Race: Loopy Looper 12 hour
Runner: Navindra G
Race Date: 08/10/2019
Location: Pennsauken Township, NJ
Results: 9 laps – 33.75 miles
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2607964117
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Really enjoyed that the 3.75 mile course was flat, easy to follow, and well supported. Weather was good, not too humid and only hit upper 80s/low 90s.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Very little, the race was exactly what I wanted in a training race in August for Javelina
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Nothing that weird about the race, closest would be the finisher’s medal.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really got to focus on my pacing, nutrition and hydration during this race.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Several fast runners in the group from the local running community. Male and Female leaders got in 71.25 and 67.5 miles respectively.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Just continue to build my fitness, this was the longest race since my 50k back in March, and I jumped from 20 miles a couple weeks ago in the mountains to 33 for this day. Really not sure what else I could have done differently, perhaps have a cooler with electrolyte pre-mixed to save time.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s a flat, very flat 3.75 mile loop. I think I got 370 ft total gain over my 33 miles
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes, the course covered two sides of a beautiful river front park, decent amount of shade at times though there were exposed parts as well.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Nope, it’s great for working on fundamentals
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Well organized! They had a whole crew making sure each lap was counted since it was not chip timed. There were two aid stations, main one at the start/finish that was well stocked with food and drink. Second one was on the other side of the river around the half way mark that had gels and water.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Small field of 70 total runners, lots of them local. I tied with 10 people for my distance, top male hit 70 miles, and 6 people jad
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Easy to sign up for and I did that in July, though it did sell out. Wife and I stayed with a friend, but there were plenty of hotels around, couple near the race site. It was a great race to attend but not worth traveling for, we only had to drive 3 hours to get there.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard, but good fare of salty and sweet foods, pickles, PBJ sandwiches, etc. Had plenty of gu and huma gels, as well as gu electrolyte tabs and electrolyte pills. They did offer local non-alcoholic beer at the end.
Weather and typical race conditions
Warm 80s to low 90s, not too humid and not stupid hot for the east coast in August. Consistent wind started mid-morning and well into the afternoon that followed the river and felt good in terms of cooling but did slow me down as a head wind on one half and tailwind on the other.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
None, standard gear is fine since there is only a short distance between the start/finish and on-course aid station
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes, very easy for spectators to get around. Wife read a couple books in the shade at the start/finish while I did laps.
How’s the Swag?
Decent, shirt and medal were nice but nothing to write home about.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
Overall I would give 4 out of 5 stars, it was a great training race in August. Would only recommend it if you were in the region and wanted a race in August.
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