VHTRC NEWS

Upcoming October Events: Two traditional events are on the October VHTRC calendar. First, on October 4 is the Andiamo 45 mile run of the W&OD bike path. This is not a trail run but the club has put the run on for many years. Then the Potomac Heritage 50 km, a fall trail running tradition, on October 19. This low key run does not require a long drive and almost all dirt. For more information and entry, go to the Andiamo or PHT 50km Web page.

Thought for the Day

Women's Half Marathon - Entry Closed: The entrants list for the VHTRC Women's Half Marathon Trail Run is now final. We issued 35 refunds of entry fees, and all but three people came off the waiting list. There is still time to volunteer if you contact the race director, Mary Campbell. WHM home page

Mike Mason Finishes Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc: Mike was 103 out of over 2,000 starters. This is a 166 km (about 100 miles) run in the French Alps. Results (brush up on your French!) | Event Web site.

This event has one of the more interesting rationalizations for not having entry refunds or a waiting list.

"Although [because?] management of a waiting list or exchange of race numbers implies situations of preferential treatment and does not allow runners warned too late to prepare correctly, the method of overbooking enables accepting, from the opening of enrolments, more runners that there will really be at the Start and each can therefore prepare in the best possible conditions.

"This is why [we] will accept 2,300 enrolments for [the event], but without any later possibility of a waiting list or exchange of race number."
Quoted from here

Olympics Coverage Ends: The VHTRC.org news team has completed its coverage of the Olympics with a wrap-up show. Read the final report of VHTRC at the Olympics.

Football player VHTRC Football Contest: September is here and it's time to make your football picks in the annual VHTRC football contest. Each week, you pick 16 college football games and four NFL games. We start this coming weekend (September 6-7). You will need to get your picks in by Friday, September 5 at 10 p.m. It's going to be a great year. For more information and to make your picks, go here. Join us this year in a little bit of fun.

VHTRC Takes Top Two Spots at Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 Miler: Aaron Schwartzbard and Justine Morrison were the top male and female runners at the Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 miler on August 22. This event, put on by the West Virginia Mountain Runners, started at 9 p.m. on Friday night. Many other VHTRC members finished. Results | Event Web site

Thanks! Thanks to Kerry Owens for hosting the volunteer party. It was a great time.

Leadville Report: Read Jack Andrish's Leadville experience.

Knipling Third at Cascade Crest 100: Keith Knipling led VHTRC finishers at the Cascade Crest 100 miler on August 23-24 in Washington. Other Furbutts who finished included Brennen Wysong, Dave Yeakel, Dave Bursler, Farouk Elkassad, and Amy "Flame" Brown. Cascade Crest Web site

VHTRC Time Waster of the Week: The time waster has spent most of the summer at the beach. But it's back. Thanks to Bob Combs for this one. This is a participatory one. You have to push your mouse. The cool thing is the sound of the golf ball going into the hole. This should help prevent you from doing any useful work between now and Labor Day. Putting Practice. Also, don't forget the Free Rice game. Previous VHTRC Time Wasters.

Farouk's 15 Minutes: A channel 4 news feature about car racing, skydiving, and ultrarunning included our own Farouk Elkassed. The piece ended with this comment by Jim Vance:

"Sports psychologists said people who take part in extreme activities often have type-T personalities, which means they can display youthful and even rebellious attitudes that draw them to activities that involve individual expression and creativity." Average Joes Take On The Extreme

Headlands 100: Jaret Seiberg was 15th in the Headlands Hundred held in Marin County, California just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Read his report. (Jaret submitted this report over a week ago. We, ah, didn't get to it sooner. Sorry.)

Robin Kane Seventh at Tough Leadville: Robin was seventh out only 186 finishers at the Leadville Trail 100 miler in Colorado. Leadville is always hard as most of the course is above 10k feet, but this year, the weather was reported to be cold, wet, and miserable. Robin's time was 21:19. Also among the finishers was BRR multi-year finisher Marcia Peters. While we are not sure how many started, it was many more than 186. Results | Web site. Also, in case you missed it, Lance Armstrong (wearing number seven) got second in the mountain bike race a week earlier. See also, Jack Andrish's Leadville Report.

Meltzer on the AT: Karl Meltzer has started is attempt to break the record for an assisted run of the Appalachian Trail. He left Kathadin on August 5. You can follow his progress at Where's Karl.com, but it is pretty confusing, at least to us. You can also check out Karl's blog

Amy Sproston, women's champ, near the finish
Photo: Keith Moore

Great Weather at Catoctin 50k: Catoctin means "bad weather" in the local native language. Or at least, it seems that way. The original run was in the late winter and always cold and often snowy. Then it moved to August. Last year was the usual brutal death march - only more so. But this year had 70 degree temperatures and a sun that only came out later. Runners enjoyed good times and less dehydration. As usual, RD Kevin Sayers had it all organized. For a "low key" run, it went like clockwork. The VHTRC got the top women's spot with an impressive win by Amy Sproston. She made it look easy. Several other VHTRC members finished the run. Also, there was a large contingent of VHTRC members who chose the option to volunteer. Thanks to Kevin and all who helped him. Photos in Flickr | Catoctin Web site

Jeff Reed - Photo by Challon Edwards Catherine's Furnace: Thanks to Jeff Reed (left) and all of his great volunteers for putting on the 10th Catherine's Furnace Fat Ass 50km on July 26. The weather was about as good as one could get in July. The course was well marked and there were refreshments at the finish line. Despite significant course cutting, the VHTRC.org correspondent did not make it to the finish line in time to see who won. So we have no clue. Photos by: Challen Edwards | Kirstin Corris. Catherine's Web site.

From John Dodds: Many have asked, "Where is Dodds?" Well, he is still here as all of his laminated pace cards prove. John has another contribution to VHTRC culture. Women Can't Read Maps

Women's Half Marathon: The waiting list is filling up for the Women's Half Marathon. Remember, if you are entered and can't make it, you can get a refund of your entry fee, less $5, but only if you withdraw by August 31. For information about withdrawing or getting on the waiting list, go to the WHM page.

Cavanaugh Finishes Vermont 100 Miler: Jim Cavanaugh finished his first 100 miler at the Vermont 100 on the weekend of July 19-20. Other VHTRC finishers included Keith Moore, Eric McGlinchey, and Janice Heltibridle. All were particularly happy to see Jeff Washburn at the run. He has 14 Vermont finishes. Results are on the Vermont 100 Web site

Browns Win Big Bear Lake 12 Hour Trail Run: Rande and Kari Brown were the overall winners and took the top male and female prizes at the Big Bear Lake 12 Hour Trail Run in West Virginia. Mike Bailey and Dave Snipes were third and fourth giving the VHTRC the first four places. Results

Badwater -- Congratulations to Alisa Springman: Alisa was 20th out of 73 finishers at Badwater, the 135 mile run from Death Valley to the base of Mt. Whitney in California. Alisa recently joined the VHTRC and, in 2007, did a great job running the Woodstock Tower aid station at MMT. Alisa's Results | Overall Results

John DeWalt Finishes 13th Hardrock: On June 13, 72-year-old John DeWalt finished his 13th Hardrock 100 with five minutes to spare. Other VHTRC finishers included Greg Loomis, Keith Knipling, Steve Pero, Howard Cohen, Mike Dobies, and Sean Andrish. (That was their finishing order -- if you go up from the back of the pack.) Several VHTRC runners were not able to finish what most rank as one of the toughest trail runs in the country. The course goes over 14 thousand feet one time and over 13 thousand a few more. VHTRC.org world headquarters has now received the first images from Colorado. Since Colorado is a long way away, they are blurry. But here is a picture of the Blue Train before the start and Keith Knipling coming into Telluride. We should report that the winner, Kyle Skaggs, finished over six hours ahead of second place and set a new course record. Results are now available on the Hardrock Web site. See also: Greg Loomis's Report on his blog | Photos by Steve Pero

Rattlesnake 50km: Russ Gill reports that it was hot and humid at the Rattlesnake 50km in West Virginia on July 12. Russ, Francesca Conte, Jay and Anita Finkle, and, of course, Dave Snipes finished. Results are now available on the Rattlesnake 50km Web site.

At Massie's Corner Fourth of July Run: A somewhat smaller group made it to the annual VHTRC Fourth of July celebration, the Browntown Loop. Photo of Starters. It was overcast for much of the way and even rained a bit at the beginning. The post run festivities were shortened as the rain came back. Michele Harmon provided a much-appreciated "aid station" on the Drive. The store in Browntown again received a sales boost from our stop. One group used the "Jill Shortcut." This takes many miles off the run -- unless you know anything about geography! Flickr Photos: Quatro's | Anstr's

Bighorn Photos: Kirstin Corris took beautiful photographs from Bighorn, Wyoming. Wild flowers, mountains, "the boys," hot women, Quivey getting an IV, Gary with his thong, and more. See why this event is a VHTRC favorite. Kirstin's Photos on Flickr

Thanks: To all who came to the Run und Fest. Several people brought great food. Tragically, we had beer left over which we will be forced to consume in the next few days. Quatro took pictures.

Happy People: Proving that the VHTRC is the the running club of love and happiness, Frank Probst submits his pictures from Highland Sky. These are very nice pictures of people having a lot of fun! Of course, they weren't running. Frank's Pictures

Martha Moats Baker Memorial 50Km: Dennis Herr put on his first "Martha Moats Baker Memorial 50Km" on June 21. It was a success. A small but determined group explored trails in the Wild Oak area. One GPS got the distance at about 35 miles with 9,000 feet of elevation gain. Jaret Seiberg was the winner. Jaret Seiberg's Report | Quatro's Photos on Flickr | Results

Big Horn: Gary Knipling reports that 15 of 17 VHTRC starters in the various Big Horn races in Wyoming finished. Award winners included Ed Demoney's age group win in the 50km, Gary's age group win in the 50 miler, and Sharon Lapkoff's second in her age group in the 50 miler. Marti Kovener was eight in a very strong and large women's 100 mile field. Cheerleading duties were performed by Ted Lapkoff, Helen Hipps, and Torstin [Note to Proof reader: Please check spelling.] Also, the Idaho VHTRC was there, Bill V. and Kim. Big Horn Web site

The VHTRC E-Mail List (Listserv): Join the VHTRC listserv to discuss trail and ultra running in the Washington, DC area and the affairs of the VHTRC. The list is centered on VHTRC topics but non-members of the club may join. It is not intended to be a general interest discussion list nor is it intended to stuff your in box with gobs of e-mail. Please give the list a try. ...More information about the list | To Join