2022 Report

For the second year in a row, the first of the three 2022 MMT Training Runs was held on the shorter “Northern Loop” due to the still-spreading Omicron variant of COVID. This was done to eliminate the shuttling of runners from the Signal Knob parking lot to the start of the traditional, point-to-point run along the first third of the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 mile course near Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp.

Nonetheless, runners unanimously enjoyed the 26-mile loop, designed by Keith Knipling. This route generally covers the sections of MMT before and after Elizabeth Furnace, which runners hit about one-third of the way into the run. The course features four significant climbs (Shawl Gap, Veach Gap, Mine Gap, and Meneka Peak) yielding 4,850 feet of ascent; some flat to rolling road sections; and challenging ridge and downhill running. In this RD’s opinion, this is an excellent route to add to your training list. [northern-loop.pdf]

Of the 38 starters, 36 finished, with two runners dropping before or at the first aid station. One runner took a tumble on the descent to the finish, but thankfully suffered no serious injuries.

Of the 38, twenty are training for the MMT 100, to be held in May for the first time in two years. Of these 20 MMT runners, thirteen will be toeing the line for the first time.

It was a very cold day. The weather at the start was cloudy and 22F, with a “feels like” temperature of 16F. It didn’t get too much warmer during the day, maybe into the mid-20s, and there was always a breeze to make it feel colder. At least one runner was heard to exclaim “it was REALLY cold out there!” Fortunately, though, the snow expected for the following day didn’t show early. Trails were in good shape, with some icy spots here and there.

Your RD can’t recall anyone going seriously off course, but two runners took intentional detours. Kathleen Cusick got an extra four miles in on the roads (“I needed some road miles” — we love it), and James Miller got an extra road mile “sightseeing and looking at real estate”, a worthy reason for bonus miles if I’ve ever heard one.

Runners were welcome at the finish with two hot soups: a broccoli and potato, and a split pea, along with chicken dogs. Despite the cold, many stayed a while to chat about their run with fellow runners and an assortment of spectators and volunteers. Regarding volunteers, the RD and runners wish to thank our awesome team for this year: Kevin Bligan, Brian McNeill, Charlene Howard, Mike Edwards, Larry Tumblin, Matthew Lancaster, and Stephanie Fonda. Thanks, as well, to the VHTRC for their support of this and so many other training events.

Listed in the “results” are the running times for the MMT Training Academy Run #1 participants. There were two aid stations, and the runners’ arrival times into those points are noted here. Finishing time is noted in the final column.

Your RD looks forward to next year’s Training Run 1, and hopes it can return to the traditional first-third of the MMT 100 course. See you Saturday, January 14th, 2023!

Results

And here is our usual admonition regarding the “results” below… Bear in mind: this is not a race. No one treated this as a race. These should not be considered “race results.” The times are provided for informational purposes only. This can help others who pull the route from the event site and run the course self-supported, so that those runners can approximate times. It can assist those considering this training run in future years to estimate their own run times. And it is helpful for volunteers to see the range of times that runners take to cover certain sections.