Are we there, yet?
I'm checking out various ultras for 2016. I very much want to run a trail ultra out west somewhere. The HURL Elkhorn 50K supposedly has a very challenging course, but also a generous 15 hour limit. Any race I choose would be my first that would involve altitude, significant vertical gain and loss, and little extras like stream crossings. My first concern is if I would be taking on too much without sufficient experience, and secondly would running the small hills near me in PA that have only 150-200 ft max gain be adequate preparation? Any other races that might be preferable intros to racing in the mountains? One of the attractions of this is that I could combine it with a visit to Glacier NP.
2024 Races:
03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles
05/11 - D3 50K 05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour
06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.
I have no input on the race but I know you are closer to Philadelphia/Valley Forge than my neck of the woods, but the trails I train on have been fine training for mountain runs. Granted I've only done goofball runs out west but have done other races with big climbs (just not elevation). So if you choose to run that race perhaps a few road trips are in order?
In dog beers, I've only had one.
I am pretty sure this was one of the races bromancers MTwarden and Northern Harrier ran this past summer. Harrier can give you flatlander training tips, I bet.
On another note, when I went from running at 40 ft elevation to 5,000+ elevation this summer (WY, MT), I really felt it and it took me nearly a week to adjust.
Thanks. I got a very detailed and encouraging response from the RD. Apparently I'm not the only one who has expressed concerns to him about racing in the mountains while living and training in lower elevations with smaller climbs. I'm pretty sure I'll add this one to my schedule. I have to start somewhere.
Looking around the PA trail scene I'm hoping to add several PA races to my schedule, possibly Naked Bavarian, Hyner, and Double Trouble, to get more experience.
Le professeur de trail
You can look to most any of the PA trail races in the central part of the state and it will give you plenty of climbing (and rocks). They won't give you altitude but you knew that. Below are some options in and around PA for climbing type of events.
January
Frozen Snot - http://www.frozen-snot.com/
April
Mile Run Trail Half Marathon - Mile Run, PA http://www.parunners.com/tiadaghton-trail-race.html
Hyner View Trail Challenge 25k & 50k http://www.hikerun.com/
Iron Master's Trail Challenge 15k, 20 miler, 50k - Pince Grove Furnace State Parkhttp://www.ironmasterschallenge.com/
May
Worlds End Ultras (50k 100k) - http://worldsendultra.com/
June
Rothrock Trail Challenge 30k - State College, PA http://www.rothrockchallenge.com/index2.html
Laurel Highlands Ultra Races 70 miler, 50k single and relay - Western PA http://laurelultra.com/
Mason Dixon Trail Logest Day Challenge 100k - Maryland & Yor Co. PAhttp://traildawgs.blogspot.com/p/mason-dixon-trail-longest-day-100k.html
July
Escarpment Trail Challenge 30k - Catskill Mountains Upstate NY http://escarpmenttrail.com/
August
The Conococheague 50K FA event - Perry County PA - http://donrunsfar.com/
Elk County Boulder Dash 20 miler - Elk County PA http://www.elkcountyboulderdash.com/ (added 7/22/13)
Call of the Wilds Marathon - http://www.easternstates100.com/63901.html
September
Conestoga Trail 10 miler - Lancaster Co. PA http://www.lrrclub.org/conestoga.asp
The Dam Half/The Dam Full marathons - near Lewisburg, PA http://www.midpenntrailblazers.com/trail-race-events/damhalf/index.html
Keystone SuperHike 28.4 miles - York/Lancaster Co. PA http://www.kta-hike.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=12&Itemid=76
October
Mile Run Trail Half Marathon Reverse course - Mile Run, PAhttps://sites.google.com/site/pinecreekchallengepa/
Rock'n the Knob 5 miler and 30k - Blue Know State Park http://www.alleghenytrailrunners.com/rockn-the-knob/
The Green Monster 25k & 50k - Wellsboro, PA http://www.greenmonster-trailchallenge.com/
Oil Creek 50k, 100k, 100 miler Northwest PA http://www.oc100.org/Home
My favorite day of the week is RUNday
Tim
If you make a trip out to Michaux, PM me and I'll show you some long climbs. Jamie and I hit some great elevation when we did part of the Ironmasters course a few months ago. Sounds like a fun race.
“Paralysis-to-50k” training plan is underway!
Merci, Le Professeur.
running under the BigSky
I'm familiar with the Elkhorn 50k, it's basically in my backyard NH and I ran two races last summer, but this wasn't one of them. I've run the 50k twice (and their 23k once). It is a challenging course, there is some good gain (and steep loss), but it's a really pretty area and the race is nice and low key. It's remote enough that some of the aid stations are manned by folks who rode in on horseback and packed supplies in (or hiked a long ways)
The RD is a really nice guy and does a very good job with the event. They have a lot of really nice aid station workers and the course is well marked.
I don't think the elevation will be much of an issue, it's not super high 5-7000' iirc. As long as you have some steepish hills nearby to train on, you'll be good to go.
This year I had high hopes of crushing my previous PR on this course, but I mucked things up and DNF'd. We had record breaking heat that day (highs into the upper 90's) and I should have concentrated on just finishing. Two major mistakes- I didn't do any training in the heat this summer (none) and I kept a pace that was not doable in this heat (a pace that had I been able to keep would have crushed my PR). As it was I got a nice 24 mile training run out of it!
I think this course would make a fine introduction into mountain racing. I'll be signing up for it again, hopefully a little nearer normal temps this next summer.
Mike
2023 goal 2023 miles √
2022 goal- 2022 miles √
2021 goal- 2021 miles √
I'm officially registered now. Hope to see some of you at some of the PA races that Mr Jamie suggested.
Come down here and train with me. We have some 5000 to 6000' elevations. You don't really feel anything till you get over 5000'.
Cradle to Grave 30k gets pretty high at graveyard fields.Slatey rock at the top is awesome.
Congrats! - when it gets a little closer shoot me a pm- I'll be at the race for sure, debating between the 23k and 50k- I'll probably sign up for the 50k and as I know the RD, I'm sure he'd let me drop down to the 23k
I have nothing to add here but every time I see this thread see the word "HURL" and am wondering if this course makes one puke their guts out. Sorry for the interruption.
HURL -- Helena Ultra Runners League
Not sure where you would get that idea