By HPRS RD John Lacroix
I get it, and I’m with you. We are all sick and tired of the Covid-19 Pandemic. All of us want to move on to once again living our once normal lives, and I’m right there with you.
Being a race director during these times has been one of the most daunting and frustrating challenges of my adult life. I don’t need to remind you, but I will again, that we were the only major race series on the entire planet without a single cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic; not in 2020, and not in 2021. This is a huge achievement, and one that I am incredibly proud of, because we accomplished it without a single report of Covid-19 transmission through the events we’ve hosted. This is a testament to those in our community and the care they have taken towards ensuring the safety of those around us, and with us, at our events. I thank YOU.
I do want to ask everyone who is reading this to please consider the incredible amount of work that had to occur on the back end to make this a reality. This isn’t to pat ourselves on the back. I’m simply asking you to please stop and consider the big picture for a moment…
We obtain permits from: The Federal Government in two states encompassing four different ranger districts, State Parks in two states, The State of Colorado, The State of Arkansas, County Governments, local municipalities, private land owners, and water boards. In order to obtain permits for our nine in person events, we have to carefully walk the tightrope of red tape and bureaucracy to ensure that we are following all conditions of our permits.. which includes our normal conditions and Covid-19 related conditions.. so that we do not lose those permits or have to cancel an event. As you could probably imagine, this is one of those times in life where we very much DO have to ensure that everyone is pleased; a task that we all know as virtually impossible.
My job, as a race director and business owner, has been to very carefully read, decipher, understand, and follow all Covid-19 related mandates of the aforementioned permitting agencies; and then to decide the direction of our business in order to ensure the preservation of that business. Consider that should we not follow Federal Mandates.. be those mandates related to gender or Covid.. we risk losing the following events: South Park Trail Runs, Silverheels/Last Call, Sheep Mountain, Sangre de Cristo, Indian Creek, and Razorback Running Revival. This accounts for 2/3rds of the in person events we host. I’m sure you can imagine the immense pressure this puts us under to follow any and all mandates. I can openly admit that along the way I have implemented policies that may be too restrictive or too careful. I need to do what I think is required to not lose my livlihood, and to ensure the health and safety of not only all runners, crews, pacers, spectators, staff, and volunteers… but the health and safety in the towns we recreate in. I can also admit that from time to time, I have struggled to understand the ever evolving direction and mandates of our Federal and State Governments… AND HAVEN’T WE ALL?
With all of that said, I want to thank everyone who joined us at The Sangre de Cristo Ultras last month, utilizing our latest iteration of our Covid-19 Policies. We learned a lot about our community and our protocols, and you were incredibly respectful throughout. There are no words to accurately convey our thanks for that.
Once again.. we are updating our Covid-19 Policies based on current Covid conditions, and the mandates of those who permit our events:
1.) If you are unvaccinated, we are asking you to please wear a mask at race check-in, in aid stations, and where 6′ of social distancing cannot be maintained.
If you are vaccinated, you may do as you personally please with wearing a mask or not.
2.) We will no longer be requiring proof of vaccination or negative test for distribution of any wrist band. We will no longer be using colored wrist bands at our events for any reason.
3.) All runners may once again fill their own bottles and bladders at aid stations; you can touch the water coolers. We will continue to maintain sanitary food handling procedures at aid stations by utilizing tongs and scoops to serve you food items. The serving of food to maintain sanitary food handling at events will be here to stay at HPRS… no more “lube chips.” We remain a cup-less race series and ask runners to bring their own cups for any cold liquids they may wish to drink. Soft thermal cups will be for events where soup, coffee, tea, and cocoa are present.
4.) Our 100% Covid-Guarantee remains in tact and in full effect in the event of an event cancellation due to any Covid-19 related circumstance.
Over the last year and a half, many have chosen to assume my own political affiliations and personal beliefs based on the many iterations of Covid-19 related protocols and procedures present at our events. While my personal politics, political affiliations, and personal beliefs are none of anyone’s business, I do want to take a moment to finally tell you all where I personally stand on this specific issue at this time: We have reached a point in the pandemic where we are free to make our own decisions as adults. Get vaccinated or don’t. Run.. or Don’t. What I truly care most about is the health and safety of all of those who attend HPRS events. What I learned at Sangre de Cristo Ultras, is that more than 98% of those who are joining us are indeed vaccinated. We have reached a point in every day life where we can only assume the vaccination status of those we see at the hardware or grocery store, at the post office, on the trails we hike and run, and at the athletic events we participate in. Many of us wear masks, many of us don’t. I hope, and trust, that our community of runners will do right by each other in caring for one another. My job as a race director is to not only care about the health and safety of our community, but the future preservation of our events. I feel I’ve done that to the very best of my ability since March 2020, and I’m truly okay with any and all opinions (good and/or bad) from the peanut gallery of folks along the way. You do you boo.
Let’s run.
John Lacroix
HPRS – RD