Running 20 Miles in the Back 40 Trail Race
Run that hill!
The newly constructed Back 40 trails are fantastic. And this trail race has three distances — 10k, 20 miles and 40 miles — for both running and mountain biking. I was fortunate to be part of a 13 man band of trail junkies that traveled to Bella Vista and stayed in nearby vacation home to compete in the various options of race intensity.
Trail runners go first on Saturday and then mountain bikers take their turn on Sunday. The race encourages both by awarding special hand-crafted metal pigs for those that run AND ride. 10k doubles get a piglet, 20 miler doublers get a potbellied pig, and 40 milers get the big pig. As the website says, you can “complete one event for a moderately challenging race or double up and live in everlasting, masochistic glory.”
For the 20 mile distance Dan, Matt, Jim, Dave and me all completed run. By the way, this was Dave’s new longest distance. Carter took on the 20 mile ride on Sunday. And Bob and Chuck achieved 20 mile everlasting, masochistic glory and each earned potbelly pigs.
In the 40 mile distance, Paul ran on Saturday also achieving a new personal longest distance. Rob and Mike both biked the full 40 miles. And rightfully earning everlasting, masochistic glory and the big pig doubler award, Bryan Hay completed both and placed 2nd overall, and Cody Jones rocked the trails placed first overall.
The t-shirt design is phenomenal! The best artwork I’ve ever seen. The finisher awards are cool and mantle worthy. And hey, they served catfish as post race food. Perfect race for those of you that can both run and bike. Because you too could achieve everlasting, masochistic glory!
The New Hampshire Compulsion Explained
In September 2013, Chris Gemignani and I hiked the Piper Trail on Mt Chocorua in New Hampshire. That's where our ten-year bet was hatched. This is an interview with Chris and me in year 3 of the bet.
Read the legalese in the full New Hampshire Compulsion document.
2016 GOBBLER GRIND Race Report
So many things to love about the 2016 Gobbler Grind Marathon! The course is mostly rolling paved trail with a few road sections. The support was solid, the SWAG was fantastic and little details like ample parking, solid snacks and bundled safety pins make it a hassle-free event.
Finished 148th out of 219 finishers with a time of 4:44. Served as a pacer for the 4:30 group, slowed up to help first time finisher complete the race.
Coming down the big hill at mile 9.
Finish Line!
Check out some of my other video race reports and see the full breakdown of all my marathon plus races in my race journal.