10-K
09-05-2010, 07:53
So yesterday I ran my first organized trail run in Damascus. It's named "The Iron Mt. Trail Run" and you can choose between 16, 30 and 50 mile distances.
This being my first race on trails I stayed on the conservative side and signed up for the 16 milers.
The race started at 7:00 am with perfect weather - cool and clear with no wind. The first 4.5 miles followed the creeper trail northbound out of town. Having only a slight uphill slope this was a great way to bank some time before hitting the trail. I maintained a 10 mpm pace along this section. After leaving the creeper traill, the route ran up a mountain, mostly switchbacked, to the ridge and joined the Iron Mt. trail (I'm pretty sure this is right...). The course ran along the ridge with several ups and downs but there were some pretty long runnable stretches that you could make good time on. For us 16 milers we turned around at FR 90 and ran the Iron Mt. Trail all the way back into Damascus. Looking at the elevation profile prior to the race I had hoped to make good time over the last 2 miles but wasn't able to because the last mile or so of trail coming down the mountain was steep and very rocky - I think this was the slowest part of the run for me. The last half mile or so was along the road and rejoined the creeper trail back into Damascus.
I'm still waiting on the official results but according to my GPS I finished the 16 miles in 3:21. I believe Lone Wolf was correct when he said running on the trail is easier than running on the street. I'm not reallly close to being in marathon shape and didn't want to sign up for the 30 miler because I thought I wouldn't be able to finish but knowing what I know now I'm pretty sure I could have ran and finished the 30 miler before the cutoff time. Trail running involves a totally different mindset when it comes to pacing than road running does and it's much easier on the body than the pounding you take running on pavement.
Overall, it was fun and a challenge. It's a great way to do something in the woods without taking time off from work and still feel like you've accoomplished something out of the ordinary routine of a day.
I'd like to thank Alligator and Lone Wolf for the encouragement to give it a go. I'm looking at a 30 miler in Columbia, SC in January 2011. :)
Link to google earth map and elevation profile: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/47556378?sms_ss=email
This being my first race on trails I stayed on the conservative side and signed up for the 16 milers.
The race started at 7:00 am with perfect weather - cool and clear with no wind. The first 4.5 miles followed the creeper trail northbound out of town. Having only a slight uphill slope this was a great way to bank some time before hitting the trail. I maintained a 10 mpm pace along this section. After leaving the creeper traill, the route ran up a mountain, mostly switchbacked, to the ridge and joined the Iron Mt. trail (I'm pretty sure this is right...). The course ran along the ridge with several ups and downs but there were some pretty long runnable stretches that you could make good time on. For us 16 milers we turned around at FR 90 and ran the Iron Mt. Trail all the way back into Damascus. Looking at the elevation profile prior to the race I had hoped to make good time over the last 2 miles but wasn't able to because the last mile or so of trail coming down the mountain was steep and very rocky - I think this was the slowest part of the run for me. The last half mile or so was along the road and rejoined the creeper trail back into Damascus.
I'm still waiting on the official results but according to my GPS I finished the 16 miles in 3:21. I believe Lone Wolf was correct when he said running on the trail is easier than running on the street. I'm not reallly close to being in marathon shape and didn't want to sign up for the 30 miler because I thought I wouldn't be able to finish but knowing what I know now I'm pretty sure I could have ran and finished the 30 miler before the cutoff time. Trail running involves a totally different mindset when it comes to pacing than road running does and it's much easier on the body than the pounding you take running on pavement.
Overall, it was fun and a challenge. It's a great way to do something in the woods without taking time off from work and still feel like you've accoomplished something out of the ordinary routine of a day.
I'd like to thank Alligator and Lone Wolf for the encouragement to give it a go. I'm looking at a 30 miler in Columbia, SC in January 2011. :)
Link to google earth map and elevation profile: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/47556378?sms_ss=email