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There is a new WVMTR race coming in March called “Haulin’ in the Holler”. This race will include a 25k and 5k trail race as well as kids runs in Putnam County Park in Eleanor, WV. The 25k and 5k races will begin at 8:30 A.M., March 24, 2012.

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Complete details at Haulin’ in the Holler.

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Kanawha State Forest

This 15k trail run is a challenging mix of single track mountainous trail and unimproved dirt road. The course includes two long climbs and several sections of rolling ridge lines. There are rocks, roots and wet stuff. Your “dogs” will get dirty! Aid stations stocked with water (for humans and canines) and sport drink (humans only) will be located at mile 2.2, 4.7, 6.5 and the finish. A selection of fruit and baked goods will replenish you at the finish.

RUN WITH THE DOGS: Registered runners may run with their dogs during the race. Dogs and their runners must start in the back. Dogs must be on a leash for the first mile and stay within eyesight of the runner for the WHOLE race. Special Award to the Top Dog!

FOR MORE INFO: Go to the official Dirty Dog Race Website

The inaugural Kanawha Trace Trail Runs were a great success with 61 finishers in the 50K and another 98 finishers in the 10K.  A more detailed report will be ready soon but complete coverage may be found on the race’s Results, Reports and Photos page.

A specail thanks to all the runners, volunteers, and TriStateRacer.com for getting the results fast!

All registered runners will receive a Northface DriFit technical shirt and 50K finishers will receive an Amphipod Hydraform water bottle.

Tunnel on Trail (from Facebook)

Eva Pastalkova all smiles as she wins 2011 Highlands Sky.

2011 OFFICIAL RESULTS

Highlands went off yesterday under somewhat typical conditions.: cool and humid at the start, gradually warming to mid-70s with a sympathetic cloud-cover that persisted much of the day. Moisture was present in many forms.

Eva Pastalkova was the story of the day. The defending champ, originally from the Czech Republic, now residing in northern VA, ran with the leaders for the first half before pulling away. Even with a mile or two diversion on the North Sods, thanks to some (possibly unintentional) course vandalism, Pastalkova broke the women’s course record, running just over 7 hours. She has been running since she was 15, but competed mainly in orienteering events (ironic, I guess, due to the circumstances) until she moved to the US 7 years ago. She found no orienteering competitions here and turned to running in the mountains, falling in love with the rugged hills in WV.

Dan Lehmann congratulates Eva Pastalkova on her new course record.

Anne Riddle (now Lundblad) held the old record, 7:10:32, a time she ran while placing 5th overall in the first running of Highlands back in 2003. “The course is different now and I’d like to see a new record,” Lehmann quipped just after starting this year’s race. And he got his wish.

Aaron Schwartzbard cruising through the laurel on his way to another Highlands Sky win.

Aaron Schwartzbard returned after a disappointing finish last year to recapture the men’s title in 6:07:35, a full 30 minutes faster than his win during the flood year of 2009. Schwartzbard, a part-time resident of Tucker county, was the first through the North Sods. He realized that there were flags missing for a stretch between aid station 6 and 7, but his familiarity with the trails allowed him to stay on course. As soon as he got to AS #7, the infamous Willie’s Aid Station, he told the volunteers there. They in turn radioed to AS #6 to warn incoming runners.

“I still think this is a legitimate win,” said Schwartzbard. “I kept looking over my shoulder on the road across the sky and couldn’t see anyone. I know I was putting time on them.” Still, the winner felt sympathy for those not far behind him. Most of those runners took it in stride, after all getting out in the wilderness is part of the sport. A small crew from AS# 7, including the infamous (and very tall) Willie Lehmann, hiked into the Sods to re-flag the course and find any lost souls. His hooting and arm waving did lead a small pack of lost runners back onto the course and eventually to the finish.

Which, I suppose brings us to the gem of this event and this sport. As ultra-runners we accept, often with some pride, the fact that we are about to embark on a journey that most people think is crazy. On race day, we acknowledge the distance and the rugged terrain that we plan to cover. And we think of it in terms of finite elements and absolute distance. But when we get lost, off-course due to missing flags or pilot error, the finite length of a race changes. It is then unknown when we’ll finish or even if there is a finish at all. And that, I think, is when we test our mettle. It is one thing to be crazy in a calculated way, but it’s another to remain cool when everything is out of control.

Most of the finishers yesterday had some story about getting lost or wanting credit for the extra miles or postulating on who was the culprit stealing the innocent trail markers. That is everyone but John Logar. Logar, originally from Minnesota and a Highlands Sky veteran, remarked with a supreme confidence,”I never look at trail markers…I gave up on them long ago.”  Apparently, Highlands courses through his veins in an instinctual and unquestionable way. “I just read the land.”

Adam was within spittin distance of West Virginia as he ran through Pearisburg on RT 460.  He was joined by the Top Dog’s running partner Clay Warner for Day 19′s segment.  They knocked out 43 miles, which was Clay’s longest run ever.  I wonder what Adam was thinking yesterday as he passed the southern terminus of the Allegheny Trail on top of Peters Mountain.  I’m sure that he learned so much from that experience and he couldn’t be 20 days into the AT with out those few days on the Allegheny.

See Adam’s daily recaps at Chasing the Wind.

The results will be here on Sunday and on iplayoutside.com not long after that. Photos will also be at iplayoutside.com. Quick numbers – 214 entrants, 200 starters, 195 finishers. A record race. We will make some targeted changes for next year by expanding the award categories, upping the T-shirt guarantee, online registration, etc. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

A BIG congrats to Dan Lehmann, Kim Love-Ottobre, Alan Gowen, and Jay Finkle on their performances at MMT this past weekend.  I’ll apologize in advance because I’m probably missing someone but those are the four that I know were there.

Lehmann crushed the Super Senior field and set a big course PR.  I was there to witness Kimba’s run, which was absolutely insane.  She passed 75 people in the last 50 miles en route to becoming the first woman from Ohio to EVER finish this event.

Strong work WVMTR!!

The Dirty Dog is less than a week away.  Please review some important race day notes:

Location and Parking

After you get to Charleston the starting line in Kanawha State Forest is another 25 minutes from the city center on a two lane road.  The starting line is in the back of the forest past the entrance to the campground.  There will be signs directing you in that area.  The race is NOT at the pool.  The race will start at 9:00AM.

There is parking at the starting line and overflow parking in front of the camp ground.  The forest road is well traveled so if you park on the shoulder you will need to be completely off the road.

Restrooms

There are flush toilets near the registration shelter.

T-Shirts

T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 150 runners.  I actually have 160 shirts to distribute, but I suspect by race day morning specific shirt sizes will be extremely limited.  If on race day morning we do not have your size or we run out of shirts we will discount the registration fee to $15 ($10 less than normal race day registration).  If you preregistered we will not be refunding money if you do not want a t-shirt.

(CANCELED) – Prize Drawing:

The prize drawing is canceled due to low sponsorship. You may still bring one of the listed pet care supplies to be donated to the Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association.
-Clay kitty litter
-Bleach
-Laundry detergent
-Cat, kitten, puppy and dog food (dry and canned)
-Dog collars and leashes
-Dog and cat toys

Live Updates

Like the Dirty Dog on Facebook for real time updates and race information –

Weather

The current forcast is for morning temperatures in the high 50′s warming to the high 70′s and sunny! Perfect running weather. See below for an updated forecast in the coming days.