The Rut is doing a training run July 13 for their 28k and 50k. Interestingly they are supposed to climb the VK route, which is on neither of the routes. Then it forks for each of the routes for 10.5 or 15 miles. Since it’s a great opportunity to do the VK as a pre-run I opted for the 10.5 mile, which is totally doable as a run/walk.

Here are some details from the event:

Training Runs Schedule:
7:00-7:55 am: Runner Check-in Big Sky Resort Base Area Huntley Dining Room at Base of Explorer Lift. See MAP.
8:00 am: Start Training Runs
8:00-1:00 pm: Runs in progress (1 pm cut off for all runners & routes)
11:30 am -1:30 pm: Lunch catered by Big Sky Resort

Check in is at Huntley Dining Room near Base of Explorer Lift: (See Map)
While you may not need a bib or timing chip for the Training Runs we still want to know who is starting and finishing the runs with us! So we will have a check in from 7:00AM to 7:55 AM at the start finish area in the Huntely Dining Room near the base of the explorer Lift. **Note that this is a different location than the normal Rut Races check in!** 

I’m really looking forward to pre-run the VK route, since I’ll be racing it at the main event on August 30. I did so well, and felt so strong at the Broken Arrow VK that I’m really excited to see what I can do at The Rut.

“Long” run at 5 miles on pavement this morning

Training with the Middle School MTB Team

It’s been a bit of a rough transition from the Broken Arrow, with a lot of pain getting back up to speed. While the Rut Training Run is at best a “C” race, meaning just a regular training run effectively, I still want to be strong enough to make the cutoffs and measure my own efficiency on the VK portion of the run.

I’ve dropped down to on average 45 minute or so training periods, outside the MTB team rides, which are two hours of on and off riding at a mellow pace for the most part.

I need to increase my singletrack training a bit, and increase my mileage enough to cover the 10.5 miles I’ll be doing at The Rut Training Run.

I need to get some steep and rough technical terrain practice in, since The Rut VK has quite a bit of that. Especially near the top. The pics and vids make it look a lot like an intense crawl. Far out.

I’ll post some more here in the next few days as I prepare. We’ll be camping near the Big Sky Resort where The Rut takes place. We were going to take the trailer, but our tow vehicle is having some issues and might not make it in time. In that case I guess it’s tents.

We’ll see. Wish me the best. Thanks