Upchuck 50k Trail Running Race
COURSE DESCRIPTION | DIRECTIONS | RESULTS | PHOTOS | NEWS | SPONSORS
2009's race filled up and we had a great race! Come back next year to sign up for 2010!
2009 Final Results & Photography >
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Introduction:
The Boonies and Rock/Creek present the 2nd official UPCHUCK 50K. The event consists of a point-to-point trail that runs entirely on the technically challenging single track of the Cumberland Trail.
This course has huge climbs and huge descents into Soddy Creek, Possum Creek and Rock Creek. It will, without a doubt, go down in the race log as one of the best 50k courses you will ever do. Please do not attempt this run as your first 50K. This is a serious endeavor and will quite possibly be your slowest 50k to date.
Let us reiterate: this is seriously difficult.
Registration Details
No race day registration. Field is limited to 60 runners. Registration link will be posted here.
On Race Day:
On Saturday morning meet at the FINISH area in Soddy Daisy. There is plenty of parking and there are flush toilets/sinks/changing rooms there. (see directions for Finish)
You will leave ALL your belongings here because you will finish here, assuming you finish.
We will load up in a bus at 7:30 and head to the starting line. The Bus will not be returning to the finish line, so what you take on the bus is what you will be running with.
The race will start at 8:00am from the Lower Leggett Parking Area.
Course Description
For full course descriptions, check out the Rock Creek Segment , the Soddy Segment, and the Possum Segment of the Cumberland Trail.
Feel free to ask questions here, on The Boonies board. Requires registration to comment (free).
Directions
How to get to the START line:
Only those that have someone dropping them off should go the Start line, Otherwise, the bus will take you to the start. Lower Leggett Road Paved Trailhead: Coming north from Chattanooga on US 27: Turn west (left) on Leggett Road just north of the Sale Creek community. The lower Leggett parking area is on the left at 1.5 miles. It is a paved parking lot with a limited amount of parking spaces. (Approx. 30 min North of Chattanooga)
How to get to the FINISH line:
Start at Rock/Creek (301 Manufacturers Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405) to the From Rock Creek right onto Manufacturers Rd then immediately turn right onto US Hwy 27 Northbound. Go Approximately 18.8 miles exit on Hixson Pike (Tsati Terrace). At the end of the exit ramp take a left onto Hixson Pike (Tsati Terrace). Continue .25 mile until intersection with Dayton Pike turn right at traffic light. Continue .5 mile turn left on Durham street (at the Ball fields) and then take the next left on Depot Street. Soddy Daisy Senior Neighbor Community Center (190 Depot Street Soddy Daisy, TN 37379) is on the right. We are using the pavilion in the back of the building.
Click here for driving directions on Google Maps (from Rock/Creek at Two North Shore to Soddy Daisy Senior Center)
Hotels and Camping >
More Race Details
Aid:
There will be 2 manned aid stations fully stocked with water, HEED, gel and some fruit at miles 10 and 20.
Course Markers:
Folks, we run on this trail frequently without course markers to direct our way. Sure, we occasionally get turned around but only for a little while. We will mark major intersections that might cause confusion. As a whole, this course will have very few markings. If you are prone to getting lost, do NOT show up for this event. The course does cross a number of creeks. Occasionally these creeks turn into rivers and become impassible. If this happens on race day, we will all be standing together on the side of the bank and between 60 of us we will figure out how to get across.
Volunteers, Emergency Personnel and Time Cutoffs:
Assume there is no outside help apart from your own two feet. We suggest you always run with someone. Bring enough food and water to survive without help. Be smart, evaluate your health before participating. We will have limited contact with the Cumberland Trail Park Rangers.
There will be a course sweep that will start 1.5 hours after the start. If he catches up with you, you will be asked to stop the race at the nearest aid station. You will then be driven back to the finish line.
Please do not argue with him. This is for your safety! The issue for us is daylight, risk of hypothermia, and limited time with the Cumberland Trail Park Ranger's oversight.
If you are interested in volunteering, follow the registration link and sign up as a VOLUNTEER ($0). There is a one time commitment toward a pre-race meeting, and race day responsibilities. Thank you and we'll see you out on the trails! For questions, email Jonathan at events@rockcreek.com
Our Guarantee:
We promise that you will have an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. We promise to give you some sort of cool T-shirt that you will be proud to wear. We promise that you will be sore the next day or week.
Post Race:
At the finish line we will nurse you back to health with really good food and drink.
Information:
For more information go the websites mentioned above or contact the Race Directors: chad@hudson-companies.com , matt_sims@patagonia.com or Jonathan at events@rockcreek.com
No Pets on the Trail:
Out of common sense and with respect for legal issues, please leave the dogs, monkeys, etc. at home.
History of the Upchuck 50k (as told by Matt Sims)
Chad and I run together all the time... I am well aware of his dietary habits, running pace, what he likes to talk about when he runs, etc. This particular day we headed out to run 36 miles of the continuous Cumberland Trail segment that has recently been completed outside the Chattanooga area.
We did the normal car drop off at the "take out", and then shuttled the car a LONG way to the beginning of what would be a very memorable trail for us both. Chad likes to plan the route and is very methodical in what he might need. Lucky for me really, because I am not a good planner and I typically rely on Chad to figure it all out. We decided to run South to North, which now the official Upchuck 50k course runs North to South.
I won’t bore you with the detail of the actual trail description and what we saw and how we felt and how many times I stopped to pee, etc. I will simply say, the Cumberland Trail is ridiculously well done. We are really fortunate to have the trail system and to have such a thoughtful group of planners and volunteers to make it happen.
I have gone through times of being very disciplined with what I eat and what I drink. I don’t typically get caught up in all the fancy powders that are available today, although certainly I should because I bet I would be a real superstar runner. We do have a couple of really incredible runners in town and they are fanatic about Heed, an electrolyte replacement drink. They put the "hard sell" on Chad and I think Chad bought a couple of gallons of this stuff and probably stock in the company at the same time. So there we are running along with hydration packs. Mine was filled with water and Chad’s was filled with Heed. Keep in mind this was the first time he had really used it, which typically isn’t the best idea when you are pretty much committing to an all day run. But, oh well. Chad knows what he’s doing.
We get about 18 miles into the run when we cross the Hwy 111, Jones Gap Road Crossing. This is unfortunate in some ways because you actually have to run on a bit of pavement to join the next trail segment, but in doing so you run right by a convenient store. Chad and I stopped in there to re-fuel and talk about Nascar with some of the locals.
Chad comes out of the store with a Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Water, Snickers, Cheese Crackers and a Fig Newton. I remember observing his carefully planned out purchase, and I have to admit I was a little jealous. Chad has a "go big or go home" approach to things, so I just figured he would carry what he didn’t eat in his pack and eat it as we go. I was wrong. Chad dug in to what I comically refer to as "the last supper".
Off we go and off go the wheels. It took about 3 minutes of running before I heard Chad say, "I don’t feel so good". I proceeded to turn around and see this bloated bellied figure start puking all over the place. I ran ahead so I didn’t start puking myself. For the next 10+ miles Chad would puke occasionally and then start running again, all the while that Heed was keeping him company.
All in all I had a great run and Chad had a terrible one. It’s funny now and I think he thinks so too. Just remember not to get carried away this year at the Jones Gap Road Convenience store.
Race Results & Photos
| Results: | Photos: | Videos: | |
| 2009 |
Upchuck 50k Results |
Men's Winners |
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| 2008 |
50K Results | On the Trail Start/Finish Photography |
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News & Related Links
Don't get caught in the changes of the season while running- View the top selling Trail Running Gear >
2008 Upchuck Race Report from the Race Directors >
See Performance Wicking Tees >>
Go to Trail Running Shoes >>
Shop for Running Shorts >>
Check out our Trail Running Gear Guide >>
Sponsors
Please support our sponsors because they work hard to make this event an incredible experience. SmartWool, Hammer Nutrition, Marmot, Salomon, and Rock/Creek are the sponsors.
The event benefits The Boonies (Wilderness Trail Running Association). If you would like to volunteer, please email Jonathan at events@rockcreek.com.
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