Mt. Washington Road Race Course Description
The first mile is actually 0.9 of a mile and has about a quarter mile of
flat at the start. Don't go out too hard, because you will pay for it further
on up the hill. The grade increases a little and stays that way to the top.
You'll get used to the uphill grind if you run smart and don't worry about
what the people around you are doing. The grade until the one mile mark
doesn't really change much. The 1 mile mark is on the left side of the road
right after the 2000 ft marker. 
Mile
4 is home to one of the more mentally demanding points in the race. There
is a straightaway that looks to be endlessly long and uphill. This stretch
is not any steeper than the rest of the road, it's just mentally daunting.
After completing this stretch you'll find the halfway mark. Don't expect
your second half time to be anywhere near your first. The 4 mile mark is
around a left hand turn above tree line on the right side of the road. Watch
for the wind as you come around. It's usually in your face.
Mile 5 is known for a long stretch
of steep gravel above tree line. After the 4 mile mark the road zig zags
back and forth and even flattens out in one of the parking lots. Once
you reach the gravel the road steadily climbs to the 5 mile mark. The
terrain falls off on the left side of the road down into Pinkham Notch.
The 5 mile mark is near the end of the grade before you reach the Cragway
Turn. You will find the marker on the left side of the road. If you look
up the gravel stretch from the flat section you can make out the 5 mile
mark in the distance.
The hardest part of mile 7 is the
infamous Sheep's Back hairpin. This is the spot where Kenyan master Andrew
Masai walked in 2003 while in 2nd place and never recovered. Most of mile
7 is gravel with a few stretches before the hairpin that are paved. After
the hairpin the road is paved to the top. One of the few flat stretches
during the race is found after the hairpin known as the Cow Pasture. At
this point you are quite aways above tree line and exposed to the elements.
The last 0.6 miles is just as hard
as the previous 7 miles. Once you reach the 7 mile marker you will probably
start to see a few spectators and cars. You can smell and hear the Cog
Railway and the buildings on the summit. When you round the penultimate
corner you will think you are done until you see a 22% grade staring you
in the face, waiting to add insult to injury. Once you find you way up
this last stretch you can cross the finish line knowing you have completed
one of the most grueling road races in the world. Congratulations. Enjoy
the view while you're there, if there is one.