Jan 07 2011
| August 26, 2011 9:00 pm | to | August 27, 2011 10:00 am |
August 26-27, 2011
Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness registration is now open. Click on the CMMM logo above to head to the race site. This is the 4th edition of this WVMTR summer tradition. Sign-up early to reserve your spot (refunds available until 8/5/11). With a limit of only 100 runners, it may fill fast. . . come run through the night!
Dec 11 2010
Well folks its less than a month until the Frozen Sasquatch. I am still needing volunteers to help at Aid Stations, help with the food (you gotta make sure the BBQ taste good before the runners eat it), and help with the finish line. All Aid stations will have a FIRE of some sort to keep runners and AS workers WARM&TOASTY. If you’ve never worked and Aid Station before, you should try it. Its an awesome experience. Anyone interested contact me at:
runningsasquatch@yahoo.com
Oct 15 2010
Over the last 10 months I’ve taken several thousand images of athletes at local races for iplayoutside.com. Taking photos at events keeps me in contact with the group that I love being around even though I haven’t been running much at all. Some of my favorites images have come from the ultras hosted by WVMTR. Hiking in to a good location to shoot allows me to take in some scenery that you can’t see unless to get out there. I’m not a big fan of the flies that seem to find me after standing still for 30 seconds. At Highlands Sky and the WV Trilogy I felt like Pigpen from the Peanuts surrounded by a cloud of dirt and the flies.
My favorite image from the Trilogy was this picture of Dan and Kat giving the race briefing prior to the 5K and half marathon. These guys and Adam had put so much effort into organizing this epic event and they were almost finished.
Jul 19 2010
Saturday July 10, 2010
The 16th Rattlesnake Trail 50k is in the books. Adam Casseday was the race winner {4:27:04}. When the race began, there was a 19 year old in the lead pack {Ricky Campbell}. It was his first ultra run and a very good run against veteran racers. Second place was Trevor Garretson {4:45:00} followed by Jack Lenhoff {4:48:12}. The race up front was much closer until Adam started pushing the uphill sections. Considering the Rattlesnake course has 10 major climbs and many intermediate uphills, Adam pushed a lot.
The women’s field was another tight race until about 22 miles. Elizabeth Minnick {5:29:18} and Sharon Marks {5:40:14} stayed close together followed 3 minutes behind by Susan Donnelly. Sharon won’t mind me telling her age. She is 52. She has always run strong at the Rattlesnake. Last year, Susan Donnelly stopped to help a runner {my friend, John Sheets}. This year she pushed through warm temperatures to capture 3rd {6:21:06}.
Dale Fleckenstein was this years Male Masters winner {5:14:36} Local runner and all around good egg, Joni Adams took the Women’s Master division in a time of 7:12:20.
This year we had runners from 16 states and Canada. In the 16 years of the race, we have had runners from all across the country run one of the toughest and most enjoyable trail races you will find.
When the Rattlesnake Trail 50k began, my youngest son, Aaron, was just a 9 year old. My oldest, Paul, was 11. He has a son, Aidan, who is now 6. Wow, time really does go by quickly.
16 summers in a row, my wife Mary Anne and myself have either helped or race directed the Rattlesnake Trail 50k. Over the last 26 years, I have directed one run or another. This year marks our last Rattlesnake. We wanted to go out on a high note. Great finisher awards from Gauley River Pottery. Super shirts from Sport Mart and sponsorship, for the 16th year from John Sheets and Hammergel. The greatest thing we have had as well as the runners is our volunteers. Glenn Jarrell, Terry Tomlinson, Forrest and Patrick Allen, Steve and Sandy Childress, Steve Marshall, Missy Nicely, Kenneth Wheeler, June and Jerry Hicks, Joe Richards {Kanawha Amateur Radio Club}, Aaron Hamrick, Paul Hamrick, Aidan Hamrick, Kanawha State Forest and my very best friend, Mary Anne, my wife.
I have had a great time with the race. Every finisher has been special. The middle to the back are the folks I relate to the most. That’s where I run. The last runner is always special. They are competing against the course, not other runners.
Thanks for everything. I’ll see you out on the trails
Dennis Hamrick
Jun 22 2010
All information about this years Highlands Sky Trail Run can be found on its event page.
