Latest News as of May 7, 2008

Weather predicted for the race is a pleasant 60 F. and cloudy, no rain forecast. The course is fast and dry.
The 50K Entrants List is updated, now we have 184 entries. Thanks for your support!
This latest entrants list now shows everyone's bib number for the race. We're ready to rock!

Latest News as of May 2, 2008

The 50K Entrants List is updated, now up to 178 entries.
The Visitor page has been updated to include Crew Access Directions for crews to see their runners during the race.

Latest News as of April 22, 2008

The confirmation letter giving entrants more detailed information about the race is available on the 50K Entrants List page.

Latest News as of April 19, 2008

Registration for the Mac is still open. You can sign up either on-line or by mail, options shown here.
The 50K Entrants List is updated, now up to 160 entries.

Latest News as of April 11, 2008

The 50K Entrants List is updated, now up to 151 entries.

Latest News as of April 4, 2008

After lots of web problems this spring, the 50K Entrants List is updated, now up to 148 entries, check out the 50K 2008 Entrants page. Sorry for the delay!

A couple of other great sponsors to announce this year, Backcountry.com has donated $100 gift certificates for the winners, lots of great raffle prizes, and discount coupons for everyone. Also, Peak Sports in Corvallis has donated raffle items. Please support our generous sponsors!

We're also extremely pleased to announce the return of the incredible bluegrass band, The Split String Extranauts, featuring the amazing Zack Welsh, for your finish line pleasure and dirty dancing.

And finally, an online map to the start has been added to the Visitor Information page.

Latest News as of March 1, 2008

The 50K Entrants List is updated, now up to 100 entries, check out the 50K 2008 Entrants page.

Brooks and 5-Star Sports will be our new sponsors this year, PLEASE BUY BROOKS at 5-Star Sports in Corvallis.

Latest News as of February 11, 2008

The 50K Entrants List is now posted, check out the 50K 2008 Entrants page.

We will have some new sponsors this year, as Montrail has withdrawn their sponsorship of the McDonald Forest run.

Latest News as of December 30, 2007

The 50K Entry Form is now available, check out the 50K 2008 Application page, or beginning January 1st, go to the on-line registration at the Mac 2008 Active.com registration site.

The 2008 50k course descriptions, aid station distances and elevation charts are now available on the course page.

Latest News as of November 21, 2007

A new website is available with Mac 50K pictures. Check it out at: http://macultra.smugmug.com. There's pictures from some other ultras there also to check out. If you have pictures to contribute, please contact Ken at ken.ward@hp.com.

Latest News as of November 17, 2007

The 50K date for 2008 has been approved for MAY 10, 2008.

Registration will begin January 1, 2008, with your choice of online registration at Online Active.com registration or the Old Fashioned Mail-in Application for people like Clem.

The 50K Hall of Fame has been updated for 2008, see the 50K Hall of Fame page to see who's in line for plates and mugs.

The Results page has been updated to include links to the updated Course Records page, and the 2007 version of the All-Time Mac Finishers List Excel file.

We are still working on the course modifications for this year courtesy of the Trailmeister. Generally, the course will continue to be the "Mac Light" easy and fast version that everyone loved, except for any runners over 200 pounds, who will have their own special "Mac Heavy" course to navigate (aka the BS - Big Steve - course).

And finally, we are in the process of setting up a photo archive site at http://macultra.smugmug.com. It's a work in progress and if you have pictures to contribute, please contact Ken at ken.ward@hp.com.

Thanks for all your support, and please continue to direct your questions to Scott at scott.leonard@oregonstate.edu.

Latest News as of October 31, 2007

The 15K Results for 2007 and Hall of Fame for 2008 are now available, check out the 15K 2007 Results and 15K Hall of Fame pages.

Latest News as of August 6, 2007

15K Entry Form is now available, check out the 15K 2007 Flyer.

The 15KM Hall of Fame has been updated for 2007, see the 15K Hall of Fame page.

Latest News as of June 5, 2007

Pictures are now linked, see the Pictures page under 2007.

Latest News as of May 21, 2007

Results are now posted, see the 2007 Results page.

The race was super fun, most people seemed to enjoy the new course and clean conditions.

We had three course records broken.
Todd Braje became the first person to ever break four hours at the Mac, smashing Tom Moritz's long-standing course record by 7 minutes.
John Ticer broke Steve Smucker's 50-59 course record by an astounding 27 minutes!
And Marilyn Kovtunovich broke the 60-69 women's record.
Great work you three!

The Oregon Trail Series scores have now been updated by Ed Willson (thanks Ed!) on the Oregon Ultramarathon Trail Series Results page.

Mac pictures are coming soon!

Latest News as of May 17, 2007

Weather for Saturday looks pretty ideal for running, mostly cloudy, high of 68, should be about 50 at the start, 30% chance of morning showers.

Unfortunately, Kami had to withdraw due to pneumonia, her spectacular run at Miwok last week took a lot of effort!

Instead, Brian Morrison called today to confirm he's coming to compete. Excellent news!

Please don't forget the post-race birthday party Saturday at 6pm at Ken's house, beer and dinner provided! Get directions from the flyer at the cabin on race day.

Latest News as of May 14, 2007

Bib numbers are now assigned, see the updated confirmations page.

We've just added Soyjoy and Country Vitamins as race sponsors. See your race packet for samples, and please support our sponsors.

The raffle has some great items this year, more than 30 thingys to give away from Montrail, Sporthill, Hammer Gel, Dirty Girls, Vicki's Mitts, and Massages!

Don't forget the post-race party Saturday evening at 6, directions available at the cabin during the race.

Latest News as of May 11, 2007

We're up to 161 entrants, about 30 more than last year at this time, see the updated confirmations page.
Even so, with a limit of 250 runners, we won't fill up, so please register and run with us!    

Directions to the start/finish at the Forestry Cabin in Peavey Arboretum are now on the Visitor Information page.

The beer is brewing, the special Mac label is designed, and a special Mac Mud Ale will be all yours.

Latest News as of May 1, 2007

We're up to 147 entrants, about 25 more than last year at this time, see the updated confirmations page.     We're getting more and more fast people and it looks like the jinx of no man or woman ever winning twice could be in jepordy this year from John Ticer, Scott Jurek, Luanne Park, Penny McDermott, or my own prediction to pull off the double, Kami Semick.

We received the shirts from Sporthill a couple of days ago, and they are a beautiful chile pepper red in a very similar lightweight fabric to last year's shirt.     There's lots of nice raffle items from Sporthill as well, and other raffle items from Montrail, Hammer Gel, Dirty Girls, Vicki's Mitts, Fuel Belt, TrailRunner magazine, and massages from Meghan and Dana.

Latest News as of April 20, 2007

Don't forget to check out the latest Oregon Ultramarathon Trail Series Results including results from the awesome Peterson Ridge Rumble last weekend.    Sean Meissner did a fantastic job at the Rumble as always!     And thanks to Ed Willson for keeping the Series results updated so quickly!

The 50K Course Records, Age Group Records and Annual Winners page has been added to the web site.     Click on the link on the Results page, or click here:     McDonald Forest 50K Course and Age Group Records.

Latest News as of April 16, 2007

The race is slowly filling, we're up to 130 entries, about 20 more than last year at this time.    See the updated confirmations page to see who's racing.

People have asked about the course and age group records.    We need to add that to the web site, but for now you can see it with the alltime Mac results by clicking on the "Times" tab on the Mac 50K part of RealEndurance.com.

You'll also see the age group records along with lots of other race news when you receive the confirmation letter that's being e-mailed to all of you later this week.    We'll also post it on the web site on the confirmations page when it's available.

Latest News as of April 6, 2007

Many people have asked if the race is full - NO!    Our limit is 250 runners, and we've never had more than 200 registered runners.    See the confirmations page to see who's registered already.

However, don't forget that the price of the race goes up on April 15th.

The course is in excellent condition - no mud anywhere, and the Trailmeister has the maze in top condition.   It is cruisable!!

Latest News as of March 24, 2007

The complimentary beer bottle for each runner from Oregon Trail Brewery is going to be a special edition beer, a never before brewed Porter, to be known as Mac Mud Ale. Please support Oregon Trail Brewery!

The race entrants have again been updated on the Confirmations page. We are pleased to announce the participation of a first time ultrarunner (post-stent), Steve Smucker.

We are also pleased to announce the return of Blue Spruce Pottery, for the great award mugs, five year mugs and ten year plates you've come to expect from the Mac.

Latest News as of March 8, 2007

The course description, directions, mileages, elevation and maps are now updated for the approved 2007 course on the course page.

We are very pleased to announce that the all-time results for the Mac 50K are now on realEndurance.com. Please check out this amazing web site. Click on any name in the All-Time Mac Results and you'll see ultra results for lots of races for that runner. Wow - that is cool!

Of course, all-time Mac 50K results are also available on our website on the 50K Results page in Excel format. Check out how many finishes you and your friends have, and compare times from year to year.

Latest News as of March 1, 2007

All registered runners are now listed on the confirmations page. Like many ultras, we're getting significantly more entries than we had last year at this time. We may fill up!

Scott Jurek has now registered for our race. All you fast people, time to step up and take the challenge! Everyone else, enjoy Scott's great company!

The course is now fully approved by the granting agencies: OSU Research Forests, Starker Forests and the City of Corvallis. Course descriptions, directions, mileages, elevations and maps are now available on the course page.

The course is going to be different once again this year, of course! After the first aid station at Lewisburg Saddle, much of the course will be run in reverse relative to recent years. You'll go up to the top of Alpha trail and descend into a short Maze section. Then you'll resurface for the Uproute/Extendo loop, getting LB's scary aid station at the bottom. Back into the Maze for awhile, coming out at Baker Creek for the climb up the road to the Dimple Hill aid station. Fly down Dan's trail and up to Chip Ross aid station before climbing up Horse trail, back to the Saddle and on to the finish. One big advantage to this direction reversal is that the aid stations are closer together near the end of the race!

The Mac 50K has several new sponsors this year, and one is the Oregon Trail Brewery in Corvallis who have given us the opportunity to provide the runners with a commemorative 22 oz bottle of beer. As the race takes place in the OSU Research Forest, we are not allowed to have alcoholic beverages at the cabin, or anywhere in the OSU forests. Instead, it looks like the beer will be available for pick-up at the after race party at Ken's house. It's Ken's 50th birthday party! So you will need to swing through Corvallis on your way home or come to the party and stay awhile. Directions will be available in the cabin on race day. We will have a check off sheet with names and race numbers, and will not give beer to any minors. The beer is a Porter that will be called Mac Mud Ale with a commemorative label. We hope you enjoy it!

Other new sponsors are Dirty Girls Gaitors and Vicki's Mitts. Please click through to all our sponsor's great products at the bottom of the home page or on our sponsor's page. We love our sponsors and their products!

The all-time 50K results are now available on the 50K Results page in Excel format. Check out how many finishes your friends have, and easily compare times from year to year.