Hashawha Hills 50 km Trail Run
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Please see the new Hashawha Hills website.
The information below is old and outdated
The 11th running of the Hashawha Hills 50 km Trail Run was held on February 29, 2020.
2020 Race Results: The 2020 report and results are now available.
Where:
Hashawha Environmental Center Bear Branch Nature Center
300 John Owings Road
Westminster, Maryland 21158
Map of Hashawha Hills Start
Course: 31 miles of trails, old woods roads, open fields and plenty of hills with a couple of stream crossings thrown in just for fun.
Sponsorship: The Hashawha Hills Trail Run is another event sponsored by the Virginia Happy Trails Running club.
Entry Fee: In 2010 and 2011 the entry fee was an exorbitant $20.00. We really wanted to be sure runners got their money's worth, so in 2012 the entry fee was reduced to $19.85. In 2013 we reduced the fee again to $19.75, and in 2014 to $19.65, and in 2015 we dropped down to a ridiculous $19.55. The entry fee was reduced to an unbelieveable $19.45 in 2016. Do you notice a trend here? The insanity continues! In 2017 the entry was a paltry $19.35. In 2018, the entry fee was a just plain stupid $19.25. The entry fee for 2019 was a mind blowing $19.15 and the entry fee for 2020 was $19.05. Now hold onto your hats as we attempt the impossible once again. The entry fee for the 12th running of the Hashawha Hills 50 km Trail Run will be $18.95!
What You Get For Your Entry Fee: You will receive a great trail race with a very well-marked route, well-stocked aid stations, and hot post race food and drink indoors. All finishers will receive a beautiful Hashawha Hills mug, hand made by a local potter. There will be special awards for the top male and female finishers.
Entry Limit: 120 runners
Registration: We use the "VHTRC entry system." Simply, you apply, we hold a lottery, and then you come back and either pay the entry fee or join the wait list. Important Information About Registration.
ENTRY: Entry Start Page
The Hashawha Hills 50km Trail Run complies with the VHTRC policy on personal listening devices. The short explanation is that we don't want you to use them. Hashawha Hills also complies with the VHTRC cancellation policy
Run Details: Pre-race and post-race will be indoors. We’ve reserved the heated auditorium and bathrooms located indoors at the Bear Branch Nature Center. There will be hot food and drink indoors at the finish.
The course has about two miles of asphalt, three miles of gravel road, and 26 miles of trail. The course is mostly single track trails along with some old woods roads and open fields. The entire course is runnable. There are no mountains, no rocks, and no roots, but there are a few stream crossings (you WILL get your feet wet) and never ending small hills to wear you down with a few bigger hills thrown in just for fun. The scenery changes from mostly woods to meadows and open fields with beautiful views of rolling farmland. The course will be well marked for the entire distance; however, runners will have to pay attention to remain on course.
Weather: In past years we've experienced high winds, cold temperatures, slick ice, amazing mud, snow, and some all round miserable weather. Even so, the race will be held unless we're in the midst of a howling blizzard (a real blizzard, not what the TV guys call a blizzard). Even though we will try to notify everyone by email if we should need to cancel the event, we will post a notice on this web site, so be sure to check here if you are in doubt.
Start – Finish:The start, finish, and mid-point of the race will be at a covered picnic pavilion just a two minute walk from the Bear Branch auditorium. After you finish your race, join us indoors in the Bear Branch Auditorium for hot food and drink.
Time Cutoffs: The race will start at 7:30 AM. There is a 9 hour time limit (4:30 PM) to complete the course. Additionally, there is a cut off of 4:00 (11:30 AM) at the 15.5 mile aid station. Course record for men: 3:31:44 (Michael Daigeaun, 2013). Course record for women: 4:27:03 (Sheila Vibert, 2017)
Pre-Race: Please arrive in time for a pre-race briefing in the Bear Branch auditorium at 7:10 AM. When you arrive, please park as directred by the Parking Czar. Parking is limited and we appreciate your cooperation. The Bear Branch Nature Center will remain open to the public during our race, and we need to allow access for, and be courteous to, the public.
Post-Race: After the race, celebrate your accomplishment and swap lies with everyone else while you warm up with hot food and drinks in the Bear Branch auditorium. The park has a no alcohol policy.
Drop Bags: The start-finish line is at the same location as the 15.5 mile aid station #3. This is a covered pavilion where there is plenty of space for you to leave a drop bag if you so desire. Bring your drop bag to the indoors pre-race briefing and then carry it with you to the start-finish after the pre-race briefing.
Medical Issues: This is an event with very real risks to your well-being. The VHTRC does not provide medical care for runners at this event. Runners are responsible for their own health, safety, and well being at this event. No doctors, nurses, or emergency medical technicians, or anyone with any medical training are available along the course, at any aid station, or at the finish. The club does not supply any medical goods or services, including bandages, splints, antiseptic, or Ibuprofen or any other drugs to maintain the health of runners. Physical, medical, and emergency care is the runners' responsibility. In case of an emergency, we will endeavor to get local emergency personnel to an injured runner as soon as possible. Since most of our events are in remote areas, medical care may be far away in distance or time. Each year, runners finish — or are forced to drop out — with scrapes, deep cuts, hematomas, dislocations, and sprains. Runners have experienced cuts, bruises, bee stings, and asthma attacks. This is an event with very real risks.
Volunteers: If this race is to be a success, we'll need to have some help on race day. Feel good about yourself and make us look good too by volunteering. Email us: alangowen@gmail.com
Awards: There will be unique handmade awards for the first male and female finishers.
What's it Like? Watch these videos from Jonathan Gowen and Paul Encarnación. Also, read reports from former years.
Stream Crossing at Hashawah Hills 50km
The Course: The course will be marked with PINK ribbons hung from branches, sign posts, small pink flags stuck in the ground, and blue arrow signs. Most intersecting trails will be blocked with RED ribbons across them.
| Aid Station | Sec Dist | Cum Dist | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.46 | 8.46 | |
| 2 | 2.3 | 10.76 | |
| 3 | 4.74 | 15.5 | Start/Finish |
| 4 | 8.46 | 23.96 | |
| 5 | 2.3 | 26.26 | |
| Finish | 4.74 | 31.1 |
- Always follow the closest pink marking
- Disregard arrow signs seen from the back or side
- Never cross red
There will be five opportunities for aid. The aid stations will be fully stocked with water, Gatorade, PB&J sandwiches, chips, pretzels, cookies, M&M's, Coke, Mt Dew, etc. Please note that you will have to run up to 8.5 miles between aid so be sure to come prepared to do that.
Questions: Any questions, inquiries or suggestions contact the race director, Alan Gowen at alangowen@gmail.com
Prior Results & Report
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2009 | 2008
Note about registration: In the past, when we had a first come first-served registration system we were a little embarrassed by the speed with which Hashawha Hills filled up. Because the race filled so quickly, we felt it wasn't as fair as we would have liked it to be. In the spirit of fairness we now use the same lottery system the VHTRC currently uses for entry into some of our other events. We will have a wait list with priorities. The priorities will give wait list priority to prior finishers.
Refunds: We will give refunds (less five dollars) to those who notify us of their withdrawal by Saturday, February 18. To withdraw, go to the withdrawal page. There must be someone on the waiting list to take the place of the person who withdraws for a refund to be issued.
Prior Year Loser Priority in 2020: In 2019, everyone who joined the intial wait list either got in the race or withdrew. Accordingly, there will be no one eligible for the prior year loser wait list priority for 2020 entry.
Here is the very long version, which you don't have to read.
