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Promise Land 50K++ April 24, 2010
PLEASE DON’T BRING A CREW: ONLY PARK WHERE DESIGNATED If you do bring a crew, access only at aid station 3: Sunset Fields (11.9 + 26.7 miles) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear 2010 Promise Land Runner, Welcome to the 10th annual Promise Land 50K. I look forward to this race with GREAT anticipation. It is a spectacular course and very difficult and slow. The starting elevation (around 1,300 feet) and highest point (Apple Orchard Mountain – 4,005 feet) and the lowest point (entrance to White Tail Trail – around 1,100 feet) will take you from spring to late winter to spring to late winter and FINALLY back to spring at the finish line!!! We will be having a pre-race meal at the Promise Land Youth Camp from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday night April 23 with a short briefing around 8:00 p.m. I will be buying some pizza and drinks. If you want to eat with us please let me know ahead of time. The cost is $5.00 per person. You can stay at the Super 8 Hotel; for the special rates tell them you are running the Promise Land 50K (540-587-0100) or you may tent it at the start/finish line for no cost. The Super 8 Hotel is in Bedford, Virginia, which is 17.4 miles from the start/finish area at the Promise Land camp. I HIGHLY encourage you to tent it with me and most of the other runners at the camp. We are planning to have a big bonfire at 8:30 p.m. on Friday night at the Promise Land Camp. There are toilet and maybe shower facilities available there as well. If most of the runners come in, camp, and park their vehicles on Friday night, we will not have such a large parking problem on Saturday morning. We will be starting “promptly” at 5:30 am on Saturday. We will not be marking the course from the start to the first aid station, (it goes straight UP a gravel road and gains 1,400 feet) but we may have a vehicle leading the runners. If you feel like you “HAVE TO” bring a crew, they may meet you ONLY at Sunset Fields (11.9 miles and 26.7 miles). “DO NOT” drive up or down Overstreet road; this is the runners course to and from Aid Station 1. Nancy Hesse and Nancy Horton will be cooking a picnic lunch at the finish for all runners. The finishing awards will be presented to the runners after they complete the race. If you have any questions, please call (home: 434-239-1324) or (work: 434-582-2386) or email (dhorton@liberty.edu) me. See you soon! In Christ, Dr. David Horton Race Director P.S. We “MUST NOT” upset the Park Service or Forest Service if we want to have this race again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ “Not Your Average 50K Race!” The start and finish is at the Promise Land camp located on 640 (Wheat’s Valley Road) near the intersection of 765 and 640. The running course will go up Overstreet Creek Road (765) to the Glenwood Horse Trail. The course turns right on the Horse Trail and ascends Onion Mountain. The course follows the horse trail all the way around the mountain to Reed Creek. The course then turns left and goes up 3011 to the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRPW). The course crosses the BRPW and takes a left on an access road parallel to the BRPW. The course goes down to Sunset Fields and Parkers Gap Road (812). From Sunset Fields runners will go down Apple Orchard Falls Trail to 1081. Runners will take a left on 1081 (a grassy old forest service road) and continue to Cornelius Creek Trail. Runners turn right on Cornelius Creek Trail and go downhill to F.S. 59 until reaching White Tail Trail, which is right across the road from North Creek Campground. Runners will go into the trail for about 100 yards, turn left on the White Tail Trail, and follow it to Colon Hollow Road (782). Turn right on 782 and go to 768. Turn left on 768 and go uphill (.5 miles). Turn right on 3036 (Stave Hollow Road) and follow that to the junction of Cornelius and Apple Orchard Falls Trailhead. Runners will then go “UP” Apple Orchard Falls Trail to Sunset Fields. Runners go straight across the Parkway on an old road. Runners follow this old road for about .5 mile back to the Horse Trail and follow (turn right) the horse trail back to Aid Station 1 (Overstreet Falls) and then back to the finish.
Directions to Start/Finish 1. From: Intersection of 221 & 122 in
Bedford 2. From: Intersection of 122 & 501 in Big Island
Drive South on 122 towards Bedford for 8.9 miles to the Millstone Tea
Room. Turn right on Colton’s Mill Road and drive 1.8 miles. Cross a
one-lane bridge and turn left on Wheats Valley Road and drive 1.6 miles to
the Promise Land Youth Camp. 3. From: Golden Corral & Super 8 on 460 on the West side of Bedford Drive East on 460 to the 3rd Bedford Exit (sign says ‘Bedford, Big Island’) at 3.1 miles. Exit to the right & go to the stop sign. Turn left and go back under 460. Turn right at 3.3 miles on 122 North. Continue North to intersection of 122 & 221 at 5.1 miles. Drive north on 122 towards Big Island for 8.9 miles to the Millstone Tea Room. urn left on Colton’s Mills Road and drive 1.8 miles. Cross a one-lane bridge and turn left on Wheats Valley Road and drive 1.6 miles to the Promise Land Youth Camp.
Crew Access Crew access will only be allowed at Sunset Fields. Runners pass through this aid station twice (11.9 & 26.7 miles). Crews “ARE NOT” allowed to drive up or down Overstreet Road (this is the runners course) to access Sunset Fields. From the Camp, turn left on Wheats Valley Road and drive for 6.0 miles to Jopling Road. Turn right and go for one half mile to H.43. Turn right on 43 and go up the mountain for 4.9 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn right on the Parkway (north) & go 7.4 miles to Sunset Fields.
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