Anyone have some info on the Marathon Nationals course? How tech? Just standard east coast singletrack? Hills? Mud? .
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I’m also curious! How much climbing should be expected?
Haven’t seen the routes. The riding in Roanoke has a mixture of short steep climbs with plenty of roots and some rocks. Probably not a lot of mud unless heavy rain. Cardinal Bike shop in Roanoke probably can answer more specific questions and very friendly.
Hannah Otto was on Payson’s podcast recently and indicated that the course is supposed to be a classic East Coast technical track.
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*Roanoke
I’ve got some friends that prerode what should be the majority of the course (there are some new trails being built that will be included)
It’s lots of shorter punchy climbs but depending on how it’s run (laps, exact distance etc) we’ll do at least 1 longer ~800’ climb with a big descent to match.
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How does anyone know what the course will be? I haven’t seen anything official (or unofficial) at all yet. And you must be talking about the XCM course at Carvin’s Cove. There’s definitely no 800 ft. climbs on the XC course at Explore Park.
I was wondering for the XCM course if it would go up and over Brushy Mountain or stay on the lowers.
Correct on XCM as the original post specifically asked about Marathon Nationals. I don’t know anything about the XCO course
Well, what do you know about the XCM course?
This is unofficial and I only found it because I heard from someone locally that he was one of the organizers. I think it’s going to be awesome, but I’m biased because I’m local.
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How tech is the “gauntlet”. The have safety marshals at the top!
It’s a single black diamond. It’s old school backcountry style with sharp rocks, exposed roots, and a couple of short drops. The top quarter mile is newer with berms and jumps but it soon transitions to a 30 year old trail that will test you and your bikes limits.
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Looks fast
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Jeff Lenosky made that look way easier and smoother than it is in real life 
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His video he did for Rattlin Run is sick.
This is a more recent and higher quality (image wise) video of the Gauntlet and a few other trails…
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Wow… an 800ft climb should be enough to separate the group!
Thank you! Have you climbed Buck before? I’ve only ridden down it and climbed Trough or Hi Dee Ho. Doesn’t look bad on paper at 6% avg grade and 15% max. I can think of at least one switchback though that most non-pros will have to walk.
Buck is actually a pretty decent trail to climb, much easier than Hi De Ho IMO. There are a couple of root ledges to pop up, not too hard, and the 2 rocky switchbacks that require a dismount at the top. It’s also shorter distance-wise and undulates a bit at the bottom so it doesn’t smack you in the face right away.