When I started running a little over 4 years ago. I never dreamed where it would lead. I was running a lot of 5K and 10K road races, eventually some 1/2 marathons, and a few marathons. My friend Eric Mitchell kept talking about these "ultra marathons", well I thought anybody that ran that far, especially through the woods, had to be completely crazy. Now look at me, I am completely hooked.

 I chose Holiday Lake as my first ultra because most people consider it to be one of the easier 50Ks around. I was not disappointed!

 I chose Promise Land for my second ultra because most people consider it to be one of the tougher 50Ks around. I was not disappointed!  Man, what a fantastic weekend!

 I arrived at my nice cushy motel room in Bedford, Friday evening, got settled in and waited for my son, Randy to drive from Liberty University. This time he was going to run the whole race with me, some of you might remember him from HL. He was the young man waiting on me before every AS.

 It was time to go to the before party and get checked in, so I gave Randy the directions to PL that I had printed off of the web site. He promptly threw them in the back seat as he told me that he new exactly where we needed to go, because he rides his bike around these parts all the time. So after a nice 45 minute tour of the beautiful VA country side. I drove back to Bedford, got the directions out of the back seat and promptly drove right to PL youth camp. I think Dr. Horton counts pizza like he counts miles (he said he was buying a few pizzas). We got checked in, ate way too much pizza and cake, then it was time to go back to the motel.

 After a few restless hours, it was 3:15 Sat. morning and time to get up so we could get to the PL by 4:30 for the 5:30 start.  It seemed like just a few minutes, then Dr. Horton prayed and we all sang the National Anthem and away we went. 

 I can't remember all of the exact mileages and time splits that everyone else writes about, I just know Randy and I had a wonderful day.  Until, the climb between Cornelius Creek and the Parkway, man that was the longest 2.6 Horton miles, I've ever encountered.  The scenery did make that stretch worth while but the terrain made it very difficult to enjoy.  About 3/4 the way up the climb I encountered a man running the wrong way, I yelled, "Hey Buddy, your off the trail", only to find out by reading his race report later that it was JJ Jesse.  By the way what happened to the "KILT"?  I kinda liked it at HL.

 Once again Dr. Horton put on a real class "A" race. All of the aid stations were extremely well stocked and the aid workers were totally awesome!  I commend the lady at the aid station, I believe it was the Cornelius Creek AideStation,  who said she had been working aid stations for ultra races for 17 years.  That is a dedicated person as all of the aid workers are. 

 Before I knew it we crossed the finish line, and all I could think about at that point was going and sitting in the nice cool creek and then getting one of Mrs. Horton's hamburgers to eat.  That was a perfect end to a perfect weekend. 

 Thank you Dr. and Mrs. Horton for your time and effort you put into your races.  They are truly topnotch.

 I'll see everyone at the MMTR in November.