For far too many Sundays over the course of a year, my running friends (Ryan, Sung) and I pound the pavement in Springdale Cemetery. Non-runners always seem a bit shocked when they learn a portion of my weekends are spent with the dead. Springdale has been a friend for runners for a long time. Their crumbled roads provide the perfect terrain for those of us who prefer the hill races. One loop is a quarter marathon and includes three massive hills that will make your lungs burn and your legs scream uncle. This all started when we discovered two races that call this course their home. The Screaming Pumpkin is no longer held (link here), but the IVS Half Marathon is still running strong – and by strong I mean still being held. The participation has always been light, but that is likely due to how tough this course is.
The IVS Half is a two loop adventure through the cemetery. That adds up to 6 … count them .. 6 impressive hill traversals and that doesn’t include the smaller rolling hills that make up the rest of the course. After spending so much time there training, we consider the cemetery our home course. There isn’t a turn, pothole or uneven surface we haven’t committed to memory. Figured since we run it so often, why not get a medal for it!
Hit the jump to see how the race turned out!
