The Holloway of Hungerford

The Holloway of Hungerford

Some thoughts on trail racing in general, and Hungerford in particular, by RD Seaver

I came across an interesting blurb in a magazine recently.  On one of the pages of the magazine was a picture that sort of looked like it was taken out at Hungerford.  And on the page was also a description and definition for what is probably a common occurrence in numerous forested areas of the country, as well as world.  The word:  Holloway

A holloway, as some of you may know, is something akin to a worn-down or washed-out path. Something in which the land surrounding it on either side rises above the path/road to create an almost tunnel-like feel.  They are usually caused/created by repeated travelings, as well as by weather.  Pretty cool looking, I thought as I read the article.  And they certainly would be pretty cool to run through.

If you have run any of the three distances that comprise the Hungerford Trail Races, you will have seen our very own (at least partial) “holloway.”  One of the runners in 2014 was able to snap a shot as they descended down it.  As Hungerford runners will note, this section is downhill, and is a blast to fly down - depending on how much rain we’ve had.  In this particular year, our “holloway” was a bit muddy and slick from some rain a few days before the race.

The Holloway of Hungerford

The terrain of Hungerford is interesting.  If you’ve run it, you know what I mean: Shaded spots; rocky spots; packed gravel; single-track; and yes, sand - (aka The Powerlines).  There, I said it.  Yes, the Powerlines - they are so fun.  And it turns out, so awesome, that I have decided to make the word a proper noun.  They are challenging, for sure, and they make that branded, wooden finisher's medal really mean something special.

The trail races I have done have all been pretty much on one type of terrain.  Nothing wrong with that.  It creates consistency and predictability of sorts.  Some races have a couple-two or three types of terrain.  Hungerford, in my estimation, has at least four very distinct trail/off-road surfaces. Talk about variety!  I dare say most people in Michigan, or the Midwest, will not find anything like it.

The other race directors and I often joke about the year sometime in the future when we end up getting bit of rain the day before or day of - we know it’s a matter of when, not if.  Anyone who runs Hungerford - any year - earns their medal that day by finishing.  It’s a tough course.  Sure, it’s not going to take the prize for elevation gain/loss, but the multi-trail type aspect, along with definite ups and downs along the way, makes it tough in its own right.

As one ultra finisher commented in 2015 (and I’m paraphrasing), “I’ve run the Bear (100 mile race in California) and this was in its own way as hard as Bear.”  He wasn’t talking about the bear sighting on our course that year (which ended up being no big deal - the bear wandered right off the course).  He definitely paid some high respect to Hungerford with that statement. Finishing our race is an accomplishment.  

I haven’t run the Bear 100 (yet), but I also haven’t run Badwater or Hardrock, and I know those are super tough. I don’t need to have run the Bear 100 to know it’s probably tough too, and I think it’s awesome to know that Hungerford is in its own right, challenging.  Doable - yes - but tough.

If you are reading this and have never run a trail race, you owe it to yourself to run one - even if it’s not ours.  Variety is good for the body as Meb K. likes to say.  If you have run on trails, and you want to run something VERY unique in Michigan, we’d be honored to have you join us in Hungerford  We think after you’re done, you’ll realize how unique this (relatively small) swath of Michigan is.

We look forward to welcoming some first-time finishers into the exclusive club of Hungerford finishers this September!