Grindstone 100 race cancelled due to government shutdown (camp, costs)

[cry_havoc]

Pity these athletes trained all year for this

BBC News - US shutdown: 10 unexpected consequences

The Grindstone 100 running race, in which 200 elite athletes run for 100 miles along the southern Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, has been suspended because it was due to go through a national park.




That's a year's training for nothing, says race director and creator Clark Zealand. Even if the race is rescheduled, there are plenty of entrants who won't be able to make it.

"It's very disappointing. This is the sixth year of the race and it's been building each year, with people from 30 states including Hawaii, and Canada," he says.

The race starts at Camp Shenandoah, Virginia, and has 23,000 feet of climbs. It's never been run in less than 17 hours.

This isn't normal distance running, says Zealand. Competitors must train the gut to digest food on the go, and then there's the mental battle. "You can go through the highs and lows of life during a 100-mile race."

[pknopp]

The land belongs to them. I have no idea why they would cancel.

[cry_havoc]

Originally Posted by pknopp

The land belongs to them. I have no idea why they would cancel.

Part of the course goes through a national park, which is closed to the public.

[Route50guy]

Right, the National Parks are closed. The parks belong to all of us but it costs money to run the parks and keep visitors safe. One of those little consequences. . .

[pknopp]

Originally Posted by Route50guy

Right, the National Parks are closed. The parks belong to all of us but it costs money to run the parks and keep visitors safe. One of those little consequences. . .

Seemed to be just fine when the WWII veterans decided that they were going to visit the monument dedicated to them. There are people lined all up and down races like this to keep people safe.