- We are excited to be part of the XTERRA Trail Run Series at Steep Rock on August 6, 2016! Big thanks goes to the Steep Rock Association (steeprockassoc.org) and the Roxbury Land Trust (roxburylandtrust.org) for opening up their parks to us for the XTERRA Trail Run Series at Steep Rock.  Please help support those that support us.  These organizations exist through private donations and volunteers.

The Paul Mitchell XTERRA Trail Run Series is a collaborative effort to spread the word about trail running and to produce the most recognizable, enjoyable, root slipping, mud sloshing, tree ducking, river crossing, hill climbing, dirt on your shirt, sweat in your eye trail runs on the planet!

There are four distances to choose from:

10K, 25K, 50K and 50 Miler (80K)

Event details and schedule

Course:  Suspension bridge, old railroad tunnel, 19th century iron ore mines, blast furnaces, granite quarry, scenic overlook, tranquil established trails…yeah, got that!  The sights and scenery of the full course are worth pushing yourself to run at least the 25K.

10K:  NO WATER STATION.  Entirely contained in Steep Rock Preserve, the 10K starts off fast on a section of old railroad bed before funneling into a short section of singletrack/goat path on the side of the river.  Regain doubletrack, cross the suspension bridge, thru the tunnel, and run along the river on the “clam shell”.  Cross the bridge again and head up to the pinnacle to see why it’s called the “clam shell”.  Make a quick descent down moderately technical trail and wind your way back on flatish trail.  NO WATER STATION, bring what you need to survive.  Overall not very technical and fairly flat with most of the up/down coming from the pinnacle.  Should be some fast times.

Distance: 6.2mi                      Elevation Gain: 891ft

25K:   Same start as the 10K but continue on the railroad bed after the tunnel.  A sharp left then right finds you heading out of Steep Rock on Tunnel Road/ power line access road.  Following that out lands you on a dirt road that crosses the river, thru a farm, and up Judd’s Bridge Rd.  Only on the dirt roads a short stint, hop on the singletrack trails of the Carter Preserve to the Mine Hill Preserve.  The trails here are more technical with more rocks and roots.  The trails are maintained, traveled and so very peaceful.  The old quarry and blast furnaces are on the way to the aid station (just past mile7).  This is your 1st and only remote Aid Station on the course so pack ample food and water to make it here.  After refueling, make your way back up the landscape, hitting the vertical and horizontal shafts of the old mines for a cool breeze as you go.  Back down the road as you came and just prior to the tunnel jump back onto the 10K course to finish.

Distance: 16.7mi                                Elevation Gain: 2448ft

50K:   It is 53.6K.  Two loops on our 25K course.  The remote Aid Station will be hit around mile 7 and 24.  The Start/Finish area will also serve as an Aid Station.  Your only access to drop bags will be when you finish the first loop so please plan on packing essentials.

Distance: 33.4mi                                Elevation Gain: 4896ft

50miles:  Three laps on our 25K course. The Aid Stations will be hit around mile 7, 24, and 40, your drop bags will be seen around 17 and 33.  Please plan on taking a pack of some sort.

Distance: 50.1mi                                Elevation Gain: 7344ft

Aid Station/Drop Bags:   The aid station in the Mine Hill Preserve parking lot will have the essentials.  There will be water, sweet things, salty things, bananas, and a Port-a-let.  Gels, drink mixes, and other specialty items should be carried with you.  There are NO drop bags at this station.  Drop bags should be placed at the Start/Finish area for your access at the end of each 25K lap.  This area is also an Aid Station.

Parking:   There is limited parking at 2 Tunnel Road, Washington Depot, CT 06794 so please carpool.  People running 50’s will have precedence.  Park and ride from the Washington primary school or Washington town hall areas.  It is just down the road.  More info on parking will be posted as we get closer to the event.

You can copy and paste this link into Google Maps for the parking location:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/2+Tunnel+Rd,+Washington+Depot,+CT+06794/@41.621509,-73.3246837,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e7f32063c0177f:0x64c8799812f5d669

Special Notes:  The course will be marked sparingly with signs at trail junctions.  You are responsible for staying on course.  Please print out a map and carry it with you as back-up.  All trails are well marked and the maps are up to date.

There is NO cell phone coverage in Steep Rock (that means an X instead of bars).  Please plan accordingly.  Sparse coverage is available in the Carter and Mine Preserves. While on trail, look out for others and lend assistance when needed.

XTERRA Northeast Trail Run Series Points:

Points are awarded to the top 15 finishers in each age group. Please see the points breakdown below. Current standings will be posted to XTERRATrailrun.com after each event. Points stay within the region you raced in and do not transfer (For example – if you won XTERRA Thrill in the Hills you’d get 100 points in the Georgia Series. Then you won the XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Run and earned 100 points in SoCal Series. You would have 100 points in each Series).

Paul Mitchell XTERRA TRAIL RUN POINTS- awarded to each age group:

1st 100
2nd 90
3rd 82
4th 75
5th 69
6th 63
7th 58
8th 53
9th 49
10th 45
11th 41
12th 37
13th 34
14th 31
15th 28

The athlete with the most points- by gender and age group after the last race in the Series earns the title of Paul Mitchell XTERRA Trail Run Series Champion and earns free entry into the Paul Mitchell XTERRA National Championship in Ogden, UT on September 18, 2016. Series Champs can also race for free in the 5k or 10k offered at Nationals if they wish, but only the 21km half marathon is considered the national championship race.

For more information about the Paul Mitchell XTERRA Trail Run Series and National Championship, please visit: xterratrailrun.com

Schedule of Events:

August 6, 2016

6:30 am- Registration Opens

7:00 am – 50 Miler and 50K Race Begins

8:00 am – 25K Race Begins

9:00 am -10K Race Begins

Fees:

10K Run – $35 until July 1, then $45

25K Run – $50 until July 1, then $60

50K Run – $85 until July 1, then $95

50 Miler Run – $100 until July 1, then $110

There will be $5 added to the above pricing for race day registration (Please let us know if you are coming so we get enough snacks/food).

Cut offs - The course will close promptly at 7 pm.

Refunds: NO REFUNDS

Awards: Top three male and top three female in each distance. Plus, age group awards for each category.

Race Director: Austin Planz