GROUP RUN!

A group of us are planning on heading up to the Red Dirt trail on January 13th to camp for the night and get some running in.  Any distance is welcome (you just turn around when you are half way done).  Email Edie at PaixRunning@gmail.com for more information.

Pang Wangle

A short video from our friends at Pang Wangle showing some of the beauty of the Chicot trail, and an interview with the owner of Paix Running, Edie Couvillon.  

Exciting Things Happening!

My name is Edie and I love my job.  Or, should I say, "I love my jobs!"  I work full time for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a fundraiser, and for fun, I put on trail races.  I hesitate to say that either of those are jobs, though, because I honestly love doing both of them.  

I currently have three trail races that I host:  Red Dirt Ultra, Loup Garou Trail Run, and Chicot Challenge 100 Mile Trail Relay, all in my beautiful home state of Louisiana! 

I started running trails in 2008 and ultra distance trail races in 2009.  Since then I have run 27ish (I can't remember) ultras, with 4 of them being 100 milers.  Leading into 2015, I started to see some race directors around the country who didn't seem to have their runners' safety and success as their top priority.  Many of my early ultras were put on by Joe Prusaitis, formerly of Tejas Trails, and those wonderful events were what formed my idea of what a trail race should be.  I guess I was spoiled.  Joe's races always had well stocked aid stations, most being manned by experienced trail and ultra runners,  his courses were well marked and nearly impossible to get lost on, and he was a fixture at the finish line, handing out medals, buckles and hugs (he gives the BEST post-race hugs) to every single runner.  Since then, Joe has retired, but he remains a dear friend and inspiration for Paix Running.

It was after a few cringe-worthy experiences at other trail races that I had my revelation - that our sport and our runners deserved better.  Hence, the birth of Paix Running (paix=peace in French).  Next month we are hosting the inaugural Loup Garou Trail Run on our home trail of Chicot State Park in Ville Platte, Louisiana.  My volunteers and I know every inch of this trail and love our girl (we have deemed the Chicot trail female because she can be a beauty and a beast all on the same run - I'm a girl, I can say that).  We are all excited to show off her beauty to all of the runners coming out there for the first time.  I think my team and I are more excited than you guys are for this race! 

I just unveiled the ever growing list of First Timers at Red Dirt (more details HERE) and I will be making an exciting announcement about Loup Garou in the next couple of days via video (HINT: You will want to come back.) 

We will also be leading a group up to the Red Dirt trail soon for a group run, so stay tuned for more info on that here.   

Phew!  So much going on, and I could not be happier to share it all with you.  Check back here for updates, but until then, Happy Running, Y'all!  - Edie

That's me after a 50 mile training run on the levee.  Happy to be finished!

Group Run at Red Dirt!

For anyone interested in checking out the course where the Red Dirt Ultra is run, or if you just want to come out and experience one of the most beautiful trails Louisiana has to offer, here is your chance!

A group of folks (myself included) are heading up to the Kisatchie National Forest on Friday, September 22nd and camping there for the weekend.  We have some running on both Saturday and Sunday.  Any distance is fine, since anyone can start with the group and turn around and head back when they are ready.  We have some doing the whole 31 mile loop and others doing out and backs of different distances.

The location of this is the Sandstone Loop, off of exit 119 (Cloutierville Exit) on I-49 North. It is about 20 miles south of Natchitoches.

EDIT:  Due to the high temperatures we will not be camping for this run.  A group of us are spending the night in Natchitoches and driving in to the trail in the morning.  We will be at Lotus campground, ready to run by 7 a.m.

If you are interested and have any questions, email me, Edie, at PaixRunning@gmail.com.

All are welcome to come out and enjoy this beautiful area!

Happy Running, Y'all!
Edie

Here is a sample training plan for the Loup Garou 40 Miler (www.LoupGarouTrailRun.com).  Adjust it to fit into your schedule.  I based it on running 4 days a week because I never run more than that, but if you want to add a day, go for it.  I would suggest doing some moderate speedwork on the Tuesday runs and adding hill work into the Thursday runs.  --Edie

You asked, we listened

It is hard to put into words how excited I am to say this... because of the high interest in this event, we have decided to start it a year earlier than expected, and host the inaugural Loup Garou Trail Run THIS December!!  That's right!  December 16th, 2017, will officially be the first installment of what I know will become one of the most loved trail races in Louisiana - and that is saying a lot considering the great work my race director buddies are doing in our great state.

I was hesitant to start this race up this year for a couple of reasons, one of which being finances.  It is incredibly important to me that if I am going to put on a race, I am going to do it right, with no expense spared to give the runners the best possible experience.  I was planning on saving up over the next year to prepare for Loup Garou 2018, but I am blessed to have so many people that believe in what we are doing here that I have had multiple people offer to back the race financially, knowing it will be a high quality event.

I have also had many runners express their impatience in waiting for the 2018 date (how amazing are you people, anyway?).  So, I accepted a friend of Paix Running's offer to help to get this race off the ground and it is official. The date is set.  My next step was reaching out to my key volunteers, and the quickness of their response time and the enthusiasm of their answers further confirmed that this is the right decision.  Every one was a whole-hearted "YES" or "ABSOLUTELY", or "HOT DAMN!  THAT IS EXCITING!!" (my personal favorite).

So, the volunteers are in place, the venue is booked (I love working with our Office of State Parks - good people), the logo is being amended to say 2017, and I am SO EXCITED!!  I can not wait to bring people to this incredibly beautiful trail - our stomping grounds and favorite training spot.

The registration will be open on Ultrasignup shortly - I will keep you posted.  Thank you all for your support and confidence in our Paix Running team. Our Louisiana trail running family is pretty special.

Get more info here:  www.loupgaroutrailrun.com

Happy Running! 

Edie

Group Runs!

I will be hitting the trails pretty often leading up to Pinhoti 100 in November, so I will be posting here when I am heading to different trails in the south Louisiana area so that anyone who cares to join is welcome to.  Keep in mind these are training runs, so be prepared to take care of all of your nutrition and hydration needs, and be prepared for the possibility that the training group may end up breaking up so that everyone can get their specific workout in.  We will all be on the same trail though, and there is much comfort knowing that others are out there with you.

Some of my favorite local training spots are: Chicot State Park, Clark Creek Natural Area (serious hill workout and WATERFALLS!), the Beast in St. Francisville and Sandstone Trail (home of Red Dirt).  All require a bit of driving but all are worth the effort.

Here are a few dates that I have so far.  Check this page often for additions. 

Saturday, July 8th - Chicot (I need 20 miles.  Not sure if looping or an out and back for 10 then finishing with 10 on the park roads - depends on bug situation.)

Seen along the Chicot trail

Saturday, July 22nd - Chicot ?  TBD

More Chicot!

Saturday, September 23rd - Sandstone Loop - I need 45 miles so I will be doing a loop and a half, but you can do any distance you choose.  Should be cool enough by this time to camp.

Just one of the long, smooth downhills at Sandstone.  (There may be a few uphills as well.)

I plan on adding some day trips to Clark Creek as well, I just don't have those dates nailed down yet.

One of my favorite things - rinsing off under a cool waterfall after a Clark Creek hill workout.

If you have specific questions about these trails or group runs, email Edie at PaixRunning@gmail.com.  Hope to share the trails with some of you!

Happy Running Y'all! 

Reason #349,285,674 why I love this sport

After following the WS100 this year and seeing the front runners duke it out all the way to the last finisher squeaking in seconds under the 30 hour cutoff, all I can say is "Wow".  This is such an amazing sport and such a testament to the human spirit and the support and camaraderie among ultra runners.

So, it is time to get to work on my 2018 races.  With Red Dirt and Chicot Challenge pretty much nailed down after last years successful races, we are excited to add a new race to the family - Loup Garou!

Loup Garou is run on the 20 mile, mostly single track trail around the beautiful Lake Chicot in Chicot State Park, Ville Platte, Louisiana.  There will be distances of 20, 40, 60,  and 100 miles so there is something for everyone!  Check out the Loup Garou race doc for more info, and check back here soon!  Things are starting to move again and you don't want to miss any of the fun!

Be safe training this summer!

Happy Running,

Edie

Runner Profile - Anglea Hammack

Me (Edie) trying to explain to Angela that after 29 hours of running, she was the ONLY female to finish the 2017 Red Dirt Ultra 100 Miler.  

The first (and only, so far) female finisher of the Red Dirt 100 Miler is Angela Hammack.  Angela is a cancer nurse from Mississippi, and she has a great story to tell.  Besides running her first 100 miler at Red Dirt to raise money for a cancer charity, at midnight during the race, she celebrated her 50th birthday!  Pretty amazing lady and we are honored that she chose Red Dirt for this achievement.  Check out her story here:

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/magnolia/2017/02/10/nurse-runs-100-miles-30-hours-cancer-charity/97659276/

GREAT THINGS HAPPENING!

With the 2017 Red Dirt Ultra in our rear view mirrors, it is time to look ahead to our next trail adventure!  We are so excited about the Chicot Challenge 100 Mile Trail Relay!  You can have teams of 2,3 or 5 for this fun romp through the woods on beautiful single track through cypress swamps, hardwood forests and piney woods.  There is a little bit of everything on this beautiful trail!  

Check out the Races tab above for more information!  

Red Dirt Ultra 2018

REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH! 

Click the picture for the Red Dirt page, then go to the Registration tab.  

EARLY BIRD PRICING! Due to demand, I am offering early bird pricing from February 13 - April 1st.  Once we see how registrations are going, we will decide if it is necessary to cap certain distances.

100 miler - $125

100k - $90

50k - $75

ALSO -   Stay tuned!  Later this week we are announcing an exciting addition to Red Dirt. Thank you for your support and interest, and we are excited to give back to our runners in new ways.

Edie

RED DIRT 2018

The date has been set!  The Red Dirt Ultra will be held on February 3, 2018!!  Registration will open on February 13, 2017.  Click HERE for more information and the registration link! 

Directions to the Red Dirt Start/Finish Line!

Since this is in a National Forest, there is not set address for the start/finish parking area. Technically it is the Day Use parking area on Park Road 395. The most direct way to find it is to plug the GPS coordinates into your map app: 31.478666, -93.103274

Be sure you enter them exactly as they read, including the comma. Here are directions from both the east and west:

From Leesville (south):

North on Hwy 117
Right on Hwy 59 (Longleaf Pine Rd)
Right on Park Road 395 (Day Use Parking Area) This is the start/finish.

From Shreveport or Alexandria -

Exit 119 (Cloutierville Exit), head west 5.2 miles
Right onto Longleaf Pine Road (the road is to the right shortly after you pass Bolton Cemetery), drive 12.8 miles until you see the sign for the Day Use parking area (park road 395) on the left. This is parking as well as the start finish.

Easy to find, there is just no real address to plug in, sorry!!

SFuel at Red Dirt!

For a while now, I have been following a Low Carb, High Fat diet, and have seen great results with it so far.  I am excited that we will be able to offer SFuel bars for our runners to try at Red Dirt, and they fit perfectly into a LCHF diet!

Check them out here:  (click the image)