Trail running questions

“Hi all, long time no post. My new job (started last june) has finally slowed down to a point where I can lurk on TT every now and then.

I turned the big 30 in February and I'm on a mission to get back into better shape. I'm going to be in the U.P. in July this year and I was searching online for events (art festivals, strawberry festivals,etc) that will be happening while I'm up there. Anyway, I ran across a 10k trail run that will be happening while I'm there and I thought it would be the perfect motivation to get back in shape. I'm not a huge running fan, but I enjoy some trail running and fast paced dayhikes.

My big question is, How fast should I be able to run a 10k to be able to compete?

My training goal is to complete 6 miles in under an hour, is that too slow?

I don't know the elevation loss/gain for the run but it's all single track in the forests of upper Michigan so I'm guessing it will be mostly flat with some hills.

Any other advice is greatly appreciated!”

“post this on the TT running club thread and you might get a quicker answer or heck I will bump this to the top for ya”

“IMO, 6 miles an hour is plenty fast enough to enter a trail 10K.

Are you looking at the Keweenaw Trail Festival? They have 3 races; a 10K trail run, a 5.8K hill climb, and a 25K.

"They" say it's "rugged" and they mean it.

I'm thinking about running. I wish they'd space them out enough so one could run all three.

There is a trail marathon and 10K on Grand Island this summer, too!”

“Yes Le Subtil that's the one. I'm hoping that my training out here at elevations above 5k will help. Right now I can jog/fast walk a 6 mile loop w/ 1000' elev. gain in 1:20. I'm hoping by July I can jog the whole thing in under an hour.”