MMT Training Academy Run 1: Caroline Furnace to Elizabeth Furnace

This point-to-point supported mountain run gets the Massanutten Training Academy series going for the current year. At just over 50k, and with roughly 4,600-5,000 feet of elevation gain and descent, it is a wonderful first step in the four month journey that for many of you will culminate in the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 mile race in mid-May. It is also first day of the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club’s annual two-day festival of mountain running for the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday weekend. Your 32 mile Saturday can be followed up on Sunday with the infamous Waterfall 50k race if you play your cards right and enter both!

The Training Academy #1 run covers roughly the first third of the MMT 100 course. As it is a point-to-point route, it requires a car shuttle to get the runners to start. As a result, there is a 5:45 AM meeting time in the Signal Knob parking lot at the northern end of the Fort Valley, with the caravan of shuttle vehicles leaving by 6 AM. The run starts at 6:30 AM at the end of Moreland Gap Road, adjacent to the MMT host site at Caroline Furnace Camp. The sun rises at about 7:30 in mid-January - even though the first 3+ miles are on a gravel road, you will want to start with a light. It is good to have it with you on the off-chance that you finish after the 5:15 PM sunset.

While the Training Academy runs are designed to prepare those signed up for this coming year’s MMT 100 with time on the course itself, entry into these events is not limited to MMT runners only.

Prepare
You will be running for over 30 miles on primarily mountain trails in mid-January in Virginia. The course will not be marked, other than the blazing used to mark the trail portions of the route. So familiarize yourself with the route ahead of time. Also, print out and carry with you the turnsheet; it has an excellent and detailed description of the route. Downloading and utilizing the gpx file is also highly recommended. Please do not get lost!

The odds are good that it will be a cold day, and particularly in the wintertime, unexpected weather can emerge during the day. You will want to carry an extra layer or layers not only in case of a change in the weather, but also in case of injury that may slow you considerably. Please plan accordingly!

You should also plan to bring two personal aid station bags with you to the start. These quart- or gallon-sized zip lock bags should contain any food or special drink items that you would like to find waiting for you at each of the two aid stations. These are food supply bags and not “drop bags” so please do not bring a large bag with clothing or other gear. You should carry all of that on you during your run. Make sure to label your two bags with your name. Do not put anything valuable that you will need to get back after the run in these bags; they will be returned to the finish, but not until late in the run after the volunteers return to Signal Knob. The aid stations will have minimal fare supplied by the club, so other than your two personal ziplock aid bags, you do not need to bring any additional common aid.

A final note: be prepared for a final aid station at the finish with what should be some hot food and hopefully some dry weather for post-run socializing with your fellow runners and volunteers. The VHTRC’s traditional Party In The Parking Lot is a highlight of any training run, and a great way to rehydrate and reload after expending all of those calories over the course of your run along the western side of the Fort Valley and Massanutten Mountain.

Volunteer
Once again our thanks go out to Larry Huffman, who is directing this event. The VHTRC is blessed with strong volunteer support, and we hope if you are not planning to do this run that you will want to help live up to that reputation by volunteering your time to help with shuttling runners and/or working one of the aid stations. Please reach out directly to Larry for more information and to volunteer! And if you are signed up and running this event, do not hesitate to email Larry if you have any questions prior to MLK weekend. If you know that you will not be able to attend the run and wish to clear your spot on the participants list for another runner, your email to Larry in advance is very much appreciated.