Anybody who has run ultramarathons, particularly lengthy ones held in distant areas, is aware of the significance of support stations. For a lot of runners, these oases of help and sustenance are a key part of their means to complete long-distance occasions. In sure races, some support stations have legendary standing, made well-known by their areas, capabilities, historical past, or uniqueness.
For our 2025 article sequence right here in AJW’s Taproom, we are going to profile 11 legendary support stations from throughout the ultrarunning panorama and, as now we have finished in previous sequence, we’re searching for nominations from our readers both within the remark part under or through our contact kind on the web site.
The Duncan Canyon support station on the Western States 100 course is a welcome reprieve within the excessive nation. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
To be able to make certain now we have consistency in our choices and to have some extent of equity, now we have established three standards for what makes an support station legendary:
1. The Assist Station is Distinctive
Everybody is aware of that some support stations are simply completely different from all the remaining. Maybe it’s the place they’re situated, the type of meals they serve, or the volunteers’ costumes, however no matter it’s, the runner is aware of it’s distinctive as quickly as they arrive, and so they keep in mind it lengthy after they depart.
2. The Assist Station Creates Memorable Experiences
When you hold across the end line of an extremely for any time frame, you inevitably hear the contributors rehashing the race with their fellow opponents, typically bringing again reminiscences of their experiences. Legendary support stations present wealthy reminiscences for runners and people reminiscences typically develop into landmark moments of the race expertise for years to come back.
3. The Assist Station is Effectively-Established
Whereas many support stations at sure races change and evolve yearly, some have been established for a really very long time. Maybe it’s as a result of the identical group of volunteers have labored the help station for years or perhaps as a result of the help station simply has that particular one thing, however no matter it’s, legendary support stations appear to have endurance that simply builds on itself.
Maggie Guterl refuels along with her crew on the Raspberry support station on the 2021 Excessive Lonesome 100 Mile. Picture: Hilary Matheson/@thehilaryann
As we put together our sequence, like we did with our Below the Radar Races sequence this previous yr, we encourage reader nominations for support stations that match our distinctive, memorable, and established standards. When making nominations, every time doable, please embody the next:
- Race identify, location, and time of yr
- Race director’s identify and speak to info
- Assist station captain’s identify and speak to info
- Assist station identify and site (mileage, city, and many others.)
- A quick description of what makes the help station legendary, paying specific consideration to the factors of distinctive, memorable, and established.
The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2024, and the sequence will start in January 2025. We’ll then publish a narrative about one legendary support station per thirty days by November 2025.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Nice Lakes Brewing Firm in Cleveland, Ohio. Launched each December for the previous 20 years, Nice Lakes Christmas Ale is a scrumptious amber ale brewed with honey and a mix of spices. An incredible accompaniment to a hearty Christmas dinner or a stack of sugar cookies, Nice Lakes Christmas Ale is bound to be a vacation favourite for years to come back.
Name for Feedback
What support station would you prefer to nominate for the sequence?
The low-key vibe on the Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay makes it a community-oriented and distinctive occasion. Picture courtesy of Valerie Abradi.