THERE'S NOTHING THAT CLEANSES YOUR SOUL LIKE GETTING THE HELL KICKED OUT OF YOU - Woody Hayes

Huh, so in a heavyweight title bout with the BAIRGUTSMAN & the US Forest Service on one side matched up against Mother Nature in the opposite corner; after 15 rounds of blood, bruises and broken bones, SHE ate our lunch. Two weeks ago we thought we had a pretty good chance of walking away with the win, in fact we even declared victory because we had HER down for a ten count. But in true Rocky III fashion, SHE got back up and gave us the ol' 1-2 combo, putting us on the canvas for good. SHE remains undefeated and still the heavyweight champion of the world. What does this mean for the BAIRGUTSMAN?

To continue with the metaphor; we're scrappy little Irish fighters. So we're gettin' back up, spitting out the broken teeth and we're gonna stage the best little good ol'boy trail race this state has seen.

FACT: Farmington Canyon, in its current condition, is unsafe for vehicle traffic, ATV traffic and foot traffic. Unless you can fly, stay out of Farmington Canyon. This means no running down Farmington Canyon after ascending Baer Canyon. Even if we could pull that off, 200 cars and trucks going up and down Farmington Canyon picking runners up would end in disaster and death - Guaranteed. We don't want to kill anybody; we love everybody, even the hikers with the sticks.

THE BAIRGUTSMAN is over 30 years old, every year the course has been the same. 2011 will mark year the BAIRGUTSMAN got hardcore - old GUTSMAN course is rated "R", 2011 GUTSMAN course is rated "Triple Awesome!"

NEW COURSE: The race will start at the church on Mt. Road in Fruit Heights. You'll climb up Baer Canyon to the top of the mountain at Francis Peak. YES, there will be an aid station at the top of the mountain. Once you're at the top you'll run a small loop then backtrack to where you popped off the trail at Baer. This is where it gets fun cuz you're going to race down Baer Canyon, testing your coordination and skill running down technical terrain. We'll take you a little wider down death row and the ferns so you don't plow into fellow racers. The race will end back at the church for a total of 11 miles (give or take a mile here or there). This is the only option for the BAIRGUTSMAN this year. Plan "C" was to wuss-out the cancel the race all together.

PROS:

• This year the finish line will be more accessible for friends and family to witness your accomplishment, and there won't be a need to have somebody shuttle you back to your car.
• After you've conquered the course this year, you'll get a finisher's medal that pawn shop owners will be coveting and trying to get their hands on for years to come.
• The finisher's t-shirt is just out of this world awesome this year. ONLY runners who run the new course will ever be allowed to wear it.
• For the first time ever in GUTSMAN history there will be age and gender division awards. You'll be racing for immortality; getting on the podium in your division at the 2011 GUTSMAN automatically changes your running status to "elite."
• Because we can all linger at the finish line, we can have a real awards ceremony with paparazzi and all the fame and glory that goes with it. With the original course, you got your winnings then you were told to get a ride off the mountain ASAP.
• 2011 BAIRGUTSMAN gives you the opportunity to accomplish something that has never been done before.

Mark you calendars for August 6^th, 6:00am, Mt. Road in Fruit Heights. Registration spots are still available at STRIDERS and online at www.strideracing.com

If you have questions or concerns with the 2011 BAIRGUTSMAN, please email us at striders@stridersrunning.com If you want to talk to somebody in charge of the race, email STRIDERS and leave a number and we will forward to the race directors to call you back. PLEASE DO NOT call STRIDERS with your list of questions about the race, the new course, logistics, or whatever. The employees at STRIDERS can process your registrations and tell you when and where the GUTSMAN will be, but questions requiring more detailed information than that need to be emailed in. They will call you back, we promise.

Thanks for your support and understanding, it's going to be a great GUTSMAN!