Training Log Archive: GlenT

Event: Ugly Mudder 9.5k Trail
 

Ugly Mudder Trail Race in Reading on Mt. Penn, a Pretzel City Sports production. Not much mud but lots of snow, maybe 70% of the course or so. "Spring conditions", ranging from hard packed to sugar to almost slush, depending on sun exposure and being stomped on by a couple hundred pairs of feet. Spiked O-shoes were the choice for footwear. Sunny and in the low 30s so decent racing conditions.

Apparently some of the course markings had been tampered with so there were a couple of "where's the course" moments. Just following people ahead of you was not a good plan. From the course description I knew we needed to go to the fire tower on top of Mt. Penn, so when there were no streamers as we approached the tower I only lost 30 seconds or so (but got caught by a group of about 6 people). About a kilometer from the end of the course I saw lots of people out in an open area ahead of me but noticed streamers to my right as the course turned to head back towards the finish - I think I picked up 10 or 20 places (hooray for navigation over speed). Was 68/~230 overall and 2nd M60-67, about 2 min behind. Looking forward to being the young guy in the 68+ category at the next PCS race I do.

At Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area checking out the snow geese and other migrating birds. A few thousand snow geese, some Canada geese, a few dozen tundra swans and various gulls and ducks. Place was pretty busy with humans too.

South Mountain Preserve. Trails were still nearly 100% snow covered, mostly packed but quite soft on top since it was sunny and almost 50F. So it was pretty tough going, especially when climbing. Wore Inov8 Arctic Claw shoes, which I'm sure were better than more conventional trail shoes. Probably at least another week or so until the trails clear.