Goat Ramblings about Run Woodstock...
7-2-09

I’m sure many of you dream up ideas for a new running event you would someday like to put on, the kind of race you personally would love to run in … Or is it only me that has this problem? Fortunately, I have an event company with a great staff of obsessed event put-er-on-er types that I can throw my ideas off … And then, put the dreams to reality, if they let me.

My newest nonsense, Run Woodstock, 3 days of peace, love and running, or should I say 3 days of running, which we love, and the peace that it brings. OK, admitted, I’m an old hippie at heart and heck, this event gives me an excuse to not cut my hair. I was only a little kid when Woodstock took place but the sounds and sights of that mellow era are favorites of mine. Put on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album, De JA Vu and if it makes you smile, you will definitely want to join us at runwoodstock.com

The Run Woodstock idea came to me years ago but I never got around to it. Recently, Bruce Purdy, an obsessed ultra runner who now works a bit at Running Fit approached me with the idea of putting on Michigan’s only 100 mile trail run. Thinking about what it takes to put on a 100 mile run and the fact that we’d be out at the park all weekend brought me full circle to Run Woodstock. A weekend running camp going on during a 100 mile race seemed a good fit, heck; we’ll need to be there all weekend anyway.

We decided to offer every event distance imaginable for the Run Woodstock weekend, but I really see it as two events.

Event 1. The Ultramarathon (I include the 100 mile, 100K, 50 mile and 50K and marathon in this)

Event 2. A weekend of trail runs. I like the idea of running a 5K, half marathon, 10K and 5 mile on trails, all on the same weekend, I’m just hoping a couple hundred other runners think so too! (I may have to tweak the sign up for this part but for this year, I came up with the idea of having a bunch of timed event distances on Saturday morning, sign up for any of them and we throw in a Friday night 5k, Saturday night 10K and Sunday morning 5 mile. Yes, some will come just to run the Marathon or ultra races but for the Saturday morning 5 mile and half marathon entrants, I picture them running the other 3 runs … It’s what I plan to do!

It’s back to Pinckney Recreation area for Woodstock, home to the Running Fit Trail race weekend and Dances With Dirt Hell. Yes, we go back there often but as an event guy, it helps to have a relationship with someone in the DNR that is pro running events. Kudos to park directors Jon LaBossiere, Chuck Dennison and their staff … who put up with our silliness. Not to mention, Pinckney Rec. is one beautiful piece of lower Michigan wilderness.

We rented every campsite at Hell Creek Ranch, soon to be known as Hell Creek Commune. I picture this event like a weekend running camp, listening to great music, hanging out around the campfire telling running stories, moonlight swims … And going out for one run after another and knowing that there will be a big gang of runners of the same ilk ready to join us. Maybe the highest mileage weekend of your life! And yes, a few “natural” miles will be an option; this information will only be available from an underground source, not in print.