Parma Park

Originally, today was the day we were scheduled to visit Parma Park, and view the new Monroe County XC Championship course.  This has been rescheduled for Monday, to accommodate some of our many musically-inclined team members.

Instead, we can at least get a bit of a preview of the course, in armchair mode.  First, here is the link to the current course map.  As you can see, the "two loop" format of the standard Parma Park course has been replaced by a single, long loop, that is somewhat "out-and-back" in nature, but the "out" and "back" are mostly separated by some space.  The finish line remains in the same location, but the starting line has been relocated to give a very long straightaway to open the race.

I was able to jog the course after the Parma Invitational in September, and here are some of my recollections:

• The standard course is relatively flat, with three "mini hills" on each of the two loops; the County course hits similar mini hills, but just once each, so it is even flatter.
• The early (and late) part of the course is grass, but not manicured; there is some roughness to the terrain.
• There are many long straightaways on the course, but several sections contain the quick twists and turns of the old course.  It is important not to get lulled into a lack of focus when making the transition.
• The mini hills follow the same downhill-bridge-uphill pattern of the old course.
• The course is nice for some spectators - the mile mark and two-mile mark are just a stone's throw apart; however, it is nasty for the spectator (or coach) that likes to catch the race in six or seven locations.  It's tough enough that the course is "stretched out", but there are also too many barriers that prevent running parallel to the course.
• The course is great for cross country runners: varied terrain, generally flat and fast, and almost no pavement (perhaps just the two driveway crossings?).