Badlands Update #10: Water Crossings, Parking & Mesoamerican Deities
Hey Badlanders,
19 days… just 19 days…
You know those old school late-night TV ads promising a “beach body in 3 weeks or less”?
Yeah… right.
It takes about 66 days to form a new habit.
So whatever version of you exists right now…
that’s who’s showing up.
No glow-ups. No last-minute miracles.
Hope you’ve been training.
PRO TIP: For those of you who have trained HARD… don’t forget to taper.
I’m personally a big fan of tapering.
In fact, I’ve been tapering consistently from race to race for years now.
RACE WEEKEND TIMELINE (Read This Slowly)
Let’s simplify your life:
Saturday 7PM → Pre-race “dinner” (see previous email updates on the website if you’re confused)
Saturday 10PM → NIGHTFALL 50K + OVERNIGHT 100K start
Sunday 3AM–10AM → Breakfast situation (for those still alive and just arriving)
Sunday 7AM → DAYBREAK 50K start
Sunday 4PM → Everything wraps up
Don't be late!
If you are going to be late - call ahead and check-in with Race Command. Jay Cell: 810.224.1929
PARKING (Crew & Pacer's too)
Park only in parking spots. Real simple.
If you decide to invent your own parking and block something important… you’re going to make friends with people in uniforms. And not the sexy kind.
Every race depends on permits and parks decide whether we get invited back based on how well we follow the rules laid out during the prior year's event.
So if it comes down to your car getting towed or next year’s race getting it's permit… your car will lose that battle every time.
Park in designated parking spots close to our event's aid stations and start/finish line.
CHECK-IN & BIBS (100K PACERS TOO)
Get checked in early.
Don’t roll up 3 minutes before the start acting surprised there’s a line.
My mom is running check-in, and her motto is: if you’re not early, you’re late.
Don’t disappoint Mom.
100K Pacers (IMPORTANT):
You will need to check-in at an aid station (or start line). You will get a Pacer Bib and will have to sign a waiver as well.
Pacers running without a bib or waiver will cause an automatic DQ of their runner. All race affiliated people on course must sign a waiver for the park.
CUTOFFS (Yes, They’re Real)
They are not suggestions.
If you miss one, your day is done.
We all DNF at some point and I've already got one under my belt so far this year. Shit happens. Live to fight another day.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DROP (DNF)
If you're going to drop:
Gotta drop at an aid station
Gotta communicate directly with the Aid Station Captain
You are responsible for picking up your drop bags
Depending on how busy or well staffed the aid station is, they may not be able to transport you right away. Be prepared to hang by the fire until they are able to spare the manpower
If you leave without telling anyone… we will assume you’re lost and that becomes a whole situation.
Don’t be that situation.
WATER CROSSINGS
(Yes… You’re Most Likely Getting Wet)
As some of you experienced during the Saturday night group run… 15 PEOPLE ... Great attendance by the way!
TLALOC has graciously added a new water feature to the course, courtesy of the generous rainfall we’ve been getting lately.
Unsolicited Knowledge from Your RD:
Tlaloc was the Aztec god of rain, water, and fertility, one of the most powerful and enduring deities in Mesoamerican religion. Both life-giving and destructive, he governed the rains essential to agriculture but could also unleash storms, floods, and droughts. His worship persisted from the ancient city of Teotihuacan to the height of the Aztec Empire.
Will we still see Tlaloc's wrath come race day?
Who knows.
Will you get wet somewhere out there?
Probably.
So for now… plan accordingly.
Confirmed Splash Zones (Approximate)
Mile 5.2ish → on your way into TRAILHEAD
Mile 6.3ish → on your way out of TRAILHEAD
Mile 36.1ish → back into TRAILHEAD
Mile 37.2ish → back out of TRAILHEAD
Same crossing. Different emotional state.
Unconfirmed (But Feels Likely)
There have been murmurs that parts of the Badlands Trail have also seen some flooding.
If I had to guess where things might get interesting:
Around Mile 15 (or Mile 46 for the 100K folks)
After OASIS heading back to TRAILHEAD
This is not confirmed… just some chatter in the Mountain Bike Groups.
What This Means for You
Your feet WILL get wet.
Your shoes will survive
You will continue moving forward
I’ll get back out there after I return from Arizona next week (Bradshaw Brute 100 Miler) and report back if anything changes.
Until then… mentally prepare to embrace the water. If you want a preview of what it looks like out there, I will be uploading some footage to Instagram/Facebook tonight or tomorrow from the group ru
If you want the most up-to-date version of the GPX, here it is:
SHIRT SIZES
(Actions Have Consequences)
For all you new folks…
(and some of you veterans—go ahead and revisit previous emails for your public shaming)
I did not collect Tek Hoodie sizes through Ultrasignup.
Why?
Because I like to do things the hard way.
Here’s Where We’re At
If you haven’t sent me your size… or you’re not sure if you did…
Email me your size.
Do it now. Not later. Now.
It makes check-in smoother and increases your chances of actually getting something that fits.
How This Is Going to Work
Sizes that were submitted → get priority
Everything else → we’ll sort it out at check-in
If there happens to be one in your size when you arrive… great.
If not…well… should’ve responded.
Cause and effect.
A valuable life lesson, wrapped in a sun hoodie.
They came in today, by the way.
I’m wearing one as I type this email.
It’s comfortable. It fits great. I look fantastic.
The fact that they came in today also means that supply of each size is finite. Don't mess around.
Woohoo!
Hope yall are ready!
I know I'm missing some random shit that would make things go smoother but that's future-Jay's problem.
Thanks again for being my guinea pigs!
Stay the course,
J
