This year's race was the first as Catherine's Big Butt, rather than Catherine's Fat Ass. We changed some of the entry requirements, upped the number of entrants, and went legitimate for the US Forest Service (for the third time). This was still our sixth year, and what a long way we have come from the first year's 26.5 mile trail run.
The first year, we tried to mark the trail the morning of the race, had only a few people at the aid stations, and put up all the cost ourselves. I remember Courtney Campbell running down the road from Bird Knob to Pitt Spring, and I asked, "Are you Courtney Campbell?" And he said, "I'm running!" That pretty much summed up his run that day, until the end when he mentioned it was his slowest marathon time ever. Jeff and I upped the distance to a 50K the next year. It was too easy at marathon distance.
There were changes through the years, and it has been great, but this year was my last year as a Co-RD. Next year, as I understand the plans, Bill Van Antwerp and Jeff Reed will be the Co-RDs.
Here are the results of this year's run: RESULTS OF THE 2004 CBB50K
I have heard that some of the runners, particularly a few of the top runners, cut the course and did not run the Pitt Spring Overlook section (about 0.6 miles). Given the very positive comments we heard about the trail markings, it is hard to imagine that anyone skipped the overlook except on purpose. There was red tape on the ground, signs, and lots of tape. On the other hand, no one was there to do a check. So, we cannot take such accusations into account without more evidence than we've seen. But maybe next year.....
As always, these ultra runs could not happen without volunteers. THE VOLUNTEER LIST.
We had some great volunteers this year. Did you seen Caroline Leean-Stearns' mother at Pitt Spring? She had sandwich making down! As the race approached, there was some uncertainty about how it was all going to pan out. But things ended up fine. Tom was going to be in China, but then he showed up to help. Brian took over grilling duties. Bill and Vicki put in a lot of time helping the day before and day of the race. Kim Davidson played bagpipes at Gentry Corner. A couple of people showed up as support for loved ones, but were willing to do other roles. We even had a homeless-looking guy come by the start/finish to bum a cigarrette, but Jay and Alexis told him he was in the wrong place. Maybe he would have volunteered if we had happened to have a smoke. [Races almost always need more volunteers.]
Here are photos from this year's run (as well as links to other off-site photo pages): 2004 CBB50K PHOTOS
My thanks to all the runners this year for participating in our event, and for all the nice comments we received after the run. There were many stories. It was nice. Amy stopping early but hanging out. The goat. The bagpipes. The weather. Falling on the orange trail. The view at the overlook. It was a great way to spend some time.
I have heard there was some joke about a BBQ grill, but I deny any involvement. I never use my grill away from my home, my grill is still intact, and I don't even own a grill (pleading in the alternative).
Here are a couple of the comments:
From: Anita Finkle
Delivered-To: mailing list [email protected]
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004
Subject: [vhtrc] CBB 50K: Anita's Top Ten
1. Our encounter with the attack mountain goat. Jim Cavanaugh, Greg Loomis, Jay and I had stopped to enjoy the Bird Knob overlook as David Snipes passed us. We followed David in single file. As he rounded a curve in the trail he backed up in a hurry and a huge mountain goat with horns came running towards us. It even tried to bite David! Greg threw a pinecone to distract the goat and we yelled at him and tried to circle around him but the goat followed us. Finally Jay picked up a stick and the goat ran down the trail behind us. Then, from around the curve behind us, we heard a woman's voice say, "What do we have here?" After a slight pause we heard "AAAAAUGGHHH!" We all took off in a hurry down the hill with an extra dose of adrenaline for a fast finish.
2. Caroline Leean-Stearns and Jay were talking about the recent VHTRC marriage trend and Jay said "It makes you light on your feet."
3. When Ed from Reston said it was easy to transfer from the Unitarians to the VHTRC.
4. Luanne Turrentine's gingersnap cookies at the aid stations.
5. Running with long-lost Billy Lese and VHTRC Runner of the Year Kerry Owens. I had so much fun talking and running with them that the miles and time flew by.
6. The course was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and I felt great for the whole run.
7. Meeting Tag and Jason who were running their first ultra together in their unintentionally matching shirts.
8. Jay spent more time than me at one of the aid stations while I walked ahead up a big hill. He ran up the hill to catch up with me. Just as he caught me and started to walk he breathed a big sigh of relief. I took off running and the guys behind us laughed.
9. Margie Hughes and I teamed up to tell Vicki Kendall that we weren't going to do the additional nighttime training run with her. Neither of us had the courage to tell her "no" without moral support from the other!
10. The postrace festivities--hanging out in our lawn chairs with friends on a beautiful day and eating good food.
From: "Edward Cacciapaglia"
Delivered-To: mailing list [email protected]
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Subject: RE: [vhtrc] CBB 50K - My Favorites
1) Hearing the story of Knob Goat.
2) Hearing the story of Peyton's Driving antics and the smashing/trashing of Jeff's new grill (proof that Peyton truly was worthy of his "lifetime achievement" award).
3) Seeing Bill Van Animal and seeing/hearing Kim Davidson playing her bagpipe before turning off the road onto the orange trail nearly half way through the run.
4) Seeing my wonderful wife, Helen, at the Pitt Spring Aid Station twice.
5) Seeing Gary Knipling coming down the Pitt Spring Overlook Trail as I was running up the trail to the overlook.
6) Having a great view from the overlook. I had to stop for a minute and look out over the valley though it cost me a little bit of time.
7) Having great food and beer at the end of the run. Also, good munchies at the aid stations.
8) Drinking some of Gary's "Yahoo".
9) Seeing Russ Evans still high from Hardrock, yet able to negotiate the course in under 6:30.
10) Seeing the errant bicyclist crash the party.
11) Getting a chance to get to know some more nice ultras runners including: Steve and Amy Platt, Laura Nelson, John Hughes (next time thou shalt finish, John), Bill Gentry, Jay and Anita Finkle and a host of others.
12) Great weather!!
13) A Great run, thanks to Jeff and Peyton! See you all next year same place.