Grayson Highlands 50 Mile Race Report – Peggy Jennings

Race: Grayson Highlands 50 Miler

Runner: Peggy Jennings

Race Date: 05/06/2023

Location: Grayson Highlands, Virginia

Results: 14hr 34min

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/9024419586

Photo: Bryan Jennings

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  • The course was marked very well.
  • Aid stations were great. We went roughly 5-6 miles between aid stations.
  • Great communication before race.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

5:30am start. If I had a choice, I would start at 6:30 or 7am.

Lots of creek beds we ran through. Just need to watch footing. It was OK but a little technical to run through but the challenge was good.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Email before the race was a little weird. The race director talked about the weather and that it could be really rainy and cold. I guess he was trying to gear anyone up (Ha, good punt there!) for it to be cold. The weather was predicted to be rainy and cold but we ended up have incredible weather. Unfortunately, many racers decided not to race due to his email.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I ate well and stay really hydrated. I think I got enough training hours in before the race. I had no issues with my feet or body. I took it slow, hiked when I needed which was a lot, but I just took my time and kept my goal in check which was the finish. I think the best decision was to bring poles. I saw so many runners using sticks as poles. There were many creek crossing so the poles came in handy. Be prepared to have your feet wet for 75% of this race. I will say the cold water felt amazing on my feet. I stood in the creek multiple times to give my feet some cryotherapy!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

  • If you think you may use poles, do some training runners before your race.
  • DO NOT do anything new on race day.
  • EAT, DRINK, PEE, repeat.
  • If you think you may have issues with blisters, use vasoline or something similar to prevent blisters. I didn’t use anything. I stayed in the same shoes and socks for the entire race.
  • I did not upload the GPX to my watch. The course was marked really well and the racers I spoke to about it and that uploaded the maps on their watches said it was wrong.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

My rule of thumb is if the temps start with a 3, wear tights or capris. If it starts with a 4, wear shorts. Don’t overdress at the start. I did but luckily my amazing hubby met me at 5.5 mile water station and I changed into shorts. Think about how you will feel 20 minutes in the race. Study the course.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Stay alert. Just make sure you see course markings every .25 mile or so.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Beautiful course. Amazing views. The wild ponies were awesome to see.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

9500 ft of climbing and lots of rocky sections. It’s true trail race. But they give you a pretty generous cutoff. 17.5 hours.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well organized and all the volunteers were super great.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

No clue and I didn’t do this to win. This was my first 50 miler so my focus was to stay healthy and to finish strong.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

  • No, you don’t need to find a book and pull out a page to bring to the aid station. Ha!
  • Registration did not fill up but if you wanted to drop from 50m to 50k, you may not be able to because they have a certain number of permits so you may not be able to. Just need to ask.
  • We stayed at an Air B&B that was 20 minutes from the start for $98 a night. Old cottage but very comfortable.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Nope. All aid stations had quesadillas which hit the spot for me, and with bacon!!!

All the volunteers were great and very helpful. Luckily, I had my hubby and kids out there for me but you could do this race unsupported, as long as you are a somewhat experienced ultrarunner.

Weather and typical race conditions

Weather was amazing. Mother Nature truly gave us the best weather. I heard last year it was rainy, cold, and windy. No bueno. Prepare for lots of creek crossing and for your feet to get wet.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Hiking poles were a race saver for me.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes.

How’s the Swag?

Nice, simple, and usable pieces. We got a t-shirt and a winter hat. Both I will use.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5.

Photo: Looking Glass Designs

Dam Yeti 50 Mile Race Report – Angie Moses

Race: Dam Yeti 50 Miler

Runner: Angie Moses

Race Date: 06/04/2022

Location: Abingdon, Virginia

Results: 08:10:07

Photo: schreinertrailphotography

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. The atmosphere! Such a warm, fun, welcoming race that celebrates the fast and the slow! Everyone is supportive of one another and the energy is contagious.
  2. The scenery! You have a point to point for 30+ miles (the 55k is point to point and the 50 miler you turn around and run a section twice) and for 30 miles you have truly spectacular scenery to take in! A beautiful creek/river runs along a large portion of the course and the sounds and sights are magical! You also have a lot of tree coverage for a large portion of the race, which really helps with the long day and keeping you cooler and from burning.
  3. The overall course. Truly an excellent course for a first time ultra runner (in my opinion at least). It was my first 50 miler and I couldn’t have asked for a better course. You have a lot of downhill in the first half of the race, lots of shade. No significant climbs. All uphill was gradual and runnable. Great support at aid stations, the list goes on!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The only complaint I can come up with is that there wasn’t a ton of bathroom options (other than the woods) on the back half of the run. There is a bathroom at the Alvarado aid station; which you hit at mile 25 and again at 41.7– but the aid station at Watuga (that you will hit at miles 29.5, 37 and 46.5) doesn’t have a porta potty– so from 25 to 41.7 if you need to potty, your only option is the woods. I would have loved a bathroom at Watuga!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

  • There are some cattle gates, and a few gates on the Creeper Trail (Not sure I understand the purpose of the gates on the Creeper trail that doesn’t involve the cattle) that you have to open and close on the course.
  • Another weird/interesting fact is that in the first 10ish miles, you are running downhill and with this course being a rails to trails course, trains use to expend a lot of coal to make it to the top of White Top mountain– so it is cautioned that you make sure to pick up your feet in those first few miles because a fall can result in some nasty cuts/wounds with sharp coal remnants.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Highlight is that I ran over an hour faster than I had anticipated for my first ever 50 miler, so I couldn’t be more proud of my race. I was able to stay very strong mentally and anytime anything would start to hurt or ache I would just tell myself “of course XYZ hurts… you’re at mile XX, it’s supposed to hurt!” I was able to accept my aches and pains as normal/expected aches and pains and continue to run the entire race. I would reward myself with walk breaks on the second half, mainly to make sure I took in fluids, but mentally just allowing myself a quick 20-30 second break was a nice reward, but then I could continue to run afterwards. I was really able to bank time in the first 20ish miles or so because there was so much downhill and shade– and we had a cool start to the race, so I was able to cruise for a good while and felt good. The race director’s moto was “start fast, and who knows, you just might end fast” and I kind of loved it! 🙂 I used it as a mantra several times during the race.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

  • I think the biggest lesson I learned, I mentioned above and a lot of it is being okay with feeling not okay. It takes time and understanding your body to understand a normal/expected hurt, that you have to accept and continue to push through versus a pain/hurt that isn’t normal that you would have to decide whether or not to continue.
  • I think another thing I really took from this was maintaining a positive attitude during the race made a HUGE difference in my performance. I will admit that my mental game is one of my weakest links, so by frequently telling myself to “keep going, you are doing amazing” really did help boost my confidence and kept me moving in a run versus giving up on my abilities and succumbing to walking.
  • It is a requirement to carry a hydration system (I used a Solomon vest and carried 32 oz on me) and 500 calories with you at the start. Be smart and drink plenty because there are a few sections that you are exposed and it does get warm, so you want to make sure to stayed hydrated.
  • They keep basics at the aid stations, oranges, watermelon, salty snacks (The aid station in Damascus *I think* had a lady that had a whole table of assorted little debbies), several had vaseline, Gatorade, water, etc. It is a cupless race, and the volunteers are absolutely wonderful, so if you have your water bottle ready, you can tell them what you want, and they will fill it for you.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is breathtaking!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

I think in the grand scheme of things, when is 50 miles not difficult? 🙂 But overall, I found the course fantastic and not one I would consider difficult– especially in the world of trail running. I wore road shoes and gaiters and had absolutely no issues with my shoe choice. It is crushed gravel and the uphills are gradual. Very runnable course.

Photo: schreinertrailphotography

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It is very organized. Jason Green the race director has several ultra trail races across the nation and does an absolutely fantastic job putting together a race. he has a laid back attitude, so if you didn’t know any better, you would think he’s flying by the seat of his pants, but in reality, it is a well-oiled machine that just doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I think it depends on the year, but I think it is becoming more competitive. To put it in perspective, the race has been around since 2018, and this year I was 8th overall female and 12 overall participant. In 2018 I would have been 1st female and 6th overall, 2019 I would have been 2nd female and 7th overall, 2020 I would have been 1st female and 6th overall, and 2021 I would have been 2nd female and 4th overall. When looking at the top performances for females since the race started, 7 of the top 10 times came from this year alone! It has the potential to be very competitive, but that being said, Jason also doesn’t pick favorites or invite individuals to the race, it is first come, first serve, so whoever gets in on registration morning, that is who will be there.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Registration opens up around the end of the year and this past year, sold out in 11 minutes, so if you are wanting in– you need to be sitting at your computer the morning the race opens up ready to pull the trigger. I would encourage booking a cabin or hotel even before you register; since you can always cancel your reservation if you don’t get in. There is a shuttle that takes you from the finish to the start if you are coming without support, so book a hotel or cabin closer to Abingdon and shuttle to the start. If you are coming with friends/family, I would encourage maybe an Airbnb of sorts in Whitetop where the start is located and then just have family drive you back to your cabin after it’s over (that’s what we did). I think this is personal preference. If you are going to want to shower and come back for the party for the day after your finish; then definitely book in Abingdon.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

It is a requirement to carry a hydration system (I used a Solomon vest and carried 32 oz on me) and 500 calories with you at the start.
They keep basics at the aid stations, oranges, watermelon, salty snacks (The aid station in Damascus *I think* had a lady that had a whole table of assorted little debbies), several had vaseline, Gatorade, water, etc. It is a cupless race, and the volunteers are absolutely wonderful, so if you have your water bottle ready, you can tell them what you want, and they will fill it for you.

Weather and typical race conditions

For me the weather was wonderful. Start was colder than normal from my understanding and I’m not sure what it was at the start at the top of Whitetop but you could see your breath! It was chilly! It topped out around high 70’s for our race, but I think it can easily get in the 80’s in Virginia around that time. So expect a cooler start at the top of the mountain, but to definitely warm up at the day progresses.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

It is a requirement to carry a hydration system (I used a Solomon vest and carried 32oz on me) and 500 calories with you at the start.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It is! The race guide gives you good directions and options for your friends to see you. I had my 4 year old, 2 year old, and my husband along (along with my friends husband and 2 kids since she was running as well) and we had them stop at Watuga and see us at mile 29 and 37 and then again at the finish. You can have spectators at 6 total spots (one being the finish of course)– so truly, if your spectator wants to help aid you, there are a lot of options for them to be able to help out!

How’s the Swag?

Great! Yeti Trail Runners has a ton of swag that you can purchase additionally as well on the website! The tank top we got was great! There are tons of stickers and patches at the race you can get on race day! TONS of Yeti specific gear and swag you can purchase at packet pick up if you want more than what you get in your packet. We also got Yeti Trail socks which were great as well!

I made the mistake of not selecting to get the trucker hat when I registered for an additional price and was super bummed because it was an awesome hat, so that was a rookie mistake on my part.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I would give it a 9 out of 10. I would have given it a 10 if there would have been a porta potty at Watuga! I would absolutely recommend the race to others!

Looking to run your first ultra? Check out our 7 steps to get started.

Bull Run Run 50 Mile Race Report – Meagan Denman

Race: Bull Run Run 50 miler

Runner: Meagan Denman

Race Date: 04/09/2022

Location: Clifton, VA

Results: 3rd overall female

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  • Trails are in great condition and not overly technical
  • Volunteers were very nice and helpful
  • Very well marked course – never felt lost!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Finish line was under-whelming

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

That it’s not actually 50 miles! maybe 46? We did the high water course due to all the rain all week, we were told it would be about two miles shorter, but seems we were closer to 46.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I finally fell into a groove after a couple of hours and was able to enjoy that I was finally participating in a 50 mile race, and would actually finish!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

The hills on the way back are pretty brutal, save some energy and keep fueling!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Gummies/gels aren’t substantial enough for 9+ hours of running…need to find a way to eat more calorie dense food.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The rocks along the river at the end are the worst part of the race. The Do-loop is actually not that bad. The course is VERY well marked.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

The bluebells are very pretty, otherwise it’s early April and not much is growing. Still pretty woods though.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

There are technical sections but it’s a fairly runnable course.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Definitely well run race. I didn’t have anyone come with me – we had drop bags we could access at 3 points throughout the race. They’ve been doing this race for years so they have it nailed down.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It didn’t seem overly competitive but most likely has years that are competitive.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Very easy to get in! There was a waitlist at some point but they cleared it and re-opened registration.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Gatorade was the electrolyte option, otherwise normal aid station type stuff (soup, fruit, bagels etc.)

Weather and typical race conditions

The weather was perfect, started in low 40’s ended in low 50’s. Partly sunny, breezy. The weather can vary though due to spring, could be cold or hot.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Nothing special needed, except trail shoes that do well in mud!

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

There are plenty of spots that spectators can access folks (there weren’t any spectators though)

How’s the Swag?

Nice finishers sweatshirts!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I’d rank it a 4 – mostly because I finished 3rd and had to ask someone how I did ..no one seemed overly excited about it. To me top 3 is a big deal! Not even sure if they do prizes for top 3.

Looking to run your first ultra? Check out our 7 steps to get started!

Terrapin Mountain 50k Race Info

Summary: Terrapin Mountain 50k is a course known for its long climb in the middle, followed by its steep descent, and rare flat moments along the way, this course is a mixture of forest service roads, jeep roads and single track, and is an an early season, challenging race. Located in Sedalia, VA, both a 50k and half marathon distance are run and the 50k course is a multiple loop course, while the half marathon does one loop.

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

  • Course starts on a paved road for about a half mile, then jeep road for a half mile, before turning off onto a steeper trail to reach the first aid station at mile 4.1
  • Steep pop up to Terrapin Mountain from mile ~22-23, of about 500 feet. Technical, rocky ascent followed by a steep descent from mile ~23 to ~25.5 of about 2100 feet
  • On the way down, you have to squeeze through an 18” crack in a rock wall
  • The last 5 miles has lots of running in and out of ravines – about 11 of them, so prepared mentally to feel like this section lasts a long time until the finish.
  • Tough middle section of a long, 9 mile climb of ~2600 feet with one dip in the middle, followed by a ~2100 foot descent
  • The descent from mile 4.1 is mainly on a forest service road – be sure not to go too fast and use it all up before you’ve started the biggest climb and descent
  • Don’t forget to punch your bib along the way!
  • Be careful on the final creek crossing – you’re excited to finish and likely not paying attention
  • Final couple of miles are typically fast, so you can pick up the pace here and into the finish.

Elevation

Total gain/loss: 7,000/7,000

Ft/mile gain: 226

Total climbs: 1×1800, 1×900, 1×2100, 1×500, 1×400 (along with lots of smaller ones)

Course Map/Elevation profile (Strava)

Aid stations

Total aid stations: 7

Furthest distance apart: 5.7 miles

Locations: Miles 4.1, 7.2, 9.4, 13.3, 16.4, 22.1, 25.6

What’s available: Typical aid station fare: electrolyte drink, soda, water and a variety of food items.

Crew access

Access Locations: Goff Mtn. Rd. aid station only, mile 9.4

Race reports

http://www.lazyultrarunner.com/2016/04/2016-terrapin-mountain-50k-race-recap.html

http://crozetrunning.com/race-report-2015-terrapin-mountain-50k-finding-some-identity/

http://peake-performance.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-terrapin-mt-50k-race-report.html (good pictures)

http://runningcouple.blogspot.com/2013/03/terrapin-mountain-50k-race-report-alexis.html

http://outandbackrunner.blogspot.com/2014/03/terrapin-mountain-50k-race-recap.html

Strava activities and GPX files

https://www.strava.com/activities/1469517117

https://www.strava.com/activities/521409971

Race Website

https://eco-xsports.com/events/terrapin-mountain/

Training for your first 50k? We’ve got a coach for that.

holiday lake 50k

Holiday Lake 50k++ Race Info

Summary: The Holiday Lake 50K++ is a double loop course, going clockwise at first and then turning around and running counter clockwise, circling Holiday Lake itself as well as using country roads and trails in that area. The ++ is for the extra bit of miles you run past 50k, as it’s not exactly a 50k distance. With just over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, it’s a great first ultra, though the weather can be anything from pleasant with clear trails to cold and running in a foot of snow. Aid stations are located every 4 miles and runners start and finish at the Holiday Lake 4H Educational Center, with the pre-race meal and shower and lodging are all available at the 4H Center. Awards are presented to all sub 8 hour finishers.

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

  • If you can stay in one of the bunkhouses at the start/finish, it saves you a lot of time in the morning, especially with such an early start, and you can hang around after the pre-race meal the night before
  • A couple of creek crossings, one deeper and wider than the other. Just get your feet wet rather than trying to jump across and risk falling.
  • Lots of long, runnable sections on the first loop and as long as you keep enough gas in the legs for the second loop, the way back feels just as runnable, even though you’re running up the hills you just ran down.
  • With a loop course that you go backwards on the second time, it feels a little crowded once you first turnaround, especially because there is a short, steep hill right away, but it spreads out quickly and opens up
  • Lots of opportunities to pass runners on the second loop who don’t leave enough for the second time around, especially on the gradual uphills. Lots of people start walking those on the second loop.
  • The race starts in the dark for ~30 minutes, with lots of falls mentioned in race reports – be ready for running in the dark and then having your headlamp for the first loop
  • Previous years have seen every kind of weather – be prepared with different gear and adjust goals if there is snow.
  • Several race reports noted people still being surprised by its difficulty, so don’t go in thinking it’s easy simply because it doesn’t have lots of gain and is deemed good for a first ultra.

Elevation

Total gain/loss: ~2,000/2,000

Ft/mile gain: 63

Total climbs: ~10 ranging from 100-250 feet, 5 per lap

Course Map/Elevation profile (See Strava)

Aid stations

Total aid stations: 3 per loop plus start/finish, which you hit in the middle as well, for 7 total

Furthest distance apart: ~4 miles

What’s available: Typical aid station fare; bring anything specific to your dietary needs

Crew access

Access Locations: At start/finish, which is also the halfway point

Race reports

http://urbyville.com/plan-a-b-c-and-even-d/

http://urbyville.com/the-holiday-lake-experience/

http://www.lazyultrarunner.com/2016/02/holiday-lake-50k-2016-race-report.html

http://sabrinalittleruns.blogspot.com/2011/02/holiday-50k-race-report.html

https://xgoddessx.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/my-really-really-really-long-holiday-lake-50k-race-

Strava activities and GPX files

https://www.strava.com/activities/254923320

https://www.strava.com/activities/862945885/overview

Race Website

http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=62369

crooked road 24 hour race report

Crooked Road 24 Hour Ultra Race Report – Mark Cliggett

Race: Crooked Road 24 Hour Ultra

Runner: Coach Mark Cliggett

Race Date: 11/17/2018

Location: Rocky Mount, Virginia

Results: 119.46 miles, 1st place overall

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1975515511/overview

crooked road 24 hour race report
Photo: Ricky Scott

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Nice people, nice setting, well-organized. The win was nice also.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

There isn’t really anything about the race that wasn’t good. VA is a long way to travel, and the food options in Rocky Mount are pretty limited.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

People running endless 1.17 mile loops like hamsters?

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Last year I didn’t really have a nutrition plan and I paid for it when my stomach went off for a few hours. This year I had a plan (mostly liquid simple stuff) and had no issues. Although I won last year also, this year I had a pretty good runner chasing me for the last 11 hours so I had to focus to keep my lead whereas last year I was able to coast a fair amount towards the end.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

You don’t really need crew at this race. I borrowed a chair and set it up about 2 feet from the path we were running on, with all my food and gear. I lost very little time taking care of my needs.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

My original distance goal for this race was way too ambitious. I knew that going in and planned to dial back early if I wasn’t feeling it – which I did, and it worked out. It would be interesting to have the right (ambitious but achievable) goal and see what that kind of race is like. I know what it feels like to run a very good marathon. After 2 24 hour races, I don’t think I know what a very good 24 hour race feels like.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The logistics of this race are very easy (once you get there). A 1.17 mile loop, with a heated bathroom near the start finish. You never have to worry about anything. If you forget someone on one pass, you’ll be back there ~15 minutes later and can take care of it. The course is “flat” but there is probably 50 feet of easy climbing in each lap. Over ~100 laps, that adds up to 5000 feet which most people would not call flat.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes. A path around two fields in the Virginia woods, with the Pigg River a few feet away for at least half of the course. It’s not a dramatic setting but it’s beautiful. At least on a sunny day…

Competition – Is there a strong field?

If I win the race, the competition can’t be too strong. That said, the people who do show up are pretty capable and the winning distances are gradually creeping upwards. And everyone who shows up works hard. More than half the field (166 starters) ran 50 miles or more.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Sign up is easy, although this year the race sold out for the first time a few days before the race.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Coke is usually my Elixir Of The Gods in races, but Crooked Road had something better – sweet tea. Non-carbonated, caffeine, sugar, water. Maybe that’s offered at other races in the south, but I’ve only seen it at Crooked Road. They had several great soup options at night. They also had pizza and hamburgers at different points, but I stayed away from those.

Weather and typical race conditions

Based on my 2 experiences, pretty dang good weather – sunny, cool, some wind last year but none this year. I’m told those were the 2 nicest weather years though. It’s probably pretty bleak in bad weather.

How’s the Swag?

Nice quality hat and shirt. Unusual winners trophies (miniature instruments). Nothing about the race, including the swag, feels cheap.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

For what it is, it’s an excellent race. It’s not a bucket-list race and it’s not the fastest 24 hour course out there. There are easier places to get to. But as a place to test yourself against a 24 hour clock, it’s a great option, especially if you have another reason to be near Virginia in November.

To read more about Mark’s race and to see more photos, check out his personal blog post at: https://pointlenana.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/9925/

Mark Cliggett is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach Mark, check out his coaching page.

crooked road 24 hour race report

Crooked Road 24 Hour Race Report – Mark Cliggett

crooked road 24 hour race report
Photo: Matt Ross

Race: Crooked Road 24 Hour

Runner: Mark Cliggett

Date: 11/18/2017

Location: Rocky Mount, VA

Results: 114+ miles, 1st place

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1284652652

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. Winning a race was novel.
  2. It’s a really well-run event, with great ultra-runner volunteers and organizers
  3. The ~1.2 mile loop is in a really pretty area, around a lacrosse field with woods all around.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I started slowly, mostly at the pace I intended, and let everyone run away from me. Then they got tired, but I didn’t so much.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

  1. If you are doing a timed event, plan to run for the whole time.
  2. If you have two goals, one more ambitious than the other, and aim for the less ambitious one, it is very hard to achieve that and then refocus on the harder one. In my case I wanted to win (less ambitious given the competition) and then run 125 miles (probably at the edge of what I was capable of that day). Once I had the win in hand, I focused on protecting it rather than seeing how far I could run.

Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes and no. There are some very good runners but it’s a local race and the people running it don’t have their pacing strategies completely dialed.

Full race report with photos: https://pointlenana.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/conquer-the-castle-then-take-the-crooked-road/

crooked road 24 hour race report
Photo: Matt Ross

Shamrock Marathon – Emily M

Race: Shamrock Virginia Beach Marathon – http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/

Runner: Emily M

Date: 3/20/2016

Results – 5:07

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

The race is well coordinated for starters.  They have plenty of water stations and porta potties along the way.  The goody bag is great!  You get a nice, big medal!  The shirt is one I’d actually wear, and they give you a hat and beach towel at the end.  The scenery is nice and I never got bored!  There are a lot of bands and radio stations playing along the way, and so many nice local people handing out cookies, beer, etc.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The wind was horrible!!!  We ran into the wind 17 out of the 26.2 miles!  Luckily the rain stopped right before the race started and didn’t start up again until I was finished.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

You had some pretty interesting outfits for St. Patty’s Day :). Otherwise, there wasn’t much weird about it.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I paced myself as best as I could and my first half was right on target.  Unfortunately, I stopped to go to the bathroom around mile 14 and my legs got stuff so I had a rough second half.  Since I’m a little slower, people were scattered and I couldn’t really get behind anyone to help block the wind.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Plan on wind and cooler weather.  I ran the half here a few years ago and it was windy then too because you are right on the water.  Also, it’s better to get a hotel on the main strip if you can because parking is not very good.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Overall I’d say it was a pretty course.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

Other than the weather, it’s pretty much a flat course.  You run over a bridge twice within the first half but it wasn’t that bad.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Extremely well run and the after party is awesome!

Competition – is there a strong field?

I’m on the slower end so I’m not really sure but I’m guessing it is strong since it’s such a flat course.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Registration was easy…prices go up as the year goes on like most races. Get your hotel early because the good ones book fast!

Aid Stations

Plenty of aid stations

Weather and typical race conditions – Cool and windy, possible rain

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Be prepared for rain and wind

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

Not really.  The only time you come back to the same spot is between mile 11-13.1, so our friends saw us at the start, middle, and finish

Awards – Not really sure

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

If you are up for taking a risk on weather, I highly recommend this race!  They have an 8k on Saturday, plus a half and full on Sunday and you have the option to combine the races if you want to for more medals and shirts!