Every year we hear the same thing from first-time Back 9 runners: “I did not expect the footing to be like that.” Our loop runs through old fairways, forest trail, and more than a little mud, and it rewards runners who have actually trained on ground like it — not just pavement.
A few things worth working on between now and May:
Hills. The Back 9 trails roll through what was once meant to be holes 10 through 18, so there is real climbing involved, lap after lap. Hill repeats now build the strength you will be leaning on at hour eighteen.
Uneven ground. Roots, rocks, mud — our course has all of it. Time spent on real trail, in the shoes you plan to race in, teaches your ankles and your brain what to expect.
Darkness. If you are eyeing the 24-hour distance, or your relay team is running through the night, get at least one run in after dark before race weekend. It is the best way to test your headlamp and figure out how you feel out there alone in the dark, before it actually matters.
None of this is complicated. It just takes starting early, and there is no better time than right now.
