This is the default information for the race. Logistical information may be in conflict with times and places mentioned elsewhere, but this page is the correct information.
Cancellation Policy Update: Prior to March 1 we will offer a refund less $5.00 of your entry fee. After March 1 but before April 1: If we have wait listers ready to take your spot you will receive a refund of 75% (less UltraSignup fees), but if there is not a waitlist person you will receive a 50% refund.
After April 1: No refund will be given.
Registration is non-transferable. Each runner must run with a bib assigned to their name. If we must cancel the event due to natural disaster (forest fire, blizzard, PANDEMIC, etc), we will roll your registration to the following year or offer 50% of your entry fee back.
Physical Race Briefing:
There will be a race briefing in person at 5pm Friday before the race, at Millpond, at the start area. Though not mandatory, please come! This is the only time we’re all together at the race, and important information about the courses, and last minute changes, will be broadcast.
Virtual Race Briefing follows:
Welcome! And thank you for participating in the Bishop Ultras. Hopefully you will take the time to read and understand this document, and the preparations we are making to have a great and safe event.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to the over 100 volunteers who help make this race a success. This is still a volunteer based race, operated as a non-profit. 100% of the proceeds after expenses go to two non-profit organizations: The primary beneficiary of the race is the Eastern Sierra Youth Outdoor program, a free, professionally led six day climbing and backpacking camp for kids from the area ages 13 – 18. We also give a small donation to the Inyo County Search and Rescue and to the Bishop Amateur Radio Club (BARC).
Thanks to Marie Boyd, who started and directed the race for many years. Of course thanks to our sponsors which include as of this writing Manor Market (#1,200 of ice!), Grocery Outlet, Eastside Sports, Tailwind Nutrition, Muir Energy, Owens Valley Distilling Company, Black Sheep Coffee, and La Sportiva. We have permits from five agencies to make this race happen, and appreciate the help we’ve received to make it a go this year: Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Inyo County Parks, Caltrans, and the City of LA Department of Water and Power. Thank you.
I’d also like to call out a few of the races that have taught me how to be a race director: The Bishop Ultra was my first Ultra, only ten years ago, and I learned a lot from seeing how it was produced. The TRT 100 has become one of my favorite races, and I think sets the standard for how to conduct a race. Thank you George and all your many volunteers – I hope the Bishop Ultras can come close to what you folks are able to achieve with your race.
Sharing
We’ll be sharing the course with mountain bikers, hikers, climbers, off highway vehicle users, and other human recreationalists. We will be visiting areas inhabited by countless other creatures, among them rattlesnakes, coyotes, an abundance of birds, jackrabbits, and the rare mountain lion and bobcat. Let each of us be an ambassador for the running community, and be respectful not just of other visitors but the plants and animals that call the course home.
Course Marking:
The course is generously marked, but it’s up to you to know where you are going out there, too. We strongly encourage you to download the GPX file for your particular race, and have that in a smartphone in the event that you get confused, or in the unlikely event the course gets vandalized. We use pink flagging for the length of the course. From the Junction aid station to the finish line markers will be supplemented with reflective tape. Some of these reflect silver, some reflect blue. Both reflective colors are on pink flagging.
Course changes this year:
No major changes in 2024. Doubtful we’ll need the snow course we used in 2023, but we won’t know until later in the winter.
Common route finding errors on the course:
After the Tungsten City aid station, as you are returning from any of the distances, go straight. Just bring it straight into Millpond, through the campground, and to the finish. Once you leave the campground there is a well marked right turn to the finish line.
50 mile and 100k runners: Several years ago we moved the Edison Aid Station location up the hill about 900′. It’s a way better spot for the aid station, and the mileage difference was mostly made up by relocating other parts of the course. But, what this means, is as you approach the aid station you turn right off the main road (well marked, and get to the aid station, then do the Edison Loop, returning to the aid station. All this is straightforward. You then go back out to the main road and on your way up course to the Intake 2 and Bishop Creek Lodge aid stations. Where weary runners get mixed up is on the return to Edison. You’ll return from Intake Two, take a left on the same trail that brought you out, go over a hill and rejoin the buttermilk road. But you need to turn left to go back up to Edison to check in before heading back down the course.
Race Policies
This document applies to all race volunteers, staff, runners, pacers, and attending families and friends. Willful violation of these guidelines by a racer, racer’s family member, or racer’s support person or pacer will result in the runner being immediately disqualified from the race. Willful violation on the part of a volunteer will result in the volunteer being asked to leave the event. This information is being made available to all entrants and race volunteers.
Bib Pickup and Parking:
Bib Pickup will be Friday before the race from 12pm to 7pm at Millpond County Park (the race start line), and at the starting area from 4:30 – 5:00am on race day. Google Maps does a pretty good job of finding Millpond County Park. We also have a Caltopo map of the parking area. But basically, head north on 395 out of Bishop, roughly 6 miles, to Ed Powers Road. Take a left turn onto Ed Powers but a short distance later, 200′ or so, turn right onto Sawmill Road, and in another mile turn left into Millpond County Park. Take the immediate left and stay on that road to the parking areas near a block of bathrooms and the start/finish area, and race HQ.
Race Start:
We’re planning a mass start this year per the race schedule. Past year’s feedback, and the desire to not crowd the starting area have us moving to a mass start per distance, but by distance. Five minutes between distances should allow for plenty of separation.
5:15am for 100k,
5:20am for 50 mile,
5:25am for the 53k, and
5:30am for 20 milers.
8:00am for 6k runners.
Early start: If it would make a difference to you to start early we will allow you to start at 5am but you will not receive any place or division awards.
All runners except the 6k should plan on arriving before 5:15 to avoid conflicts between parking and starting runners.
Chip timing will be used for this event. Please take a look at the map of the starting area. The area is spacious, and there is plenty of room to spread out while waiting for the start.
Aid Stations, Food, and Cutoffs
The course has a generous midnight cut-off, which gives all runners nearly 19 hours to finish their race.
This race is known for the quantity and quality of its food and we aim to maintain this reputation.
Plan on longer than usual at aid stations, due to the need to maintain distance between runners.
Food and supplies you can expect at aid stations:
CDF, Junction, McGee, and Bishop Creek Lodge are lighter aid stations. They will have the usual salty/crunchy and sweet snacks plus fruit and other goodies. Hydration offerings will include water, Tailwind (usually orange flavored), and a mix of sodas.
Buttermilk, Edison, Intake 2, Highway 168, Tungsten City, and Sage City are more complete aid stations. In addition to the above they will have a variety of hot or prepared food. Buttermilk usually has eggs, pancakes, and bacon. Edison usually has grilled cheese sandwiches and other goodies. Intake 2 usually has a variety of quesadillas. BCL usually has grilled cheese and soup. 168 usually has popsicles and light cooked food. Tungsten City will be all set up to help 100k runners psyche up and “take the left”. Sage Summit will have grilled cheese, quesadillas, and other items runners need to finish the 100k. The finish area will have a variety depending on the time of day. Earlier in the day the offering will be more of a breakfast feel. As the day goes on we’ll switch to veggie and non-veggie burgers and pasta.
Cupless: In keeping with current trends at races you are requested to bring a reusable cup to the event. We’ll do our best to reduce the volume of trash produced by the event. Reducing the number of disposable cups is an easy place to start. We will have a few reusable cups to sell at race check in. And we’ll have a few cups at aid stations, in case people forget or lose their own cup, so don’t worry.
Medications: Also keeping with current best practices, you will not find any over the counter (or behind the counter) pain medications on the course. If you think you might need these items, please bring your own.
Race Finish Area:
Food area at the finish: Please respect boundaries established in this area. Food will be made to order and delivered to you. Once you have your food please head out to the adjacent grassy field or a nearby table to rest and eat.
Other Policies:
Awards:
All finishers will earn a Bishop Ultras hand made ceramic medallion. First place male and female in each distance except the 6k really fun run will receive a custom award.
Drops and Dropping Down
We will allow you to drop down in distance, for instance from the 100k to the 50 mile, or from the 50 mile to the 53k, or from the 53k to the 20 mile. Should you decide to do this you must inform the next aid station of your intention, and for good measure remind the Tunsten City aid station when you pass through the last time. No refund will be given if you drop down, and if you finish you will get an official result but people who drop down are not eligible for place prizes.
Drops – If it’s not your day out there we respect your decision to drop out of the race. We’ll help you think it through, and our experienced aid station volunteers will help you decide what’s best for you. If you must drop please do so at an aid station! Please make sure course staff know you are dropping. This will be communicated back to base so we don’t go looking for you after the race. Do not just walk off the course without telling course staff. This will result in us believing you to be lost and will initiate a search and rescue response.
Special note for 50 mile and 100k runners regarding hole-punching your bib at Overlook and 100k turn arounds:
We have found staff for Overlook, so barring unforeseen circumstances we’ll have an aid station up there. It is a six mile loop from Edison (1st time), back to Edison (2nd time), uphill both directions. Just kidding. It is uphill to the turn around, then a pleasant downhill back. DO NOT PUNCH THROUGH YOUR CHIP!). If we have ham radio operators at the aid station the hole punching will be unnecessary.
Similarly, at the 100k turnaround, many miles later, we will have a hole punch. Please punch your bib, not through the timing chip!
Race Rules:
- The cutoff is midnight for all distances.
- Your assigned bib must be worn and visible on the front of your body. We don’t care if it’s on your shorts, shirt, or hat, but the aid station people need to be able to see it.
- There are cutoffs at certain aid stations. These will be enforced.
- You must follow the course markings. No short-cuts or cutting the course. If you go off course, you must return to the location where you went off course and resume from there in order to receive an official finish.
- Dogs: we are dog lovers, but this is not a good event to bring a dog to. Dogs on leash are welcome at the start/finish area, but we advise no dogs on the course other than the 6k, which has water. If you must bring dogs to an aid station, they need to be leashed.
- Poles are allowed. Your call.
- The aid station captain has the authority to pull you from the race should this be warranted for your health.
- Headphones are strongly discouraged.
- Out of respect for your fellow runners, amplified sound (playing music out of your phone, for example) is not allowed on the course.
- Absolutely no littering. Really – it’s 2021 and we even have to mention this? Show us some extra trash you picked up out on the course and we’ll give you a prize at the finish!
- Bathroom: There are bathrooms at the start/finish, near Buttermilk Aid station, near Intake 2 Aid station, and half way between Intake 2 and Bishop Creek Lodge. Otherwise it’s “nature bathroom”. There’s nothing worse while racing than coming across a fellow runner’s excrement on the course (or even near the course). So, do what all savvy outdoors people do when the need arises: step a discreet distance off the trail and do your thing. Solid waste should be buried in a hole 6 – 8” deep. Your heel, a stick or rock work great for this. Hygiene products such as TP or wipes should be packed out in a small ziplock bag that you have brought along for this purpose.
- In the words of Candice Alicia: “If you get lost, hurt, or die on the course it’s your own damn fault!”.
Drop Bags:
We allow generous use of drop bags but ask that you go easy on the size and weight. The aid stations really are well supplied. Bags exceeding the size limits of 10 pounds or so, or 20″ x 20″ x 3″ will not be taken, nor will bags that we do not think can endure being loaded into a truck then driven up a bouncy four wheel drive road! (Yes, I’m talking about plastic shopping bags. C’mon, you’re an ultra runner and surely deserve a bag from High Desert Drop Bags, don’t you?!).
Drop Bags are allowed at Buttermilk, Edison, Intake 2, Highway 168 and Tungsten City aid stations.
Please bring your labeled with your name, phone number and bib number drop bag to the appropriate sign near the start line Saturday morning no later than 5:15. Your bag will wind up in the same spot at the end of the race.
Forgotten drop bags will be discarded, so please remember to pick up your drop bag after the race!
Drop Bags will return to Millpond as the aid station they were at close, or if personnel from the station are returning and you are done with your bag it will be returned sooner. Worst case all the Edison and Intake 2 bags will be back down around 5pm. Buttermilk and 168 bags likely won’t be brought back down until quite late in the evening. Tungsten City bags will not be back to the finish line until Sunday morning. It would help us help you if when you finish with your bag for good (for instance, your last time through Edison) let the aid station know you are done with this bag and it can be brought down if the chance arises.
Pacers and Crew:
One pacer per runner is allowed to join 100k runners at the Highway 168 Aid Station, which is mile 46. Pacers must check in with the aid station captain where they will receive a pacer bib and be registered as on the course. Pacers can get water from the aid stations but should come prepared with their own food items.
Crew:
The routes are difficult for crew to access due to the nature of the roads. Crew access is only allowed at Intake 2 (limited parking), Bishop Creek Lodge (very limited parking) and Highway 168. Each of these is adjacent to a busy road. Please observe applicable traffic laws as well as common sense and decency when parking.
Emergencies while on the course:
There is good cell service most of the course. If you have any problem while on course use the resources around you or at an aid station to help you solve the problem. RD Todd Vogel can be reached at 760-920-0774. For serious emergencies call 911. The Inyo SAR team is on standby during our event (and always), and helps us put on the 168 Aid Station.