3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Scenery: beautiful 5k route along the water and through a gold course.
Size: small and local (350ish runners total)
Options: 5k, 10k, kids’ fun run
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
It was cold and rainy.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I ran this race because my sister in-law wanted company as she ran her first race postpartum. I knew nothing about it and just sort of threw it into my schedule for fun. I wound up coming in first in my age group!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Get there on the earlier side to park. Parking is right near the start but there is no bag check so you want to be able to access your car easily.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I need to run some smaller races more often. They’re fun!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Nothing crazy. Mike 2 has some inclines but I really went in just looking to enjoy a brisk run and support my SIL.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
No
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Pretty well-run and friendly. Nice refreshments and freebies at the end.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
If I came in first in my age group then no :).
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.
You can register the day of but can only get there by car.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There was one water station on the course. Food at start/end as well as bathrooms.
Weather and typical race conditions
It was 50 and rainy but anything goes in late April!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
None
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes
How’s the Swag?
Free t-shirt and good snacks
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4/5 – This is a fun, friendly low-pressure race in a lovely area of CT. I wouldn’t have known about it if my SIL hadn’t asked me to join her and I’m glad I did!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The trail was at a Regenerative Farm. The support from the farm community and from the Hartford
Running club were amazing!
The trails were maintained and well marked.
Beautiful sunshine day and got to see farm animals throughout the trail run.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
A donkey trying to get my attention. Lol!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Finishing my first trail 5k was the biggest highlight. Even though I was slow, I kept a decent running pace throughout the course. Except for the inclines, I had to walk up. The trail did have rolling hills which made it more challenging but good for a beginner such as I.
I prefer trail running because being in nature is in my element.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Doesn’t matter what fitness level or if you are a beginner runner. Just go out and run if it’s on pavement or on trails. Take it slow and enjoy the process. I came in last place from the trail event but I persevere and finished it. People are there to support you.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Beautiful cross country course
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The course had rolling hills so that made it challenging but it was not a technical trail. To me, I thought it was a good trail for beginners.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Not competitive at all. Laid back event
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.
None
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
One aid station. Nothing fancy. Yummy pumpkin spice muffins!
Weather and typical race conditions
Beautiful sunshine day! Around the low 60s
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I just wore my Altra trail running shoes and running vest.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes
How’s the Swag?
No swag
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
How many stars is the max? Lol Yes, I do recommend this event
Results: 26.61 miles. 4:45:59 . Got a 2 minute PR and 40 minutes faster than my last marathon!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
1. The volunteers are great! Mostly kids from Boys and Girls club and so friendly!
2. The finish line is really beautiful in Bushnell Park. They decorate it nicely and the crowd there is really pumping you up!
3. Really nice post race food tents etc. Huge set up, massage, runner only food area, food trucks etc. – one of the biggest finish areas I’ve seen.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
1. The out and back at the worst part of race (mile 16-22)
2. Some areas not so nice to run through
3. Sparse crowds in long stretches
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
It happens so close to Halloween that many of the homes and businesses have Halloween decorations out–including some REALLY elaborate ones. Best was an entire village of skeletons and a skeleton horse drawn carriage with skeleton dogs and animated figures. It was great.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Finally learned how to pace a marathon! Took it nice and slow at beginning, let people fly by me and felt ok with that. I ended up passing some of them later in the race!
Learned you can pause a bit and you really don’t lose that much time.
Fueling went good for once! Did every other water stop and brought along Skittles and Fig Newtons which really helped.
Used a mantras like ‘ you are strong’ , ‘you’ve done this before’ , ‘you trained for this. You are prepared’
Was able to run most of the ‘hills’. Felt great..the hill strides Matt had me do really paid off!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Followed a pacing group at the start that was a little slower than my goal but it really helped me keep it nice and slow at the start so saved energy for later in race.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Realized you can take the time to use a porta potty or, if need be, rest a second. I thought this would wreck my time, but I was still able to catch up to the pace group and was surprised that they had not really gotten very much further.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
All the distances start at once at the same line, so make sure you follow the marathon track!! Easy to accidentally turn onto the half path.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Some nice sections along the waterfront, about a mile going through a park trail. Many mixed residential areas, but also a good 40 percent is going through industrial areas or just nothing to look at.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Fast and flat!!! 703 feet of elevation but doesn’t feel like it. There is a lot of downhill. Many people run this for BQ as it only has one little hill that is an overpass. Only tough thing is mentally getting through 16-22 as is an out and back and can be tough for so many miles seeing people going the other way looking really strong 🙂
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
VERY well run! Could be rough with all the distances starting at once from the same spot, but it works very well.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
A real mix. Plenty of strong fast runners – winner was a 2 hour 21 minute runner. But also a lot of mid to back of packers. and a very healthy relay component.
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.
Get the VIP pre-perks package!! It is really worth it. They mail you your bib, you have parking very close to the start line and they rent a hotel ballroom 2 minutes from start line for a small breakfast spread, and you get to use hotel bathrooms 🙂
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard fare except for their famous mile 22 candy table! Three Musketeers, Skittles, Swedish Fish, you name it lol ! Great volunteers – many of them from local Boys and Girls clubs.
Weather and typical race conditions
Race day was 52 degrees and cloudy. It is often on the cooler side which is great.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
PLENTY of water stops. Each with H2O, Gatorade, and many with Gu’s and snax.
No need to bring water with you.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Lots of spectators in some sections, but also long stretches with nobody. They have about a dozen bands on the course as well as some DJ’s. Mile 16-22 is an out and back through a residential area where there are a lot of lawn parties going on.
How’s the Swag?
Great medal!!! Shirt is a nice long sleeve non-tech shirt.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4 out of 5. Love this race – just the out and back can be a little rough.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Great views
Great race support on the course
Low cost
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Last year, the course had to change due to a beaver flooding out the trail
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Ran a lot faster than last year.
Saw my first rattlesnake in the wild.
Ran with several friends so we alternate pulling along.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
I didn’t put on enough sunscreen and burned. It really hurt me on the last mile when we came out of the woods into the sun.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
More sunscreen sooner.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
This is a good beginner course. It has technical terrain, but with breaks that are runnable.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Very pretty course
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I don’t think so. It has plenty of challenges. Mud, rocks, small hills, roots. But nothing that isn’t “normal” for this area of CT.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
This is an established race. It is part of the CT Blue Blaze Challenge Series
Competition – Is there a strong field?
I’m too slow to care.
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.
There is day of registration.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Basic fare – potato chips, sports drink, water, fig newtons
Weather and typical race conditions
Upper 70’s low 80s. Sunny
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
I carried water, but would have been better served with a smaller bag and refilling at the stations
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
There are a couple of spots that people pop out of the woods, but not a lot a places to watch.
How’s the Swag?
No swag unless you buy a shirt day of. Part of the reason it is low cost.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Challenging course
The 50K runs on the same course and runners were very positive even as they lapped us slow folks
Great views
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Post race – the 0.5mile walk up a steep hill is a kick in the butt
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Climbing the “stairs” of rock in race.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Finishing.
I ran a smart race. Took my time where I should. Stopped for some photos. And, then the end, it was fun plunging through some of the mud and small streams. What is the point of a trail race if you don’t get dirty?
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Bring a chair and a bag for the post-race. After I got to my car, there was no way that I was going back down the hill (and then back-up) to watch the finishers
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
My road shoes worked for me. They did better than my trail shoes.
I drank almost 2L of water with the heat.
I need to work on really steep climbs. Traprock starts with a nasty uphill. And, I thought I had been doing hills, but I was wrong
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Cupless race. Bring a cup or something to drink out of.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Very pretty. You run along a ridge so sheer drops but great views.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes. Which makes the 50Ks that much more impressive
“The Traprock course is a loop course of approximately 10.5-11 miles per loop. There will be two races (one (17k) and three loops (50k)). It is a rolling course with 50 % technical single track on the Metacomet Trail. The balance of the course is double-track. ”
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
This year was a new group running it and they did awesome. Event started on time. Plenty of support throughout the course
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes – but I can’t see them from the back
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.
This race sells out fairly fast. It is very popular. And, it is now a UTMB qualifier.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Well stocked.
Weather and typical race conditions
Temperatures hit near 70 which considering most of us have been training in the 40s sort of hurt. Rain happened the night before and the morning of the race. However, there was a decent breeze for most of the race. So hot, but not deadly.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
No. It is almost impossible to spectate
How’s the Swag?
Good beer glass.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 stars out of 5.
My friends and I are planning on running it next year.
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