Overall Rating: Really good...and hard...and high! Course Difficulty: I wasn't completely recovered (whatever that means) from the 100 mile a couple of weeks ago, so hard became harder. If you're … MORE
Overall Rating: Really good…and hard…and high!
Course Difficulty: I wasn’t completely recovered (whatever that means) from the 100 mile a couple of weeks ago, so hard became harder. If you’re not from higher altitude, you will struggle with this one a little. There is about 2500′ of elevation gain each way, and the altitude makes it that much more difficult. The terrain was about 24 miles of paved, gravel, or dirt roads-and about 10 miles of double and single track trail.
Course Scenery: Nothing like the mountain views. This course wound through the Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park, which is simply breathtaking.
Race Production: It was good. The race was a fundraiser for a local HS cross country team, and many of the students were working the aid stations-they did fantastic. Course was marked really well, and no issues with packet pick-up, start, or finish.
Race Swag: Cool buckle with the starting elevation and a nice comfort tee.
My Performance: I had a hard time with the altitude. Three of my middle miles were 45 minutes or more, simply because I couldn’t stand up; it was just bad. My stomach wasn’t happy. So, even if it was my first DFL, I finished my first mountain ultra.
Final notes: As far as races go, this one had everything; including a 12hr time limit, which is the only reason I could finish. If you aren’t up for a 100 miler over 11000′ mountains, but still want to try your hand in higher altitude, this is a great run to participate in.
Epic Scenery and my first DFL
Overall Rating: Really good...and hard...and high! Course Difficulty: I wasn't completely recovered (whatever that means) from the 100 mile a couple of weeks ago, so hard became harder. If you're … MORE
Overall Rating: Really good…and hard…and high!
Course Difficulty: I wasn’t completely recovered (whatever that means) from the 100 mile a couple of weeks ago, so hard became harder. If you’re not from higher altitude, you will struggle with this one a little. There is about 2500′ of elevation gain each way, and the altitude makes it that much more difficult. The terrain was about 24 miles of paved, gravel, or dirt roads-and about 10 miles of double and single track trail.
Course Scenery: Nothing like the mountain views. This course wound through the Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park, which is simply breathtaking.
Race Production: It was good. The race was a fundraiser for a local HS cross country team, and many of the students were working the aid stations-they did fantastic. Course was marked really well, and no issues with packet pick-up, start, or finish.
Race Swag: Cool buckle with the starting elevation and a nice comfort tee.
My Performance: I had a hard time with the altitude. Three of my middle miles were 45 minutes or more, simply because I couldn’t stand up; it was just bad. My stomach wasn’t happy. So, even if it was my first DFL, I finished my first mountain ultra.
Final notes: As far as races go, this one had everything; including a 12hr time limit, which is the only reason I could finish. If you aren’t up for a 100 miler over 11000′ mountains, but still want to try your hand in higher altitude, this is a great run to participate in.