Solo adventure at the Wapack Trail race

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The Wapack Trail race was held in New Ipswich New Hampshire on Sunday, September 6^th.  With Bimblers in various states of preparation or recovery I found myself attending this race alone. I figured somebody needed to “represent” our gang, plus I liked the idea of running in two states during one race.

After an uneventful drive from Killingworth, I arrived at the Windblown Ski area shortly before 8:00 am, for the 9:00 race. I picked up a really cool hat and technical shirt with my $30 entry, went to the car and got ready to race. From the race web-site it seemed that Wapack was my favorite kind of trail race, laid back and minimal ceremony.  This proved to be true!  In fact it is so laid back I almost missed the start.  I was finishing my preparations when I heard the race director begin giving pre-race instructions.  These consisted primarily of saying “follow the yellow triangles”. I scurried over to the starting line just in time to hear his second set of instructions “ready, go”.  We were off.

The race is roughly 17.5 miles and follows the Wapack Trail between New Ipswich and Ashburnham, MA. There are four major mountains on the course, Barrett, New Ipswich, Pratt, and Watatic and you get to take them on twice on the out and back course. If it sounds like Seven Sisters that is because it is similar to Seven Sisters. This race turned out to be a bit like the “girls” and a bit like Escarpment. I would rate both those races harder than Wapack but in Wapack there are several really difficult climbs and technical sections reminiscent of Escaprment and lots of up and down and over and up and down and over similar to Seven Sisters. In any event Wapack is a tough race which is not for the casual trail dwag.

If you ever do Wapack, I hope you get a day like Sunday. With 60 degree weather and not a cloud in the sky it was the perfect day to enjoy running this trail. In fact, I got lost several times, because I was so busy admiring the views.  I wish I knew all the mountains I could see, but suffice to say there are major views on this course. I do know my New Hampshire Mountains enough to say there was a stunning view of Mount Monadnock!

Regarding the getting lost, I would say Wapack is one of the more difficult races to follow that I have attempted.  The trail is marked but many of the blazes are faded, and there is lots of open slab running with the blazes on the slab.  It is one of those races that you better pay attention or you can really add some miles to the course. Hmm….. sounds like a Mr. Bimble race!  On one of the quad pounding descents near the end of the race,  I was in total fear of being off the trail and having to climb back up to get back on course. Luckily I spotted a blaze and heaved a major sigh of relief.

My only other significant memory of the day was the awesome fall off of Mount Watatic, or is it Barrett? Whichever one is in Massachusetts! The descent had a trail but the terrain was so open that it ended up being a wild scramble, at a steep pitch, with dozens of hikers coming up the trail.  I think it must have been family day because I have never seen so many moms, dad and kids going the opposite direction as me during a race.

Kind of a rambling report, sorry. I guess it was like the day. I am glad I ran, I ran well and the race is awesome so I wanted to let you all know.  But, it is never quite the same for me when there are not other Bimblers along to share the experience. Especially Shelly Girl!  I guess the only real plus was, since I was solo, I got to sing along with my ipod as loud as I wanted in the car on the way home!

See ya at Curly’s!