1st Annual 2011 Red Top Roaster 10K Trail Race

On July 30, 2011, I ran the 1st Annual Red Top Roaster 10K race.  The race was a trail race at the Red Top Mountain State Park in Cartersville, GA.  The race started at 8:30 AM sharp and is organized by Dirty Spokes Productions.

This was my first trail run.  I did not know how to prepare for it except to continue my street running.  The race was to be my weekly long run and I didn't think it would be any problem at all.  My usual training run pace is approximately 10:00 per mile over 14-15 miles.  I am fairly new to running and had nothing to compare the trail race to.

I noticed on the way to the race start line, I noticed the beauty of the state park.  Allatoona Lake surrounds most of the park.  I arrived early and purchased my parking pass.  I have noticed on previous visits to my local public library that I can check out a parking pass for state parks.  I will do that in the future.   The parking was only $5, but $5 is $5!  There was a fleet of porta-potties at the parking lot, as well.  When I put my Garmin 310XT on, I noticed it was dead.  I plugged it in and recharged it while I stretched.  I noticed that the crowd was a fairly small crowd racing.  That pleased me, as my last race was the Peachtree Road Race and had 60,000 runners.  This race was capped at 325.  It was really nice.  I picked up my packet from the start line and went back to my car to finish stretching and retrieve my hopefully-recharged Garmin.  I utilized the porta-pottie  on my way to the start line.  I checked the weather and it was hot- 81F, heat index of 91F, humidity of 77%.  It appeared that the Red Top Roaster was going to live up to its name.  The organizers used a bull horn to keep us informed of important times and moved us to the starting line when the time came.  As I waited for the start signal, I reviewed my strategy.  I wanted to stay in a high zone three or low zone four during the race.

The start signal sounded and I started my watch as I passed over the chip timer.  We got very clogged up on a path that was probably meant for one person to travel simultaneously each way.  As the crowd surged forward, the pace increased and then we got onto the trail.  I hoped that the sun would be blocked by the trees of the forest and it was.  It was still stifling hot, though.  I was very surprised at how ill prepared I was at running up the side of the mountain.  I was disappointed when I saw the signs on the trail.  It appeared that I would repeat the course in reverse!  I kept my average pace during the beginning, but faded rapidly.  My final couple miles were in the high 12's or low 13's as the mountain slayed me.  I had a really hard time keeping with my heart rate strategy as the ascents became longer and steeper throughout the course.  I also realized that the three hydration opportunities the course coordinator arranged were not enough.  It was so hot that had the trail been a little closer to the lake, I would have jumped in.  The heat index climbed relentlessly as I ran.  I had expected to complete the course in 1:30 hours, but I completed it in 1:50.  It was a dismal time.  There were bananas, Powerade, and water available after the race.  I ate a banana and drank my weight in Powerade before leaving.  I was very tired, sore, and knew the mountain had beaten me this first time.  I told myself it would not happen again.  I checked the weather at the end of the race and it was much hotter- 92F, heat index of 111F, and humidity of 60%.

Kudos to the Dirty Spokes Productions crew who organized this race.  It was a beautiful scenic course that will be long remembered by me.  All of the people I met, runners, sponsors, organizers, and spectators, were very friendly to me.  The wildlife was wonderful and I found the trail to be very forgiving in most places for a first time trail runner like me.   This race location has kindled a fire in me for trail running and makes me want to run every other long weekend run on an off-road course.

I will be very glad to run this race again next year.  Hopefully I will be a little more prepared!

Later that day, after I returned to my hometown of Athens, I stopped by the local running store.  I purchased another pair of Zensah Shin and Calf Compression Sleeves so I will have a pair to run in and a pair to recover in.  I think they may have helped the burning in my calf as I ran the inclines.  I also purchased a North Face Enduro BOA Hydration Pack for my next long run so I don't have to rely on water stations for my hydration.

For future training, I plan on incorporating trail runs into my routine.  I work on a 1000 acre facility and have no excuse not to!