Here are some great shots by a pro photographer whom really catches the
spirit of the event.

thanks, Jim.

http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery-show?G_ID=G0000bI2Fl2mAwtE

Well it's been 3 days now since finishing MMT 100 mile and now that my feet
are starting not to feel sore anymore I think I can now write about my
experience.

The Massanutten Mountain Trails Race in a 100 mile (101.8) race in the North
West section of Virginia. It is run by a large and involved Trail Ultra
Club called the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club. This race is considered
one of the toughest, if not the toughest 100 miler in the East. It has
19,000' feet of climb.It is the technical rocky terrain which wears you done
though that makes this a tough race. During the briefing race director Stan
Duobinis tells us to obey the Grim Reaper if he says you didn't make the cut
offs as the course does not get easier it actually gets harder.
Unfortunately he was right, it did become harder the longer we went. With
had a role call before the start, with the race starters still looking for
some runners with 10 seconds to go. We started at 5:00 am in the dark for
40 minutes or so. I took it easy along the 2 mile paved section toward the
trail head and our first of 12 major climbs of 1,500 feet. My theory was to
run where I could and walk when I had too, on a long climb. From running
parts of this course with Scott Myers in February we knew there was many
flat and downhill sections that were not runable due to the number of small
wedge shaped rocks. We'll at least for us northerners from Canada. The
support from the volunteers was incredible. These aid station workers must
watch Nascar. As I was running into Habron Gap, two guys came running out
to greet me, took my two bottles asked what I wanted in them and left to
fill them. Another girl went and got my drop back while a third recorded my
number and a fourth proceeded to fill my food order, put it in a baggie for
the 9 mile section ahead. I got my water bottles back and the fella asked
me if I had done this climb before. I said no, and he said it is 9 miles
but runs like 11 miles. He was right on as I felt this was the toughest
climb of the day. Two and a half hours later I was finished this section
and came into Camp Roosevelt to meet my wife and two of my children. Hugs
and kisses and I was off again to Gap Creek I where I would be greeted by my
Pacer Mike Lipton from VA and our night crewman Harry. I would pick up Mike
at 7:00 to pace me the rest of the way. By the time I reached Bird Knob I
was quite tired and whacked as everyone is. Bird Knob comes at 48-53 miles
and is a tough four mile climb reaching the summit of the course at 2800'.
I was so tired after the climb I walked a mile to the aid station. After
eating and drinking I was back running , but I knew I had suffered some
blows in that climb. Everyone is a little glazed over coming up Bird Knob,
but I kept telling the ones coming up that going down feels a lot better.
Oh I forgot to mention the rattlesnake I was warned about by the runner
ahead of me coming into Gap Creek. I was a large mean one, coiled, rattling
and only about 4 feet off the trail. I would see two other rattle snakes
the next day. I also forgot to mention the course was very wet with tons of
water, so your feet were constantly wet. This was unusual for the course as
it had been a very wet month there. Basically I was so whacked after 60
miles and the fact that the course was getting rockier I was down to a walk
during the night time. Once the sun came up I ran slowly on the down hills
and managed to finish in 30:53 37th place of 154 starters and 101 finishers.
My pacer Mike Lipton and our crewman Harry were great. Mike is a very
positive person as well and full of some great stories and jokes. The
course is beautiful during the day, and very mean at night. Not really but
it is tough running the rocks at night. My feet were very bruised on the
bottom, blisters weren't too bad but running was painful. I am getting
worried though because it's only been 3 days and I'm already thinking about
going back!

Thanks, Jim.