At long last exiting the woods at the top of the Hobby Trails 10K course, maybe two tenths of a mile from the finish, I faced the humps. The dreaded, treacherous humps! Words of wisdom were sung by Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” protagonist: “No more speed, I’m almost there/gotta be cool now, I gotta take care”, and I’d better heed them. A few years ago, after summitting the first one, my rubber legs declined to rise to the occasion for the next and I just kept going down, hump #2 instead rising to meet my face. Lying there ignominiously in the dirt and wet grass, a decent guy behind me stopped to ask if I was okay. “I’m fine, thanks man, keep going!”. Dropped two spots getting back on my feet.
I can’t let that happen THIS time. I’m somehow, unaccountably, in the LEAD! At least I’m pretty sure, although last year perennial frontrunner Phillip Summers was five minutes ahead and I never saw him. Only the second time in 30-some years of running races that I’ve found myself out front. I did manage to be cool, take care, not crash in the humps this time, and broke the imaginary tape at the finish. By the way, it’s not true that I paid Phillip to stay home. Sometimes the stars align for whatever reason, everybody who can outrun you has something else to do, and you’re it.
I’m not a trail runner. Salem Lake notwithstanding, I do one “real” trail run every year, this one, and I have to say, to me it’s a blast. Six up-and-down single-track root- and rock-filled grueling grinding hammering white-knuckled brink-of-disaster miles that are definitely the most fun I’ll have running all year. Of the nine times it’s been held, I’ve run seven, and look forward to it each year. Yes, I’ve turned an ankle a couple times, had the crash on the humps, and another time I tried to pass some runners and found myself (also ignominiously) face down in the leaf mold and bushes when a grapevine grabbed my foot with poetic justice. And the first year, I missed a turn and got lost for a couple minutes. But it’s a ton of fun. Early on, the climbs can be abrupt and the descents can be a frantic thrill ride. Near the middle of the course there’s a stream crossing where you pick your way across boulders, some boardwalks across swampy ground, then later there are longer, grinding climbs where you really have to bear down. Finally you emerge from the trees, over the humps, then across the field to the finish. Throughout, the trail’s loops and hairpins and switchbacks let you see now and then, through the trees, the runners you’re chasing and the ones who are chasing you. It’s all good stuff, even if you choose to be sane and not risk life and limb the way “some” do.
Bill Gibbs has been race director from the start, and he does a great job setting up the course for both the 5K and the 10K. The route markings are simple and clear. Volunteers deep in the woods staff water tables at just the right intervals. The pre- and post-race vibe is very laid-back, low key, and “traily”. The shirt designs are cool, as are the award plaques featuring work of local artists. It’s just such a cool, different experience from road races, give it a try, put this one on your calendar next August!
