BALLWIN, MO. – The third course for the 2018 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series is FITS Sock Co. Night! The first 150 people to arrive at Check-In with a Full Series registration are eligible to receive a free pair of FITS Sock Co. Light Runner Low Socks (retail $17.99!)*. First come, first served on all sizes and styles.
The actual course, itself features only one significant climb, but it also has one of the cruelest stretches of trail in the park.
We’ll head west from race HQ and cross the bridge, immediately dropping onto Grotpeter all the way to the far west side of the park. We came down this stretch in week 1; now we’re facing the climb from the opposite direction. Justin’s Trail switchbacks its way up the hill, with one quick descent before climbing to the final peak of the climb as the route heads across Ries Rd. at about the 1.7 mile mark.
Our GU Energy Station will be on the other side of the road right before we hop on the Mountain Ridge Connector for the first time during the 2018 series. Mountain Ridge is a fantastic stretch of single track that also happens to feature one of the cruelest sections of trail in the entire park. At around the 2.5 mile mark in the race, you’ll be able to actually see Kiefer Creek Road from the trail right in front of you. The only problem is the trail takes a sudden left turn away from the valley. You’ll face another half mile of trail to finally actually reach the road.
We immediately cross the road at the Park Office and make a right back onto Grotpeter for the second time of the race. This time, though, after about .34 miles, we’ll head left to cross the creek instead of continuing back up the hill again. Once you’ve crossed the creek, you have only about a half of a mile left to reach the finish line on the lower section of the Lone Wolf Trail following Kiefer Creek from the south shore. At Kiefer Creek Road, the finish line will be directly across the street where Race HQ, Urban Chestnut Brewery Company, BBQ along with Optimal Performance Center for all of your chiropractic needs and The North Face tent, where all of our raffle prizes will be!
Besides the FITS Socks giveaway, we’ll also have two more pairs of Altra Running footwear to give to two lucky participants, plus whatever other great prizes we end up with our hands on!
*Sorry, single registration racers are not eligible for the FITS Sock promotion.