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My Best Runs Comments

The race course starts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk with 5 miles on the Boardwalk and streets of Atlantic City & Ventnor, NJ. The final dash to the finish line is on the beach.

Hydration Stations

Water & Gatorade will be supplied at miles 1, 2, 3, 4 & finish line.

RunnerBags

There will not be any bag check at the start and finish area of this event. No bags can be left at the starting line. Any untendeditems will be removed and disposed of. Runners are encouraged to leave personal items and baggagein their cars, or with spectators.

Recognized as the World’s Fastest Half Marathon Course by the USATF in 1985. The Half Marathon starting line is located at the Applewhite Campground in Lytle Creek. The first 6 miles of the Half Marathon include fast and steep, downhill running through the scenic San Bernardino National Forest and Lytle Creek Community. The last 7.1 miles of the course are also fast, but more of a moderate to gradual downhill run along Sierra Avenue towards Fontana City Hall. There is an elevation drop of 2,125 feet from start to finish.

About the course.

THE FIRST SIX MILES
The first six miles of the course travel through historic Woodstock. Here, the fighting minister, Peter Muhlenberg preached his sermon then removed his robe to reveal the Revoluntionary uniform and led his fellow townmen out to win liberty, saying “there is a time to pray and a time to fight.”

SIX TO THIRTY-FIVE MILES
Reaching the Shenandoah River at Burnshire Dam, the course crosses by bridge, approaches its first major ascent to Woodstock Gap on a steep gravel switchback and enters the George Washington National Forest. Descending into Fort Valley’s natural fortress, created by the encircling Massanutten Mountains, is more gradual until approx. 10 mi. upon reaching the fairly rugged 2.5 mi. Lavender Trail up and along the West ridgeline, then down to a Forest Service road winding into the Foley Loop on country roads and leading to another stretch of good country which gives way to the climb up to the 675 Overlook and continuing down to Four Points #1 at approximately 32.5. Here the course enters Duncan Hollow on trail that exacts the “just do it” attitude, but does lead to good footing for five miles on Crisman Hollow.

MORELAND GAP AND MORE
The course turns to climb Moreland Gap with good footing, reaching Edinburg Gap at 55 miles and enters Powell Mountain Trail. The next eight miles have become a heavily utilitized ATV route. Ascending Opechee Peak the trail becomes rugged and steep. The last half, still rugged is not so steep. Reaching Little Fort Campground the course turns up Woodstock Mountain on forest road for five miles to Mudhole Gap. The next mile is trail as lovely as any you will ever visit, running with Little Passage Creek and through it five times.

LOGGING ROAD
The course turns onto a fine logging road leading to a turn onto a short, rocky, trail, then crossing the Valley Road, Passage Creek by bridge and into Elizabeth Furance Picnic Area, the Second and final Medical Check at 74.95 miles. This is the only point with a cut-off time. Runners much check-out of Elizabeth Furance by midnight. The next three miles are best left undescribed but are summed up in the phrase “Sherman Gap”. Rumor has it that the gap was not named for any great explorer but rather for the first (and possibly the last) endurance race runner to try to run up it. It is said that you can see his grave ten feet from the top, especially if you are one of the masses trying to do this part of the course in the dark.

VEACH GAP
Runners are then greeted with a steep trail run down to a gravel road, leading to the wagon road, built by Gen. Daniel Morgan during the Revolution for possible retreat of Washignton’s forces, up Veach Gap and down the boulder falls on the west side. Because most runners will traverse in darkness the difficult stretch from Elizabeth Furnace to the Aid-Station located at the foot of the Veach Gap descent, this is the one part of the race where the runner, if he so chooses, may be accompanied by a safety runner. After descending the western side of Veach Gap at 86.58 miles the competitors are again on their own.

THE FINISH LINE
Crossing the Valley road the course now has good footing on country lanes to complete the circle around the Massanuttens, then turns back up and over Woodstock Mountain, across the Shenandoah and through town to the finish back at the County Fairgrounds.

The Garden of the Gods Ten Mile Run^®has always had it all—a spectacular setting, a physically demanding course, competition in almost every age-group, excellent runner support, unique awards and great shirts. Simply, this is one of the most beautiful and challenging road race venues anywhere!

And while any run through the Garden is an awesome run, the race course was designed to take you into the heart
of what the Garden has to offer, including the most famous rock in the area—the Balanced Rock.

The course willloop you through the incredible Garden of the Gods Park which lies between Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. The course elevation ranges from 6,210′ up to 6,530′ and back down and up and down and over and around all over again. The race is run primarily on asphalt roads, with the exception of
a 3/4 mile section run on the breathtaking concrete walk-way system (far wider than a simple sidewalk) that winds its way through the heart of the Garden’s
most amazing rock formations. Indeed, the formations are so amazing they bring visitors from around the world!

Clear, dry weather is the norm with temperatures at the start usually is in
the low 60’s. Once in the Garden, the temperature can quickly rise
into the 70’s and low 80’s due to the large rock formations and lack
of shade. There are eight aid stations on the course so you can get water and/or Gatorade at almost every mile.

The race is run under a special use permit from the Parks and Recreation Department which means the
park is closed to vehicles and cyclists so you can enjoy the magnificent
surroundings without concerns for your safety!
However,we must be out of the park by 9:30amto allow visitors and their
vehicles to again have access to the park. Please train accordingly and
plan to complete the race under the 2h30m cut-off. After 9:30am any runners
remaining on the course will be “on their own.”