One Week Away From the 2025 JMTR!
- JMTR Race Director
- May 3
- 6 min read
Hello JMTR runners,
One week to go!! We hope you are feeling ready and starting to get into the tapering and fueling part of your training cycle.
Here is the final update on important race information:
Pre Race Dinner
We will be holding a pasta dinner on Friday at the CrossRoads Bible church. This is the same location as previous years. The dinner location will be in the basement of the church as the big auditorium is not available due to a scheduling conflict. Please follow the signage to the proper location in the basement area. If you are unsure where the church is, please refer to address and maps in the Runner’s Manual.
Runner's Manual
The runner's manual has been posted. This is a detailed guide for everything you need to know, hopefully it has answers to all of your questions. Please review this document as you are responsible for knowing this information. Let us know if you have any questions that are not answered in this document.
Guide to Los Alamos and the Jemez Mountains
If you’re traveling to the area for the run, we are so thrilled to have you visit our home! Don’t forget to check out our Local Lowdown page on our website to plan your visit.
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Road Construction
Los Alamos County is beginning the Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Project which includes the construction of a water pipeline along the Camp May Road to Pajarito Mountain. Access up the road will only be available from Friday to Sunday of race week.
Update to Required Gear Policy
JMTR has an updated required gear policy. For all 50k and 50 mile runners, please be prepared to have the following while running the race:
Whistle (recommended)
Emergency blanket (critical to have this already unpacked from the original packaging and refolded into a Ziploc bag, brand new ones are VERY hard for cold hands to open)
Minimum 1L water capacity (you don’t have to have it full, just have the capacity to carry 1L)
Waterproof jacket (must have taped seams or be impermeable like a poncho)
Beanie/hat/hooded waterproof jacket
Gloves/Mittens
Extra layer (long sleeve T-shirt or greater. NO COTTON.)
We will be monitoring the weather closely and will make a call about the mandatory gear policy for race day a few days out, depending on the forecast. You will need to have the required gear with you should we implement a mandatory gear policy on race day. If we do require mandatory gear, all 50k and 50 mile runners will be required to show their gear on race morning during runner check in and will not be permitted to start the race without the required gear. Additionally, please note that you can be asked during the race by aid station staff to show your required gear.
We also reserve the right to require gear for the 15 mile runners if the weather forecast or current conditions warrant gear to ensure safety. So please make sure that if you are running, regardless of distance, that you have your gear packed and ready to go.
Food Available at Aid Stations*
Drinks: water, Tailwind, soda (Coke, ginger ale), sweetened iced tea
Fruit: watermelon, oranges, grapes, bananas
Salty snacks: potato chips, pretzels, tortilla chips
Cookies: Oreos, Fig Newtons, peanut butter cookies, Biscoff
Sandwiches: PB&J, turkey and cheese, hummus, Nutella
Potatoes, salt to dip
Pickles
Rice Crispy Treats
Nuts and Trail Mix
Otter Pops
*not all food is available at every aid station
Please note, JMTR is NOT providing any gels at aid stations. If you rely heavily on gels as your race nutrition please make sure you bring enough of your own for your fueling needs.
Weather Forecast: One Week Out
As of today, May 2nd, the morning low temperature on Saturday May 10th is about 40°F with daytime high temps between 60-65°F. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon with some lightning expected. Please note that we are in the mountains and Spring weather is highly variable and there can be a high level of uncertainty. Be prepared for any type of weather and make sure you show up at the race with your mandatory gear, should the policy be implemented.
Guaje Aid Station: Second Pass for 50 Milers
In the event of inclement weather, Guaje Aid Station may move to a self-serve (unstaffed) aid station. The JMTR Team will be communicating with runners and volunteers clearly and consistently for any changes via our text notification system if this is the case.
Text Notification and Emergency Contact
We again have a text notification system for providing runners information and alerting them to hazards during race day. We encourage all runners to carry a cell phone and sign up for this text notification system. All runners who provided a mobile number during the registration process will be enrolled. We will be testing the text notification system this weekend. If you have not received a text message by May 5th and want to enroll, please email JemezRuns@gmail.com and provide your name, cell phone number, and race distance.
During race check in we will be checking your emergency contact name and phone number. This contact is used to contact someone on your behalf in case of an emergency and to confirm your safety if we cannot account for you appropriately leaving the course. We pull your emergency contact information from UltraSignup. We ask that you please verify your emergency contact information on UltraSignup at least one week before the race.
Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to help on race day. We can use help at aid stations either tracking or assisting runners, at the finish line, directing runners at various junctions along the course, and providing first aid if you have the appropriate medical skills. If you know someone who would like to help please have them email JemezRuns@gmail.com. Let us know what you are interested in helping with and the approximate time you are available and we will do our best to find an opportunity.
Pipeline Line Aid Station
The pipeline Aid station (for 50km and 50 mile runners) will be located close to the original location prior to last year. Last year the aid station was moved to an exposed location above treeline because of permitting issues. We have gotten permission to place this aid station back in a safer area below treeline. The aid station will be located ~0.6 miles further along the course than last year and about ~0.1 miles beyond the 2023 location. This should have minimal impact for the 50km and 50 mile (1st pass) runners. For the 50 mile runners on the second pass, the runners will need to do a short (~0.1 mile) out and back to access the aid station. Please see the 2025 course map for the location, https://caltopo.com/m/0U31N8G.
For 50 mile runners, update on the course route through Guaje Canyon
In the summer of 2024, there was a flash flood that swept through Guaje Canyon. This resulted in some substantial changes to the terrain along the stream bed. Some of the trail access ramps into and out of the stream bed are now impassable and we’re working to fix these before race day. Also, the stream bed just after the old Guaje Reservoir dam in the canyon was significantly eroded resulting in a ~10 foot deeper channel. This has significantly changed the scramble around the dam. The rope handline for this section has been replaced and extended significantly to facilitate runner passage. Please consider your comfort level with this exposure and let us know if you have concerns. The JMTR staff has reestablished the route through the canyon. It is very similar to last year, but has a few sections of reroute to avoid impassable areas. Please pay close attention to the course markers as the trail through the canyon is more rugged than previous years.
Early Start for 50 mile runners
For the mid to back of the pack 50 mile runners, we will be offering an early start at 4:30am. These runners will not be eligible for top 3 awards. If you are interested in starting early, please email JemezRuns@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. Happy tapering!
The JMTR Team
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