We will start accepting applications for the 9th annual Where’s Waldo 100K on March 1, 2010. Race date is August 21, 2010. We are one of the few races that still do apps the old fashioned way: You have to print out the application from the website, fill it out, write a check for $90 (or more if you want), put both in an envelope with a stamp, and then give it to the US Postal Service.
Victor Ballesteros and Waldo Lake
While the complete 2010-2011 Montrail Ultra Cup has not been announced yet, Waldo will be in the MUC for the second year in a row. You must finish two races to be eligible for series prizes. The top two male and female finishers at Waldo will earn spots in the 2011 Western States 100. We’re also in the Oregon Trail Series.
We will be offering prize money to top finishers, courtesy of Sunsweet Growers, as follows:
Trevor Van Vliet (Richard Bolt photo)
| Open Male/Female | $Amount |
| 1st place | $500 |
| 2nd place | $295 |
| Masters Male/Female | $Amount |
| 1st place | $150 |
| 2nd place | $100 |
As usual we have our unique Waldo awards, including Find Waldo, Wet Waldo, and Show Us Your Waldo. The latter, which is accessible to all runners whether you run 9 hours or 18 hours, is judged subjectively by each of the aid stations and is awarded to the runner who shows the best or most “Waldo.” In addition to a comp entry into the 2011 race, some schwag, and the crazy perpetual hat that you must return with your own contribution, Sunsweet is putting up an additional $250 for that award. We have no idea what that is going to do, but we expect our aid station volunteers will get a good show.
The race is very active in trail work on the trails used on the course and surrounding area. We are a benefit for the Willamette Pass Ski Patrol and have donated over $31,000 the past eight years. Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, and runners who have made this a great race. We’re especially thankful for the continued support from the City of Oakridge, Oregon.
Good news! Considering all the fat, lazy overweight adults and kids in this country, I’m glad to hear you are helping to keep the postal carrier jobs alive. At times, runners may complain about their Ultrarunner magazine getting lost in the mail and all the junk mail in our mailboxes, but it’s great knowing that there are some jobs that may require walking and not just sitting in front of a computer all day. Looking forward to helping Curt clear some of those trails when the snow melts and hopefully I’ll be able to help you out the day you volunteer to clear those 10 miles of wildernees trail along the PCT that the Waldo race has committed to do. 🙂 Good luck with your training for States!
@Clem, Hah! I work in front of a computer (or with one on my lap) all day.
We’ll try to set the summer trail work days up ahead of time and will post them on the Waldo web site. You really want to go into the Three Sisters Mosquito Wilderness? Sweet. Hope you have that head netting still.
Craig,
I think it’s funny that you take a little dig at online registration, but then you’ve got a picture of Victor in his UltraSignup jersey front and center!
Wish I thought I would be healthy enough some time this year that I could come run Waldo…
-J
@Jasper Halekas, I am known for my subtlety 🙂 We’d love to see you at Waldo. Get healthy, man.
What are the chances the race will fill before the end of March? I won’t be in the US as of the day before registration opens and have no way of printing off an application and mailing it in (no faith in the mail system in some places and certainly not sending a check through one of them…).
@Amy, We’ve never filled before July.
I don’t see any requirement on the website for required volunteer hours. Could you provide directions as to which activities would be allowable, what documentation I need to have completed, who would be an appropriate party to sign, what the deadline is, and of course the number of hours you require? Do you have a preference as to USFS, BLM, municipal or private trails? I’m totally in favor of any requirement you or any other race director places on us runners. I think working on trails is a great way to give something back to the community, as I’m sure you do as well.
I also feel kind of guilty not paying ultrasignup or active and to have you do all the data entry necessary to support your race. Do you mind if I pay a small fee for all your hard work, say $8?
@Perplexed, thanks for the comment. I’ll address each of your points.
First, we do not require any volunteer hours from our runners. We strongly feel that it is your perogative to be a giver or a taker. If your parents didn’t teach you that giving back to your community was something you might want to consider doing as an adult then you’re probably a lost cause and having a volunteer requirement is only going to delay your realization of that.
Second, do you really think I do the data entry myself? I have a volunteer that comes over and sits at one of my computers in his tighty whities and happily enters all the data. He is also very good at researching the entrants and double checking the listed qualifying races. I’ll provide pictures this year of this volunteer. You’ll be impressed.
Finally, feel free to pay $98 for the race entry if that makes you feel less guilty. We’ll gladly take your money and put it to good use on some trail tools or buying medical supplies for the ski patrol. In fact, if you want to make a donation directly to the Willamette Pass Ski Patrol that would be fine.
Look forward to receiving your entry.
This post is totally lame.
No online sign up, no volunteer requirement and no free t-shirts to the first 100 entrants.
I hope your race rots in hell.
jiz (CR holder on the Real Waldo)
@AJW, this could be new low for you. You seem very bitter. I feel sorry for you.
Congrats on holding the course record on a now defunct course. Perhaps you and Jim King can share a beer and cry together about the unfairness of it all.
BTW, did you get your WS volunteer requirement done yet?
What’s a volunteer requirement?