Race Details

Map of Meowler Transition Area

Packet Pickup: 4-8pm Saturday May 21st at Western State Colorado University in the Mountaineer Field House: 700 E. Gothic Ave, Gunnison, CO 81230. All competitors will receive an event visor, t-shirt and coffee mug. DIRECTIONS: From Highway 50/Tomichi Ave., turn north onto Colorado St., go 4 blocks then turn east on Gothic Ave. Go around the roundabout and park, the Mountaineer Field House is the huge building to the northeast and enter through the southwest doors nearest the parking lot. Google 700 E. Gothic Ave. in maps or check out the link above.

IMPORTANT: DON’T FORGET THE GREAT MEOWLER CANNED FOOD DRIVE!!! The Meowler and Growler are BYOB races: Bring Your Own Bag filled with non-perishable food items for our local food bank to distribute to those less fortunate in our community. Then, we’ll put some schwag in your bag, along with your race numbers and other assorted handouts.

 

Meowler Maps and profiles: Click HERE

Bike Course Aid Station Location Maps Click HERE (they are the same as for the Growler races)

Start Time: 7am sharp! Sunday May 22nd at the Hartman Rocks base area. Parking is limited. Carpool if possible or consider riding out from town. Parking is not allowed along Gold Basin Road.

 Course Cutoff 1: Athletes must start the running leg my 10am.

 Course Cutoff 2: Athletes must be to Checkpoint 9 Gold Basin Road by 1pm.

Athlete safety – The Western State Colorado University Mountain Rescue Team is on course start to finish to provide medical and emergency response in case of an accident or illness. We hope they are bored! Please ride and run carefully, as if you were way out in the middle of nowhere, which you will be!

If you come across an injured or ill athlete and are going for help, continue on to the next course marshal, or back if one was close, and let them know an athlete needs help. The course marshals will be able to detail the location to our medical staff and first responders. Remember, you can always call 911. There is some cell service on course but it’s not complete. There are sections with no cell service, especially in the valleys. Sometimes a quick hike  up a hillside will gain cell service.

NOTE: The entire course is open to the public. Racers have no preference or priority while racing. Expect to encounter anything including but not limited to: cows, cattle guards at odd angles, motorcycles, horseback riders, hikers, cars, trucks, ATV’s and side by sides, other mountain bikers, wildlife including the Meowler, the occasional hippy and possibly some characters from your early years watching after school TV (if you’re bonking badly!) Please be polite and courteous to everyone and everything you see out on the course.

Aid stations – Hydration and fueling stations will be located around the course and you will have several opportunities to top off your bottles or hydration packs with Acli-Mate Endurance or water and fuel up on Honey Stinger product, as well as regular food like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, chocolate and other typical offerings. See the course map for location details.

NOTE: The Skull Pass aid station is the primary aid station before and after the run. We will have limited hydration and fuel at the transition area, which is less than a mile from the Skull Pass aid station. You will hit Skull Pass aid station both before and after the run. The aid station on the running course will be well stocked.

Clothing – It’s going to be chilly at the start but you’ll climb right from the start and this course rides warm. You’ll be able to drop clothing at a few designated places on course that will be marked with signs. These clothes will be returned to the start finish area.

RULES

  • Helmets must be worn at all times.
  • Running shoes must be carried from start to finish. Or run it in your biking shoes or ride it in your running shoes. No outside support is allowed at the transition area (private property, no access, etc.)
  • The trail is the course. No shortcutting trails, not even a little bit. Shortcutting (cheating) runners and riders will be disqualified and asked not to return.
  • No wrappers (garbage), clothing, etc., shall be dropped on the course, except at designated aid stations. Feel free to unload your gel packets and other garbage at these locations so we can pick it up.
  • No animals allowed on course.
  • Please be respectful of other competitors, trail users and volunteers.

Post Race Lunch, Refreshments and Dance Party: Noon to 3pm at the Hartman Rocks base area. We’ll give all competitors, finish or not, $10 cash when you cross the finish line and you can keep it or exchange it with Marci and crew, for fresh grilled panini’s including veggie and gluten free options. A side and a sweet treat will round out the post race meal. Ice-cold New Belgium beer, soft drinks and water will be abundant and are included, as well. Awards will be at 2pm but food, drink and music will go on into the afternoon.

Awards and prizes: 2pm at the Hartman Rocks base area. All finishers will receive a Meowler medal and overall and age group winners will receive trophies. There is also a cash purse that will be distributed to the top three overall men and women regardless of which category you entered, age group or pro. You beat a pro and end up top 3, you get paid! We’ll call up the top 3 per category so get your phones ready for those social media bragging rights photos.