Have you ever completed a race and swore you would never do that race ever again? Usually it is not because they didn’t have your favorite cinnamon-raisin bagel at the finish line ready for you. Rather, it is typically because the race took its toll on you in some way that most other races could not even imagine.

I did the Blue Hills Trail Race 10 miler a couple years back and did just that. I uttered on the ride home, never again! Probably due largely in part to the fact that this kind is the kind of race that beats you up, kicks you to the ground then steals your wallet and takes the final $2 to your name that you intended to buy a post-race Gatorade with.  But this race is pretty amazing!

You have to sort of go into the race expecting that your time is going to be off but the challenge of the race is worth being off pace for. The Blue Hills overlook the Boston skyline and is run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation.

The course is  by far one of the most challenging trail races I have ever done. There are some hills that unless your family lineage has a billy goat kicking around in it are nearly unable to run due to their straight up nature and the course is complete with rocks, bigger rocks and downright boulders coupled with logs crossing the course. By the end of the race my entire body hurt, blisters on the feet, sore shoulders, back feeling heavy.

The Colonial Road Runners organize this race and for $8 the race is a pure bargain. It’s a no frills kind of race but there are bananas, cookies, Gatorade and water and the finish line.

I completed the race today in 1:54. As stated, the race is a good one just to say you got a 10 mile race in today. I’ll work on getting the pace back on a normal road race next weekend.