Old Dominion 100 and The Lost Boys - 2023 - Ultra Marathon

[@davidpowell3347]

Earlier in the history of the event which used to have horse riders and runners sharing parts of the course the trail actually crossed through Shenandoah Nat'l Park,you started from the 4-H Center outside of Front Royal where many of the participants spent the night camped out near the starting line,in just a mile or so you began a climb onto "Hickerson Hollow" trail which actually ascended until you crossed Skyline Drive and then began a descent towards the Browntown VA area,during that descent it was usually just beginning to get daylight or dawn I remember that course as having been slower but not necessarily harder than the one that finishes in Woodstock,I don't think the winner ever finished during daylight on that one but there was much less chance of getting lost in Woodstock ! I have positive associations with the 4-H Center start/finish course and negative associations with the Woodstock course but I was in much better health when the earlier course was in use and the horses were part of the experience. The very first course that was used in 1979 and 1980 was before my time but Ed Demoney who would eventually spend some years later as Race Director and made considerable improvements to the amenities offered to the runners ran and finished during at least one of those years That course was flatter and faster,started and finished at Leesburg VA. A guy named Davey Crockett has a You Tube channel entitled "Ultrarunning History" and has a video write up on there about the history of Old Dominion. There is a picture of Ed Demoney on there near the end as I recall,I saw Ed this past February,still living at his house and I recall 89 or 90 years of age.

[@gregorysmith417]

Great video! You got the weekly mileage convo on cam! Haha I was so close to you on those ATV trails but didn’t catch up for 20 miles! Amazing race. Hope to run into ya again!

[@BouncingSoles]

It was hilarious as I sat down at either Veach East or West and you were in the chair next to me. I was like holy crap its Greg!

[@davidpowell3347]

So "Med Check 1" near leaving trail to enter Crisman Hollow Rd. (FS road) used to be the aid station for multiple years that Mrs. Laurie Hodson used to captain (was not a med check then) Jim and Laurie Hodson were well known volunteers on the course :::::: I remember some years that there was only one "Med Check" at Elizabeth Furnace or nearby (previous course just before reaching Sherman Gap trail which then forded Passage Creek) but there may have been scales runners could step on at some of the other major aid stations such as the one where Crisman Hollow Road ends,"Four Points II"

[@foggyminer]

Enjoyed the vid. Watched it last year and watched it again after OD100. Glad you filmed the wrong turn

[@BouncingSoles]

I was the sacrificial lamb of OD100, hopefully saving many people from the same mistake. I'll never forget, it was like 15 of us that missed the turn that day. Hope you had a great race! I'll be back in a few years to get that silver buckle...

[@WesClaytor]

Nice work finishing Patrick. The sub 24 is very difficult, but finishing once you realize you’re not going to buckle is to be respected. 🤜🤛

[@BouncingSoles]

Thanks Wes. I have done enough of these to know its more about the experience vs the end result. This does give me an excuse to come back next year and save something for Elizabeth's Furnace. Congrats on getting that buckle!