These course preview runs are brought to you by MyMuddyShoes, the local trail tribe with the vibe here in Montgomery County, in conjunction with the Stone Mill 50 Race Director – all rise – the one and only Barry Hauptmann!
Race website: https://www.stone-mill-50-mile.org/
OK, Stone Millers, it’s time to start training up and getting’ yer head in gear for Stone Mill. Its coming up. We’ll be hittin the course piece-by-piece in a series of course preview training runs like in previous years. The purpose of these trots is to get folks out on the course to get a look-see at what they’ll be tackling on race day. Gives ya just a little advantage that you’ll have in your back pocket on race day. The preview runs will be held over 4 Saturdays in October/November, with a BONUS 5th week at the Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Trail Haph Marathon and 10K also put on by MyMuddyShoes. The Half will be a great taper run for Stone Millers.
On each of the training runs there’ll be water set out on the course and chewable stuff back at the parking lots. However, these runs will be BYOTP…yeah, the TP stands for toilet paper. Feel free to bring a pass-around to share if you want. All runs will be on Saturday mornings, starting at 0730. Open to all. We humbly ask for a $5 donation for each run or any loose change they find on the floor of their car to help defray the cost of water and snacks…and to pay for my vacation home at the beach…kidding!…wanted to see if you were still paying attention!
*Please note, the course may not be marked beyond the normal trail markings (tree blazes), and neither Stone Mill nor MyMuddyShoes are responsible or liable for any incidents that may occur during these runs. This includes fronting bail money!
While subject to change, here is the schedule as of right now. I’ll send out notifications the Friday before each run. OK, here ya go:
Run 1 – Saturday, 4 October @0730
Stedwick Elementary School
10631 Stedwick Rd, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Distance: 20ish miles
Fair warning – there is a wee bit of pavement involved in this run. But only a little. That’s right, we’ll be starting and ending at the official Start/Finish line and giving you a look at what you’ll see at the beginning and glorious end of the race and that involves hitting a bit of asphalt to get you to and from the trailhead (1.25 miles each way)
There will be water on the course and snacks back at the start/finish. Feel free to bring a snack if ya got one.
Run 2 – Saturday, 11 October @7:30
Location: Pennyfield Lock
12100 Pennyfield Lock Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
GPS Coordinates: 39.055337, -77.290634
Distance: 19ish miles or so
This Saturday you all will get a look at what is almost the entire second half of the outbound section of the course minus one small stretch we’ll get to later on. We’ll be running on the Muddy Branch Trail in its entirety. Starting at Pennyfield Lock we’ll head up to the Rt. 28 tunnel and then back down to the start. That 2nd part, the return leg of the out-n-back, is the way you’ll be coming during the race so that’s where ya need to pay attention. Altogether this will only be 19 miles or so. Feel free to add on extra if your little legs desire. We’ll have some aid set up at Turkey Foot Road for your dining and replenishing pleasure. That will be at about mile 4 outbound or 15-ish inbound. We’ll also have snacks at the end.
Run 3 – Saturday, 18 October @7:30
Location: Pennyfield Lock (again)
12100 Pennyfield Lock Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
GPS Coordinates: 39.055337, -77.290634
Distance: 20ish miles
Here’s the plan. We are meeting up at the same parking lot as last week (Pennyfield Lock) but we’ll run in the opposite direction to get a look at the next section of the course (Mile 24.5 to Mile 34.5, roughly). I’m going to leave it up to you Math nerds to crunch the numbers but using my finger digits and doing the ‘Rithmatic I get 10 miles up and 10 miles back for 20 total.
So, about this section of trail. During the race Pennyfield Lock is basically the half way point. There will be a full-blown Aid Station here that provides not only liquids, real food and pottys but this is where you will find your drop bags. Crew access is also available here. We will head up the C & O Canal to Riley’s Lock where you will pass the real Stone Mill at Mile 27.78 and another full-blown Aid Station (no drop bags here) with all the amenities. You might see something stronger than Gatorade available on the beverage table here (wink, wink) :0. This is the point where you pick up the Seneca Greenway Trail and head North. We’ll turn around at the Rt. 28 Trail Head, during race day you just keep going.
Run 4 – Saturday, 25 October @7:30
Location: Rt 28 Trail Head
15813 Darnestown Rd, Germantown, MD 20874
GPS Coordinates:39.128111, -77.332955
Distance: 22ish miles
Head North up Greenway and Seneca Ridge Trail to Quince Orchard Road. Down Rt. 28 (sidewalk to start of Muddy Branch trail. Distance – about 22 Miles
Note: Each of these runs is an out-n-back, so the distance is easily customized to your needs.
Run #5 – Bonus Taper Run – Saturday, November 1st @7:30
Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Half Marathon and 10k
15679 Needwood Lake Cir, Derwood, MD
GPS Coordinates: 39.114637, -77.127564
This is not an actual course preview. It’s just a fun way to taper and party for the last weekend before Stone Mill . This is a really fun event!