I don't know that it's necessarily growing. They had a bumper crop of riders this year due to the weather. Had it been 100+, probably would have been smaller than last year.

How bout this for an idea? Put all the 25 milers in front, then the 50 milers, then the 100k's, then the slow 100 milers, the medium 100 milers, and the fast 100 milers in the very back. Then 30 seconds before ride time, announce "Everybody please turn around. We're riding in the opposite direction this year!"