March 9, 2010
Come Run the Rock/Creek River Gorge Race!
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Registration Now Open! >
See Participant List >
Introduction:
These are single track trails with varied terrain. Lots of hills, rocks, and the occasional mild stream crossing. Every participant receives a Patagonia Runshade T-Shirt.
So who should run these races?
All Runners! This race is meant to be fun and expose those of us who don't normally run on trails to the beautiful wilderness areas surrounding Chattanooga. Do not feel intimidated if you have never run on dirt trails before. It is not uncommon to walk many sections of a trail run. Remember that trail running is strenuous. Practice before you participate; it makes the race more fun.
The race starts and finishes in the Cumberland Trail parking lot, located at Prentice Cooper Wilderness Management Area. The trail footing varies considerably and in some sections are rocky and narrow.
Registration Details
When:
March, 27, 2010
Cost:
10.2 Mile w/ T-Shirt= $30
10.2 Mile w/out T-Shirt= $18
6.5 Mile w/ T Shirt= $30
6.5 Mile w/out T Shirt= $18 *
* You must register before 11:59pm on 3/18/10 to receive a T Shirt with Registration!
Race Fee post 3/18/10 at 11:59pm and on race day (no more shirts available) = $30
Online Registration CLOSES 3/24/10 at 11:59pm
No refunds. Race numbers may not be transferred to another race or another person.
Packet Pickup & Prerace Day:
Packet Pick-up will be on Friday, march 26th starting at 4pm-7pm at Rock/Creek 2 North Shore Location.
Packet pick-up starts at 7:00 am EST on Race Day
Race Day Start:
10.2 Mile race starts at 8:30 am EST
6.5 Mile race starts at 9:00 am EST
Time Cutoff:
TBA
Course Description & Maps
6.5 mile course description:
View a GPS map of the 6.5 mile course [opens in new window].
The trail is a portion of Mullens Cove Loop Trail. The first 3 miles are on the rim of the gorge, providing spectacular views on the Tennessee River Gorge and Chattanooga. This trail crosses 3 small creeks. At Snoopers Rock Overlook the trail turns back onto a jeep road for about 1 mile, then rejoins the single track trail and back to the Cumberland Trail Parking area to finish. Hydration station is provided at mile 3.
10.2 mile course description:
View a PDF Map of the 10.2 mile course [Opens in new window]
This trail is the entire Mullens Cove Loop Trail. It shares the first 3.2 miles of the 6.5 mile loop then continues across Tower Road and back onto single track trail. There are numerous creek crossings and some rocky terrain. The trail is a bit more strenuous but the terrain and the views are unbeatable. The trail ends at Cumberland Trail Parking lot. 100% single track the whole length. Hydration stations will be located at mile 3 and 7.
Directions
The race starts inside the Prentice Cooper WMA, on the Cumberland Trail.
From Downtown Chattanooga, take Hwy 27 North to Hwy 127 North (Signal Mountain). Go 1.9 miles, turn left onto Suck Creek Road. Continue for 8.2 miles, turn left towards Prentice Cooper State Forest. Follow the signs 0.7 miles to the entrance area of Prentice Cooper. Stay on Tower Road approximately 2 more miles until you see race day activity in the Cumberland Trail parking lot.
Hotels and Camping >
Results & Photos
More Race Details
NO Pets on the Trail:
Out of common sense and with respect for legal issues, please leave the dogs, monkeys, etc. at home.
Race Numbers/Refunds: There will be no Refunds and No Race Numbers may be transferred to another trail series race or another person.
Volunteers:
If you are energetic, enthusiastic, enjoy the outdoors and can handle freebies from the outdoor industry...Volunteering is perfect for you. If you are interested in volunteering, follow the registration link and sign up as a VOLUNTEER ($0). Requires a one time commitment toward a pre-race meeting, and race day responsibilities. Thank you, and we'll see you out on the trails!
For questions email Jonathan at events@rockcreek.com>
News & Related Links
Don't get caught in the changes of the season while running-
View the top selling Trail Running Gear >
The 2008 race raised $1500 for the Cumberland Trail Conference!
Click here to read the full story...
The 2007 race raised $1500 for the Cumberland Trail Conference!
Click here to read the full story...
Related Links
See Performance Wicking Tees >>
Go to Trail Running Shoes >>
Shop for Running Shorts >>
Check out our guest writer's Trail Running Gear Guide >> by Josh Wheeler.
Or Shop Rock/Creek at the trail running specific Trail Running Gear & Clothing Page >
Please Support Our Sponsors!
The event benefits The Boonies (Wilderness Trail Running Association). If you have questions, please email the Rock/Creek Race Director, Jonathan, at rockcreekevents@rockcreek.com.
Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race , Chattanooga Local News , Events & Races , Rock/Creek Trail Series , Trail Running | By Mark McKnight | 12:37 PM | Comments (0)
New Rock/Creek Race Team Powers Into 2010 with Early Season Wins
Rock/Creek today announces the completion of a bomb-proof new lineup for the 2010 Rock/Creek Race Team. Early season victories practically guarantee a thrilling year of competitive results for local, regional and national races. Rock/Creek also launches brand-new personalized profile pages to host our member's 2010 race goals, favorite running gear, continuing race successes and individualized product reviews.
Totaling 28 members, the Rock/Creek Race Team is a collection of runners from various walks of life, from CEO's and businesspeople to teachers and students. With 14 new members added to the mix, everyone unites under the Rock/Creek banner to represent exceptional trail running passion, to promote healthy lifestyles, and to continue to be a nagging reminder in the ear of the lead racer, that Rock/Creek is on your heels!
This gifted group of athletes feature experience in adventure races, trail marathons, ultramarathons, stage races, and other races across the country. Returning members Josh Wheeler, who placed 1st Overall for six races in the 2009 Rock/Creek Trail Series and Kris Whorton, who established the new Female Master's National 100 mile trail record in 2009, bring incredible endurance to the team. Other returning members such as Matt Sims, Randy Whorton, Cathi Cannon, and Natalie Sims show amazing levels of athleticism and trail running confidence.
We guarantee you'll hear a lot from our new members in 2010: Conservation Alliance employee Krissy Moehl won the 103-mile Tour de Mont Blanc in 2009 and has already established herself for 2010 with last week's victory at the Mount Mitchell Challenge.
Other rockcreek.com sponsored athletes includeDreama Campbell, Deb Jones, Jan Gautier and Robin Meagher for the women and Johnny Pryor, John O'Brien, Sal Coll, Jim Farmer, Nick Selbo, Kevin Boucher, Sam Linhoss, Owen Bradley and Dan Miller for the men.
Links from the main Race Team webpage to individual profiles enable running enthusiast to follow their favorite runner's progress and preview their expected 2010 race calendars. Race reports are posted on Rock/Creek's Blog, the "Rock/Creek Chronicle" and profile readers may browse personal reviews on gear like trail running shoes, socks, baselayers, jackets, etc. which take our sponsored athletes where they want to go!
Rock/Creek hopes to get the fans, readers, trail runners and children of our community excited about running. We hope that at the same time our Race Team excels as a remarkable example of discipline and endurance to potential race participants. Be sure to stay tuned as we introduce you to each of these amazing athletes through the year!
Announcements , Rock/Creek Race Team , Trail Running , Ultrarunning, Ultramarathons | By Rachel Tucker | 10:23 AM | Comments (0)
March 5, 2010
Race Team Member Krissy Moehl Unthaws from her Mount Mitchell Challenge Endeavor
Join Rock/Creek as we share the exciting first hand experiences by Rock/Creek sponsored ultrarunner Krissy Moehl from last weekend's Mount Mitchell Challenge in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Krissy battled the gusts of sub zero winds as she summited through the mountain elements and had a few heart warming (or should we say, head warming) moments along the way. Rock/Creek is tremendously proud of her early season accomplishment as First Female Finisher Overall in the Challenge with a time of 5:10:38. Below is Krissy's report from the day.
"I woke race morning surrounded by pink and purple, buried in the comfort of princess print flannel sheets. My quick trip east to run the Mt Mitchell Challenge brought me in Friday early evening in time for a stop at the local grocery, dinner at my gracious hosts' house in Asheville, NC and just enough time to buzz over to the prerace meeting in Black Mountain. Race director Jay Cuwen had definitely faced some challenges in the previous couple of weeks with the intense winter weather the southeast has been experiencing. Mt Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi was no exception and the usual trail route up the mountain was inaccessible. Fortunately with some help the crew was able gain access to the parkway which gave runners a path to the snowy and windy summit on a bit shorter route.
Saturday morning came quick as my body was still on PST and didn't allow me to go to sleep Friday night... the iPhone was also a bit of a distraction. I convinced myself out from between the comfy sheets and into the pile of clothes I'd packed to keep me warm during the run. Coconut yogurt & granola in hand we headed out the door and back into the sleepy town of Black Mountain. I rarely arrive to a starting line early and was surprised to be one of the first. This race definitely has a local feel, most participants can probably walk to the start.
With about 30 minutes to go-time the starting area on a side street in the middle of town started to fill with bundled runners and supportive crew people there to take the extra down layers seconds before Jay sent us off. Marathoners and Challengers start together and weave through town and up the steep, paved street to meet up with the double track trail that would eventually take us to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The double track is rocky and this year was covered with stretches and patches of snow and ice.
The night before, Coral and I stopped at Home Depot and found 3/8 inch hex head screws and with the help of her husband Scott's power drill and Jeff Browning's blog post I was able to add the perfect amount of traction to my Vasque Mindbenders (Mindbenders will be available for retail soon!) to keep me on my feet. At the parkway Marathoners turned around and Challengers continued along the parkway and up to the summit. The wind picked up and when I went to pull my beanie out of my waist line I realized it was gone. I added the Patagonia R1 layer but the cold gusts were chilly enough to give me an instant headache. The guys around me were also adding more layers and we dressed and continued to move up the plowed road. My ears were so cold, I stopped to ask a gentleman in a search-and-rescue truck if he had something to cover my ears. He let me borrow his cap with ear flaps (as captured in the summit photos on the Asheville Citizens Times website) it was perfect. How would I return it to him? He said he'd be waiting right there.
There were protected areas along the way and we had to enjoy the views when we weren't shielding our faces. We were also climbing into the clouds and the visibility was diminishing quickly. The volunteers along the way were bundled up and super supportive. Once we turned off of the road and on to the last couple hundred yards to the summit the views were minimal, but tagging the summit sign before having my bib signed off was a comforting moment, all downhill from here!
We doubled back and got to cheer each other on, those headed to the summit and those on the way back down. I saw my trail angel and returned his hat. Once back at the parkway-trail junction we started to catch up to some of the marathoners that were headed back down. My water bottle had froze on the way down and I hadn't been able to drink for a bit. The double track was rocky and rough and I could feel my legs cramping. I was thankful to down a bit of water and more Endurolytes at the aid station. I had to slow the pace a bit to try to get back on top of my hydration. Chewing on the bottle's nipple to break up the ice only allowed for a dribble of water. It made for beating on my quads and tightening of my hamstrings which led to not feeling as agile on the rocky, icy terrain. But like life, you have to keep moving forward and figuring out what to do to feel better. I kept drinking the little I could from my bottle and gulping at aid stations and listening to my new toy, the Suunto T6c, count off the miles.
The final descent paralleled the road we ascended on a fun trail for a bit. The soft terrain felt good on my beaten muscles, but as we neared town we popped back on the streets and made our way to the Lake Tomahawk Park. Once there we took a lap around the lake with the finish line in sight the whole way around.
It ended up being a great run on a whirlwind trip. I got to visit with Coral and meet her great family and appreciate all of the time we got to spend. Matt and Natalie Sims (fellow RockCreek.com team members and who hosted me at Stump Jump last fall) were there and we got to chat a bit at the prerace and hanging around after we all finished. The post race dinner at Black Mountain's White Horse was a great gathering of the participants in a fun venue. The Black Mountain Marathon and Mt. Mitchell Challenge are great events, hard to get into, super local feel with a lot of care and attention to detail. I'd love to return to run the full course and see the trails Mt. Mitchell has to offer."
Great work Krissy- We look forward to a strong season, and more fun experiences. ~Rock/Creek
Read more about Krissy's previous race memories and future events on her Blog "Life in Motion" >
Here's Krissy's Gear List for the event:
CLOTHING:
Patagonia:
-Long Sleeve Capilene 2
-All Weather Tights
-Midweight Hiking Crew socks
-R1 Pullover
-Nine Trails Jacket (tied around my waist, never needed)
-lightweight wool gloves
Vasque:
-Mindbenders - available at Rock/Creek!
Nathan:
-windshield gloves
-Thermal Quickdraw bottle
Suunto:
-T6c
NUTRITION:
Green Foods:
-Green Magma mixed with Emergen-c before and after race
Clif:
-Z-bars
-Shot
Hammer Nutrition:
-Endurolytes
First Endurance:
-Optygen - 3 pills once a day
-Ultragen - recovery drink after race
Announcements , Rock/Creek Race Team , Trail Running , Trip Reports & Photos , Ultrarunning, Ultramarathons | By Rachel Tucker | 8:55 AM | Comments (1)
March 3, 2010
New Trail Series Video: Southern 6 Trail Race
The Rock/Creek Trail Series is happy to have the work of Andrew Kornylak accompany our events for the 2010 season. Here's the latests video from the Rock/Creek sponsored, family friendly event, Southern 6k(+) held last month on Sunday February 21, 2010.
Rock/Creek and Southern Adventist University present the Southern 6 Trail Race. This is a short family-friendly event taking place on Southern's beautiful Biology Trail. Everyone ages 12 and above is invited to participate in the 6k(+) trail race and compete for prizes, including ceramic mugs created by local potter Loren Howard.
Children ages 12 and under are encouraged to participate in the first annual Kiddie k! Door prizes are also available. Proceeds from the event go directly to the University's Outdoor Leadership program and will help with development and maintenance of the Biology Trail.
Also, Rock/Creek Race Team Member, Jan Gautier, is interviewed in this video, and shares about her trail running experience.
For more race information visit: http://www.rockcreek.com/southern6
Photos from the Event can be viewed HERE >
Results from the event can be viewed HERE >
Video by Andrew Kornylak, www.akornphoto.com
Music: John Williams, "Right Rag"
Announcements , Chattanooga Local News , Rock/Creek Trail Series , Trail Running | By Rachel Tucker | 9:52 AM | Comments (0)
March 2, 2010
Rock/Creek Kayak Adventure - Nickajack Lake - Mar. 13
Rock/Creek and Outdoor Chattanooga will partner for a series of kayak adventures for 2010. Beginning with a day trip on Nickajack Lake on Sat., Mar. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Participants will paddle around Bennett Lake, Little Chestnut Mtn., and the relic Hales Bar Dam. Rock/Creek will host a brief winter paddling seminar and gear demonstration.
Cost is $65 per person and includes all gear, guides, lunch, snacks, beverages, and transportation. The trip is appropriate for adults and children ages 14 and older when accompanied by an adult.
Reservations are required and space is limited to 12 participants.
Register online or contact Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888 to reserve your spot.
More Event Information may be found on Outdoor Chattanooga's Website >
Chattanooga Local News | By Rachel Tucker | 5:07 PM | Comments (0)
R/C Race Team Members Krissy Moehl, Natalie Sims, and Cathi Cannon Finish 1st, 4th & 5th at Mt. Mitchell Challenge
You may want to huddle over a steaming cup of hot coco and settle down with a warm blanket before reading about the Rock/Creek Race Team success last weekend at the Mount Mitchell Challenge in North Carolina.
Or, if you want a glimpse of the insanity our Race Team endured, dump a bucket of freezing cold water over your head and go for a short jog around the block until your body goes numb.
Whichever experience you choose for reading this, our team battled the brutal elements labeled as the "most extreme weather in the history of the race... with single digit temperatures and 30mph winds producing sub-zero wind chills." Race Team Members Krissy Moehl, Natalie Sims and Cathi Cannon dominated the 13th annual Mount Mitchell Challenge held in Black Mountain, NC on Saturday February 27, 2010.
Krissy Moehl, from Seattle, WA new to Rock/Creek Race Team as a Rock/Creek sponsored athlete, achieved First Overall in the Women's Challenge with a time of 5:10:38. A last minute course change from a 40 mile Challenge to a 34 mile Challenge is testimony to the severity of weather for 2010, which in part made this a faster race for everyone. Natalie Sims from Signal Mountain, TN finished as Fourth Overall Female Challenge with a time of 6:31:23 and Cathi Cannon from Chattanooga, TN brought it in for the team with a Fifth Overall Female Challenge finish in 7:10:10.
Also, Race Member Kathy Johns started her race season with the treacherous Black Mountain Marathon despite being out last season due to foot surgery. Kathy finished the 32 mile marathon in 4:40:27. Another accomplishment to point out is Rock/Creek's friend, John Fellers, who completed the Challenge and put in hard work to finish with a time of 7:02:44.
More details and individual race reports are to follow shortly, but for now, please enjoy images provided by our friends David Buntin and Rock/Creek's Trail Series Race Director Jonathan Mobley on Rock/Creek's Flickr Page >
Stay safe out there everyone, and enjoy the taste of winter weather today!
[disclaimer- Rock/Creek really does not suggest you dump cold water on yourself before going outside to run in the freezing cold. That's just crazy!]
Announcements , Chattanooga Local News , Events & Races , Rock/Creek Race Team , Trail Running , Trip Reports & Photos , Ultrarunning, Ultramarathons | By Rachel Tucker | 10:44 AM | Comments (1)
