42 km Trail

Race strategy

Run the climb at race pace, build your speed on the downhill, and go all out at the finish.

• 311m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 8.0km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–1.9km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.9km–8.0km · Descent of 311m averaging 8%. Plus 1 more climb. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. 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.
• Home · 8.0km–41.4km · 33.4km of runnable trail, high point 555m. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

By gradient, 34% of the distance is uphill, 31% downhill and 35% flat. The longest climb runs 4.3km at an average 7.8% grade (334m of vertical). The longest descent runs 3.8km at an average 8.3% grade (311m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 19.8% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 13.0% over 0.2km. Surface: 99% trail.

Poles

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

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 13 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 8.0km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 4.3–8.0 km · 311 m D−, -8.3% · 33.4 km ahead → control