The Pisgah Mountain Trail Race is one of my favorite trail races and I think you should run it next year. This low-key fun fest is the old school style of race that is harder and harder to find these days. This year I took on the 50K for the first time and I can’t wait to do it again!
The Pisgah Mountain Trail Races feature 23K and 50K routes that will take you on a glorious tour of Pisgah State Park near Chesterfield NH. The race has been happening since at least the early 2000s and it has managed to retain the low-key vibe that was so common of races back in the day. It also benefits the Special Olympics.
I might be showing my age here, but they just don’t make races like they used to. Newer races with DJs, selfie stations and food truck fueled finish line parties are great. However, there was something special about the old school races that were enthusiastically put on by local running clubs to showcase their local trail system. These low-key races showcased the passion of the local running community, and they created a certain magic that no Instagram post can replicate. The Pisgah Mountain Trail Race is a relic of the past in the best possible way.
I have been running this race off and on for almost 10 years but never took on the 50K until this year. The forecast promised a clear, bluebird September day, and I needed to get in a long run—so why not go for the 50K right?
I pulled into the parking absurdly early as usual and immediately began chatting it up with fellow runners that were hanging out in the parking lot; runners and volunteers are all friendly at Pisgah! Packet pickup took about 30 seconds and then I rejoined my fellow early runners outside as everyone went through their pre-race rituals.
As the 8:45 am start time approached all runners were directed to the start line which was a chalk line drawn across the road. Ben Neal, the event’s new Race Director, stood in the bed of his truck to deliver an event overview, safety briefing and a very heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers that made the event possible. I could tell that Ben loved this trail system the way that I love Mount Toby and his level of enthusiasm got me ready to run!
The race kicks off with a mile of rural dirt roads before venturing into the trail system. We were treated to grass lined double track that eventually became glorious singletrack shaded by the forest canopy. After a few miles the 50k course goes one way and the 23k another; now I was committed to running 31 miles. Every turn was perfectly marked with just enough confidence markers to remind me that I was on the right course. Somehow, I ended up all by myself as seems to be the case in every race; but that let me enjoy the beautiful forest even more.
The soft and wide trails reminded me a lot of Mount Toby; the main difference is that the Pisgah climbs were shorter than the multi mile slogs that characterize Mount Toby. I could not help but smile as the miles clicked by. Aid stations were spaced out every few miles and they have the typical trail running snacks, Tailwind and extremely friendly volunteers.
I was having one of the best days of my running life until around mile 15 when my calf started acting up in a way it never has before. I was not a fan of this as I was miles from anywhere and the pain seemed to be getting worse. I stopped every few minutes to massage and stretch and this eventually got the pain to manageable levels. I usually run with compression calf sleeves, and this is probably a good time to mention that I had forgotten to bring them. Once this temporary detour to Pain Town was over, I was back to taking in the joy of this race.
The course is mostly non-technical forest trails, which makes for great running. The 50K course does rack up 4,700 ft of vertical via a series of very runnable climbs. We were occasionally treated to expansive views though I did not stop to take those in; this course has it all. I started picking up the pace when the finish line was a few miles away; the calf issue eliminated any chance of hitting my time goals but at least I would finish strong. The course finishes with 2 dirt road miles which makes for a fast and fun finish.
The finish chute was manned by the Race Director who was full of encouragement and high fives; you can’t beat that! Fellow finishers were hanging around the finish line to recount their adventures from the day. Cheerful volunteers were running the grill to serve up burgers and hot dogs along with cake, chips and other snacks. This was a low-key finish line party but it had everything I could want and I would not change a thing.
The Pisgah Mountain Trail Races will be a permanent fixture on my race calendar for as long as I can run. This event is everything I love about running and I hope it never loses that magic.
