Yeti 100 Mile Endurance Run

by Jason Green, Yeti Trail Runners

This was the third year for the Yeti 100 Mile Endurance Run, but the first time it was open to the public. We wanted to make sure everything was perfect when we invited runners from around the country to my hometown of Abingdon, Virginia. The first year we let 25 friends come and run; 75% finished with no aid provided. We knew the course was perfect when all 25 friends wanted to return the second year!

The race was set to have a perfect first year with Wolf Hills Brewing hosting packet pick up, and Adventure Damascus providing shuttles, support and high fives! Our presenting sponsor, Creeper Trail Cottages, is located at the half-way point directly on the trail and provided cabins and one of the best aid stations we have ever seen. It was a pleasure to see my hometown embrace all the participants and crews.

The race is held on the Virginia Creeper Trail nestled between the rolling hills of Virginia. The course features more than 120 trestle crossings, providing spectacular views of the valley floor. We knew the course was fast and had planned for a 16 hour finish time, so the volunteers had to scramble when Brad Hinton ran a Course Record of 14:42:50! Steve Barber was the next runner in 16:47:52. The women’s race was a fantastic one with lead changes all day but Rebecca Watters ran a superbly all day to capture the win in 20:25:54. Meredith Ussery made a charge at mile 85 and came up just a few minutes behind Rebecca in 20:50:43. The race had many first-time 100 mile finishers and many first-time sub-24 finishers.