Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs

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    Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs
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     Unforgiving.  Historic.  Gnarly.  Do you have what it takes? 



    • All races will use a 50K loop course run in a counterclockwise direction, using primarily the main yellow loop (yellow blazes on the trees) of the single-track Gerard Hiking Trail (GHT) between Titusville Middle School (TMS) in downtown Titusville and the park office in Petroleum Center.
    50K:              7 AM start      1 loop from TMS to AS # 2 in Petroleum Center PA           5,459 feet elevation gain

    100K:            6 AM start      2 loops                                                                              11,010 feet elevation gain        

    100.6 miler:  5 AM start      3 loops + 7.7 mile "Acid Works headed home" loop         17,785 feet elevation gain
    • The pre-race announcements will be in the cafeteria beginning 10 or 15 minutes before each race's start.  We will then walk outside to the courtyard in the rear of the school about 5 minutes before each race starts and start promptly at 5, 6, and 7 AM.
    • All races begin with a 1.5 mile section of asphalt to allow some spacing between runners before hitting the single track trail at the Gerard Hiking Trail trailhead about 1/4 mile south of the Jersey Bridge canoe launch parking lot.   Plan your race start accordingly for this shorter section of asphalt since you will be on primarily single track trail earlier than in 2009 / 2010's races.
    • The beginning and ending 1.25 miles of subsequent loop(s) - if any - will be on the flat asphalt bike path and side streets that run between Oil Creek State Park and Titusville Middle School (TMS) located in downtown Titusville.  The short sections of side streets that lead from TMS narrow upon entering the paved bike / walking path that leads to Oil Creek State Park, so be prepared at the start of the race for this narrower section.  Weather & mud permitting you can choose to do 0.7 miles on a grass trail instead of the paved bike path - both coming and going - your choice.  In the photo below, the trail option is perhaps 10 yards into the bike path and you take the right fork in the Y.  It will be clearly marked.   If you like pavement, stick to the bike path, if it hurts your legs, go on the grass... both ways are exactly the same distance.  The optional trail portion rejoins the bike path before reaching the park.
    • The 100.6 miler has roughly 87.1 miles of trail and a short amount of dirt road (87%), and 13.5 miles (13%) of asphalt (and less if you run on the side of the asphalt bike path in the dirt / grass).
      • 3 loops of the 50K from TMS to Egbert Farm picnic pavilion in Petroleum Center PA, in counter-clockwise direction (south on the west Gerard Hiking Trail and then north on the east Gerard Hiking Trail)
      • Your resolve to keep going will be tested 3 times as you visit AS # 4 at TMS, the race HQ and start / finish line.  It will be VERY tempting to DROP here and head for the showers - be prepared for this mentally and get your aid as quickly as possible and then get back out on the course
      • An additional short 7.7 mile "Boughton Acid Works headed home" loop 4.  You will be crossing Oil Creek on a suspension bridge just like the citizens of Boughton used when going home after a day of work at the Boughton Acid Works in the 1860's.  Only the 100 milers use this special "headed home" loop 4 - watch for signs.  On this final loop 4 you do not run the 1 mile Drake Well Museum section.

    • The 100K has roughly 54.25 miles of trail and dirt roads (88%), and 7.75 miles (12%) of asphalt (and less if you run on the side of the asphalt bike path in the dirt / grass).
      • 2 loops of the 50K from TMS to Egbert Farm picnic pavilion in Petroleum Center PA, in counter-clockwise direction (south on the west Gerard Hiking Trail and then back north on the east Gerard Hiking Trail)
      • Your resolve to keep going will be tested once as you visit AS # 4 at TMS, the race HQ and start / finish line.  It will be VERY tempting to DROP here and head for the showers - be prepared for this mentally and get your aid as quickly as possible and then get back out on the course
    • The 50K has roughly 26.25 miles of trail and dirt roads (84%), and 4.85 miles (16%) of asphalt (and less if you run on the side of the asphalt bike path in the dirt / grass).
    • There are 4 main staffed aid stations and 5 unstaffed water-only aid stations.  Therefore, water will be available every 3 to 5 miles with the possible exception of the 7 miles between TMS and AS # 1 (we will try to get water to this trail location)  - but there will be no cups, only gallon jugs of Culligan water (recommend you use a hand held water bottle). 
    • The yellow blazes on the trees that mark the main Gerard Hiking Trail will have these fluorescent pink & reflective silver striped marking flags - with reflective tape applied to them - to guide the way.  Besides the flags, flourescent orange soccer cones with the reflective tape will also be used where it is difficult to get a metal flag into the ground:


    • COURSE OVERVIEW - the park map below displays OCSP as east / west oriented to make it easier to read but it really is situated north / south as the maps & elevation profiles above show.  









    Section 1 - 7.1 miles
     
    Aid station 1 captains - Heather & Jeff Nelson (100K course record holder)


    Elevation profiles using USGS data, not GPS calculations, of major sections - BonesInMotion (BiMactive.com)

    Start of ALL races - a completely flat section of side streets and paved bike path from TMS to Boughton Bridge intersection the west Gerard hiking trail trailhead about 1/4 mile south of the Jersey Bridge canoe launch parking lot (new in 2011)  - 3.5 miles 1.5 miles (new in 2011) - Asphalt - 80' ascent / 75' descent
     



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    South on yellow blazed west GHT to the Boughton Acid Works area white trail intersection (new in 2011) - 2 miles - Single-track trail - 495' ascent / 301' descent 




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    Wolfkiel Run picnic pavilion AS #1 - runner's perspective from west Gerard hiking trail.  PORTABLE TOILET and permanent pit restroom.
     






     Section 2 - 6.8 miles

    Your hosts for aid station # 2 - Titusville VFW, Bruce Shorts Post 5958
    Aid station 2 captains - Julie Brown and Tom Lane (two time OC100 finisher - 2010, 2012)


     
    Wolfkiel Run AS #1 to Egbert Farm AS #2 - AS #2 is the turnaround point, 2nd drop bag location and the other crew accessible aid station at the Petroleum Center park office - 6.9 miles - Single-track trail / short distance on dirt road - 1282' ascent / 1335' descent


     


    Runners will pass by the 35' replica oil derricks at Benninghoff Farm - the inspiration for the logo and finisher's award belt buckle - about 1 mile from Egbert Farm AS #2.  The derricks will be illuminated on Saturday night for the 100K & 100 mile participants to enjoy.




    Egbert Farm AS #2 is reached by running a short distance on a dirt road (Old Petroleum Center Rd) and crossing over this one lane steel open grate bridge (use the right side of the bridge where safety cones will be placed) - use caution when crossing at the same time as a car.  The aid station is about 1/4 mile past the bridge on the right side of the road:




    Egbert Farm AS #2 picnic pavilion behind restroom, about 1/4 mile past the one lane steel bridge on the right.  PORTABLE RESTROOMS and permanent pit toilet restroom:





    Leave Egbert Farm AS #2 by crossing the road at this brown sign, heading for the oil derrick, and then left toward the park office and the propane gas tank that marks the entrance to the white trail:

    There is a small sign marking the entrance to the trail between the park office and the propane tank.  Follow that up the hill until you intersect with the main yellow east Gerard hiking trail, follow it north toward Cow Run and Miller Farm Road AS # 3:

    Section 3 - 8.8 miles


    Aid station 3 captains - Katie (2011 OC100K finisher) & Adam Peterson (2012 OC100 finisher)
     
    Petroleum Center's Egbert Farm picnic area AS #2 to Miller Farm Rd AS # 3 - run back north toward Titusville on the east GHT - 8.7 miles - Single-track trail, some wider XC ski trail  - 1581' ascent / 1519' descent





    Benninghoff Farm oil derricks from the scenic overlook all runners will be routed past.  The derricks will be illuminated on Saturday night :





    Cow Run shelters & rest room - unstaffed water only aid station - between staffed AS # 2 and AS # .  Boy Scout Troop 97 out of nearby Hydetown PA will greet you here:







    Cow Run Shelter to AS # 3 Miller Farm Rd bridge is 3.8 miles



    Miller Farm Road bridge AS #3 from runner's perspective after running down the dirt Miller Farm Rd to reach it.  AS # 3 will be in the left parking lot where the fisherman are around the pickup truck - between the OC&T railroad tracks and the bridge.  PORTABLE TOILETS.  After checking in at the aid station, runners will return to the steps you see on the right of the picture and head up the hill past the cemetery:


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    Section 4 - 8.4 miles
    Aid station 4 captains - Craig and Susan Williams


     
     
    Miller Farm Rd AS #3 to end of east GHT - 6.1 miles - Single-track trail - 1246' ascent / 1171' descent







    From end of east Gerard Hiking through Drake Well Museum loop - 1 mile - grass trail - essentially flat 





    Jersey Bridge to TMS finish line (for 50K runners) or AS #4 for 100K & 100 mile participants - 1.25 miles      - Asphalt (can run on side in dirt / grass) - essentially flat - 82' ascent / 82' descent




    TMS AS # 4 is for 100K & 100 mile participants only and is on the far right side of this photo under the bright orange kitchen loading dock overhang with the 2 cement pillars:



    TMS AS # 4 will be reached by running along the side of the grass on S Brown St, past the Coach John Heisman tribute at the corner of the lawn, on the sidewalk along Water St to the kitchen loading dock patio. Those finishing the race (50K one loop runners and later loop 100K & 100 mile finishers) will instead use the bus drop off road at the rear of the school where you started the race rather than going to the aid station:






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    100K - repeat the above four sections one time



    100 miler - repeat the above four sections two times


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    100 milers only - loop 4 - "headed home" loop - 7.7 miles


    1) The same TMS AS # 4 to the west GHT trailhead as the first three loops - 1.5 miles



    2)  "Headed home" loop - "Boughton Acid Works Headed Home" Loop - Jersey Bridge canoe launch parking lot loop - 5 miles  - primarily single track (plus the 1.3 miles to / from the middle school - 7.7 miles total) - 971' ascent / 967' descent





    3) Exit north end of the east GHT trailhead - skip the 1 mile Drake Well Museum Loop - run around end of guard rail and across Jersey Bridge and back to TMS to finish - 1.25 miles

    100 mile participants will pass the historic site of the Boughton Acid Works.  All 100 milers making it this far will run past this empty area that looks like the scene of a fire but is really the result of sulfuric acid leaching into the soil.  In addition,  you will use the suspension bridge over Oil Creek that is mentioned in the story below - just like the citizens of Boughton did in the 1860's to return home after a day of labor at the acid works.  From the book "Hiking Pennsylvania" by John Young:




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    Photos section of the Yahoo discussion group - including park & topographic maps for some of the photos

    Oil Creek has an elevation of 1150' at the north end of the park and 1050' and at the south end while the (steep) hills on each side of the valley are generally in the 1450' - 1575' range.


    Most races have trees to contend with, but the Gerard hiking trail also has an 1860's oil pipe in the historic Pioneer area to step over to remind you are trail running in the birthplace of the oil industry
     

     
     
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    rd_oc100@yahoo.com,
    Sep 30, 2011, 12:50 PM
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