Red Feather Trail Jamboree 50mi

Race strategy

Run hard on the first mountain, but save energy for the second.

• 557m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• High point at 3339m. Control your HR at altitude.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 49.1km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–1.6km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.6km–19.9km · Climb of 643m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.
• Work · 19.9km–38.3km · Descent of 557m averaging 6%, high point 3339m. Plus 1 more climb. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.
• Fade · 38.3km–49.1km · Descent of 609m averaging 6%. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 49.1km–80.3km · 31.1km of runnable trail. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.

Course

The course climbs 1400m+. With 18m/km of climbing, the course is predominantly runnable. By gradient, 40% of the distance is uphill, 36% downhill and 24% flat. The longest climb runs 11.3km at an average 5.7% grade (643m of vertical). The longest descent runs 10.8km at an average 5.6% grade (609m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 13.4% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 18.2% over 0.4km. Surface: 60% trail and 36% smooth. Flat-equivalent effort: 100.9 FlatKM.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 1.7km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 32 of 100), with 35% of the load in the first half: 2 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 49.1km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 19.9–30.1 km · 557 m D−, -5.5% · 50.2 km ahead → control
• #2 · 38.3–49.1 km · 609 m D−, -5.6% · 31.1 km ahead → control

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 7°C to 18°C, with around 15°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 26%.