Komakali 39K

Race strategy

Run the downhill at race pace, but focus on the climb.

• 620m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 14.6km, 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–6.4km · Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Work · 6.4km–18.1km · Descent of 620m averaging 8%, climb of 549m. 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.
• Home · 18.1km–38.1km · 20.0km of runnable trail, high point 2487m. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

The course climbs 1700m+. With 44m/km of climbing, this is a rolling, mostly runnable course. By gradient, 27% of the distance is uphill, 39% downhill and 34% flat. The longest climb runs 3.5km at an average 15.6% grade (549m of vertical). The longest descent runs 8.2km at an average 7.5% grade (620m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 28.8% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 25.5% over 0.2km. Surface: 42% trail, 24% smooth, and 10% road.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 2.6km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 17 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 14.6km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 6.4–14.6 km · 620 m D−, -7.5% · 23.5 km ahead → control