07/17/2020
Good morning, Just Keep Running Family… I hope you’re all well and staying healthy!
First and foremost, I want to apologize. I know many of you have been reaching out asking questions via email/messenger about our 2020 race schedule and I have been slow to respond. I’ve not been good at getting back to you all lately.
With that being said, I wanted to craft a message to you all to help answer many of the questions I’ve been getting and post it both here on our social media pages and distribute it out via email to everyone. I hope this will be helpful.
As you know, we had four events initially planned for 2020. The Manchester to Monadnock Ultramarathon, the Bear Brook Trail Races, The Purge (new for 2020) and The Hamsterwheel. Our first two events were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic with dates TBD. Our other two events were not postponed due to their dates being in the summer and late fall.
Additionally an issue this year has been our personal life. We sold our home at the end of May with the prospect of our new home being available at the end of June. Fast forward almost 2 months and we are still awaiting our new home (early August now) and are currently living in our camper trying to work, manage the race issues and our kids.
That being said, we’ve had to make some tough decisions recently related to the races and I wanted to communicate those out to all of you.
For 2020, the Manchester to Monadnock Ultra, The Bear Brook Trail Races and unfortunately, The Purge are cancelled. Due to Covid and our capacity at the moment to put on an event that we can be proud of and ensure an amazing time for all of you, we just don’t think it would be the right move to try to move forward on those events.
The Hamsterwheel, barring any potential governmental restrictions on these types of events, will move forward as planned as we still have time to plan, get all of our race supplies out of storage and put the race on in a safe, fun way for everyone.
We’re truly sorry to have to cancel the majority of our events for 2020 as we really thought we’d be completed with our move at this point and that we’d be able to manage it. Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite panned out that way.
Regarding the next steps, there are the following options:
1. You may defer your 2020 entry into M2M, Bear Brook and The Purge to the Hamsterwheel in November if you would like to do so. If you had purchased merchandise(ie/hats/shirts, etc.), that dollar amount may be transferred to merchandise at the Hamsterwheel as well. Simply email me at [email protected] with the subject as “ DEFER to Hamsterwheel” and we will work to ensure we have you set up for the Hamsterwheel
2. We intend to run our full schedule of events in 2021. You may also defer your current entry in M2M, Bear Brook or The Purge to the 2021 event. If you had purchased merchandise(ie/hats/shirts, etc.), that dollar amount may be transferred to merchandise at the 2021 event. “ DEFER to 2021” and we will work to ensure we have you set up for the 2021 race.
3. While we would love to have you race with us at the Hamsterwheel in November or defer your entry to next year, we certainly understand that those options may not work particularly well for every runner. If you would prefer a refund, we will refund 100% of your entry fee, minus the fee charged by ultrasignup as well as any additional funds paid for event merchandise. Simply email me at [email protected] with the subject as “ REFUND” – I expect to begin processing any refunds next week (beginning 7/20)
This has certainly been a heck of a year between Covid-19,Homeschooling, moving homes, etc. We certainly appreciate everyone’s patience and kindness as we’ve tried to navigate all of this the best we could. I’m sorry and bummed the outcome couldn’t have been more ideal but believe this will be the best way possible to put on the best events we know how.
Talk with you all again soon,
Bill & Darby
