Crooked Creek Ultra Trail Race

Race Information- The Crooked Creek Ultra Trail Run will begin Saturday, December 7th at 6am EST for the 100 and 50 milers at the Harry S. Frazier Scout Reservation (aka Camp Crooked Creek). The address is 950 Terry Drive, Shepherdsville, Kentucky 40165. Just follow the main road back to the dining hall (the road ends at the dining hall). The start-finish line will be nearby. The 1/2 Marathon and Marathon will start at 7am EST, and the 5K will begin at 7:30am EST.

* ½ Marathon and Marathon events are scheduled for Saturday, December 7th at 7pm and Sunday, December 8th at 7am.

Registration- Online registration will remain open until 15 minutes before each start time of the events. Registering on your phone is quick and easy. Cash registrations will also be taken on race day. 

Packet Pickup – Packet pickup will occur on Friday, December 6, 2024, at the main dining hall near the Start/Finish Line. Pickup will begin at 4 pm and will be available until 8 pm. We use dynamic bib assignment, meaning we will assign you a bib when you pick up your packet. If you have a bib number preference, please contact us, and we will assign that bib number ahead of time. This will be on a first-come basis. FYI, bib number 1 is already assigned. If you cannot make packet pick up on December 6th, we will begin packet pickup at 5:15 am on December 7th and all day for runners choosing the Saturday night or Sunday Morning half marathon and full marathon options. If you are late, you can still start the race, but your time begins at your race’s start time, whether you are there or not.

We will take a photo with your bib when you pick up your packet. You can have family or crew join you in the photo if you have family or crew. Required items are working lights (headlamp, handheld, etc.). Hydration plan (handheld bottle or backpack).

Parking- Regular Parking will be close to our start/finish line in a large gravel lot in front of the dining hall. This parking is for all 5K, half marathon, and marathon runners and their friends. We will have separate parking for anyone running the 100-mile or 50-mile event who wants to crew from their car on pit row. We believe we have room for all 100-mile and 50-mile participants to park a vehicle there. It will offer a relaxed race vibe for all runners to enjoy, like a trail-running tailgate party area. Passes for that area can be requested at check-in. 

 Overnight Accommodations- There are numerous hotels within 20 minutes of Camp Crooked Creek if you hope not to make a long drive race morning. You can find accommodations at the Shepherdsville exit north on I-65, and Elizabethtown is close to 20 minutes south on I-65 and has quite a few hotels right off the exit. Runners may also reserve unheated cabins and camping spots on the scout reservation by visiting the registration page link, but no water or electric hookups are available. If you plan on bringing a camper, please email us at info@ckracemanagement.com so we can make room for everyone. The Camp Crooked Creek staff has assigned us designated areas for RV camping. This location is on the course near the 6-mile mark.

Food Options - Shepherdsville is located approximately 20 minutes away, where you will find many restaurants. We also have an amazing scout troop (Troop 157) preparing food for crews and families to enjoy on Saturday and Sunday in the pavilion for a small fee.

 

Pre-race Meal - A pre-race spaghetti meal prepared by Troop 157 will be available during Friday night's packet pickup. This meal is FREE to al registered runners and available for a small fee to everyone.

Drop Bags (for the Cub World Aid Station)-  

All runners are allowed a standard-size drop bag, but the bags are NOT required gear. You can drop your bag off at packet pick up. We will provide you with a bag tag with your bib number. We will have a drop bag area at the start line. We will accept drop bags starting at 5:30 am on December 7th. We will transport your bag to the Cub World aid station. Once you are done with your bag (you are no longer running), please place your drop bag in the area marked return. You may pick up your drop bag at any time from the Cub World aid station once you have completed your run. If you are crewing yourself, you may also place a drop bag under the timing trailer at the start/finish line.

Crew Area-

The runners/crew area will be around the start-finish line area and along the gravel road heading out on the course. There will be plenty of room for tents and canopies. Bathrooms, showers, fire pit, and lighting will also be available. The first water stop 2.5 miles into the course will pass within a few yards of this area.

Also, the scouts are being very generous; they ask we clean up after ourselves. This means if you bring it in, you take it out. If our course marshals observe participants littering on the course, we will disqualify you. Trash containers will be available on the course; please use them.
 

Course Information-

The course is 12.6 miles of rolling terrain for the 100 and 50 milers (what some people call hilly). We have one small ½ mile section where half and full marathoners will divert from the regular course to pick up the extra distance you need to get to 13.1 and 26.2…..we wouldn't want to cheat you out of distance. ;) The course offers plenty of viewing and cheering points for your friends, family, and crew. We will have confidence flags and directional arrows on the course to guide you along the way. Orange tape will also be used to mark off trails that aren't being used for the event. If you have participated in one of our events before, you know we like to overmark the course. Runners will have about  ¾ of a mile of a gravel road that meanders through a few scout camps to create space at the beginning of each loop before entering the first hilly section of the course. After a little section of trail, a beautiful view of the lake comes into sight…….and that is where we will leave it. The rest of the Crooked Creek course will be a new adventure with every step you take. Enjoy.

 

On-Course Viewing Areas-

Crew and family members can see and assist their runners at the 2.5-mile point on the trail when it snakes right by the start/finish line. Also, at the 3-mile mark, it crosses Mago Lane. Mile 5.5, near the Leadership Retreat Building, will be a great spot to say hey to your favorite runner. At mile 6.5, runners will cross right in front of the Cub World Aid Station parking area. Runners will enter the Cub World Aid Station just past mile 8. That will be the last viewing point before they return to the start-finish line.
 

Aid Stations & Water Stops-

We will have five aid stations. The first will be located at the start/finish line (crew access) and will be a fully stocked aid station sponsored by The Trail Sisters of Louisville. The second is a water station about 2.5 miles into the course (crew access). The third aid station is around mile 5 and will only have water. The fourth aid station is the Cub World aid station at mile 8. This will be where you can find your drop bag, warm food, and a friendly staff of volunteers ready to help. Again this year, the Cub World Aid Station is controlled by two local ultra-runners legends, Glenn and Abbi. Anyone is welcome to visit the Cub World Aid Station. There is plenty of parking, and it is just a short walk through a wooded path to get to the shelter to see your runner. Prepare to be well taken care of and sent off with love and energy. The fifth aid station is at about mile 10 on the trail. This aid station is water only (no crew access). 
 

Changing Distance -

Please notify us at the start line if you want to change your distance. If you do not complete the distance you registered for, you will receive a special Crooked Creek “Casualty” Medal. Oddly it was one of our most cherished awards last year. :)

 

Pets –

Due to the extreme nature of the trail, wildlife, and the challenges that come with the trail, we were asked not to allow pets on the course. 

 

Pacers –

We will allow pacers for the 100-mile and 50-mile distances only. Pacers will be allowed after completing two loops, so a pacer is permitted on your third loop. If you use a pacer, you must ensure we know and they are checked in. They must wear a pacer bib, sign our waiver, and participate in the safety briefing. They will be required to have a light and hydration methods.

 

Awards –

The top overall male and female from each distance will receive a Crooked Creek Jacket that will make all of your friends jealous. 

All finishers will receive either a  5 Inch belt buckle or a  4 inch medal (depending on the distance registered).

 

Race Cutoff Times –

The race will begin at 6 am on December 7th for 100 and 50-mile participants. 7am for 1/2 and full marathoners. This will be a "gun time" start. We are using chips, but everyone will have the same start time regardless of when you start the race.

Cutoff times are as follows:

Half Marathon – 8 hours. This is a "soft" cutoff. If you are close to finishing, we will allow you to finish, and you will receive your finisher medal but will not be eligible for division awards/recognition.

Marathon - 8 hours. This is a "soft" cutoff. If you are close to finishing, we will allow you to finish, and you will receive your finisher medal but will not be eligible for division awards/recognition.

50-mile – 18 hours. This is a mildly hard cutoff. We will only remove you from the course if you take an extended break after the 18-hour time limit. If you are moving, your time limit moves too. If you stop, so does your race.

100-mile – 36 hours. This is a hard cutoff. There is also a time limit of 18 hours to reach the 50-mile mark. We will remove you from the course if you have not finished within the 36-hour time limit. We will not allow you to continue if you have not started your last loop by 29 hours into the race or the elapsed time of your 7th lap, whichever is longer.

 

EMS/Medical –

First aid will be available at the start/finish line next to Race Headquarters. Please call 911 and notify the staff of your need for life-threatening needs. The course is marked off in lettered sections to help emergency personnel quickly find you. 

Timing-

We will be offering chip timing for each loop. Friends and family can keep track of your loops by visiting www.ckracemanagement.com. Due to very poor cellular reception during portions of the course, we cannot guarantee real-time on-course tracking for this event, but we are going to throw all of the technology we can at it to try to make it happen.