Once again the Mountain Masochist 50 Miler is honored to be part of the Montrail Ultra Cup series.  In order to be involved, you must register for the series before November 1 at http://ultracup.montrail.com/. 

MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER EARLY IF YOU ARE COMPETING IN THE BEAST SERIES!

PERMITS: This event is held in accordance with permits from the U.S. Forest Service, George Washington National Forest, Pedlar Ranger District and the National Park Serivce, Blue Ridge Parkway, Ridge District.  Please respect and care for the land that this event is held on to help ensure the future of this event. I can’t emphasize enough how IMPORTANT this is!

START/FINISH LOCATION:  The MMTR is a point-to-point race. The race begins at the James River Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway (mile 63.6) and finishes in Montebello.  National Geographic Map #789 (Lexington / Blue Ridge Mts.) is the best topographic map for the area.

TRANSPORTATION: Because this is a point to point race, bus transportation is provided for the runners from the Kirkley Hotel in Lynchburg to the start and back to the Kirkley for the awards dinner. The buses will also meet you at Long Mtn. Aid Station (#10, 26.9 miles) and at the finish (Montebello). PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED BACK TO THE START OF THE RACE. I highly recommend the use of the buses for those of you without a crew. SEATING IS LIMITED (and fuel is expensive), so please enclose $5 for a bus ticket with your entry fee if you wish to utilize this transportation. Your bus ticket will be stapled to your race number, which you will pick up on Friday night. If your crew does drive a car:

*****DON’T LEAVE CARS AT THE JAMES RIVER VISITORS CENTER*****
THEY WILL BE TOWED!!!!

ENTRY FEE:  $80 before October 11 – $100 thereafter.  For each registered runner, this fee includes eligibility for numerous draw prizes, a drop bag service, aid stations, discounted pre-race dinner, discounted post-race awards dinner, race shirt, finisher’s awards, and a special award to all qualified category finishers. 

THERE WILL BE NO REFUND OR TRANSFER OF ENTRY FEES.
PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR A REFUND.

Entrant Scholarships: A limited amount of entrant scholarships are available to those who express a financial constraint to entering the MMTR. For example, this is intended for full-time students and/or those who (because of financial constraints) would otherwise not be able to enter. You must email me to inquire eligibility. Please do not abuse this policy or attempt to provide false information.  Verification may be required.

COURSE:  Beginning at the James River Visitor Center, runners cover a short out-n-back section on the Blue Ridge Parkway before completing a few short miles of road. The course then meanders northward over various dirt and gravel roads in the National Forest before runners have to negotiate the second half of the course.  Leaving Long Mountain aid station, the second half includes dirt & old logging roads as well as several miles of beautiful single track trail.  Many say the race is just beginning when you leave Long Mtn. Upon reaching the last aid station at Porters Ridge, runners course downhill for 2.9 miles toward the finish in Montebello. The entire MMTR course traverses some of the most beautiful areas in the Blue Ridge right around peak fall foliage.

AID STATIONS:  Sixteen (16) aid stations will be manned at 2 to 4 mile intervals throughout the race.  IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BRING A CREW!  If you ride the bus, drop bags will be available at Long Mountain aid station (mile 26.9).

CREWS & PACERS:  Crew access is limited to the following aid stations:  2,4,5,8,10,12,13, & 14.  The only place crews are allowed to drive on the racecourse itself is from aid station 12 to 13. Pacers are generally discouraged but tolerated for those who have a special need.  However, if you expect to vie for a place in the top ten (men or women) pacers are NOT allowed; you could jeopardize your top-ten place by having a pacer.

CUT-OFF TIME:  12 hour time limit! The entire course will be officially closed at 6:30 PM. Aid station cut-off times will allow a 10-minute flex before Long Mountain Wayside (mile 26.9). Including Long Mountain Wayside and after all aid stations cut-off times will be strictly enforced (if you are over the time limit, you must stop).  There will be no time allowance from Long Mountain Wayside to the finish.

COURSE RECORDS: Men’s: Dave Mackey, 2003, 6:48:31 Women’s: Nikki Kimball, 2006, 7:47:05
See other MMTR records and stats.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  This year the MMTR is being hosted by the Kirkley Hotel in Lynchburg. The Kirkley is offering a special rate for MMTR runners of $79.00.  You can reserve your room by calling toll-free 866-510-6333 and mentioning you are part of the MMTR 50 Miler. The ‘cut-off date’ for the limited room block is October 2, 2008.  You must reserve a room by this date for the special rate however; the rooms will fill so, first come, first served.  All pre & post-race festivities are being hosted at the Kirkley and is a beautiful facility.

SATURDAY MORNING: Race participants will leave Lynchburg from the BACK Kirkley parking lot at 5:00 AM & travel to the start of the race at the James River Visitor Center. It is about 30 miles to the start. You MUST CHECK-IN at the James River Visitor Center to be an official entrant or you can check in on the bus while you are traveling to the James River Visitors Center.  The buses will bring you back to the Kirkley Hotel for the meal and awards ceremony on Saturday night.

PRE-RACE CHECK-IN:  Runners can pick up their race packet & number from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Friday at the Kirkley Hotel.  

PRE-RACE DINNER:  On Friday night from 6:00-7:30 PM at the Kirkley Hotel, a Full-course Pasta Buffet will be served.  This will be a great pre-race meal discounted to RUNNERS ONLY for $5.00 (a meal ticket will be attached to your number). The cost of this meal for non-entrants is $9.00 per person in advance and $12.00 at the door (Kids meal prices: Age 5 & under FREE; Ages 6-12, $5.00). Come and enjoy the homecoming atmosphere at our pre-race dinner! Numerous draw prizes will be given out on Friday night!

PRE-RACE BRIEFING:  There will be a pre-race briefing at 7:30 PM for all runners. Crew members are encouraged to attend.  

POST-RACE DINNER:  After the buses bring you back to the Kirkley Hotel, there will be a post-race awards dinner in the Banquet Hall (same place as the pre-race meal) beginning at 7:30 PM. This will be a very nice full-course catered meal and is discounted to RUNNERS ONLY for $10.00 (a meal ticket will be attached to your number). The cost of this meal for non-entrants is $15.00 per person in advance and $17.00 at the door (Kids meal prices: Age 5 & under FREE; Ages 6-12, $7.50). Limited shower facilities are available at the finish and at the Kirkley Hotel (even if you are not staying at the hotel).

I CAN’T GET ENOUGH MMTR BREAKFAST:  For those runners still in town on Sunday morning (Nov.2) we will meet and eat breakfast together (telling plenty of stories) at the Golden Corral on Ward’s Road at 8:00 AM.

AWARDS:  All sub-12 hour finishers will receive a special finisher’s award.  The overall male and female winners will receive the Mountain Masochist Trophy.  The top 10 male and female finishers will receive special awards.  Also, special awards will be presented to the first place male and female masters (40-49), grand masters (50-59) and male super masters (60 and over), Fastest Fat Boy and Best Blood.

AWARDS CEREMONY:  Finishing awards will be presented to runners at the finish line. Special awards will be presented at the post-race dinner beginning around 8:00 PM.

NO AWARDS WILL BE MAILED.

TRAVEL DIRECTIONS: Driving directions to the Kirkley Hotel can be found at http://www.kirkleyhotel.com/directions.html

Additional information will be sent to entrants by email ONLY after the application and payment have been submitted.