Week Three of 2023 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series is here!
Join us at 6:15 pm this Thursday, August 17, 2023. Race HQ is at Queeny Park’s Smith Shelter in central St. Louis County at 550 Weidman Road. Enter the park nearest to the Weidman entrance (the West side of the Park). Head up the hill and take the first left after entering the park. 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.
Altra Running will be in attendance at Race HQ with demo shoes to wear on the course if you’d like to try out one of the hottest brands in trail running!
Race start will be just to the northeast of Race HQ on the paved trail next to the shelter. It will be a brief uphill through the Alpine Shop/FITS Socks arch and then you’re off on a third course that will feature 247 net feet of elevation gain over the 3.85 mile course and will feature the same (slippery) low-water crossing along with some off-trail adventuring!
The course will run counter-clockwise throughout, starting out heading southeast on Hawk Ridge along the top western ridge of the park. Just past the quarter mile mark, we’ll make a sharp left turn into the meadow and head downhill towards the parking lot below us. We’ll make another left and then a right down the stairs. Stay to the right all the way around the bottom parking lot before crossing the street. You may remember this next stretch, but in reverse, from last week. We’ll go past the old playground on the right-hand side and then go off trail, down the steep embankment, and cross the lake. Please be careful in this spot. As many of you found out last week, it is slippery! And at just about six tenths of a mile into the race, there may be a good number of you in that spot at one time.
Head around the edge of the lake, turn north and meet up with the trail that follows the creek all the way past the dog park and the community garden before we make a right turn and head up hill back to the Hawk Ridge Trail now on the eastern ridge of the park.
Don’t let the flat trail fool you though. We’re only on this stretch of trail for less than three tenths of a mile before we head down hill on the White Oak trail for a quick drop to the bottom of the creek before we turn right on to the Dogwood Trail back to the ponds we photographed you running along last week.
This time, though, you’re taking a slightly different route. After you pass the second pond, you’ll make a left and follow the bank to the west side of the body of water before heading into the trees along the grass trail. We’ll eventually weave our way south out of the trees and into the meadow. You’ll make a right turn and head up hill through the gap in the trees back to where the Hawk Ridge Trail enters the woods.
Hawk Ridge will give way to the Owl Creek Trail which will give you a nice extended descent back to the community garden and the dog park. You’ll cross the creek at the first bridge you see on the right, and begin the short, up-hill sprint to the finish!
Enjoy up to two cans of Schlafly Beer following your adventure and make sure you grab some of Great Harvest Bread Company’s tasty treats. We’ll have plenty of hot dogs and other refreshments at Race HQ as well. And make sure you stick around for the giveaways!
Approximate total distance of the race is 3.85 miles. Lowest elevation: 500 ft above sea level. Highest elevation: 678 ft. Total elevation gain over the entire course: 247 ft.
Want to register today? Here’s the link!
*Forecasted temps are currently around 86 degrees with humidity of around 54% for the start time (feels-like temp of 89 degrees with a dew point of 67°). If you’re worried about the heat, we would also recommend considering bringing a hand-held water bottle or hydration backpack. We will announce the location of the water station before the race.