West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners

Just three more weeks until the 6th running of the Highlands Sky 40M! If you’re thinking of signing-up, DO IT! You don’t want to miss out on running one of the most beautiful and challenging courses on the East-Coast. Also, I heard that Dan Lehmann has ordered up good weather this year.

Just 3 months to go until the inaugural running of the Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 Miler. We’re only taking 100 people and the entrants are starting to pour in. Get in while there’s still a spot to run through the night!

I decided last December that I was going to do Massanutten as my first 100 miler. Little did I know that the race would essentially begin on that ill-fated winter day so far away from the proposed May 17 start. Merely signing up became a race as the race closed in a matter of hours. After being lucky (or unlucky as I felt a few times Sat. night) enough to be on the entrants list, I planned a few weekend trips over to VA to make sure I knew the entire course and what to expect. After seeing the entire course, I had a very healthy respect for it. Lots of long climbs and tons of the infamous MMT rocks made me have a few doubts in the recesses of my brain about my sanity in choosing this race as my first go at 100 miles. Nonetheless, I decided to train very hard and be ready to run on May 17. My confidence grew as I secured a stellar crew, pacer, and fueling plan. All that was left on race-day was to put one foot in front of the other for 101.8 miles….just that easy.

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Front Royal, VA - After a punishing 100 miles, Adam Casseday finished the rocky Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile course in 3rd place behind Todd Walker and Keith Knipling. Paced by Bradley Mongold he ran the MMT circuit in 21:37:37! Randy Young also rocked the course and finished in 15th. Paced by Dan Lehmann posted a time of 27:55:06. We look forward to hearing more about the race when the boys get back the WV.

Adam Casseday

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Location:
Kanawha State Forest

Race is limited to 150 Runners

$50.00 entry fee.

Registered runners may pick up race numbers and shirts Friday July 11 at the Dinner.

Race day number and shirt pick up starts at 5:30 am.
All runners must check in on race day.

Pre-race dinner will be at 6 pm July 11 at the Kanawha State Forest Pool Area.

Race start is at Kanawha State Forest Pool parking lot.

Here’s what you get: Race shirt, pre-race dinner, special gift, post race lunch, unique finisher award, 10 climbs totaling 5,000’, 9 heavily stocked aid stations, gravel, dirt {mud if wet}, sticks, bugs, snakes, deer, bear and Big Foot {if available}.

Here’s what we need from you: Entry Form, and check or money order made out to Dennis R. Hamrick Jr.

Mail that check or money order to:

Dennis R. Hamrick Jr.
125 Angel Terrace
Charleston, West Virginia 25314

If you need more information, go to: www.runningintheusa.com/rattlesnaketrail50k or call 304-344-8342

You could even e-mail us at: itsmadr3@netzero.net

Short version: I had a very good race. 28 hours 44 minutes.

Longer version: I was not very enthusiatic about this race. I was undertrained for it. My long run for it (as I joked) was my DNF at 80 miles at Rocky in early February. Since then, I had gotten a 18 mile, a 50K, and a 26.4 mile in as long runs. So I just wasn’t feeling all that confident, and really didn’t want another DNF at the 100 mile distance.

The Umstead Endurance Run is both a 50 mile and 100 mile race though. You can always drop down to the 50 mile distance (or drop anywhere after 50 and will still get credit for the 50 mile race) which is both good and bad. Good, in that you get something to show for your efforts; bad in that there is the temptation to stop.

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