The race begins at 8 a.m. at the base of Gondola One in Vail Village, testing runners of all abilities on both single-track and double-track terrain over 4.5 miles of uphill running with an average grade of 14 percent. The race ends at Mid-Vail at the top of Gondola One. There will be one aid station on-course near mile marker 2, complete with water, Gatorade and snack items. Gondola One, which accesses Mid-Vail, will be open for spectators to ride to the top for free from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. All spectators must present a lift voucher to access Gondola One. Lift vouchers are available at pre-registration/bib pickup on August 1 at Smartwool in Lionshead from 3-6 p.m. and at day-of registration at Mountain Plaza Vail Village from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Failure to load the gondola by 8:30 a.m. will forfeit access to Mid-Vail without purchasing a daily scenic ride ticket for $34. Dogs or other pets are not permitted to load the gondola. Post-race, the gondola will be free for racers and spectators to download to Vail Village.

Please note the finish location for this event is at Mid-Vail. Spectators should plan accordingly if they wish to watch both the race start and finish. Competitors will ascend Berry Picker and take a sharp left on Upper Fireweed and traverse to the east toward Mid-Vail. Competitors will then connect with Fred's Lunch and approach Mid-Vail with a slight uphill finish. Awards and raffle will take place adjacent to the finish on Sarge's Deck, overlooking the spectacular Gore Range. This is the same route as in 2015.  

Saturday Registration and Bib Pickup:
Register or pick up preregistration information/bibs on Aug. 6 from 3-6 p.m. at the SmartWool store in Lionshead.

Day-of Registration & Preregistered Bib Pickup:
6:30-8 a.m. at start.

PARKING
Racers should park in the Lionshead or Vail Village parking structures, where parking is free for the summer.

RACERS' REFUEL
Participants can grab complimentary treats and breakfast goodies from Northside Coffee and Kitchen as well as some Noosa yoghurt.

SERIES SWAG
The La Sportiva Vail Recreation District Trail Running Series is proudly sponsored by Garmin. At the end of the season (Evergold Trail Race), the VRD will be raffling off a Fenix 3 HR Garmin watch! Participants will be entered for each race they finish and must be present during the drawing to win!

Runners Need Coverage Too

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is dedicated to bringing more affordable health care to you. Our new Mountain Enhanced plans offer local solutions through partnerships with select area doctors and hospitals, so you can enjoy quality, low-cost care in the same place you work and play. Contact your broker for more information.