The Holloway of Hungerford

The Holloway of Hungerford

Some thoughts on trail racing in general, and Hungerford in particular, by RD Seaver

I came across an interesting blurb in a magazine recently.  On one of the pages of the magazine was a picture that sort of looked like it was taken out at Hungerford.  And on the page was also a description and definition for what is probably a common occurrence in numerous forested areas of the country, as well as world.  The word:  Holloway

A holloway, as some of you may know, is something akin to a worn-down or washed-out path. Something in which the land surrounding it on either side rises above the path/road to create an almost tunnel-like feel.  They are usually caused/created by repeated travelings, as well as by weather.  Pretty cool looking, I thought as I read the article.  And they certainly would be pretty cool to run through.

If you have run any of the three distances that comprise the Hungerford Trail Races, you will have seen our very own (at least partial) “holloway.”  One of the runners in 2014 was able to snap a shot as they descended down it.  As Hungerford runners will note, this section is downhill, and is a blast to fly down - depending on how much rain we’ve had.  In this particular year, our “holloway” was a bit muddy and slick from some rain a few days before the race.

The Holloway of Hungerford

The terrain of Hungerford is interesting.  If you’ve run it, you know what I mean: Shaded spots; rocky spots; packed gravel; single-track; and yes, sand - (aka The Powerlines).  There, I said it.  Yes, the Powerlines - they are so fun.  And it turns out, so awesome, that I have decided to make the word a proper noun.  They are challenging, for sure, and they make that branded, wooden finisher's medal really mean something special.

The trail races I have done have all been pretty much on one type of terrain.  Nothing wrong with that.  It creates consistency and predictability of sorts.  Some races have a couple-two or three types of terrain.  Hungerford, in my estimation, has at least four very distinct trail/off-road surfaces. Talk about variety!  I dare say most people in Michigan, or the Midwest, will not find anything like it.

The other race directors and I often joke about the year sometime in the future when we end up getting bit of rain the day before or day of - we know it’s a matter of when, not if.  Anyone who runs Hungerford - any year - earns their medal that day by finishing.  It’s a tough course.  Sure, it’s not going to take the prize for elevation gain/loss, but the multi-trail type aspect, along with definite ups and downs along the way, makes it tough in its own right.

As one ultra finisher commented in 2015 (and I’m paraphrasing), “I’ve run the Bear (100 mile race in California) and this was in its own way as hard as Bear.”  He wasn’t talking about the bear sighting on our course that year (which ended up being no big deal - the bear wandered right off the course).  He definitely paid some high respect to Hungerford with that statement. Finishing our race is an accomplishment.  

I haven’t run the Bear 100 (yet), but I also haven’t run Badwater or Hardrock, and I know those are super tough. I don’t need to have run the Bear 100 to know it’s probably tough too, and I think it’s awesome to know that Hungerford is in its own right, challenging.  Doable - yes - but tough.

If you are reading this and have never run a trail race, you owe it to yourself to run one - even if it’s not ours.  Variety is good for the body as Meb K. likes to say.  If you have run on trails, and you want to run something VERY unique in Michigan, we’d be honored to have you join us in Hungerford  We think after you’re done, you’ll realize how unique this (relatively small) swath of Michigan is.

We look forward to welcoming some first-time finishers into the exclusive club of Hungerford finishers this September!

Operation Sassafras

438

That's the number of postcards that are out there right now, floating through the postal system, hoping to end up in the hands of our previous registrants.

Names have been blurred to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent alike.

If you're one of those previous registrants, be on the lookout!  Your postcard should be showing up any minute now.

That's also the number of unique stories connected to Hungerford.  Each participant toed the starting line, braved the Power Lines, and spent some quality time with the Manistee National Forest (some of you a little more time than others!).  Your memories of the event might be triumphant, excruciating, exhilarating, frustrating, or fulfilling, but I know one thing for sure: the time you spent at Hungerford was unforgettable.  

The Hungerford Race Directors truly appreciated the chance to play a role, however small, in your race day memories.  We loved meeting you, hearing your stories, and being a part of your experience.  We would absolutely love to have you back.

That's why we're reaching out to all our previous Hungerfordians.  We want to be part of a new Hungerford adventure and a new Hungerford experience.  Your postcard includes a discount code - a little "Thank You" for thinking of Hungerford in the past.  (If you've moved since you signed up, or if your card just doesn't show up, send us a note and we'll reveal the top-secret code SASSAFRAS.)

September 24th seems like a long way away, but it's fast approaching.  We're hoping to see YOU back on the trails, charging through the Manistee National Forest on a beautiful fall day, experiencing Hungerford.  Sign up today!

Giving Back: The Next Generation

The Hungerford Trail Races have a history of giving back.

Many of you know that The Hungerford Games started as a fundraiser.  On Saturday, October 6, 2012, the coaches of Crossroads Charter Academy were riding the bus back from the Portage Invitational, talking about training and racing and life.  All of them loved long-distance races, loved cross country, loved flying through the forest on a fall afternoon, and loved the undiscovered gem that is the Hungerford recreation area.

I’m not sure if it was Brandon Seaver or Kendall Schroeder, but someone put two and two and two together and suggested that we should host a race.  A half marathon, marathon, and ultramarathon.  In Hungerford.  

Of course, we didn’t want our race to be just like every other trail race.  We wanted it uniquely to express the arboreal essence of a good Michigan trail.  After a lot of brainstorming, we came up with the foundational, essential elements of the race.  Wooden medals, branded with the logo.  Hiking sticks to ultramarathoners who complete the course between sunrise and sunset.  The sassafras logo.  The Hungerford Games were born.

Fast forward three years, and most of us have moved on from CCA.  However, our love for Cross Country - for helping to instill in young people a love of running and of nature - is still strong.  In 2015, we allowed runners to choose a local running organization to which to donate.  This coming year, we’re broadening this program so that a portion of your entry can go to benefit ANY youth running program you’d like, anywhere in the country.

Did you have a coach who inspired you?  You can run a great trail race and, at the same time, give a little back to any youth running program you’d like.  Say Thank You by designating your preferred youth running program in the “Next Generation” line on your registration.

I’ve coached young runners from kindergarten through high school for a dozen years, and I can’t tell you how much seemingly small contributions can make.  Schools are increasingly cutting back on funding for athletics, and running programs at most schools fly far below the radar and receive very little funding. We had to fundraise to get shoes for kids who couldn’t afford them, to get a real tent for our team, and to get the supplies we needed to host our first home meet in sixteen years.  There are countless other dedicated coaches who are spending their own money to buy the things that their students need in order to really have a running experience.  Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a big difference.

In three years, those little contributions have added up to raise over $10,000 to get kids involved in the first and the purest of sports: running!  This year, you can choose exactly who to say Thank You to when you register to run the 2016 Hungerford Trail Races!

Register today, and help the Next Generation get up and running!

The Original Hungerford Hero

If you've run Hungerford, you've probably seen this guy welcoming runners at the finish line:

That's Kendall Schroeder, one of the creators of the Hungerford Trail Races.  He was on the bus ride when the race was invented, and he's the guy who hand-crafted the logo.  Although his schedule doesn't permit him to RD year-round, he's up until 2:00 a.m. with us on race morning, cutting orange slices and getting things organized -- and then he's back at PT Plus by five to start our big day.

Race weekend is an absolutely insane 72 hours, and we really couldn't pull it off the way we want to without his indispensable work.

As a lifelong runner and a two-time Cross Country Coach of the Year, Kendall has been a tireless supporter of runners and the running community for years.  He puts in these crazy hours because he enjoys seeing participants reach for and attain their dreams, and to be a part of making it happen.

Sign up for the 2016 Hungerford Trail Races, and when you see him at the finish, remember to say, "Thanks!"

A Big Thank-You

Another Hungerford Hero

This year, we contacted Mitch Richter at Lakeside Motor Sports about renting an ATV for our event.  To our surprise, he offered to let us use a Polaris Ranger for free, immediately becoming one of our very valued event sponsors.  Then, on Friday before the race, he showed up with TWO Rangers.

They were awesome.

We've tried out a couple of different UTVs at our previous runnings of The Games, and these were by far the most rugged and versatile that we've used.  They handled a little mud and a lot of sand without the slightest problem, got out the race course quickly and easily, and even ran relatively quietly.  If you're in the market for a UTV, a Ranger is a great option - and we highly recommend swinging by Lakeside Motor Sports!

Getting Hungerford ready is a tough job,
but these babies were more than up to the challenge!

Hungerford Heroes, Part 1

I'm not sure how closely the blog is/was followed, but during this year's Race Director event recap, it occurred to me that this is a forum that provides a unique fit for some of our needs, and that I ought to revisit it.

One of the things that we wanted to include is a spotlight for some of the people who contribute so much to make Hungerford a successful race.  Here, I can go into a little more depth and give some of them the credit they deserve.  Call it a "Hungerford Heroes" section.

To start, I'd like to thank Jeff Thorne at PT Plus.  He provides us the use of his facility, free of charge; it's the perfect spot to start the perfect little trail race.  Many of you noticed that PT Plus is super conveniently located; it's just off the highway for those who are driving in, and exceptionally close to lodging options (within easy walking distance of The Country Inn).  It's got showers available to help you clean up after the race.  It's right across the street from Trinity Church's ample parking.  It's got great space for the tent and all our supplies.  It's awesome.

I hope you've had a chance to spot the PT Plus sign as you rounded the last curve and approached the Hungerford finish line.  It's a welcome sight, for sure, and a great landmark for weary runners.

Thanks, Jeff and PT Plus, for helping to make The Hungerford Trail Races an little marvel of a trail race!

A great place to start a race!

Charitable Choice

Organizing a race is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in running.  I love to see runners out enjoying the beauty and challenge of Hungerford, and when they cross that finish line, their sense of satisfaction and joy is contagious.  If you've been one of those athletes, I hope your memories of the day are even half as fond as mine are.

But I think that directing a race is really only my second-most gratifying experience.

Coaching youth athletes, from kindergarten through high school, has been perhaps even a little better.  When you coach an athlete, not only do you get to witness their struggles and their triumphs, but you get to walk them through the entire process, and to see from day to day their continued effort and growth.  You get to know them more directly, to help them study for exams and discuss their plans for the future.  You get to train alongside them as they progress through their career.  That long road makes the eventual victories even more meaningful.

Brandon and Rob, my fellow Directors, feel the same way.  Both have spent thousands of hours and dollars of their own to help young athletes become better runners and better people.  We know that across the country there are hundreds of other coaches who share that passion.

We've used The Hungerford Games to raise funds for the running programs at Crossroads Academy in Big Rapids -- where we all used to work and coach.  We've moved on professionally, however, and would love to spread the love to other area programs that are helping to raise up the next generation of runners (and customers :-)

When you register for the 2015 Hungerford Trail Races at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=29863, you'll be able to choose from a list of area running programs, including local high school programs and Girls on the Run (http://www.girlsontherun.org/), to receive a portion of your registration fee.

And as always, another portion of the proceeds will go to the Manistee National Forest to help preserve the beauty of the area.

Support youth running, support the Manistee National Forest, and experience Hungerford!  We hope to see you in September!