It was almost 7 in the morning. I stood on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by 49 other runners. The race director was explaining what to expect on the course. Then, for a brief moment, silence.
Ready. Set. Go.
Just like that, we were off. Months of hard work all lead to this moment. The Two Hearted 50K Trail run had begun.
The Course
The course was stunning. It included a rugged section along Lake Superior, high bluffs, wild lakes, and old-growth forests. The scenic views were a welcomed distraction.
After passing the first aid station, the North Country Trail met up with the Lake Superior shoreline. The trail ascended and descended dunes providing beautiful views of Lake Superior. It also provided a significant challenge with sandy trails that were sometimes ankle-deep. This was the hardest portion for me.
Around 10 miles, I arrived at aid station #2 at the mouth of the Two Hearted River and started to get some relief from the sand. The trail began to turn inland, heading toward forested land. This section had ferns that were sometimes as tall as me!
Aid station 3 brought me to Culhane Lake Campground and began the most remote portion of the course. I ran through tall pine forests, up and down hills constantly, and past lakes before arriving at aid station 4 at mile 19.4.
The next section of trail was easier and was primarily single track. It brought me to the final aid station with only 6.2 miles left. These last miles took me through some of the prettiest scenes of the whole race. It included a section through 300 to 400-year-old white pines and required me to climb several ridges. It was hard but beautiful.
After 31.07 miles, the Two Hearted 50K Trail run finished at Upper Tahquamenon Falls. The last three miles were a bit of a blur but they were followed with much excitement at completing my first 50K race.
The Organization
Hosted by Great Lakes Endurance, the Two Hearted run is not only scenic but also very well put together. In addition to the 50K, there is a Marathon and a Half Marathon that take place.
Each mile was marked and the course was flagged with yellow flags on the right-hand side of the trail in places that runners could easily go the wrong way. Along with the flags, in certain areas where navigation was tricky, there were arrows guiding runners to where they needed to go.
The aid stations were set up in a way that allowed the flow of the race to not be disrupted. Runners who wanted to stop had plenty of room off to the side.
Overall
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I knew I would be back to run the Two Hearted 50K once more. The course was gorgeous, the people were friendly, and the race was well organized. It is certainly a challenge that I look forward to repeating.
For more information, visit Great Lakes Endurance – Two Hearted Trail Run.
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