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Charles Ash
8/18/2004
13:54:30
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 Subject: Trail Running ?
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Has anybody run the Rocky Racoon race up in Huntsville ? Thinking of doing the 25K/50K in October. How tough is the terrain ? Do I need trail shoes ? Comments.... Thanks
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RTN Editor
8/18/2004
14:49:42
| RE: Trail Running ?
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While I'll defer to the true trail runners (and certainly encourage them to chime in with their thoughts), I did run the Rocky Raccoon 25K twice and had a blast both times. I used the run as my weekly long run and didn't put in a lot of effort, although I did end up running fairly quickly.
I ran the 25K with my standard shoes. At the time, that was probably the Nike Air Pegasus. I wouldn't consider the trails at Huntsville S.P. to be technical or rocky. I had no problems at all with the terrain -- save for a near tumble when I tripped on a root in the final miles. But that had to with fatigue and lack of attention, not terrain.
Both times I ran the race, the trails were pretty dry. Things might be different in muddy conditions.
Lance Phegley
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Charles Ash
8/18/2004
15:27:21
| RE: Trail Running ?
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Thanks for the reply ! I have never run any substantial distance on trails ? Ive really only run road races --this sounded like something different, and like you said it;s a good way to do your long run--Did you camp or stay in a hotel up there ? Any suggestions
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RTN Editor
8/18/2004
15:40:01
| RE: Trail Running ?
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Neither -- although I've known people who've enjoyed both camping and staying at a hotel nearby.
Since I wasn't treating it as a race, I stayed at home (I lived in Katy at the time) and got up a oh-dark-thirty and went to the race.
I had run tons of XC races, and trained on the Ho Chi Minh trails for years, but those were my first trail races. The atmosphere is completely different than a traditional road race or marathon.
I've been to Sunmart (which is run on the same trails) on many occassions in various capacities and it's a blast every year!
Lance Phegley
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Charles Ash
8/18/2004
15:48:28
| RE: Trail Running ?
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Thanks --I'm looking forward to it!
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Charlie
8/19/2004
18:10:58
| RE: Trail Running ?
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I have run it twice, and I am looking forward to the next one. It has a very friendly feel to it. The middle part is on "jeep tracks" and is fairly wide. The first and last third can get kind of rooty. A light rain before can be nice because it tends to pack down the really sandy portions. (Come to think of it, both times I ran it, it was raining!)
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Dave
9/06/2004
19:47:06
| RE: Trail Running ?
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I've done the 25k, 50k and 50 milers in HSP. Trail shoes are not required here, the jeep trails are well groomed. If it rains the week before the run, you're going to be running in/on wet clay (a lot like running in an oil slick) and trail shoes won't help a bit.
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