Barr Trail Mountain Race [2001 Survey

On the trail up the hill through the woods to Barr Camp we go
Pikes Peak – Manitou Springs, Colorado – July 15, 2001 – 7 a.m.

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Was the field size (279 finishers) too small, too big or just right? Explain: (190)

About right

About right. I did feel that we inconvenienced a lot of hikers, though. Perhaps we should put up a sign at the trailhead explaining that a race is being held and hikers should stay on the right when they hear an approaching runner.

Bigger

Could be larger

Could grow by fifty to one hundred more runners. About 40 no shows this year, so I think it could be increased

Could have been larger.

Could probably grow to 400

Could try to handle 450 entrants

Could’ve been bigger. I was struggling to get by people until the top of the W’s, then it seemed to thin out. I was almost lonely on the way down. Could be increased to 400 possibly.

Did not run race

Felt about right to me. The trails did not seem too crowded.

Felt good but if it needs to change could take a few more.

Field size was good

Field size was great.

Fine

Fine... Not too crowded on the trail

Given the location and short distance to the actual trail, I don’t think that the race could be made larger, i.e. have more entries.

Good

Great

Great size

Great! I enjoyed this so much more than racing the Pikes Peak ascent. I will probably never do the pikes Peak race again due to the large field size. This race was just right!

I actually ended up running the last couple miles mostly alone. People got pretty spread out. That was fine but maybe more folks could have been allowed in.

I had no problem with runners congesting the trail

I had no problems with congestion on the trail this year.

I like the size of the race. More room on the trail for passing and enough people so you aren’t alone a lot.

I think 300 is good, 350 would OK, maybe 400 max.

I think another 50 people wouldn’t hurt anything.

I think bigger would be worse. ~300 can be supported by the trail, otherwise too much congestion during the downhill section.

I think more people could be allowed to race up the trail

I think the field was just right. I thought I would have a problem with crowding on the trail, but I didn’t at all.

I think you could accommodate a few more runners but the big problem would obviously be the downhillers passing the uphillers.

I think you could comfortably take it up to 300. Like last year, much of the race I felt like I was alone. One of the reasons I race is to feel the energy of others pushing nearby.

I thought it seemed about right. I wish there was some way to tell slow-pokes to get their butts to the back of the pack at the start. I guess that’s just to be expected — people are just ignorant about many things.

I thought it was a great size. The trail was not too crowded, but there was great enthusiasm out there.

I thought it was just right. After about a mile into the race, the field spread out and passing wasn’t too difficult.

I thought it was just right. The trail can get rather tight in places, but with a limited number of runners it allows you enough run and thus helps your confidence that you will not trip over anyone.

I thought it was o.k.

I thought the size was fine

I thought there were over 300 finishers. It seemed like an ok size to me, especially considering the size of Pikes Marathon.

It felt fine to me although I don’t have much race experience. I do have some friends that wanted to be in it so I do wish they could have been in it.

It never got too crowded, so it seemed ok.

It probably could handle a few more people

It seemed about right.

It seemed about right. As a middle of the pack runner, I had very little problems passing or being passed.

It seemed like you could add some more runners. The only congestion was close to the Barr Camp turnaround.

It was fine

It was fine, could have had a few more runners

It was fine. I think there could be more.

It was good, though it could possibly be bigger. Unlike Pikes Peak, it seems that most of the uphill/downhill traffic meets in the wide part of the trail between no name creek and Barr Camp. So there is plenty of room for people to get by. It also seemed that there was ample room going up the switchbacks. It just seemed that traffic on the trail was not near the problem it can be in the Pikes Peak races.

It was just right because the quality of the men’s and women’s fields were very strong. Also, the trail wasn’t too crowded to have a good race.

It was just right on the way up, but on the way down I was kind of lonely- there was no one around to push me

It was OK.

It was pretty tight going to the end of the first few switchbacks. Not too big but is there anyway to spread out the field sooner?

It worked well, the field spread out enough that it wasn’t a constant barrage of people passing on the downhill whilst I was still on the uphill. :-o I think the trail could hold a few more contenders, if necessary.

Just about right

Just about right, maybe a little small

Just fine

Just right

just right

Just right

just right

Just right

Just Right

Just right

just right

Just right

Just right — any bigger and the beginning would be too clogged

Just right — any more and the start would be too crowded

Just right — any more, and it would have been very crowded; any less, and it wouldn’t have been any fun!

Just right — I finished in 2:13 (1:25 @ Barr) and the majority of the race I had only a couple of people within my sight.

Just right — I was scared that it might be hard running down with passing everyone coming up, but it actually wasn’t that bad.

Just right — not crowded but a nice group event

Just right but maybe could allow for a few more or a race for those who are not “elite” runners and just love this mountain

Just right for the trail.

Just right given the narrow trail and initial 2 mile climb through the W’s

Just right I had no problem with crowding

Just right!

Just right! A little crowded at the start, but thinned out nicely on the course.

Just right! Very personal, very friendly

Just right!! Having run the Ascent with the mobs, I really enjoy this scaled down size.

Just right, but could add another 50 finishers

just right, could be bigger without a problem

Just right, not too crowded at the Barr Camp turn-around point.

just right, not too crowded on the way down

Just right.

Just right. A little congestion at first, but not enough to be a problem.

Just right. Could be adjusted to meet the goals (intent) of the race.

Just right. Crowded at the beginning, but sparse at the end.

Just right. I don’t care for the real big circuses. Especially on trails.

Just right. If it were any bigger, I think the 2-way “traffic” might be too much.

Just right. It is tight on the uphill. I am to slow to know how it was on the downhill!

Just right. Keep number of entries (350) the same.

Just right. Most runners were separated by the time they hit the trail.

Just right. No congestion at the start and no problems once we met runners coming down.

Just right. The crowd thinned out after a couple miles.

Just right. Too many more and then it will feel like the Ascent/Marathon

Just right. With a field size that small, I didn’t have any problems passing runners still coming up the trail. It would have been nice not to have to pass so many hikers!

Just right... maybe a few more

N/a

n/A

Nice size and most people ran most of it versus “a walk up”

No opinion

Of course, the start is always crowded, but I think once everyone spread out, there would have been room for more runners.

OK — perhaps it could have been separated into two waves

OK — wouldn’t want too many more

OK too me, no troubles passing. Everyone was civilized.

Perfect

Probably too small. Definitely room for more runners.

Right

Seemed about right. Really pretty much out of traffic after about switchback #1 or 2

Seemed about right — I didn’t see much crowding after 1st mile

Seemed fine to me. It was hard at times with people going up and down at the same time, but that goes with the territory. I think the size of the race is very appropriate.

Seemed just right. I did not feel too distracted or inhibited by runner’s coming up or down. Too many more, however could make it actually dangerous to excel and go all out like we like to...The race could probably handle 20-30 more runners

Seemed OK:)

Size was fine

Size was ok... But a few more (300-350) would probably be OK too.

The best part about the field size was the competitiveness of it...so whether you make the field bigger or smaller please don’t lose the competitive nature! There was sufficient room on the trail to pass people both ways, so it could be bigger without affecting safety and passability.

The field could be bigger. I was concerned about too much crowding starting up the lower part of the switchbacks, but it wasn’t bad. It would be nice to have more depth and competition in some of the age groups.

The field size was alright. I had no problems with it

The field size was just right.

The field was just fine I was able to run with people all the way up and coming down.

The field was okay. It was just bad coming down with hikers. They did not gives us right of way so we I had to sometimes stop to get past them

The number of racers was good.

The race felt fine. It could probably handle a few more runners.

The start of every race seems crowded. It quickly thinned out and I didn’t have any problem with other people. I can’t see where adding more people would have caused me any problem.

Too big

Too big, too many uneducated runners on trail, they need to be told to stay to right

Too big.

Too many more would make the passing difficult.

Too small

Too Small — It is nice to see people on the trail

Too Small. Considering the number of no shows I think 350 to 400 finishers would not be unreasonable.

Trail seemed more crowded, hikers, and other non-racers

Was fine, not too big as to crowd the trail. Though does mean I’m further down in my age rankings, need more slower runners :O)

Was good, a little crowded at first, but then thinned out

Wasn’t bad except for the start. Maybe if I was faster, it wouldn’t be a problem. Maybe 400 is a good number in light of the fact that there so many no-shows.

Well, there are always too many people in the way, but if it was smaller I probably would not be allowed to run it, so ok I guess.

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