Shutdown shuts out ultramarathoners

CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST – Jeff Francisco planned a unique celebration for his 50th birthday: He signed up for his first 50-mile race.

The Riverside resident has been an avid runner for 25 years and has completed multiple 26-mile marathons. But never an ultramarathon.

“It was one of those crazy, bucket-list goal things,” Francisco said.

He discovered the Twin Peaks Ultra, set to start on his birthday Saturday at Indian Truck Trail in Corona. Runners were to hit both the Modjeska and Santiago peaks before returning to the start, with several aid stations planned along the way.

Francisco started preparing for his birthday run six months ago, giving up time with family and passing on other events to train along the course’s steep trails.

All of those trails are part of the Cleveland National Forest. While the forest itself remains open for activities like hiking, Forest Service staff is furloughed and gates along the race’s challenging route are locked thanks to the government shutdown.

With reports from Washington, D.C., offering no assurance the shutdown would end in time, event organizer Jessica DeLine on Tuesday notified the 100 registered runners and roughly 40 event volunteers that she was canceling the sixth annual Twin Peaks Ultra.

“It’s definitely not something you want to have to do,” DeLine said. “I think like a lot of people, I didn’t think the shutdown would impact me. Then it did.”

Even if a last-minute deal is reached, DeLine said she assumes Forest Service workers will be backlogged and have other priorities. Plus, she wanted to give runners – some traveling from as far as Mexico – time to cancel flights and hotels.

“I guess you feel a little bit cheated,” Francisco said, agreeing with DeLine’s decision but disappointed it came to that. “What’s robbed is not just the opportunity to do the mileage and complete the event and get the medal and such. I have enough of those around. It’s really being denied the opportunity to come together and collectively enjoy the event with other people that have been working as hard as you have at the effort.”

For competitive ultramarathoner Keira Henninger, entering the Twin Peaks Ultra was a strategic move to help her prepare for the Chimera 100, scheduled to take place along a similar course Nov. 16. The Capistrano Beach resident is optimistic the government standoff will be resolved before it can impact Chimera 100, but she’s still “super bummed” to miss out on this weekend’s race.

Roughly 75 percent of the up-to $115 entry fees for the Twin Peaks Ultra have already been spent on insurance, permitting, medals and T-shirts, DeLine said. So while she isn’t offering refunds unless there are extenuating circumstances, runners can come to the race start Saturday to get souvenirs stamped for the 2013 event. DeLine is also offering registered runners half off the 2014 Twin Peaks Ultra, still planned along the same course, plus 25 percent off another race by her company, Dirty Feet Productions.

A few people are planning to still run the course Saturday even though there won’t be any aid stations or other formalities, DeLine said.

“While I’m sure I could go out there and do 30 or 40 miles, being fully unsupported for 50 is a bit dangerous,” Francisco said.

Instead, he’ll be doing multiple loops along trails near his Riverside home Saturday, with his wife, Anza, supporting him.

“I do intend to put in 50 miles,” he said, determined not to let the government shutdown stymie his birthday goal.