VHTRC NEWS

Forestry Symbol VHTRC Work Party: The annual VHTRC work party was a great success. Twenty-seven VHTRC members were joined by workers from two different mounatain bike groups. We covered many miles of trail. The entire MMT course from Camp Roosevelt to Woodstock Tower is now clear. (Ok, there is one log in Duncan Hollow.) The work party report is now available.

Women's Half Marathon: The 2008 VHTRC Women's Half Marathon Trail Run will be held on September 13. Entry will be similar to the prosess used for the 2008 Bull Run Run, and will be open from June 26 to June 30. For the first time, the WHM will give partial refunds and maintain a waiting list. The WHM Web page is now up-to-date. WHM Home Page

VHTRC Sweep at Promise Land 50km: Sean Andrish and Justine Morrison led a VHTRC sweep of the mens and womens championships at David Horton's Promise Land 50km near Lynchburg on April 26. Promise Land is thought by many to be David's best run. Other notable VHTRC performances included age group wins by Robin Kane, Herman Richards, Amy Sproston, and Sophie Speidel. Winning age groups that David didn't have were Barbara Isom and Ed Demoney. Congratulations to all! Results

24 Hour Adventure Trail Run: Susan Baehre was the second woman at Scott Crabb's and Alex Papadopoulos's 25 hour run in Prince William Forest Park on April 26-27. Sue ran 80 miles. There were other VHTRC participants. Results are now available.

Bluebells Gary's BRR Wildflower Report: What would the Bull Run Run be without a wildflower report from our resident expert, Gary Knipling? This year, Gary was helped out by expert observation from this reporter who spotted the trout lillies that Gary couldn't find. As an extra added attraction, this year's report includes reptiles. What else would you expect from Gary? Gary's Wildflower Report

Furbutt Around the World: From Joe Clapper: "As the chief foreign corespondent I would like to file another in a series of reports on Furbut. First our hero was in France demonstrating hibernation techniques and anal plugs. We then answered the ancient question with the film of what Furbut does in the woods. Now Furbut has turned up in Japan learning to be a Ninja Master. He, the hero to all of us, as he is featured on this soft porn web site." [Editor's note: Joe found the video at the other end of this link on a "soft porn site." In order to promote the high moral standards of this club, we found the same video on U-Tube. You are welcome.]

New Definition of "Double": Dave Snipes got second place in the 5th Annual Virginia 24 Hour Run for Cancer held on April 12-13 in Hampton, Virginia. He ran 95 miles. Fifty of those miles were run at Bull Run Run. (The event allows you to count miles are other events run the same day.) The winner was VHTRC member Herman Richards who ran 119 miles. The event uses a park trail so it is a "trail run." You can see a report and results if you search around on the Peninsula Track Club Web site

Lundblads Win Bull Run Run: Mark and Anne Lundlad won the male and female crowns at the 16th Bull Run Run 50 miler on April 12. Anne set a new course record on a day when most competitors ran slower than usual. She also lost to only three males. The weather was a bit warm and the course a bit wet, making for tough going. Many hard working volunteers helped the runners on their long treks and continued the event's tradition of quality. Overall and age group results are now available. The first of Aaron Schwartzbard's photos are now up and so are good pictures from Mike Bur at the stream crossing. Bull Run Run 2008 Report and Results Page.

North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain: Meanwhile, at Bear Mountain, New York, Leigh Schmidt won the 50 miler at the "North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain." Leigh thus broke his three year string of Bull Run Run victories. Glen Redpath, second at North Face, was second last year at BRR. In the 50k, Russ Gill was fourth in the 50km and first master. He reports that "...the course was brutal. I've run over a lot ultras and this was the most rocky 50K I've ever run. The website classified the course as '5 out of 5' for 'Technical Terrain and Elevation Gain' and they weren't kidding. I also didn't help that they don't use SWITHCBACKS! Most of the hills were vertical ups and downs; several areas of hand over feet scrambling on wet rocks...and I still [it was] a BLAST!" You can find the results linked from this page if you look hard.

Knipling Wins March Madness Contest: Kansas's win over Memphis was exciting, but it had no bearing on the winner of our contest. Gary had it locked. Jill Johnson led most of the way, but went down with UCLA, taking second. Patricia Zerfas was third. Thanks to all who played. Better luck next time! VHTRC March Madness final results

Contacting the VHTRC Board: If any club member should want to contact the VHTRC board for any reason, he or she may use the contact form. You will need the members only password to use the form. You may get the password here. Of course, you can just send an e-mail. The contact form, however, kills five birds with one stone, as it were!

Thought for the Day

MMT Pace Chart: Mitchell Goodman made a pace chart for his crew at MMT and was kind enough to pass it along. Mitchell put in all the MMT data from 2001 to 2007. (Those of us who finished in the former millenium, when men (and women) were men, will not see their names.) While the course has varied over those years, the later aid stations have been constant in their distance from the finish line. If you are anal, you will want to play with this. WARNING: It defaults to "I want to finish within 17 hours." Some of you may want to change that. MMT Pace Calculator

VHTRC Time Wasters of the Week: The VHTRC time wasters took a break to help improve American productivity. So what happened? Over three dollar gas, the Air Force buys a plane from Europe, the real estate and mortgage markets are in the tank, and the U.S. dollar ain't worth, ah, anything. So don't blame us! Here, then are some new ones: Pilot's geography test (thanks Dru), crayon game (you just watch) (thanks Joe), Where in the world is Gombobu? (thanks Mike), Freeze in Place, and finally, after all this, you can clean your screen. Hopefully, you are also continuing to play the Free Rice game. Previous VHTRC Time Wasters.

The VHTRC E-Mail List (Listserv): Join the VHTRC listserv to discuss trail and ultra running in the Washington, DC area and the affairs of the VHTRC. The list is centered on VHTRC topics but non-members of the club may join. It is not intended to be a general interest discussion list nor is it intended to stuff your in box with gobs of e-mail. Please give the list a try. ...More information about the list | To Join