Michael and I signed up for the Sugarloaf Uphill Climb, a 2.2 mile race up Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley with roughly 2500′ of elevation gain. The average pitch was 20%, but at its steepest was 30%. The race was advertised as being 2.5 miles, so we were both surprised when we turned the last corner to find the finish line.
ROUTE
The race started from the quad lift
We ran up Binder Trail to summit
The finish was a few hundred feet below the true summit
PHOTOS
STATS
Date: 11 October 2020 Distance: 2.2 miles Pace: 18:04/mile Elevation Gain: 2362′
Not surprisingly, the races I planned to run this year were cancelled due to Covid-19. So I was pretty pumped when I heard that the Beast of the East half marathon was going to happen. It had been on my radar for a couple of years, so I signed up for it right away. Bibs were sent out to runners and the start was done in heats of 50 people socially distanced by cones with bib numbers on them spaced out six feet apart. I was grateful for some normalcy and the day was perfectly cool and dry for a race.
ROUTE
The race started from the beach at Echo Lake
Ran south on Echo Lake Trail to Bryce Path
Turned left on Bryce Path to Bryce Link
Turned right on Bryce Link to Cathedral Ledge Road
Followed an unnamed trail along Cathedral Ledge Road to top of Cathedral Ledge
Jumped on Bryce Path to White Horse Ledge Trail
Turned right on White Horse Ledge Trail to White Horse Ledge and on to Red Ridge Link
Turned right on Red Ridge Link to Red Ridge Trail
Turned left on Red Ridge Trail to Moat Mountain Trail
Art the top of the ridge, turned right on Moat Mountain Trail to North Moat Mountain summit and continued down to Red Ridge Trail
Crossed the river to take Red Ridge Trail back to Red Ridge Link
Turned left on Red Ridge Link back to White Horse Ledge Trail
Continuing right on White Horse Ledge Trail to Bryce Path
Turned right on Bryce Path and headed back toward Echo Lake Trail
Continuing left along Echo Lake Trail to the beach at Echo Lake and the race’s finish
PHOTOS
STATS
Date: 20 September 2020 Distance: 13.1 miles Pace: 16:30/mile Elevation Gain: 4429′
Maine Wanderlust 