The Broken Arrow Skyrace 18K

Race strategy

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

• Steep 27% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• High point at 2706m. Control your HR at altitude.
• 385m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 583m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 10.6km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 11.8km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.8km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.8km–7.2km · Climb of 909m, high point 2706m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Work · 7.2km–11.8km · Descent of 385m averaging 11%. 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.
• Home · 11.8km–17.8km · Descent of 583m averaging 10%. 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 1140m+. With 64m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 39% of the distance is uphill, 49% downhill and 12% flat. The longest climb runs 7.2km at an average 12.7% grade (909m of vertical). The longest descent runs 6.0km at an average 9.7% grade (583m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 27.1% over 0.7km. The steepest descent drops at 19.4% over 0.6km.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Washeshu Peak (2706m), 7.2km from the start. Other named summits along the route: KT-22 (2430m).

Poles

Trekking poles are worth taking: about 3.5km of the course favours them.

Quad damage