Results for the 2019 Boyer's Furnace 40 Miler, held on a picture-perfect, nearly spring-like, day in the southern part of the Fort Valley in northwestern Virginia. The weather no doubt assisted in seeing 49 of the 57 starters complete the full distance. Several of the DNF's were knocked out of the race by injury, which is a particular issue on the notoriously leaf-covered rocky sections of the Massanutten Trail that the runners negotiate over the first 17 miles, and then again for 8 fairly treacherous miles from Woodstock to Edinburg. All seemed to enjoy this great day in the mountains, and to get a great kickstart to 2020 ultra training, particularly those planning to take part in the winter series of "training academy" runs for the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 mile race.
Besides the amazing weather, the glorious views, and the amazing support from Race Director Carol Cohen's cadre of volunteers, the race was highlighted by a new course and event record, set by Paul Jacobs. Paul bested not only the course, but also a stellar men's field for this year's race. To be clear, Paul did not just set a new record. He shattered the old mark, beating Aaron Schwartzbard's 2007 time of 6:47 by a mind-blowing 31 minutes! The women's winner was Mikala Shremshock. Mikala's 8:42 allowed her to hold off strong efforts by 2nd place Kristen Gray and 3rd place Emily Clay; the course record, established with a 7:56 finish in the 2018 race by Kelly MacDonald, remains intact for another year.
The 2020 race will be held on the standard Saturday between Christmas and New Year's Day, which this year will be December 26th.
RD Carol Cohen's Race Report | Photographs
| Place | Name | Age | Sex | State | Veech | Woodstock | Edinburg | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Jacobs! | 41 | M | DC | 2:41 | 3:30 | 5:02 | 6:16 |
| 2 | Adam Watkins | 39 | M | DC | 2:39 | 3:41 | 5:27 | 7:04 |
| 3 | Michael Wardian | 45 | M | VA | 2:48 | 4:12 | 5:52 | 7:14 |
| 4 | Luke Bosek | 40 | M | VA | 3:01 | 4:10 | 5:54 | 7:23 |
| 4 | Jeremy Lucier | 34 | M | VA | 3:01 | 4:11 | 5:55 | 7:23 |
| 6 | Aaron Ellison | 43 | M | MD | 3:03 | 4:10 | 6:04 | 7:41 |
| 7 | Joseph Crawford | 34 | M | VA | 3:30 | 4:32 | xxx | 7:43 |
| 8 | Matthew Erb | 41 | M | VA | 3:15 | 4:29 | 6:35 | 8:14 |
| 8 | Levi Mason | 39 | M | VA | 3:23 | 4:33 | 6:31 | 8:14 |
| 8 | Barret Stanton | 21 | M | VA | 2:56 | 4:05 | 6:22 | 8:14 |
| 11 | Kyle Lawrence | 35 | M | VA | 3:19 | 4:27 | 6:34 | 8:27 |
| 12 | Ben Morton | 33 | M | VA | 3:08 | 4:30 | 6:44 | 8:39 |
| 12 | Raymond Rogers | 39 | M | VA | 3:32 | 4:52 | 6:55 | 8:39 |
| 14 | Brian Compagnone | 46 | M | VA | 3:35 | 5:04 | 7:02 | 8:40 |
| 15 | Mikala Shremshock | 36 | F | VA | 3:42 | 4:51 | 7:10 | 8:42 |
| 16 | Kristen Gray | 26 | F | VA | 3:28 | 4:50 | 7:12 | 9:09 |
| 17 | Emily Clay | 30 | F | MD | 4:06 | 5:25 | 7:37 | 9:13 |
| 17 | Lance Dockery | 28 | M | MD | 4:06 | 5:25 | 7:33 | 9:13 |
| 19 | Keith VanGraafeiland | 38 | M | VA | 3:42 | 5:11 | 7:27 | 9:16 |
| 20 | Mike Hendricksen | 39 | M | VA | 3:38 | 5:04 | 7:27 | 9:28 |
| 20 | Derek Robinson | 38 | M | VA | 3:38 | 5:04 | 7:27 | 9:28 |
| 22 | Eric Thornton | 40 | M | VA | 3:46 | 5:05 | 7:32 | 9:31 |
| 23 | Garret Christensen | 40 | M | DC | 3:57 | 5:27 | 7:51 | 9:38 |
| 24 | Bruce Tweedie | 58 | M | VA | 4:06 | 5:29 | 7:50 | 9:41 |
| 25 | Don Riley | 56 | M | MD | 4:06 | 5:29 | 7:53 | 9:44 |
| 26 | Michael Harms | 36 | M | VA | 4:00 | 5:25 | 7:54 | 9:47 |
| 27 | Hussein EzzEldin | 37 | M | MD | 4:09 | 5:24 | 7:56 | 9:53 |
| 27 | Ali Mohammed | 40 | M | MD | 4:04 | 5:24 | 7:56 | 9:53 |
| 29 | Stephane Dempsey | 43 | F | VA | 4:04 | 5:26 | 8:10 | 10:03 |
| 29 | Adeline Ntam | 40 | F | MD | 4:02 | 5:21 | 8:10 | 10:03 |
| 31 | Alvin Lee | 45 | M | MD | 4:02 | 5:38 | 8:11 | 10:07 |
| 32 | John Calabrese | 39 | M | VA | 4:00 | 5:25 | 8:04 | 10:10 |
| 33 | Rob Tidwell | 49 | M | VA | 4:16 | 5:48 | 8:24 | 10:18 |
| 34 | Andy Peterson | 63 | M | VA | 4:29 | 5:56 | 8:29 | 10:29 |
| 35 | David Wood | 57 | M | MD | 4:23 | 5:56 | 8:28 | 10:31 |
| 36 | Casey Fisher | 36 | M | MD | 4:11 | 5:46 | 8:38 | 10:33 |
| 36 | Christian Stanton | 46 | M | VA | 4:03 | 5:34 | 8:22 | 10:33 |
| 38 | Marty Fox | 69 | M | VA | 4:21 | 5:46 | 8:22 | 10:34 |
| 39 | Catherine Cohen | 50 | F | MD | 4:33 | 6:01 | 8:45 | 10:48 |
| 40 | Jeff Pence | 61 | M | VA | 4:27 | 6:04 | 8:41 | 11:13 |
| 41 | Paul Sherlock | 63 | M | VA | 4:42 | 6:20 | 9:11 | 11:32 |
| 42 | Bill Breidenstine | 54 | M | PA | 4:38 | 6:19 | 9:22 | 11:51 |
| 43 | James Miller | 55 | M | VA | 4:55 | 6:42 | 9:33 | 11:57 |
| 44 | Chelsea Smith | 33 | F | VA | 4:52 | 7:03 | 9:49 | 12:09 |
| 45 | Dan Aghdam | 51 | M | VA | 5:21 | 7:03 | 9:59 | 12:19 |
| 45 | Paul Joyner | 33 | M | MD | 4:42 | 6:16 | 9:45 | 12:19 |
| 47 | Gaetano Calla | 45 | M | VA | 5:21 | 7:00 | 9:52 | 12:20 |
| 48 | Jacqueline Ong | 58 | F | VA | 5:51 | 7:35 | 10:27 | 12:54 |
| 49 | Sirisha Golla | 44 | F | VA | 5:51 | 7:33 | 10:26 | 12:55 |
| Boyers "50k" | ||||||||
| Nope | Allison Rosenberg | 29 | F | DC | 4:07 | 5:46 | 9:01 | DNF |
| Nope | Quatro Hubbard | 59 | M | VA | 5:04 | 6:47 | 9:59 | DNF |
| Nope | Travis Bertram | 46 | M | VA | 5:00 | 6:57 | 10:09 | DNF |
| Injured Reserve List | ||||||||
| Nope | Mark Lent | 35 | M | VA | 5:21 | 7:23 | X | DNF |
| Nope | Carole Willimason | 58 | F | MD | 5:51 | 7:36 | X | DNF |
| Nope | Ryan Brown | 34 | M | MD | 4:07 | X | X | DNF |
| Nope | Nate Mauger | 30 | M | DC | 4:10 | X | X | DNF |
| Nope | John Hord | 52 | M | MD | 6:00 | X | X | DNF |
| Veach Gap Aid Station is roughly 17 miles into the race.
Woodstock Tower Aid Station was in its customary trailhead location this year, at mile 23 Edinburgh Gap Aid Station was just over 31 miles into this 40 mile race. | ||||||||