Rock N’ The Knob Trail Challenge – Allegheny Trailrunners

Rock N’ The Knob – Pennsylvania’s Highest Trail Race

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020: ALLEGHENY TRAILRUNNERS INC. IS PROUD TO PRESENT ROCK ’N THE KNOB – PA’S HIGHEST RACE.

The marathon begins at 8:00am and the Half Marathon starts at 9:00am and the 10K starts at 9:30am.

The race will offer three courses: a 10K course, a new half-marathon and a TOUGH 26-mile mountain marathon course for the more foolish.

TAKEAWAYS:

10K course: The 10K course may be the most challenging 10K in PA* (*based on the fastest and average finish times.) The 10K features challenges like Tree-odge, Devils Hairpin and Throat Punch Hill. New for 2020, an new 10K course!

Course Description | Course Maps

Half-marathon: In 2019, we added a half-marathon course! Get ready – this half-marathon is going to be a doozy. We are taking the marathon course and cutting it in half but leaving in more than half of the challenges and sufferfest.

Course Description | Course Maps

Mountain Marathon: For mountain-goats, this course has broken the will of many as you repeatedly attempt to ascend one of the highest peaks in the Central Alleghenies – finishing with 6,500 feet of climbing on your legs.

Course Description | Course Maps

In Summary:

At over 3,100 feet above sea level, it is Pennsylvania’s highest race.
A 10K, half-marathon or 26-mile options. Both are more technical (rocky) than our little sister, the Dirty Kiln Trail Race.
Lodging packages available at Blue Knob All-Seasons Resort, wake up feet from the start and finish.
SWAG: Rock ‘N The Knob technical shirts and merino wool 5-inch cuff socks! Our famous metal bottle openers for the first 200 registrants. Taster cups for the 10K; pint glasses for the half-marathon; and pints glasses and growlers for marathon finishers while supplies last.
Post-race food and beer tasting is included with the entry fee.

Quick takeaways:

10K course: By far the most challenging 10K in Pennsylvania (based on average finish times and overall winning times). Two major climbs give you 1495 feet of climbing. There is one aid station at the base of the first climb called Throat Punch Hill at 3.5 miles.
Half-marathon course: We are taking the marathon course and cutting it in half but keeping some of the fun and sufferfest in with 3010+ feet of climbing on the 13.12 mile course! There are three aid stations and a six 1/2-hour time limit. There are 3 Aid Stations: At Chappelle’s Field (Mile 4.6); At Ravens Rest (Mile 7.2); At Heavens Hairpin (Mile 11.1). Cut-offs: Ravens Rest at 4 hours (@1:00 pm) and Heavens Hairpin at 6 hours (@3:00pm) and the time limit to finish is 6.5 hours.
Mountain Marathon: For mountain-goats, this course has broken the will of many as you repeatedly ascend one of the highest peaks in the Central Alleghenies – finishing with almost 6,500 feet of climbing on your legs. There are 6 Aid Stations: At Pavia (Mile 7) Chappelle’s Field at 10.5 miles, Raven’s Rest at 13.1 miles, Heavens Hairpin at 18.3, Quitters Row at 20.3 miles and Throat Punch at 23.3 miles. You have 9 hours to complete the race with cut-off at 5 hours (1pm) at Raven’s Rest; 7 hours (3pm) at Heavens Hairpin and 7.5 hours (3:30pm) at Quiters Row. You need to finish the race by 5pm.

Start/Finish Address: 1424 Overland Pass, Claysburg, Pennsylvania 16625. Bib pickup begins at 7am Saturday at the pavilion.

REFUND POLICY

Participants are eligible for a 50% refund of the race fee minus UltraSignUp fees until 8/26/2020. We will not do deferrals or bib transfers.

No same-day signups for this event. REGISTRATION ENDS SEPT. 4TH AT NOON.

Schwag Details

Deadline to be guaranteed a bottle opener has passed. (Limit is first 200 registered which we have surpassed.)

Deadline to be guaranteed a tech shirt in your size is 5pm on Tuesday, September 3rd. We will print a limited number of extra shirts but can not guarantee your size.

Deadline for socks is limited to the first 260 registered runners. We have reached this limit late afternoon of September 10th.

Deadline to be guaranteed a taster glass (10K) and a pint glass (Half, marathon) is 8pm on Tuesday, September 10th.

Deadline for a growler (marathon) is limited to 120 marathoners. We have yet reached this limit.

(For any runner who don’t receive a glass or socks… we will discuss with you several options after you cross the finish.)

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFO

DYK that mountain goats are great at math! Here is some data on the climbs and descents for Rock ‘N The Knob Trail Challenge on Sept 12. The number in parentheses indicates which course – 6, 13 or 26 mile course) www.alleghenytrailrunners.com
—–
Marathon: 6250 feet of climb in 26 miles is 238 feet of climbing per mile
Half Marathon: 3013 feet of climb in 13.1 miles is 230 feet of climbing per mile
10K: 1496 feet of climb in 6.2 miles is 241 feet of climbing per mile

—Major Climbs—

ROCK ‘N RIDGE TRAIL CLIMB (26)
683 foot climb in 1.53 miles 8.4% grade

CHAPPELL’S CLIMB (26)
331 foot climb in 0.49 miles 12.7% grade

BABU CHIRI’S REVENGE (6,26)
853 foot climb in 1.2 miles 13.5% grade

BEAVERDAM CANYON/I’LL NETTLE DO THIS AGAIN (13,26)
1048 foot climb in 1.3 miles 15.2% grade

THROAT PUNCH HILL – ALL (6,26)
480 foot climb in 1787 feet 27% grade

TEAL IS REAL/DEEP HALLOW NOTCH (13,26)
332 foot climb in 1161 feet 28.5% grade

UPPER THROAT PUNCH HILL (6,26)
194 foot climb in 475 feet 40.8% grade

—Major Descents—

CRIST RIDGE TRAIL (26)
716 foot drop in 1.8 miles – 7.5% grade

DEVILS HAIRPIN (6,26)
613 foot drop in 0.8 miles -14.5% grade

BLUE KNOB SUMMIT/SKI SLOPES (13,26)
746 foot drop in 0.9 miles – 15.6% grade