2007 CCT
March 4, 2007. It was
cold and windy. The water levels were at near flood levels due to snow
melt, and the runners were forced to high ground by the Potomac, but
the trails weren't as muddy as you might think. The run started at
Riverbend Park and went to a turnaround about 13 miles away in Reston
by Glade Rd., where Eric Levy-Myers and family hosted a great aid
station, complete with a sign, hot tea and piles of snacks and
sandwiches. The planned final 3 mile out-and-back from Riverbend in the
opposite direction to make it a 50K was largely abandoned due to
flooding. Ed
Cacciapaglia, who finished the first 26 miles in 4:39, led a vanguard
group including Dave Yeakel
Jr. and Ryan Carter in that direction, but they soon came back covered
in water, especially Dave. For the most part today, Michael
Schuster and his intrepid dog, Mini, and Eric Harris led the way. Ryan
left a bag of snacks on the course by Brown's Mill Rd., which
scavengers eventually found.
Farouk Elkassed, Vicki Kendall, David Snipes, Laurie Reinhart, Chris
Meanor, Jennifer Lindsey, Tom Corris, Jen Ragone, Sean Andrish, and
Brian Schmidt formed one posse, and Quatro Hubbard, Michael Bur, and
Jeff Reed with the orange gloves made another grouping.
Jen Ragone made some awesome chocolate macaroons and other cookie
creations for the finish. Farouk ate the most, and Snipes ran the
furthest, tacking on several
loops
around Riverbend Park to finish his 7-1/2 hour run.
John Coogan