Welcome back to another edition of This Week In Running, and a sneak peak of just a few of the races/events that are scheduled for the weekend of April 25 and April 26, 2009, a weekend that in history marks the tragic end of two television shows (“Who’s the Boss” and “Growing Pains” – 1992), the loss of comedienne/actress Lucille Ball (1989), the opening of New York’s famous Studio 54 (1977), and, 16 year-old Sybil Ludington‘s 40-mile horseback ride on dark, unmarked roads to warn her father’s militia of the burning of the town of Danbury, Connecticut by the British. Sybil‘s ride became the driving force behind the Sybil Ludington 50k Race that takes place this weekend. Remember, if you have a race/event in mind that you would like TWIR to feature or mention, make sure to let us know !
We begin with the “Toughest 50k You Will Ever Love”, the Promise Land 50k (Saturday, April 25 at 5:30 AM). Well, what do you expect for a Dr. David Horton race ? Oh, just a 50k with a whopping 10-hour time limit, and an application with a waiver that states, “I have been warned that the Promise Land 50k is a very difficult and possibly hazardous event and I am fully aware that I could be injured attempting such a run.” The course, which starts and finishes at the Promise Land youth camp between Bedford and Big Island, Virginia, utilizes Overstreet Road, Glenwood, Cornelius Creek, White Tail, and Apple Orchard Falls Trails. Its altitude profile tells it all :
As previously mentioned, the Sybil Ludington 50k takes place this weekend (Saturday, April 25 at 8:00 AM) in Carmel, New York. The race follows much of the route ridden by Sybil Ludington on the night of April 26, 1777 and consists of rolling, narrow country roads. Three hills on the course reach about 500 feet in elevation gain. The course is particularly challenging, due mostly to its rolling pavement terrain, and its lack of road shoulder (or very little road shoulder) on much of the course. The first 6 miles or so on Route 6 are particularly dangerous, before the course turns onto the less vehicular trafficked Route 32.
What do you call a weekend without a PCTR event ? Not a weekend. The Skyline to the Sea Trail Run, a 50k in Los Gatos, California, takes place on Sunday, April 26 at 9:00 AM. 3,000 feet of elevation gain and 5,580 feet of elevation loss highlight the trek from the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at Saratoga GP through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, to the Pacific Ocean at Waddell Beach. The course travels through tall redwoods and high chaparral. Aid stations are located every 7-14 kilometers, with all the typical PCTR goodies.
Looking for a good PR race ? Check out the Lake Waramaug Ultras (50k, 100k and 50 miles) on Sunday, April 26 at 7:30 AM in Lake Waramaug State Park, New Preston, Connecticut. This “fast course” consists of slightly rolling loops around scenic lake Waramaug. A 2.2 mile out-and-back initial section is run by all runners. Then, the 50kers run 3 7.6-mile laps around the lake, followed by a 1.9 mile out-and-back to the finish at the State Park. The 50-milers complete 6 laps around the lake. The 100kers run 7 laps around the lake, and a 2.3 mile out-and-back to finish at the State Park. Confusing…maybe, but fast.
Saturday, April 25 marks the sophomore edition of the Chippewa Moraine “A Run for the AGES” 50k Trail Race in New Auburn, Wisconsin (8:00 AM start time). The Chippewa Moraine Segment of the almost 1,200 mile National Scenic Ice Age Trail will take runners nearly 2 billion years back in time. Starting and finishing at the beautiful scientific interpretive center, the course consists of single dirt/leaf track over roller coaster terrain that traverses through the glaciated landscape of the Ice Age Trail. The trail meanders through hardwood oak savannas, cedar swamp, pine needle sections, outwash plains, marshes, boardwalks, and over 40 different kettle lakes and bogs in multiple directions. Aid stations are located no more than every 4 miles. Its 4,666 feet of gain and loss features “possibly a touch of Horton Miles.”
Also make sure to check out the Free State Trail Runs (Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 AM) in Lawrence, Kansas, featuring 100k, 40 mile and trail marathon options, the Labor of Love 50k (Saturday, April 25 at 6:00 AM in Las Vegas, Nevada), the BPAC 6 Hour Distance Classic (Sunday, April 26 at 6:00 AM in Buffalo, New York), and the Capitol Peak 50 Mile (Saturday, April 25 at 5:00 AM in Olympia, Washington).
There are several marathons
taking place this weekend, including the following :
Saturday, April 25
Country Music Marathon (Nashville, TN)
Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon (Louisville, KY)
Pine Line Trail Marathon (Medford, WI)
ING Trestle Valley Marathon (Minot, ND)
Triple Crown Trail Marathon (Newark, DE)
Sunday, April 26
Big Sur International Marathon (Carmel, CA)
More Magazine More Marathon (New York, NY)
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon (Oklahoma City, OK)
Running Fit Trail Marathon (Pickney, MI)
You can, of course, click on any of the marathons listed above and peruse its website for more information.
That will do it for this week. Be sure to stop by iRunFar.com next week for another edition of This Week In Running !
