The way I see it, an uphill bike race is an uphill foot race with a bike, and an uphill foot race is an uphill bike race without a bike. They are just about the same thing. You use the same muscles and, depending upon the grade, they take similar amounts of time. A nice thing about training for these events with a bike is the ability to coast down for repeats: running downhill is not a body friendly. Cycling and running up hill are. They don't tax the frame, just the cardiovascular system.
The Mt Ascutney Bicycle Hill Clmb, Saturday, July 17, 2010, is a small event on a big mountain. http://club.penguincycles.com/AscutneyBike.html The entry fee is only $35 but it isn't mass transportation access friendly. If you have a car, the drive is almost entirely on interstate highways and, by getting up very early, can be done as a day trip from the New York metro area. But there isn't anything to stop you from making a weekend of it.
Why drive to Vermont to do this? The course description makes it clear: "Ascend 2300' in 3.7 miles on an entirely paved course. Average Grade 12%. Some sections in excess of 19%." Mt Ascutney is a little Mt Washington, about half the vertical gain and half the distance, but with a similar average grade. If you want to know the difference between a 12% grade and a 19% one, you will find out. Everyone suffers on this one. Add the heat of the summer to the extra effort of a shorter race and you have something which is not your average 5k.
John Summerson, in his book, The Complete Guide To Climbing (By Bike), rates Ascutney #39 out of the 100 most difficult road bike climbs in the U. S. and #31 without adjusting for altitude.
