What type of weather should I expect for the Cloudsplitter? October is usually a very mild month in Eastern Kentucky, but there can be very warm conditions as well as sub-freezing temperatures. The average high is 71º F, the average low is 47º F, and the mean temperature is 59º F in this area. Please come well prepared for any possible weather conditions. October is traditionally the driest month of the year in Eastern Kentucky.

When does it get dark on Pine Mountain and what time is sunrise? Sunrise is at 7:25 a.m. and sunset is at 7:13 p.m. on raceweekend.

Are headlamps and/or flashlights mandatory? Headlamps or flashlights are mandatory for ALL 100k and 100 mile runners. Also mandatory for runners who will be on the course after 7:00 p.m. All 100k and 100 mile runners must have a headlamp in their possession when they exit the Birch Knob Tower aid station. Much of the course is in very dense forest. There will be a new moon during race weekend. Cloud cover and dense fog could be present in the evening.

Do all of the races start at 8:00 a.m.? No. The 25k starts at 10:00 a.m. All other distances begin at 8:00 a.m.

How is the Cloudsplitter timed? The race will be timed with an RFID timing system. Due to the remote nature of the course, there will only be timing mats at the start/finish. Intermediate times will be recorded by hand at the aid stations and periodically relayed back to the start/finish. Participants will be required to wear timing tags on their shoes. Two tags will be provided to each runner and a tag should be placed on each shoe to ensure that their finishing time will be recorded. Proper tag placement instructions will be provided with each race bib.

Do we need to wear a race number? Yes. Your race number must go on the front of your body facing forward. Race numbers may be folded if they remain clearly visible. Volunteers will be placed along the course and must be able to see your race number at all times. Since runners will most likely be taking off shirts and/or jackets during the race, we recommend that you pin your race number to your shorts. If your number is not visible, you will be asked to stop running until you reposition it in a visible place facing forward. Do not pin your number to the side.

Are there toilets or porta-johns at each aid station? No. There are facilities at the start/finish area, at Birch Knob Tower, at the US 23 Marathon Station and Mountain Life Church (Pound Gap) and a primitive privy at the Adena Spring Shelter.

After I finish (or drop out), can I run back out on the course to assist a friend or family member? Only if you have a pacer number. The timing crew will have extra pacer bibs and safety pins. If you decide to assist another runner, you should take off your regular bib number so that you are not counted as an active participant. You may not be out on the course with a timing chip if you have already finished or dropped out of the race.

Are there medical risks associated with running an ultramarathon? Yes. All runners are responsible for their own actions. It is imperative that you are physically and mentally prepared for the stresses of the race. Potential problems include extreme temperatures (heat and cold), hypothermia, dehydration, heat stroke, renal failure, seizures, hypoglycemia, disorientation, total mental and physical exhaustion, snake bites and bear encounters. Local EMS services will be called out in the event of a medical emergency. Each participant must continuously monitor himself or herself and understand their individual limitations. Each runner is responsible for his or her own well being during the race.

What do I need to do if I want to drop out or withdraw from the race? Before you decide to drop out of the race, we recommend that you find a spot where you can sit down or lie down, get your heart rate down, eat something, get rehydrated, and relax for at least fifteen minutes. You should then ask yourself if you are dropping out because you do not have the mental fortitude to push through the pain and discomfort associated with the race, or if you are deciding to stop because you may incur real and permanent damage to your body by continuing. Some poor reasons for stopping include blisters, nausea, cramping, mild dehydration, falling asleep on your feet, joint pain and body aches, feeling cold or hot. Most runners bounce back after inevitable lows during the race. Good reasons for quitting - or for getting medical attention- include severe dehydration, extreme and persistent dizziness, sharp and acute pain, chest pain, irregular heart rate, hyponatremia, or any other condition which may cause permanent damage to your body.

What is the procedure if I decide to drop out of the race? Please try to make it to the nearest aid station. When you get to the aid station, give the volunteers working there your timing chip and remove your race number. Once your timing chip comes off, there is no longer an option to change your mind. Be sure you are making the correct decision about dropping out. If you do not return your timing chip to a race official, search and rescue could be called out, which may result in an expense to the runner. Most aid stations are in areas where cell service is available. Volunteers at the aid station will call your family, a friend or a crew member to come and pick you up. If that is not an option, you may have to wait at the aid station until someone can give you a ride back to the start/finish. The wait time may be a few minutes, or it may be a few hours, depending upon manpower.