VHTRC - The Club

In what has become a long tradition, a VHTRC group celebrated the Fourth by doing the Browntown Loop. This loop is about 20 miles and features a stop at the store in Browntown about two thirds of the way through. Thanks to a call from Gary, the store was open just for us even though it is usually closed on Sunday morning.  It was warm but not too bad considering it was the Fourth.  The forest is very dry! The party at the end wasn't.  Photos on Flickr (click photo above for larger version)

Kari Brown was the female winner of the 50km at the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon and 50K held on March 6, in Montgomery County, Maryland. Several other VHTRC members finished the two events.

Results

The snow has claimed another victim.  The Hashawha Hills 50km has been cancelled due to heavy snow that makes the trail inaccessible and  parking (for 120 people, anyway) impossible.

Entrants in this year's event will receive a credit toward the 2011 entry fee.  Hopefully, the snow will have melted by then.

At right is Pam Gowen on the trail in show shoes. For more information, go to the Hashawha Hills 50km page.  Entrants should have received an e-mail. For more pictures of the snow, go to the Flickr site.

Working at a VHTRC event is fun and rewarding. It is also instrumental to the success of our events. Where else can you spend a beautiful day in the woods watching wasted runners puke?  Take "Read More" to see the options.

In near perfect weather, Neal Gorman and Megan Stegemiller finished as second overall male and female at the Grindstone 100 in Swoope, VA on Saturday. Neal was in a tight race for 40 miles with Karl Meltzer before Karl pulled away for a course record time of 17:13 (Neal's 17:46 was also under the previous CR). Jenny Nichols held off strong running from Megan to win her first ultra in 27:45. Megan was not far back in 28:26 while Zsuzsanna Carlson was third woman in 29:46. Other highlights included Mike Campbell winning the Super Masters (60+) division in 28:24 and Jim Ashworth winning the Grand Masters (50+) in 27:20. Many other VHTRC members were at the race crewing, pacing, and socializing. Grindstone results

Gaby and Neal Gorman welcomed their son Trail Alexander Gorman to the world on Tuesday, September 11 at 2:35 pm in Charlottesville. Neal wrote, "natural birth, 6 lbs 11 ounces, Gaby ran 5 miles around the UVA track in the morning because it made her feel better. Hardcore! Happy and relieved." Congratulations Gaby and Neal!

Jack finished the Wasatch 100 and in the process completed his quest to finish the Slam 100s in one summer--Western States, Vermont, Leadville, and Wasatch. Jeff Holdaway also finished. Wasatch results

A hardy group of VHTRC members made the trek out to Silverton, Colorado for the 19th annual Hardrock 100 Endurance Run. According to our reporters on the scene, the weather was perfect except for an early storm, and there was very little snow on the course, which was run clockwise this year and yielded fast times. Jim Harris and Cam Baker were the first of the Blue Train to finish in 37:00. Kerry Owens finished her first Hardrock in 44:20 and was followed by Brad Koenig in 45:29, as well as hubby Doug Sullivan and Bill Losey in 47:40. Deb Pero was the last official finisher in 47:49, her second Hardrock finish. Results on Hardrock website

Brian McNeill reports from Colorado where he is acclimating for the Hardrock 100 on July 13-14. 

"Day three of trail marking for Hardrock. Just after phones/cameras were put away, a squall came in and it snowed, albeit only for a minute or two.

"Past Hardrockers will note the absence of snow in the background. Last year's participants will be happy to hear the American Basin is completely clear of snow. I heard that last year's race involved thigh deep post-holing."

Thirty people participated in the annual VHTRC trail work party on May 5.  The group worked on trails in the Massanutten Mountains, primarily in the Gap Creek/Scothorn Gap area.  We particularly appreciate the help of PATC district overseer Ed Brimburg.  Thanks to all who worked!