Soapstone Assault

Race Description

Come help us celebrate our 50th year as a club. DEEP has expressed public safety concerns over parking. To address their concerns, we are capping the race at 50 runners, and strongly encourage anyone who can to carpool. Please follow parking instructions from volunteers. Please do not park on Gulf or Sodom roads. There will be a handicapped start with the first wave starting at 8:00 am (start groups are determined by age and gender). Runners should be present for 7:45 pre-race safety briefing. Runners will complete the 5.5 mile course with 1500’ climbing going up each marked trail and returning down the same route then preceding to the next climb. First 2 climbs end at the fire tower and do not have aid station access. There will be a cupless water stop accessible from climbs 3, 4, and 5. The “finish line” is at the base of the tower after the final climb up Killer Hill (powerline trail). Breakfast sandwiches will be available post race set up near the aid station. This is a challenging course and is not recommended for novice runners.

Location

360 Gulf Rd Somers, CT - the Shenipsit State Forest parking lot. Parking is available at the base of Soapstone mountain, volunteers will direct runners to additional parking at the top of Soapstone as needed. IT IS CRITICAL THAT EVERYONE OBEY PARKING INSTRUCTIONS. PARKING VIOLATIONS WILL PUT THE FUTURE OF THIS EVENT AT RISK.

Course

The course is at Soapstone Mountain and has a length of 5.5 miles with 6 ascents of Soapstone Mountain. A map of the full route can be found here: Assault Course The “start line” is the trail head sign, just before the blue-blazed trail entrance. Runners circumnavigate the base of Soapstone Mountain in a counterclockwise direction and each time they encounter a trail heading upwards, they take it to the peak. Once at the top, they take the same trail back down to resume the circuit around the base of the mountain. This up-and-down sequence is repeated for the first 5 different trails that runners come across. The 6th trail to be encountered is the infamous Killer Hill. The race course includes a number of steep, rocky, slippery, or otherwise treacherous areas. Though injuries have been few and minor during past races, a serious injury is possible. Because parts of the course are relatively inaccessible, it is possible that an injured runner might have to wait an hour or more for emergency medical care. Please do NOT enter this race if you are not prepared to accept responsibility for yourself and these risks.

Registration

Online registration is required. Paid members of the Shenipsit Striders will receive a discount code which must be entered during registration. THERE WILL BE NO RACE-DAY REGISTRATION.

Shenipsit Striders

The Shenipsit Striders trail running club was started in 1975 by a small group of friends in northcentral Connecticut that wanted to get together for weekly runs in the woods. Today the club has grown to include members from all corners of Connecticut and the New England region, with all abilities represented from new runners to experienced ultramarathoners. Our races serve to give back to the trail community by donating to Connecticut trail stewardship and land use programs. As a nonprofit club, our membership helps further support our goals to give back to the trail community - we would love to have you join us as a member. www.shenipsitstriders.org