Patagonia Run 21K

Race strategy

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

• Start easy and control your HR up to 10.0km.
• Hold your race pace up to 15.2km, but stay in control.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 15.2km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–2.4km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.4km–10.0km · Descent of 178m averaging 11%, high point 1168m. Plus 2 more climbs and 1 descent. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.
• Work · 10.0km–15.2km · This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Home · 15.2km–21.9km · Descent of 437m averaging 7%. Build to the finish: leave whatever you have left out on the course. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end.

Course

The course climbs 1234m+. With 58m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 33% of the distance is uphill, 34% downhill and 33% flat. The longest climb runs 5.4km at an average 7.2% grade (389m of vertical). The longest descent runs 6.7km at an average 6.5% grade (437m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 24.3% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 28.7% over 0.3km.

Poles

The course is runnable enough that trekking poles are not needed.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 14 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 15.2km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• 15.2–21.9 km · 437 m D−, -6.5% · 0.0 km ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end