Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 16:42:48 -0700 From: Stan Jensen Subject: Old Dominion 100 report (XP) I ran the Old Dominion 100 for the first time recently and I hope this report will help those of you considering it. This year we were blessed with great weather: highs of 75, lows of 55, with not much humidity (or bugs)! My advice for this one is: plan on lots of road running (about 16 miles on pavement and 62 miles on dirt/gravel) and take a third water bottle for some stretches (or if the weather is more typical: hot). The times below could have been good for a sub-24 buckle, but I ran out of water twice (when Peach Orchard was missing and when 613T turned out to be a checkpoint and not an aid station). Hopefully the descriptions will give you a better idea of the course. Friday 1:30-4:30 registration, medical check (they just weigh you), and drop bag deposits (there are nine drop bags spots, but you only need seven different bags) 5:00-6:15 briefing (not a step-by-step description, just the basics) Saturday 4:00- 4:25 Fairgrounds (0.0) to Water Street (3.0) A clockwise loop around the horse track and out onto city streets. It's dark, but the street lights provide enough light. There are volunteers at key intersections to keep you on course. 4:25- 5:15 Water Street (3.0) to Mountain Top (7.2) More paved streets in the dark, with several hills that are best walked. Soon after turn left and cross the bridge, the road turns to graded gravel and climbs in a series of switchbacks to the summit. 5:15- 5:45 Mountain Top (7.2) to In Boyer (10.2) All downhill on a gravel road with a slight camber. Great early morning scenery and it'll be sunrise by the time you reach the junction. 5:45- 6:45 In Boyer (10.2) to Out Boyer (14.6) About 100 yards out, you turn left and start up the first trail, marked with purple blazes on the trees. At the summit, you turn right and follow orange blazes. This is runnable if you're nimble and have strong ankles. You soon hit a gravel road, turn right and return to the intersection. 6:45- 7:45 Out Boyer (14.6) to 770/758 (19.6) This section's all on country roads, winding past farms and fields. Pay attention at the junctions and run where possible. After a mile on 770, you'll see the aid station up ahead. 7:45- 8:20 770/758 (19.6) to 803/678 (22.7) Mostly downhill on gravel roads, with some auto traffic. 8:20- 8:50 803/678 (22.7) to St. David's (25.4) Be careful crossing the paved road and then just settle down for a mostly-level stretch past farms and fields. The aid station will be a pleasant surprise on the left. 8:50- 9:30 St. David's (25.4) to Hechts (28.5) Another mostly-level stretch on gravel/dirt farm roads. 9:30-10:20 Hechts (28.5) to Four Points #1 (32.6) Maybe 1/2 mile later, the road turns left and climbs. At the top you're back on pavement, with fast-moving vehicles. Stay to the left side and when you pass the Lutheran Camp, you're less than a mile away. 10:20- Four Points #1 (32.6) to Peach Orchard (38.7) First medical check (weight only). You leave and climb 1/4 mile up the paved road, then go left onto a rugged trail, which climbs to the overlook. Back onto the paved road for about a mile of steep descent, then left onto Duncan Hollow Trail. This is a rocky trail that makes running difficult and has several muddy sections which slow you further. This year the Peach Orchard Gap aid station was missing, so I'm not sure where it would be. -1:00 Peach Orchard (38.7) to Crisman Hollow Rd. (43.1) The trail continues to be rocky, but isn't as muddy. Eventually it levels out, crosses a creek, and you're at the next aid station. This can be a warm time of day, so drink plenty. 1:00- 2:00 Crisman Hollow Rd. (43.1) to Four Points #2 (47.7) You're back on a gravel road, with gentle hills and shade from adjacent trees. As you start the last descent, you'll encounter crew cars parked on the shoulders. 2:00- 2:50 Four Points #2 (47.7) to Mountain Top (50.9) Leaving the aid station, you turn left and climb up a section of paved road that turns into gravel and climbs steadily to the next aid. 2:50- 4:15 Mountain Top (50.9) to Edinburg Gap (56.6) This section is almost all runnable, since it's mostly level or downhill after 1/4 mile from the aid station. It's all on a dirt road. 4:15- 5:15 Edinburg Gap (56.6) to Peter's Mill Pond (59.6) Cross the paved road carefully and patiently climb the steep ATV trail. The first mile or so is pretty rocky, but once you reach the ridge the road is wider and a bit smoother. 5:15- 6:35 Peter's Mill Pond (59.6) to Little Fort (64.3) More of the ATV road, with some avoidable mud holes. Mostly level, with small rollercoasters. 6:35- 7:50 Little Fort (64.3) to Mudhole Gap (69.5) Left onto a gravel road, uphill about 1/2 mile to the junction, then downhill a bit and through some private land with waterfront lots. If it looks familiar, it's because you're near the Boyer Loop from the morning. After about 2 miles, turn left and climb up a gradual hill. The aid station is about 1/2 mile over the ridge. 7:50- 9:50 Mudhole Gap (69.5) to Elizabeth Furnace (75.0) There's a wide stream after the aid station, but it has a log bridge. The trail descends along a creek, crossing it several times and finally takes a sharp left uphill. The trail turns into a two-track jeep trail that climbs gradually for almost 4 miles, then turns left onto a single-track trail and soon descends to cross the paved road to the next aid station. The sun set at 8:37 and dusk was at 9:08 (I used a flashlight on the last trail stretch). 9:50- Elizabeth Furnace (75.0) to 613T (80.9) After a weight check, you leave and follow an overgrown trail that follows the creek. At night this is damp and cool. The trail is rocky and difficult to see through the weeds. After 3/4 mile you join the Sherman Gap Trail and start the climb, which isn't too steep, except for the last 600 yards. The footing at night requires attention. At the top, you turn right and soon start descending. Be advised that there is NO AID at 613T - it's a checkpoint only. Sunday - 1:05 613T (80.9) to Veach East (82.8) The volunteers head you up the road to the right, which is a dirt road that has several non-runnable hills. There will be vehicles on this road, so be careful at night. 1:05- 3:00 Veach East (82.8) to Veach West (86.6) The trail starts right after the aid station and climbs steadily to the summit, then zigs right and starts a gentle descent. There's one stretch where you cross a rocky streambed, but it's short. Once you cross the stream and it stays on your right, you have less than a mile. 3:00- 4:30 Veach West (86.6) to 770/758 (91.0) Watch for crew vehicles as you leave here. More gravel road for less than a mile, then right onto paved road for 100 yards, and left onto gravel roads. If you're alert, you'll soon recognize the roads you ran on 70 miles ago. 4:30- 5:10 770/758 (91.0) to Mountain Top (93.2) A nice short stretch, even if it's mostly uphill to Little Fort, past it and left this time at the intersection. 5:10- 6:25 Mountain Top (93.2) to Water St. (97.4) Almost all downhill from here. Gravel switchbacks until just before the bridge, then paved roads to the finish. Look for ribbons and glow sticks. You'll see the aid station at the bottom of Mill Road. 6:25- 7:15 Water St. (97.4) to Fairgrounds (100.0) Leaving here make the right turn on Court St., but do not run right past the napping volunteer at the left turn and continue across the railroad tracks. Instead, turn left before the railroad tracks, run about four blocks and then turn right. Follow that street, enter the fairgrounds, circle the horse track and finish! 9:00 awards breakfast (not listed in brochure or announced at briefing, so you may miss it) This is a pretty course and not too hard (i.e. easier than Western States). I thought it was well marked and had plenty of volunteers, even if the aid station fare was often sparse (e.g. no fruit). Most of the hills aren't too bad, but the trail sections offer many opportunities to trip or twist your ankle. Footnote: Of the 88 starters, 22 were Grand-Slammers-to-be and all 22 finished, while 44 of the other 66 starters finished. 1 down, 3 to go! -- Stan Jensen, P.O. Box 3426, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-3426 http://www.run100s.com/ mailto:StanJ@run100s.com