Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, Virginia on 22-23 April. For the 3rd year in
a row it was a great success, exceeding all expectations. The number of
individual ultrarunners and relay teams doubled compared to 2005. We had 24
ultrarunners and 8 relay teams, making a combined total of almost 120
runners. Seventeen of the relay team runners ran 30 or more miles to
qualify as ultrarunners as well. As of this writing, almost $4000 has been
raised, with an expectation of more coming in to reach $5000. Three runners
ran over 100 miles, seven did 75 or more miles, and 18 covered at least 50
miles.
Many great stories emerged from this year's event. The winner was Dustin
Groff, a young Army soldier who deployed to Iraq a week later. He finished
with 110.75 miles, a new course record by two miles. Both his parents were
there the entire 24 hours supporting him, and another runner joined him at
the 12-hour point to pace him the rest of the way. The second place
finisher, Grant Salisbury, took off at a blistering pace, doing over 60
miles at the 12-hour point and 90 miles by 19 hours. But he took too long
of a "middle of the night rest" and let Dustin catch him, before recovering.
Third place finisher David Huffman ran a smart, slow and steady pace all
day long never seeming to be bothered by anything. The father-son "team" of
Lawrence and Samuel Skalak both achieved 75 miles. It was not clear who had
bragging rights as the son finished two hours before the father but
immediately stopped. David Snipes first ran the Promised Land 50K in the
morning, drove 4 ½ hours to the race, and then ran another 50 miles with us.
He got credit for 81.25 miles. Kimberly Coleman ran 30 miles and then
"quit." But after going home, cleaning up, watching TV, and trying to
sleep, she came back and ran another 20 miles for her first ever 50 mile
achievement. Layne Reibel flew up from Florida and covered 30 miles with a
knee brace on the entire time. She was in the process of doing an ultra in
all 50 states plus D.C. Many of the runners set personal records for the
number of miles they had ever run. Most said they had a good time and hoped
to return next year. Several relay team runners indicated they would
probably be back as individual ultrarunners next time.
The weather made it all the more challenging. It was cloudy and very humid
with temps in the low 70s from the start until 3:30 pm. Then it rained hard
for about 1 1/2 hours, putting a damper on many runners' enthusiasm.
Luckily, from about 5:00 pm until the finish no more rain came down and it
cooled off into the low 60s. As always the support of the Sandy Bottom
Nature Park staff was outstanding at all times, and the Peninsula Track Club
volunteers who kept track of runners' mileage were critical to our great
success.
George Nelsen
Race Director
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: AGE: STATE:
DUSTIN GROFF M 110.75 21 GA COURSE RECORD!
GRANT SALISBURY M 103.25 23 VA
DAVID HUFFMAN M 101.25 38 WV
DAVID SNIPES M 81.25 38 VA
LAWRENCE SKALAK M 75 53 VA
SAMUEL SKALAK M 75 20 VA
GEORGE NELSEN M 75 51 VA
BRYANT MALONE M 75 36 VA
TEDDY BUNNELL M 75 30 VA
JIM HARRISON M 75 48 VA
STANLEY DUOBINIS M 67.5 55 MD
MARGARET SCHLUNT F 67.5 53 MD
WILLIAM ALLEN M 64 45 MD
CHARLES PARKS M 56.25 48 VA
RICK PALMER M 50 36 PA
BOB SITLER M 50 47 VA
JIMMY BLOUNT M 50 55 VA
CRAIG CSONTOS M 50 36 VA
JOHN F PRICE M 50 34 VA
KIMBERLY COLEMAN F 50 42 VA
GREG LAYTON M 50 27 VA
BERNARD TIERNAN M 50 35 VA
KARL KLICKER M 50 51 VA
MICHAEL MCPHAIL M 50 32 VA
PHILIP FOGELBACH M 50 33 VA
JENNIFER BELTZ F 50 30 VA
GLEN BARNETT M 50 23 VA
SUSAN BENDER F 50 34 VA
JOHN PRICE M 46.25 51 VA
MITCH JACKSON M 41.25 49 VA
DEBI HENDERSON F 37.5 45 VA
KEVIN GARNER M 30 58 VA
NICK TURNER M 30 25 VA
LAYNE REIBEL F 30 50 FL
BRIAN TATE M 30 37 SC
WILLIAM MURRELL M 30 38 VA
CHRIS THOMAS M 30 33 VA
A. J. JOHNSON M 30 34 VA
HUNTER WASHBURN M 30 24 VA
JASON FIDLER M 30 28 VA
