Rocky Mountain Races is proud to present our newest race, The Aspen Loop Ultra. This race is designed as a weekend event for the ultimate endurance athlete, ready to put themselves to the test. Individuals can choose to race our 40 mile course as a run, a mountain bike, or show their true grit and complete both races in our dual race option.

Location

Located in the southwest corner of the San Juan National Forest, the Aspen Loop Ultra events will be based out of the Transfer Campground, 10.5 miles outside of Mancos, Colorado. The campground is located along Forest Service Road 561.

Event Schedule

Friday, June 17th, 2022

4:00PM - 6:00PM: Packet Pickup:

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO 81328

6:00PM: Racer Meeting (Run)

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO 81328

Saturday, June 18th, 2022

7:00AM - Race Start: Aspen Loop Ultra - Run

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO 81328

3:00PM - Awards: Aspen Loop Ultra - Run

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO 81328

Sunday, June 19th, 2022

7:00AM - Race Start: Aspen Loop Ultra - Bike

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO 81328

12:00PM - Awards: Aspen Loop Ultra - Bike

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO 81328

Race Course

All events start and finish at the Transfer Campground in Mancos, Colorado. The Aspen Loop is a 40 mile alpine loop located in the western San Juan National Forest. The loop starts from Transfer Campground along the north end of the West Mancos Canyon and consists of mostly narrow double track trails along with a mixture of single track and forest service roads. There are some steep climbs and a few rocky areas, but in general this is a very runnable / bikeable course. The highpoint of the course is reached in the first 9.5 miles, so the bulk of the climbing will come early on. The highpoint is followed by several (15ish) miles of gradual descent before racers start to regain some elevation toward the second peak at mile 34.

Aid Stations

There will be five aid stations (one of which you will visit twice), roughly every 6-8 miles. These aid stations will be stocked with water and Tailwind Endurance as well as a mixture of sweet and salty snacks. For the run, each participant must check in at each aid station as part of our safety plan.

Time Limits

Time limits exist for the safety of our participants and volunteers. All participants must agree to follow the direction of our aid station workers in regards to cut off times.

We will hold the following cutoff times:

At Aid#4 (23.4 miles in) at 5pm (10 hrs).

At Aid #5 (31.4 miles) at 8:30pm (13.5 hrs).

The the finish line by 11pm (16 hrs)

Course Safety

The race course uses double track trails and forest service roads that have minimal vehicle traffic, especially in June. However, this is not a closed course. The roads will be open to vehicle traffic and the trails are open to ATVs. For your safety the course will also be marked with signs, pin flags, and cones. Runners must remain alert throughout the race, stay on the left shoulder of the road, and obey instructions from course marshals. Runners should not wear headphones in both ears and no dogs allowed in the race. Pin flagging will be visible along the route and signage will be prominent at each turn for runners. We will also have “Race in Progress” signs in various locations along the course to alert vehicles to the race in progress. Each Aid Station will be stocked with basic First Aid for competitor use. For any more serious cases, we are partners with Montezuma County Search and Rescue. They will be out supporting our racers and keeping them safe.

Spectator Locations

One of the best locations to experience this race will be right from our Start / Finish line by Transfer Campground. There are also many great spots along the course that you will be able to see your runner without too much driving. We recommend around Aid #3 and Aid #5. Please be sure to spectate from a safe location where you are not interfering with vehicle and runner traffic. Please obey instructions from all course marshals.

Timing

The Aspen Loop Ultra will be professionally timed by Rocky Mountain Timing. Your RFID chip will be on the back of your race bib. Please make sure you do not bend your chip. Runners should wear their race bib on the front of their body.

Results

Results will be posted on www.rmtiming.co at the conclusion of the event. There will be a live results kiosk at the race venue.

Travel Information and Lodging

Looking for a place to stay during race weekend? There are numerous lodging choices available in the Mancos Valley, from B&Bs to VRBOs. Make it a race-cation weekend! The race is also situated on National Forest where you may find yourself a free campsite. Most of the weekend is based out of (or in near proximity to) Transfer Campground.

Weather

With a race date of mid June, expect cooler temperatures in the morning. Average temperature in the Southwest San Juan Mountains at 8am in mid June is around 40 degrees. Expect temperatures to start out cool and steadily increase as the morning progresses, potentially reaching into the upper 60’s, possibly reaching into the 70’s. Use the aid stations and stay hydrated. Although June is usually a pretty dry month, rain (and possible snow) showers can be likely. We expect that each competitor carries the appropriate clothing necessary for racing in the mountains.

Refunds & Transfers

As with most races, we are unable to offer refunds, transfers, or deferrals. However, if we are forced to cancel or adjust our event to meet COVID guidelines, we will provide all registered runners a fair option.