7^th Annual

Holiday Lake 50k++

February 16, 2002

By David Horton

            Some ultras are good ultras for a first time ultra-runner to select.  The Holiday Lake 50K is one of those. Why?

• The start and finish is at the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center.
•  Lodging is available at the Center in bunkhouses and cabins.
• The 4-H Center prepares the pre- and post-race meals.
• The course is a double loop with a lot of variety and rolling hills with 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
• There are stream crossings, single-track trails, forest service roads, trails by the lake, etc.

All of these things are factors to consider when choosing a first ultra event.

            We started 112 runners in 2000, 156 in 2001 and 180 this year.  A large part of the increase is due to the Lynchburg Ultra Series, which began last year.  We had 39 runners attempting their first ultra this year!!  Of the 168 finishers, 34 of them were local runners with 22 of those 34 either Liberty University graduates or current students.  The weather was perfect with 40º at the start and mid 50’s later in the day.  The woods and trails were also in great shape due to the drought we have had.

            Clark Zealand (28, Lynchburg, VA), 2^nd place in 2001, has been running great and is the hottest trail runner on the East Coast.  Scott Wolf (28, Raleigh, N.C.) hoped to push Clark, as well as Maarten Van Gelder (41, Blacksburg, VA).

            In the women’s division, Bethany Hunter (22, Lynchburg, VA) who also finished 2^nd in 2001, was favored to win, but would have to run a good race.

            As expected Zealand went to the front right away with Wolfe in tow. They stayed together until near the end of the first loop. Clark completed the first loop in a “leisurely” 1:56 with Wolf only 3 minutes back. Clark put the hammer down at that point running the last loop in 1:51 and making it look VERY easy.  You could tell that he was saving himself for the Way Too Cool 50K to be held 3 weeks later.  His finishing time of 3:47:15 was just seven minutes over the course record.

Hunter also jumped to the front right away just as Zealand had done.  Sophie Speidel (39, Charlottesville, VA) and Monica Bracken (36, Castleton, VA) gave chase, but finished some distance back.  Bethany finished in a time of 4:42:47 breaking Rebekah Trittipoe’s 1999 course record of 4:54:57 by over 12 minutes!!  Bethany’s finish was 13th place overall.  Finishing in 12^th place (54 seconds in front of Bethany Hunter) was Frank Probst (58, Burke, VA).  Frank ran a great race and is only 36 years older than Bethany!!

            A new division was added this year, the Clydesdale…190 lbs and up. Twenty runners registered for this division with 43-year-old Richard Freeman (193 lbs) of South Park, PA taking the title, finishing in a time of 5:06 good for 25^th place overall.  In 2001, Jay DeLancey (44, Chesapeake, VA) finished the Holiday Lake in 6:42 and then a couple of months later, completed the Promise Land 50K.  However, during a run with me in July, Jay complained of some chest pain.  I suggested that he see a doctor.  Jay underwent open-heart surgery a week later.  He began rehab and was at the starting line of this year’s Holiday Lake and finished with a great time of 6:16, which was 26 minutes faster than last year!!

            Kevin O’Connor (54, Midlothian, VA) finished in 5:54 (72^nd place) carrying his arm in a seemingly awkward position.  Checking in at a medical center after going home, X-rays revealed that he had fractured his collarbone!!

            Runners were pleased to receive their Patagonia shirts after finishing.  The top 10 men, top 5 women, and age group winners received zip-T Capilene shirts, as well as the winner of the “Clydesdale” and  “Best Blood” (Tom Sprouse, 60, Wise, VA).  Montrail provided numbers, advertisement in Ultra running, and two pairs of running shoes to be given away.  Conquest (replacement drink) and Frank Villa (local Optometrist), provided support as well.  Frank also completed the race finishing in 124th place in a time of 6:23:33.  Frank’s training mileage for the year had been 52 miles (TOTAL) … so much for training.

            Runners also had the opportunity this year to give donations to the 4-H Center. A total of $498 was received and will be used to build a new ropes course and climbing wall.  Thank you to everyone who participated in this worthwhile project. 

The next race in the Lynchburg Ultra Series is the Promise Land 50K (April 27).  This race is also one of the six national races comprising the Montrail Ultra Cup.  The 2002 Promise Land will be a large and competitive field this year.  I am biased, but I think the Promise Land offers the prettiest course on the East Coast.  I hope to see many of you there.