Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- course [07.30.2013 11:48]
nyeates [Aid Stations] image link renewed
+++ course [08.17.2023 14:12] (current)
nyeates updated maps and distances etc
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== Course Maps, Info, and Description ======
+{{:mdheatcourse2023.png?direct&500 |}}
+----
+[[https://www.strava.com/routes/3113868659901215800|{{:md_heat_course_2023_rough_overview.png?direct&300 |}}]]
+<html><span style="font-size:200%;">
+<a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/3113868659901215800">2023 STRAVA COURSE LINK & GPS</a>
+</span></html>
+----
+===== Distances =====
+  - Start to Aid1: ~5.1 miles
+  - Aid1 to Aid2: ~3.5 miles
+  - Aid2 to Aid3: ~3.7 miles
+  - Aid3 to S/F: ~3.7 miles
+  - Aid2 and Aid4 (at Start/Finish) are guaranteed to be open for 50k runners both loops.
 ====== A good story by your Race Director ======
 (Course Description, history, points of interest, and fun stories)
-{{:heatcourseosmnewsmall.png?direct&300 |}}
-Not as many changes to the course during this 2013 year. It stays mostly the same as last year except that the wall is only at the end, and the river crossing is moved to half way through instead of in the first mile.
+**THE BELOW DESCRIPTION IS NOW ANCIENT AS THE COURSE CHANGES OVER THE YEARS. However, that being said, many of the same highlights and stories still apply. So go on if your new and read below to get a feel. NOTE THAT AID STATIONS HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED LOCATIONS, but the distances and the number of aid stops are roughly the same.
+**
-You start out at Shelter 105 and head around the baseball field, another shelter and playground in order give us a ¼ mile loop in order to sparse people out before heading onto the same road you drove in on for 400 ft. You take Gun Rd across the Patapsco River on a small bridge. You immediately get onto dirt trail (on your left) once on the other side of the bridge. This is all DIFFERENT from last year (2012 was last yr). Next you hit Lost lake, where youngsters can fish. You go by the lake and you get onto the paved 'Grist Mill' Path. Its a wide concrete path. You follow grist mill for ~1/3 mile.
+----
-While on grist mill, on your Right you want to look for the Vineyard Springs Trail, that goes under the railroad tracks. Up this trail is the first hill of the race. Next is the dreaded (to race directors) 4-way crossing. Two separate parts of the course intersect here and go through the same 4-way. Take a right this first time. Continue on down hill for a mile, making a number of sharp turns. This is the most confusing part of the course. Watch our signs and flags. Also note that a trail (that we used in 2012) was Closed in this section. We take a small detour onto a small park road, and then off to a fireroad that catches up with the same trails from last yr. Signs and flags will get you there.
-Hit the bottom of the hill at a paved street, cross it and go over a stream. Back up hill. First HARD climb up into Bull Run Trail. Do part of the Bull Run Loop and then head off marked trails to what I call the “Bike Jumper” trail. Watch out for flying bikers here. At the top of Bike Jumper you hit the 4-way for the second time. Say hi to the HAM radio guys who will be bravely posted here! Again, take a right (you go a different direction).
+None of the course has changed from 2014’s running. Two sections of course have changed since the 2013 running. We have added nearly a mile of new trail, near the Hilton campground just before the Buzzards Rock climb. "The Wall" remains at the end of the course, and the major river crossing has been removed at the parks request - there are still a dozen small creek crossings to cool yourself at!
-Follow Santee Branch trail for a few miles and hit Aid Station 1. Awaiting you in 2013 is Jimmy and his misfit crew! This aid station is a bit off the trail. You pass over a baseball field, and then after the station, get onto a road that takes you back to the same Santee Branch trail.
+You start out at Shelter 105 and head around the baseball field, another shelter and playground in order give us a ¼ mile loop in order to sparse people out before heading onto the same road you drove in on for 400 ft. You take Gun Rd across the Patapsco River on a small automobile bridge. Interesting fact: The Patapsco river used to be deep and bring ships up to pick up rolls (hence Rolling Rd) of wheat or crops. Now it is silted up from human development and barely deep enough to float a raft on.
-Now its time for Pigs Run, Rockiest section in the park, straight downhill. Lace up those shoes and pay some attention to your ankles. I always twist one here. Now that you have gone straight down the hardest hill, we will send you straight up the hardest uphill, Buzzards Rock! There is rock climbing involved here. Have fun. I have trained on it and did it running up and down 3 times. Yeah - give that a try. You will probly die after this one go :-) BUT its well worth it. The best view in the park is at the top of Buzzards Rock trail. Dont miss it on your left and down about 20 yards.
+You immediately get onto dirt trail (on your left) once on the other side of the bridge. Next you hit Lost lake, where youngsters can fish. You go by the lake and you get onto the paved 'Grist Mill' Path. Its a wide concrete path. You follow grist mill for ~1/3 mile.
-Continue uphill and hit a gravel road, then take a left to go towards Illchester Viewpoint. Make sure to check out this view too. Rockclimbers go here and it overlooks the former “HellHouse”, an old school that was said to be haunted. In fact, a guard there shot a kid back a few years and nearly killed him. Ive seen the newspaper clipping. Continue on down the hill and hit pavement. Ew. This is another part of the Grist Mill path.
+While on grist mill, on your Right you want to look for the Vineyard Springs Trail, that goes under the railroad tracks. Up this trail is the first hill of the race. Next is the dreaded (to race directors) 4-way crossing. Two separate parts of the course intersect here and go through the same 4-way. This first time, go through the 4-way and take a right. It will be marked well. Continue on down hill for a mile, making a number of sharp turns. This is the most confusing part of the course. Watch our signs and flags. Also note that a trail (that we used in 2012) was Closed in this section. We take a small detour onto a small park road, and then off to a fireroad that catches up with the same trails from prior yrs. Signs and flags will get you there.
-Take a right onto the large paved bike path called Grist Mill Trail. You are right in front of Bloedes Dam. We used to go swimming there in College - you can swim behind the ‘waterfall’. The damn is scheduled to be removed within a few years, so enjoy it now while it exists here. At this point is another change from 2012. This year, in 2013, we DONT CROSS THE BRIDGE up ahead. We go to the LEFT onto the beach and follow the beach to the right, and then cross the river almost UNDERNEATH the bridge. We will mark this well. The water may be belly high. At this point, youll be covered in sweat anyway! It'll fee GREAT. OMG, believe me. Its like a cold water shower. Dip your head in.
+Hit the bottom of the hill at a paved parking lot, cross it and go over a stream. Back up hill. First HARD climb up into Bull Run Trail. Do part of the Bull Run Loop and then head off marked trails to what I call the “Bike Jumper” trail. Watch out for flying bikers here. At the top of Bike Jumper you hit the 4-way for the second time. Say hi to the HAM radio guys who will be bravely posted here! Again, take a right (you go a different direction).
-On the other side of the river, head up the steep bank and turn Left onto an old half-paved, half-dirt Road. It is no longer used and is off limits to cars, but acts as a neat river-side section.
+Follow Santee Branch trail for a few miles and hit Aid Station 1. Awaiting you is a misfit crew of volunteers ready to jump at your bark and order! This aid station is a bit off the trail. You pass over a baseball field, and then after the station, get onto a road that takes you back to the same Santee Branch trail.
-Check out Bloedes Dam on your left, dare to venture out next to the raging water. Bloedes was the first underwater hydroelectric plant back in 1906. Now its a shell of its former glory. Down stream from Bloedes you will see a fish ladder - I call it the Salmon Ladder, but I dont think there are Salmon in the Patapsco. Interesting fact: The patapsco river used to be deep and bring ships up to pick up rolls of wheat or crops. Now it is silted up from human development and barely deep enough to float a raft on.
+Now you continue on Santee Branch, ignore Pigs Run turnoff, and cross a road twice. Turn onto Charcoal trail and then left onto SawMill Branch. Rockiest section in the park, straight downhill. Lace up those shoes and pay some attention to your ankles. I always twist one here. Now that you have gone straight down the hardest hill, we will send you straight up the hardest uphill, Buzzards Rock! There is rock climbing involved here. Have fun. I have trained on it and did it running up and down 3 times. Yeah - give that a try. You will probly die after this one go :-) BUT its well worth it. The best view in the park is at the top of Buzzards Rock trail. Dont miss it on your left and down about 20 yards.
+Continue uphill and hit a gravel road, then take a left to go towards Illchester Viewpoint. Make sure to check out this view too. Rockclimbers go here and it overlooks the former “HellHouse”, an old school that was said to be haunted. In fact, a guard there shot a kid back a few years and nearly killed him. Ive seen the newspaper clipping. Continue on down the hill and hit pavement. Ew. This is another part of the Grist Mill path.
+You are right in front of Bloedes Dam. We used to go swimming there in College - you can swim behind the ‘waterfall’. The damn is scheduled to be removed this year, so enjoy it now while it exists here. Bloedes was the first underwater hydroelectric plant back in 1906. Now its a shell of its former glory. Down stream from Bloedes you will see a fish ladder - I call it the Salmon Ladder, but I dont think there are Salmon in the Patapsco.
 Part of that silting is due to the dam. Damn dam. So they are getting rid of it soon. It will also allow fish to get up stream easier, so in the long run, its better. Some teenagers were telling me they would be sad to see it go :-(
-Hit Aid Station 2 and say hi to Diane Behm and peeps at the swinging bridge and head straight up the hill to your right (not across the swinging bridge). There are some turns here at the start so watch them. If you hit waterfalls, you went the wrong way. You want “Root Hill” instead. Lots of roots.
+Take a left onto the large paved bike path (Grist Mill Trail). After 3/4 mile on the paved path, turn RIGHT onto the SWINGING BRIDGE!
-Do a loop in the Cascade Falls area, and then head over to the Ridge Trail, which follows the Patapsco river, but way up on a ridge looking down. Careful again not to take the wrong trail in the following section. After a mile and a half, you take the “Connector Trail” to your right. There should be HAM radio people out here on the trail. Its kinda way out there, but the HAM people will mountain bike or hike in. Don't go past the connector trail, or you will hit mile 15 of the course!
+Hit Aid Station 2 and say hi to the volunteer peeps at the swinging bridge and head straight up the hill behind the aid station. There are some turns here at the start so watch them. If you hit waterfalls, you went the wrong way. You want “Root Hill” instead. Lots of roots.
-You will pass some farm ruins of old dilapidated houses, then head to some large open fields which you skirt. These fields are the Belmont Estate, recently purchased by Howard County Parks and be abated. I wanted to hold the start/finish here, but they wanted thousands and they were also still abating for chemicals in the ground. Dont drink the water here! Now onto the Morning Choice trail sections and approaching to Aid Station 3.
+Do a loop in the Cascade Falls area, and then head over to the Ridge Trail, which follows the Patapsco river, but way up on a ridge looking down. Careful again not to take the wrong trail in the following section. After a mile and a half, you take the “Connector Trail” to your right. There may be HAM radio people out here on the trail. Its kinda way out there, but the HAM people will mountain bike or hike in. Don't go past the connector trail, or you will hit mile 15 of the course! Again, all of this is marked very well.
-At Aid Station 3, say hi to Missy Digiulian and her family/friends! If you get here and its past 6 hrs, or nearing it, consider dropping. You can continue on, but it is AT YOUR OWN RISK. This section of the course (the Southern Section) is much more gentle and kind compared to the Northern. Enjoy the nature.
+You will pass some farm ruins of old dilapidated houses, then head to some large open fields which you skirt. These fields are the Belmont Estate, recently purchased by Howard County Parks. I wanted to hold the start/finish here, but they wanted thousands and they were also still abating for chemicals in the ground. Dont drink the water here! Now onto the Morning Choice trail sections and approaching to Aid Station 3.
-Now you get onto some private land, which took some mighty good convincing and contract writing. Phew. Its a nice section that they let people use the trails to cross their land. The trails are getting rutted and the owner may have to close or reroute them. MORE (the mtn biking volunteers) and MD HEAT may volunteer to repair this trail. Let us know if interested to help after the race. Please keep this land-trust section trash free and quite. The owner of the Rockburn land gave me a 2 page sheet on its history. Thomas Jefferson and Francis Scott Key may have been to this area, along with other high falluters. Take this private section on over to Rockburn. Cross some streams and your back in the park.
+At Aid Station 3, say hi to these brave folk - they had to hike-in your water! It is the most-remote aid station. If you get here and its past 6 hrs, or nearing it, consider dropping. You can continue on, but it is AT YOUR OWN RISK. This section of the course (the Southern Section) is much more gentle and kind compared to the Northern. Enjoy the nature.
+Now you get onto some private land, which took some mighty good convincing and contract writing. Phew. Its a nice section that they let people use the trails to cross their land. The trails are getting rutted and the owner may have to close or reroute them. Please keep this land-trust section trash free and quite. The owner of the Rockburn land gave me a 2 page sheet on its history. Thomas Jefferson and Francis Scott Key may have been to this area, along with other high falluters. Take this private section on over to Rockburn. Cross some streams and your back in the park.
 Loop around rockburn trail, turn right at the 4 way stop, and get back onto the other end of the Ridge trail. Since you did not take the short cut before, you are now on the other side of where you came before (near the connector trail). Maybe you can say hi to your HAM radio friends again, as they will simply walk 200 ft over to this section from where they were posted before. If you hit the connector trail, youve gone too far and have gone backwards on the course. Make sure to make a hard right onto the first white trail (there are 3). We will sign it well, but just make sure. Now you are on a hiking only trail that is very windy and gets rocky at points. Curve down this and you are 1 mile from the finish line!
-Cross the road and then you are back on familiar territory. Now... you hit "The Wall" - both literally and figuratively. Get over this 12 ft rock sucker, and your in like flinn. Think outside the box, look for ways around, or just POWER THE F OVER IT. Use help from other runners! After the wall you will wind your way through a beach with MANY picnickers and fisherman. Be courteous as you pass people.
+Cross the road and you will see the Patapsco River again! Now... you hit "The Wall" - both literally and figuratively. Get over this 12 ft rock sucker, and your in like flinn. Think outside the box, look for ways around, or just POWER THE F OVER IT. Use help from other runners! After the wall you will wind your way through a beach with MANY picnickers and fisherman. Be courteous as you pass people.
-Cross that finish line and relish the personal acheivement!! Well done. Now go enjoy that food and beer you worked hard for - give me a big HELLO if you see me.
+Cross that finish line and relish the personal achievement!! Well done. Now go enjoy that food and beer you worked hard for - give me a big HELLO if you see me.
 -Nick
@@ Line 48: / Line 75: @@
   * 3 aid stations spaced 4 miles apart will provide water and small snacks
   * PBJ Sandwiches, Bananas, trail mix, Brownies, M&Ms and Swedish Fish
-  * Water and mixed Gatorade will be at each station
+  * Water and mixed Tailwinds ( similar to Gatorade, except better) will be at each station
   * To save on trash, please fill your own water bottles, though we will have cups
   * Minor First Aid
@@ Line 54: / Line 81: @@
   * Where:
-    * Map with Aid stations: http://mdheatrace.com/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=heatcourseosmnewsmall.png
+    * Map with Aid stations: http://mdheatrace.com/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=course2019.png
-    * Aid Station 1: Hilton - Mile 4
+    * Aid Station 1: Hilton - Mile 4, 20
-    * Aid Station 2: Swinging Bridge - Mile 8
+    * Aid Station 2: Swinging Bridge - Mile 8, 24
-    * Aid Station 3: Landing Rd - Mile 12
+    * Aid Station 3: Landing Rd - Mile 12, 28
+    * Start / Finish Line: Avalon - Mile 16, 32
   * When:
     * Aid Station 1: Setup: 8:30am, Staffed: 9:30-11:30am
-    * Aid Station 2: Setup: 9:30am, Staffed: 10-2pm
+    * Aid Station 2: Setup: 8:00am, Staffed: 9-2pm
-    * Aid Station 3: Setup: 10:30am, Staffed: 11:00-3pm, might abandon but keep up for hikers
+    * Aid Station 3: Setup: 10:15am, Staffed: 10:30-3:30pm, might abandon but keep up for hikers
   * Who:
-    * Aid Station 1: Jimmy Hessler and misfit crew
+    * Aid Station 1: Pat Murphy
-    * Aid Station 2: Diane Behm and gang
+    * Aid Station 2: Christine Chadwick
-    * Aid Station 3: Missy Digiulian and Family/friends
+    * Aid Station 3: Dorothy Ricciuti
 ====== Emergency ======
@@ Line 74: / Line 103: @@
 </html>
 ====== River crossing ======
-There is a single large river crossing. The course will go straight across the Patapsco River around mile 7 (halfway through). The water depth is around 3 feet deep, no higher than your waist. Let me tell you, it will feel very nice on a hot July day! If you can help it, wear shoes that drain well.
+The large river crossing was removed at the request of the park. They did not want us encouraging a common crossing point that would turn into a future crossing point by hundreds of others. Also, fisherman complain. There will remain a dozen smaller creek crossings, some of them 1-2 feet deep. Usually you can tip toe on rocks over them.
-Tips for this crossing: If you do not like wet shoes, take them off before crossing, as the river is walkable barefoot. Whenever I have crossed with shoes, sand gets in my shoes and I have found myself emptying them.
 ====== Hikers ======

MD HEAT Race

User Tools

Site Tools

Differences

Page Tools