Howdy Y?all,
I?ve been getting lots of emails asking about the 2020 CTR, if it is happening or not. I am making the call and posting my decision at the end of May. This gives the world another month to maybe calm down and open up?! Or two months for folks to change their plans. I?m not giving a lot of clues, cause I just don?t know yet. But if I was traveling from afar or from out of the US, I would plan on waiting till 2021.
I will not give the green light if it is a detriment to the CT or CTR in the future. We can wait, it is just a bike ride after all. Please be respectful of the small towns on the CT Corridor. ITTs might not be out of the question, but be smart and respectful when making these choices.
I will post here, and at jwookieone.com and on the CTR Facebook page once I make the decision.
Hope you are all well and making big plans for 2021!!!

-Jefe-

Great! It is an amazing route and a grand adventure!
Again feel free with questions, happy to help. Ask here, on jwookieone.com, or the CTR Facebook page, I'll do my best to answer!
Happy Planning!

Jefe

MtnBound,

Sorry, that doesn't take you directly to everything, it was the other day!...I'm still learning much about website layout.
This link, https://jwookieone.com/colorado-trail-race/9667-2/ will take you there, it is all right there on jwookieone.com under the Colorado Trail Race Page, it scrolls down and CTR route info, Rules, Etc is all there.
Let me know if you are still having issues. Feel free with questions as well.
Thanks!
Jefe

I am so torn. I have a great window to give the 800 a run in early April, but the more I read the more I want to ride the Kaibab ST...don't think I'll get too many more windows for this any time soon. I am so itching to ride this route it is also hard to think about waiting another 5 months. There are much worse things to ponder...

-Jefe-

 Been meaning to post something here soon, just been quite busy and it is still 2019!
Anyways, 2020 CTR will start in Denver this year, 6:AM, Sunday, July 26th, 2020. Even years the race goes South/West, odd years, North/East. Aiming for the last Sunday in July as the start date, unless drastic weather forces a change.
More info at jwookieone.com/coloradotrailrace.
Most info is live and correct, more to come.
Stefan G is stepping down as race director and I, Jefe Branham, am taking on that role. Nothing really changing except the web address and who will be answering questions, handing out Spots at the start, keeping track of results, etc. Same rules, same course, same ethos.
I will keep updates going here as well as the CTR Facebook page, and jwookieone.com/ctr, but if nothing changes I will be just answering questions.

Thanks, and get prepping and training.

Jefe

Thanks,
I dug around and saw something that he just missed the record.
Damn impressive for his first CTR!
Watched a video of him before he took off, seems like a legit dude, Kudos!

Thanks again

Jefe

Anybody know if Lachlan finished? Spot stopped tracking at Clear Creek Res.

DUH!
Yep Joe is correct, The Shortie is only 192 miles!!!!

Is your form spot on and you are ready to shredy?
Did an earlier season race not go so well and you are looking for redemption?
Perhaps you were just busy as can be and couldn't make any grand departs.
Or maybe you just want to see a big chunk of the Gunnison Country thru the eyes of a bikepacker?

Well, give the Gunny Loopy Loop a thought.
Gunnison, Colorado. August 31st, 4:AM.
Two Loops. 292, 28,000' and 313, 45,000+'.
DIY, Self Supported.
Start and finish in Gunny. Guaranteed to kick your ass. 
More info @ jwookieone.com.

Hi everyone.
2nd Annual Gunny Loopy Loop!
August 31st, 4:am, downtown Gunnison, Colorado.
Two Loops: Shortie is about 292 miles, 28,000' vert, Biggie is 313 miles, 45,000' vert. Both start and end in Gunnison.
Standard DIY, Self Supported Rides.
More info at jwookieone.com.
Still finalizing the routes, but 95% set on what's up.
Big High Country Riding, much like the CTR/AZT, lots of rough stuff, hike a bike, gorgeous country.
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/874802?units=miles takes you to the Shortie Loop Map.
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/874748?units=miles takes you to the Biggie Loop Map.
Hope to finalize the routes in the next couple weeks, but like I said 95% sure this is it.
Let me know if you have questions.

To me what is so cool about ultra racing is that there is a course, some very basic self supported rules and the human body/mind to tackle it. We sanitize everything in this world to make it safe. I don't race ultras to be "safe" but to challenge myself, test myself and see what I am capable of and what I am made of.
There are stage races, 24 hour races, there is RAAM, randoneering races, etc. There are plenty of places and formats where you can recover and go fast, get sleep and be managed. That isn't what ultra racing is about. Sure you can "chose" to sleep and go at your own pace, that is cool too, but don't tell me I have to stop and sleep when I want to ride all night. Besides it is so wild to watch guys and gals with different skill sets taking on the same course under the same rules. Some go fast and sleep, some go slow and don't sleep and a very few go fast and don't sleep. It is amazing what the human body can do and we are still testing the limits and that is very inspiring.
Don't water it down, we the participants make the choice to enter these events and we make the choices every minute we are out there that keep us moving and healthy or not, that is part of these experiences. If you want to sleep and rest, then do so, but don't tell me I have to too.
Jefe

Don't get too excited....think I might be closer to fast touring this year.....
Jefe

This is kinda interesting. I would argue that the TD is a mountain bike race. Sure it can be done on a cross bike or what have you, but most trails can be ridden by someone on a drop bar skinny tired bike, so does that alone make it "Non-Mountain Biking" I would never take any bike other than a MTB on that route, drop bars, aero bars or what ever, still a MTB under all that stuff.
I think the yet to be established CTD race would be the hardest. 3000 miles, lots of singletrack, tons of route finding, etc. But the route isn't there yet and most of us do not have the time to take to race it.
Honestly the title of "hardest" is a tough one to really validate, as few of us have done them all and some stuff is harder for some than for others. The "Hardest Race" is just for headlines anyways......
Jefe

If I make it to Banff, I am gunning for a new SS record....

yep Plesk's record still stands...for now

Hello TD 2015!
Despite being older and wiser I am in for another TD.
Wondering if anyone from Colorado is planning on driving up to Banff?
I don't want to fly and would like to work something out if anyone is headed that way.

Thanks and happy training planning and scheming!

Jefe

that was 2013.....website is a bit behind the times....

I suppose that really goes for the whole Grand Loop, it is just stupid hard/heart breaking and that really is part of it's magic! 

.........and while someone is at it reroute around the one snowy spot up high so it can be done earlier....

I'm gonna run Maxxis Crossmark EXO's. I'd run Saguaros if the TNT version fit on Stans rims without a fight. I just don't like Conty's that much and would chose Saguaros over the Race Kings any day....But there are lots of great tires out there....I wouldn't run anything you haven't tried in the past and set them up a week or so before you leave for Banff, or AW....