Trail run/ride race attracts the fit
Bella Vista’s new Back 40 trail system had its first race last weekend, drawing competitors from near and far, who brought high hopes and left with sore legs, pieces of wood and, if they did particularly well, metal pigs.
Runners took off Saturday and riders went out Sunday, with a choice of three routes — a 10k, a 20-mile and a 40-mile. The 10k went primarily through Blowing Springs Park, the 20-mile loop was essentially a lap of the Back 40’s main loop, and the 40-mile was two laps on the 20-mile route.
“We had a really good turnout and it was warmer than expected,” Mayor Peter Christie said. “This is just the beginning of putting us on the map for multiple uses of the trails.”
Each day, competitors headed for the hills at 7:30 a.m. and trickled back in to the finish line steadily after that — though understandably, the runners were out later than the riders. Several runners were out as late as 3 p.m., while most of the mountain bikers were back by 1:30 p.m.
The secret to speed in this race, it seemed, was roughing it.
Nick Lewis, who came from Little Rock to run 40 miles, camped out at Blowing Springs. He got up Saturday morning, climbed out of his tent and took first place on the 40-mile run, posting a time of five hours and 36 minutes.
While tents are not typically allowed in the park, an exception was made for this event.
“I just love camping,” he said, “especially in the wintertime.”
Camping at an event site, he said, was also very convenient — there’s really no transit, so he doesn’t have to worry about anything but getting up and starting his run.
Steve Friedman, a real estate professional from St. Louis, finished the 20-mile bike race first — and he did it on a single-speed bike. That means no lower gears for hills — though on the bright side, no derailleurs to worry about tearing up, either.
“It’s like a big BMX bike,” he said. “It’s fun bombing down some of these hills.”
The single-speed drive train, he said, actually helps him conserve energy. He saves energy on flat and downhill portions, because he doesn’t push as hard, and this leaves him with more strength to mash his way up hills.
The 40-mile bike ride’s firstplace finisher was in third place on Saturday’s 40-mile run.
Cody Jones, who came with a group from Kansas City to run and ride in this event, put down 80 human-powered miles over the weekend with a total time of 10 hours and 19 minutes — more than three hours faster than Bryan Hay, the only other person to complete both 40-mile events.
It was a good time, Jones said, still enthusiastic after Saturday’s run and already eager to hop on his bike.
“Trails are fast, they’re not janky,” he said. “Where we run, the rocks are fistsized.”
Sunday came and he was the first person to close the 20-mile loop on a bike, barely stopping to check in at the timing station before hustling back toward the trail system. Less than two hours later, he was back, still ahead of anyone else putting down 40 miles.
“That’s a lot more fun than running,” Jones said. “Lot faster, too. I felt good out there until about mile 25.”
He was proud of the results, he said, and it took a lot of running to build up the fitness he needed to pull it off. It was worth it, he said. It might even earn a day off from exercise, he said.
But as hard as he pushed, the second 40-mile rider was not far behind.
Quinn Reeves, a health and fitness science student at Lees McRae College, finished only 4 minutes behind Jones. He did it after sleeping in the Fiat he drove up from the Dallas area in.
“It was fun, yeah, hard,” Reeves said. “Kind of glad it’s over. I’m pretty tired,”
Correlation and causation may not be the same thing, but it’s hard to deny this year’s victors worked hard and did whatever it took.
But not everyone came to be a hero. For several entrants, the event was just a good time, a chance to get out on the trails and have some fun.
Jon Sullivan and Anne Ferguson came from Kimberling City, Mo., and ran the 10k together, while their 8-year-old daughter, Maggie Sullivan, spectated.
Maggie Sullivan, Jon Sullivan said, might also be ready to run a 10k before too long.
They visit the area regularly, he said, and often come out to enjoy the trails. He entered the 10k bike race, he said, which was his first-ever mountain bike race.
“We love it down here,” Sullivan said.