Anybody who has run ultramarathons, particularly lengthy ones held in distant areas, is aware of the significance of support stations. For a lot of runners, these oases of assist and sustenance are a key part of their means to complete long-distance occasions. In sure races, some support stations have legendary standing, made well-known by their areas, capabilities, historical past, or uniqueness.
For our 2025 article collection right here in AJW’s Taproom, we are going to profile 11 legendary support stations from throughout the ultrarunning panorama and, as we’ve achieved in previous collection, we’re searching for nominations from our readers both within the remark part under or through our contact kind on the web site.
With a view to make sure we’ve consistency in our choices and to have a point of equity, we’ve established three standards for what makes an support station legendary:
1. The Help Station is Distinctive
Everybody is aware of that some support stations are simply totally different from all the remainder. Maybe it’s the place they’re situated, the form of meals they serve, or the volunteers’ costumes, however no matter it’s, the runner is aware of it’s distinctive as quickly as they arrive, and so they bear in mind it lengthy after they depart.
2. The Help Station Creates Memorable Experiences
When you grasp across the end line of an extremely for any time period, you inevitably hear the individuals rehashing the race with their fellow opponents, typically bringing again recollections of their experiences. Legendary support stations present wealthy recollections for runners and people recollections typically turn out to be landmark moments of the race expertise for years to return.
3. The Help Station is Effectively-Established
Whereas many support stations at sure races change and evolve yearly, some have been established for a really very long time. Maybe it’s as a result of the identical group of volunteers have labored the help station for years or possibly as a result of the help station simply has that particular one thing, however no matter it’s, legendary support stations appear to have endurance that simply builds on itself.
As we put together our collection, like we did with our Below the Radar Races collection this previous yr, we encourage reader nominations for support stations that match our distinctive, memorable, and established standards. When making nominations, at any time when attainable, please embody the next:
- Race title, location, and time of yr
- Race director’s title and make contact with data
- Help station captain’s title and make contact with data
- Help station title and site (mileage, city, and many others.)
- A short description of what makes the help station legendary, paying specific consideration to the standards of distinctive, memorable, and established.
The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2024, and the collection will start in January 2025. We are going to then publish a narrative about one legendary support station per thirty days by November 2025.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Nice Lakes Brewing Firm in Cleveland, Ohio. Launched each December for the previous 20 years, Nice Lakes Christmas Ale is a scrumptious amber ale brewed with honey and a mix of spices. An incredible accompaniment to a hearty Christmas dinner or a stack of sugar cookies, Nice Lakes Christmas Ale is bound to be a vacation favourite for years to return.
Name for Feedback
What support station would you prefer to nominate for the collection?