The last time we ran Traprock was the races inaugural running. I think my running buddy was the second overall women, about an hour behind Deb Livingston, and I might have been around top ten overall. That right there says a lot about the first year of the race that first year! Traprock has grown quite a bit over the years, and we also heard the course was changed and more difficult, so we decided to get in a 17k run and to check out how the race has evolved since year one.
Saturday, April 14th was the first warm day of the year, so my partner in running decided to skip the race and hang around on the lake at home instead. I decided to head up early to see friends who were running the 50k and to put out some flyers for the Clarks Trail Run the Bimblers are supporting in August. Pulling up to Penwood State Park I right away was aware of the growth in this race. Year one, folks parked in the park but this time around we were asked to park across the street. As far as I could see there were cars heading up the hill toward Heublin Tower.
After I parked, I headed up to catch the 8:30 start of the 50k. I was excited to see folks and a bit startled to see the race begin! I guess everybody was there, so they started the race early! I did not know at the time that this was foreshadowing, but, more about that in a minute. I spent the next 45 minutes or so chatting with folks. Always one of the best parts of any trail race is the pre and post-race community. With about fifteen minutes before the race I went for a brief jog with David Sutherland and as we jogged back we both looked down the road to see the race was about to begin. Yikes! We hustled to the start just in time to catch our breath before we heard the signal and started the race. Just like I planned! ?
Traprock starts with about 100 yards of running and then one of the two signature climbs of the 11-mile loop. Later, I saw a picture of second place finisher, and former student, Koby Nelson running up this hill, but, for mere human beings like me this is just a hike. I knew the hill from previous trips to Traprock and just settled in to get to the top. I suppose now is a good time to say that I was running Traprock with the goal of breaking two hours for the 11-mile loop. The last couple of years I have basically went out for runs with my wife and have not really “raced”. This year I am hoping to get a little speed back. As you age “speed” is relative, but, two hours for 11-miles seemed like a reasonable first step. Anyway, I got to the top of the first climb. I then encountered a rolling section that is almost completely runnable. It was warm, it was early in the race and I needed to decide whether to run everything or back off a bit on the little slopes. Alex McDaniel’s advice about hiking early in a race rang in my ear and I decided to stay easy until the end of the outward section.
The next mile or so to the Lake Louise Aid station was uneventful. I remember seeing George Daniels helping on the course, I remember enjoying the largely runnable terrain and I believe this may have been among the most non-technical running on the course. I came to the bottom of the hill to Lake Louise, thanked the aid station folks for helping but did not stop. I crossed the road and began section two of the outward loop. I remember from a training run on the course that the first part of this section was wet, and I decided to enjoy plowing through the water and getting a little wet and muddy, it is a trail race after all! Shortly after Lake Louise you take on the signature climb of the Traprock course. Called “Stairway to Heaven”, you begin a steep climb up, yes, rock stairs. Leading, I guess to heaven? I think it is the “stairway to heaven” followed by the continuing climb afterwards that make this section a challenge. I usually just hike to the top of the climb, which is a beautiful spot with a wonderful vista! Since I have never been on the Traprock course on a clear day, I took a few seconds to enjoy the view and then began the next section, which is a fast section of primarily downhill running leading to the next aid station. Much more technical then previous sections I could not run as fast here as I wanted but I got in to a pass on the downs and get passed on the flats routine that is common for me in trail races. Eventually, I ran down the last downhill of this section and ended up at the aid station, making a mental note that I would have to climb back up this hill on the return.
I was carrying everything with me that I needed so I did not stop at the aid station and continued up the little hill that begins the next section. Up to now I was still on trail that was a part of the original Traprock course, but, within maybe half a mile, I reached the old turn around point and was now on new terrain. I think it was about here where I saw Andrew Meisler sitting (maybe in a chair?) and playing the guitar. This gave me a chuckle, not because of his playing, but, just was funny seeing some guy playing guitar in the middle of the race. He directed me to go right and this next section was lovely downhill on yellow that I had remembered going up when we got lost on our preview run a few weeks back. I liked going down much more! Eventually the trail evens out and is followed by a primarily uphill section that passes, I think, two sets of power lines before dumping out onto a downhill gravel road section in to the next aid station and what I would call the end of the outward section of the course. I was at 1 hour and 1 minute. Of course, I was. I couldn’t be at 50 minutes and know that a two-hour loop was going to happen, and I couldn’t be at 1:10 and know two hours was not going to happen. I was at a time where I was going to need to push to make two hours. At this point I took a couple gu’s , some salt, a couple swigs of water, said thanks to the aid stations folks and took off on the second half of the loop.
I really enjoyed the next section. Fire road, basically flat and shady. The day was warming up and I realized there had not been a lot of shade on the course. I guess because it was still so early in the year and there is not a lot of leaf cover? Anyway, I knew this section from a previous run and decided I needed to get going. I had a nice pace going and then I made the turn onto the uphill about ¾ of a mile into the back half of the loop. I had to hike this hill as well as the right hand turn back on to uphill trail (blue?) I lost a bit of time here, but you can only do what you can do. Once I got to the top I seem to remember primarily running the next longish section back to the aid station. The trail was quite runnable, but I think I was slowed by the heat (still very exposed) and even more by the “traprocky” terrain. I think it was this section where I felt I was running like I was drunk, as I could not get any easy footing. This type of footing is quite prevalent in Traprock and you really enjoy the sections that are not as technical in nature.
At the aid station I gave the folks my number and asked if I was to go up the hill. I knew the answer but was hoping I was wrong! So, up I went. I should add this is one of the sections where you run into 50k folks on their second loop. I had two thoughts. Man, I am glad I am not doing the 50k and man, I am so glad Koby Nelson is not going to pass me! That would make this old teacher feel even older! ?
Near the top of the climb you head off left from the 50k folks and if I am not mistaken I was again on some new Traprock Trail compared to the last time I raced here. It was typical to the rest of the course, and I do not really have any strong memories other than the views were nice, the footing was a challenge and I needed to keep pushing if I was to break two hours.
I ended up back at Lake Louise with about twenty-five minutes to complete the last section. As it took me seventeen minutes to complete this section on the way out I felt pretty good about my chances of breaking two hours. Even when I headed down the road, heading back a different way than I had anticipated, I felt pretty good. Then we turned back on to a trail and if I am not mistaken this was a section that was in the original course. The section had nice ridge running but a few ups that I ended up hiking. Boo! I got passed here by a runner as well. Double Boo! But, what can you do. I pushed as hard as I could and made it through the section. After crossing a road I knew I was getting close to the end. I passed a couple people here which made me think I was not in the hurt zone as much as I had thought. Up ahead of me I saw a long gradual uphill with George Daniels standing at the end. I remembered where George was on the way out, so I knew I had this hill and then one more climb before I would be able to end this race. For some reason I got lazy on the “going to George” hill and hiked most of it, which was a mistake. I think I knew the hill to come was tougher and I felt I needed to save a bit. I said hi to George, made the turn, hiked the hill and then took off. I was at one hour and fifty-eight minutes for the loop and in serious doubt that the two hours would happen, so I just went as fast as I could. I ran out of time before I ran out of trail and I came in at 2 hours 1 minute and 11 seconds.
Overall, I was pleased with my race. While I did not meet my A goal of breaking two hours. I felt I ran well and pushed myself more than I have in recent races. The day was beautiful, I enjoyed finally getting back to Traprock and, as always, any day on the trail is a good day
Thanks to RD Kevin Hutt, Jerry Turk and RAT Race Timing and all the volunteers who helped before, during and after the race. Traprock has grown in to a wonderful early Spring trail challenge and I look forward to adding the race to my running season whenever possible. #bimbleon #truthlieswithin
See ya down the trail!
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