Course Description

The VASA Trail system through the Pere Marquette Forest offers soft, smooth and forgiving terrain. You’ll experience both single and double track trails. The 5K and 10K routes are mostly flat with a few rolling hills. The 25K loop sends you through some of the hillier parts of the forest, but the biggest climbs are on the front half of the loop. Push through and it’s smooth running until you get to the finish…or begin your next loop.

routes

• 5K: One 5K loop
• 10K Relay: Two 5K loops (One per participant)
• 10K: Two 5K loops
• 25K: One 25K loop
• 50K: Two 25K loops
• 75K: Three 25K loops
• 100K: Four 25K loops
• 100K Relay: Four 25K loops (One - two per participant)

5K Loop

• Total Ascent:
• 5K: 135 feet
• 10K: 270 feet

25K Loop

• Total Ascent:
• 25K: 969 feet
• 50K: 1938 feet
• 75K: 2907 feet
• 100K: 3876 feet

25K Loop Segments

• Segment 1
• Timber Ridge to Bartlett Rd Trailhead (Aid Station #1)
• 4.21 Miles
• Elevation +338ft/-545ft
• Total Elevation -207ft
• Average Grade -1.15%

• Segment 2
• Bartlett Rd Trailhead (Aid Station #1) to Aid Station #2
• 4.75 Miles
• Elevation +486ft/-338ft
• Total Elevation +148ft
• Average Grade .83%
• Segment 3
• Aid Station #2 to Supply Rd VASA Singletrack Trailhead (Aid Station #3/4)
• 2.2 Miles
• Elevation +62ft/-55ft
• Total Elevation +7ft
• Average Grade .06%

• Segment 4
• Supply Rd VASA Singletrack Trailhead (Aid Station #3/4) to Supply Rd VASA Singletrack Trailhead (Aid Station #3/4) loop
• 2.98 Miles
• Elevation +63ft/-64ft
• Total Elevation -1ft
• Average Grade -.02%

• Segment 5
• Supply Rd VASA Singletrack Trailhead (Aid Station #3/4) to Timber Ridge (Aid Station #5, Crew/Bag Drop)
• 1.34 Miles
• Elevation +20ft/-10ft
• Total Elevation -1ft
• Average Grade .28%

Course Marking

• • The courses will be marked with a colored flagging system. Follow the colored flags that match your bib/distance only. We have added arrows and other descriptive signs on course where we feel you might feel confused. If you still get lost, well that's on you.
  • There are several events that use these pathways and have other marking/signage on the course. They intersect, coexist, and depart your event. Therefore if you follow them, you've now gone the wrong way. So remember what color flag you're following.

50K/75K/100K/100K Relay Cut-Off Times

• You will need to maintain a 15:27 min/mile (3.88 miles/hr) pace to complete the 100K in 16 hours.
• Course Cut-Off Time for all distances is 11:00 PM
• 75K/100K/100K Relay must start their final loop by 7:00 PM
• If you are unsure if you can finish your final loop in 4 hours at the 7:00 PM cut-off, please report to our race timer and drop from your current distance to a shorter distance.
• 75K/100K/100K Relay must complete the final loop prior to 11:00 PM or you will receive a DNF and you'll need to try again next year. If you don't already regret your decision to do it this year.

Bailout Points

If at any point you are unable to continue on the 25K loop there are three bail out points where you can receive a ride back to the start/finish line:

• #1 Bartlett Road Trail Head Aid Station
• #2 Supply Road Trail Head Aid Station
• #3 Timber Ridge Aid Station (Loop Start/Finish)