MMT Training Academy Run 3: Camp Roosevelt to Camp Roosevelt

This run covers the final section of the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 mile course, from Camp Roosevelt to the finish. The one twist is that the finish for this run is not at the Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp, but instead in the Camp Roosevelt horse parking lot where you will start this Training Academy run.

With 35 miles and 6,000 feet of ascent, this is the longest and most difficult of the VHTRC’s Training Academy runs, with climbs up the infamous Duncan Hollow, across Kerns Mountain, up Bird Knob, and finally up Big Run to Scothorn. The good news is that, as a result of the MMT 100 race course change in 2019, you do NOT have to ascend Jawbone (at the northern end of Kerns Mountain) a second time at the end of your run; instead, once you pass by the Gap Creek trailhead a second time, you continue on down Crisman Hollow Road to the junction with the paved Camp Roosevelt Road (Route 675), take a right to go up the hill to the east, and then finish with this final short climb back to the horse parking lot and your vehicle.

Start time is 6:00 am — in the dark — so you will need a light. While sunrise is scheduled for a few minutes after the start, it usually takes a while longer to filter through into the Duncan Hollow portion of the trail where you will be running in the early miles. The start is early so that you can maximize the daylight hours for your run, and hopefully drive home in the afternoon daylight, as well.

Make sure that you have with you whatever navigational aids will allow you to Stay On Course during this lengthy and challenging 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.

Aid

There will be two aid opportunities for this run (see table above). The aid will be supplied by you, and for you. This has been a standard practice for many of the VHTRC’s Fat Ass and supported training runs over the years. Each runner will be assigned a common aid item (such as Coke, water, chips, cookies, etc.) to bring, which will then be taken to the two aid stations. Your run directors will also be providing some food at the finish of your run! But you will want to bring additional supplies to help ensure a quick recovery after your 35 mile effort on these mountains trails.

Volunteers

Speaking of the aid stations, this is a nice reminder that your Training Academy #3 run organizers, Elaina and Christian Stanton, would welcome a handful of volunteers to help out at the start and finish at Camp Roosevelt’s horse parking lot, and in particular to man the Massanutten Visitor’s Center aid station #1, and the Route 211 commuter parking lot aid station #2. Please contact them via email if you are available to lend a hand to them, and to your fellow runners!

2024 volunteers!

Christian Stanton
Elaina Stanton
Dan Aghdam
Chelsea Smith
Cara Mason
Larry Thibodeau
Tracey Thibodeau
Vickie Bryant
Heather Phelps
Brian Carr