Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
+9
Jim Lentz
Peg Coover
Jeff F
Michele "1L" Keane
Alex Kubacki
Dave-O
MichiganBrian
ChasMcG
Tim M
13 posters
Page 1 of 1
Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
This is the second leg of the Triple Crown. The first leg was the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile in Manitou Springs, CO. This one, the Summer Roundup Trail Run starts at Bear Creek park just outside of Colorado Springs, CO. The race is mainly on the trail and gains nearly 1,000 ft in 6K to the turn-around.
We got up early for the hour plus drive from Denver to race. After a quick pitstop, I picked up the race bib and headed out for a warm-up run on the trail. I met back up with Chas and I worked my way to the starting area. Brian Steers was also running the race and we started talking before the start. Before we knew it, the gun went off. What? We are starting now? This race is not chip timed, so I hit start on the Garmin and started running.
The problem with the race is that is starts on the road in the park before hitting the trail. There is a huge bottleneck at the trailhead. After standing there for a few seconds, I was able to start again on the trail. With the number of people and the width of the trail at this point, about all you could do was play follow-the-leader. Passing was not much of an option. Another problem was that when a group decided to start walking up a hill, EVERYONE had to walk up the hill behind them. It sucked.
The first couple of miles had some ups and downs. I knew the race gained about 1000 ft in altitude, but it seemed like we were giving it all back on this part of the route.
Once the line of runners started to thin out, I was able to pass a few here and there. I was doing pretty good, not great, but pretty good.
The path took a strange change when it narrowed out into what looked like a creek gully. It was back to single file running and mostly downhill. Every time we hit these steep downhills, I kept thinking it was going to suck coming back. Finally, the trail crossed the river on a wood bridge and we were out on High Street. This half mile section was paved road, but then gave way to dirt. The road also took a turn in a much different direction. UP! This was the steepest section and runners were failing all over the place. During this stretch the lead runners were starting to zip past. I think I was at 3.25 miles when I saw Brian run past. I knew the turn around point was at the top of the climb and figured I had about another .4 miles. Finally I could see the water station and some parked cars and figured that was the turn around. Nope.
Once there, you make a hard left up another steep hill where a couple of support staff marked your bib to show you hit the turn around.
Then things started flying. The run downhill was awesome. My split for this mile was sub 8. It would have been faster, but there were a number of spots were I thought the footing was iffy and I was trying to hold back. Finally I decided that if I bit it, I would just brush it off and continue. Before I knew it I was back at the paved section and running even faster.
The turn back on the bridge and the single file running up the gully was not as much fun. Fortunately, most of those around me were running about the same pace or were getting out of the way to allow for some passing. I hit the top of the climb and out of the gully thinking it was not that bad, but I knew the worse hill on the way back was coming up.
The final hill comes just before mile 7 and it was simply a bitch. Many were walking here and the effort to keep moving up was hard. I did slow down some but with blasting the downhills, the split was not too bad.
From here I was back on the section that I had run for the warm-up and knew what was left. I picked up the pace some more and started passing as many as I could on the downhill. I was coming up to the final turn on the trail and saw a few runners ahead of me. I dropped it again and powered past a few of them as we made it to the finish. I was running so fast at the end that I was afraid of falling over.
During the race I was running around some others that I knew I wanted to beat. Whether it was an older guy with a tie-dye shirt or a girl with multicolored running shoes, or the dude that sounded like he was gasping for air at the start, I was not going to let them finish ahead of me. I managed to beat them all.
This was a fun, but very brutal trail race. I would do it again, and know that I know the course and how I felt at the end, I think I could run it much faster.
The total elevation gain is 1,313 ft.
Splits:
12:19
11:20
12:34
12:55
7:52
9:24
9:07
4:13 (7:29 pace)
Final time: 1:19:48 (10:42/mi avg pace) - a new 12K PR on the trail.
We got up early for the hour plus drive from Denver to race. After a quick pitstop, I picked up the race bib and headed out for a warm-up run on the trail. I met back up with Chas and I worked my way to the starting area. Brian Steers was also running the race and we started talking before the start. Before we knew it, the gun went off. What? We are starting now? This race is not chip timed, so I hit start on the Garmin and started running.
The problem with the race is that is starts on the road in the park before hitting the trail. There is a huge bottleneck at the trailhead. After standing there for a few seconds, I was able to start again on the trail. With the number of people and the width of the trail at this point, about all you could do was play follow-the-leader. Passing was not much of an option. Another problem was that when a group decided to start walking up a hill, EVERYONE had to walk up the hill behind them. It sucked.
The first couple of miles had some ups and downs. I knew the race gained about 1000 ft in altitude, but it seemed like we were giving it all back on this part of the route.
Once the line of runners started to thin out, I was able to pass a few here and there. I was doing pretty good, not great, but pretty good.
The path took a strange change when it narrowed out into what looked like a creek gully. It was back to single file running and mostly downhill. Every time we hit these steep downhills, I kept thinking it was going to suck coming back. Finally, the trail crossed the river on a wood bridge and we were out on High Street. This half mile section was paved road, but then gave way to dirt. The road also took a turn in a much different direction. UP! This was the steepest section and runners were failing all over the place. During this stretch the lead runners were starting to zip past. I think I was at 3.25 miles when I saw Brian run past. I knew the turn around point was at the top of the climb and figured I had about another .4 miles. Finally I could see the water station and some parked cars and figured that was the turn around. Nope.
Once there, you make a hard left up another steep hill where a couple of support staff marked your bib to show you hit the turn around.
Then things started flying. The run downhill was awesome. My split for this mile was sub 8. It would have been faster, but there were a number of spots were I thought the footing was iffy and I was trying to hold back. Finally I decided that if I bit it, I would just brush it off and continue. Before I knew it I was back at the paved section and running even faster.
The turn back on the bridge and the single file running up the gully was not as much fun. Fortunately, most of those around me were running about the same pace or were getting out of the way to allow for some passing. I hit the top of the climb and out of the gully thinking it was not that bad, but I knew the worse hill on the way back was coming up.
The final hill comes just before mile 7 and it was simply a bitch. Many were walking here and the effort to keep moving up was hard. I did slow down some but with blasting the downhills, the split was not too bad.
From here I was back on the section that I had run for the warm-up and knew what was left. I picked up the pace some more and started passing as many as I could on the downhill. I was coming up to the final turn on the trail and saw a few runners ahead of me. I dropped it again and powered past a few of them as we made it to the finish. I was running so fast at the end that I was afraid of falling over.
During the race I was running around some others that I knew I wanted to beat. Whether it was an older guy with a tie-dye shirt or a girl with multicolored running shoes, or the dude that sounded like he was gasping for air at the start, I was not going to let them finish ahead of me. I managed to beat them all.
This was a fun, but very brutal trail race. I would do it again, and know that I know the course and how I felt at the end, I think I could run it much faster.
The total elevation gain is 1,313 ft.
Splits:
12:19
11:20
12:34
12:55
7:52
9:24
9:07
4:13 (7:29 pace)
Final time: 1:19:48 (10:42/mi avg pace) - a new 12K PR on the trail.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Great job!!! Looks like a lot of fun. I'm doing this one next year!!!
You're on the right track to a successful Pikes Peak marathon next month!!!
You're on the right track to a successful Pikes Peak marathon next month!!!
ChasMcG- Poster
- Posts : 478
Points : 5167
Join date : 2011-06-17
Age : 47
Location : Colorado
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Well done. It was good to see you and get the forum link!
MichiganBrian- Newbie
- Posts : 6
Points : 4653
Join date : 2011-07-10
Age : 38
Location : Denver, CO
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Tim coming down to the finish! Looking good!
Tim making the turn and passing the sweaty guy.
Tim at the start NOT WEARING BROOKS. Yes folks....that's the Minimus Trail by New Balance
Oh you know cheesey Chas has to put one of these in! heehee
The start of the race. The scenery out here is amazing.
ChasMcG- Poster
- Posts : 478
Points : 5167
Join date : 2011-06-17
Age : 47
Location : Colorado
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
ChasMcG wrote:
Tim at the start NOT WEARING BROOKS. Yes folks....that's the Minimus Trail by New Balance
Those are the first non-Brooks shoes I have purchased in the last 5 years. I still got a big discount on them.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
The type of race I could never find in chicago. Sounds awesome.
And I like the kicks.
And I like the kicks.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Dave-O wrote:The type of race I could never find in chicago. Sounds awesome.
And I like the kicks.
You could find something like it in Chicago if you change the starting elevation to 10 ft and the highest point to say 30 ft. There are some great trails and races out of Colorado Springs. Almost makes me want to move south, except then I'd be too far away from Breckenridge and Keystone.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Nice job. Looks like a lot of fun.
Alex Kubacki- Explaining To Spouse
- Posts : 1252
Points : 6285
Join date : 2011-06-23
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Looks like lots of fun - nice drop splits and consistently getting faster per mile, great job. I've run in Garden of the Gods as I used to work in Colorado springs a bunch - what a beautiful area, you are very spoiled, Tim
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Nice job; I am envious of the great trails in Colorado. We don't see many that nice in Illinois.
Jeff F- Poster
- Posts : 299
Points : 5054
Join date : 2011-06-15
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Very nice job, Tim. It would be nice to live out that way for the running.
Jim Lentz- Explaining To Spouse
- Posts : 1171
Points : 6673
Join date : 2011-06-15
Age : 62
Location : Downers Grove
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Way to go, Tim!
I have to admit that when I saw the shoes, I thought..WTF???
I have to admit that when I saw the shoes, I thought..WTF???
KathyK- Poster
- Posts : 458
Points : 5166
Join date : 2011-06-15
Age : 64
Location : North Carolina
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Nice job, Tim! It sounded like there were some tough parts of the race, but you handled them well and finished strong. Keep up the good work.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Great job, Tim! You have some great places to run out your way. How do you like the shoes? I have a pair I haven't run in yet.
Jim Lentz- Explaining To Spouse
- Posts : 1171
Points : 6673
Join date : 2011-06-15
Age : 62
Location : Downers Grove
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Tim I like your race report really fun read. It sounds like it is a great race with a few problems with the narrow trails which makes everyone play follow the leader. So my guess is that you would want to go out aggressive to get to the trail before as many people as possible.
I was just reading about the aggressive strategy last night and that it is something Eric Clifton does so he can control to pace on the narrow trails.
Other then that it looks like you had a great race and since the last time I have read a race report by you, it seems like you have come a long way and have made a lot of improvements. So congrats on the new 12k PR!!
I love the competitive edge you showed towards the end with wanting to pass people. Especially the dude that breaths so dam hard! I can't stand that during a race.
Love the pictures.
Oh also how did you like the NB shoes?
I was just reading about the aggressive strategy last night and that it is something Eric Clifton does so he can control to pace on the narrow trails.
Other then that it looks like you had a great race and since the last time I have read a race report by you, it seems like you have come a long way and have made a lot of improvements. So congrats on the new 12k PR!!
I love the competitive edge you showed towards the end with wanting to pass people. Especially the dude that breaths so dam hard! I can't stand that during a race.
Love the pictures.
Oh also how did you like the NB shoes?
Schuey- Explaining To Spouse
- Posts : 2172
Points : 7783
Join date : 2011-06-15
Age : 52
Location : So Many Roads To Ease My Soul
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Schuey wrote:
Oh also how did you like the NB shoes?
I hate to admit it, but I really like them. I'll switch the trail shoes back to Brooks when the PureGrit is released this fall.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Scott Jurek runs in the PureGrit also. This is from his post today about running Devil's Thumb.
Re: Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K
Tim M wrote:Schuey wrote:
Oh also how did you like the NB shoes?
I hate to admit it, but I really like them. I'll switch the trail shoes back to Brooks when the PureGrit is released this fall.
Or maybe I'll continue to use the NB Minimus Trail and use the PureGrit instead of the Brooks Cascadia. Just depends on how minimal they actually are and how much protection from sharp rocks they provide. The NB protects against almost nothing.
Similar topics
» Summer Roundup Trail Run 12k
» summer 2010 to summer 2011 analysis
» Clawing My Way Back
» Lincoln Marathon!
» My First 50 at the Indiana Trail 100/50
» summer 2010 to summer 2011 analysis
» Clawing My Way Back
» Lincoln Marathon!
» My First 50 at the Indiana Trail 100/50
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|