Ultramarathoner Tim Scott accomplished a feat in 10 months that most would never even consider in a lifetime: he finished 6 ultramarathons and became a finisher of the famed Beast Series. He dedicated this incredible, mind and body challenging journey to Hope For The Warriors®. Please read his amazing story – you’re sure to be inspired!
I will always remember 2012 as “the year of the ultra marathon”. I completed 7 ultras: three 50Ks, two 50 milers, a 100K and a 100 miler. In doing so, I completed the 4 race Lynchburg Ultra Series and the 6 race Beast Series. The Beast Series is the Lynchburg Ultra Series plus 2 more races. Unfortunately I don’t have very many pictures, but have included the pictures I have, as well as and a brief race description. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at timjohnscott2@yahoo.com
Prologue: The Beast Series includes the Holiday Lake 50K, Terrapin Mountain 50K, Promise Land 50K, Grindstone 100 mile, Mountain Masochist 50 Mile, and Hellgate 100K. In 2007 and 2010 I completed the Promise Land 50K, and initially got “the itch” to run the whole Beast Series. Doctors David Horton and Clark Zealand direct the races. Both are very accomplished ultra runners (until a couple years ago, Dr. Horton held the record for the fastest person to complete the entire Appalachian Trail). All but the Holiday Lake are run in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They all have a relatively small amount of runners and a very cordial feel to them, with many runners willing to talk to newbies like me. As indicated below, the SWAG (Stuff We All Get) at the races is high quality – mostly Patagonia clothing with the race logo screen printed on the shirt. All the runs in the series are pretty affordable too. For example, the Promise Land has a $75 entry fee which includes the race t-shirt, fully stocked aid stations and some awesome Patagonia running shorts as the finishers prize.
Holiday Lake 50K +++ - (Race #1 Lynchburg Ultra Series and Beast Series)
February: Appomattox, Virginia
34 miles
Finishing time: 4 hours 49 minutes
Course Description: The course is predominately comprised of single track with some rocks and roots scattered throughout. It is a 17-mile loop run clockwise to a common start/finish area. You then run the loop counter clockwise. Best part about this race: it has relatively little elevation gain and is a great first race of the series. I highly recommend it for those looking to complete their first ultra. It can be cold and snowy. This year it was dry with no snow, but the temps were in the teens.
Terrapin Mountain 50K (Race #2 Lynchburg Ultra Series and Beast Series)
March: Sedalia, Virginia
32 miles
Finishing Time: 7 hours 24 minutes
Terrapin Mountain is run about 25 miles west of Lynchburg, VA, near the Blue Ridge Parkway. I camped out near the start line and by 4 am I was awake and eagerly awaiting the 6 am start. The course itself is a 50/50 mix of rocky/rooty single track and gravel forest service road and includes 7,500 feet of elevation gain and an equal amount of elevation loss. As is the case with this and the rest of the races in the series, there are several climbs of 1,500 feet or more. It was during this race that I decided that I was going to compete in the Beast Series after running with an older gentlemen who had finished fifty 100 milers. There is also a ½ marathon. I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a challenging ultra or challenging ½ marathon.
Promised Land 50K++ (Race #3 Lynchburg Ultra Series and Beast Series)
April: Bedford, Virginia
34 Miles
Finishing Time: 7 hours 55 minutes
This is quickly becoming one of the most popular spring 50Ks on the east coast. Limited to 200 runners, this race fills up fast. In the written form, I cannot do this race any justice. Here are some fantastic pictures of the race by a fellow runner. Nearly 8000 feet of elevation gain and 8000 feet of loss. 2000+ feet of gain are in the first 5 miles, and from miles 26-29 there is another 2000+ foot climb that parallels an scenic waterfall. With a course mostly comprised of rough single track and grassy forest roads makes this a difficult but enjoyable run. You cross over the Blue Ridge Parkway twice. There are many breathtaking views, and because of the changes in elevation, there are two seasons during the run – the lower elevations have blooming flowers and budding trees, but at 4000 feet it still looks (and sometimes feels) like winter. The Promise Land also represents the first race I ran as part of Team Hope for The Warriors®. Side note – I joined the team after learning about it at a conference in Wilmington, NC. You really get a different perspective after you put on the Team jersey. I felt motivated by not wanting to look bad while wearing it. Best part about this race: The race director, Dr Horton, let me give a speech about Hope for the Warriors® during the pre-race brief.
Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 mile (qualifier for the Grindstone 100)
August: Beverly, West Virginia
50 Miles
Finishing Time: 11 hours 38 minutes
To be eligible for the October Grindstone 100, I had to have run a 50 miler or longer within the previous year. On the recommendation of Dr. Horton, I ran the Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness in Beverly, WV. It is unique in that it started at 9 pm, which proved helpful for the Grindstone 100 and Hellgate 100k, both of which are run during the night. It was a 50/50 mix between gravel road and single track. It was a well organized and well marked course that had some of the best aid stations of all the ultra’s I have run. One had a guy making fresh quesadillas. The aid stations also competed against one another for title of best aid station, so they had different themes and the workers were dressed in costumes - a great motivator at 3 am!
Grindstone 100 (Race #4 Beast Series)
October: Swoope, Virginia
101.85 miles
Finishing Time: 34 hours 46 minutes
This is the race I had been waiting for. My first 100 miler. A friend of mine whom I ran Cheat Mountain with also joined me for the Grindstone. First of all, it is billed as the toughest 100 miler east of the 100th meridian. It also started at 6 pm, meaning I would be running nearly 2/3 of the run during periods of darkness; very humbling considering the course’s 23,000 ft of elevation gain and 23,000 ft of loss. The run had aid stations spaced roughly 8-10 miles apart. They were very well stocked and had a crew of volunteers. Most had completed the race, so they were very sympathetic but not afraid to tell you to get up and out of the aid station and to keep moving. Prior to this run, 50 miles was the longest I had done, so at the halfway point I entered uncharted territory. I learned that all the aches and pains of a 50 miler don’t really get any worse. As long as I stuck to my nutrition plan, stayed hydrated and kept moving I would eventually finish. As we ran into the 2nd night, sleep deprivation started playing tricks with my mind and I started seeing things that didn’t exist. Thankfully, my friend and I picked up a pacer. He really helped us stay focused and kept us from getting lost. It is hard to describe the feeling of relief I felt once finished. I stayed around long enough to get a finish line picture taken, then I walked to my tent and slept for 6 hours before driving back home.
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| Tim definitely wins the award for wearing the jersey for the most hours and miles! |
Mountain Masochist 50 miler (Race #4 Lynchburg Ultras Series, Race #5 Beast Series)
November: Lynchburg, Virginia
54 miles
Finishing Time: 11 hours 37 minutes
The Mountain Masochist Trail Run is one of the oldest and most popular ultras on the east coast. The 300 spots filled up in just a couple weeks. It is a point-to-point race that starts on the Blue Ridge Parkway and covers a few miles on asphalt before turning off into the woods. The rest is mostly on forest service roads with a few rough miles of single track. The course also has 1,300 feet more gain than loss, which definitely took a toll on me during the second half. It was also 4 weeks after the Grindstone 100, so I wasn’t entirely recovered from that. There are aid stations every 3 to 4 miles. Starting at the 26 mile mark, every aid station has a mandatory cut-off. If you don’t make it, you are finished; I made the first cut-off with about 40 minutes to spare. I maintained enough forward motion to finish 23 minutes under the time limit, thus completing the Lynchburg Ultra Series.
Hellgate 100K (6th and Final Race in the Beast Series)
December: Fincastle, Virginia
66.6 miles
Finishing Time: 17 hours 49 minutes
Finally, the last race of the Beast Series, and from all the race reports I had read, this would quite possibly be the most difficult due to the 18 hour time limit, midnight start, unpredictable weather and the effects of a 100 miler, 54 miler and the 100k run within 9 weeks. The race is limited at 125 runners. The race director screens every application to ensure that only people he thinks can finish the run are allowed to start. I had the luxury of a guaranteed entry because I finished the first 5 races of the Beast Series. Thankfully, the weather was pretty good (no ice or snow like in previous years). We paired up with other runners’ crews and drove the 35 miles or so to the starting line, a trailhead in the middle of nowhere. After a quick prayer from the race director and a singing of the national anthem (both U.S. and Canadian) we were off. I felt pretty good for the first 1/3 of the race. It consisted of power walking up forest service roads, cresting a pretty long climb, and followed steep descents on single-track trails. I was 40 minutes ahead of the first mandatory cut-off at mile 24. The second 1/3 of the course had less climbing, but the terrain was mostly single track with some of the worst footing I experienced during the entire series. It really took its toll, and I came into the 2nd cut-off at mile 46 with only 20 minutes to spare. For the first time during the entire series, I started to worry that I might miss an aid station cut-off or not finish within the time limit. I arrived at the last aid station (mile 60) with about 7 minutes to spare. I quickly got some water then took off on the final 3 mile climb across the Blue Ridge Parkway and down 3.5 miles to the finish. Once I saw the 1 mile to go sign I realized that I would finish within the time limit. I approached the finish and was greeted by the race director as I came in with about 11 minutes to spare. The Beast was complete! The pictures include me crossing a creek at about 1 am and the Beast Series finisher’s trophy for the Beast Series.
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| Tim is a BEAST! The Beast Series Trophy |
Tim – we thank you VERY much for your extreme work and dedication, all for Team Hope For The Warriors®. You are a true hero and inspiration to all :-)
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