Archives May 2018

Last year (2017), was the inaugural DFL 12 hour ultra.  In 2018, we made it a 24 hour ultra.  It turned out to be a good move.  The 2017 race had 25 runners broken down in the following timed races:

• 12 hour: 11 runners
• 6 hour: 6 runners
• 3 hour: 8 runners
• total runners: 25

The 2018 race broke down with the following timed races:

• 24 hour: 9 runners
• 12 hour: 7 runners
• 6 hour: 5 runners
• 3 hour: 9 runners
• total runners: 30

We also offered a relay option both years but no one registered for that.  I’m not sure why the relay option is not popular.  Wisdom would dictate that the relay option is a dud and should be discarded but, I’d like to give it one more try in 2019.

This year’s DFL 24 turned out to be a very special event.  Of the nine 24 hour runners, three crossed that magical 100 mile barrier in less than 24 hours.  That’s quite an amazing feat considering this is a 24 hour event on a trail that half of it is winding, single track and, with several mounds to go up and over on every loop.

The buckles awarded went to the following amazing athletes:

• Frank Kelly with 107.06 miles in 24 hours
• Kerry Dulina with 101 miles
• Jason Watts with 101 miles

Frank Kelly, who ran the most miles in the race, will also receive a signet ring that is currently being custom made for him.  Every year, the runner that gets the most miles over 100 in the 24 hour race will receive a buckle and, a custom made signet ring with her name engraved on it as well as the mileage she ran.

DFL 24 awards the top three male and female runners of every race.  This year, we opted to go with green awards since the race is held during the Earth Day weekend.  The top three runners got potted plants.  The potted plants were a mixed variety of greek oregano, Thai basil, beef steak tomato, green bell peppers, rosemary, mint, lavender, Italian parsley and cilantro.  The themed awards seemed to be well received.  The finisher medals were actually 3-4″ circular pine chips with the runners names, race and mileage run on each.  We’re gonna keep this Earthy theme from now on.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Scott Owenby

Holding the event at the Roberd’s Dairy Farm in the Savannah and Thunderbolt area is really nice as there are approximately 180 acres of pasture, marshes and forests there.  It is the largest tract of green space in the greater Savannah area.  And, it is conveniently located being only a 15 minute drive to Tybee Island, a 10 minute drive to downtown Historical Savannah and, only a mile drive to a Starbucks and Whole Foods.  Its also adjacent to historical Bonaventure cemetery.

The land is privately owned and with that comes a hefty rental fee to hold the event there.  For 2017 and 2018, we paid $250 to hold the event there annually.  I’ve been informed that the rental price will increase to $300 for the 2019 event.  Also, anyone that wants to camp out the night before the event starts will have to pay a $10 camping.  I wish it was less money to rent but the location is great, the restrooms are very nice and, the 2.02 mile course is quite beautiful.  During the spring, wildflowers are in full bloom, mulberries and blackberries are ripe for the picking.  There’s also a wide variety of wildlife that calls the DF home.  The location can accommodate a lot of people.

Some of the Roberd’s Dairy wildlife:

• box turtle
• red fox
• grey fox
• coyote
• alligator
• snapping turtle
• racoon
• opposum
• armadillo
• mud turtle
• king snake
• garter snake
• green snake
• rat snake
• barred owl
• great horned owl
• pileated woodpecker

Next year’s DFL 24 is open for registration and happening April 20th.  If you ran the 2018 event you have a 25% off discount for the 2019 race but you will have to contact me before you register so that I may create a discount code for you.

I’m excited for the 2019 race!  I wonder how many runners will break the hard to attain 100 mile mark?  Will someone break Frank Kelly’s 107.06 mile course record?  Will we have some relay teams join the fun?

Please join us next year for this run whether its for 24 hours or 3 hours.

Official race photos can be seen here: DFL 24 Hour 2018 Photo Album

Happy Running!

Dan

CGG 2018 Runners, Steve Barber and Catherine Weimer

The Coastal Georgia Greenway 155 mile ultra 2018 is a 60 hour USATF Sanctioned running event held by Run 4 a Reason. It had a total of two runners, Steve Barber of Oakridge, Tennessee and, Catherine Weimer of Neshanic Station, New Jersey.
The event began on Hutchinson Island, overlooking River Street in downtown Savannah, Georgia. The event ended in St. Mary’s, Georgia, 155 miles later.

Mr. Steve Barber completed the journey first with a finish time of 34:41:54. Mrs. Catherine Weimer finished the sanctioned event in 46:05:11.

There were five mandatory checkpoints along the course that we (the Run 4 a Reason team) manned where we checked on the overall fitness of the runners as they came by and stamped their race book (each runner carried a waterproof race booklet that contained a very detailed race course). At each checkpoint, the runner’s booklet would get a stamp to show they had crossed that section of the course and would proceed to the next checkpoint. The booklet covered the course very intimately, detailing areas that might have heavy traffic, road construction, and/or may be sketchy.
Before the event, we covered the aspects of the course with the two runners, making sure they understood the layout of the book and, how to proceed in areas that might have heavy traffic and such.

Mandatory check points:
1. Mile marker: 0, just outside of the International Trade Center, 1 Internaional Dr, Hutchinson Island, Savannah, Ga 31421
2. Mile marker: 29, King’s Ferry
3. Mile marker: 45, Hwy 17 and Martin Rd, Midway, Ga. across from Old Historical Cemetery.
4. Mile marker: 58.1, Smallest Church in America, Townsend, Ga 31331
5. Mile marker: 83.5, Darien Waterfront Park, Darien, Ga **This is a new checkpoint starting in 2019**
6. Mile marker: 101, Windsor Park in Brunswick, Ga, off of Ash Ave.
7. Mile marker: 129, Satilla River Waterfront Park, Woodbine, Ga 31569

Prior to 2018, the CGG 155 had a three year history as an invite only group run. The prior runs never had more than five runners at a time. The 2018 event marked the first time it was sanctioned and open to registration by runners that were not in our inner running circle. This made the 2018 event very special.

Mr. Barber’s finish time was amazingly fast for a point to point event spanning six counties, nine municipalities -on open roads and trail systems.

Mrs. Weimer was the very first female to attempt and complete the CGG 155! We were very proud to witness her strength, will and determination to complete this long, arduous run! Both Mr. Barber and Mrs. Weimer exhibited tremendous athletic ability, strength of mind and character in executing and completing this event. I cannot emphasize enough how very impressed and proud I am of these two exceptional athletes!

During the entire duration of this event we were constantly in contact with each runners’ support crews. The runner’s support crews were nothing short of exceptional! They watched over their runners, ensuring their safety and that their runners were properly fueled through-out their respective journeys. The two runners were so well taken care of that it allowed them to focus on executing on their race entirely.

Andrew Snope with his folks after completing the CGG 155 back in 2016

To date, aside from Mr. Barber and Mrs. Weimer, only three other runners have completed the CGG 155 Mile Ultra. Those runners are Karl Joseph, John Durant and Andrew Snope. All three runners are from Savannah, Ga.

John Durant and Karl Joseph just before the CGG 155 in 2017

This USATF Sanctioned event will be held annually, the last weekend of March. The 2018 event drew a lot of curiosity and attention and, is bound to draw the interest of many more runners nationally. Already, several runners have contacted us about their interest in running this event in the future.
We feel confident that this event will bring much attention to the Coastal Georgia Greenway and the Eastern Greenway. It has the potential for bringing an economic incentive to the coastal counties of Georgia and it’s towns and municipalities.

The results of the 2018 event can be viewed here at ultrasignup: CGG 2018 Official Results
The 2019 CGG 155 mile ultra will take place on March 29th through March 31st.
Registration for the 2019 race will open on ultrasignup.com on June 1, 2018.
Registration site: CGG 2019

Warm Regards,

Dan Hernandez
Jason Edenfield
Run 4 a Reason
Race Directors