Edge of Hell

Link to Web Site: Seaport Striders (Lewiston)
Rating:
Date of Run: Idunno, Last February sometime (2005).
Reviewed By: Foo
Comments: A killer 4-mile run in Hell's Gate State Park. Starts up high, above the old visitor's center, which makes it seem like it should be mostly downhill. And it is. But it doesn't seem so. 5-track horse trail to start. It wheedle's down to 2 tracks, then one at 1.5 miles where it does a couple whoop-de-doos (short downhill up-and-downs), then zig-zag's down the face of a rocky hillside. Quick feet and pay attention here. I know at least one person who took a tumble here, with bloody knees as the result.

Now the race gets interesting. Running along the side of a hill, the trail ducks in and out of a draws in the hillside. The trail also goes down in each of these draws, then back up. And if you do it right, you can speed up going into the draws and vault back up out of them at speed, providing you're legs don't buckle. This goes on for longer than you might be able to handle it (somewhere around mile 3), and then the track turns to sand in spots. The last mile is tough and slightly uphill. Drag your carcass on in.

You can opt for the second lap if you feel like it. Luckily, you can wait 'til this point to decide. You don't have to decide at registration.