In more than 60 HM's this is maybe the prettiest trail course I've done. It's just non-stop river or lake, with multiple river crossings over swinging bridges and other log … MORE
In more than 60 HM’s this is maybe the prettiest trail course I’ve done. It’s just non-stop river or lake, with multiple river crossings over swinging bridges and other log bridges. There are very technical and hilly parts, and there are places where you run on a smooth paved trail through the wooded area, and terrain that includes everything in between those two extremes. It’s a great course. There were multiple places that I and other runners stopped along the route to take photos. By the halfway point I stopped taking photos because I figured I already had photos of similar beauty. But it was non-stop.
There were four aid stations and they are unmanned. They all had water, sports drink, and plenty of snacks, including gel. At least one of them had small cans of Coke as well. I’m not a huge use of aid station food but I did stop for about five minutes at the final aid station and enjoy the beauty while munching on a bag of Doritos and drinking a can of Coke, around mile 10. I finished 3rd in my age / gender category, which I’ve never done, ever, and if I’d known I was going to place I wouldn’t have stopped for five minutes.
I also got lost at one point and wandered around for five minutes before myself and four other lost runners finally found the trail, by sheer guess. Even then, for another mile I wasn’t certain I was on the right path. I’m sure we weren’t the only ones, and one of the runners said that this same thing happened last year when he and about 20 other runners got lost. Luckily, it was at a road, where you can go straight, left, or right, so at least we were on a road and not stuck in the woods somewhere. The only thing this race can do better is to put volunteers at some of the less obvious turnoffs later in the race after the running field has thinned out. There were zero volunteers on the course and the pre-race email said to memorize the course. That’s not normal, I thought, and I’ve always been in races where the trail was marked well… and since I’m not last or first I usually just follow the crowd. It’s never failed. But if you are running this race, take the email seriously and memorize the course.
There were indoor bathrooms in the parking area and the course passed by one, and maybe two, indoor bathrooms in the park. And I saw at least one port-a-potty. So there were plenty of places to use the restroom if you needed it.
Parking was plenty but it was about a seven or eight minute walk to the packet pickup / start line. In 19 degree temps I was not keen to walk down to pick up my packet, walk back up to my car, and then walk back down to the race. It would be nice if they’d set up packet pickup inside the visitor center next to the bathrooms. It would, of course, require the visitor center to open a bit early, but it might also bring them a bit of additional business in selling shirts, hats, or whatever.
This race is about 1.5 hour drive from my house and I’d say it’s easily worth a two hour drive, although I might stay in the lodge next time, and there will be a next time for me. I loved this race. If not for the lack of volunteers and the all the cold weather walking required pre-race, this would easily be a five-star race.
The SWAG is typical. The shirt was long sleeve and not tech, which is fine by me. The finisher bling was wood, which is what this race company does. I do wish races would branch out of the typical shirt and start providing visors, race hats, beanie hats for cold weather, or decent runners gloves. The gloves would have been welcome among the runners. I chatted with one lady who said she couldn’t open her aid station gel because her hands were numb. I mean, that’s on her for not having gloves in 19 degree weather, but still, the gloves would have been a great addition. No complaints though. This is a solid race!
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Beautiful course, needs volunteers
In more than 60 HM's this is maybe the prettiest trail course I've done. It's just non-stop river or lake, with multiple river crossings over swinging bridges and other log … MORE
In more than 60 HM’s this is maybe the prettiest trail course I’ve done. It’s just non-stop river or lake, with multiple river crossings over swinging bridges and other log bridges. There are very technical and hilly parts, and there are places where you run on a smooth paved trail through the wooded area, and terrain that includes everything in between those two extremes. It’s a great course. There were multiple places that I and other runners stopped along the route to take photos. By the halfway point I stopped taking photos because I figured I already had photos of similar beauty. But it was non-stop.
There were four aid stations and they are unmanned. They all had water, sports drink, and plenty of snacks, including gel. At least one of them had small cans of Coke as well. I’m not a huge use of aid station food but I did stop for about five minutes at the final aid station and enjoy the beauty while munching on a bag of Doritos and drinking a can of Coke, around mile 10. I finished 3rd in my age / gender category, which I’ve never done, ever, and if I’d known I was going to place I wouldn’t have stopped for five minutes.
I also got lost at one point and wandered around for five minutes before myself and four other lost runners finally found the trail, by sheer guess. Even then, for another mile I wasn’t certain I was on the right path. I’m sure we weren’t the only ones, and one of the runners said that this same thing happened last year when he and about 20 other runners got lost. Luckily, it was at a road, where you can go straight, left, or right, so at least we were on a road and not stuck in the woods somewhere. The only thing this race can do better is to put volunteers at some of the less obvious turnoffs later in the race after the running field has thinned out. There were zero volunteers on the course and the pre-race email said to memorize the course. That’s not normal, I thought, and I’ve always been in races where the trail was marked well… and since I’m not last or first I usually just follow the crowd. It’s never failed. But if you are running this race, take the email seriously and memorize the course.
There were indoor bathrooms in the parking area and the course passed by one, and maybe two, indoor bathrooms in the park. And I saw at least one port-a-potty. So there were plenty of places to use the restroom if you needed it.
Parking was plenty but it was about a seven or eight minute walk to the packet pickup / start line. In 19 degree temps I was not keen to walk down to pick up my packet, walk back up to my car, and then walk back down to the race. It would be nice if they’d set up packet pickup inside the visitor center next to the bathrooms. It would, of course, require the visitor center to open a bit early, but it might also bring them a bit of additional business in selling shirts, hats, or whatever.
This race is about 1.5 hour drive from my house and I’d say it’s easily worth a two hour drive, although I might stay in the lodge next time, and there will be a next time for me. I loved this race. If not for the lack of volunteers and the all the cold weather walking required pre-race, this would easily be a five-star race.
The SWAG is typical. The shirt was long sleeve and not tech, which is fine by me. The finisher bling was wood, which is what this race company does. I do wish races would branch out of the typical shirt and start providing visors, race hats, beanie hats for cold weather, or decent runners gloves. The gloves would have been welcome among the runners. I chatted with one lady who said she couldn’t open her aid station gel because her hands were numb. I mean, that’s on her for not having gloves in 19 degree weather, but still, the gloves would have been a great addition. No complaints though. This is a solid race!