Snowbasin 50K

Race strategy

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

• 1018m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• High point at 2759m. Control your HR at altitude.
• All downhill to the finish: go all out!
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 35.0km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 52.5km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.5km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.5km–19.1km · Climb of 660m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.
• Work · 19.1km–35.0km · Descent of 1018m averaging 6%, high point 2759m. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. 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.
• Fade · 35.0km–52.5km · Climb of 541m. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 52.5km–58.3km · Descent of 314m averaging 5%. 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.

Course

The course climbs 1318m+. With 26m/km of climbing, this is a rolling, mostly runnable course. By gradient, 44% of the distance is uphill, 45% downhill and 12% flat. The longest climb runs 11.3km at an average 5.8% grade (660m of vertical). The longest descent runs 16.0km at an average 6.4% grade (1018m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 22.5% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 21.6% over 0.4km. Surface: 93% trail and 5% road.

Poles

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

Quad damage