Martha Ray Sartor and Burtch Davis ran in the Eighth Annual Biltmore Estate 15K Classic in Asheville, North Carolina on Sunday, May 15. Both had great runs through the scenic, hilly, serene Biltmore Estate. There appeared to be about 300 runners. The fog of the Smokey Mountains hung over the course. Nice, cool temperatures prevailed. Elly Rono won the event with a time of 47:20. Heather Lee, the first woman, finished in 56:42. Burtch and Martha Ray came across the finish line sometime afterwards. The after race refreshments of Fig Newtons, oranges, bagels and drinks were wonderful. This is an enjoyable, well, organized race that I may run again. Burtch and I ran it two years ago and it was just as enjoyable this year. The race benefited the Kiwanis Children’s Charities and the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Buncombe County.
Submitted by M. R. Sartor
On an overcast Saturday, May 21 Burtch Davis and Martha Ray Sartor along with three of Martha Ray’s co-workers from MSU-ES ran the Twisted Ankle half marathon trail run (also had a marathon) at Sloppy Floyd State Park in Summerville, Georgia. Pine Belt natives Ethridge and Tynes were also in the event. This was the First Annual Twisted Ankle run, so there were a few kinks, but overall it was a great race that I would enter again. There were some problems with water appearing at water stations, and a wrong turn near the finish line sent many runners through the park playground instead of around the lake and across the bridge. These challenges can be easily overcome at next year’s event. The course was hilly. There was one hill (maybe mountain) that separated the girls from the women, and the men from the boys. As you climbed you had to avoid the bodies of runners who had tripped and were rolling down. Usually a tree or stumped caught them before they made it to the bottom. It would have been a real downer to have had to start again from the bottom.
I recommend this race. If circumstances permitted, I would enter it again. It is a wonderful, challenging, beautiful course. The race director was pleasant and the park personnel very helpful. Oh, by the way, our entire delegation completed the race without any twisted ankles!
Submitted by M. R. Sartor
Subject: Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon -
Little Ultra Content
Saturday, May 21 in Summerville, GA, the Twisted Ankle Trail
Marathon
and Half Marathon was held. The racecourse was run in the James
H. Floyd
State Park on Sloppy Floyd Park Road.
The course for both races started and ended at a beautiful lake
that
afforded fishing and boating, which could be enjoyed by family
members
who were waiting for their runners. Plenty of parking, picnic
tables and
park benches.
Both races started at 9:00 with a children's one-mile fun run
around the
lake at 9:30.
The morning temp was a cool 61 degrees with overcast skies. The
Weather
Channel had 79 degrees for the high. The skies did not clear
until
mid-afternoon.
Race Director Becky Finger, was well pleased with this first
year's
turnout. A much higher number of runners registered than what
was
anticipated. It appeared that there were over two hundred toeing
the
line.
The course offered just a bit of pavement, with wide trails
narrowing
down to single track, to some gravel forest roads that were well
shaded.
There was very little sunshine while running on the asphalt
sections.
The course takes you around the lake that I mentioned earlier,
to a
technical climb out of the valley to a ridge top. This technical
climb
will take your breath away. The higher you go, the steeper it
gets. It
was said to be a mile long.
I passed a gal who was bent over on the side of the trail. Said
that she
couldn't breathe. She was having difficulty getting up this
"hill".
Later, I came upon a young lady who appeared to be around
eighteen years
of age. She was complaining of pain. I noticed she was on her
tiptoes.
Then I heard her tell her companion that she preferred flat
marathons.
Fortunately, this was the longest and toughest climb on the
course and
it was at the beginning. I could not imagine climbing this near
the end
of the marathon.
Ultra runners that I am acquainted with told me stories that
caused me
to come to the conclusion that there were a lot of roadies
there. I
believe they were caught off guard on what a trail run can be
like.
Due to the name of the race, I was expecting tons of rock mixed
with
roots. There was little of either one. Overall, it was well
groomed and
a delight to be on.
The highlight of the course to me was a waterfall that had a
walkway
that you could take to go behind it. I was told that there were
two
retired marble mines beside the waterfall.
It may have been a half and full marathon, but the effort you
spend will
make you feel like you just ran a 50K.
The aid station workers were extremely nice and helpful.
Thanks to Becky Finger who put on a fine race.
Thanks to all the volunteers who worked the aid stations and to
all the
trail crew workers. All did a fine job.
This is a great race to do as in introductory to trail running.
Or, if
you want to run a trail but not up to the ultra distance most
trail runs
call for.
Ultra runners Dwayne Satterfield and Dink Taylor of Huntsville,
AL
fought it out for the overall male finishers in the marathon.
Dwayne
coming in first with Dink hot on his heels.
There were age group awards given for both races.
I apologize for not having more information on the overall
finishers and
their times. Results to be posted soon at
http://www.rungeorgiatrails.com/
© Raz
Murfreesboro, TN
