October 11, 2008 was the inaugural New River Trail 50k:

A 100% dirt, flat and fast course starting and finishing in Fries, VA. Registration for this “green” event was conducted entirely online (with the exception of a few late “procrastinators”) and we reached our 1st year limit of 125 runners the week before Labor Day. In addition to providing a safe, quality event for runners, I (the race director) was committed to focusing on this being a “green” event-minimizing disposables, featuring local and homemade foods and seeking out sponsors with a demonstrated history of doing “good things” on behalf of the earth, and having all proceeds go The National Committee for the New River-a non profit organization operating within the entire 3 state watershed to protect the health of The River.

During the online registration runners chose from either a Nathan Quick draw water bottle or locally made “Mud Mama Pottery” tumbler with a little runner stamped on the side. Upon completion of the course those finishing in 7 hours claimed their Patagonia Capilene 2 long sleeve finishers shirt.

The overall male and female winners received handmade pottery hang around the neck medals. Patagonia, Nathan Products, Montrail and small businesses- Foot Rx of Asheville, NC and Mountain Outfitters of West Jefferson, NC provided top finisher prizes and door prizes. These sponsors were exceptionally generous and I give special thanks to Nathan Products for giving the hand held water bottles and other packs that assisted runners to forgo paper cups and also helped link this event to their “ditch disposables” initiative! Clif Bar generously provided for our electrolyte needs.

Though the event registration was at 137 runners 2 weeks before the event, injuries, family situations and cost of travel left us with 102 starters.

The NRT 50k has a 7-hour time limit. I chose this time based on limits set by other area ultras and although I wanted to provide a fast course and a course which welcomed “newbies” and “back of the packers”, I also needed to stay aware of the demands longer limits put on volunteers and other resources. I also wanted to promote running on this flat, non-technical trail, rather than extended hiking.

Aaron Saft, 30 of Asheville, NC was a person to watch. Although the NRT 50k would be his first ultra marathon, he is an active member of the LaSportiva Mountain Running Team and in 2007 won the US marathon trail championships in NC in course record time of 2:30:53. Accomplished ultra runner Mark Lundblad emailed me a few weeks before the event-warning me that Aaron might arrive at the aid stations before the stations were set up! Virginia runner Nick Whithead, 30 has been training and running strong this year, Tad Morris, 41 of PA who emailed me after the race filled and in good humor “please, please, please let me in” so he could run in 3:30! (More on that later!)
In the women’s field, I saw some familiar names, yet couldn’t guess who would be top runners.

Based on times from other similar non-technical 50k courses, I’d expected these fast guys to run between 3:15 and 3:25. Not knowing much beta about past women’s performances, I wasn’t sure how many (if any) would go sub 4 hours this day.

Through the thick rising fog along the river with a temperature of 48 degrees, runners counted down…5,4,3,2,1 “blast off” and made their way north on this former Rail Trail. At 5.2 miles the course continued north for a short “out and back” to make sufficient mileage for 50k and turned around to go south along the Galax branch of the trail. The trail crosses several long wooden trestles and some waterfalls as it guides runners to the Cliffview turnaround near the Ranger Station. At the 16.3 mile mark Aaron came through first in 1:48, followed by Tad and Nick both at 1:52. Bill Shires, 43 from NC followed closely at 1:55. At Fries Junction Inbound, Aaron held his lead at 2:49 with Bill 5 minutes back at 2:54. Tad came through at 2:57, followed a minute later by Nick.

Aaron broke “the tape” in 3:25:54 looking relaxed and happy as he was greeted by his wife Beth and young son with the baby jogger fresh in from their own run. Bill finished in 2nd position in 3:29:54 as the 1st Masters (later I learned Bill has quite a strong presence in the Charlotte, NC road racing circuit); Tad took 3rd in 3:35:57. Nick finished up in 3:38:09.

Like the men’s race, the eventual overall womens’ winner and 1st masters, Robin Weiner, 48 of WV, and familiar face in the southeast trail running scene led from the beginning. She ran a steady and strong race. Robin hit the Cliffview turn around at 2:21 followed by Leigh Hagan 39 of PA running her first ultra and Kelly Fredgren from NC, both in 2:25. Robin was the women’s champion in 4:29:21, bettering her PR by over 15 minutes. Leigh was 2nd in 4:38:19 and Kelly in 3rd also setting a PR at the 50k distance by 55 minutes!

Of the 102 starters, over half were 1st time ultra runners. 100 runners finished the run and 96 crossed the line within the 7-hour time limit.

As a first time RD creating a first time event my learning curve has been continuously steep during the 13 months it has taken since dreaming up and starting on this “project”. My appreciation for every RD who has facilitated the 60+ ultra marathons I have run during the past 5 years has more than doubled! Although there are checklists and guidelines available-there are no directions for how to start and detail such an event. Having a commitment to follow through with a “green event” increased the challenge of creating the NRT 50k in such a fashion. This process has reminded me that there is no universal definition for “green” and even what is considered “local” changes from one perspective to another.

For NRT 50k we had the wonderful above mentioned sponsors-each with it’s own demonstrated history or clear plan to assist runners to lesson their “earth impact”-AND the bread and fig and strawberry bars were donated by Flowers Bakery-producing these foods in Winston-Salem, NC within the 100 mile radius of what I considered local for purposes of this race. Cliffview aid station also featured local apples and homemade bread and goodies made by Rebecca Adcock and jelly for the PB &J’s came from the berries of the RD’s backyard.

In the months leading up to the event I had requests for more aid stations-along with offers to help secure volunteers for those aid stations. Yet this event is a green ultra marathon-and I believe ultra runners for the most part need to be more self reliant than those running shorter distances-carrying a pack or water bottle should be the expected norm, and I think in order to create less of a negative footprint on our planet, all of us need to be more self reliant-so I stuck to the initial plan of 5 fully stock and staffed aid stations.

I have also learned that after my 5 careful measurements of the course using calibrated cyclocross bikes-which measured the course at 31.1- several runners on race day used their Garmin’s and received measurements from 31.42-31.68 miles. At this time I do not know what is the “real distance” yet I am committed to securing the necessary funds to certify this course as a genuine USATF 50k (31.07 miles) distance next year!

I am grateful to runners who came to run and took a chance on this inaugural event. I thank all our 27 day-of-race volunteers for giving selflessly of their time and energy, and the staff and rangers from Virginia’s New River Trail State Park who lent their experience and contributed both logistical and financial support. I appreciate and thank the residents of tiny Fries, VA (population 560) for supporting us as we practically took over their town for the weekend! A group of wonderful Fries women cooked a complimentary lunch of soup, homemade bread, fruit and cookies, served it up in the community center (-a 4 minute walk –or hobble-from the S/F area). The town even opened up their showers for runners use! I also thank the organization the National Committee for the New River for all they have done and continue to do to increase the vitality of The River so those of us trail users can even more fully appreciate the beauty and value of one of the oldest rivers in the world!
Save the date for 10/10/09 with registration starting after the 1st of the year with a 250 person limit.