I joined some folks I met through the RunStorrs group to do the Northern Nipmuck trail race this past Saturday. It was a 16 mile course described as rolling hills. This was my first long trail race over technical terrain and it was tough stuff.
The start was single track and uphill so it was very slow pace (walking). I got impatient quickly and decided to barrel up the hill through the brush. After 3-4 miles I realized I was being way too aggressive. The steep up and down was killer on the leg muscles and after mile 12 walking up the hills was all I could do. I think this race was harder than either of the marathons I did. It took me about 2 hours 35 minutes running time (I stopped briefly a couple stops to change my shirt and get water).
It was pretty dangerous too. One of the people I went with broke her ankle and there were many sprained ankles and scraped up legs. However, I think technical trail running can elevate fitness to a whole new level. There are two other races I'm thinking about: the Soapstone Mountain 14.5 on May 18 and the Nipmuck Marathon 26.4 on June 1.
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I have heard of both of those two other races you mentioned. The Nipmuck marathon begins on the section of the trail that I used to run all the time when I lived in Ashford ... less than 3 miles from my first apartment in Connecticut. Keep me posted ... I'll come and be your very pregnant support crew -- though, probably won't be much to see since it's another one-tracker!
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