have been noted at these checkpoints.
Aid Stations- Lots! We have 11 aid stations on the course this year. The aid stations are located at the following points: Black Mtn. 5.1 miles (water only), Cypress Bowl 7.5 miles (Major), Hollyburn Lodge 10.2 miles (water only), Cleveland Dam 14.8 miles (Major), Skyline Drive 17.7 miles (minor), Mtn. Highway 20.4 miles (minor), Seymour Demonstration Forest 22.2 miles (Major), Lilloet Road 23.7 miles (minor), Hyannis Drive 24.8 miles (Intermediate), Mt. Seymour Road 27.5 miles (Intermediate) and Panorama Park 30.0 miles (Major). It is highly recommended that you carry at least one water bottle and food between aid stations given my prediction of warm sunny race day weather!
Drop Bags – Drop bags will be transported from the start to the halfway point (Cleveland Dam) for your use. These bags will then be transported to the finish line for pick-up.
Transportation and Parking – We recommend that you park your vehicles at the finish line (Panorama Park in Deep Cove) as there is limited parking at the start. Pre-race bus transportation is available from the finish in Deep Cove to the start. These 2 buses will leave from Deep Cove no later than 5 am sharp!
Awards Banquet – **NEW LOCATION FOR 2004** Parkgate Community Center 3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver. Catering by Critics Choice Catering (same great company as last year) – Saturday night, from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Finally, my goal is to help you realize your individual goal on race day. Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call if you have any further questions or concerns.
I wish you the best in your 2004 Knee Knacker challenge,
Michael Wardas
2004 Race Director