Are you ready for more? The 2022 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series continues with Race #2 on Thursday, August 11, at 6:15 pm with our longest course of the Series – and the most “Castlewood-esque” elevation profile we can give you in our new favorite park – Queeny Park.
Race HQ remains at the same pavilion and is closest to the Weidman Rd. entrance to the park—the West side. Enter the park and head up the hill. Take the first left you can and follow the road until it ends at the large parking lot. Race HQ will be at almost the exact opposite side of the parking lot, in the Northeast corner.
Alpine Shop is proud to welcome back Optimal Performance Center to the Trail Run Series. They’ll be set up at Race HQ, as they have been for every Trail Run Series race since 2015, ready to help you before or after the run. We’re also happy to welcome Hoka One One Footwear this evening where they’ll have shoes to demo if you feel like it, as well as swag to give away at the end of the evening. Make sure you say “Hi!”
Race start time will be at 6:15 pm down the hill to the Northeast of the parking lot.
From the start, we’ll head down the Winding Hills Trail to the lowest section of the park before we meet up with the Owl Creek Trail and head South towards the Corporate Picnic Shelter. Then, as you join the Hawk Ridge Trail, the first, and steepest, climb of the night begins. You came down this hill last week. Tonight you get to head up the five and half story climb in just over one tenth of a mile towards the Mason Park Entrance. You’ll have a quick plateau to cruise along before we make a left onto the Fox Run Trail and immediately head downhill.
You’ll be on Fox Run for just under half of a mile. For our fastest runners and for our walkers, please note that once you reach the bottom of this section until we meet up with the Owl Creek Trail, there could possibly be people going both directions on this small stretch of trail.
Once you reach the Owl Creek Trail we’ll take a right turn and head back up hill. This will be the longest climb of the night, taking you up 125 feet of elevation – or nearly nine stories – over a half mile. Once you reach the top, you’ll be nearly to your next turn – another right on to the White Oak Trail for just a short connection to the Dogwood Trail.
For the next approximately 1.7 miles you’ll be following a stretch of trail that you were on last week, but in reverse. From the Dogwood Trail, you’ll meet up with the Hawk Ridge Trail and go counter-clockwise around the northern-most section of the park and head back towards Race HQ.
But around the 3.5 mile mark, we’re going to take you back down to the valley floor on our second stretch of the Fox Run Trail, this time almost all down hill. (As we noted before, there is the slight possibility that we may have two-way traffic on this stretch for the fastest runners and for our walkers. Please be aware of this.) You’ll make a right turn onto the Owl Creek Trail and head back towards the way we began. Make a right turn onto the Winding Hill Trail and make your way back up hill for the finish!
*If you’re worried about the heat, we would recommend considering bringing a hand-held water bottle or hydration backpack. We will announce the location of the run’s hydration station closer to race day.
Enjoy some Schlafly Beer, some Great Harvest Bread Co. treats, some hot dogs and other refreshments at Race HQ following your race. And return your Hoka One One’s if you demoed them!
Approximate total distance of the race is 4.39 miles. Lowest elevation: 499 ft above sea level. Highest elevation: 656 ft.
