Distance: 4 mi
http://www.bquickrunning.com/trailseries/home.html
This is a tough one out in the Elkhorn Mtns. You run through a horse pasture, then down a steep road, across a very sketchy bridge, up a steep hill to a loop of rolling, technical single track, back down the steep hill, across the sketchy bridge, up the road and then finally down a short hill to the finish. This race really calls on all your trail running skills- uphilling, downhilling, technical footing, and your ability to stay on course. The trail series in general is a great place to hang out with the Helena running community and this last race is especially good because the awards for the series get handed out after this one at the post-race pancake breakfast. It is usuall pretty cold, so have plenty of extra layers to put on after the race.
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though for the last few years my help was limited to typing up the results*
Showing posts with label South Hills Annual Trail Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Hills Annual Trail Series. Show all posts
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
South Hills Annual Trail Series Race 2- Goats In The Dark
Distance: 3.1 mi
http://www.bquickrunning.com/trailseries/home.html
This is a night race, which intimidates a lot of people. I think it's a fun twist to run in the dark. Your brightest headlamp will be helpful, but the course is well marked with glow sticks, so if you stay alert you shouldn't have any problems. It starts out running down a road for maybe a 1/3 mile before it gets on single track trail at the Tubbs trailhead. Do your best to establish an accurate position before you turn onto the trail, because passing is difficult. Most everyone has seemed to be pretty polite about stepping aside if someone comes up behind them who is moving faster. You return to the road about 1/4 mile from the finish so you have space to open up for a finishing sprint. There is a right turn about 1/2 way through the race which someone missed every year until 2010 when the race director took the overdue step of posting a volunteer there. There is usually a post-race gathering with beer and snacks at the race director's house.
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though for the last few years my help was limited to typing up the results*
http://www.bquickrunning.com/trailseries/home.html
This is a night race, which intimidates a lot of people. I think it's a fun twist to run in the dark. Your brightest headlamp will be helpful, but the course is well marked with glow sticks, so if you stay alert you shouldn't have any problems. It starts out running down a road for maybe a 1/3 mile before it gets on single track trail at the Tubbs trailhead. Do your best to establish an accurate position before you turn onto the trail, because passing is difficult. Most everyone has seemed to be pretty polite about stepping aside if someone comes up behind them who is moving faster. You return to the road about 1/4 mile from the finish so you have space to open up for a finishing sprint. There is a right turn about 1/2 way through the race which someone missed every year until 2010 when the race director took the overdue step of posting a volunteer there. There is usually a post-race gathering with beer and snacks at the race director's house.
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though for the last few years my help was limited to typing up the results*
Sunday, October 11, 2009
South Hills Annual Trail Series Race 3- Goat Pursuit
Distance: 6.6 mi
http://www.helenarunningclub.com/trailseries/home.html
My favorite of the whole trail series! But then I might be biased because this is the first race where I was able to set a course record, and it still stands. The race starts at the far end of the Mt. Helena Ridge Trail and runs toward town to the Dump Gulch Trail head. The first mile or so is a climb to the ridge and then it's downhill almost the whole way to the finish. The unique thing about this race is that it is run in a time trial format. Slowest person starts first, then every 30 seconds the next faster person starts. I like the fact that there is always someone ahead of you to pass. Cross your fingers for good weather because both the 2008 and 2009 races were snowy. My hat is off to the runners who started first in 2008 who had to break trail through a foot of untracked powder!
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though last year my help was limited to typing up the results*
http://www.helenarunningclub.com/trailseries/home.html
My favorite of the whole trail series! But then I might be biased because this is the first race where I was able to set a course record, and it still stands. The race starts at the far end of the Mt. Helena Ridge Trail and runs toward town to the Dump Gulch Trail head. The first mile or so is a climb to the ridge and then it's downhill almost the whole way to the finish. The unique thing about this race is that it is run in a time trial format. Slowest person starts first, then every 30 seconds the next faster person starts. I like the fact that there is always someone ahead of you to pass. Cross your fingers for good weather because both the 2008 and 2009 races were snowy. My hat is off to the runners who started first in 2008 who had to break trail through a foot of untracked powder!
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though last year my help was limited to typing up the results*
Saturday, August 18, 2007
South Hills Annual Trail Series Race 1- Goats In The Meadow
Distance: 7.3 mi
http://www.helenarunningclub.com/trailseries/home.html
This is a very scenic out-and-back run on one of the most underappreciated trails in the Helena area. The trail is truck width at the beginning, narrowing to ATV width or slightly less. Which means there's usually plenty of room for passing. The trail mostly follows the Little Blackfoot River. About 1 mile from the turn around there is a stream crossing where you have a choice between plowing straight across the river or a very slight detour to a bridge that is only 1 log wide. If you are trying to race, the bridge will substantially slow you down. But that option is available if you're just out for fun and don't want to get your feet wet. Usually the least well attended of the trail series races, which can be a big advantage if you are doing the whole series. The start is a 1 hour drive from downtown Helena, so make sure you allow plenty of time to get there.
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though last year my help was limited to typing up the results*
http://www.helenarunningclub.com/trailseries/home.html
This is a very scenic out-and-back run on one of the most underappreciated trails in the Helena area. The trail is truck width at the beginning, narrowing to ATV width or slightly less. Which means there's usually plenty of room for passing. The trail mostly follows the Little Blackfoot River. About 1 mile from the turn around there is a stream crossing where you have a choice between plowing straight across the river or a very slight detour to a bridge that is only 1 log wide. If you are trying to race, the bridge will substantially slow you down. But that option is available if you're just out for fun and don't want to get your feet wet. Usually the least well attended of the trail series races, which can be a big advantage if you are doing the whole series. The start is a 1 hour drive from downtown Helena, so make sure you allow plenty of time to get there.
*disclaimer: I have helped put on this race in the past, though last year my help was limited to typing up the results*
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