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Redeye 50k Trail Run

January 1, 2008
8:00 AM
Triangle, VA

Road Map to Start | Map of Trail

We will start at 8 AM. Real wussy. You can sleep in.

REDEYE 50K (Twelth Year) [NOTE: For many years, Team Slug, primarily Dan Grayson, Bill Sublett, and James Moore, put on the much-loved Redeye 50km on New Year's Day. Team Slug has allowed Gary Knipling and me to do it. So the Redeye is on. Unlike in the Team Slub days, the aid station will be totally unmanned and there will be absolutely no finishers awards. (Team Slug used to have creative, goofy finishers awards.) Otherwise it is the same. Remember that the tradition is to bring good, greasy food to share. --Anstr]

WHEN: 1 JANUARY 2008, Starting Time 8:00 a.m.

WHERE: Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, Virginia. Take the Triangle/Quantico exit (Exit 150-B) off I-95 (about 25 miles south of D.C.) and follow the signs to the park, which is just west of the freeway. Enter the park (right turn) and make the first left. Follow this road about 2 miles and turn left toward Turkey Run (watch for the sign). In about one half mile, turn right into Turkey Run Campground and follow this road to the parking lot at the end - this is the start/finish. You will need to pay the National Park Service entrance fee on the way out. We believe the fee is $5 for a car or $3 if you walk in unless you have a NPS pass. Note: If the weather bottoms out (Ice and Snow) and the Park Service closes the roads, we will meet in the parking lot near the park entrance by the visitor's center and work out a modified course so everyone can get some miles in. Here is a road map to the start: [Display in separate window.]

WHAT: 50 kilometers (???) of groomed forest trails. The course consists of three repeats of a 10 mile course. If you don't like the recommended course, just run anywhere you want to - this is not a real event. The course is all forest trail. We will not generally hang streamers, but hope to mark the two or three important turns. The trails are well marked. All markings will be taken down by the third loop. So pay attention and learn on the first two loops.

The map below shows the new course. The first loop will be done clockwise. You can do the other loops any direction you want. You will note that you can cut any loop sort by taking the Taylor Farm Road or the High Meadows Trail.

Before the first loop, however, there is a little, 1+ mile loop that runners must do to make the total close to 50 km. This loop won't be marked. You have to follow someone who knows it. You only do this loop one time.

There may be light course markings at a couple of turns. Otherwise, there will be no course markings. There are only a couple of things to remember. These are:

• Watch for the hairpin turn at the intersection with the South Valley Trail. If you find yourself running by the river downstream, you missed this turn and are going the wrong way. You never run beside the river in the same direction it is flowing when you do the course in the clockwise direction.
• Once on the South Valley Trail, stay on it, by the river until the trail forces you up to a DIRT road. Don't take trails away from the river (unless you want to cut the course short).
• After you are forced onto the dirt road, you turn right and go up to the paved park road. There you turn left. There should be markings at this point.
• You will run on the paved park road for about a mile. This section ends when the road becomes one way. If you run on a one way road with a bike lane, you have gone too far. Your turn off this road will be RIGHT.

So the two things to remember are (1) don't run the same direction that the river is flowing and (2) don't run on a one way paved road.

WHY: Beats watching parades on television. Your opportunity to start the year off with a 31 mile per day training base. The squirrels need company. Freezing cures hangovers (???).

Some Details: This is not a race, no trophies, no T-Shirts, no race entry fees, just the opportunity to run forest trails with your friends. Results (???) will not be posted in Ultrarunning. We will have one unmanned aid station at the start/finish. We may provide water and some energy replacement drink. In keeping with the Team Slug tradition of this run, we ask that the runners contribute to the aid station, usually a small feast. Please don't bring too much food. Bring enough for you and a couple of inconsiderate jerks who bring nothing. Don't bring something for everyone. We had to throw a lot of food away last year.

Important Points: Parking can get tight. If you can't find a place, look for someone who appears official to direct you. Don't park illegally, please!

We are very unlikely to have drinking cups. Bring a water bottle to pour fluids in or just drink out of the container. This event was established before the invention of the Camelbak.

A Map: Here is a map of the trail. To open it in its own window (so you could print it, for example) click here.

The map above comes from the Park Service Map [PDF file in new window].

RSVP: If you are coming, please RSVP to Anstr at anstr@att.net.

Disclaimer: This is not a race or official event of any kind. If you like official structure stay home and wait for W$100.

Call or e-mail Anstr Davidson for more information. anstr@att.net. Anstr's phone number is on the VHTRC member's roster.

• 2007 Results
• 2006 Results
• 2005 Results
• 2002 (no results but some pictures if you scroll down)
• 2001 Results
• 2000 Results
• 1999 Results and pictures
• 1998 Report and Results

Your Former Hosts: Slugs Bill Sublett and Dan Grayson