This race in southern Colorado took my breath away - first figuratively, and near the end, literally. To see why, all you have to do is check out the elevation … MORE
This race in southern Colorado took my breath away – first figuratively, and near the end, literally. To see why, all you have to do is check out the elevation profile, either on the race website or my blog post. The race both begins and ends with a climb up to Music Pass at 11,450 ft. – 2,000 feet of gain in 4.3 miles – then back down, with 31 miles on the Rainbow Trail in between.
This was my first ultra that reached above 10,000 feet. I live in Michigan and did most of my training there, but I’ve never had a problem running or hiking in Colorado, so I was fairly optimistic I would be fine. And I was, until the final push. The first climb was fine, and the Rainbow Trail segment, with its gorgeous scenery and very runnable trail, was a real treat. The final climb up to Music Pass was a real struggle, and even my running partner, my niece who lives in Colorado, was really feeling it. But we made it! The photo is at the top of that final climb, showing off the wristbands that proved we got there.
Another distinctive feature of this race, being part of the Human Potential Racing Series, is the lack of top finisher awards. It’s part of their philosophy you can look up on their site. Everyone who finishes gets the same medal, and there is no pressure to run fast. Just make the generous cutoffs. This allowed us to really enjoy the experience at our own pace.
If you try this race, be aware that aid stations are eight miles apart, so bring plenty of water, salt, and snacks. It’s way too easy to get dehydrated out there and not know it. But the aid stations and finish line are well stocked, and the support is terrific. And the views alone are worth it. Definitely glad I did it!
For more details of my adventure, check out my blog post.
https://runbikethrow.net/2023/09/26/up-up-and-away-sangre-de-cristo-50-recap/
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Breathtaking!
This race in southern Colorado took my breath away - first figuratively, and near the end, literally. To see why, all you have to do is check out the elevation … MORE
This race in southern Colorado took my breath away – first figuratively, and near the end, literally. To see why, all you have to do is check out the elevation profile, either on the race website or my blog post. The race both begins and ends with a climb up to Music Pass at 11,450 ft. – 2,000 feet of gain in 4.3 miles – then back down, with 31 miles on the Rainbow Trail in between.
This was my first ultra that reached above 10,000 feet. I live in Michigan and did most of my training there, but I’ve never had a problem running or hiking in Colorado, so I was fairly optimistic I would be fine. And I was, until the final push. The first climb was fine, and the Rainbow Trail segment, with its gorgeous scenery and very runnable trail, was a real treat. The final climb up to Music Pass was a real struggle, and even my running partner, my niece who lives in Colorado, was really feeling it. But we made it! The photo is at the top of that final climb, showing off the wristbands that proved we got there.
Another distinctive feature of this race, being part of the Human Potential Racing Series, is the lack of top finisher awards. It’s part of their philosophy you can look up on their site. Everyone who finishes gets the same medal, and there is no pressure to run fast. Just make the generous cutoffs. This allowed us to really enjoy the experience at our own pace.
If you try this race, be aware that aid stations are eight miles apart, so bring plenty of water, salt, and snacks. It’s way too easy to get dehydrated out there and not know it. But the aid stations and finish line are well stocked, and the support is terrific. And the views alone are worth it. Definitely glad I did it!
For more details of my adventure, check out my blog post.
https://runbikethrow.net/2023/09/26/up-up-and-away-sangre-de-cristo-50-recap/