Regal Beagle Ultra

My initial race plan this weekend for a race just outside Rochester went virtual 1.5 weeks ago so I had to scramble to find a race and I am so happy I found this one before registration closed. This is a sort of hybrid road/trail race in the Bath Nature Preserve by Akron Ohio. It was the perfect course for a hybrid road/trail runner like me. Pre-race communication was good and it was very clear the covid protocol, packet pick-up and directions for how to get to and park at race but I do wish there was one email with all the info as it was all sent it separate emails so I had to figure out what email had what info. Packet pick-up was spread throughout the week. Given the current covid rates in this country, this was a pretty in and out trip for me and I picked up up the packet around 5pm the evening before at the Regal Beagle cabin which was cute and cozy and is probably really nice during normal years when you can hang around and chat with the RD more. Packet included a nice, warm sweatshirt with the beagle logo which I appreciated after the race and a bag with your bib and some Hammer nutrition samples and a collapsible cup. I’d say it was very solid swag and more than just a shirt like most races but wouldn’t call it the best swag I ever received. Race day you parked right by the start. You were assigned a wave beforehand and then lined up on X’s 6 feet apart and 2 runners went every 30 seconds or so. Very safe and organized start. I was worried based on the weather forecast it would be really rainy but at least the 25Kers lucked out and there was at most a light drizzle and it was cool and cloudy exactly the weather I like to run in. It did rain when I was driving home so the 50Kers may not have been so lucky. The course initially goes through the parking lot. Mixed feelings about this. It seemed potentially dangerous with the many different distances and finishing times but was very convenient because runners could use car as a sort of “drop bag” and get anything they forgot or put something away in it. The rest of the course was a mix of road and trail through the Bath Nature Preserve. The course is approximately 5 miles and 5-milers do 1 lap, 25Kers do 3 laps and 50Kers do 6 laps. It is advertised as a “fast” course because some of the fastest 50K times in Ohio were on the course. But as my title says “fast” is in the eye of the beholder. If you compared the 5 mile course to the dirt cheap courses yes it was very flat and fast but if you compare it to the 5 miler I did yesterday on the canal path it was very slow and hilly. Personally I really liked the course. I didn’t think it was particularly challenging but also didn’t think it was easy and I had a pace somewhere in between my usual road half marathon and trail half marathon pace. I liked the mix of road, non-technical single track trail, well-trimmed grass trail and a bit of more technical trail. The changing surfaces made the course more interesting and allowed for some fast road running mixed with some easy on the joint trail running. I would say it was moderately hilly. About 1000 feet of elevation gain for the 3 loops of the 25 K so about 300ish per loop. There was only one steep, long hill but it was pavement so you could power-walk it pretty fast. The rest were runnable but two of the uphills were a little technical so I walked them. The only thing I didn’t like about the course was the hardest part was the last mile. This was the most technical and mostly uphill and part was on a football field which wasn’t as trimmed as the grass trail and was a little muddy. This then led to the more technical wooded area. I enjoyed the technical wooded part but would have preferred it earlier in the loop and the less technical stuff later. The course was also very well-marked and easy to follow. I thought the course scenery was pleasant enough and it was an enjoyable place to run but the trees lost all their leaves and I actually think the Rochester trails are prettier but my Rochester trail race was canceled so I didn’t have a choice this week. I also liked how the nature preserve had signs with info about some of the plants and animals in case you want to learn some ecology during a running break. There were two aid stations per loop. One at the Regal Beagle cabin the other by the start line. As it was cupless I used a handheld water bottle and at the aid stations used the collapsible cups they gave for the Heed electrolyte drink. There were also gels and candies and chips and granola bars and lots of snacks (but sadly no twizzlers my favorite running treat). All were packaged individually due to covid. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about doing a race with loops but I actually liked how many runners you saw since we were all doing loops as some of these covid races have felt lonely. Also most of the trails on the course were pretty wide so passing wasn’t hard. But I do think I would feel a little loopy doing 6 loops for the 50K. After the third loop I was finished. My only real complaint of the race is after you cross the finish line you then have to go back a few yards to the aid station you just passed where you are given your medal and can also take some of the snacks for post-race food. A little anti-climactic to go back and while it wasn’t much of a walk I think it would have been annoying if I ran 31 miles. The medal is really cute with the beagle logo but also very small for the distance. My 5-miler medal from yesterday is much bigger…oh well trail races aren’t as much about the bling and at least this had a medal. Since this was my first 25K, this meant that not only did I complete a double race weekend, I had a double PR weekend. Guaranteed PR aside, I thought my pace was pretty good and I actually had a faster overall time than one of my trail half marathons. Afterwards I just drove back home careful to not hit any runners in the parking lot. In a normal year if you wanted to make this a weekend trip, there are actually some cool hikes to do in this area and it is close to Cleveland. There are other races I want to do that are normally held this weekend during non-pandemic years, but I would definitely consider doing this one again and am very happy I found this race.