starts straight out on a 600-700 meter downhill (very wide and easy to get out safe), but it is hard packed dirt with a good deal of gravel which is annoying if you're in spikes. the race follows into a very muddy wooded section (even when it hasn't rained) that is relatively wide but easily gets congested on several tight turns. the terrain changes from hard gravel and dirt to a soft mud (easy to lose a shoe)and loops a small flat loop leading back to the hill you just started at. the hill is rough for the first 60-100 meters then it turns into a gradual climb back to the top where most the spectators will be lined, so its easy to get motivated to get up it(pretty much the only viewer friendly section of the course. after this you do a long gradual downhill around back into the woods (you will cross over one road, and there is a 30-40 meter section of pavement through a parking lot). then there are 2 quick up and downhills which is where most the seperation in the race will probably happen. after this you redo the original loop, back up the hill. the third time around you take a different turn while in the woods and you do a shorter version of the hill, before finally doing the big loop again into the SAS soccer stadium (which is going to be awesome).
some things to watch out for:
1) if it rains (and i mean any rain whatsoever) all the water drains down that big hill into the woods...creating a very challenging situation. the mud turns up easily, and keeping your balance becomes a challenge even in spikes. there is no way to avoid huge mud sections that try to pull your shoe off. even with spikes the mud is too deep to get good footing, so falling on tight turns is easy.
2) the start is long enough to get good position, but shortly after you enter the woods there is a tight turn that will put mid packers at almost a stand still due to congestion of the inside line.
3) gravel -- its pretty easy to roll your ankle in the race.
4) the final sprint comes quick after leaving the last wooded loop, and its hard to see the finish is so close.
any questions about the course?