This is a free duathlon-bike-then-run race event. Ride: 14ish mile/2125 feet climb Run: 5.7ish mile/750 feet climb loop trail run. The start/finish is at the Roanoke Mountain Campground/picnic area. Mass start in the campground on bikes. We will take a left out of the campground onto Mill Mountain Parkway, then we will do the Mill Mountain Loop (down the new road and up the old road) After the Star and at the bike statues, turn right on Mill Mountain Parkway. Go past the Campground and do the Roanoke Mountain loop (up the South-“good” side to the summit and down the North-“bad”/back side. When finished with Roanoke Mountain, go back to the campground to finish bike portion. Once at the Campground we will lock our bikes up and put our running shoes on. We will run the 5.5ish Chestnut Ridge Loop counterclockwise. Start and end of the loop will be from a designated spot-(near Peakwood) in the campground. Once you finish running the loop you will be done (if you do not know the regular CRL loop then you need to learn it..it will not be marked). We will keep track of total elapsed time and rank everyone. Routes: Ride: https://www.strava.com/routes/3047178801349111852?v2=true Run: https://www.strava.com/routes/3047176558263598314?v2=true **There will be a safety meeting before we start. We do not want to be speeding down the steep descents period, plus there will be pedestrians, cars etc out on this route. You should treat the downhill descents as a careful completion and focus on the other parts for speed. Parking/start/end-https://goo.gl/maps/fcMmEk6zCSwWekuZA
I did this 34ish mile loop on 11/18. I got the idea and route from friend Rachel Corrigan, who did it with her boyfriend a few months ago.
I had considered signing up for the Looking Glass 100K, but I chose to do this instead. My wife will be out of town at a conference, I have a free place to stay at in the Smokies and I will save alot of money, compared to doing Looking Glass.
The 2024 date: Miserious Mountain Trail Run V will be on Saturday November 9th
This is a “Fat Ass”, Free, Unofficial event..but will be treated like a race. “FAT ASS” is the name given to a low-key run that is frequented by experienced runners & hikers and characterized by the phrase “No Fees, No Awards, No Wimps”. Yes, the run is totally free to enter and are put on by passionate runners who are also running”. This is a “community” fun type event that you can treat as competitive or a fun completion.
I will need to request a donation of $5.00 for aid. We got by the past 4 years without doing this, but it is a necessity. Manned or not manned, there will be water and food at Andy Layne and the bottom of Hi Dee Hoe Trail. Pay at PayPal: @williammckeown1
This event started in 2020 during Covid when all of the official races were cancelled. Masochist Mountain Trail Run was a race that many had planned to do. I created this event to take it’s place. The Hinchee trail had opened up recently, which connected Carvins Cove to the Battlefield Trail, which takes you to Parkway Brewing. I realized that you can start at various big time trailheads and end at Parkway Brewing for a nice finish spot and hang out. The Miserious name is a spin off of Masochist. You can start when you want to on race day, but the idea is to finish in the afternoon between 1 and 5. The 35K/20 milers start finishing around 1pm and hang out to see the others finish later in the afternoon. The longer distance runners want a nice finish also! We do wait on everyone. -There will at least be aid at Andy Layne-(mile 11 of the 50K) and at Carvins Cove Hi Dee Hoe trail (mile 10 of the 35 K and mile 21 of the 50K)-there will be an update on that before the race. There are 100K++, 50 mile+, 40++ mile, 31 mile and 20+ mile options. You can create shorter routes and enjoy the same finish, but the official routes are the presented ones. The 35K/20 mile course has been the most popular so far. We have had completions of all the distances. All of the options, come from the Appalachian Trail, to Carvins Cove, via Saw Mill Branch trail… then through the Cove to Hinchee Trail… then Battleground Trail(Kessler Mill Trail) to Parkway Brewing. Finish at Parkway Brew, for a cheering finish. There will be a party at the finish.
50 Mile route: https://www.strava.com/routes/2756859311072448144 The 50 miler starts at the Battleground statue, by the Orange Market and ends at Parkway Brew. This course does most of the Catawba Run Around loop, in the middle. Will flag the mile ten turn, which is turn left, at the bench and bushwack straight up to the AT. (please realize that the 50 mile has a different course, from Sawmill Branch to Brushy Mountain)
100K route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3024718077599364040 Point to point course starting near Captain, Va- past Kelly’s Knob on the AT (where Huchison road crosses the AT Start point directions ) Follow the AT past Tinker Cliffs to Sawmill Branch, then follow the 35K course directions to Parkway Brewery.
The event is designed for and best to finish in the afternoon, when Parkway is open, for a cheering finish and immediate beer. Aim for the 1-4pm window. There will be people cheering at the finish. Plan to hang out and see others finish 35K and 50K runners must start and finish on the event day. the 40 milers, 50milers and 100kers can start Friday evening or after. Must state your distance and start time, before race day. You can make your own bibs for fun, if you wish. It is best to arrange carpool to the trailheads, but not a requirement Everyone needs to know the course and turns. Do your homework! Do not do this without knowing what you are doing. Do not expect to just follow someone the whole way. Strava routes are posted. Learn how to follow a route, on your smart phone. Turn by turn directions, with mileage, will be posted. Take a laminated cheat sheet with you. I will post and rank the times for each distance. You must post or send me a Garmin Strava type link, to be ranked for speed. I will also post completions, if people do not want their time listed, please let me know.
EdgeofMountain 