by Shawn Bowman
On March 22, 2014 among the rolling hills of Susquehanna State Park near Havre de Grace, Maryland, 433 runners lined up for the 26th annual Hinte – Anderson Trail (HAT) 50K Run. With several inches of snow on the ground just five days before the race, Mother Nature decided to cooperate and bring in mostly dry trails with overcast skies and high temperatures in the low 60s after starting in the 40s.
The course is mostly single-track trail with a mix of open fields, dirt road, some paved road, and the always-fun water crossings. Nearly 7,200 feet of climbing wears on the minds and legs of runners. After the starting loop of 3.6 miles runners complete two identical loops of 13.7 miles winding through the park while encountering bountiful aid stations and historic sites along the way.
Amy Ortner at HAT 50K, photo by Shawn Bowman
Runners line up for the mass start like a scene from the movie Braveheart. Photo: Shawn Bowman
THE WINNERS
The first male finisher was 38-year-old Christopher Beck, from Maryland, in 4:10:06.
The first female finisher was 43-year-old Kristin Eddy, from Virginia, in 4:45:15 seconds.
THE THRILL OF VICTORY AND THE AGONY OF ‘DA’ FEET
Finishing an ultramarathon brings many different emotions and reactions; joy, relief, excitement, hugs, first time finishers’ giant smiles, and family members who are just as excited as the runners. Sometimes there is competition right to the finish line and for others there is cooperation and support. At the end of this day there were 382 finishers ranging from 14 to 69 years old. And in the spirit of ‘winning is finishing’, the last runner to finish before the 8 hour, 30 minute cutoff, crossed the line in 8 hours, 25 minutes, and 13 seconds.
RACE DIRECTORS AND VOLUNTEERS
Race directors Jeff Hinte and Tim Gavin along with a small army of volunteers executed a top-notch event. From well before the start to well after the finish, they were busy marking the course, distributing race packets, setting up aid stations, and keeping runners on course, healthy, hydrated, and fed. They are all worth their weight in electrolytes.
FINISHER’S AWARDS
All finishers earned a HAT hat, keychain, and hold the medal, an extremely useful pint glass!
And as quoted on the back of the technical shirt you get for registering:
“…The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.” ~ Robert Frost