October 11, 2008
Start time: 8 a.m.
Hosted by Virginia's New River Trail State
Park
Sponsored by: |
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This is a 50k (31.1 miles) ultramarathon to be run completely in the New River Trail State Park on the New River Trail.
All proceeds from the event will go to The National Committee for the New River (NCNR), a non-profit organization that protects, restores and educates about one of the oldest rivers in the world. NCNR works in all 3 states (North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) of the New River’s watershed.
Additional contributions can also be made towards NCNR’s Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program. Look for this option on the active.com registration form.
This is a “green race.” We will use local, recyclable items and products from companies with “green” practices as much as possible. We will use minimal disposable materials and those that must be disposable we will choose recycled or recyclable in our area as much as possible. To this end we encourage use of hand held water bottles/waist packs whenever possible! When choosing materials, foods and supplies for aid stations and runner “giveaways” we are striving to have 75% of our goods come from either local manufacturers and/or growers (within 100 miles of course start) or from companies that have a demonstrated commitment to reducing their impact on the Earth. To our knowledge this is the first ultra/endurance event in the Southeast /Mid-Atlantic region that will be an intentional “green event.”
For more information contact Race Director, Annette Bednosky,
annettebednosky@gmail.com or call 336 620-2986 (c) or 336 846-1471 (h)This event will start at 8am and will have a 7-hour time limit. The Start/Finish area is northwest of Galax, VA in Fries, VA. This is the Fries Branch of the New River Trail State Park.
Course Description (Click here for a map): The course is 100% dirt, flat and entirely along the New River and Chestnut Creek in the New River Trail State Park. Runners leave the Fries New River Trail terminus and go north to Fries Junction. Runners turn south at this junction and continue to the turn around near Cliffview. Runners turn around and finish at Fries. Out of consideration for runners and other trail users, personal listening devices are not permitted! There will be at least 5 aid stations along the course.
Pets: Dogs/cats are not permitted on the reace course with runners. Dogs/cats are permitted within the New River State park and therefore at aid stations, however, according to park rules, must be kept on a leash at all times. Pet owners are expected to clean up after their pets.
Registration: In the spirit of being "green," registration will be handled online at: http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1512090.
Cost will be $50.00 for runners registering by 8/31/08 and $65.00 if registering 9/1-10/9/08. There will be no day-of race registration. Registration closes on October 9, 2008 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). Runners who have procrastinated should email the race director the week of the event about space availability and to arrange registration the night of 10/10/08.
All early registered runners will receive their choice of a hand held water bottle from Nathan Products or a locally made pottery cup.
The first 100 runners to register and finish the course within the 7-hour time limit will receive a Patagonia Capilene 2 long sleeve race shirt. (men’s and women’s sizing).
Registered Runners as of April 28th
Bays, Donna Kingsport, TN Binkley, Gail III Boone, NC Brannon, Marianne Gray, TN Brannon, Michael Gray, TN Brophy, William Pine Knoll Shores, NC Day, Michael Cary, NC Drummond, Carrie Alexandria, VA Dunham, Lark Bethesda, MD Fenton, James Washington, DC Finkle, Anita Roanoke, VA Flanagan, Bruce Bethesda, MD Fredgren, Kelly Winston-Salem, NC Gray, Rick Johnson City, TN Hudler, Dale West Jefferson, NC Jones, Steven Philip Johnson City, TN Laxton, Allision Valentine Falls Church, VA Laxton, William Falls Church, VA Lockner, Johanna L. Dumfries, VA Long, Mark Hamlet, VA Mann, Amber Wilmington NC McGlinchey, Eric Alexandria, VA Miller, Maureen Gainesville, TX Moore, David Davidson, NC Nicholls, Julia Morehead City, NC Raye, Donna Pinehurst, NC Reday, Michelle Fairfax, VA Rouse, Tony West End, NC Shires, Bill Charlotte, NC Smythe, Brad Raleigh, NC Songer, George Suwanee, GA Springer, Charles Williamsburg, VA Tesdahl, Ben Mt. Airy, NC Ward, Michael Simpsonville, SC Wood, Keith Clemmons, NC Scholarship Runner-TBA Scholarship Runner-TBA Scholarship Runner-TBA Scholarship Runner-TBA Awards: In addition to the registration gifts, the top 3 men (under 40 years), top 3 women (under 40 years), top 3 men (over 40 years) and top 3 women (over 40 years) will receive product prizes.
Drawing for various door prizes will be held on Saturday.
Post Race Food: A light pre-race meal is included with the registration fee. (Likely locally made soup and bread and fruit).
Area information: Fries is located 13 miles from Galax, VA, and 15 miles from Independence, VA just several miles off of VA Hwy. 58. This website has all sorts of information (lodging, eats, history, etc): www.FriesVa.com
Sleep and Food: Restaurants, fast food and supermarkets available in Galax, Hillsville and Independence. There is little food available in Fries.
Here is a sampling of area lodging opportunities:
CABINS/COTTAGES
Prices start at $55/night: www.friesva.com/lodging/lodging.htmlNew River Trail Inn: 364 Grayson Street Fries, VA 24330, (866) 944-3640; E-mail, nrti@ls.net, www.NewRiverTrailInn.com. Very friendly to New River Trail users. Room and breakfast with access to a full kitchen. 7 rooms. Rates start at $65/room. Also available is a small 2 bedroom, 1 bath house (sleeps up to 5) w/ full kitchen Rates, $90-$120 depending on number of people.
CAMPING
7 miles from course start: River Views Campground, Sarasota Lane, Galax, Virginia, (276) 236-9362 or (276) 233-7416 or info@riverviewscampground.com, www.RiverViewsCampground.com/
Approx. 5 miles from course start: New River Trail State Park, Cliffview walk-in campground, trailside: $15/site. Reservations required through Reserve America: 1-800-933-7275 or www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/new.shtml
MOTELS
Motels in Galax are older. For newer accommodations try Hillsville, VA near I-77, about 16 miles from course start.Approx. 12 miles from course start: Galax Motel, (276) 236-9935, 549 East Stuart Dr., Galax, VA 24333 or information@galaxmotel.com. www.GalaxMotel.com Small, “mom and pop” style motel. Pet rooms and non-smoking rooms. Mixed reviews. Wireless internet. Rooms for 2 people, $39.95.
Approx. 11 miles from course start: Super 8 Motel. 303 N. Main Street, Galax, VA, US, 24333. (276) 236-5127 or (276) 236-9463. www.geocities.com/galaxsuper8/
Approx. 11 miles from course start: Knights Inn, 312 W. Stuart Street, Galax, VA 24333. 1 800 843-5644, www.KnightsInn.com
History
Race director, Annette Bednosky, has been a competitive ultrarunner for the past 5 years and is entering her 4th year on the Montrail National Team. Annette has run in 50+ races from 50k-100 mile events in 10 states and holds 11 current course records.When choosing this event to design and direct, Annette was striving to create an ultra in the southeast that would stand on its own as an event to train and focus on and also comes at a time of year that would fit into a runner who might be preparing for big events such as the Mountain Masochist 50 miler (3 weeks out) or JFK 50 miler (5 weeks out).
Although Annette personally prefers to run on technical trails, she does a fair amount of training on the New River Trail and thinks the surface of the trail is easy to run on and it’s flatness helps her develop her leg turnover. Annette would like more people to experience the joy of preparing for and participating in an ultramarathon and thinks this race would be good for people new to dirt and distance.
The New River Trail 50k is to be a green event, because Annette believes that all people, especially those of us who run in the woods (or mountains or desert) need to do what we can do to promote sustainable recreation in our outdoor and wild places. Even though we are a fringe sport, we can influence others to make good decisions when selecting products and behaviors that will be in good conscience hopefully move common practices of our sport.
UPDATES:
• Doing your first 50k and want some training ideas? Check out what Matt Sims has to say about training for The Stump Jump 50k at www.RockCreek.com.
• We have a couple of registration scholarships available (waives the registration fee). These will go to folks that have some financial need. I do expect to have a few more even after these first 2 are given away...just ask! Please email the race director with your request.
For more information contact Race Director, Annette Bednosky,
annettebednosky@gmail.com or call 336 620-2986 (c) or 336 846-1471 (h)