Massanutten Trail Run

Massanutten Trail 71 Mile Run

"The Fellowship of the Ring"

September 7-8, 2002

New! Be sure to see the photos -- Beauty, blood, broken bones, blue skies, and black and blue skin!

Update

Haven't had an update here but can't let another day go by without a big thank you to those who came out to help. Noelle Olsen hiked in water and aid as well as helping out at an aid station. Jean Heishman left the all important water at Milford Gap. Keith Dunn was at every aid station, brought aid, carried stuff around, and helped people navigate at night. Bunny Runyan was also at every aid station staying to the bitter end. She also took some great pictures. Tom Corris and Bob Phillips ran for half the day and then became aid station guys at night. Joe Clapper and Keith Knipling also helped after they dropped out. Then there was Lisa Lewis who came to help Barry but helped the rest of us too. Thanks again to these wonderful people.

Preliminary Report

Harry Bruell, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, won the first "organized" running of the Massanutten Trail, a 71 mile ring around Fort Valley, Virginia. Scott Mills, remembering why he will never run MMT again, was second. As he said, "It only hurts my feet when I step on a rock." Third and fourth were "Beauty and the Beast," Bethany Hunter and David Horton. Obviously having the most fun of any other entrants, each was in control and positive all day. Finally, the Odd Couple, John Dodds and Gary Knipling easily finished within 24 hours, as Gary talked his way around the course with John in tow. Gary was particularly noted for his advice on how to avoid hypothemia.

Speaking of hyperthermia, there was little problem of that. The weather was beautiful, though a little warm. Only toward daybreak did it finally get cold.

Run Co-Coordinator Chris Scott had said, "Anstr and I, as 'hosts,' will probably just drive around the course, drink beer, eat grilled cheese sandwiches, and laugh at you." Well, in between goofing off, Chris went for a little run. The result? A broken wrist. Chris will be a little slow for awhile! The best blood of an entrant was easily that of David who had a long gash on his shin.

There are more stories to tell, volunteers to thank, and photos to display. This page will be updated soon. In the meantime, consider this. One of the sayings that this Web site's News Page displays is a quotation from Will Rogers: "There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves." Chris and I said that the rocks on Signal Knob suck. Did anyone believe us? No. Six people didn't learn by reading. They had to pee on the fence themselves.

Results

(Aid stations list time-of-day arrival. Start was at 6:30 AM.)

Name	Camp Roos	Crisman Rd	Moreland	Edinburg	Woodstock	Powells	Finish	Elapsed
Harry Bruell	12:11	2:24	3:54	6:00	7:48	9:15	11:15	16:45
Scott Mills	12:20	2:45	4:30	6:54	9:40	10:45	1:33	19:03
David Horton	12:13	3:12	5:02	7:31	10:30	11:50	2:21	19:51
Bethany Hunter	12:13	3:12	5:02	7:31	10:30	11:50	2:21	19:51
John Dodds	12:45	3:25	5:36	8:27	11:30	1:25	4:36	22:06
Gary Knipling	12:45	3:25	5:36	8:27	11:30	1:25	4:36	22:06
Barry Lewis	12:20	2:45	4:30	6:31	9:00	DNF
Joe Clapper	12:13	DNF

Resources

Sun and Moon Data for September 7

Wil Kohlbrenner's Report on the Massanutten Trail (U.S. Forest Service Site)

Massanutten Trail Dedication

Reports by Chris and Anstr on their April 2002 Run

Map G from the PATC

U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department

Sun and Moon Data for One Day

The following information is provided for Front Royal, Warren County, Virginia (longitude W78.2, latitude N38.9):

        Saturday 
        7 September 2002      Eastern Daylight Time          

                         SUN
        Begin civil twilight       6:20 a.m.                 
        Sunrise                    6:47 a.m.                 
        Sun transit                1:11 p.m.                 
        Sunset                     7:34 p.m.                 
        End civil twilight         8:01 p.m.                 

                         MOON
        Moonset                    7:49 p.m. on preceding day
        Moonrise                   7:08 a.m.                 
        Moon transit               1:51 p.m.                 
        Moonset                    8:21 p.m.                 
        Moonrise                   8:24 a.m. on following day

Phase of the Moon on 7 September: waxing crescent with 1% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.

New Moon on 6 September 2002 at 11:09 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.