The Anatomy of The Trident
Trident: noun a three-pronged spear; also a trail race that takes place in Jupiter, Florida in August, starting at high noon for the day race, and 8 PM for the night one. If you aren’t brave enough to run the race, you can always sign-up to volunteer or just be a spectator.
The Course Map of the trident loop will help you understand how it got its name. You can see three distinct prongs with an attached handle that looks like it was bent in two places. To run one 3.3-mile “trident loop”, you start at the area with the red balloon in the image below and take your first three right turns. This will take you to a road with power-lines. Whenever you get to this road (which is at the tip of each of the trident’s three prongs), you make a u-turn. So you continue making right turns and u-turns until you’ve run each prong once. Then you take your last right turn to run back down the handle (turning left at each of the bends) and wind up where you started. Repeat this loop three more times (for a total of four) and you’ve not only run more than 1,200-feet of total elevation, but one of the most challenging trail half-marathons on the planet!
Want to Know What It's Like to Race in the Trident?
CLICK HERE to read my race report from the inaugural year. Then keep going to read a section-by-section description of the entire course.
The Trident Sections
If you find the entire loop daunting, perhaps breaking it down into twelve smaller sections will help. Thinking about it this way, you only have to run 48 sections to finish the entire half-marathon distance!
Let’s examine each of the twelve sections in more detail. Note: to calculate the elevation gains and losses, I used this elevation map, which pulls its data from LiDAR digital elevation models. You may find different elevation readings if you run the course and measure it with a GPS-based watch or smartphone app. (See the section of this article titled GPS-based Altimeter Watches for a great explanation as to why these devices are not very accurate.)
SECTION 1
Length: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 35 feet
Elevation Loss: 10 feet
Terrain: The sand is very soft in this section. At first it’s a tannish-brown color that turns into pure white sugar sand halfway down. The trail is double-track, presumably made by the large tires of county trucks when they perform trail maintenance. For the most part it’s flat but you’ll have to run up a large sand dune (soft, soft soft!!!) towards the end of this stretch with a small downhill that you won’t even notice at the end…
What it Feels Like: As you start running you’ll soon realize that digging deep into soft sand takes a toll on your quads and it will be tough to get any traction at all. And with the steep uphill at the end it will be doubtful if you’ll be able to post a decent pace on this section. Don’t be surprised if you run this section 2+ min/mile slower than your normal “trail” pace. It will get better when you get to some of the other sections of the course, but not by very much.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 2
Length: 0.35 miles
Elevation Gain: 10 feet
Elevation Loss: 40 feet
Terrain: Just like the first section, this one is a mixture of very soft tan and then white sugar sand. It’s a tenth of a mile longer than the first section, but the softness of the sand will make it feel like twice the distance. The slight, gradual (but significant) downhill won’t help at all because you’ll dig deep into the soft sand with every step…but on the way back, the gradual uphill will make you curse the Gods…
What it Feels Like: This one just goes on, and on, and on, and on…it never seems to end, yet it’s only a third of a mile long! The good news is that you will eventually see two majestic pine trees flanking the entrance to the next trail on the right. This is where you’ll finally get to turn off of this horrendous section and onto the next! As you run this one in this outbound direction, consider what it’s going to feel like when you have to run it again in the opposite direction going uphill (Section #11). ‘Nuf said.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 3
Length: 0.15 miles
Elevation Gain: 30 feet
Elevation Loss: 5 feet
Terrain: This short section is pure, white, soft sugar sand. The trail is wide with lots of curves. The first tenth of a mile is flat, but it ends with a steep climb up to the top of Mt. Ridge!
What it Feels Like: Since it’s short, you may think it’s going to be a piece of cake. But with the steep “Satan’s Ski Slope” at the end, it’s gonna hurt…
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 4
Length: 0.50 miles
Elevation Gain: 35 feet
Elevation Loss: 50 feet
Terrain: This is the longest section of the course (an even half-mile), and as it’s part of the first of the trident’s three prongs, you get to do it in the outbound and then the inbound direction, one right after the other. On the way out, you’ll notice a few sandy ups-and-downs (five distinct incline changes, to be precise!), with the steepest downhill at about the halfway point. (Editorial comment: this curvy downhill is my FAVORITE part of the entire course!!!) Once you get to the bottom of that hill, it’s fairly flat (OK, it’s actually a slight uphill) all the way to the road with the power-lines, where you’ll make a u-turn to start the next section to run it in the opposite direction. This final portion provides just the smallest amount of firm relief…but perhaps that’s just a figment of my imagination!
What it Feels Like: Even though it’s long, if your quads are strong, the predominantly downhill nature of this section will make this one feel “ok”. But if you hate running downhill you’ll hate this section. But the good news is that you’ll love the next one.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 5
Length: 0.50 miles
Elevation Gain: 50 feet
Elevation Loss: 35 feet
Terrain: Since this is the inbound section that is identical to #4, the terrain is the same, only in reverse (which means uphills are now downhills and vice versa). Of course, in this direction, there’s more uphill than down. So this is actually the longest stretch of uphill you’ll encounter on the entire course. All you masochists out there…enjoy.
What it Feels Like: Again, if you like running uphill for long periods of time with little-to-no traction under your feet, this will be your favorite section.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 6
Length: 0.15 miles
Elevation Gain: 5 feet
Elevation Loss: 30 feet
Terrain: The middle prong of the trident is the shortest one, and in this direction it’s “all” downhill. As a result, it’s sure to be a favorite. Yes, it’s sandy and soft, but with no uphills to speak of, you don’t really need a lot of traction to generate some serious speed.
What it Feels Like: R.E.L.I.E.F.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 7
Length: 0.15 miles
Elevation Gain: 30 feet
Elevation Loss: 5 feet
Terrain: Since it’s Section #6 in reverse, the terrain is the same…only it’s all uphill! It’s a good thing it’s a short one. Just a tenth of a mile and a half until you’re atop Mt. Ridge again. Hang a right and you’re on to the third and final prong.
What it Feels Like: Short and sweet. It starts out relatively flat and you think you’re going to be OK until you see that last little uphill looming at you. But the crest of Mt. Ridge comes quickly and when you turn right to start onto the third prong, the downhill that greets you is thankfully, not a mirage.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 8
Length: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 10 feet
Elevation Loss: 40 feet
Terrain: The terrain of this quarter-mile section that runs close to the Intracoastal Waterway is the most diverse of all. It starts out with a white, soft, sugary, sandy downhill that quickly gets curvy. You’ll see some beautiful trees and other native flora here, and eventually (dare I say) FIRM GROUND! Yes, towards the last portion of this section you’ll see some green grass and actually be able to dig your treads into hardness that will almost make you want to stop and smell the sand spurs!
What it Feels Like: Not too bad…all things considering. Especially because this section is not only a gradual downhill, it also has the only stretch of firm ground on the entire loop. Good thing you get to make a u-turn and get more firmness under your feet before experiencing the softness of the sugar sand once again.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 9
Length: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 40 feet
Elevation Loss: 10 feet
Terrain: The same as the eighth section, as this is the inbound section of prong #3. Yes, it’s uphill, but the grassy firmness you get to experience at the beginning makes the uphill sand dunes on your way to the top of Mt. Ridge almost bearable.
What it Feels Like: Again, not one of the hardest sections by far, so you might actually enjoy yourself a little on this one.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 10
Length: 0.15 miles
Elevation Gain: 5 feet
Elevation Loss: 30 feet
Terrain: Finally, you get to run DOWN Satan’s Ski Slope, and you’re gonna love it!
What it Feels Like: F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 11
Length: 0.35 miles
Elevation Gain: 40 feet
Elevation Loss: 10 feet
Terrain: Soft. Soft. Soft. Uphill. Soft. Uphill. Uphill. Soft, Soft, Uphill. Uphill. Uphill.
What it Feels Like: About as bad as it gets. Oh, and if this is your first loop of the half-marathon, brace yourself! You get to experience this painful section three more times!
What it Looks Like:
SECTION 12
Length: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 10 feet
Elevation Loss: 35 feet
Terrain: Soft, double-track made up of the softest sugar sand possible. Yes, it’s Section #1 in reverse. And thankfully, it’s mostly downhill.
What it Feels Like: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this one’s not too bad until the very last part…there’s a slight dogleg to the left that catches you by surprise at the end. As you run towards the gravel road where there is an Aid Station on race day, you’ll catch a glimpse of US 1 on your right and it will look like the trail ends right around the bend. BUT, you’ll soon realize you’ve got at least another half-of-a-tenth to run, through the softest sand this side of the Sahara!
What it Looks Like:
Putting it all Together
Finally, click here to see the entire 3.3-mile loop from the perspective of my hat-cam! When all is said and done, and you’ve completed four Trident laps you’ll have run up 1,200 feet of elevation (300 feet for each lap!), which makes this the only half-marathon in south Florida that will make you climb this high!
Are you running the Trident? Leave a comment below and tell us!
For more articles about running, visit https://offtoarunningstart.com/orsblog/.
Keep running to the beat!
