Stowe 8 miler N.E. Grand Prix race

I ran it last year and even though the course was described as challenging, I really didn't think it was too taxing at all.

Most of the declines were gradual enough to allow the runners to let go and use the downhills without braking or disrupting rythm, perhaps with the exception of a steep decline somewhere in the early miles (I can't remember exactly where).

The first 5k is screaming fast, then it rolls some and gradually rises. I found the last 1.5 miles the toughest since they seemed dead flat but didn't have the nice shade the rest of the course offered. Lots of us were able to maintain close to road 10k PR pace on this course (and run a road 10k PR enroute- it's marked), so although it's not flat, my impression was that it's fast.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to a good race. Good luck if your running.

nope, not running. Hope the weather is cool for you (it was dang humid last year). Good luck and have a great race!

I'll be running it this year. I've never run it before but several people in my club have. Here's a link to a short description (from Merv) of the course from the track coach in my club

http://merv.deas.harvard.edu/webbbs/config.pl?read=145164

He also agreed that it wasn't too tough of a course

-Joe

If it's the same course as last year, be prepared to be bummed by your mile split. Last year, the race--a loop course--started and ended at the same spot. Pretty amazing that the loop is exactly 8.00000 miles. The general consensus afterward was that the first mile was a little long, by 50-100 meters.

There's a monster downhill somewhere in the opening miles. Given the loop course, I kept waiting for an equally monster uphill, but it never came.

Those who have run this, or have spoken w/ those who have - would you say the time you ran on the course was faster than you would have expected for yourself for 8mi, about what you'd expect, or slower then expected?

Someone close to the 8-miler, here. The first mile is slightly uphill - a steep short hill just before the mark. The second and third are decent downhills that enable a five minute per mile effort to go through in low 14 for 3 miles. The uphill is more gradual and between 4.5 and 7 miles. It's hard to notice if you're not paying attention. Most runners will pass 10k at what they would run if they were running just 10k, in spite of the hills. There is only a slight net loss in altitude from start to 10k. It's not nearly as hilly as "ski country", because it's all in the valley.

The t-shirts are a really cool psychedelic design this year. There will be plenty of food for the slow finishers(none here, though, right?).

I'll ask about the first mile mark.

Don't miss it!!!

I live right next to stowe and have run the course a bunch of times. Its a great race, very well done and organized. Usually a few kenyans show up, although they usually dont run faster than 40 min. It is deceptively slow... The first mile is long for sure, even though it is uphill. Like right before the mile there si about a 70m uphill. The there is a gradual downhill until about 4 miles...The only real hill is kinda near the high school which if i remember correctly is near 6 miles...Im sure youll enjoy the race, and vermont for sure.

Stowe 8-miler...fast course, especially the first 10k, and fast the whole way if you focus on running the last 1.5 miles hard. The high school is actually right around the mile mark, not at 6 miles. The loop course IS a certified 8 miles. It used to be short, but they pushed the start back when they measured for certification. This course has been used for as long as this race has been in existence. First mile is slow with a 30 second climb. 2nd mile starts flat and then rolls downhill. Third mile continues the downhill before taking a left turn onto the flats. It's quite a long downhill. 3-4 is pretty flat, 4-6 is slightly uphill. You can lose time from 4-6 on a series of very small uphills. When you get to 6 you'll be in the village of Stowe at the base of the mountain road. 6-7 is uphill, not horrible but it takes it out of you. 7 to the finish is mostly flat with one small uphill (10-15 seconds). You can see the finish from quite a ways back.

I haven't raced Stowe in years, but usually spectate on bike. When I last raced it my time was very similar, pacewise, to what I was racing 10 milers in back in those days, a little slower than 10k pace. I'd say it's a fair course. The ups and downs tend to come all together. It's certainly not overly hilly, but maybe that's my Vermont perspective showing :-)

Extremely well organized race.

Check out

http://www.stowe8miler.org

I don't know how to put in links.