Last weekend, on Sunday, July 12, 2009, I ran the Barr Trail Mountain Race (or BTMR). I’m training for the Pike’s Peak marathon in August, so this is a perfect training run for me. It starts in Manitou Springs, CO and is a wonderful, 12.575 mile single track course that travels halfway up Pike’s Peak and back down. The elevation gain is 3,630′ with the high point at 10,200′ above sea level.
Last year was my first year running it, and was one of the first races I felt I actually raced. Sounds weird, I know, but I don’t get super-competitive with other racers. I’m good at pacing myself and finding my own rhythm, and generally prefer to compete against myself. Since beginning to run, especially trail runs, I’m a middle-of-the-pack finisher. Generally right smack in the middle of my division. So the feeling of racing against someone else was new, and surprisingly fun.
This year I went in hoping to shave some time off last year’s finishing time (which was 2:39:13). I’ve been running pretty strong all season—especially uphill—with a pretty good base for endurance.
The wake-up was early. This year we decided not to stay in Colorado Springs the night before, so left Boulder at 4:15 a.m. I slept most of the way down, and had gotten a pretty solid night’s sleep, so was feeling pretty chipper and awake at the start. We picked up our packets and had a little time to stretch and warm up.
The race began at 7:00am. Early for a race of this distance, but I was glad. The sun was bright and hot early on. I found a place in the middle of the pack and took off at the start. My strategy for the race was efficiency. I wasn’t going to try and run the whole thing (like I’d done for the Golden Gate Dirty Thirty), but rather to walk when it made sense (i.e., when I could walk faster and more efficiently than I could running).
The strategy seemed to work out. I passed a lot of folks on the way up. Either walking or running, I was pacing quicker than those I began with. About 40 minutes into the run, I began to settle in with those running a similar pace. We all leap-frogged for the rest of the ascent, which is always fun and inspiring.
I was hoping to make it to the turn around at Barr Camp quicker than I had the previous year. And… I did it. By two seconds—in 1:39:05. I will admit that I was somewhat disappointed. I’d felt strong and sure that I was faster and stronger than last year.
I sighed a little, but then decided that last year was a really good race for me, so to keep that time wasn’t so bad after all. 
On the way down, my mind wandered. Descents have always been mentally tougher for me (and I’m finding it’s true for biking as well). I hate falling, and have some pretty solid diggers in my history, so am generally pretty conscious of my pace. The first half felt a little sluggish, but when I hit the No Name aid station the flow started to come.
The trail through this portion is smooth with little obstacles and an easy, really fun, grade down. My feet were turning over with rhythm and ease. My smile appeared and stuck around, and I realized that I was having fun. The need to beat my time vanished and I started noticing how my feet came off the rocks and roots with a renewed energy. Wheee!
As I approached the last aid station, the flow slowed down as the trail got a little more technical. I was okay with it. The sun was hot and I was ready to cross the finish line.
the final climb to the finish
Bracken and a good friend (who, unfortunately, wasn’t able to run this year) were at the finish to cheer me on. I finished in 2:37:29. Just under last year’s time, and good enough to place 10th out of 22 women in my age group. And in a field of 113 women, I came in 45th. A little better than last year.
This year has seen so much joy and strength in my racing… I can’t wait to see how Pike’s Peak feels. Stay tuned for August 16th!
enjoying a (very cold) dip in the creek post-race
August 19, 2009 at 1:36 pm
[...] they’d be walking up the W’s and I’d run past. I was thankful for having run the Barr Trail Mountain Race six weeks before. I knew my pace was good for the long haul and simply put one foot in front of the [...]
December 23, 2009 at 3:31 pm
[...] trail runs (the Golden Gate Dirty Thirty in June, the Gothic Crested Butte Third Marathon and the Barr Trail Mountain Race in July). moab red hot 50k+ collegiate peaks 50 mile trail run pike's peak [...]
May 12, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Hi, I stumbled across your blog looking for Barr trail race reports. I live in Oklahoma and am wondering what the weather up there in July is usually like. I know the Springs usually get their daily rain shower around the afternoon, but for July, what are the temps around 10,000 ft like? Was the race start chilly? I’m pretty sure once the race starts and the climbing begins, things will heat up (whether its cold or not). I was just curious if packing arm warmers or something for the run down the mountain would be prudent.
May 12, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Hi Charlie.
Welcome to my blog. The weather at any time of year is tough to predict. It’s mid-May and there’s snow on the ground (very unusual) right now. So I’d go ahead and pack the arm warmers. You probably won’t need them, but I’d rather have them with me in case there’s a freak storm, you know?
The finish has been hot in years past (dipping your feet in the creek always feels good after racing), and I’ve been happy with a tank top and skirt. The start is cold, so be sure to bring a long sleeve or jacket to keep you warm before you start. And it’s personal for everyone, but I don’t mind tying a lightweight long-sleeve tech shirt around my waist in case I get cold.
In general, though, I’d say shorts, a t-shirt and the arm warmers for the before-you-race wait.
Good luck and have fun.
I’ll be there again this year, so maybe I’ll see you.
May 12, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Maybe so. Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it.
August 3, 2010 at 10:52 am
[...] it. I figured it’d give me a really good idea of where my fitness level really was. I’d run it last year and had done pretty well. Would I completely fall apart this year? Would I blow up and maybe not [...]