TIGER MOUNTAIN TIME TRIAL
June 16, 2020 - AUGUST 15, 2020
We get it!!! You’ve been stuck at home, running the same ol’ same ol’ hoping for a real live trail race to come your way. And dang, you thought those summer races were a sure shot but, well, man this re-opening thing is sloooowwww.
We know it. You miss the roots and rocks, and the aid station junk food, and the mud in your shoes. You miss the thrill of the wind in your hair as you dance on the trails. Trail running in the PNW is just WHAT summer IS! We miss that race day feeling. Well, fortunately for you, our race scientists in the Run Super Labs were again hard at work, and came up with a fun way to run a trail race…and thankfully it’s only kinda sorta virtual. Yes, you read that right!
Introducing the Tiger Mountain Time Trial
What the hell is that?
You: Get outside, and run an awesome course that we have designed. Submit your time via UltraSignUp, watch where you stand on the “live leader board.”
Also You: Prepare for a fun adventure, bring your own favorite snacks and nutrition, bring lots of water, and bring a map or GPS device to help navigate the course.
Also You: Enjoy “racing” on at one of the best venues in the Seattle area. I mean who doesn’t love Tiger?
Us: We’ll provide the maps, the GPX files, the results system, a fun Facebook group where participants can interact and share their accomplishments, and we’ll send you a cool buff and medal to commemorate your awesome day on Tiger.
Also Us: We will donate $5 of each entry to Washington Trails Association to help them fund their efforts at maintaining and developing the awesome trails we have across Washington State.
*Note - We are also offering the “Not Tiger” Time Trial, where you can earn the medal, but can run the distance wherever you want. We will track these results separately from the actual time trial.
This is as close to a real race as you are gonna get!
Why’s that you ask? Well, because unlike many other virtual events, in this event, you are all going to run the same course! We’ve designed some amazing loops at Tiger to get your heart rates up, your blood pumping, and some dirt under your feet. As a participant, you can complete your “race” anytime between June 16, 2020 and August 15, 2020. Once you complete your bad-ass loop, you will submit your results via UltraSignUp and see where you rank. For those who like to get their competitive juices flowing, we will do overall awards, as well as age groups (10 year increments, 3 deep).
And if racing ain’t your thing…that’s cool too. You still get to enjoy an awesome day on the trails on a well thought-out course, and earn some sweet swag and bragging rights. Yup, we don’t have any cut-offs for this here race so take as long as you’d like.
The Rules Are Simple…
All you must do is complete the course we designed. You will track yourself via GPS device such as a GPS watch, or your phone (i.e. Strava App, MapMyRun, etc.), so we can see you completed the course. You will submit your results, and leave the rest to us. Your results will need to include a link to a GPS tracking service such as Strava, Garmin Connect, MapMyRun, etc. to show you ran the course we designed.
You may run the route multiple times and resubmit faster times. There are no limits on how many times you may do this. We love to see some friendly competitiveness!
What Do I Get?
We’ll send you a custom wooden medal made by a local vendor and a Run Super Buff
Bragging rights for completing a fun loop with some vert, dirt, and well…more vert
Cool awards for Top 3 overall, and Top 3 in age groups (AG increments of 10) - we know some of you are chomping at the bit to “race.” All awards will be distributed shipped in late August after all results are compiled.
Support! We’ll have a fun and interactive Facebook group exclusively for time trial participants
Ok, ok, tell me about the course…
We are going to offer the time trial in 3 distances. A marathon, half marathon, and 8 miler…so there is really a race for everyone!
Marathon and Half: OOOOOh, you runners are in for a treat. You get to run “Seattle’s Favorite” Loop. It’s known as such because damn is it amazing. You will start at High Point Trailhead, and make a rolling and gentle descent along Swamp Trail and Brink Trail down to Issaquah High School. The fun then begins as you climb up High School Trail and link up with Poo Poo Trail. After some nice climbing, you will hit the rolling, scenic single track of Tiger Mountain Trail and run through some quintessential PNW forest. You will then take a jaunt on 15 Mile Railroad Grade, then hit Bootlegger Trail up to the West Tiger 1 Summit and the following the road to West Tiger 2, and a short trail to West Tiger 3. After tagging 3 you will descend on West Tiger 3 Trail back to High Point. Don’t forget to stop and soak in the views on each summit…or just glance if you really want to race! The half does this loop once, the marathon does the double! The half course is ~13.5 miles, and with 3,700’ of gains/descent. Double that all up for the marathon!
Half/Marathon Course Map
8 Mile: You will start at high point trailhead, and take Tiger Mountain Trail to West Tiger 2 Summit. Take the short trail to West Tiger 3 and descend on West Tiger 3 Trail back to high point. The course has ~2,900’ of gain/loss.
How do I do this responsibly?
Times are different right now, and we ask that you choose to “recreate responsibly!” This means, being prepared for no restrooms or limited services at the trailhead, bringing your own food/water/nutrition, and avoiding stops outside of your immediate area for food or gas to get to Tiger.
When participating in this event, we ask that you follow all applicable social distancing guidelines and norms, such as not running with someone outside of your household, providing 6’ of physical distancing between yourself and anyone at the trailheads or on the trails, or wearing a face covering during times when you cannot maintain 6’.
Washington State DNR has some great tips and guidelines here
We also ask that you “know your limits.” You will need to be able to carry enough food/water/nutrition to get you through your loop with no support. This is entirely possible if you stick within your limits, and plan properly.
Most importantly, have fun taming the tiger!
*Note - A Discover Pass is required to Park at High Point Trailhead. You can park along SE 79th St in designated areas without a Discover Pass, and this will require a short walk to High Point.