The New 200+ Races: What's on the Horizon for 2017

I'm ready to reveal a few events that I have been working on, if not directly (I'm not in the field fastpacking until next week), then by envisioning how I can clone myself into another 4 race directors. Jokes aside, I have decided to add not one, but two 200 mile race in 2017. Before you get all excited and shit, keep in mind that these will be very, very different beasts than the 200s I currently organize. And they'd have to be for me to be able to do an entire grand slam in one year. They will be harder, but cheaper. They will not be for beginners, but beginners with the right motivation will be able to tackle them (maybe).

New Races for 2017, pending permits:

Arizona 250 mile - June 2017
Stephen Jones' Moab 200 - July 2017

In addition, we will include in the new Grand Slam, our current races:
Bigfoot 200 - August
Tahoe 200 - September

So what makes the new 200s so different? 

• Whereas my current 200s have major aid stations every 6 - 22 miles, these 200s will only have drop bag locations every 10 - 30 miles, water only aid stations as needed and major aid every 50 - 60 miles. 
• You will be required to navigate without course markings. We will give every participant a map of the course and you will have access to GPS data (GPS devices will be allowed). 
• We will not have medical or major communications teams. We will track runners for safety purposes only. 
• Fewer participants will be allowed (around 60-100 total per 200)

Those are the differences, but they are very major. Those differences will allow us to organize the two new 200s with a minimum of work. Permits, websites, planning, employee costs will still be high for us, but with just 4-5 major aid stations we will be able to offer the races at a fraction of the cost. 

So what exactly will you get for these 200s?

• You will get a 200+ mile stunning course that is mapped out and planned for you. It's like getting the cliff notes to a bad ass book, doesn't hurt to have the notes, but you're gonna wanna read that mother fucker. 
• You'll still get some babysitting in terms of having your gear dropped (and picked up) at 10+ locations as well as some sweet aid at 4-5 locations including hot food, warm tents, beer, and shit too. 
• You'll be running with a group of BAMFs. That should be good for stories around the campfire. 
• Enhance or Worsen your current relationship with your partner/crew/friends/lover
• We'll have the usual Destination Trail post race party awesomeness including awards, buckles, fires, beer, food, and friends with guest appearances by a live band and a real finish line arch! 
• Satisfaction
• Maybe, just maybe you might be able to complete the Grand Slam of 200s. 

Ok, I might be interested. So how do I get in?

• You must have finished Barkley at least 2x. 
• You've beaten the Hardrock lottery and gotten into the race more than 3 times but either DNF'd or DNS'd each time you've gotten into this insanely hard-to-get-into-lottery. That may only qualify 2 male individuals in the world. Guess who they are and win automatic (not free) entry! 
• You are required to have a crew of 10 plus license plates from 49 of the 50 states in the USA. 
• The race director shall be provided with at least 3 coins of pirate origin
• Write a 20 page essay about what's wrong with our current political system
• Did I say you need to send 49 license plates? Make sure at least 1 out of 3 are vanity plates. Points for funny shit. 
• That's it! 

But seriously, these races are not a joke, only the the so-called entry requirements are. Most likely we will abandon all elitist entry requirements and instead allow any poor soul to fork over a few buckeroos and run the damn thing. 

Stay tuned crazy ones. We got some good stuff brewing over yonder.