This is just a straight forward, punch you in the gut, difficult trail race!

There are actually two races, a 15k race followed by a 3.5 mile race. Many people, including me, end up doing both. The 15k is first. You start out on a field for about 200 meters before hitting some single track trails. Once there, passing is almost impossible for the next 3/4 mile. At this point the trail widens up, and starts going up! You start climbing, and continue to climb for the next couple miles. So getting stuck behind slower runners at the beginning doesn't hurt your race too much. In fact, it might actually help me NOT go out too hard.

At the top of the big hill the course flattens out for about 1/2 mile, before a huge downhill. But it's very runnable, even though it's on trails. This is a great place to really fly. Then you go up and down the rest of the race. You never can really relax!

This race is followed by a wonderful BBq in Thacher Park, overlooking the city of Albany.

A summer tradition for most Albany runners!