How many times do you think you could run a 4.5 mile trail loop through the high desert near Bend, Oregon? The new Lastest Not Fastest™ race is a last-person-standing concept, with runners heading out, on the hour, every hour, to complete a 4.5-mile loop on the trails at Tumalo Canal Historic Area. If you complete the loop in 30-minutes, you get 29 minutes to rest and get ready for the next loop. Say it takes you 50 minutes, you are still in the race, but you have just 9 minutes to recover. But if it takes you 60 minutes or longer, you are done. Racers will keep at it, running loops every hour, until there is just one runner left.
All participants will have their distance result posted to Ultrasignup; you won’t have a DNF unless you don’t complete the very first lap.
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You can order an optional race shirt for extra during the registration process through September 25.
Please note that there are no transfers to other runners. If you need to cancel your registration and it’s more than 30 days prior to the race, you will receive a 50% credit toward a future Go Beyond Racing race. If your cancellation is 30 days or less from race day, there is no credit, no refund, or no transfer. See our full cancellation policy for details.
Saturday, October 9, 2021
The race occurs at the Tumalo Canal Historic Area. The route is 4.5-mile loop that begins heading counter-clockwise on the Lower Laidlaw Loop and then turns left onto the Whiskey Still Ridge trail where your views of the Three Sisters start. A left onto Bennett Road puts the mountains in your face and are especially stunning around sunset. Next is a left onto the Hidden Pines trail, then a right on Lower Laidlaw Loop to return to the start/finish area.
Runners must start each loop on the hour. You cannot start and then go back to your crew/car to rest or refuel and then head out later. All runners start at the same time each hour. If racers leave the course during that hour, they are done. It is ok to take aid with you when you start a loop and pause somewhere along the course to rest, but you must stay on the course to do so.
The course is pretty flat, with less than 300 feet of gain in one lap. Click map to view an interactive version.
There is one aid station, located at the start/finish area. Water, GU electrolyte drink, GU gels, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, Oreos, Gummi bears, chips, Fig Newtons, bananas, and oranges are provided throughout the race. Veggie and meat broth is available during the night, plus other hot, real food starting at 6:00 p.m. You’ll be returning to this area after each loop, so you can easily set up your own aid station with your favorite foods too.
Crew is optional. The last-person-standing format of this race is such that crew is not needed. You can run it completely self-supported. However, having a friend or two at the start/finish area is sure to motivate you to keep going. They can also help you get ready for that next loop more quickly.
Crew can set up a spot in the parking area in front or behind a vehicle. We need to be sure there is room for all the racers, so be considerate when staking out your personal aid station. This can include a 10’x10′(max) tent, table, etc. Your crew cannot access you while you are on the course.
The Tumalo Canal Historic Area is 14 miles (22 minutes) north of Bend, Oregon and 169 miles (3 hours) from Portland, Oregon.
Runners are allowed one vehicle in the parking lot. If you have a crew or spectators, they’ll need to carpool with you to the race, or park on the road outside the parking area.
We have a public Google carpool sheet where you can post if you are offering or looking for a ride. Our Carpool Coaster program encourages as many racers to share a ride as possible. Plan to carpool and earn your wood race coaster!
All participants, except the winner, will receive a special DNF award. The overall winner will receive prizes from our sponsors. Of course we’ll also have raffle prizes.
We’re all over social media and the trail running community is active:
Like the Lastest Not Fastest Facebook page
Follow Go Beyond Racing on Facebook
Participate in the conversations on Twitter
Get inspired with the Go Beyond Racing Instagram
We do have a few rules that apply to all Go Beyond Racing races. Be sure you are familiar with them.
Need help getting ready for this race? Talk to our friends at Wy’east Wolfpack. They provide excellent coaching and training services.
We acknowledge that this race occurs on the traditional homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs.
