This race has been on my list to tackle for a few years after seeing so many badass friends complete it, and this year I finally decided to go for it. Conquer the Rock consists of 2 races - the 25k is a single loop through the campground (paved) before diving into single-track around the lake, ascending Table Rock Trail out to the overlook, turns around and travels back along the Ridge Trail, up to the top of Pinnacle Mountain, then descends the Pinnacle Mountain trail back to the start/finish via the Mountain Laurel trail. The 50k goes back out and does it all over again (I selected the single-loop option).
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| What a loop! |
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| A few hills |
I knew I wanted to take this slow to ensure I could make it through the entire race feeling decent. Got up to the race site in plenty of time, got parked, and got my chair and stuff settled with time to put my shoes on and finish half of my Bojangle's biscuit. Despite this being *only* a 25k, I still approached it more like an Ultra since I figured the duration would be more similar. Felt like the time went by quickly and the next thing I knew, we were off running through the campground, down the road, and towards the lake loop trail.
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| This spectator sign got lots of giggles |
The lake loop was a nice rolling loop to start off and get the legs warmed up. Climbed up next to the dam at the end of the lake, through the parking lot at the nature center, then the real effort started (approx 5k into the race at this point).
Almost immediately the trail begins to climb, and it feels like it just does.not.stop. for the next several miles up to Table Rock. Along this climb I started getting passed by much faster runners, and I was wondering how they'd all gotten so far behind. One that I know shouted "you guys went the wrong way!" and told us his watch was showing about 5.7 miles... mine was at 4.5. Oh no. 😩 Apparently almost 90% of the runners had missed a left turn that added a loop just after the nature center, and instead we all went straight up the mountain. Not wanting to short the course, I and a couple of runners nearby decided we would add an extra out-and-back somewhere along the way to make up the missed 1.2 miles.
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| It was quite foggy |
After the intersection at Ridge Trail, I made note of the distance (5.2 miles) and checked as we made our way up to Table Rock. Right after the Governor's Rock overlook my watch showed 5.8 miles... decided we'd go back and do that section again after making it all the way out to the Table Rock turnaround & back to the Ridge Trail.
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| What a pretty overlook at Governor's Rock! 🫠|
The rock scrambles were quite slow-going, but made it out to the Table Rock viewpoint to see... more clouds. No reason to dilly dally there!
So about-face we all went and back towards Ridge Trail. At the Ridge Trail intersection, turned back to go up to Governor's Rock once more (with feeling!) and got lots of confused looks at the people we'd already passed once.
Finally back to the intersection and progressed along the Ridge Trail. My memories of this trail from many years ago had forgotten how hilly this was! Good grief, it felt like it never stopped climbing, and I wasn't even at the actual Pinnacle Mountain yet. This was mostly a power walk/hike instead of a run. The actual split of the trail to go up to Pinnacle happens with probably less than a half mile left to the summit.
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| Peak #2 of the day! |
Fun fact: Pinnacle Mountain is the tallest mountain contained entirely within the state of South Carolina.
After that, it was mostly downhill and runnable, but after all that climbing the legs were definitely tired! Brief appreciation of the Bald Knob overlook...
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| Don't go straight! |
Random sites along the descent...
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| Knobby tree |
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| Wildflowers 💮 |
Along the final bit of the trail, I could hear the music and announcements from the finish line funneling through the valley, which made it seem closer than it was! Those final miles seemed long but also I felt pretty good energy-wise knowing it was almost done. At last the trail pops out onto the road where we started and a quick hill sprint finished the loop!
Turns out I was the 3rd in my age group so immediately was announced and given my award and finisher medal.
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| 16.1 miles in 4h 26m |
WHEW what a run, I felt happy with my performance and also very glad that I didn't have to go out and do it all over again. 😂
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