Information

 SIX RIVERS RUNNING CLUB PRESENTS  

THE FOGGY BOTTOM MILK RUN  Sunday March 10 ~ 46th Annual ~ Run in Ferndale 

(Don’t be late – reset your clocks Saturday night for Daylight Savings Time) 

Foggy Bottom Milk Run

Event Information

When & Where

The event will be held Sunday, March 10th, 2024. 4 mile run & walk start at 12 noon & 2 mile run & walk start at 2 pm. Both races start/finish on Main Street near Ocean Avenue in the Victorian Village of Ferndale! Start Line is at the Light Post in front of the Palace Saloon. Finish Line is at the beginning of the driveway at the Staging Area Parking Lot.

Awards & Results

4 Mile Event Awards

Stickers or ribbons for all finishers! Distinctive awards will be presented on race day to 1st place overall male/female in the 4 mile race.  Age group awards are 1st thru 3rd male/female in each 5 year increment.

Results will be in the April 2024 6RRC Newsletter and posted on our website 6rrc.com.

2 Mile Event Awards

Stickers or ribbons for all finishers! 

See additional information about 2 mile awards for individuals and school/youth group teams under the youth tab on this page. There are no age group awards for the 2 mile event.

Packet Pickup

Packet pick up and registration will be available at the event staging area by the Start/Finish Line on Main St in Ferndale, CA:

 Saturday (day before) the event from 1pm - 4pm, OR Sunday  ~ the day of the event from 10am - 11:30am for the 4 mile and from noon - 1:30pm for the 2 mile.

Not Allowed

Due to insurance limitations, baby joggers/strollers, dogs, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades/skates, etc, are not permitted in any of the races, or anywhere on the course.      Six Rivers Running Club strongly discourages the use of music headsets while running.

Online Registration

All pre-registration will be completed online. Please click the "Online" button on the Home Page and you will be directed to RunSignUp. Be sure to add the school name if you are participating for a team. Pre-registration closes on Thursday, March 7 at noon.

Saturday and Sunday Registration

Late registration takes place on Saturday, March 9, in Ferndale, from 1 PM to 4 PM and on race day, March 10, in Ferndale, from 10 AM to 11:30 AM for the 4-mile and noon-1:30 PM for the 2-mile.

Fees

4-Mile Race: $30.00 Per Person

2-Mile Race: $20.00 Per Person: Special Price for 18 & Under: $10.00 Per Person

All applications can be accessed on the "Home" page by clicking the "Online" button

All applications are due by midnight on Thursday, March 7. There will be a $10.00 late fee added for late entries on March 9th and 10th (18 & Under will not have an extra charge)

T-Shirts

Race t-shirts are included with the registration fee. 

All event participants receive a cotton short sleeve tshirt (unisex sizes = adult S, M, L, XL, XXL, and child S or M). 

For participants registering after 2/19 t-shirts will be available until sold out. There will be NO t-shirt re-order!


Youth

There is a special entry fee for the 2 mile run for elementary school or youth group participants, girls and boys ages 5-14There are 4 divisions for individuals: 5-10 & 11-14, girls & boys. The top 30 finishers in each division will receive individual awards (need not be on a team). 

There are also 5 team divisions – 4 school divisions & 1 youth group divisions. 1st place teams will be presented with trophies & certificates; 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams will receive certificates. Kids can compete individually and/or on a team. Teams = 5 or more participants from the same school or youth group. 

School/youth group registration is due by 2/25 to guarantee t-shirts for early school delivery. Please email foggybottommilkrun@gmail.com for delivery.

Foggy Bottom Milk Run

Frequently Asked Questions

What is USA Track & Field certification?

USATF certification ensures accurately measured distances. For any road running performance to be accepted as a record or be nationally ranked, it must be run on a USATF-certified course.

What is an RRCA State Championship Race?

The RRCA awards championship events at the National, Regional, and State level to RRCA member clubs and events to promote the sport of distance running. The Championship Event Series shines a spotlight on well-run events and awards top performing runners.

Can I run two races?

If participants would like to run the 2-mile fun run after completing the 4 race they must be registered in both events. For liability and insurance purposes, every participant on the course is required to be registered and have a race bib.

Can I still sign up?

Yes, you can sign up online until midnight Friday before the event. Mailed applications must be received by Friday before the event. You can sign up in person in Ferndale at the event.

Will weather be an issue?

The weather in March ranges from sunny and warm to overcast and rainy. Regardless of conditions the race will not be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Where is parking available?

There is parking on most residential streets off of Main St. as well as parking at Fireman's park at 100 Berding St, only a few blocks away from the starting line.

How can I receive my t-shirt and/or award?

T-shirts are available at packet pickup. If you miss picking up your shirt or award at the event, contact the race director.

Do the proceeds from this event benefit a charity?

No, SRRC Foggy Bottom Milk Run does not benefit a specific charity, but the proceeds do go support local high school athletic programs and other local community volunteer groups.

Do I have to sign up to run with my child?

Yes, for insurance and liability purposes every participant running or walking the course must sign up and have a race bib to be on the course and participate in the events.

Who is eligible to sign up with the school age discount?

Only children age 14 and under are eligible to sign up with the youth group or school discount. The discount only applies to children signing up for the 2-mile fun run. Coaches and parents must sign up at the adult price if they wish to participate.

Does my child need a school team for the school discount?

No, your child does not need to be on a school or youth group team to get the discount, all you need to do is provide the name of the school or youth group that they belong to.

Can my child still join a team after 2/19?

Yes, your child can sign up to run with a school or youth group team up until Friday before the event weekend. After that they still qualify for the special price for kids entry fee, but will not be part of the team scoring.

Foggy Bottom Milk Run

History

The first time this March race with two different distances was held was on Sunday March 5th of 1978. 1.8 mile run started at 1PM, and 8.2 mile run followed at 1:45PM. Before 1978, it was 4.8 Rohner Park affair in Fortuna. In 1978, the location for the 8,2 miles was in Ferndale and the surrounding bottoms, thus the name began as The Eel River Valley Bottoms Run. This change was largely due to race director, Dr. Larry Wieland of Eureka. In 1978, the race not only featured the usual long and short runs, the post-race party of soup, beer, and buttered bread, but also included 24 medals to 9 different divisions and the introduction of a perpetual trophy as well.

The day was cool, sunny and breezy at the start of the race turning to a cloudy and drizzly afternoon by the time most of the runners were finishing. There were 105 finishers in the long race and 43 finishers in the short race.

The post-race party was held in the Turf room on the Fairgrounds. SRRC newsletter #75 (April, 1978) reports: There was ample seating, lots of good food and drink and a lousy P.A. system. At about 4 0clock, Dick Meyer came in with the much anticipated race results. The crowd applauded as Larry Wieland called out each division winner and presented their individual medals. But the loudest applause was held over for the recipient of the Annual Quality Runners Trophy. A grinning George Crandell stepped forward to receive his trophy amid a three minute applause.

When this race was held for the 3rd time on Sunday March 2nd, 1980, it was renamed as Foggy Bottoms Run. Short race started at 1PM and long race started at 1:45PM. Start and finish at the Bank of Loleta in Ferndale (corner of Ocean and Main Street) and co-sponsored by the Fortuna JoggN Shoppe. There were 372 finishers in the 8-mile race and 100 in the 2.5 miler. SRRC newsletter #99 (April, 1980) reports:

The large number of runners was partly due to the fact that Ferndale is a beautiful town to run and partly because there was a Tee shirt waiting at the finish line. The T-shirts and special advertising were generously donated by the Bank of Loleta. Other race contributors included the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, Lows Furniture, Etters Victorian Glass Works and the Ferndale Village Inn.

In 1978, there were 105 runners in the 8.2-mile run. In 1979, there were 157. In 1980, the race director , Bill Etter, was stunned by the appearance of 372 finishers and ran out of T-shirts and race tags.

The long course was changed to 8 miles, and the short one to 2.5 miles in 1980. The wind was mild and the course was flat. Richard Gilchrist won the SRRC Quality Runner Award, presented to him by injured George Crandell.

In 1981 race director Gary Baker confesses that the 10 mile race was 10 miles (plus maybe 4 yards because the Start/Finish line was chalked a couple yards behind the actual measured Start/Finish), the 4 mile run was only 3.85 and the two mile only 1.85 actual miles.

Inaugural Run

The first ever Foggy Bottom Milk run was held on March 5, 1978. It was called the Ferndale Valley Bottoms Run that year and the event was host to 148 participants.

Certification

In 2011 the 4 & 10 mile races gained USA Track & Field Certification. Courses were measured by Ken Young with the help of Marlene Allen.

In 2023 the 4 & 2 mile courses were changed due to road restrictions, and are no longer certified. The 10 mile course was cancelled. We hope to bring back a 10 mile course and certify the new courses by 2024.

Youth Teams

1995 saw the introduction of the school & youth group team event.

Foggy Bottom Milk Run

In 1981, the fourth year of the race, the name was changed to its current title, Foggy Bottom Milk Run. It was the 3rd change in as many years, but we finally got it right.