RACE GUIDE

Take Your Mark32 OF THE TOP TRAIL RUNNING RACES, FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.

Unlike road races, which tend toblur together into one endlessstream ofblacktop, no two trail

races are even remotely the same. Wildlydisparate terrain, topography, altitude,climate, and even wildlife all join forcesto bring unique and particular challengesto any length of race-and that's preciselywhy trail racing is so much fun, even ifyou're not the sort who typically enjoyscompetition. A comprehensive list ofraces could fill an entire issue, but hereare some of our favorite trail offeringsacross North America, ranging from 5-Kto (gulp!) 100miles. -Lisa Jhung

III

"In longer races, bring alight jacket. Several times,

a jacket has been thedifference between

dropping out and finishingin poor conditions."

-Helen Cospolich, 2008Leadville Trail 100 winner

100 SPRING 2011

Desert DashMoonlightMadnessS-KIlO-KIl3.lmMay 14, Las Vegas, NVThere's something mysticalabout running at night, nomatter if you wear ahead lamp or rely on thesheen of the moon. Thisafter-dark run is part of aseries that coincides withfull moon nights in thedesert outside Las Vegas.desertdashlv.comlraces

Cougar MountainTrail SeriesSm17m/lOmll3.lmMay 14-0ctober 30,Issaquah, WAThis five-race series atCougar Mountain RegionalWildland Park east of Seattlekicks off with a 5-miler andgradually progresses to a

half marathon by the endof fall. seattlerunningclub.org/Events/Cougar!cougarmtn l.html

XTERRA OakMountain RunsS-KIlO-K/21-K/26.2mMay 21, Pelham, ALEach distance is primarilyrun on the pristinesingle-track trails of OakMountain State Park, butas an added twist, the 5-Kand lO-K send runnersthrough a large, sloppymud pit-twice.xterraplanet.com/trailrun

Dirty Dog RunlS-KMay 21, Charleston, WVOne thing is certain aboutthe Dirty Dog 15-K: You willget dirty, as well as muddy,wet, and sloppy. Mutts arewelcome but optional on

this romp throughKanawha State Forest.wvmtr.org

Teva MountainGames lO-KSpring RunofflO-KJune 5, Vail, COPart of a four-day mountainsports festival, this 10-K-and its $1,000 first-prizepurse-is one of the mostcompetitive races in the U.s.tevamountaingames.com

XTERRA FugitiveTrail RunlO-KJune 11,Richmond, VAThis urban course sendsrunners under bridges andrailroad trestles, up a40-foot steel ladder, over aflood wall, and through adense forest on Belle Isle inthe middle of the JamesRiver. xterraplanet.com/xdurolrichmond.html

III

"During a long race, I usemy iPod to remind me todrink often by taking afew sips at every song

change. That way you'renever behind; you can't

make it up later." -AnitaOrtiz, 2009 WesternStates 100 winner

The Dipsea7.4mJune 12, Mill Valley, CAThe oldest trail race inAmerica is also one of themost beautiful. The trailclimbs 685 steps in the firsthalf-mile before plummetinginto Muir Woods, climbingup Mt. Tamalpais, and

diving to the beachsidefinish. (See feature, page68.) dipsea.org

Keyes PeakTrail RunlO-K/26.2m/SO-KJune 25, Florence, WIRun through wildflowermeadows and old-growthforests on one of threecourses that each ascendsa service road to KeyesPeak, which offerswide-open vistas of therolling Wisconsin terrain.run.greatlakesendurance.com

Western StatesEndurance Run100mJune 25-26, SquawValley to Auburn, CAThis is the most competi-tive 100-miler in thecountry (and perhaps theworld). Its course climbs

and descends through theSierra Mountain rangebefore plummeting intodeep, hot canyons of theSacramento foothills, with afinish in front of a spiritedcrowd in Auburn.ws100.com

Mt. CranmoreMountain Race7.7-Klll.6-KJune 26, North Conway,NHHeld on the grassy skislopes, dirt roads, andsingle-track trails of theCranmore MountainResort, this is one of NewEngland's best races. Thisyear's race will double asthe 2011 USA MountainRunning Championships.whitemountainmilers.com/cranmore

ri:i:i3;iD~;.t.ib""Plan for contingencies.

The last thing you want isfor your race to be

derailed because youdecided to try something

new." -Max King,three-time XTERRA TrailRunning World Champion

Psycho PsummerRun Toto, Run!lOm/20m/SO-KJuly 9, Kansas City, KSRaces are held amid stiflingsummer heat on hilly bridleand single-track trails,although the distances,

according to race director"Bad" Ben Holmes, "aremore like 10.7 miles, a littleover 21 miles, and slightlyover 50-K."psychowyco.com/id75.html

Captain Karl'sTrail Series1O-K/30-K/60-KJuly 16-Aug. 27, Austin,TXA three-event series held inthe heart of Texas HillCountry, each of the racesis run primarily on scenicsingle-track and startsafter 7 p.m. on a Saturdaynight to avoid the wickedsummer heat. tejastrails.com/CaptKarl.html

Crow PassCrossing24 milesJuly 24, Girdwood, AKA very wild and remotewilderness trail racethrough the ruggedChugach Mountains.There's a lot of unstablefooting, a crossing of thethigh-high Eagle River, andthe likelihood of having toslow down for bears ormoose. goseawolves.com

rl@3iift~i'r.Jt'll"Running on trails is

different than roads, sobeing married to splits

and times can really throwyou off on your first go.Just go have fun andexplore and enjoy!"

-Devon Crosby-Helms,2010 U.S. 50-milenational champion

Escarpment Run18.6mJuly 31, Windham, NYProudly touted byorganizers as "formountain goats only," thisrace in the Catski IIMountains is a truebackcountryexperience.Cross the finish line a bit