The Championship Course at Snowbasin

Editor's note:The XTERRA Trail Run National Championship is headed to Utah for the first time in the event's history. This year's national championship race is scheduled for Sept. 25 at the Snowbasin Resort near Ogden, Utah. Rachel Cieslewicz, an elite runner from nearby Salt Lake City, took a practice run on the 21-kilometer course recently. Here are her thoughts:

The course for the XTERRA Trail Run Nationals is a true championship masterpiece.  There is nothing amiss in this perfectly designed thriller, highlighting everything Snowbasin Resort's terrain has to offer.  If you enjoy gut-wrenching climbs leading to breathtaking views, twisted single track dotted with rock gardens, fast flat sections, and of course, flying effortlessly down rewarding descents, you are in for the race of your life! It hosts the perfect symphony of challenging components to favor the all-around runner.  For those curious about the elevation, the low point hits in at 6,133 feet. High point is just shy of 7,300 feet.  Expect 2,200 feet of climbing.

I recently had the pleasure of heading up to the venue in the middle of a crazy mountain rainstorm to test out the course. My first tip is to remember to bring a variety of clothing. I was soaked completely within my first moments up the trail. This is fall in northern Utah, come race day, it could be sunny and gloriously warm, or snowing! 

The course begins behind the Earl Mountain Lodge at an elevation of 6,300 feet with a steep climb, just over a kilometer, right up the face of the mountain!  This is on a fire road providing the perfect opportunity for everyone to sort themselves out before heading onto a fabulously fun single track loop filled with shivering aspen trees and pines.  Take note, while on this section I spotted many deer and squirrels. I even ended up running with a big group of cows until they scampered, frightened off the trail to an opening in the brush.  It's funny how a little runner weighing a fraction of a cow can instill fear like that. Ha! Hopefully we will have no cows come race day.

You will have time to catch your breath for a bit from the climb, but don't get too caught up in enjoying the incredible scenery.  Roots and rocks will keep you dancing along, demanding your attention and all of your best technical skills. This entire 8-kilometer section of blissful single track roller-coasters up and down, winding in every direction before shooting you out into the open for a much needed moment of relief.  Total climbing? A tad bit over 700 feet in the first five miles.

At this point, the trail flattens out for a short stint heading north on yet another epic single track trail, en route to Snowbasin's newest and most spectacular off-road wonderland.  Before reaching the stunning loop, enjoy about 300 meters of short-lived rest on a false flat downhill dirt road.  A turn-off onto more single track will send you towards your next challenge complete with over 1,400 feet of elevation gain and loss. Runners racing Nationals will be some of the lucky first to experience this 11-kilometer loop, which was cut just last year.  It is the new favorite course of the locals, but we'll share! 

The climb is gradual, meandering its way up through the mountains. There will be a few short intense power climbs, but none too steep to run. Remember to pace yourself, as you may think you have reached the top several times, when it opens to absolutely astounding views. But keep going … you'll know you've reached the top when you're rewarded with a peak through the trees of the gorgeous Pineview Reservior shimmering in the picture-perfect Ogden Valley below.  I encourage you to head in that direction after your race for a refreshing post race swim.

Heading into the descent, you will find a mixture of grades. Nothing too steep or scary, but filled with rocks and roots and seemingly endless switchbacks that will either leave you full of smiles as you flow down the trail or perhaps wishing for more uphill. My suggestion is to run with a relaxed but strong effort as you fly down this classic trail. 

Save some energy as once you're out of the single track, there is still more to go. The trail widens and rolls with little ups and downs back to the dirt road. Put on your track legs for these last few kilometers, and find a rhythm to gun it back home.  It will be a slight uphill trend from here on out. Luckily this time, your final push will take you all the way back to the Earl Lodge finish line for some major celebrating -- XTERRA style! Can't wait to see you all here.

(Photos courtesy Rachel Cieslewicz)

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC