Trails Collective

Trails Collective Weekly Rundown, December 18, 2020

Registrations Opening

Run Ragged, a Last Person Standing event slated to run on May 29^th in Berlin, CT. Unlike some LPS events, this one runs a rugged hilly and technical loop on Ragged Mountain, going again on the hour every hour until one is left standing. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=81076

Two of our regions most transcendental trail offerings are live the Endurance Society’s Infinitus run of races, ranging from 8 miles to 888k, slated for May 20^th to May 30^th in Brandon, VT, and Peak Race’s Blood Root Ultra’s 10 mile to 500 mile options running between May 6 and 15^th in Pittsfield, VT. Along with the NJ Trail Series days at the fair in terms of a host of distance offerings, Bloodroot and Infinitus are the longest trail events in our region, and in the transcendental category. https://www.endurancesociety.org/infinitus.html and https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=69919

A slate of PA Trail Dog and other classic technical trail community events, many of which cap out will go live this Wednesday, December 16^th. In the mix:

Little Loggers Trail Fest slated to run on Sunday, June 20^th in North Bend, PA. This is a rare gem of a kids-only technical trail 5k’ish race. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=79040

The Sproul 10k, a PA Trail Dogs event billed as the toughest 10k in PA, and part of the Rocksylvania Trail Series, is slated to run on June 19 in North Bend, PA. This is another which I believe caps out so get on it quickly at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=79038. This is one of Matt Lipsey’s top picks for trail events in PA, and the boy knows PA trail events.

The Hyner Half 14 miler, slated to run on August 28 in North Bend, PA’s Sproul State Forest. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=79003

The Boulder Beast, a signature #BeastCoast event with plenty of, well, boulders, the Beasts are 25k and 24 milers slated for September 18^th in Lock Haven. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=79512

The Little Pine 5 miler slated to run on October 23^rd in Waterville PA.

Call of the Wilds – a 25k and 50k running on October 24^th in Waterville, PA. COTW’s is a beautiful course run around peak foliage, and is an event that has and will cap out. It’s burly, one of the toughest in PA, offering 5,000’ of vertical gain for the 25k, and about 8,000 for the 50k. Register at: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=80144

Upcoming Events

Saturday December 19 and Sunday December 20

Christmas in the Pines Trail 4 Miler put on by the Batona Trail Race crew – uses a mild and well-marked course in Beachwood, NJ, currently around 100 registrants with a modified format splitting the event into starting waves and a two-day format. Several waves have capped out, but a few remain, and with registration open through Wednesday, December 16^th. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=80610

Ugly Sweater Squatchy Night Trail Race – 10k, 5k, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ put on by the Squatchy crew with awards for Ugly. Event has been postponed with a follow-up not yet established. Registration open at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=80640

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Mason-Dixon Shortest Day Challenge

Sunrise: 07:24, Sunset: 16:44, Challenge Time: 9h 20m. 50k+ distance (36 miles) starts at Shank’s Mare Outfitters in Wrightsville, PA. 50k- (27 miles) starts at Shenks Ferry Road (Appolo Park lot) in Brogue, PA. Both events start at sunrise (you need to be in one of the official start location photos), finish at Cold Cabin Park in Delta, PA, and with the goal of beating sunset. http://traildawgs.blogspot.com/p/mason-dixon-shortest-day-challenge.html

West Rock Winter Fat Ass Extravaganza 8H, another wonderfully punishing option put on by the crew at Live Loud Running. This round is capped out at 50 entrants but also needed to move to a Virtual format of which you can still register through December 17th: https://www.liveloudrunning.com/event-info/west-rock-winter-extravaganza

December 31^st:

Trails Collective’s New Year’s Eve live show

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Valley Trail Series, Winter Race #3. https://valleytrailseries.com/ Offering 4, 6 and 12 mile distances over diverse including sometimes technical trails based at the Alpine Scout Camp in Alpine, NJ. Elevation gain for the 6 mile is 700’, with 1400 for the 12 mile. Registration live through January 7 at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=78161

January 16^th:

Sassquad Trail Running’s Frosty Fat Sass, 3.1 miles, 3hr and 6hr runs based at South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, NJ. The events all make us of a scenic 3.1 mile loop. A great event for those who like winter, or those who dislike winter and need an excuse to get out during winter. To be seen whether it’ll be able to run, but all proceeds to benefit the South Mountain Conservancy and thus a good one to consider. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=80681

January 31, 2021

Naked Nick 25k / 50k, running at Blue Marsh in Leesport, PA, another gem put on the great community which is Uber Endurance Sports. Classic trail events at classic race fees. 25k is only $35 duckets, the 50k, only 39. Similar to that Bumble event…if you were hoping to get your Naked Nick on surrounded by friends this year, you’re also outta luck and should have followed by advice last week. Now you’re just gonna have to show up at a random person name Nick’s house, and when his spouse answers the door, you have to ask her if Naked Nick is home, then wink.  http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=77795

Valley Trail Series, Winter Race #4. https://valleytrailseries.com/ Offering 4, 6 and 12 mile distances over diverse including sometimes technical trails based at the Alpine Scout Camp. Elevation gain for the 6 mile is 700’, with 1400 for the 12 mile. Registration open through January 27^th at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=78181

Results and Voices

December 12

The Hellgate 100k ran with mild weather and fast times. Course records were broken for both Men and Women. This week we lead in with Amy Rusiecki standing in for the technologically-challenged Dr. Horton to intro Hellgate, and follow with video clips of winners Michael Dubova and Leah Yingling breaking it down. For linke to results check out the event page at http://www.extremeultrarunning.com/

FKT Friday

MD:

Nicolas Crouzier, 3h 35m for the 30 mile Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, dropping 36 minutes off the prior mark from January 2020

Michelle Miller 4h 26m for the 30 mile Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, cutting the prior female unsupported mark from September nearly in half.

Jeremy Ardanuy, 1h 58m for the 20 mile Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, shaving 24 minutes off the prior men’s unsupported mark from 2019

NJ:

Laney Baris, 1d 2h for the NJ Appalachian Trail Section, a baseline female mark

PA:

Aaron Keckley 1h 44m for the 10 mile rugged rocky Quebec Run Outer Loop

VA:

Steven Kook, 4h 43m for the 69km Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, setting a baseline unsupported mark. Should be noted that Steven’s unsupported mark is 70 minutes quicker than Mike Wardian’s Supported mark from January of 2020