Steve Hoge

A wonderfully organized and supported 51 mile trail race on some of the most stunning trails in southwest Virginia.

This new trail race was directed by trail running standout, Eric Grossman and coordinated by Jim Harrison - both colleagues at Emory & Henry College just up the road a ways from race central in Damascus, Virginia. These guys pulled off a great first time race, complete with great food and incredible support from the Damascus community. Thanks to all of them!

I was hesitant to enter this as my first 50 because of the sections of forest service road. But when ByPass said that he, Soma and Gracie were heading to Damascus, and Flame, Ringo and Double B said they'd be there too, I went with the flow. I'm very happy I did.

The area has everything you need for a successful race or active weekend. There are cottages, decent eats, and camp sites nearby.

This is a four hour trip from Chapel Hill. It's a lovely drive. Thursday night, Flame and I hit the Beartree campground, seven windy miles from Damascus, about the same time and, due to rain, headed to our campsites immediately. I was asleep in the back of the car in no time.

Friday morning, the rain persisted and the temperature dropped. Flame chilled out, scoped a section of the course, and I read and napped under my awning next to a small fire. We drove into town to meet up with the others that afternoon.

The colors had popped and the trees were lovely. Wet, but vivid. It was warmer in Damascus, and we were out of the clouds. We hit three of the outfitter shops in Damascus, scrounging for essentials. With temps predicted to be in the 40s on race morning, I purchased another layer.

I called ByPass about the time he and Soma were heading into town and we planned to meet in a few minutes at check-in at the town park. Attempting to start the truck, I found my battery dead, and just after I popped the hood, Ringo drove into Sundog's parking lot and offered a jump. Then ByPass shows up. After a jump we all drove 2 blocks to the cottage ByPass and Soma had rented for their Burmese monster dog, Gracie. A nice little cottage, just off the Virginia Creeper Trail, in the heart of town. We caught up a bit and went to check in.

Check-in was at a gazebo in the town park and the race dinner was nearby at the fire station. There we met up with Double B, whom we must have missed by a matter a minutes back at Beartree. He had already set up his tent and looked well-relaxed and settled in by dinner.

There were about 35 runners at the dinner, plus 10 or so crew supporters. Eric set a casual mood about the race. There appeared to be a good many ultra veterans at the event. The food was good; we ate well. Ringo took a guest spot at Soma and ByPass's cottage while Double B, Flame and I headed up to the campground...in the rain.

...and the rain continued that evening. No fire. We pretty much just hunkered down, checked our gear and crawled into our respective caves. I slept fairly well the night before the race, waking only to see the harvest moon break between the clouds around 4 a.m. I rechecked my drop bag, repacked my clothing and tried to settle down before the race.

Up to this point, I was enjoying just being in the mountains. The air was chilly and damp. Rain or mist was fairly constant and low clouds swept through the campground and the roads to and from town. I could only imagine what the Iron Mountain Trail looked like, with the cold front stalled in the vicinity.

Up and moving, and the blur of the day began. Here are some impressions...

- Coffee and oatmeal at camp. Double B mixing his liquid vittles, and Flame dropping by to give us a nudge.

- General buzz of runners at the race start. All accounted for. Ringo: "oh...I need to get my belt" for his water bottle with 2 minutes to go before the race start.

- Eric taking a couple of pre-race photos and then he says, "ok, go!"

- A quiet start through the park green and then along the Creeper Trail for four miles. I'm somewhere between Double B and Ringo (ahead) and ByPass and Flame (close behind). It's chilly and the air is damp. No rain.

- We hit the Beech trail, technical single track that climbs over a mile to aid station 1. The line is spreading out at this point. I'm overhearing a conversation by a couple of guys in front of me who were in Afghanistan.

- On the Iron Mountain Trail, heading for the 10 mile mark. Just grooving along. Trying to reach out to the station at 16 in my mind, but keeping in the moment with my feet under me. I mentally lost a few miles prior to 16, but recalled the 3 miles from Shaw Gap to Skull's Gap having scouted it with Natalie and Paula the previous weekend. There are some very steep hills at this point.

- 16 - ultrarunning champ, Annette Bednosky reaches out for my water bottle and asks, "what can I get for you!" I wanted to say, "how 'bout an autograph?!" I grab my FuelBelt, make sure it's equipped and head out and onto some fire roads. I've lost these miles too, except for the section where we got back onto single-track. It seemed like I was moving ok on the fireroads, but I felt like I was flying on the trails

- Out of the aid station at 22 and shortly thereafter, the guy I'm running with says, "Looks like I'm about to complete my first marathon." A few minutes later I congratulate him and then we're at 29. I've felt great up to this point and just keep after it. The next 3 miles, however are tough, but...well...increcibly rewarding. This is an ascent up a pretty technical trail that skirts a stream and provides a direct view of Rowland Falls. When I see the falls I just stop and wander to the edge of the little gorge. The falls are not spectacular: they are lovely. They fit into the green undergrowth and forest floor, the seam that runs down the mountain - they are just there, perfectly. I'm alone. I boo-hoo for a couple of minutes and then start climbing back up the trail. 32. It's the 50K mark and I said I'd improvise. I begin to do just that.

The three mile climb from 29 to 32 is only half of the uphill. It continues for another 3 miles, mostly on forest road, then there was a turnoff, which I believe quite a few people missed. This put me back on the Iron Mountain Trail - a section we had not run earlier. Eric was good in keep the trail interesting. Once back on the trail, the running was pretty swift to the aid station at 37. I felt fine hitting that point, and it was 3:00pm. Seemed like I could in fact complete the course in less than 12 hours if I kept chugging.

Two miles later, after another climb, the IMT intersects the Lum Trail that goes right back to the campground, hot showers, food, and shelter. I chuckled and assured myself I could keep going. I had run solo since the aid station at 29.

Another tough patch of trail was the three miles between the Shaw Gap Trail and forest road 90, the aid station at mile 43. Fortunately, I'd hiked this with Natalie and Paula and knew it would be hard. I tried not to rush it, but, given the ups and downs, my legs felt shot and it seemed I was hardly moving. I scared up 2 horses and their riders somewhere in here. It was a little unnerving. Managed to get through 43, a new milestone in terms of distance and "only" 8 more miles to the finish.

An experienced ultra runner passed me coming out of 43 and I lost sight of him fast. I didn't mind. The next 4 miles flowed beautifully along, almost too fast in a way. I'd been alone since 29, so what was a few more miles. After a mile of decent groove, there's a two mile technical descent back into town. This was a quad- and toenail-ripper. This chute is infamous in mountain biking circles. Heavily wooded with multiple stream crossings, the trail moves steeply downhill over a lot of rubble.

Once at the bottom you're ejected onto pavement for the mile run back to the park and finish line. I look at my watch and I've got just over 8 minutes to break 11 hours. This return section is partly along the creeper trail, and, at the final bridge crossing, I see Double B and hear his cowbell: "What we need is more cowbell!" Yes. I dash for the finish line, Eric snaps a shot and looks at the town clock - it's straight up 6pm. I'm done in 11 hours and am quite happy.

There are many impressions I have of the day, and, honestly, I enjoyed the time alone. I did have casual conversation with several runners, but the trail was more alive to me as I was able to look at neighboring ridgelines between patches in the clouds. This is only my third ultra, but I am convinced that my vision improves the longer I'm out there. The colors become more vivid and just the general attributes of nature are more noticable - the wind knocking tree limbs together, the sound of flowing water, or mist or rain on leaves, the way the sound of a footfall varies as it hits mud, rock, soft earth, and the smells...musky at times, damp and floral. It's an entire embrace of sorts...it's a priviledge to experience this.

And at race's end, meeting up with the other runners and friends is a delight. Talking to Double B, he asks if I had seen Ringo. What? Ringo was 5 minutes ahead of me at 29, heading up to Rowland Falls, where Soma had appeared like a vision, on her way to pace ByPass. How could Ringo still be on the course? Well, there may have been some tinkering with the markers...that's being looked into. I do know there were a couple of tricky turns that I nearly missed.

...then Ringo comes blurring by...he's in and 10 minutes later shows up with a cup of coffee...

I'm placing a phone call and Flame comes in - too fast...she catches Eric unaware. He misses her picture with a flash and asks her to go back out on the course and finish again!

Soma and Gracie have invited us down to their car to have a beer, as we wait for ByPass. We're half way there and in he comes...just rolling along. Mulling around with him at the finish he exclaims, "I saw a bear!" Around mile 5 - a 250 pounder. I believe him.

We change, try to warm up, have great BBQ sandwiches and course through the finishers and awards. 35 finishers of 37 starters. A great day on the trail.

ByPass heads off for a shower and to warm up. Great seeing him and Soma at this. Ringo decides to drive back to Chapel Hill, and Flame, Double B and I decide to meet at our campsite for a toast.

And that capped off an already great day. Double B somehow conjured up a fire despite the drizzle. We sat at its edge enjoying some adult beverages, talking about they day and other days and things. We kept saying, "just one more log on the fire..." and shortly after Flame had fallen asleep in the folding camp chair we decided to save the rest of the wood for the morning. Back to our caves, to warmth, and welcome rest.

Sunday morning. Steady drizzle, low clouds and heavy chill. Another campfire, coffee, eggs, sausages and conversation. Then we break our camps and head off. Double B treats me to a cup of coffee in Damascus, then we part and head out onto the highway. As I'm driving along highway 91 I look to the south and see the Iron Mountain ridge - we'd been up there just the day before - all along it. Wow.

These folks pulled off a great event for trail runners. A very nice groove, particularly if you give yourself enough time to enjoy it. Go up a day early, or two. Set up your campsite and settle in. Or rent a little cottage and fart around town. Damascus is a lovely place, apparently full of very friendly people.

...and if you're driving up or down 77, be sure to pull into the Galax exit and go to the Southern Virginia's Farmers Market - a full selection of old vintage apples and large pumpkins for only $2.00.

Good stuff. Lucky to be doing this.