First, a bit about you...

A. Sex: Male 94 (79%) | Female 25 (21%)
B. Prior 100 mile trail runs completed:
None: 19 (16%) | 1 - 2: 38 (32%) | 3 - 5: 25 (21%) | 6 or more: 37 (31%)
C. Prior MMT Finisher? Yes: 62 (52%) | No: 57 (48%)

First 10 Questions: These questions all called for a relative ranking that was graded as follows:
1-Very Poor 2-Poor 3-Fair 4-Good 5-Very Good

For each of the first 10 questions, we list the average rating and note if any questions were not answered.

1. The MMT web site was...4.70

Comments:
There were several positive comments about the Web site. There were two comments that the design was out of date and that information was difficult to find. Suggestions included: introduce a way for frequent visitors to know what has changed on the site; make it clearer who is "in" or "out" after the lottery; explain what to expect on each section of the course rather than the "irrelevant" course description; and have pacers and runners define themselves by time goals rather than front/middle/back of the pack.

2. The MMT entry and waiting list procedure was...4.71

Comments:
Comments praised the fairness and transparency of the process. Suggestions included: to move the last day for entry off the wait list to within a day or two of the event; more statistics from prior years to help gauge the chance of getting into the event off the wait list; add a “buddy system” to the entry process; and add a "no show list." Under the "no show" idea, the top 10 on the wait list could come to the event and jump in the race if there is room. If there is not room, they work an aid station and have priority next year. One commenter didn't like "weightings" on the lottery. Since there are no weightings on the lottery itself, this probably was a reference to the priorities on the wait list.

3. The quality of the entrant shirt was...4.14 (1 didn't answer)

Comments:
There were 32 comments on the shirts. Six either didn't like the color or thought it was not distinctive. Two thought the shirt itself was not distinctive. Two said that the sizing was a problem and one said the neck was too tight. Two wanted women's sizing. Three believed that a long sleeve shirt was not appropriate to give out at the beginning of summer. One noted that the screening was cockeyed, one wanted a quotation on the back and the year of the run, and one thought there should be more artwork. One suggested we consider something other than a shirt. One respondent said that his wife "confiscated" it. We are not sure if that is a compliment or not!

4. The pre-race briefing was...4.28 (21 didn't attend, 3 didn't answer)

Comments:
Eleven people commented that the briefing was too long. There were several complaints about the room, which can be condensed down to "hot" and "cramped." Some thought the lengthy information was good for first-timers, but one person thought it was too much even for new people. A few showed disinterest in the whole thing by saying that they missed it or won't attend next year.

5. The pre-race meal on Friday night was...4.43 (43 didn't attend, 2 didn't answer)

Comments:
All the comments on the food itself were positive. Many liked the chicken and the potatoes. The vegetarian options were appreciated though one wanted more. There were a few comments that the room was too small and too hot.

6. The course markings were...4.69

Comments:
Fourteen people specifically praised the course markings. On the reflector/chemlite debate, two liked the reflectors and four wanted chemlites. There were several comments about variability of marking. Specific sections mentioned were the need for chemlites on the road into Habron, the Habron to Gap Creek section that was marked in a "non-standard" fashion (double ribbons everywhere), Kerns which one person liked and another thought was not marked heavily enough, and the Bird Knob section that six people specifically mentioned as not being well-marked.

7. The aid stations were...4.76

Comments:
(Please include what you most liked and what you would like to see but didn't at the aid stations.)
Comments universally praised the volunteers at the aid stations. The most liked item seemed to be the corn chowder at Bird Knob. Also appreciated were soup, quesadillas, and hot dogs. Ten people felt there was not enough "real food" (or too much sugar vs. protein) especially over the first part of the course. Among things people wanted to see were more fruit, gels, wraps, Ginger ale/Sprite, and more vegetarian options for the "special food." Non-food suggestions included making the way out of the aid stations obvious, letting runners know if there is a trash bag down the course, and that there be an unmanned station at Milford. One respondent wants us to keep the distance between aid stations at seven miles or less.

8. The post race food was...4.09 (33 didn't eat, 1 didn't answer)

Comments:
There were no comments to this question. We are pretty sure that we must have messed up something in the receipt of the survey responses. Sorry about that!

9. The post race atmosphere was...4.57 (30 didn't attend, 1 didn't answer)

Comments:
Most comments were to the effect that the runner did not experience the post race because he had to leave or fell asleep and missed it. One found the finish line confusing and could not hear the announcer. One was disappointed that only chips were left to eat and another wished the finish were a 16th aid station and had "attentive volunteers." Four missed the grass of the Ranch, but one liked the primitive and rugged look of the finish area.

10. The live updates on the Web were...3.96 (47 didn't observe/no opinion, 1 didn't answer)

Comments: (Please note how important the live updates were to your friends and relatives)
There were many comments to this question. The comments were (1) the live updates were appreciated and important to family and friends and for pacer/crew coordination and (2) the updates were sporadic and slow. One person wanted more coverage of the women's race.

11. Energy Replacement Drink: MMT aid stations used Gatorade as an energy replacement drink. I prefer …

Gatorade 40 [34%]
Some other energy replacement drink (enter in comment) 29 [24%]
Anything (I drink it, but don't have a preference) 23 [19%]
None (I don't use an energy replacement drink) 27 [23%]
Comments:
The most popular alternative to Gatorade was Heed with 11 votes. There were, however, three "anything but Heed" votes (not to mention all the Gatorade votes in the answer itself). No other product received more than one or two votes. There were comments that the Gatorade was cold and mixed properly and that it was not mixed properly.

12. This year, MMT shifted the start/finish from the Ranch to the Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp. If you participated in the event in prior years, please indicate if you have a host site preference.

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp (this year's location) 48 [40%]
The Skyline Ranch Resort (former location) 23 [19%]
No Preference 7 [6%]
First Time Runner 38 [32%]
Didn't Answer: 3 [3%]
Comments:
While the vote was in favor of the Camp, most specific comments supported the Ranch. The most comments were about the poor parking/long walk at the Camp. Primary reasons people liked the Camp were easier for crews, better course, the bathrooms, we were the only ones there, and support of Camp management. Reasons people wanted to go back to the Ranch (besides the parking) included size, closeness to civilization and easier to find, the finish lay out, and fewer bugs. Several, however, made strong, positive statements about the Camp without giving reasons.

13. This year the pacer rule was changed due to the new course layout and logistics. Previously, pacers could join runners at any aid station with crew access after 6 p.m. This year, runners could not pick up a pacer until Camp Roosevelt (Aid Station #10/63 miles) or a later aid station.

What is your opinion of the new pacer rule?

Fine as is 53 [45%]
Return to previous rule 11 [9%]
Other 4 [3%]
Don’t use a pacer/no opinion 51 [43%]
Comments:
There were few comments on this question. Several noted that they were in the Jackson Division and it didn't apply to them. Most comments supported the 2010 rule. One noted the value of having a clear place to pick up a pacer rather than the old time-of-day based rule. Two people would have liked to pick up a pacer at Habron. One suggested a rule in which fast runners have to wait for Camp Roosevelt but slow runners can pick up a pacer at 6 p.m.

14. In an effort to limit difficult driving and because of limited parking, fewer aid stations had crew access this year. Six aid stations had no crew access, while nine, including all but one in the last half of the race, had crew access. What is your opinion of this year's crew access?

Fine as is 63 [53%]
Would like more crew access 12 [10%]
Other 0 [0%]
Don't use crew/No opinion 44 [37%]
Comments:
Most comments supported the 2010 situation. Some liked it that their crews had more time to get to aid stations. Two noted that greater crew access was not needed especially in light of the frequent access over the last part of the course. One felt that Woodstock Tower aid station would have been a "nightmare" if crews had been there. Three runners wanted to have seen their crews more often.

15. Where did you stay prior to this year’s MMT?

On site cabin 7
On site camping 22
On site sukkah 6
Area hotel/motel 76
Other 8
Comments: (Please note if you would use same accommodations, and why or why not)
Most, especially those who stayed at the Camp, would use the same accommodations as last year. Eight people who did not stay at the Camp said that they would probably move to the Camp next year. Several liked their motels, but didn't name them. Only one complained about his hotel. He did not name it. The following hotels were specifically mentioned favorably: Luray Caverns Motel (1), Comfort Inn Woodstock (1), Mimslyn Inn (1 - noted to be pet friendly), Holiday Inn Express (3), and the Days Inn Luray (3). Criticisms of the Camp included that it was hard to find a tent site, it was not pet friendly, and there was no car camping. One comment said the information about the accommodations was inadequate. Finally, one person said that the walk from the parking to the start was a good warm up for the run.

16. In light of my financial means, the cost of travel, accommodations, and the entry fee was . . .

A difficult financial burden 2 [2%]
Expensive but doable 34 [29%]
Not difficult financially 76 [64%]
I could easily bear a higher cost 7 [6%]
Comments:
The comments on this question were varied. Many thought the entry fee was low and/or fair. A few said that the big expense was travel. One person said he could only afford it because it was part of a business trip while another said that cost was a burden because he was unemployed. One would pay a higher price for more swag.

17. Should the event raise the entry fee if necessary to improve any of the following (you may check more than one): [There were multiple selections. Percentages are of all options selected.]

Better/more frequent live updates 8 [6%]
Shuttle for satellite parking 20 [16%]
Shuttle for pacers 5 [4%]
Other 13 [10%]
Fine as is 80 [63%]
Comments:
The comments to this question seemed to be general criticisms not necessarily related to the entry fee. Three said we should go back to the Ranch and one of those noted the cell phone coverage there. Five didn't like the parking at the Camp or thought it should be improved. Two felt that the swag was poor quality and one thought that more money should be spent on the post-run food. One wanted veggie options at the pre- and post-run meals and another wanted ice at the early aid stations. One person said he would pay more to have the drop bags brought back to the finish sooner. One suggested to rising the entry fee to provide more scholarships.

18. Based on your experience this year, do you want to run the MMT again?

1-Definitely not 2-Probably not 3-Might/might not 4-Probably 5-Definitely
4.29
Please tell us why or why not:
There were many kind, positive comments in this section. Reasons to come back included to get a fifth finish and to change a rock into a buckle. Reasons not to come back included three people who said they have given up on ultras (or want to, anyway) and two who like to do a new race each year. Two suggested moving back to the Ranch, one liked the new course.

Overall Comments/Recommendations
There are more positive and kind comments about the event and the volunteers. There were several suggestions among all the positive feedback. Two people said that there should be more awards for the Jackson Division and one felt that there should be an award for the winning man and woman. Two said we should go back to the Ranch, but many other comments implicitly endorsed the Ranch. One wanted more information for new runners on the Web site, and another wanted walking directions from the Camp to Camp Roosevelt. One didn't like the tight neck on the shirt, another called the shirt "cheap," and another would pay extra for one of the hoodies that volunteers received. Two thought that there should be real food at the finish. One suggested that the pre-race activities be held in Luray and that everyone park at the start/finish. Several liked the new course, but one said he hates the Stephens Trail and suggested staying on the Massanutten Trail as an alternative. Finally, several said to leave things as is.