If you’re looking for a way to appreciate nature while staying active, then check out the Summit Trail Running Series. This group of 6 runs spread throughout the summer will let you experience the trails of Breckenridge like never before.
Whether you’re looking to run competitively, or just enjoy the fresh mountain air, this event has something for you.
Keep in mind that even in the cool mountain air, the sun’s rays can be damaging, so you will definitely want a good pair of sunglasses along for the run. LenzFlip.com has high-quality Oakley sunglasses Half Jacket replacement lenses available in a variety of tints and colors so you can make sure your eyes are protected, and you’re seeing clearly during the event.
What Is The Summit Trail Running Series?
Imagine running through the forest, the smell of the crisp mountain air and the sound of nature all around you, filling your senses. You close your eyes for just a moment, and enjoy the feeling of your feet hitting the ground as you take step after step, taking in the environment around you. Your legs are burning, but you know you can keep going. It’s just you and the trail. If you’re a runner, then the Summit Trail Running Series is a great event to participate in.
Located at the base of Tenmile Range, Breckenridge was founded in 1859 by General George E. Spencer during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. The original settlement served as a home base for the miners working the rich placer gold deposits along the Blue River. Eventually, the gold miners were joined by stone miners and the community continued to grow.
Today the beautiful city is home to more than 4,000 people and features a variety of recreational activities for those who love the outdoors. From fly fishing in the summer to skiing in the winter, people from all over the country visit the area each year to take part in the many events hosted there as well as to enjoy the preserved historic buildings, and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
Perhaps one of the most popular events hosted each summer is the Summit Trail Running Series. Unlike other races, this series is designed to cater to a wide variety of runners. Each of the 6 races features a short and a long route, so you can participate no matter your skill or comfort level. Additionally, the event welcomes runners as young as 10 years old, and has many age divisions to make the races more enjoyable, while also supporting a positive, competitive spirit.
This summer will mark the Summit Trail Running Series’ 15th year of operation, and runners from all over the country are expected to take part in the event.
Five-year series veteran Ksusha Shambarger remembers the race in its early days, when only 30 or so runners showed up to participate. Even though hundreds of runners are expected to participate in the races this year, Shambarger says the spirit is still the same, and you are sure to come out with a few new friends if you decide to participate in the run. Even though there is a competitive element to the event, it’s more about giving runners another environment in which to do what they love, and encouraging enthusiasm and excitement for the sport.
With seven age divisions for each gender, the series’ race structure allows all those who participate to focus more on individual accomplishment and less on competing against other runners. With enough training, Shambarger said anyone can make the event one of their top-10 races.
The Running Routes
This year the series kicked off on a fairly simple French Gulch trail in a 4K/6K race through the mountains on June 8th, and hundreds of runners showed up to participate.
The second race of the series was a 4K/7K race along the Morning Thunder/BOEC trail on June 22nd, and now the third run of the series is coming up.
The third installment, Bakers Tank, is perhaps the most challenging run of the series, featuring the highest elevation of any of the runs. The 4K/9K race takes place on July 6th along one of Breckenridge’s most iconic trails through the Boreas Pass.
Participants will follow Boreas Pass Road for about 3 miles up to the start of Baker’s Tank. The trail goes past switchbacks, over hills, and along steep slopes of the mountain, then proceeds to wind and twist upward through dense forest landscape. The runners will eventually merge onto an old road, crossing through camping grounds and aspen groves before descending back down the mountain, eventually leveling out, and finishing back at the trailhead.
You’ll want to make sure your Oakleys are in top condition for this run, and you may even want to look into a new pair of Oakley sunglasses Half Jacket replacement lenses in a brown or yellow tint. Both of these colors filter out blue wavelengths, increasing depth perception and contrast in low-light conditions and against green backgrounds. As such, either of these tints would be a great option for running through the foliage and dense forests that are present along all the trails in the series.
The final three races will take place on the Horseshoe Gulch Trail (6K/14K run) on July 20th, Flumes/Tom’s Baby Trail (7K/11K run) on August 3rd, and Carter Park Trail (8K/14K run) on August 17th. All of the trails feature beautiful landscape and uniquely challenging runs.
Get Your Oakley Sunglasses Half Jacket Replacement Lenses And Get Signed Up For The Race!
If you want to participate in the upcoming race, you can register online at www.townofbrekenridge.com. The registration fee for adults is $22 for pre-registration or $25 for same-day registration per race, and Youth runners 17 and under pay only $5 per race. A signed sports waiver is required before participating in any of the runs.
Due to the nature of the trails and surrounding landscape, there are no aid stations along the courses. This means that runners need to be even more aware of their limits and personal safety so as not to push themselves too far.
One of the most important safety precautions to take while participating in extended runs is, of course, hydration, especially in the heat of the summer. In addition to no aid stations, the Summit Trail Running Series is also cup-free. This means runners must bring a reusable water bottle in order to stay hydrated during the run.
Even though there aren’t any aid stations, volunteers are still needed along the course, at the registration desks, and at the finish line and post-race festivities. So if you want to participate but don’t feel up to the run, you can still be part of the event.
Whether you’re running or volunteering in any of the upcoming runs, you’ll want to make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen, and have a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s blinding rays. If you are looking to upgrade your favorite pair, then take a look at the wide selection of polycarbonate Oakley sunglasses Half Jacket replacement lenses available on LenzFlip.com.