MMT Training Academy: Chocolate Bunny

The Chocolate Bunny is a nighttime run designed to generally mimic what you could expect to experience during the night portion of the MMT 100 mile race. It is a marathon covering miles 70 to 96 of the MMT course, the section between the two Gap Creek/Jawbone aid stations — some sections of which all MMT runners will do in the dark. While it is the shortest of the Training Academy runs (an even marathon), it’s got plenty of challenges including Big Run, Kerns Mountain, and Bird Knob. Did we mention that it’s at night? The run starts and finishes at the Route 211 commuter parking lot, which is near mile 90 at MMT.

We will meet at the Route 211 parking lot at 6:30 pm with the goal to be running by 7:00 pm. You will need a flashlight; remember: that’s the point!

There likely will be only a single aid opportunity for you during this run, at the old Massanutten Visitors Center parking lot, a little over 15 miles into your 26 mile run. The aid will be supplied by you, and for you. This has become the standard practice for this past winter’s training runs, and has worked very well. Just find a plastic baggie of appropriate size, drop items that you will possibly want at the aid station into the bag, seal it, put your last name on the outside where the volunteers can read it, and we will make it available to you. After you pass through the aid station, anything you leave behind will make its way into a giant trash bag. Obviously, do NOT put anything in the aid baggie for the Visitors Center aid station that you may want back, as you will not see it again. We will provide water, Gatorade and sodas. There will be no aid at the finish of the run, so be sure to have refreshments in your vehicle for your post-run recovery needs.

Make sure that you have with you whatever navigational aids will allow you to Stay On Course during this challenging nighttime run in the Massanutten Mountains. Helpful information may be found in the column on the left-hand side of this page: a GPX file, and the very useful turnsheet. If you like using old-school hard copy maps, then you will want to obtain a National Geographic trail map. This is a training/fun run, so if you are not that familiar with the course, in addition to bringing navigational aids, you may want to remove your headphones and get to know a fellow runner or three who does know the route and who can help keep you from getting lost.

A fair amount of this course has cell phone coverage, so carrying your phone in case of emergency (to you or to someone else in the field) is an important safeguard.