Bigfoot 200 Is Back to Test the Endurance of Distance Runners in East Lewis County

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The third annual BigFoot 200 ultra marathon race set off from Marble Mountain on the south side of Mount St. Helens at 9 a.m. on Friday. The race will wind around Mount St. Helens and skirt Mount Adams before heading up toward White Pass, and race organizer Candice Burt expects the first-place finisher to arrive at Randle sometime late Sunday night.

That means that the pace setter in 2017 will likely cover the 96,000 feet of elevation gain and 206½ total miles in around 60 hours. If that happens, it would eclipse the current race record, which was set last year at 62 hours and 18 minutes by Richard Kresser.

Burt noted that the course is mostly the same as last year, although it wound up 0.7 of a mile longer. With race participation up to 118 runners this year, she expects the course record to be challenged.

With recent temperatures pushing into the 90s and a dry spell for the ages currently in the works, August may seem a peculiar time to put on such a physically demanding and remote race. Burt said  it’s a less of two evils sort of situation when picking a season to ask people to voluntarily push their bodies to, and sometimes beyond, their breaking point.

“I chose August because it’s a beautiful time of year with the flowers and the berries,” explained Burt. “One of the big things we talk about is that even though heat is difficult it is somewhat safer than a race in October when you might be dealing with hypothermia and storms coming in.”

Burt added that by waiting until August, the Bigfoot 200 runners can hit the trail in the short window between when the snow recedes from the high country and when the unpredictable storms of fall begin to arrive in September. However, this year there are still numerous areas along the race route that are covered in snow. 



There are also three spots that require the use of ropes. Two of the ropes are affixed to the steep walls of the upper Toutle River so that runners can climb down into, and then back out of, the river valley while the third rope is fixed in place over the Adams River, where a strong current threatens to wash runners downstream.

“It’s a little extreme this year. Especially with the high water in a big snow year,” said Burt.

The final flock of Bigfoot 200 runners should arrive in Randle sometime Tuesday morning, and all of the runners will have the assistance of an impressive team of trail volunteers including aid station workers, camp cooks and ham radio operators along the way.

“We do have a lot of great volunteers this year,” said Burt, who added that the Bigfoot races are always looking for additional volunteers to join the ranks. She encouraged anyone interested in helping out or learning more about the race to simply stop by the track at White Pass High School in Randle sometime before Tuesday afternoon. Otherwise, inquiries can be sent to Volunteer@DestinationTrailRun.com. 

Additional information on the BigFoot 200, including an up to date leader board, can be found at www.bigfoot200.com.