Trick or Treat Trail Run, Rochester Hills

Ruses Amuse at Trick or Treat Trail Run

By Tracey Cohen

ROCHESTER HILLS (11/1/08) — Cool temperatures and sunny skies supplied perfect conditions for the first annual Trick or Treat Trail Run.

The tricks can be credited to the untamed trio of race directors who embody GL Teams Racing.

Runners had the option of racing three or five miles after the quarter-mile mark, where the course split. The trick was that no one knew which route entailed three miles and which five. There were also whisperings of a river crossing, and while temperatures were fine for running, swimming was only advisable for polar bears.

My choice was involuntary. In a split second, I turned left despite previously focusing on continuing straight down the path.

Tricked and treated I was! The technical, single-track trail on which I began forced me to scale (or, must I admit, crawled for fear of falling into the rocky, thorny depths below?) a downed tree, but soon after dumped me out onto a relatively-flat and trouble-free trail.

I thought that I was home free. Wrong. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I heard rushing water. Yep, I had chosen the route with the river crossing.

When I’d asked co-race director Dori Watters beforehand how deep the crossing might be, she’d said, “Not deep, maybe mid-thigh.” Tricked again. Not only was the water above my waist, a wicked current forced me to lunge and “swim for it” before being swept entirely downstream.

Soaked to the bone, I now faced wardrobe malfunctions as my baggy running pants threatened to creep down well below my core.

My butt slide down an unmanageably-steep hill absorbed some of my pants’ soddeness, but not enough to inspire my confidence that they would stay up on their own as a later monster hill required me using all 20 digits.

Passing the steps we were told we must scale before completing the race, I actually thought I was near the end. And I was — after many more hill climbs and log jumps.

I viewed it as a victory to finished fully clothed, body parts intact.

War stories were swapped with gusto at the finish. Greg Glaza, 37, of Sterling Heights, and Reed Swanson, 49, of Clarkston, regaled me with tales of their three-mile plight. Thick mud, soggy ravines, vertical sled hills meant only for the brave, runners of the shorter course conquered hurdles of their own.

The finish truly held treats for all. Homemade chili and chocolate peanut butter brownies made a perfect post-race breakfast, not to mention cookies and leftover Halloween candy.

Adam Matthews was overall five-mile winner in 36:18. Matt Weber led the three-mile runners.

A portion of event proceeds benefited the Autism Connection at the Judson Center of Royal Oak. For photos, complete results and information on next year’s race, www.glteams.com/TrickOrTreat.html. MR