Minutes from May 24, 2021 Board Meeting

New business

Discussion of upcoming races

Women’s Half Marathon

RD Tracy Dahl provided an update on the race. The Women’s Half is scheduled for September 11, 2021 and the pavilion is reserved at Fountainhead for that date. Tracy plans to open race entry in July. The traditional entry cap is 240 runners (largely dictated by parking capacity), with about 200 runners typically toeing the line. Tracy suggested limiting entry to 200 runners. Bob motioned that the race be held in that manner and Keith seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.

Bull Run Run

RD’s Katie and Quatro provided a BRR update. The race is scheduled for October 2, 2021. Entry is planned to open June 15 with a limit of 250 people. Kate Erwin is the new director at Fountainhead and Hemlock. Katie and Quatro have been discussing details with her and are meeting with her this Thursday. The Hemlock Overlook facility is largely mothballed, but there is some hope that they can use the bath house for the race. Other indoor facilities that have been used in the past will probably not be used.

All key volunteers are returning except for Tom Corris; Dave Woll will take Tom’s place as the “trail boss.”

In April there are roughly 13 hours of daylight, corresponding with the 13 hour cutoff for the race. In October there will be less daylight — about 90 minutes — which will necessitate all runners starting in the dark and many runners finishing in the dark. There will be about 30 minutes of darkness in the morning and an hour of darkness for the last runners.

The 2022 race will be April 9.

Discussion of upcoming events

All upcoming events will follow current CDC guidelines, which stipulate that fully vaccinated people may freely participate in activities; unvaccinated people should wear a mask around others and practice social distancing. We will practice sanitary measures at aid stations, including contactless water and drink distribution with runners providing their own aid in a disposable Ziplock bag.

Martha Moats Baker

Event RD Quatro Hubbard gave an update on MMB, which is scheduled for August 14, 2021. There will be a cap of 60 runners with entry opening in mid July.

Catherine’s Fat Ass

CFA will be July 24, 2021, with entry limited to keep the total number of participants under 74 in accordance with US Forest Service rules.

The Big Schloss

The Big Schloss will be September 25, 2021.

PB&J 50k

Bob motioned, and Tracy seconded, that Lauren Gabler Masterson and Maria Bertacchi be co-RD’s for PB&J 50k. The motion was carried unanimously. The date will either be August 21 or October 30, 2021. Lauren and Maria will finalize the date.

Holy Cowan’s Gap

The event is May 29, 2022. Keith moved that Brett Martin be co-RD with Alisa Springman and Sheila Vibert. Bob seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

Discussion of “training runs”

Keith led a discussion of training runs.

The July 4 holiday weekend runs will return, with Sophie Speidel leading “Sophie’s Death March” on Saturday, July 3. Bob Gaylord will lead the Browntown Loop run on Sunday, July 4. There may be an additional run on July 5, which is the observed Independence Day holiday.

Our weekly runs, Sundays in the Park and the Wednesday Great Falls “Wolfpack” runs, will also resume.

Trail work

The VHTRC is custodian of Short Mountain and will plan a couple of workdays in mid-June for this and other trails in the Massanutten. Sheila will coordinate the work effort.

Other business

Social media

Tom discussed an incident on Facebook where someone left an offensive comment and was moderated.

MMT race director

Tracy will draft a message seeking a new RD and other volunteers for MMT. We will post this message on June 1 and the solicitation will remain open until June 15.

Diversity and inclusion

There was a discussion of diversity and inclusion. Sheila will draft a policy, distribute it to the Board for collaboration, and then call a meeting to discuss and adopt the new policy.