triple crown

[jeff]

This past Saturday The Trail Triple Crown took place for the 15th time
in White Clay Creek State Park near Newark, Delaware. The Trail
Triple Crown consists of a half marathon, a 10k, and a 5k.
Participants can run one, two, or all three races. Since 2003,
runners can also opt to run a marathon (two loops of the half marathon
course). I ran the half marathon in the inaugural as well as the next
year, but it’s taken me all these years to make it back for a third
time.

Weather conditions at the 7:30 start were ideal. Low 40s, sunny, and
calm. After a combo played The Star Spangled Banner over 200 runners
headed down field from the start before funneling into a grassy lane
that rolled thru vividly green forest land. Ten minutes after we
departed a pack of marathoners followed. For 3 miles we enjoyed
mostly mud free double track as we spread out and prepared for the
infamous ford of White Clay Creek. The crossing is done on a diagonal
in order to keep the water from exceeding knee level. Smooth stones
line the creek bottom for the most part, but there are some larger
rocks that can wreck a sprinting attempt to reach the far far bank.
A slow unsteady wade usually assures safe passage.

Over the next section of single track we encountered a series of blow
down hurdles and one newly expired kit fox (COD not apparent),
followed by a section that alternated between field and woods, and
lastly a section called the Possum Hill loop that featured a bit of
wobbling atop a long downed big ol’ tree trunk. As the descent was
made from Possum Hill, the pie plate trail markers changed from red to
blue meaning that we were half way done and on our way back. When I
ran back in 1998, about half the field got off course. Someone had
removed a crux trail marker. I thought the course Saturday was very
well marked. Still folks went astray including one fellow right in
front of me. I yelled at him, but to no avail. Another reason not
to wear headphones during a race. The return to the finish featured
a section of moguls and esses, followed by that cooling creek crossing
and then over the last two miles, a double dose of serious hill
climbing.

At the finish line, Triple Crown coffee cups were handed out. I
headed over to the pavilion where hamburgers and hotdogs were being
grilled. After loading my burger up with lots of fixings I watched
another 200 runners take off on the 10K course. Didn’t stick around
for the 5k event, but I imagine a bunch of runners were present for
that start as well.

That half I ran back in 1998 was my first serious trail race. Having
to cross a stream without the use of a bridge befuddled me as did
getting off course, but I enjoyed it enough to return the following
year. Scheduling conflicts prevented me from returning until this
year. Those races in White Clay Creek SP definitely gave me the trail
racing bug. Unfortunately, trail races in the Philly area where I
lived then were few. Fortunately, times have changed and many new
trail races abound. Felt good to return and run one of the old ones.

One last note: The Southwest Airline plane I flew back to Raleigh had
Triple Crown stenciled on its fuselage. Something to do with a
performance award, but it caught my omen-ness eye.