Qu’est-ce que c’est? Aux Montagnes! 12 Hour Run
October 15, 2011
Eagle Lake
Brevard NC
By Alex Morton, RD
A perfect day for an ultrarun in the mountains! We had great temperatures, mostly
in the 50’s with winds 10-20 mph blowing the leaves every which way at the peak week of color. Thirteen runners showed
up to run the 2.06 mile loop through hilly paved roads that gave you 297 feel of elevation each loop. Three runners became
first time ultrarunners and we made sure they were welcomed into the ultra community when they finished
the 50 K loop; the running life of Megan Squire (33.0 miles), Mark O’Hare (41.2 miles) and Rob Barlond (45.3 miles)
will forever be changed!
Katherine Kramer was first woman with 43.3 miles and David Bartholomew was first
man and first overall with 65.9 miles. Family and friends came and enjoyed the wonderful, cool, crisp, clear day with sunshine,
color, and view of the Blue Ridge Parkway that could be seen 20 miles away.
Part of the
entry process was to submit “a word, a mark, and a found object.” The words and artistic mark/designs were placed
(strategically or randomly?) around the course for the runners to occupy themselves if they were awake and could read. The
found objects were made into a sculpture which was presented to the first overall runner…poor David...take care of
that "Bad Baby Head" !
Odds and Ends Happenings: Claude was stretching his legs
at the first event following his cardiac "thing"; Ricky helped put up the big-ass tent and then dropped by the next
day to see what ultrarunning was all about; Lia has this nasty pain going on from plantar fasciitis; Alex ran when he wanted
to since he’s the rd and had a crown hat (i.e. must think he’s king?); Jeff got to run some despite working and
helping all day long/night too and is now ready for Mt. Masochist in two weeks; Megan gets to work at Elon University teaching
computer science; Karen decided to run Tuesday and paid both her and Matt's registration fee; William (aka Bill), ran his
261st ultra today; Mark turned 40 yesterday and has a wonderful family; Matt had not planned to run at all and
had this incredible run today; Catherine wrote the best word and spotted a wasp’s next in a tree above the road plus
two deer up the mountain; Rob is a tough runner and brought Michelle, his wife, who helped a lot and took bunches of photographs;
David told about his reaction to Alex returning his application/check after he over-looked all the important guidelines (word,
mark, and object) and finally, once again, Alex was very grateful for Jeff, Ben, Ricky, Catherine, and Michelle for all their
help with the race plus all the really cool runners and their families who made this run happen! Thanks!
Results
1.
David Bartholomew, 49, SC 65.9 miles
2.
Robert Barlond, 38, VA 45.3
3.
Catherine Kramer, 35
43.3
Matt Knower, 49, GA
43.3
4. Mark O’Hare,
40
41.2
William Keane, 67
41.2
5.
Karen Pearson, 47, GA 39.1
6.
Megan Squire, 39
33.0
7. Jeff McGonnell, 51
20.6
8. Alex Morton, 62
14.4
9.
Lia Knower, 50, GA
12.4
10. Ricky Sampson, 24
12.4
11. Claude Sinclair, 61, SC
10.3
