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The tentative date for the 2010 IMTR is Saturday, September 4, (Labor Day Weekend), start: 7 AM. Details on this page are for the 2009 IMTR and will be updated at a later date.
Description:
The IMTR is an ultramarathon starting and finishing in Damascus, VA. Three distance options are available- 16, 30, & 50 miles. The footing varies from open easy running along the VA creeper trail (and forest service roads) to technical single track. The majority of the run follows the Iron Mountain ridgeline through the Jefferson National Forest along what used to be the Appalachian Trail. The total climb for the 50 mile course is around 8000 feet. The time limit for official completion for the 50 mile distance is 12 hours (8 hours for the 16 mile distance & 10 hours for the 30 mile distance).
Registration
Registration for the 2010 race has not opened. Registration will open in May 2010.
(2009) To register, select 'Registration' from the menu on the left side of this page. Then scroll to the bottom of the page and select print (which opens a printable version). Then print.
Fees
(2009) Registration fees are $70 for all races if post marked before August 11. After August 11, registration fees will increase to $90 for all distances. Registration fees include a pre-race meal, a race shirt, post-race meal, aid during the race, and a finisher's award (for those completing their distance under the time limit).
A "No Frills" option is offered at $20 (all distances) if post marked before August 11 and $40 after August 11. The "No Frills" option only includes aid during the race and the post-race meal. The "No Frills" option does not include a race shirt, pre-race meal, or a finisher's award. "No Frills" entrants are not eligible for placement awards, although their results will be recorded with the regular entrants.
Awards
(2009) All regular entrants ("Frills" included) who complete their distance under the time limit (12 hours for 50 miles, 10 hours for 30 miles, and 8 hours for 16 miles) will receive a finisher's award. Additionally, top finishers (regular entrants) will receive placement awards.
Another award will be offered in each distance- the Iron Mountain Man/Woman Award. This award will go to the regular entrant who does the most push-ups, sit-ups & pull-ups (pull-ups count for 3) within 5 minutes of finishing their distance within the required time limit.
"No Frills" entrants are not eligible for any awards: finisher's, placement, or Iron Mountain Man/Woman award.
Pre-Race Meal (& Packet Pick-up)
(2009) The pre-race meal will be on Friday, September 4, 5-8 PM, at the Harvest Table Restaurant in Meadowview, VA (http://meadowviewfarmersguild.com/HarvestTable.html). The Harvest Table Restaurant specializes in locally grown produce. For directions: http://meadowviewfarmersguild.com/contact.html.
Packet pickup will be from 5-8:30 PM on Friday night. Packets may also be picked up on race morning, Saturday, September 5, 6-6:45 AM, at the race start in the Damascus Town Park.
Post-Race Meal
The post race meal will consist of a cook out at the finish line. Burgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers will be served. The post-race meal will start around 11 AM and continue through 7 PM (50 mile cut-off).
Detailed Route Description:
The race starts at the Damascus Town Park gazebo. The course sets out east along the VA Creeper Trail to Straight Branch (mile 5), where it turns to climb Iron Mountain via the Beech Grove Trail. The course turns NE onto the Iron Mountain Trail. The course crosses FS 90 (mile 10; turn around for the 16 mile option) and Rt 600 (mile 16; turn around for the 30 mile option). The course veers off onto FSR 84, then Old 84, then back to 84 (mile 22) toward Dickey Gap. Runners cut across to Barton Gap (mile 25) and then head back West on FS 643. The course turns back up the mountain on the Rowland Creek Falls Trail (mile 29). Back on FS 84 at Hurricane Gap (mile 32), the course proceeds east, merging with the Iron Mountain Trail. Runners follow the Iron Mountain trail all the way back to Damascus, ending at the Town Park gazebo. It crosses 600 at mile 37 and FS 90 at mile 43.
Course Markings
The course will be marked with streamers and/or cones. The streamers will be used on the trails and cones will be used in town.
Multiple Trail Users
Most of the course is open to other trail users. These include horseback riders, bikers, dirt bikers (motorized), and hikers. Given that it will be Labor Day weekend, I expect many of you to run into horseback riders. Everyone I have met on the trail has been friendly; please ensure that you are friendly as well, especially since you are an entrant in an organized event. If we get many complaints we could be denied a permit in the future.
Horses have right of way (over all other users); foot travel has right of way over all except horses. Please be courteous to all users! If you do encounter a horseback rider, understand that you should not run past them (as this can spook the horse). Call out to the rider, and he/she will probably try to move over and allow you to pass as soon as there is room on the trail.
IMTR History
The Iron Mountain Trail Run was started in 2006 by Eric Grossman. In the first year there were 37 starters with 32 finishers; local runner Nick Whited won in 8:01 (Bethany Patterson won the ladies' race in 9:15). After three years of directing the IMTR, Eric decided to move on to other projects so he handed off the position of race director to Kevin Townsend for the 2009 IMTR. To increase participation and provide opportunities for those unable (or uninterested) in a 50 mile race, Kevin added two other distance options (16 & 30 miles).
The design of the race course and much (if not most) of the information on this website is due to Eric's work. The original IMTR website is http://imtr.ehc.edu/. "Thanks for all your hard work, Eric!"
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