Barr Trail Mountain Race [2006 Survey

On the trail up the hill through the woods to Barr Camp we go
Pikes Peak – Manitou Springs, Colorado – July 16, 2006 – 7 a.m.

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Was the field size too small, too big or just right?
It would be helpful if you mentioned not just the beginning of
the race but the middle and the top as well as your trip down. (152) [note: 333 finishers]

A bit crowed at the start, fine after that.

A couple of the slower runners coming up seemed to forget that the race rules say the downhill runner has the right of way. They need to be reminded that it is next to impossible to control our line when we are flying down the trail. Actually, they were reminded but I guess they just don’t get it. But for an out and back course on a trail there really were very few issues and I think another 50 or so could be let in.

A wider starting line would help position the field for the trail “in line.” Overall it was fine though

About right

About right, maybe a little crowded on the way down.

Actually the race didn’t seem as crowded this year, the beginning and the W’s were crowded but after that it spread out nicely. The way down was fine, especially since I was middle of the pack!

Additional racers could be added. But since I am one of the slower runners it may have been crowded for others.

After the switchbacks it was fine

All in all a good sized field

As in previous years that I have participated, the # of runners seemed to be just right. That observed, it seems to me that the race could sustain more runners; I find the trail to be plenty wide and people seem to seed themselves appropriately for the beginning. In the middle I am often totally alone or maybe with 1-2 others, and for the descent the uphill runners are Very Considerate, not only cheering, but definitely getting out of the way of the downhill runners. I don’t know if this is a good thing to suggest, but to accommodate even a larger field, (if that is a goal,) maybe the Barr Trail to Barr Camp could be closed to hikers for the morning. They are always very kind and seem to enjoy spectating, so I’m not suggesting that they are a problem, but if you wanted a significant increase in entries, maybe that would cure any potential congestion that might be a problem....???

Bottom (on the road) was too crowded—it spread out fine by the time we reached the trail; middle, top, and descent were great.

Could be bigger

Could probably handle another 50 runners

Definitely not too big. Actually it was kinda lonely in the middle.

Everything went well...no problems.

Field is about right as I did not hear of any collisions coming down but noticed a few close calls. I think adding to the field would require some kind of lollipop be added to the end to avoid congestion the first .75mi down from the turn around.

Field Size could be a little larger. At the start it is a little crowded, but was good at the W’s and beyond.

Field size is good.

Field size was fine. Always a bit crowded at the start but what do you do. After the Ws it thins out nicely.

Field size was good, but could have used maybe 3-4 expected finish time sign posts for the start.

Field was just right. It may have been a little crowded at the beginning, but was easy enough to pass if one wanted to.

Field was not too large. Rarely jammed up enough to loose time and no issue with down hill runners. Size is good but larger would be ok maybe to 500

Fine

From my perspective, as a middle of the pack runner, only the first half mile was a bit crowded, but not uncomfortably so. I think the race could stand adding another 50 runners.

Good

Good--everyone was considerate and friendly

Good size & it always thins out once you get a ways into the race.

I can not really imagine it being any larger without there being significant crowding. By the way — as long as their are lines at the bathrooms, I will say you do not have enough ...:)

I enjoyed the field. I’m not a good person to ask due to this being my first mountain race. I went with the flow. I love Barr Trail!

I felt comfortable throughout the race

I felt it was fine. I think we could handle 500.

I found no problem with the field size. No troubles passing on the way down, spreads out pretty fast after the first mile or so

I had no problems with the field size at any point after the W’s. Could have been larger perhaps without too much negative impact. After the W’s I was able to pass or allow passing with no problem even coming down.

I like that you make us really earn the finish. It would have been nice to have a bit more room to slow down after coming across the finish line, and a place to do a cool down. I walked circles in the upper parking lot.

I think a few more runners is ok

I think around 400 is the right field size. No too big not too small. Plenty of spacing on the upper sections, up and down.

I think it was just about right. I was pleased that the W’s weren’t clogged, and even those that were walking were walking fast enough that it really didn’t cause a problem.

I think it was just right, this year my age group (25-29) was larger and much more competitive.

I think it was just right.

I think it worked out right, maybe you could add another 50 runners if the demand is there...

I think the field could be expanded, but the size today was great — not too crowded like the races in August.

I think the field size is good. The runners spread out fast.

I think the field size was good, you could most likely handle 100 or so more runners, but I run at the back of the pack so it is never very crowed for me. I always was able to get out of the way of the downhill runners!

I think the race is pretty much the right size, because it thinned out by the time the trail thinned out and it wasn’t too crowded on the way down.

I think there is room to grow

I think we could have had more people. It was spread out enough.

I thought it would be crazier than it was at the beginning and as you wind your way up things tend to thin out. It was a far better experience than I expected in terms of crowding.

I thought this field was more competitive than last year, there was a good sized group of guys 58-105 minutes to Barr Camp

I was anxious about the passing issue since this was my first trail race but didn’t encounter any problems there. I think the field size was just right.

I would like to see more runners

I’m a slow runner so the field is perfect, all you fast folk leave an empty trail for me

It seemed more crowded this year than in years past, but it still seems like a good size.

It was a little crowded at the beginning but after a couple miles was good.

It was fine

It was fine.

It was no problem at all this year. Last year it seemed like the field was much more bunched up when they were coming down compared to this year when they all passed me. LOL

It was perfect. I wouldn’t want it any bigger.

Just fine

Just fine the way it is.

Just right

Just right—congested at the start, but that’s okay and to be expected, and the trip down I had clear sailing (even though I finished roughly in the middle of the pack).

Just right—the normal yahoos went out too fast but I passed a lot of them in last 2/3 of the race.

Just right everywhere

Just right for me. A bit crowded at the beginning. But plenty of room after mile 2 or so.

Just right for the entire race

Just right!

Just right, but a few runners more would not be bad. I was in the back of the pack, so there was no problem with crowding on the trail.

Just right. Beginning was crowded, of course, but it was not hard to pass, even with oncoming runners later on. Even though I was towards back of the pack, I could usually see someone on the downhill.

Just right. Little crowded in the beginning, but ample room for the remainder.

Just right. Little crowded on the W’s but I could still pass (or get passed) fairly easily, and just after No Name Creek on the single track, above that it was perfect. I ran down almost alone (finished in 2:38). I do however worry about the future stress of getting in the race as it closes out sooner and sooner, similar to the Ascent and Marathon. I’ll be stressed next year for the Ascent as it will close very quickly.

Just right. There was no crowding that I felt. There was plenty of room for runners coming down.

Just right. I learned last year I had to jog the beginning of the race to get pass the slower hikers to the “my speed” hikers.

Just right. It is a little crowded at the beginning, as should be expected. overall plenty of room on the trail.

Just right, maybe a little cramped at the start but it thinned out quick enough

Just right...for one wave...if you stagger by another ~30 minutes a second wave is possible

Just the right size

More runners would be ok

Nice size

Nice, a bit congested initially.

No larger please

No problem with present size

No problems. I think it could handle a few more. I had no issues with congestion on the way down. (Hikers were more of an issue.)

Once through the beginning, the field spread out very well. I did not have any problems once through the first rest stop.

Perfect

Perfect size

Perfect size—better than the Pikes Peak Ascent

Perfect... just right at the beginning, and overall, people were very courteous about moving over for passes, in both directions.

Pretty good I guess... Field was crowded at the start, and pretty sparse by the end. I could have fixed that myself by running a lot faster

Race was just right. Never got jammed up.

Seemed about the right size. There was the usual amount of congestion at the start. Most runners are, and were, courteous when passing or being passed.

Seemed just right

Seemed just right to me

Seemed to be fine the whole way, i felt like i was just doing a training run most of the way down since there weren’t many other people around me.

Seemed to be just right, there were only a few places where the trail was narrow when I couldn’t pass right away. No problems with too many people up, down, beginning, middle, or end.

Size OK—a little congested the first couple of miles but after that it was fine.

Size was fine. I was actually surprised that it didn’t seem more crowded coming down.

Starts are always crowded, but people were very respectful concerning the trail etiquette both up and down — I think they actually read Matt’s emails! The race would not have suffered with another 50 or so participants.

The beginning was very compacted but loosened up nicely at the top of the W’s. The top we were all spread out comfortable and the bottom I was all alone when I crossed the finish line. Suggestion: start in waves of 100 runner separated by 5 minutes with the fastest runners in the first wave, you may be able to have 500 runners this way.

The field seemed great the entire race, crowed as usual in the Ws, but evened out nicely after.

The field size seemed just right throughout the race. Only 1 or 2 times was it slowed near the top due to the narrow trail and runners coming down, but all in all it was just right.

The field size was fine. The beginning, like nearly every trail race, was packed and difficult to maneuver in. But once you started up the trail it spread out and on the way down I was nearly by myself a lot.

The field size was just about right. Having any more competitors would have probably made it a bit more difficult for those runners on the return trip.

The field size was just right! There was definitely good competition without the trail being overly crowded. I would hesitate to allow more runners in the race because of the fast downhill(hard to control speed). I thought it was balanced, and running into people was not a big issue.

The field size was just right.

The field was a very good size- not too crowded after the first half mile, but enough people that I didn’t feel like I was alone out there.

The field was the right size. I don’t believe, however, in providing “comped” slots to elite runners. They should have to register in time to meet the cap like everyone else as I see this as a people’s race.

The first two miles were crowded, but less than at the Pikes Peak Ascent. Otherwise not a problem. The size is right.

The initial part of the race was crowded, but that is nothing new for any race. It spread out well enough that besides the initial part of the “Ws” the rest was fine.

The race filled up fast this year. More would be ok.

The size is probably about right. I came up to Barr Camp around 1:30 and over the last mile before BC it was a bit crowded trying to pass some runners going up as other runners where coming down. Other than that I had no problems.

The size was perfect. I never once felt congested in traffic. Everyone was courteous about passing and being passed up and down.

Thought it was just right at start rest of the race was almost by myself

Too big, even coming down--too crowded! Please start at 6 am next year!

Too big. Also many non-race trail users.

Too large at the start — many people walking within the 1st 200 yds. Need better race etiquette. Once on Barr trail proper — ok

Very easy to avoid the speed demons as they came down.

Was a nice size.

Yeah, I thought the field was a good size and competitive.

Yes. No issues with other people

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