Cantuckee Y'all | Race Week Details
Hey All Y’all Runners!
It’s race week of the 2nd annual Cantuckee Y’all 50K and 15K trail runs at Natural Bridge State Park and Resort! Here’s all the nitty gritty that you need to before you show up to the race on Saturday morning.
Full and complete race details can be found on the calendar listing for the Cantuckee Y’all race on our Event Calendar. Check there for additional details
Registration
REMINDER: Registration is essentially closed at this point. The race is at capacity, and we don’t expect any movement on the waitlist.
Transfers
The transfer deadline has passed. That includes transferring your entry to another future race or transferring your bib to another runner. We’re LOCKED IN at this point. Remember, you cannot have a runner “take your spot” or sell your bib from one runner to another without going through the transfer process via Ultrasignup. That needed to be done at least 7 days prior to race day.
Parking
Parking is at the parking lot in Natural Bridge State Park at Shelter 2. Please do your homework so you know exactly where that is within the park. That is easy to find with a simple Google search or by looking at a map of the park. We’ve also added some parking details to the official online interactive COURSE MAP (zoom in to the start/finish area).
Please park in the lot next to shelter 2 if as spots are available.
Do not park in the lot near the sky lift.
If the lot is full you can also park along the side of the road approaching the start/finish area.
Do not block any roadways.
Course Marking
The trails will be marked with PINK flags in the ground.
The flags will have the Next Opportunity Events logo on them.
Flags are placed at turns and important intersections.
There may be arrows/signs at some intersections. Runners are responsible for keeping an eye out for the flags.
A note on course marking: We place the flags on the trail on Thursday and Friday before the race. The Red River Gorge is extremely busy this time of year with lots of other trail users. Sometimes, people don’t like it and they remove our flags. We call that trail vandalism. It happens. We mark the course but cannot do anything about people pulling them up before the race. So remember, IT’S YOUR JOB TO STUDY THE COURSE MAP, KNOW THE ROUTE, AND NOT GET LOST.
Timing, Results, and Awards
The race will be chip timed.
Results will be streamed online (check our RESULTS page for the link on race day) and accessible via QR code posted at the race.
Final results will be posted to Ultrasignup the week after the race.
Finisher awards and podium awards are handed out at the finish line as you finish.
Bibs MUST be worn on the front of your person.
Do not fold or otherwise damage your bib/timing chip. If your chip is damaged or hidden, you may not get a finish time.
Sky Bridge Turnaround
At mile 10.5 (ish) 50K runners will turn around on the out and back section at the Sky Bridge Road trailhead. This IS NOT an aid station. However, you will have a MISSION!
At the turnaround will be a deck of playing cards. To prove that you went the full distance to the turnaround, 50K runners must pick a card from the deck (any card) and show it to the volunteers when you pass through Chimney Top Aid Station for the second time. You can keep the card or throw it in the trash at that point.
WHAT’S AT THE AID STATIONS?
A few constants are always present: Gatorade, Coke, water, chips, pickles. Some salty snacks. Some sweet snacks. Whatever we decide to get honestly. This ain’t a buffet, it’s a trail run. Are you a picky eater? Suck it up and run. We can’t please everyone or accommodate everyone’s dietary needs or preferences. Are you here to run trails or a full service buffet? If the latter, we’ll recommend some tasty local restaurants nearby. If you’re here for an ass kickin’ finger lickin’ slap yo momma trail run then you’ve come to the right place.
Cut Offs
50K cut-offs are listed on the race web page. Please be aware of the cut-offs at Grays Arch Aid Station if you think you might be cutting it close. If you are not OUT of an aid station before a cut-off, your race is over. If a volunteer tells you not to continue due to missing a cut-off, then do not continue. Any arguments with our volunteers will result in a lifetime ban from Next Opportunity races. No questions asked. We have zero tolerance for disobeying cut-offs or arguing with our volunteers.
Other Trail Users
This is the busiest time of the entire year at Red River Gorge. To be blunt: the gorge is going to be PACKED on Saturday. You’ll be sharing the parking lots, trails, and roads with lots of other people. So be polite. Be cool. Share the space. There are several parts of the course where you will be running on roads. Traffic will be heavy. Stay mindful and aware of traffic and share the road.
Other FAQ Things
There are restrooms at the finish line.
There are vault toilets (aka outhouses) at the Grays Arch and Auxier Ridge Aid Stations.
Yes, you’ll get your feet wet.
No, I won’t recommend what type of shoes you should run in.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RACE?
The quickest way to get an answer to your question is to visit our Next Opportunity Runners Facebook group. Often your fellow runners can give you great advice from having visited the Gorge or run this particular race before.
The slowest way to get an answer is to DM us on social media.
Email is a great way to get in touch with us also, however, we will go “out of office” after Thursday. Any emails received after Thursday at 5pm ET will be answered next week.