Thanks Guys, we love this! Bootlegger’s Black Toe Nail Guide to the Smoky Mountain Relay Leg #1: Happy Trails Distance: 3.5 miles Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 2 Black Toe Nails Comments: Mostly because for us it was our first ever relay leg and because of the dark in the beginning, the trail and high anticipation made this a little more challenging. Leg #2 – Perfect Warm up Distance: 7.9 miles Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 5 Black Toe Nails Comments: a few hills, but mostly not too bad. Leg#3 – Rolling Thunder Distance – 7.6 miles Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 5 Black Toe Nails. Mix of paved road to gravel road with some strong rollers. It is a decent distance right out of the gate. Leg #4: Minor Irritation Distance: 3.8 Race Rating: easy Bootlegger Rating: 2 Black Toenails One yucko hill, but the rest was pretty nice. Short, mostly flat with one quite steepish hill. Leg #5 – Soul Crusher Distance: 7.3 miles Race Rating: Hard Bootlegger Rating: 10 Black Toe Nails Comments: We are glad we didn’t drive this before running it, our runner would have quit. It is a relentless uphill going from steep to really steep and then back to steep. Every turn you see a long section of uphill climbing ahead of you. Leg #6: Don’t Fear the Banjos (or the climbs) Distance: 6.1 miles Race Rating: Hard Bootlegger Rating: 7 Black Toe Nails Comments: Definitely hard. Straight up for the first two miles and then updownupdownupdownupdownupdown from there on out. Busted up, washed out gravel road for pretty much the first 2/3 but not really technical. This section could be dicey in dark or heavy rain. Nice long descent between mile 4-5 before you climb to the finish. Leg #7 – What Would You Expect Distance: 4.2 miles Race Rating: Hard Bootlegger Rating: 6.5 Black Toe Nails Comments: Pretty much straight up for 3.5 miles and a nice sloping downhill to the finish. All on pavement with no real hard switchbacks, just a long winding climb to the top. It was a hard run but compared to others on the route, meh…. Leg #8: Single TrAction Distance: 7.2 miles Race Rating: Very Technical, Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 8 Black Toe Nails Comments: If it is sunny and dry this is a dream section to run. It IS very technical with lots of rocks, roots, trenches, logs, washouts etc. to deal with. It is very hard to get into any sort of running rhythm. You have to look down all the time to find your footing, this makes it exceptionally easy to get lost if you are not watching for the markers. The trail was adequately marked, but not overly well marked…so pay attention. Leg #9 – Gravity is Hard Distance: 10.2 miles Race Rating: Exhilarating Bootlegger Rating: 7 Black Toe Nails Comments: the first 5 miles are very technical, a tight drainage trail with loose rocks and roots that become hidden obstacles under leaves. There were a few downed trees to jump and plenty of creek crossings to help keep your feet wet. The logging road portion is a very rough and steep downhill. Leg #10 – The Pansy Distance: 5.3 miles Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 1 Black Toe Nail Comments: Easy run, all asphalt, mostly flat with a little bit of downhill. Leg #11: Alien Invasion Distance: 5.2 miles Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 2 Black Toe Nails Comments: Mostly downhill with one slight uphill, overall and easy run through a beautiful valley. Leg #12: Easy Peasy Distance: 3.2 miles (2.3 actual) Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 1 Black Toe Nail Comments: Easy short run, watch for traffic on the busy road. Leg #13 – Straight Up, No Chaser Distance: 4.2 Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 6 Black Toe Nails Comments: It was only for miles, but the last 2 were straight up a wall and into the wind. Leg #14 – Skyfall Distance: 9.8 miles Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 7 Black Toe Nails Comments: This one is tricky to call as it changes so much. The first 2 miles climb 1500ft…hot-a-mighty that one hurt, imagining my impending heart/lung attack was quite the struggle, but I made it up that mutha…after that it was a beautiful downhill deep into the valley. Leg #15: Roller Magic Distance: 5.4 miles Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 4.5 Black Toe Nails Comments: Beauteous winding road with four or five nice rollers, but the climbs werent really long or steep enough for any despairing thoughts. Leg #16: Moderate My A$$ Distance: 5.4 miles Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 5.5 Black Toe Nails Comments: It seemed to climb continuously. It was unfairly brutal compared to what you see in the race guide. Plus this is probably someone’s second leg so they are carrying some fatigue. Leg#17 – Speed Chaser Distance: 4 Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 2 Black Toe Nails. This leg was in the dark and all on a nice smooth road. Well marked with only one turn. Gentle rollers but mostly flat. Having the hand off at the fire station at the top of the hill rather than where the volunteers where was confusing. Leg #18: Mid O’ the Night Delight Distance: 4.4 Miles Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating – 2.5 Black Toe Nails This was a glorious night run for us. The only problem is starting off on 441 for the first half mile and the pucker factor of semi barreling straight at you. Theres plenty of shoulder though, so not too bad. After that, a quick climb up, rollers, a long drag climb to the finish and several Yeah God moments under the stars. Rain would make it unpleasant. Leg #19 – Nightmare on Hell Street Distance: 5.5 miles Race Rating: Extremely Hard Bootlegger Rating: 9 Black Toe Nails Comments: Extremely difficult. Many teams will run this in the dark. The road is steep with loose, soft gravel. The switchbacks mess with your head as you can see other runners or vans 200 feet over your head and you know you have to climb to get there. The hard right turn at what you are praying is the top is a complete mind-job, because it not only continues to go up at the top, it is much steeper. Leg #20 – Running Free Distance: 6.5 miles Race Rating: Exhilarating Bootlegger Rating: 3 Black Toe Nails Comments: Night run for us, swooping downhill for 304 miles thin a nice dirt road with a few small hills to the end…totally awesome. Must have been at least 3-4 intersections where I met the County Mounties on horseback, all looking too cool decked out in their reflective gear! Leg #21 – Heaven on Earth Distance: 6.2 Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 5 Black Toe Nails Comments: Smooth dirt road and asphalt. Long incline, but not too tuff. This had a great downhill towards the end on a good road. An absolutely awesome stretch at 2am! Leg #22: Unforgettable Distance: 7.1 miles Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 4 Black Toe Nails Comments: Mostly flat with some rolling hills. Overall, this is a nice, longish run along a quiet gravel road. Leg #23 – Fight Club Distance: 5.9 miles Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 5 Black Toe Nails (and 1 Busted Knee if you fall in the dark) Comments: First rule about Fight Club: You don’t talk about fight club. Second Rule about Fight Club: You DO NOT talk about fight club. Leg #24 – Nightstream Distance: 4.8 miles Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 4.5 Black Toe Nails Comments: this was a night run on a very nice road basically all uphill. No reason to rank it hard for the darkness as the road is perfect and no beasts chased me. There was flowing water much of the way providing pleasant background noise. In fact, with the exception of the shooting range, there was virtually no civilization and the stars were stunning right up until I handed off the wrist-wacker off to my team mate. A good solid run for a night running, relay running newbie and it ranks high on my all-time list of running experiences. Leg #25 – Quiet Night, Stars are Bright Distance: 4.3 Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 4.5 Black Toe Nails Comments: relatively short and not too bad, except for the big hill at the end. It was especially crushing since it was dark and I could see the light of the exchange and how high above me it was. Leg #26: Guilty Pleasure Distance: 8.8 miles Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 3 Black Toe Nails Comments: The first mile was mostly uphill, but not steep and the rest was all downhill, also not steep. Leg #27: Hill Snarker Distance: 6.3 miles. Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 7.5 Black Toe Nails Comments: In no way would I ever consider this “moderate” by normal standards. Rising pretty sharply from the valley floor, switchbacks, steep descent, climb, roller, climb again. Felt long after a night under the stars. Leg#28 –Quad Shredder Distance: 6.6 miles Race Rating: Quad Killer Bootlegger Rating: 8.5 Black Toe Nails Should be named the Quad Shredder, this section has extreme up and down with little to no flat sections. Once you crest the top and drop down into the valley you can kiss your quads goodbye. EPIC and amazing! Leg #29: Whoa Nelly! Distance: 5.6 miles Race Rating: easy Bootlegger rating: 3.5 Black Toe Nails Comments – The first 2 miles were awesome and then it was a runaway train downhill. There were some nice sections, but dang even nice sections are hard on tired legs and little sleep. Leg #30: The Stomach Punch Distance: 7.2 Miles Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger rating: 8.5 Black Toe Nails This one was tough. Two things define this route: 1) The fact that it comes towards the end when your legs are fairly fried already, and 2) The stomach punch climb at the beginning that pretty much puts you on the ropes for the rest of the leg. I would love to try this one with fresher legs, because, outside of the aforementioned stomach punch, its pretty and rolling with a nice flat stretch along the river to shake the cobwebs out. That said, its place along the route has to be taken into account, and that makes it pretty dang tough. Leg #31: Oh Look, Butterflys! Distance: 4.5 miles Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger rating: 3 Black Toe Nails Comments: You are pretty tired when you get to this stage, but for us it was during the day. The course is nice gently rolling hills with a one mile steady climb at the end. This climb can be tough on tired legs, but not horrible. There was little to no shade on this section so it was HOT at noon. Leg #32: One Tough Mother Distance: 9.5 miles Race Rating: One Tough Mother Bootlegger Rating: 9 Black Toe Nails Comments: Five miles of suffering leads to 1.5 miles of rolling gravel road before a half mile of the most excellent trail. The trail turns downhill VERY STEEPLY for about a mile before exiting to about a mile of gently graded gravel to asphalt. Leg #33 – Add Lightness Distance: 5 miles Race Rating: Easy Bootlegger Rating: 1 (only Slightly) Black Toe Nail Comments: Easy slightly downhill/flat run on a lovely valley road…except for the “you might be a redneck” trash pile just after the start. Had I not been tired this would have been one of those roads where you just feel like you could sail on forever. Leg #34 – Runners on the Lost Trail to the Bridge of Doom Distance: 7.6 miles Race Rating: Challenging Bootlegger Rating: 9 Black Toe Nails Comments: “Even Indiana Jones wouldn’t cross that MF bridge” This leg was a blast, it had it all. Steep Mountain roads, freshly cut trails through the pines to the top of the mountain, dirt roads to a newly paved road through a subdivision, sleep country roads, busy highway crossings and creek crossings. All of this winding led to the “Bridge of Doom.” “Even Indiana Jones wouldn’t cross that MF bridge! This 100 foot bridge spanned a might river 30 feet below teeming with crocodiles…or maybe they were rocks…I’m still unsure to this day! Leg #35 – Almost There Distance: 4.1 Race Rating: Moderate Bootlegger Rating: 4 Black Toe Nails Comments: Long tough hill to start then a fun fast descent to the start of the last leg. Leg #36 – Widowmaker Distance: 6.5 miles Race Rating: Hard Bootlegger Rating: 9 Black Toe Nails Comments: Kicked my butt! The heat and the hills were awful. All asphalt except the last 2.5 miles. Had to use engine breaking coming down the last descent – loose gravel and steep! Leg #37 – Reunited Distance: 0 Race Rating: Fun Bootlegger Rating: 10 beautifully manicured Billy Burgess Toes Comments: From the finish line celebration to the Oskar Blues Toast to the ‘sketti dinner to the social on the porch after a hot shower all the way until bed…Probably the most enjoyable post race euphoria we’ve had in a long time. Thanks SMR for a great weekend, for putting on a great race and for making us newbs feel welcome. Ya’ll are awesome.
Posted on: Sat, 03 May 2014 04:56:45 +0000
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