PORT ANGELES — While other races have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, registration is being taken for the Greater Olympic Adventure Run and the Big Hurt, which are still scheduled to go on along the trails and waters on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Peninsula Adventure Sports puts on these two races, as well as theOlympic Adventure Trail Run (OAT Run) and the Quilcene Gravel Unravel, both of which were scheduled for this month but had to be canceled due to COVID-19. However, the group announced last week it remains hopeful that the GOAT run (Sept. 11) and the Big Hurt (Sept. 26) will go on as planned. Registrations are being taken for both races.
These races will be held as long as Clallam County is able to move into Phase 4 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Plan by September. The county is set to apply for Phase 3 on June 29. Phase 4 allows all recreational activities while encouraging social distancing.
The GOAT Run is a point-to-point half-marathon, marathon and 50K trail race that traverses Kelly Ridge between the Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Participants finish at Lake Crescent inside Olympic National Park.
The Big Hurt is a four-discipline race featuring mountain biking from the hills above Port Angeles to the Port Angeles waterfront, kayaking through Port Angeles Harbor, then a road cycling race west on state Highway 112 toward Joyce, then a 10K run back.
Changes this year to accommodate social distancing include increased spacing in the transitiion zones where athletes switch from bikes to kayaks and back to bikes, etc. This means a good portion of the spectator area will be eliminated. Also, there will not be an onsite beer garden, but athletes can enjoy their post-race beer at nearby Barhop Brewing.
The pre-race briefing information will be sent to athletes as a video, and race organizers will be changing the check-in configuration so there is more space and a longer time period to check people in.
The timing is normally done with a volunteer scanning a chip worn by athletes. This year, there will be a contactless timing system.
Peninsula Adventure Sports has also updated its refund policy in case the races have to be canceled. If the races cannot go on due to COVID-19, participants can choose to transfer their registration to 2021 or get an 80 percent refund for the GOAT Run, , plus a coupon for the remaining amount off next year’s races, and a 90 percent refund for the Big Hurt. There is a different refund policy for racers who choose to cancel.
To register for either race, go to www.peninsulaadventuresports.com. For the Big Hurt, people can register as individuals, a tandem team, a three- or four-person team, a high school team or team masters (age 50-plus).
