When an event has ‘dirty’ in the name, it is often a good idea to leave the iPhones and shiny new shoes somewhere safe and dry. That goes doubly true for those managed by X-Dog Events, who seem to enjoy making routes that are true cross country, not in the sense of skimming across golf courses. When some obstacles and terrain force you to juggle the desire for speed with a concern for avoiding injury, that is when running becomes fun. Street races are great for full on speed, but tend to be a little uninspiring when it comes to scenery. This event at Henry Hagg Lake on April 12th will definitely have great scenery, but the potential for speed lies in your ability to be surefooted.
Of course, I definitely don’t mean to warn anyone off trail running. All it takes is a good pair of shoes, a realistic assessment of your coordination, and some dry clothes for after the event. Hagg Lake is an absolutely amazing place to run, most of the trails are single track and dirt. The difficulty often depends on how much precipitation has fallen in the days leading up to the event. There are the typical minor rises and climbs found when running on most trails, but no major hills.
The duathlon starts first, at 10 am, with the run beginning about thirty minutes after. Follow the signs to the start area by Boat Ramp C, but don’t pay the park entry fee. Duathlon competitors do the running leg first, 5 miles in length, then the 14 mile mountain bike. Very little of the course is paved, just used as a way to connect different trail sections. Registration for the dash is $25 before the next price increase on March 20th.
Spring is just about here, and there is really no better place to view the beauty than up in the hills. By the April 12th event date, it should be in full bloom and the awesomely not early start time means that most of the morning chill should have burned off. I can personally vouch for the quality of X-Dog Events, I always leave happy. Expect dirt, some hills, lots of nature and good cheer at this run. Don’t delay, register now!