Event Details

Experience the feeling of running an ultramarathon -- complete with very difficult and rocky terrain, steep hills, and narrow mountain trails -- without running an ultramarathon distance at the Escape from Prison Hill Trail Half Marathon & Relay, 13.1 miles that race organizers say will linger in your mind long after you've completed the race. Filled with lots of up-and-down hills and severe changes in elevation, this race is one that will test your mettle along with Nevada's sunny skies.

From the starting line at Silver Saddle Ranch on Carson River Road, the race begins easily enough, but it's misleading. After the first three-quarters of a mile, which takes runners around the ranch property, the race course then begins its march upward into the hills toward Prison Hill. From the 1 mile marker to the 3 mile marker, the course gains about 800 feet in elevation as the course takes runners up the hills, followed by plentiful hills between miles 3 and 5, when the race course begins a steady steep drop in elevation. By the time runners reach miles 6 and 7, they've lost 600 of the 800 feet they gained.

After the mile 8 marker, runners then begin their steepest ascent yet, gaining more than 800 feet in elevation along the course as they make their way to the top of Prison Hill (elevation 5,675 feet). Then, as organizers describe, it, the "escape" begins. The course then begins its steep descent down the southeastern slope of Prison Hill toward the Carson River, a spectacularly scenic run that makes all the up-and-down changes and the tough, challenging terrain worth the price of admission.

All runners (and all participants are runners on this course) are strongly encouraged to carry water bottles with them, as there are aid/refreshment stations along the course, but the potential heat and sun -- there are no trees or foliage along the course to shield you from the sun -- require that runners come prepared.


Race Weather & Climate

Located just a few miles east of Lake Tahoe in the shadow of the Sierra Mountains of California and Nevada, Carson City tends to experience mild to cold weather in the spring, with April temperatures that average between 63°F and 33°F. The area is also very dry this time of year (and year-round), as rainfall amounts average about 0.42 inches for the month.


Fees

$40 if registered by March 25, 2009
$45 after March 25 through race day


Registration

To register for the 2009 running of Carson City's Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon, register online at Active.com.


Website

www.tahoemtnmilers.org


Course Map


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