Posts Tagged ‘Dirty Spokes’

1st Annual XTERRA Fall Fitness 5K Trail Race

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

xtr_fall_fitness_logo_sm

If you’ve never tried trail running, this is your chance, the 1st Annual XTERRA Fall Fitness 5K Trail Race at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.  Don’t be embarrassed, it’s the race’s first time too.  So why is this particular race a great one to start trail running?  Well first off, it is put on by Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC who hosts plenty of mountain bike and trail running events all over Georgia and Alabama.  Every one of their events are professionally planned with the customer in mind.  That is why they have planned this trail race event, to offer a fun trail run for those who live close to the city of Atlanta and want to try trail running.  Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC, giving the running community what they want.

The race will be held on the trails of the Gwinnett Enviromental and Heritage Center Trails in Buford, Georgia just outside of Atlanta.  The race will start on the street which is required for spacing.  Get a great position by racing to the tree line quickly and begin to run on moderate to easy single and double track; with about 1/2 mile of the course on paved roads if you’re into that sort of thing.  The trail has rolling hills and climbs perfect for any runner looking for a challenge at this fun and manageable distance of 3.1 miles.  Walkers are encouraged to participate too; however, they must be able to finish the course in a 16 minute per mile pace in order to get an official time.

Run faster than that and get an official time that nets you an award.  You deserve it for waking up at 6 in the morning to make it to the startline by 8:30 AM.  Awards will be handed out to the top three male and female runners as well as the top three in each male and female age category.

So hurry up and sign up for this trail running race!  Price is $25 from now until September 25th.  All runners registered before the late registration deadline are guaranteed a dri fit race T-shirt, a $25 dollar value in itself.  So sign up now and run this race for free!  Price increases to $30 after Sept 25th and is $35 on race day.  So register now to run your first trail race!  You’ll be hooked!  Be careful though, trail running can ruin you for roads.

Tags:,
Posted in Events | Comments

XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series – Deep South 15K, Dauset Trails

Monday, May 18th, 2009

It’s time to get Dirty again with Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC’s next event, the 2nd Annual Deep South 15K at the Dauset Trails in Jackson, GA on June 7th.  It’s almost like you don’t need SeriousRunning.com to find awesome trails to run because Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC does the work for you by hosting trail races on all the best trails in Georgia and Alabama in their XTERRA Trail Race Series Georgia/Alabama.  Notice I said you almost don’t need SeriousRunning.com’s trail run listings.

xtr_georgia_logo_1

The Dauset Trail System is a 17 mile system that is a great trail run for all levels of trail runners from beginner to expert. This is a single and double track off-road running experience with beautiful scenery. The race will start in an open field (required for spacing) but will soon lead into the woods. The terrain is made up of a little bit of everything, rolling hills, climbs, single track, double track, roots, gravel and concrete drive along with some technical sections. The trails are well marked and fast with minimal climbing. This is a beautiful course that offers something for every runner. Variety and beauty?  I’ve been seeking that my whole life!

Make the Deep South 15K a family weekend trip!  The Dauset Nature Center has a lot to offer families of all ages.  There are farm animals at the barnyard exhibit, a “wonder room” with alligators, turtles, and snakes, or you can search for wildlife on your own by hiking the animal trail where you will find hawks, owls, raccoons, bison, and bobcats!  Like to view your wildlife in a more relaxed setting?  Perfect.  Sit at the picnic tables overlooking the lake while your children feed the large bream, catfish, turtles, ducks, and Canadian geese from the bridge.  You can even bring your own horse and hike the 10 miles of horse trails.  Stay the weekend in the campgrounds and have a family fun weekend.  Don’t have a family yet?  That’s ok, bring your significant other and get married or even re-married at the beautiful chapel.  How romantic.  You know what’s even more romantic?  Running a 15K trail race for your honeymoon.  Awe yeah.  You dog you.

Bottom line, you don’t want to miss this trail race.  I’ve run many of the Dirty Spokes produced XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series Races and each one is superb.  The trails are great and the organization is like a well oiled machine.  There are always plenty of restrooms, post race food and drink, and quick race results.  I like to be able to brag about how fast I ran as soon as possible.  Always a good time and a lot of fun trail racers to socialize with post race.  Great race director, great racers, and great trails, what else do you want?  Sorry, only you can determine whether or not you run a great race.

Go ahead and register online or print off a registration form and send it in the mail.  The entry fee is $35 from now until May 27th so you have 9 days to get your significant other to want to re-marry you.  If you aren’t that smooth, you can register by June 5th for $40 or on race day for $45.  See, it pays to plan ahead.  What do you get for this entry fee other than the experience of running one of the best trail runs in Georgia?  A Zorrel Dri Balance Race Shirt; but those aren’t guaranteed for late registration so hurry up and register.  Want more?  Then run fast.  Awards are handed out to the top 3 overall male and female finishers plus the top 3 male and female finishers in each age group.  Here are the age group categories.

‘Ditch the city’ and run the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series Deep South 15K.  You’ll be glad you did.

Tags:,
Posted in Events, trail running | Comments

XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series: Chicopee Woods 10k

Friday, April 3rd, 2009
Courtesy Defiant Photography Atlanta

Courtesy Defiant Photography Atlanta

Don’t miss out on this awesome race in Gainsville, GA (not FL, sorry Tom Petty) on April 25th.  Chicopee Woods 10k is organized by Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC who have been organizing great mountain biking and trail running events all over North Georgia the past couple of years.  I’ve run a couple of trail running events with them and have been very impressed with how well organized the races are.  There is always plenty of food and water, easy registration and packet pick-up, and great awards ceremonies, but the best part is that they always pick the best trails in the area to race.  They take the guess work out of the equation for you!  How thoughtful.

Chicoppe Woods 10k is a single and double track trail race.  It has a large starting area so runners can get their spacing before going into the singletrack portions of the race course.  The trail travels over rolling hills, singletrack, doubletrack, technical sections, and creek crossings.  However, it is not too technical for novice trail runners.  This race is open to any type of runner who just wants to get out of the city on a Saturday morning and run some trails.  The only requirement is that you are able to complete the race at a 16 minutes per mile pace or less.  I’m sure you can walk faster than a 16 minute mile.  If not, then start working on your walking.  It’s ok, some people need a good walking base before they can start running seriously.  You can work out simply by parking your car at the far end of the parking lot!  This race isn’t an asphalt walk though, it’s a nature trail run, so practice walking in the woods to make sure you are fully prepared for the race.

If you are a fast runner you may be able to finish in the top 3 of your respective age group.  I was able to finish first in my age group at the last XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series Race, Runnin the Rocks, and my life hasn’t been the same since.  I’ve already added it to my resume!  I impress people.  Even if you don’t finish in the top 3 of your age group you will still receive a Sorrel Dri Balance Shirt.  These are really nice, high performance T-shirts.  As soon as you put one on your productivity rises 27%!

You can register for this race online now.  If you are old school (you’re not that old school if you are reading this blog) then you can mail in your paper entry. Currently the entry fee is 30 dollars (the T-shirt alone is probably 25 bucks) but the price will go up after April 15th.  Why act like your not going to run it?  Save some cash for this weekend and register now!  Don’t be lame.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Events | Comments

XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Series “Runnin the Rocks 10k Race”

Monday, March 9th, 2009
Courtesy of Defiant Photography Atlanta

Courtesy of Defiant Photography Atlanta

Be a part of history and run the trails at the Georgia Horse Park where the Olympic Mountain Biking competition was held in 1996.  The XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Series Runnin the Rocks 10k Race is a great trail race at the horse park put on by Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC.  I know what you are thinking about this race.  6.2 miles isn’t that serious.  Well, you’re wrong.  This is a very difficult course with a number of inclines and technical downhills that will challenge you and leave you breathless.  Breathing is for suckers anyways.

This race may have been a little more difficult for me than other runners because I started it a bit too fast.  Although I held my position from my quick start, passing two runners and not allowing any to pass me during the race, I thought I was going to throw up at about mile two.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it.  The runner in front of me had been slowing down so I figured what better time to pass him than when I was exhausted.  I decided to blaze past him on the uphill.  About two minutes later I heard him gagging and throwing up loudly!  It sounded like he was feeling just as bad as I was.  When running competitively don’t focus negatively on how poorly you are feeling personally, but think about how slow and tired the other runners in front of you are.  You’re always thinking of yourself anyways.  Maybe you should think of others sometime.  Then pass them!

Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC describes the race as, “…a great single and double track off road running experience! The race will start in the “Steeplechase Field” (required for spacing) but will soon lead into the woods. The terrain is rolling hills, single track, double track along with technical sections and creek crossings (about 2-3 feet wide ⁄ 2-3 inches deep). The course is beautiful and offers something for every runner truly wishing to ‘ditch the city’.”  I had a great time ‘ditching the city’ for this run on a beautiful Saturday morning.  I liked that there were logs and other obstacles to hurdle on the course giving you the feeling of really running on a recently blazed trail.  The trail floor was also very technical with a lot of exposed roots and rocks to dodge and maneuver which was a lot of fun.  The switchbacks were great, letting you truly feel like you were escaping the city.  I didn’t even know I was near downtown Conyers, GA!

The XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Series “Runnin the Rocks 10k Race” was a well run running event.  Race registration was quick, there were plenty of restrooms, plenty of food and Gatorade afterward, and again quick race results.  My favorite thing that Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC does that other races don’t seem to do is the overall quick post race operations.  When you are tired after a race you want to relax a little bit, talk to other runners, and refuel, but eventually get back home to take a shower and eat a much deserved lunch.  After the bulk of runners finished the race, the organizers quickly posted the “unofficial” race results.  Any psychologist will tell you, positive reienforcement needs to be quick to be effective.  Same goes for negative reienforcement so no matter how you did in the race you’ll be able to give yourself quick feedback!  Yeah for you!  Dirty Spokes Productions also start the awards ceremony at the right time.  Even though there were still a few participants walking the course, the race organizers went ahead and started the awards ceremony which I really liked.  It allows other participants, who may or may not be receiving anything, to attend the awards ceremony and cheer on their fellow running comrades.  It allows for a fitting celebration for fit individuals.  How fitting.

So next year be a part of history and run this Olympic course in the “Runnin of the Rocks 10k.”  Likewise, if you want to run a well organized and executed trail race then check out one of the other races in the XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Series. Do it.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Events, Running, trail running | Comments