June 5, 2010 Rothrock Trail Challenge- 30k, over 5,000 feet of elevation gain -  http://www.rothrockchallenge.com/index2.html

I drove out to Western PA to participate in the Rothrock challenge to get a sense of trail events similar to the Megatransect.  Also a gauge as to early season fitness.  This will serve as a long race report so I’ll give a quick update and then race details.

I finished in around 6 hours 15 minutes, just over 20 minutes per mile.  The trail was variable, long hills, steep drops, beautiful forest paths, steep White Moutain-like rock climbs and rocks, rocks and rocks in the trail.  It was a humid and warm day, although at certain points on the ridges a nice breeze and cloud cover made it more bearable.

Detailed report broken out by different segments through the Aid Stations:

Segment one, 0-3.8 miles- Easy road section leading to the Spruce Gap trail, which covered over 1,100 feet of elevation gain, followed by a steep drop on rocks. Rest of the section was mainly flat or descending and dropped into some beautiful forests.  Finish up at aid station on road.

My race- I started out at the back, in the last 25 or so people with the goal of not getting ahead of myself.  Walked every incline and jogged the downhills.  The Spruce Gap trail was unwelcome early on, so I stayed at a steady pace passing people slowly but still holding back. On the steep drop, I fell in behind a group that was really going slowly down the rocks.  With wet rocks and going slowly, I slipped frequently. I finally got by the group, and one of them seem annoyed I was trying to push down the slick rocks. The rest of the section I ran, with the exception of some spots where there were rocks in the trail and I was trying to avoid a twisted ankle.

Segment two, 3.8- 7.8 miles- Some muddier spots at first, fairly flat and then turned up for another climb.  Steep at times but nowhere near as long as the first.  Trail then turned and snaked around a ridge for a bit, before opening up and crossing a Presidential-ridge type rock field. Steep drop on fairly good running terrain and then a short uphill walk to aid station.

My race- I walked a bit while I drank and ate and then caught up to another group as we ascended.  Stayed at a nice pace and decided to stay with the group for a while- we were hiking quickly, I preferred to run for a bit but enjoyed some conversation and saved some energy.  Eventually hit the steep drop and I let loose and went with my momentum to the bottom.  Turned out on the road and walked to the aid station. 

Segment three- 7.8 -12.8 miles - Dropped down from the aid Station and then started a fairly long climb; not overly steep but required a good effort.  Nice runnable forest sections on decent ground for a long while after this.  Trail circled around to follow a stream then another climb to a ridge, gradual and not too steep.  Then a crazy unwalkable, steep, hang on to the trees drop down to the river.  Cross a downed tree which was cut nicely to make river crossing a breeze.

My race- The heat started to turn on here which made initial climb difficult.  After the top ran most of the way down to the stream, which then became rockier so I fast hiked.  I spent most of this section alone, which I really enjoyed.  I walked up to the ridge, jogged a bit and then hit the steep drop.  It was slick, loose dirt and I just butt slid and held on to drop down.  No time gained on this downhill for me.  I pulled into the station and felt good about race so far, was following my plan of holding off as I knew the next section was mainly hills.  At this point, felt good about breaking 6 hours….

Segment four- 12.8 – 15.8 miles- A short walk the trail headed up on rocks.  And up, and up and rocks and rocks.  It felt very much like a White Mountains trail.  After finally gaining the ridge, the trail dropped down on runnable dirt trail and then climbed back up to the same ridge.  Not overly steep or long, but at this point up was tough anyhow.  After gaining the ridge again dropped down on runnable trails for a bit and then hiked the next hill up to the aid station.  Again, not incredibly long or steep.

My race- I won’t say the wheels fell off the bus here but the pace slowed considerably.  I never stopped moving forward but the rocks were tough to navigate and the climb was unrelenting.  I realized on the climb that 6 hours was done but wanted to keep moving well and enjoy.  After a quick drop the next climb was demoralizing as we only climbed to the ridge we had just been on shortly before.  Getting to the aid station from the ridge was enjoyable except for the last hill but I closed in on another group and used it as motivation.

Segment five- 15.8- 18.6 – Out of the aid station immediately up on the last climb of the day.  Again, not too steep or long, but the sum of these hills on the day were tough.  After reaching top, gradual decline which was on rocky path that turned more runnable.  Trail circled around and down until dumped out on the road for a short climb to the final turn and down a quick run to the finish.

My race- On the last hill I was tired but still passed a few people so I felt good that at least I had not wiped out.  I was sorry to see the drop was rocky as I wanted to run right away but I twisted my ankle painfully twice and didn’t want to run on the rocks.  Once past the rocks I ran all the way to the road.  I started to walk the last hill on the road but thought there was no reason not to run the final hill- so I pushed and finished feeling great down the hill.

Post race thoughts- I may have gone out too slow and got trapped early and lost some time, but in general it felt much better to not burn out early.  I left some runnable spots on the trail and I was worried about crashing so I hiked more than I liked.  I will leave that to inexperience in events like this.  Wish I was better at running the rocks, I just could not run any trails that had any rocks in them.  Not unhappy with finish time since I know think I could have done faster.  Plus had no experience with this type of event.  Now that fear of unknown is behind me I think I would step up the aggressiveness just a bit earlier on in the next event.  The final goal is the Megatransect in October, but I am keeping a different plan under wraps for now and I consider something crazier.  Stay tuned…..

Workout two in the Belknaps.  Saturday was a tough day- 1 hr 45 min bike ride and 4 hours putting together a trampoline so I did not expect much.

Arrived early at the Mt Major parking lot and set off, using the following trails and summits:

-Brook Trail to Quarry Spur

-Quarry Spur to Quarry Trail

-Quarry Trail to Red trail (hitting E& W Quarry, Rand and Klem)

-Red trail from Klem to Mt Anna

- Anna-Straightback link- to Mt Straightback

-Major-Straighback link to Mt. Major

-Boulder Loop to trailhead

Not sure yet of the mileage and elevation gain but think that it may be nicely close to ½ of both of the BEMM. 

Walked most of the early part of the hike at a quick pace and never stopped for more than a minute.  After the return starting at Mt. Anna, ran as much of the flats and downhills as I could and then from the Brook trail jct to Mt. Major and most of the way to the parking lot.  Hike took around 4.5 hours- I accidentally stopped the stopwatch on Mt Major at 3:56. Only one fall this time, on Boulder loop but was a good one, ankle totally turned but did a Mannix roll and then bounced right back up.

New gear, a GoLite Hydrowsift that carried two 21 ounce bottles.  Went very light today, and this was the outer edge I could go with that little to drink.  Good thing is the BEMM has food and drink stops so that won’t be an issue race day.  Pack worked great and held plenty to eat.

Trails were all in pretty good shape.  Occasional soft mud and branches in the trail but not an issue.  I had a map printed from the internet but didn’t need it.  The trails are well marked with blazes and when needed with tape.  Occasional route finding issues but never went more than 10-20 steps out of the way.

Happy with the pace and how I felt today, and really liked getting into the back of the Belknaps.  I saw nobody else from start until 3 hours 45 minutes had passed.  Great weather and beautiful day.