| Author |
Topic: Double Trouble 15K-30K |
robhamm
Cool Runner |
 posted May-31-2007 10:46 AM
   
Is anyone heading out to the Double Trouble Trail Run at French Creek State Park? I am hoping to be there June 24. http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/doubletrouble.html I ran last year. It was a bit muddy, the day before it rained, but it kept race day cool.------------------
Rob
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merigayle
Cool Runner |
posted May-31-2007 10:50 AM
its a maybe.
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loopy
Cool Runner |
posted May-31-2007 11:28 AM
I'll be doing the 30K. I ran it last year too and had a great time despite the rain/mud. As you said, we lucked out with the relatively cool temps - it has the potential for being very hot!There is also a race together thread for the double trouble. [This message has been edited by loopy (edited May-31-2007).]
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quaker02
Member |
posted May-31-2007 11:32 AM
I am going to run the Double Trouble. I have never run it before though so I am not quite sure what to expect...it will be interesting to see how it goes for me...it will be the longest trail run I have done. Sam
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robhamm
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 08:40 AM
I am fortunate to be able to run at French Creek nearly four times per week. The trails in sections are extremely rocky. There is a good sized climb to the fire tower around 4.5 miles into it before the first water stop. Then back down and around the base of fire tower hill. Then the course used to climb up to fire tower again. The trail there has been closed for a year due to erosion, I’m not sure if they plan on using that same section. If so, from the last water stop there is about 1.5 miles of foot flying fun down to Hopewell Lake to the finish. It’s a good time all around. There are some really good trail runners who show up there and I suspect it will grow. ------------------
Rob
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loopy
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 09:13 AM
It originally looked like they would have to change the course, because of the closed trail. However, Ron Horn had some new info about that in the 05/16 Pretzel City Sports Newsletter: quote:
I've gotten some indication that the new "white" trail in French Creek will be done by the date of the Double trouble so we probably will NOT have to revise the course or distance. There is also an outside chance that an old trail is being "renewed" up toward the fire tower. If so, we may even be able to eliminate the 300 yards that you have to run on road. Keep your fingers crossed and don't forget to get your apps in for this event.
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robhamm
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 09:31 AM
That’s great to hear. And as far as that section of road at the top of fire tower; I have been trying to locate that section of red trail several times now, the one that avoids the road. That must be the one they are repairing. Take a look at this. It is the PDF from DCNR of French Creek. I took it and marked the double trouble course. http://hammitup.com/Double%20Trouble%20Trail%20Map.pdfHope it helps. BTW – I was thinking of holding a trail race at French Creek. Give me your feedback on this. It would consist of a specific course mapped out on the French Creek Park. Anyone could run the course whenever they wanted over the course of a year. This would work on the honor system. You would submit your time to a message board or website and the results would be collected over this time. Run the course as many times as you wanted. Submit your times each time you ran. At the end we can announce winners and age groups. We could also hold informal races on this course a few times over the year. This has been something I have been cooking up over the past eight months. What have you?
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Rob
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loopy
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 10:01 AM
Great! Wow, Rob, thanks so much for the map - very helpful indeed.As far as the French Creek trail race, definitely sounds interesting. I live about an hour away, so probably could not make it out there too often, but would be interested in the informal races. Any chance of doing multiple loops for ultra distances? I really want to run more ultras (so far, just did the Blues Cruise 50k last year), but it is hard for me to travel too far for races and there does not seem to be much close by (other than Blues Cruise). So would be quite nice to have some more ultra options nearby, even if of the "fat a$$" variety...
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merigayle
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 10:07 AM
loppy- check out Fingerlake 50's in Hector, NY at the end of the month. I think it was about 3 hours for me to drive, i live near Valley Forge. I may do another informal midnight training run this summer (had one in February with 12 people showing up!) but extend it longer than the other one. This one may be closer to 10 hours, rather than 12-5 or 6am. 
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loopy
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 10:16 AM
Thanks for the info Merigayle!I probably will not be able to make it to the Fingerlakes this year, but may try next year. Depending on the timing/logistics the informal training run this summer may be an option...
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Gregolowe
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 01:50 PM
I'm going to go. I've never done one of their races. I hear only good things about them. I just hope I can remain injury free.
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Gregolowe
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 01:55 PM
Loppy, I'm thinking about organizing a fat ass run in the vicinity of Philly. There are some real nice trails here and it's possible to link them together to get a 50 Miler pretty easily.
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loopy
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-01-2007 02:12 PM
Thanks Gregolowe, I would definitely be interested in a 50 miler in the Philly area...Best of luck at the Double Trouble. I have done it once before and the "Half-wit Half" twice and they were both a great time. See you there...
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Apple
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-03-2007 02:16 PM
Loopy, thanks for reference to change in forum. Never ran the DT before but am using it as a training run for Half Wit Half. I plan on kicking HWH's butt!!!! Still running the roads during the week and running the trail on long run on Sunday. I am sticking with Hal's training program, so the miles are low in the begining. It feels weird to do only 6 miles for a long run, but I want to stick with the schedule. Found another trail today and about halfway into it I thought it was too rough for running and found myself slowing down to manage to rocky path, running up steep hills or jumping downed trees. However after reading robhamm, it sounded like it was probably very appropriate for training. Ran 6 m with my dog. I started at 6:30 am and we had the whole place to ourselves. No one was on the trails. Very nice!! Robhamm - thanks for the map. It has been about 30 years since I have been to French creek, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
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Apple
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-11-2007 09:58 PM
Hello all - I think we are about two weeks away!! Did another trail run Sunday, however trail was packed with bikes. Had to keep stopping to let the pass. Poisen Ivy is all over and the paths are really narrow. Technu seems to be working, since I don't have any yet.
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merigayle
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-12-2007 06:23 AM
were you at French creek? i ran there this weekend and rolled my ankle passing a gaggle of mtn bikers who had no idea what to do. They went about 1/2 mile in 1 hour as i saw them again not too long after! I am going back out this sunday to french creek, but still up in the air about the race. I wore Ivy X poison ivy precontact solution and scrubbed with Tecnu and doused my shoes in rubbing alcohol. so far so good 
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robhamm
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-14-2007 08:24 AM
Sorry to hear about the bikers. They can be a real nuisance on the weekends. I usually never see any weekday mornings and rarely make out there on the weekends. They do keep the trails from becoming overgrown in places and rut it out in others. So is everyone doing ok? I made it out to Laurel Highlands last weekend for the 70M relay. I ran the second leg. The trails out there are beautiful. I’m still a little beat up from it but it looks like I have a good shot of making it to the race. Have a great week. I will be at French Creek Tuesday and Thursday next week 5:30 am. If anyone wants to meet there; we’ll check out the section of the white trail they say will be open for the race. The last time I went through it was washed out hard. Still runnable mind you; very technical. ------------------
Rob
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quaker02
Member |
posted Jun-14-2007 11:10 AM
I have never run the DT before and I am signed up to do it this year...I am also a bit new to trail running...I wanted to know if anyone recomends using hand held water bottles for the DT...I am thinking about getting a couple for the race...the last trail run I did was the wissahickon trail classic a few weeks back. It was hot a humid and I was seriously dehydrated by the end...I am sure that it had an impact on my performance (my wife beat me for the first time ever)
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robhamm
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-14-2007 11:51 AM
It really depends on how long you will be out there and if you will be running the double. There is a water stop around mile 4 and one again around 7+ and one by the finish for those who will repeat. Last year the weather was dreary. The water stations seemed to be enough. If it is hot out you may appreciate the extra water on the back stretch. If you will run the 30k I would say definitely go for it. They are handy to have. I have a friend who has a running store in Ithaca, NY, he carries the Ultimate line. I like that a lot over Nathan. Link: http://www.fingerlakesrunningcompany.com/Running+Accessories/Bottles+Packs/Ultimate+Direction+FastDraw+Plus.html
Good luck, maybe we’ll see you there.
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Rob
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loopy
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-14-2007 02:32 PM
I did the double last year without a hand held and was OK, but like Rob said, it was on the cooler side. This year I plan to bring one along just to be safe. Also, if you like gatorade/sports drink, most of the stops were just plain water so you'll have to bring your own.
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Apple
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-14-2007 04:22 PM
Agreement with loopy. Most of the stops are water and I use gaterade, especially in the heat. Robham, merigayle - I wasn't at French Creek, run the perkiomen trails and will probably do so this weekend. Usually I am out early enough to beat the bikers but last weekend I got out late. Looking forward to doing one good last trail run before next week!! merigayle, hope the ankle is good.
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merigayle
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-14-2007 04:41 PM
oh ankle is fine! just a lil roll. Perkiomen? Like the Perkiomen trail or something else?
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robhamm
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 12:00 PM
Did everyone survive this weekend? I actually did not get out till this morning. My legs are still beat from last weekend. Dang, getting old; I used to recover in 2-3 hours, at least if felt that way. Isolated t-storms for the weekend, it is too early to tell, but what that tells me is hot and humid. Oh well we are all in the same boat. Take it easy and stay healthy.------------------
Rob
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robhamm
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-19-2007 08:08 AM
Hey happy runners.
I was able to check out a couple sections of the double trouble this morning. Here’s what I found. The section of white that was previously closed is still closed. However there is a NEW section of the White trail just 30 feet further from the previous trail. The new trail is a breeze compared to the previous. It is actually runnable since it is a new trail it is not washed out and there are limited exposed rocks. It is still single track and the grade isn’t too bad. Don’t get me wrong 7.5 miles into the race you will not feel like climbing it. I did not find the section of Red trail they were talking about reconstructing. It looks like we will have the section of downhill road again. Maybe I’ll see you there. Hope for a cool day.
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Rob
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merigayle
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-19-2007 08:19 AM
I will not be able to make it this weekend. I did, however, do a 4+ hour run at French Creek this weekend and it was great!!!!!!!!! I am in love with the park
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