We had just about as perfect a day for running that you
could hope for in DC in March.  There were many familiar
faces out there and I think everyone had a good time catching
up with old trail running friends and making some new ones.

This is the third year that RD John Coogan has put on this
race and I have been there each year.  It is normally a
40 mile run going from one side of Fairfax County(Lorton) to
the other, ending in Great Falls, VA.  This year, due to 
construction, the first 9 miles were cut out and the run was
a 50k.

It is mostly on trails but there is also quite a bit of bike path
asphalt.  This year, to avoid a confusing(more confusing than the
rest of this easy-to-get-lost-on-if-you-don't-know-the-course run)
section where quite a number of people have gotten lost the past two
years, there was a 3 mile section along a sidewalk adjacent to a busy 
road.  Aid was more than adequate and spaced 4 to 7 miles apart.  This
is a fatass so runners are asked to bring some ultra aid station type
food or kick in 5 bucks help defray the costs of buying some.

This run is different than many trail(or mostly trail) ultras that
you will do as it is very, very easy to get off course.  It is
not marked by ribbons but for the most part, you follow the
CCT posts marking the trail...except when they are not there...
or when you are running along a road or through a neighborhood.
John Coogan has written up a very detailed course description
that you really need to carry and refer to often.  Did I mention 
that it is easy to get off course?  Coogan also organizes training
runs on the course on the weekends throughout the winter which
allow one to become acquainted with it prior to the run.

It is impossible to do this run with out getting your feet wet.
If you do manage to somehow keep your feet dry for most of the
run(as I did, for the most part, this year) you are guaranteed
to get them wet at the last stream crossing at Difficult Run, 
which is fairly wide and over the past 3 years has been anywhere
from mid-shin to mid-thigh deep.

At the end, all the runners gather at picnic tables adjacent to the
visitors center in Great Falls, VA to eat, swap stories, catch up
and cheer other runners coming in.  Every year John has also had
pizza delivered to the park which is something to look forward to.

I like this run because it is low key, close, it starts at a civilized 
hour(8am, 7am if you think you'll need more time), it's well organized,
the aid is good and there is something satisfying about running from
one end of Fairfax county to the other.  The timing is also perfect
as it serves as sort of a barometer of your training over the winter
(mine hasn't been so good)or it gives you a kick-start to click things
up a notch(or two notches in my case) for the up coming season.

There were quite a few VHTRCer's there: Michele "Cranky Pants" 
Burr(what's with the superfluous "r", anyway?), Jarret "The Whiner" 
Sieberg(for the record, he did do some obligatory whining on the run), 
Quatro "I have no idea where I'm going but let me lead anyway" Hubbard
(I later watched him come this close -><- to taking 95 North towards
Baltimore, instead of 95 South towards Richmond which is where he lives;
he had to cut off an SUV and miss a jersey barrier by mere feet in his 
brand new Saab to make the turn...true DC driving, it brought a tears of 
joy to my eyes to witness), Vicky "Ditz" Kendall(rumor has it she worked
real hard for a 'Scottie' at Catawba but her efforts went unnoticed), Jim 
"Hollywood" Cavanaugh(Isn't this tax season?  Who let you out?), Brian 
"Fat Boy" McNeill(Thanks for the shoes, they fit great and I'll run on 
them this week), Kerry "Short Cut" Owens and Bill "The Stalker" Turrentine 
(everytime I turn around, there he is) to name a few...

The big no-show was Linda "Ms. Prissy" Wack.  Granted, the trails were a 
little wet and muddy and she secretly prefers the even footing of a track 
or bike path anyway so that was no big shock.  Her loss.

Good times.  Much fun and a little bit of pain was had by all.

I looked for Dodds last week at Catawba (BTW, those of you who missed 
Catawba really missed a gem - You might want to sign up for the 2004 
version now and plan your entire ultra calendar around it) and this week 
to personally give him my quarterly $2 installment for the money that he
keeps bitching about that I owe him but he was nowhere to be found.  The
way he's been hiding, you'd think he's in the rears on his child support. 
Then again, rumor has it he's been up in PA making another belt run...maybe 
I can pick another one up 'cheap'....

A big thanks to John Coogan and all his volunteers on an outstanding
job and a great time yesterday.  This is a great run and I highly 
recommend it.  I'll see you there next year!

Bur