Medical information

· It is important for the participant to recognize the potential physical and mental stresses, which may evolve from participation in this race. Runners may be subject to extreme temperatures of heat and cold, resulting in hypothermia and/ or heat stroke. Other ailments could include but are not limited to  kidney failure, seizures, low blood sugar, disorientation, injury, falling rocks or trees, wild animal or reptile attack, or even death from their participation in this event. 

· Medical personnel will be dispersed along the course. Verbal medical evaluations will take place for every 100 mile  participant at Dry Fork, Sally’s Footbridge, and Jaws. If medical personnel have concerns for your health and safety after verbally assessing you, they may ask to attend to you further. The goal of Medical personnel and all aid station volunteers is to get you safely to the finish line. They will help you make any decisions that involve your health and safety in completing the race. Keep in mind, the safety of our volunteers is very important to us and a decision to continue resulting in having to be rescued could put those volunteers in danger while rescuing you. 

· Adequate pre-race conditioning is mandatory and a participant should not run the race if they have not been able to prepare adequately to run safely. Hypothermia and heat illness will be significant risks in this race. Both can cause nausea, dizziness, and mental confusion. Impending heat stroke may be signaled by a decrease in sweating and goose bumps and can progress to collapse in a short period of time. The diagnosis of why a runner is nauseated requires careful consideration of temperature conditions at the time of illness, altitude, and race pace to arrive at corrective measures. Proper race pace is crucial. A runner must be careful not to exceed their own physiologic thresholds, which may vary according to temperature, altitude, terrain, and conditioning. High altitudes above 7000 feet coupled with strenuous exertion may produce various degrees of altitude sickness. This can lead to severe lung and brain swelling which without treatment could even lead to death. Treatment for altitude sickness is rest and descending to a lower altitude. Altitude sickness can be prevented with altitude acclimation, proper fluid and electrolyte intake, and the right pace for the athlete.

· Injuries from falling both on even or rough trail, hazards of running in possible snow conditions, falling rock or trees, and injuries related to adverse encounters with wildlife exist for the participant taking part in this race. Vehicle hazards, common fatigue, getting lost, and being far from medical help, treatment, and evacuation are just some of the other risks associated with participating in Bighorn Trail Run. It is crucial that the runner has physically prepared himself/herself to safely participate in this event, stays mentally alert, stays adequately hydrated and nourished during the event, and is mentally prepared to withdraw at an appropriate time if he/she can not safely continue.