Description

This site is an informational portal for informal trail runs in the mountains of New Mexico, Southern Colorado, and West (far far west) Texas.

The runs are informal, small-group activities intended to encourage camaraderie rather than competition. There is no sponsoring organization, just a loose-knit group of interested trail runners who enjoy running trails across the landscape of New Mexico (and adjacent parts of Colorado and Texas).

The purpose of this website is to provide coordination and information for those interested in joining the runs.

NOTE: Please contact the Race Directors beforehand of your plans to attend, or you may show up at the start alone.

Contact: David Coblentz (dkcoblentz@yahoo.com)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Mesa to Mesa 50K now the Battleship Rock Trail Marathon!!!


Same date, November 5th...same time, 8:00am.

Reason for change, there is a prescribed burn scheduled for up in the area where the M2M50K was planned to be run, so we had this backup run thought out just in case. The burn was supposed to begin on October 17th, but it hasn't yet, but could anyday and we can't wait. You certainly don't want to run in smoke, do you?

The Battleship Rock Trail Marathon will be much more enjoyed and was what we were planning for next year, but decided to go ahead with it this year. The BRTM is run on mostly single track trails with some dirt roads in the last 5 miles for those tired legs. The measured distance is 27.4 miles, but there will be 2 bailout options, one at approx. 8.5 miles and the other at approx. 18.5 miles.

Bird's eye view of our house location

The run begins at our house in the Sierra Los Pinos neighborhood in NE Jemez Springs. Our house sits at about 8150', the run goes up to 8638' and has over 5000' of gain in the marathon.

Starting at the house, you will run along some dirt roads for about a mile and will then hop on some single track trail onto Trail #137, which is the East Fork Trail. You will run to and through the Jemez Falls campground, down to Battleship Rock. Along the way you will go by the Macauley Warm springs. From the JF campground it drops down to BR on some steep single track with some small hills here and there. You'll then turn around (there will be someone there to check you in and provide aid) and run/hike back up the steep climb to the campground, run across the parking lot, following trail #137 across the Jemez River (yes, there's a bridge) back to where you entered it and someone will direct you to continue on the trail, which you will follow across Rte 4 down to Las Conchas trailhead on Rte 4. This is across the highway from where the Las Conchas fire started last August, but we will not be running into any of the burn area.
From there you run back the 5 miles to where you first entered trail #137 and will follow a series of dirt roads (FR135) to the Caldwell Trail, which is a steep hike up onto Cat Mesa. Up on Cat Mesa you will take a left and follow the dirt forest road to a cattle guard on your left, where you will join FR10 and run the switchbacks down the hill for about 1.5 miles. There you will take a left onto Ashley Lane to FR135 and back to the house.

Here are a couple of links to the route:
MapMyRun... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/55692092/
or Dailymile... http://www.dailymile.com/routes/911962-running-route

From either of these you can download a GPX file for your GPS or print a map. I'll try to have some maps available and also some printed directions, but we'll try to mark the course with ribbon and flour arrows at critical turns we're not going to be at.

There will be a bottle of Ponderosa wine for the first male and first female finisher of the marathon. There will also be a post run gathering/BBQ. We will provide some unhealthy hamburgers and hot dogs, so if you are liking something a little better, bring it and I'll throw it on the grill for you. Also feel free to bring something to add on the table. We'll have the meat and some chips, Deb may make a salad if she gets the time...also bring what you like to drink. If you have too much of that, you are welcome to stay overnight...we have plenty of floorspace! We also have three showers, so bring your shower things and some clean clothes. Alos bring your camp chair if you want to sit out on the deck...

107 Bonito Way

Our house is at 107 Bonito Way, Jemez Springs. Our telephone number is 575-829-4282, my cell is 505-695-1151, which doesn't work at the house, but you can call me during the week.

For directions from ABQ, come up Rte 550 to Rte 4 and drive up to just beyond MP33. (Be careful of the 2 speed traps, one in the Jemez Pueblo (30mph) and the other in Jemez Springs (25mph). Take a right onto FR10 down the hill to Hovenweep. Take a right and at the top of the hill after the road curves to the left, take a left onto Bonito Way. There is plenty of parking in our driveway, just swing over to the left.
Coming from the East just follow Rte 4 west until after MP34, you will see a 45MPH sign, then some mailboxes on the right, FR10 is across from those.

Party central, our back deck

If you think you are coming, please let us know so we have an idea how many to expect.
ultrastevep@gmail.com or mtnrunner02@gmail.com.

Thanks,
Steve and Deb

No comments: