Here's a short race recap from a Canadian girl that I gave a lift to the start line. Ended up running quite a bit of the race with her before she took off and left me in her dust at the end :261:
"Got a ride the finish with miniforklift to pick up the shuttle to the start, which cost $50. That's no free shuttle to the race. Total rip off, but the only downside of the organization, rest was amazing. Fabulous volunteers and and stations and great prizes at the end. I was given a $500 macpac gortex jacket because I was the Canadian girl.
As for the race it was great, but not much was runnable. The first climb was fine but the next two big ones were tough. With the last one being 6k from the finish. The downs were either grassy and steep where you could easily slip or skree with super tight switchbacks. I was having some stomach issues that slowed me down. It was also the hottest it has ever been for this race. So although much was like a dessert and the river crossing were quite low I managed to find a mud puddle and sink in waist deep and eat dirt. Puck!
We had an aid station at 17km and 33km. After the second AS I was told I was 4th female so I tried to chase down 3rd. But actually I was 5th and well behind 4th. However it was a great motivator. Trail was tough to figure out at times but i didn't get lost, everyone did an extra kilometer (this course was actually 51.5km).The race started with a crack of a whip and all first out-right got whips. I tried to get one. The lady wanted to give otherwise to me but the RD wasn't having. Great way to end my trip."