Bull Run Run 50 Mile

Virginia Happy Trails Running Club

Final Briefing
Changes, Important Points, Last Minute Details
Last Updated April 3, 2011

This page contains updated and changed information, as well as information that bears repeating. Look at this as the pre-race briefing that some of you will miss.

This page is final. If there is any other change from here, we will highlight it on the top of the page. So you won't have to reread the entire page.

Information on This Page: Summary | Schedule of Events | Points to Note | Warnings | Following the Course | Course Conditions and Weather | Cutoff Times | Awards

Summary

Here are the four most important rules:

• Enjoy the trail!
• Don't litter—nothing goes on the ground—anywhere
• Stay on course—watch the course markings
• Stay healthy—stay hydrated and be careful on the slippery bridges

BRR is about the trail, the bluebells, and fun. But because there will be over 300 people out there, we do need some rules, and you need to be careful. But please have fun and enjoy this beautiful trail! We have a page of rules that you should read, but we will highlight the important ones here.

Most Common, Recent FAQ: Will the race be cancelled if the Federal Government shuts down? No. Our event is held in parks that belong to the Northern Virginia Park Authority (NVPA). NVPA is an association of the counties (and cities) in northern Virginia. It is not a Federal agency. (The Manassass Battlefield park is on Federal land, but we don't go there.) We are not aware of any direct involvement by the Federal government in our event. Nothing is certain in life, but we do not expect any need to cancel the event.

Points to Note

• Parking: Please park responsibly. Park closely to other cars and don't waste space. The parking near the start, even on Friday, is not open to runners. If you are staying in accommodations on Friday night, you may drop off your equipment, but must park your car where everyone else does. See the parking page. The walk from the start is not short -- between a half to a quarter of a mile depending upon the route you take. Be prepared for it! Since it will be dark when you walk to the start, we suggest you bring a small flashlight.
• Breakfast: We will again have juice and light pastries for breakfast before the start. This will be available to runners until the start and open to all after the start. Sorry, we will not have coffee. Coffeeholics may want to stop at the 7 Eleven at the corner of Route 29 (Lee Highway) and Clifton Road.

Bluebells a week before the run
• Personal Listening Devices: The VHTRC policy on headphones, iPods, or anything else that degrades your hearing strongly discourages the use of these devices. For Bull Run Run, we ask that you not use any personal listening device over the first part of the course (i.e. until you get back to the Hemlock aid station at 16.6 miles). We don't prohibit the use of these devices after that point, but all runners have a responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and to know when a runner behind is eager to pass.
• Your Bib Number: Wear your number any place you want to as long as we can see it from the front. Don't put your number on your back! Also, if you fold your number, please don't make it hard to unfold at the finish line. Don't pin the tear-off strip! Finally, be sure your number is not upside down! (Last year, we had two number 86, but number 98 was lost.)
• Picking up your bib number: We strongly recommend that you pick up your bib number on Friday especially if you have never been to Hemlock. Finding it for the first time in the dark is not easy. Plus, there is a walk from your car, again in the dark. Finally, we will have great prizes at the pre-race briefing. Ok, we will have some prizes.

Thank You!

The Bull Run Run is supported by over 100 volunteers and your entry fees. But we have received help from:

Metro Run and Walk

Metro Run and Walk has a long history of support to BRR. Betty Sue Brannan, who first got us interested in the Bull Run trail, worked for Metro Run and Walk as did Scott Mills, who was the BRR RD for many years. The current owners, Helen and Mark Russell, helped us acquire BodyGlide samples and energy bars to give to runners. They are also manning the Marina aid station.

Succeed S! Caps

S! Caps are buffered electrolyte replacement capsules developed by Karl King. Karl gave us a significant price break so we can have a good quantity of the capsules available at the aid stations.

Thanks again!

• Seeded Runners: Just like the military, we are assigning numbers by seniority. For us, "seniority" is number of prior finishes. Number 1 goes to Frank Probst who has finished all 18 Bull Run Runs and who is running for the North. (Frank usually runs for the South. Did he switch allegiance to get number 1?) Since the North won the competition between the armies last year, it has the lower numbers. Tim Stanley and Tom Green, who have also finished all Bull Run Runs, are numbers 501 and 502 because they are running for the south. Entrants List with Bib Numbers
• Drop Bags: We don't transport drop bags, but you can set out a bag at the Hemlock Aid station, which is about 200 feet from the starting line and at the 16+ mile point on the course. We will mark the location for the drop bags. Look for it so your bag will be handy when you arrive at the aid station. We should have someone with a lantern to help you find the place for drop bags in the dark. You should leave all your belongings there and not in the dining hall. (Even if you don't want a drop bag, you should bring everything you will need all day to the start area. You don't want to walk back to your car after the run to get your towel for the shower!)
• Dropping Out: If you drop out, be sure someone in race management knows about it. If you drop at an aid station, tell the aid station captain. If you drop anywhere else, be sure that you tell the nearest aid station captain or you go to the finish to report it (or send someone to do it). We don't go home until everyone is accounted for. Please don't ruin our day!
• Awards Will Not Be Mailed! You must pick up your award at the finish. The awards ceremony will be at 6 p.m. If you think you won an award but just can't stay until six, please contact the RD to see if you won anything and, if so, to receive it. We hope that winners will stay for the awards ceremony when most of the participants can honor their achievement. No team awards will be distributed until the awards ceremony. Winning teams must have a member or representative at the ceremony.
• Your finishers award size and color: We will give you the size finisher shirt you ordered after you cross the finish line. You cannot obtain a different size from us. If you don't like the size, try to trade with someone else or come back at the end of the event. We will trade sizes, if we can, at 7:30 p.m. Each sex has a color choice. You may choose your color as long as both choices are available. The faster you run, the more likely you can choose.
• Aid Stations: Aid stations will have a variety of food and drink. Only two aid stations have a source of water on site. We have to transport the water to all other aid stations. If you need water, take it, but don't waste it! The energy replacement drink is Gatorade. Each aid station will have a supply of S! Caps, but if you eat them like candy, you will need to bring your own. The aid stations will not have gels, GUs, or similar.
• Post Run Shower: We have them. Bring your soap and towel. There will be a garden hose outside the building. Please use the hose to wash the mud off before you enter the bath/shower building. Someone has to clean that shower!
• Post Run Food: We have it. Bring your appetite.

Rules

We are not going to repeat all of our rules here. There is a page of FAQs and rules. Please review it. Our rules are as reasonable as possible. Please abide by them. Remember, absolutely no littering!

Warnings

Here are things you should watch out for.

• Warm Weather: While brutally hot, summer weather is unlikely, warm weather is not. Most runners are not acclimated to warm weather at this time of year. Please be careful and monitor your hydration. You are starting out healthy. You should finish that way. You are responsible for your health. We will call medical help only in an emergency. There is no medical help on the course or at the finish. It is not considered brave or commendable to run yourself into medical emergency.

This bridge is about a mile after the first aid station. It is very rickety. Be careful!
• Bridges: Be very careful on the bridges! The good news is that there are several bridges on the course that will help keep your feet dry. They are often, however, slippery and unstable. At least one slants to the side. Be careful on the bridges. About a mile after the Centreville (first) aid station, there is a bridge that is sloped to the side and bounces. Plus, it has a missing plank. Be particularly careful on this bridge. There will be a course marshall at this bridge to slow you down.
• Under the Road at the Marina: Again this year, you will not have to brave the only real road crossing on the course. Unless the water is very high, you will go under the bridge just after (outbound) and before (inbound) the Marina aid station. This worked very well in the last two years. The route under the bridge is rocky. Go slow and look for places to put your feet. It's a short distance. Be careful! Tall people, duck! (See photo.)

Just duck your head! This is the highest the water should be.
• Rocks: There are not as many rocks as on some courses (e.g. Massanutten), but the rocks that are there can be difficult. While you are at it, be careful of the mud.
• Poison Ivy: At earlier versions of BRR it was difficult to run the course without exposure to poison ivy. Things are much better now. But you still should take a soapy shower after the run.
• Ticks: Check for ticks after the run. You are very likely to pick some up.

Following the Course

The course should be well-marked. But you need to pay attention. If you come upon a turn, and you have any question about which way to go, stop and think about it. Here are some rules that might help you.

• Follow blue ribbons. They take precedence over blazes. Most of the course is also blazed, but the color of the blaze varies as well as the condition of them. Follow the ribbons. If you are on a path with neither ribbons or blazes, you are probably off course.
• Don't cross a red ribbon. Red means "no." Red ribbons are horizontal and often on the ground.
• Ignore other ribbons and markings. There may be other stray events out there and there are, of course, blazes. Our ribbons take precedence.
• You shouldn't go far without seeing a ribbon. In places where there are no places to turn, ribbons will not be frequent. You can't run from ribbon to ribbon, you won't always see the next ribbon from the current one. But if you have not seen a ribbon for some time, you should stop and see if another runner comes by. If not, go back the way you came.
• Turns should be marked with double ribbons on the side you will turn.
• There are a few complicated intersections. They will be marked heavily. If you have any confusion, stop, think, and wait for the next runner.
• Be careful in the aid stations. You never turn around and go back at an aid station. You always keep going in the same general direction after you leave an aid station. Be sure you leave the aid station the right way, which is to continue straight ahead.
• You will be at Hemlock (the start/finish) three times (start, intermediate, and finish). You always go down from Hemlock on the same trail and go up to Hemlock on the other trail. When you climb to Hemlock to the intermediate aid station, remember it. You will do that same climb to finish.

These are actually at Little Rocky Run, just about a mile before (and after) the Centreville Road Aid Station. You cross cylinders like this at the beginning but not the end of the race!
• In the first part of the course, there are three stream crossings with concrete cylinders used as stepping stones. You do each of these crossings out and back. After you get back to Hemlock, you will never again cross a stream on concrete cylinders. If you do, you made a big mistake.
• The soccer fields are hard to mark, but easy to get through. Use the dirt road to go through the middle of the soccer fields. If the fields are one big rectangle, you want to exit from the opposite corner that you entered. Both times. You do not follow the blazes through the soccer fields. (You can if you want, but it's longer.)
• You do the Do Loop counter-clockwise. If there is a runner on the trail running toward you on the Do Loop, one of you is wrong. At two places in the Do Loop, you can see runners through the woods close to you but on another part of the course. Do not cut over to them. Focus on the trail immediately ahead of you. Be careful at the entrance/exit to the loop.
• Roads vs. Trails: There are a number of places where the trail is following an old road but turns off it. The old road goes straight, the trail turns. It is easy to go straight if you are not paying attention. If you find yourself running on an old road without ribbons or blazes, you probably missed a turn. This issue is probably the most frequent way that people get lost!
• The Mile Posts: The Bull Run/Occoquan Trail has mile posts for its 18 mile length. They can be both helpful and confusing. They don't relate directly to distances on our course. A few points: (1) You will not go all the way to the upstream zero milepost. You turn about a quarter mile short of it. (2) The Wolf Run Shoals aid station is at the 2/16 MP (each post has two numbers -- the distance from each end depending upon your direction). (3) The Fountainhead Aid Station is at the zero/18 MP at the downstream end.

Course Conditions and Weather

If you want to fixate on the weather, we suggest two Web sites. The first is the National Weather Service site. Once you figure out how to mouse over stuff and what the things mean, it is very helpful. For a more traditional site, there is the Weather Underground:

The course conditions and the weather are closely related. Predicting the weather is difficult. (Remember, the weather man works for the Department of Commerce!) The biggest worry is not rain the day of the race. It's rain the day before the race. If there is a lot of rain immediately before or during the race, there will be several places with mud.

Gary Knipling

Stream crossings are another thing. The watersheds for the Bull Run and Occoquan are not large, but you never cross those rivers anyway. You do cross several feeder streams. They have very small watersheds (that include, by the way, parts of suburban Fairfax County—don't drink out off them!) so that they will drop relatively quickly after rain. The result is that if it does not rain on Friday, you have a good chance of making it across most streams with dry feet.

There is at least one bridge that is out and several other small streams that have no bridge at all. Wet feet at some point are very likely. (If you have wet feet when you get back to Hemlock, you can change shoes if you want, but you will be wet again soon.)

We and others have done work to clear the trail of brush and blow downs. While this is a never ending task, the trail is in pretty good shape. It's likely however that a tree fell down last night!

You can thank Gary Knipling for much of the work on the trail. If you see Gary (and you will) thank him. Here are some pictures of Gary's trail work.

One final comment. No matter how hard it rains, most of the trail can handle it well. It won't ever be all mud. Much of the trail is on the bluff above the river where there is little mud. This trail has improved greatly over the last 18 years.

Typical Trail Section. You can run that!

Cutoff Times

The event starts just after sunrise and ends just before sunset. We have to get everyone off the course before nightfall. Consequently, we have cutoff times that we must enforce. The cutoff times, including the overall requirement to finish under 13 hours, assume a pace of about 15:20 minutes per mile. You have an hour and a half to do the last 5.5 miles. Assuming you leave the Marina right at the cutoff, you only need to do 16:21 miles to finish on time. (The paces listed on the chart at right are for the entire course to that point.)

If you miss a cutoff time on the course, you may not continue. (At the Do Loop, you must walk or run back to Fountainhead. You can't drop out there unless you have, or can fake, serious medical problems.) If you miss the cutoff time at the finish line, but have made all the others, we will give you the finishers award and list your time, but you will not be an official finisher. If you are on a team, it will be disqualified and the run won't count for the multiple finishes list. The cutoff times are at right.

Awards

All awards will be distributed at the awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Awards will not be mailed. If you have won an award, please attend the award ceremony to receive yours. If you can't do that, we will give you your award early if you ask for it. Team awards will not be available until the awards ceremony. One team member or representative must attend the ceremony.

Here are the awards:

Notes:
* There are no duplicate awards in these categories. The top three finishers in each sex will not receive an age group award. Consequently, the age group award goes to the first runner in the group who was not first, second, or third overall.

† We are phasing out the pins. There are probably enough for each person who wants one and qualifies, but we don't guarantee availability of the pins. If you really want a pin, run fast. (There are one, five, 10, and 15 year pins. You only should have one of each. So if you have one finish, you don't receive another pin until your fifth finish.)

Still got a question? E-Mail the RD

This tree was blocking the trail (above), but our man, Gary Knipling, took care of it (below)!

Bluebells on the Bull Run Run Course

Typical stream crossing in dry weather

Gary, the woodsman, saves you having to step over this log!

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