Trail Race in 2019?

Back in September, my boys and I went camping at Frontenac State Park. When we were hiking that night, we noticed signs for a trail race. And then the next morning, people were out getting ready to direct traffic for the race. It turns out I had at least 1 friend and 1 spouse-of-a-friend (of a YWCA Endurance Sports teammate actually) doing the race. In the post showing my boys and I camping, I shared part of race map that showed a HORRIBLE climb (that we hiked up and down) that was around mile 9 of the 10 mile race.

The race is called "In Yan Teopa" (named after a rock formation there), and I found lots of photos on this Facebook page. Here are about 20, and it makes me want to camp out and race next year!

The first 2/3 of the race or so are on rolling grassy hills.


Remember fast "soccer mom" duathlete/triathlete Jenny Wilcox who raced me a lot?!?
Here she is! She went on to win the female race by about 3 minutes!


Through the dewy sumac.


My teammate's hubby!


Jenny! (About to pass my teammate's hubby.)


I mean, doesn't this just look like a HORRIBLE place to race? :)






Jenny again.


Coming up to one of the park roads...


... and getting ready to cross it.


Just the ugliest race.


Here's the end of that 300-400 foot climb with less than a mile left.


Fun times. The boys and I hiked this the night before.


LOTS of switch-backs.


Lots of rocky stairs, and some ACTUAL stairs near the top.


More switch-backs.


Some of the final climbing. And then it's less than a mile of flat(ish) trails to the finish.


Coming to the finish!




A special award for "dead f*cking last." Local honey. Nice!

I really want to keep this in mind for next year. I don't have very strong ankles (bad sprain a few years back), so trail running makes me a little nervous. But half of this is just "grass" and not extreme "trail" like. It's 2 weeks before the TC 10 Mile, so it can be a nice final leg-burner before that race! We'll see how the summer and early fall shape up...