Cactus Roulette is a duration trail race hosted by the Lawrence Trail Hawks with 4 time options – 24 hours, 12 hour pm (Owl), 12 hour am (Lark), and 6 hours. There are three different loops ranging from 1.9 to 3.6 miles. Prior to each loop, runners will spin a …
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Cactus Roulette is a duration trail race hosted by the Lawrence Trail Hawks with 4 time options – 24 hours, 12 hour pm (Owl), 12 hour am (Lark), and 6 hours. There are three different loops ranging from 1.9 to 3.6 miles. Prior to each loop, runners will spin a roulette wheel to determine which loop they run next.
Base camp for the race will be at Group Camp 3 at Clinton Lake State Park in Lawrence, Kansas. Each loop will begin and end at base camp. There will be food, water, porta potties, heaters, and access to personal drop bags.
Awards
+ Every starter for every time option will receive a completion award – no DNFs.
+ There will be hand-crafted artisanal awards for first, second, and third place female and male finishers for all 4 time options.
+ First place female and male finishers (runners who run the farthest distance in their time block) will win free entry for next year’s Cactus Roulette. Additionally, first place 24 hour finishers, both female and male, will receive a cash award of $250 (must complete a minimum of 100 miles to receive).
+ 24 hour runners who complete 100 or more miles will receive custom belt buckles with their exact mileage that will be mailed to them after the race.
+ Custom SWAG will be given to starters in each time option.
+ Photos provided by Mile 90.
Course
+ All three loops will be run counter-clockwise for the duration of the event.
+ Each loop will be color-coded to match the roulette wheel.
+ There will be three separate starting mats, one for each loop. Runners will cross their specific starting mat at the beginning of each loop.
+ SWIM BEACH (Blue) Technical trail on blue and white trails. 3.6 miles with 253 ft of elevation.
+ CACTUS RIDGE (Green) Technical trail on the north side of West Park Road (N 1415 Rd). 2.6 miles with 239 ft of elevation.
+ BUNKER HILL (Red) Cross-country field conditions with two steep climbs. 1.9 miles with 150 ft of elevation.
+ Live results will be posted on monitors at base camp.
Rules
+ The finish line closes promptly at noon on Sunday 2/20 (midnight for 12 hour Owl). For a loop to count you must have crossed the finish line before that time. No partial loops are given.
+ PACERS – 24 hour runners will be allowed one pacer at a time starting at 2 am on Sunday. No pacers allowed for 6 and 12 hour runners.
+ RACE CANCELLATION OR POSTPONEMENT – In the event the race should be postponed or canceled for reasons beyond the control of the Lawrence Trail Hawks (inclement or unsafe weather conditions; local, state or national emergency), refunds will NOT be made, but race packets, including race shirts, will be available at a location to be determined or possibly, though but not guaranteed, by mail.
+ ALTERNATE COURSE – If local authorities, Clinton State Park and the Kansas Trails Council trail steward, deem the trails unsafe for runners or vulnerable to damage due to muddy conditions, an alternative course will be provided by the Lawrence Trail Hawks race Directors, pending approval by Clinton State Park and the Kansas Trails Council Trail Steward.
+ Littering on the course will subject you to disqualification.
+ There will be space available to set up a personal tent/space near base camp. Priority space given to 24 hour racers.
+ The race is located within Clinton State Park, so all vehicles will need a sticker for the day or a yearly pass. Stop at the Kiosk to obtain this. If you arrive prior to the kiosk opening, there is a self-pay station at campground 3 to obtain the parking permit. All vehicles must have this permit.
+ Each time block will be capped at 50 runners.
The Joy Hawk Addendum: Racers can run linked together during the event. We understand the joy of running every step of a race together with a friend, and that would be difficult to do if each person spins different loops. Friends who wish to run together for the entire race should check-in at packet pick-up at the same time and announce their desire to run the race linked. Rules for linked racers:
+ Will spin the wheel as a team instead of individually.
+ Must run the entire race together. Loops run individually or without one linked team member will not count.
+ If a linked team places, they will share the award. If four or more linked teams are running within a time block, we will announce and recognize team rankings within that block.
+ Linked teams cannot exceed 5 racers.
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Fun event, great food, fun vibe
Flew out to Lawrence, Kansas from NC specifically for this event. Seemed like a fun atmosphere. When Mother Nature threatened to turn this into a pavement run (out-and-backs, no less), … MORE
Flew out to Lawrence, Kansas from NC specifically for this event. Seemed like a fun atmosphere. When Mother Nature threatened to turn this into a pavement run (out-and-backs, no less), I was crestfallen. But the run gods intervened, we ran mostly on trails, and I had a blast.
Usually I start a review by talking about the run, or maybe race logistics, but I’d be foolish not to highlight the food first and foremost. The RD and event team put on a helluva feast all day and all night. Quesadillas, sammiches, burgers, pizza, snacks of every variety imaginable, drinks of all persuasians, several soups, beer…I could go on and on. It’s a miracle I kept going out for more laps with all that food waiting in a heated tent.
The run itself was great. Trails were moderately technical, and soggy in a lot of places. No crazy hills, though plenty of up and down. Three trails — 1.9mi, 2.6mi, and 3.6mi — with the shortest one on pavement due to poor trail conditions. Each challenges you in their own way.
The camaraderie was solid…got to chat with several other runners, most from nearby. Seems like a good running community out there in Lawrence and nearby Kansas City.
Every runner got apparel (half zip for 12-hour runners), and you got a Cactus Roulette branded casino chip with each lap you finished, each chip colored to match the trail you just ran. And when you tapped out, you got a yellow finishers chip.
For just the third year of this event, it’s incredibly well done and promises to grow. Tons of fun, truly unique and a nice change of pace from my usual road marathons. Definitely give this one a run if you get a chance.