Foremost on last minute notes for 2024 is: the closure of the north end of Holsclaw Hill Road, the main route to LLTH. See the updates in the previous post for details on the closure. The only driving route now available to the LLTH start is shown below. You may want to add some additional drive time.
Google Map directions to the Start from the Brooks Road Interchange on I-65 can be found HERE.
Online registration thru UltraSignup ends tonight (Jan 31) at 11:59 pm EST.
Early packet pickup is at QUEST OUTDOORS at 4600 Shelbyville Road in the Shelbyville Road Plaza in Louisville on Friday from 4 to 7 pm EST. QUEST OUTDOORS will also be having their FREE pre-race pasta dinner again this year at their store location -- everyone is welcome. For 2024, True North Catering will provide the catering of the pasta dinner.
You can also register and/or pick up your race packet at the Horine Center at the Start/Finish area
on race morning starting around 7 am EST. It's recommended to pick up
your packet on Friday to avoid the rush & lines on race day.
Flagging will be pink this year. JMF & contractors within the Forest also use pink (& other colored) flagging, so be aware of the course layout beforehand and follow the pink flagging on the well worn trail to stay on course. Flagging on wooden stakes are always the contractors'.
Trail junctions will be marked with several flags & major junctions will also have signs or a volunteer on site. Intermediate flagging is spaced approx. 200 to 300 feet along the entire course.
There are course changes this year: For both the 15m & 50k, there are minor diversions in the Tom
Wallace Recreation Area (past the Welcome Center) due to ongoing
construction. For the 50k, at Scott's Gap: the entry/exit trail segment to the 3 mile loop has been moved from the east to the south and a steep incline & 2 deep ditches have been bypassed on the loop section. Also, instead of running up & down Scott's Gap Road, you will now cross this paved road & run up & down a trail that's parallel to it.
Current local forecast from the National Weather Service can be found here: NWS Fairdale, KY With warmer than usual weather predicted & very good trail conditions, there will be many more users sharing the trails than on a usual race day here. Any horses (allowed on the Yost & Purple Heart Trails) you may pass need special attention & considerations.
As in previous years, in collaboration with the
Land Between the Lakes (LBL) trail running event in western KY, a
special award will be given to those who complete both LLTH (50k, 15m or
6m) and LBL (50m, 60k, marathon or 23k). Information on LBL can be
found here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KY/GrandRivers/LandBetweentheLakestrailruns.
Good Luck to all!
