Mountain Masochist is a special race. It's such a beautiful course and as a local runner, I've had the privilege to take many new runners to the course to see it for the first time on training runs. Both for my own memory preparing for the race and to help future runners, I want to write out a detailed description of the course.
Start to AS 1 Peavine Mountain (7.6 miles)
The course begins outside the KOA Campground in Monroe, VA. After circling the lake, runners quickly get to Pera Road and run 1.5 miles on pavement. This is followed by a left turn onto a wide trail/jeep road. After about a half mile of mostly downhill trail, there are a few small creek crossings and one large creek as you go through a tunnel under the parkway. No need to hop across the small creeks because there is no way to avoid wet shoes as you go under the parkway.
After the tunnel, the trail continues a gentle rolling, very runnable grade for almost another mile, at which point you make a sharp right turn across another small creek and the trail begins to climb. The next 2.5 miles are a gentle steady climb on wide trail. Around mile 5.5 in the race, the course takes a sharp left onto a the first single track section of the race. The section is mostly downhill but be cautious of rocks that can be hidden if the trail is still overgrown from summer. The single track continues for just over two miles until you reach the first aid station at the bottom of the hill.
AS1 Peavine Mountain to AS2 Dancing Creek (3.7 miles)
From the aid station, take a right turn and head up the hill. This is a gravel/jeep road that climbs for almost 1.5 miles, then goes steadily downhill to the next aid station which is immediately after another small creek crossing. This aid station is the first one accessible by crew and is always a highlight. As a note, crew can come to either the Dancing Creek or the Parkway Gate, but not both, because parking at both aid stations is very limited. They're so close together though that this is not a big deal.
AS2 Dancing Creek to AS3 Parkway Gate (3.55 miles)
After passing the aid station, you'll continue on the jeep road that is mostly rolling and runnable. You pass another tunnel under the Blue Ridge Parkway and this is about a mile before the aid station. The last half mile to the aid station is uphill but once again, crew can come to the Parkway Gate aid station so it is exciting to climb as people are cheering.
AS3 Parkway Gate to AS4 Robinson Gap (2.24 miles)
Immediately after the aid station you have a nice runnable downhill for almost 3/4 of a mile. At the bottom you'll cross a small creek (if it hasn't rained recently, you'll probably be able to step across) and take a left onto a gravel road. The next 1.7 miles are steadily uphill on the gravel road. It's monotonous and tedious but not that bad if you know it's coming.
AS4 Robinson Gap to AS5 Irish Creek (2.58 miles)
After the long slog up to Robinson Gap, the next section is a real treat. For almost five miles, the course is on a gravel road, almost entirely downhill, and very runnable. It's a welcome reprieve from all the climbing and a chance to bank some precious time before the long climb starts. The Irish Creek aid station is in the middle of this nice downhill section.
AS5 Irish Creek to AS6 Reservoir (2.24 miles)
The downhill continues after the aid station. Near the bottom, it starts to flatten out. You'll know you're approaching the aid station when the trail becomes flat and there is a creek on your right running parallel to the road. About a half mile after this creek appears, you'll be at the reservoir aid station, another crew stop.
AS6 Reservoir to AS7 Long Mountain (4.55 miles)
At this point, the real work begins. The next nearly four miles are primarily uphill. It's a steady incline with a few steep sections and a few runnable sections thrown in for good measure. You'll know you're near the top when you start to see signs about the national forest. On the left, there is a small cemetery-this is exactly 0.75 miles from the Long Mountain aid station. After you pass the cemetery, it flattens out and is very runnable again to the halfway point aid station. You can hear the cheers from a distance away and it is a great highlight of the race to arrive here. You can access your drop bag here. It's also the first hard cutoff of the race-currently you must arrive here in 6 hours to continue.
AS7 Long Mountain to AS8 Buck Mountain (2.83 miles)
When you depart the Long Mountain aid station, you are of course greeted by another long uphill section. The slogan for this race should be, "There's always room for another climb." The next 2.25 miles are entirely uphill, not even a foot of descent. The aid station usually has Rocky theme music playing to help you get up the last part of the climb.
AS8 Buck Mountain to AS9 Wiggins Spring (2.31 miles)
If you can find your running legs again, this section is rolling and actually very pretty. There's a nice downhill section where you can move very well and stretch out your legs again after so many miles of climbing. It's a refreshing change of pace (pun intended).
AS9 Wiggins Spring to AS10 The Loop (1.45 miles)
At the aid station, you'll turn right and head up (literally) to the loop. This climb starts out steep and stays that way for about a mile. When you're near the top, you'll start to see cars and the AT crossing. It gets pretty crowded with crew vehicles and local day hikers, especially if the weather is nice. The road flattens out for a bit and then you'll take a single track trail on the right for a very short distance into the aid station. The loop is a fabulous aid station. Lots of people, lots of excitement, and as you come in (unless you're a frontrunner) you'll see people coming out of the loop at the same time. Once again, this is a hard cutoff aid station-you must enter the loop by 7:55 (race time) to continue.
AS10 to AS11 The Loop (5.33 miles)
Ah, the loop. If you have talked to people who have run this race, you have certainly heard about the loop. It is the undoing of many a runner. I think this is due to a combination of factors. First, you've just run over 20 miles of mostly gravel road and suddenly you have technical trail that requires a lot of thought about foot placement and avoiding rocks and roots. You're now on tired legs and there's still a lot of climbing in the loop. And you're at that 2/3 point in the race that always seems to be difficult no matter the distance, because you're far enough to be tired but not far enough to be almost done.
At any rate, the first mile of the loop is runnable, so by all means run it. After a mile you'll cross a creek and the trail immediately becomes much rockier and more technical and running becomes noticeably more difficult. You'll climb for almost a mile and reach a sign about the summit. This is the out-and-back section of the race. On the bright side, you get to see other runners who are within a mile ahead or behind you, since it's a half mile each way. But that also means you have two-way traffic on a single track trail which is rocky. If there is snow on the course or wet leaves, this can go from annoying to treacherous. At the top is a gorgeous overlook where you punch your bib. Seriously, one of the best views in this region. Take a few seconds to soak it in. It really makes the last thousand miles of climbing worth it.
You'll retrace your steps for the next half mile down to the sign, where you'll now take a right and continue on the loop trail. You will be tempted to think that since you just came down from the summit, you will be going down to the aid station, but alas, that is not how it works. Remember, there is always room for another climb! In this case, you climb up and over Pompey Mountain. Just as high as the summit but no amazing overlook. There are some nice views off to the right as you run along the ridgeline for awhile though, especially if the leaves have fallen from the trees enough to see more of the valley. You'll climb steadily until you're at top, which is marked with a gigantic boulder next to the trail. From there it is almost completely downhill to get back to the loop aid station. Once again, this is a hard cutoff aid station-you must return to the loop by 9:20 (race time) to continue.
AS11 The Loop to AS12 Salt Log Gap (2.94 miles)
Have you ever been running an ultra and thought, "I should have run a 5K instead?" Here's your chance to do both! If you are close to cutoffs, you have about a half hour to make it to the next aid station. The first mile is downhill and then it begins to climb again to the next aid station. With around 40 miles on your legs, it will feel like 5K pace that you need to keep. Push hard here! Salt Log Gap is another hard cutoff-the busses will be there waiting and if you do not want a ride, you need to be there by 9:55. It's a gravel/dirt road the entire way so the footing is good, it's just the climbing that makes it a challenge on tired legs.
AS12 Salt Log Gap to AS13 Forest Valley (1.07 miles)
This section is short but I honestly think it's a bit longer than advertised. After the aid station you climb up a giant hill. It's not that bad on training runs but if you're tired it can be tough. You climb for about (or a little over) a mile and then there is a right turn. The aid station is very shortly after turning right.
AS13 Forest Valley to AS 14 Porters Ridge (4.1 miles)
After taking a left out of the aid station, you'll head a short way down the gravel road and then take a hard left on the AT. You'll only be on the AT for a few yards and you'll turn onto a different trail. This single track trail is very pretty and mostly runnable. It's known as the forever section because there aren't very many landmarks, you feel like you're running in circles a bit, and let's be honest, your legs are pretty tired by now. The one major landmark is affectionately known as the "creepy camper", although this year the camper was smashed by large tree so it know is more like the "mangled metal". This marks the beginning of this race's death climb. Just know you will be hating life for about 3/4 of a mile. The great news is that this is truly the last significant climb of the race. Not the last climb, but the last significant one. After this hill, you'll continue meandering through the forest for a few more miles. You'll see a sign telling you the AT is 0.4 miles to the right-this is less than a mile before the aid station so know you are getting close!
**For the 2017 race, the Porters Ridge aid station will not be offered.**
AS14 Porters Ridge to Finish (3.75 miles)
It's all downhill from here! Well, it almost is! You'll run down a road which starts out pretty rough but becomes a gravel road. You'll run down, down, down the mountain, past the fish hatchery, and out to the highway. Take a left on the highway and you are almost there! It's about a half mile down the highway to the finish line. This is such an exciting finish line because people can see you coming down the road, and you can hear them from a ways off. You'll see the finish line and the clock and hopefully you'll come around that corner and blaze through the finish in less than twelve hours! Across from the finish is the Montebello store which has great food and a place to change clothes.
**For the 2017 race, you will cross the highway and run to the new finish at Camp Blue Ridge.**
This really is a fabulous race. If the time limit was just a little bit longer, it would probably be on my list every year. The course is gorgeous-challenging yes, but beautiful. On a sunny, crisp fall day it really doesn't get any better than being out in the mountains!
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