COURSE HAS BEEN CHANGED. PLEASE FIND THE NEW COURSE HERE.
BALLWIN, Mo. – The 2018 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series has just one more race left on the docket, and as we’ve done for almost every series since we started back in 2010, we’ll tackle one of the steepest climbs in the park: the Grand Staircase. We’re also pleased to welcome back two of our favorite Trail Runner manufacturers back to Castlewood State Park. Both Altra Running and Hoka One One will have demo footwear available for you to try at Race HQ.
NOTE: There is a call for rain on Wednesday morning at the time this information was posted. We are hoping we will not need to make any changes to the course that follows, but be prepared for alterations if needed. We will make final course decisions on Thursday morning.
This classic course makes an immediate left out of race headquarters and heads down Kiefer Creek Road until just after we emerge from under the train tunnel. We’ll split off from the road to the left and follow the River Scene Trail around the peninsula with the Meramec River on our left all the way around to where we’ll meet our GU Energy station with GU gels, GU drink and water available for you.
Immediately after the aid station, you’ll make a left to continue on the River Scene Trail which you’ll follow for .8 of a mile. (Please note that due to park restrictions, this area of trail can not be closed for private events like our race. You may encounter other people on the trails including bikers and horse back riders.)
Just when you think you’ve ran out of park lands to run on, “the tunnel” comes into view. Here’s how we’ve described what’s to come in the past:
For those of you new to this series, the tunnel is a pedestrian-only tunnel under the still-active railway that bisects Castlewood State park. Back in the early twentieth century, people from St. Louis city would take the train from downtown to Castlewood for relaxation and entertainment. Canoes spanned the Meramec River from literal river bank to river bank with revelers. And when evening came, they headed up the stairs to the “Castles” for which Castlewood is so named. Hotels, bars and restaurants lined the top of the bluffs. Some of the foundations can still be seen today during your run. While there may not be beer waiting for you at the top of the stairs, we promise there will be some at the race finish.
Once you’ve passed under the tunnel, Castlewood’s Grand Staircase is all that’s between you and the bluffs. While not the “original” Grand Staircase that our ancestors used to scale the climb, you can see remnants of it during your “dash” to the top. 200 stairs later, you’ll be near the crest of your climb, with only a couple more steep sections of trail to deal with for the remainder of the run.
After about four-tenths of a mile from the top of the stairs, you’ll make a left on to a section of trail you should be familiar with from Race 2 of this series – the Lone Wolf Trail – one of our favorite descents in the St. Louis area. We won’t send you all the way to the creek this time though. Instead, you’ll hop a shortcut over to the stretch of Lone Wolf that runs along the southern banks of Kiefer Creek and head back towards the finish line.
But, we can’t let you just finish the series like that. That just doesn’t cut it. Nope!
So, once you reach Kiefer Creek Rd., you’ll make a quick left to stay on the trail over the bridge. Make a quick right across the road, drop down the hill, cross the creek and THEN you can make your way to the finish line!
The party will be ready for you to join it with Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Beer, snacks, Optimal Performance Center ready for all of your sports chiropractic needs, Altra Running and Hoka One One will have demo footwear for you to try if you decided not to wear them on the trails and The North Face tent, where all the final race raffle prizes will be!
For this last session, we’ll have a total of four pairs of trail runners to give away: two from Altra and two from Hoka One One. Don’t leave until all the prizes have been accounted for!
