Two - 15.67 mile loops

1960 feet of elevation gain

Start/Finish: Holiday Lake 4-H Education Center - located near Appomattox, Virginia in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest.

Several people asked, "Why would you want to start another ultra, considering how much work goes into directing the Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50 Miler (MMTR)"? Over the years, I had thought about different races that I could possibly start, but I always knew my wife, Nancy, would most likely disapprove and might not be willing to help me. Only race directors (and their wives) know how much hard work and logistical planning goes into putting on a first class event. Believe me, it is much more stressful directing one than running one...and it proves just as stressful on the homefront as well. I knew I would need her support and help if I was to pull it off.

Greg Wallace, a graduate of Liberty University where I teach, and also the Program Director at the 4-H Education Center, came to me in November of last year and said that he would like to have a race at Holiday Lake. I knew after going out there and looking around and talking about all the logistics, that this was the race that I had been waiting on, so I told Greg that I would be willing to direct the race.

Early in 1996, Greg and I developed a racecourse using the trail around the lake, forest service roads, dirt and paved roads. The 4-H Center holds camps, retreats, and a wide variety of other recreational activities. They have bunkhouses, rustic cabins and tenting areas for sleeping, and a large dining hall with kitchen staff to provide meals. Fishing, hiking, swimming, canoeing, volleyball and other activities are also available at the Center. These combinations made it a perfect setup for this race, not only for runners, but for families as well. The 4-H Recreation Center kitchen staff prepared a pre-race meal on Friday night, a continental breakfast and post-race lunch on Saturday.

Preparing for a first time ultra is very difficult. Besides the obvious logistics of setting up the course itself, you ask yourself, "How many runners will come? How many aid stations do you provide, and how much aid and what kind of aid? What kind of design/color for the shirt and how many shirts do you buy? What kinds of awards and how many are needed?, etc., etc., etc. Two weeks before race day, only 32 runners had entered the race, but by race day, my expectations were exceeded and we had 77 runners from 12 states to test the 7 1/2 hour time limit.

The men's field looked very strong. Mike Morton, (Stevensville, MD) and Courtney Campbell (Berryville, VA) are the two hottest young runners on the east coast. They were using this race as a tune-up for the Western States 100 Miler. Mike Harrison (Virginia Beach, VA) is a 2:19 marathoner who competed in the Olympic Marathon Trials in February. Also on hand was Ken Frenette (Buies Creek, NC) who is a 2:20 marathoner. Frenette and Harrison had never finished an ultra before. Who would win? The fast, young and experienced ultra runners, or "real fast" and inexperienced young runners? There were also several other very good runners on hand as well: Chris Gibson (Pittsburgh, PA), Kevin Sawchuk (Alexandria, VA), Mike Fiorito (Apex, NC), and Scott Mills (Alexandria, VA).

There were 14 runners in the women's field. The runner seeded first was Jo May (Houston, TX), a previous winner of the MMTR 50 Miler.

Morton, Campbell and Harrison took the pace out very quick with Frenette following close behind. By aid station 2 (6.3 miles), all four runners were within one minute of each other. It stayed this way almost to the turnaround mark (15.67 miles). Harrison completed the first loop in 1:40 with the other three only one minute behind. The runners ran the first loop counter clockwise and the second loop clockwise.

Beginning the second loop, Morton said to me, "This is a different sport." The very fast inexperienced guy was making it tough on the young experienced ultra-runners. By aid station 4 (19.3 miles), Harrison had a five minute lead. At aid station 3 (22.3 miles), his lead increased to seven minutes over the other three lead runners.

Harrison never slowed down as he completed the last lap in 1:39 (faster than his first lap). His first place finishing time of 3:18:58 (6:21 per mile) was eclipsed by only eight runners in the U.S. in 1995. Harrison has unlimited potential if he continues to pursue ultras. He has been very successful at 5K's to the marathons. However, with a 2:19 marathon speed, he could really make an impact on the ultra scene...there's a new face on the horizon! Campbell (3:35:14), Morton (3:43:46) and Frenette (3:54:33) finished second, third and fourth respectively.

Jo May, Nancy Drach (Leasburg, NC) and Renae Bullock (Lynchburg, VA) were all within one minute of each other at aid station 2 (6.3 miles). By aid station 3, May increased her lead to ten minutes over Drach and Bullock, and pulled ahead of Drach by 13 minutes through 25.1 miles. From there, however, Drach closed to less than seven minutes at the finish. May finished first with a time of 5:06 (21st overall), Drach was second with a time of 5:13:08, and Bullock (her ultra debut) finished third in 5:46:37.

 Gibson finishing in 6th place overall, took the Masters trophy home with a time of 3:57:40 and Linda Sledge (Gadsden, AL) won the women's Masters with a time of 5:59:02. David Halbleib (Marietta, PA) won the Grand Masters with a time of 5:31:02.

Because of anticipated high temperatures, we started the race at 5:30 a.m. I heard no complaints after the race about the early starting time. We had buckets filled with ice and water before and after each aid station for the runners to use to cool off and most of the runners took advantage of these cooling facilities. There were also two stream crossings (actually four because of the two loops) that also provided some relief for the runners.

There was also a spirited contest to see who would finish in the top ten. A special award of a monogrammed "top ten" golf shirt was presented to the first ten finishers. Sawchuk, Gibson, Fiorito, Robert Youngren (Lexington, VA), Scott Mills, and Lafe Pottala (a Navy Seal from Virginia Beach, VA) finished out the top ten to receive these special shirts.

We had 15 local runners start the race with 12 finishing...for five of them this was their first ultra. Neal Bryant was the top local finisher in a time of 5:24. Bryant usually does 50 push-ups when he completes the MMTR, so he "had" to do 31 push-ups after he crossed the finish line of the Holiday Lake 50K.

We provided four manned aid stations within each loop and one at the Start/Finish. Experienced crews that help with the MMTR each year were on hand to man two of the stations on the course, along with my wife who headed up the start/finish. Greg Wallace and his wife, Ruth, along with Richard Pullium (Center Director, Holiday Lake 4-H Center) worked one of the aid stations, and four of Greg's camp workers manned another. With the Center willing to work right along with us, how could we not have a successful race?

Will there be a Holiday Lake 50K in 1997? Ask my wife! I think she enjoyed herself...I know I did, and I know the majority of runners did! This was our first year...we already have ideas on how to improve for next year. So I hope to see you in June of 1997!