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 assist 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 collection right here in AJW’s Taproom, we are going to profile 11 legendary support stations from throughout the ultrarunning panorama and, as we have now achieved in previous collection, we’re in search of nominations from our readers both within the remark part beneath or by way of 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
In an effort to make certain we have now consistency in our picks and to have a point of equity, we have now established three standards for what makes an support station legendary:
1. The Help Station is Distinctive
Everybody is aware of that some support stations are simply totally different from all the remainder. Maybe it’s the place they’re positioned, the form 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 bear in mind it lengthy after they depart.
2. The Help Station Creates Memorable Experiences
When you hold across the end line of an extremely for any time frame, you inevitably hear the individuals rehashing the race with their fellow opponents, usually bringing again recollections of their experiences. Legendary support stations present wealthy recollections for runners and people recollections usually grow to be landmark moments of the race expertise for years to come back.
3. The Help Station is Nicely-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 possibly 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 collection, like we did with our Below the Radar Races collection this previous 12 months, we encourage reader nominations for support stations that match our distinctive, memorable, and established standards. When making nominations, every time potential, please embody the next:
- Race title, location, and time of 12 months
- Race director’s title and get in touch with data
- Help station captain’s title and get in touch with data
- Help station title and placement (mileage, city, and so on.)
- 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 collection will start in January 2025. We’ll then publish a narrative about one legendary support station per 30 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 amazing accompaniment to a hearty Christmas dinner or a stack of sugar cookies, Nice Lakes Christmas Ale is certain to be a vacation favourite for years to come back.
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What support station would you prefer to nominate for the collection?
The low-key vibe on the Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay makes it a community-oriented and distinctive occasion. Picture courtesy of Valerie Abradi.
