Lake Martin 50

All is set for the Lake Martin 50 on March 23rd.  I ran the course Friday, January 28th, start to finish to get an exact measurement.  I have run 6 times now on measured courses using my Garmin GPS watch. Three of the runs were at Veteran's Park here in Birmingham on the 5K course that serves as the High School State Championship Cross Country course.  Two runs were at Oak Mountain State Park and one was the Lookout Mountain 50 Mile trail race in Chattanooga. The watch is measuring about 92% of the actual distance on trails.  The adjusted distance is 25.02 Miles per 25 mile lap.  The elevation gain is 2,726 feet per lap.  Below is the updated GPS course map, the elevation profile and the Russell Lands Trail Map.

The elevation profile has been corrected using a Garmin elevation correction program.  The GPS data from my watch is cross referenced with Geological Survey data to give the most accurate measurements possible.  Total elevation gain for each 25 mile loop is 2,726 feet or 5,452 feet for the 50 miles.

In a few weeks, I plan to have a training run on the course.  I will post a date as soon as I know.

The course is beautiful and the trails are great. If you have a chance, print the course map and try it out.  Please go by the Stables and fill out a waver before running.

Southeastern Trail Runs Update:

The Southeastern Trail Series is now in place.  In 2013 we are going to put on four races in addition to the Run for Kids Challenge and the Birmingham Stage Race all of which will be part of the series.  The trail series is designed as a "Training Program" for anyone wanting to run an ultra.  The first race on April 13 will be 3 and 6 mile trail races on the relatively easy trails at Red Mountain Park.  All spring, summer and fall the races will steadily progress in length and difficulty, building to the culminating event in November, the Southeastern Trail Series 50K and, hopefully, 50 Mile at Oak Mountain State Park.  (We still have to get approval for night running at Oak Mtn Park.)

The entire series will be treated as a training camp.  We will have training sessions along with the races.  We will help runners develop training programs for reaching their ultrarunning goals.  We will have substantial discounts for registering for the entire series as well as other multi race discounts and incentives.

The series is a race and it is not just for beginners.  The early races will be great speed training for experienced trail racers and the later races will be challenging for everyone.  We will have place awards for each individual race and runners will accumulate points for every race run plus additional points for how they placed.  At the final race we will give special awards to the Points Series Champions.  Mountain High Outfitters and Fleet Feet of Birmingham are our primary race sponsors.

Here is a link to the website: Southeastern Trail Series

Ultra Trail Running Training Camp

On November 10th and 11th we will be hosting a training camp for anyone interested in learning more about running ultras.  The camp is FREE.  Just sign up.  It will be held at Oak Mountain State Park.
Here is a link to the website: Birmingham Ultra Trail Running Training Camp

This will be a training camp for anyone interesting in learning "How to Run an Ultra" no mater how much or how little running experience you have.  The course will be designed to giver participants the knowledge necessary to go out and successfully complete an ultra.  We will cover how to run everything from a 50K to 100 miles.

Day one we will cover the basics.  We will discuss such things as how to stay hydrated and fueled during long training runs and races, how to determine what you can eat on the run, when you will need dropbags and what you should put in them.  We will also talk about clothing, equipment, night running, pacing, weather, efficient use of aid stations, etc.  The discussion will be broken down into related elements.  Following each segment we will go out as practice what we talked about.  We will have a full aid station set up and run far enough to need it.  We will simulate race conditions as close as possible.  (Clothing and equipment could be an entire weekend course.)

Sunday will be slightly more advanced and cover such subjects as how to set up a training schedule geared to a specific ultra, where to peak and how to tapaer.  We will go into more detail on some of the things discussed Saturday.  We will plan out a race strategy for a 50 mile race and a 100 miler.  We will talk about how to run up hills and how to determine if it is best to walk uphill or run up.  We will also cover going downhills and then we will go run a few hills.

Camping will be available near or at the location of the training camp.  For those camping, we might just get caught up on the mountain a little too late and have to finish a run in the dark.  There will be a small fee for camping in Oak Mountain State Park.  (Bring headlamps and flashlights, Yes, both!)

The Camp is sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports and Mountain High Outfitters and we will have equipment available to try out or purchase.

More information to come and a full outline will be available soon including a list of things you should bring.

Birmingham Stage Race

Birmingham Stage Race

The Mountain High Outfitters Birmingham Stage Race is now just over one month away.  The North Face is a race sponsor and will provide technical wicking shirts for the event.  We will order the shirts on October 1st so sign up before then to be sure of getting a race shirt.

Mountain High Outfitters - Birmingham Stage Race

Notice anything new about the name of the Stage Race?  Mountain High Outfitters is now the official "Name Sponsor" of the Birmingham Stage Race.  We plan to put on several races together later this year and next year.  More on that later.

We are also exited about having Fleet Feet of Birmingham as a sponsor.  Greg and Brian with Fleet Feet were a huge help with the Run for Kids Challenge last year and now they are official sponsors of the Birmingham Stage Race and next years Run for Kids.

Registration is now Open for the 2012 Birmingham Stage Race

Registration is now open for the 2012 Birmingham 3 Mountain Stage Race 

to be held October 26, 27 and  28.  

On line registration is available at Ultrasignup.com or by printing the registration form on the race website.  There is also a map of the final stage at Oak Mountain.  In a few weeks I will get out with a GPS and provide a more accurate map.

More information to follow

Birmingham Stage Race Set

Everything is just about set for the race.  We felt the original date was really pushing things so we moved it back to October 26, 27 and 28.  We plan to have the first stage at Red Mountain Park and it will be in the neighborhood of 10 to 12 miles.  The second stage at Ruffner Mountain and will be about 14 miles.  The final stage at Oak Mountain State Park will be 24 miles.  We will adjust the distances as necessary to hit the 50 mile mark.  The race will be tough.

Registration will be through Ultrasignup.com and they should have everything ready sometime next week.  Runners are welcome to sign up for one or two individual stages at a reduced price however shirts are only available to those competing in all three stages.

Here is a link to the website.  Birmingham Stage Race