Chesebro half marathon trail condition: 17 water crossings.
看起来有点challenge. 这是周末没下雨之前拍的。昨天今天明天又是storm. 希望下周不再下雨。
https://greatrace.run/latest-news/2023/03/21/what-to-expect-on-the-chesebro-half-marathon-trail-for-2023/
CHESEBRO HALF TRAIL CONDITIONS 2023 What to Expect on the Chesebro Half Marathon Trail This YearAre you ready to run the Chesebro Half Marathon? Our crew has just finished surveying the entire trail portion of the race and we have good news. The trail is dry, hard packed in most spots, and there are plenty of water crossings to make this year’s race a “true” trail experience. We know that a lot of people have been eagerly awaiting news on the conditions of the course, so let’s take a closer look at what we found. As a reminder, the Chesebro Half Marathon is a 60% trail, 40% road course consisting of: Start to Mile 2.75 on road, Mile 2.75 - 10.5 on trail, and Mile 10.5 to finish on road.
We had beautiful weather on Saturday, March 18, 2023, as our crew surveyed the entire trail portion of the Chesebro Half Marathon. It was so good to see so many of you out there on the trail. As many of you know, this winter brought more rain than we’ve seen since 2005 which means there are more water crossings on the course than ever before. Counting them all up, we identified 17 water crossings in total! The good news is that all of these are passable with either large steps or stepping stones so you won’t get your feet wet if you take it slow and steady when crossing over.
Obviously with all this rain, mud has been an issue in some spots along the course. Most notably between mile 6 and mile 7 1/2 (if you are familiar with the trail landmarks this is between Sulphur Springs and Shepard’s Flat), but even then it can be avoided by being careful where you step. In parts of the path in this segment you will encounter water running down the center of the trail, yet you can step around it.
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This is not to say that is the only area where you will encounter mud — mainly in other low areas on the route. Despite these muddy patches, overall conditions are great in terms of the amount of rain that has fallen this year. We were really impressed how dry most of the route is.
In addition, thanks to all this rain there should be plenty of flora out on race day for everyone to enjoy as you run through some truly stunning scenery.
We’ve been carefully observing trail conditions all month and have had four meetings with National Park Service and discussions with Search and Rescue to share our collective findings to ensure everyone’s safety come race day. National Park Service has removed four downed trees on the trails and are working to groom some rough spots for easier access. A note of caution from all of us: Please proceed carefully over water crossings and through muddy areas. We think you’d rather be a little slower and safe than too swift and risk a fall or injury.
The current forecast looks great; even with another atmospheric river here Tuesday/Wednesday, this is followed by 10 days of sunshine so we’re optimistic that conditions should remain good for Race Day! So lace up those shoes and get ready – this year’s Chesebro Half Marathon promises beauty, challenge and a whole lot of fun!
At this point, a change we foresee is we may need to reposition the on-trail water stations depending on truck access to the Mile 6 and Mile 8.5 water station locations. At these two water stations we provide you with a bottle of Arrowhead Water to carry with you. (Please dispose of bottle properly and do not throw bottle or cap on trail). Additionally, feel free to bring your own hydration if desired. If we need to reposition, the water stations will be located on the trail as far in as we can deploy the cases of water. The other four off-trail water stations are not affected.
We will continue to monitor conditions after Tuesday’s rain and if anything changes be sure to notify you. And for any reason you don’t feel comfortable running due to trail conditions just remember you have three options available: 1. Switch to a different distance at no cost (10K, 5K, 10.3 Mile Triple Challenge or 15K Combo) 2. Switch to the virtual half marathon at no cost, or 3. Defer to 2024 with a $45 deferment fee.
We hope that this update has given everyone peace of mind about what to expect during the upcoming Chesebro Half Marathon on race day. While running can always be unpredictable due to weather or other factors, our survey indicates that conditions should be good for runners looking for a true outdoor experience during their half marathon journey. So limber up those legs, get your gear ready and prepare to tackle one of California's best trails! We can't wait to see you out there on the course! Get ready for a fun adventure and have a Great Race!