Kackar 100K

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 1870m gain. Hold your pace, save your legs for later.
• 1226m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 1071m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 58.4km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 73.7km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.4km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.4km–15.8km · Climb of 1869m. 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 · 15.8km–42.0km · Descent of 566m averaging 9%, climb of 972m, high point 3230m, descent of 1226m averaging 14%. 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. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Fade · 42.0km–73.7km · Descent of 428m averaging 8%, descent of 689m averaging 8%, climb of 594m. Plus 2 more climbs and 1 descent. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. 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. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 73.7km–79.8km · Descent of 1071m averaging 18%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end. Hike the steepest pitches.

Course

The course climbs 5600m+. With 68m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 42% of the distance is uphill, 47% downhill and 11% flat. The longest climb runs 15.8km at an average 11.8% grade (1869m of vertical). The longest descent runs 9.0km at an average 7.6% grade (689m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 40.5% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 34.4% over 1.1km. Surface: 52% trail, 16% smooth, and 10% road.