Evergreen Trail Trek Race Review

My attempt to look serious..ly goofy before the run

The Evergreen Trail Trek is an evening trail marathon in the city of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada.

As I start, I'd like to say that I do NOT train for the full marathon distance.  I train for Ultra distances, and the race style is very different.  Ultras are run much slower, with a point to avoid 'red lining' (running at peak heart rate).  Marathons are much quicker!

This race began and ended at a horse race track, consisting of two half marathon loops.

The first 1.5 miles was run on ATV trails and dirt road.  I came out running a 6 minute mile pace as this terrain is not difficult, and kind of my bread and butter next to insane inclines.  I started in first, and kept it until the last 3 miles.  I'd like to add the first place guy followed directly behind me the entire first 23 miles (strategically smart) so this was an epic battle.

After the first 1.5miles, we hit the trails.  Basically sand hills that were relentless. The elevation profile looked flat..ish.  It was not. I felt good running the first 10K, and my legs were taking the hills without a lot of difficulty. I was able to keep a solid pace and finish out the first half marathon in 1:37 (this actually would have placed me 2nd in the half marathon category!).  I did my lap through the horse racing track, and went back out to complete lap two.

I'd been using Gu gels that I bought earlier in the day when I purchased my new Salomon hydration pack (bought for this race).  They seemed to be working okay.  I still had the lead past the 30K mark, although we were pushing each other hard.  Mile 20 was were I made my first mistake.  I went to take my last gel, and I dropped it.  This proved fatal later on.

 Mile 23 I could feel a little tinge in my hamstring, but nothing fatal.  I was missing that gel!  I was getting electrolyte deprived, and I knew I had to dig deep.  Then disaster on mile 24.  These are multi use trails, and some people or horses were out on the trails.  As myself, and my tail approached the horses, he went to one side, I the other.  The horse turned, making its back end almost hit me, and sending me into the bush.  Out went the hamstrings.  My feet went into the deep mud, and my lead was gone.  I spent almost 10 minutes slow jogging trying to get my hamstrings in, watching first place slip away.

What feet should look like after a run..sexy

This is the dark place, every runner knows. It is my favorite place.  As I was running up hill without any hamstrings, I was struck with a deep peace as I focused on everyone I had rooting for me.  There were a lot.  People that have been with me every step of the journey watching me put in the 20 hours a week for the last year.  My wife and I always joke about her being clairvoyant, and before I left earlier in the day, she told me I'd get a silver (this is a running joke that she can predict how I will place), and it looked like her prediction would come true!

Heart Rate chart for the data nerds

Back to mile 24.  I knew I had to make a run on the first place guy.  I also know, everyone hurts at the end of a marathon.  He was hurting like I was hurting.  These are the miles we train for, and as I got back to the road, I dropped the hammer to get back to at least 7 minute miles.  My running with reckless abandon helped me to find a root just after mile 25, and I went heels to Jesus, face to the dirt, but that was only for 2 seconds, before I popped back up, and kept the push going.  As I rounded the last bend, there was no hope of taking first, but I could beat the 3:30 mark (a big feat on trail marathons). With the crowd cheering, I ran across the finish line, and took the silver.  It was transcendent.

This was the first race of the summer running season for me, and my first race since Arizona in January, and in 10 days I'm running a 50miler with 12000ft of gain (Orca's Island in Washington), then two weeks after that, a 100K with 10000ft of gain (Blackfoot Ultra in Edmonton, Alberta).  Life is good. My wife is awesome.

Thank you all for the support.  It does mean the world to me, and if you are reading this, that means you!

The Finish line

As always, drop me a line on twitter @CanGhostrunner or post a comment.



A quick shout out to my sponsor Unchained Muscle clothing for giving me gear (and if you buy gear from their site and use promo code Josh10, you save 10%, there sleeveless hoodie is my new favorite running sweater).

Keep hammering,

Canadian Ghost Runner