West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners

The 2nd annual BBL 12 Hr was a lot more fun than I thought it might be. On first wash the notion of running 6.4 miles of single track, then sitting around as your team members took their much anticipated turn, seemed like it might be a recipe for a long day. But that was not the case at all! In between cheering in your own teammates and other participants, there was time for mtbiking, swimming, socializing, eating, or even taking a nap.

Team Mons Cursor

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The 14th running of the RTR on Saturday July 12 was a hot one in more than just temperature and humidity. Even though the air was thick and breezes sparse on the steep climbs of the later part of the course it did not stop Jonathan Basham from setting a course record of 3:59:44. Nick Whited and Paul Potporti rounded out the top three guys. Jenny Anderson (3rd at Highlands Sky last month) took first women running 4:49:30 with Krista Meisch and Robin Weiner filling the top three gals spots.

This was my first ultra in 1999 so it holds a special spot, especially the killer climb up No. 1 Store Hollow following aid station #7! The single track trails are plentiful and the few ridge roads offer some wind and easier running. But don’t become too complacent and miss those turns back into the woods like some of us did. Thanks Dennis and Mary Ann and all the volunteers for your efforts. Continue Reading »

Kyle Skaggs shattered the Hardrock 100 course record by 3 hours this past weekend to be the first sub-24 hr runner on the course. He finished in 23:23:30.

This article quotes the race director saying that the first 10 years the race was run, they thought a sub-30 hour time was impossible. Just goes to show what runners will manage if you tell them something is impossible. Full article here >>

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Meet Zach Irelan (left) and Joel Wolpert, gingerly standing at the finish.

by Joel Wolpert

full results here

The first half of Highland Sky was uneventful. Just nice smooth running in good weather. I traded positions with Yassine Diboun and Zach Irelan over the first six or seven miles. When we hit the flat and fast trails of the Roaring Plains, I felt good and eased ahead.

The race wasn’t much of one until Aid Station 6. By the end of the Road Across the Sky, I was nursing a little bonk. I rolled into the aid station needing something. Adam was coo-ing around like a protective hen, clucking encouragement and touting my prowess. I drank some coke and filled my water bottle. Poured numerous cups of water over my head. To Zach’s credit he hammered away to close the gap over almost 20 miles. So when I was leaving Aid 6 he was just arriving. About a minute down the trail onto the North Sods I realized I hadn’t taken any gels or food. So it was just me, a bottle of water, and salt with 7 miles to the next food. Already starting to bonk, this was a mistake.

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The Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 Mile Trail Run is just around the corner!  Just two months out now and the applications are starting to roll in.  The race is shaping up very nicely and the trails are in good condition after a tough winter of downed trees in the high mountains.  We have some awesome Patagonia finisher’s shirts in the works with printed artwork from the best artist around (my wife) and some great locally made pottery for the top finishers; not to mention all the great prizes from all of our sponsors. 

If you are not planning on running, we are still in need of volunteers for several aid-stations and will need plenty of able-bodied runners to help mark the course with the chem-lights during the race.  If you are interested in helping, please contact me.  Remember, this is a CLUB race.  Any club members (or non-members for that matter) are more than welcome to help in any way.  We will need lots of volunteers to make this race happen!

Thanks in advance!

Adam Casseday