Chocolate Bunny is the 4th and last official training run for the Massanutten mountain 100 race (MMT). I am not sure how many times I have done this training run, probably twice. It is always take place at night on the Saturday before Easter, so it is known as the Chocolate Bunny Run.
It covers the hardest section and final section of the race (about 25/26 miles). Most runners would be going through this section at night. It makes sense to train this at night.
Night run has an spooky feeling and beautiful at the same time. We were blessed that all my Chocolate Bunny runs happened on a clear night with moon rising. 2022 year we had a full moon, but this year though was the final quarter. I didn’t notice it because I was already passed the Waterfall Trail.
Last year, the Chocolate Bunny was canceled due to a mountain fire in the area.
I have come to love the Chocolate Bunny run. It is very cool to run at night with some of best people, whom I call friends. I believe it is only one night run we do as a club other than the MMT race itself. Rumors had it the club used to do a no-light night run and Bull Run night run. Probably, local law enforcement did not appreciate a bunch of runners running around somewhere in their parks, and we no longer do it except the Chocolate Bunny.
Indeed, as fate would have it, someone (not one of our people) broke their foot on the Big Run Trail and called the police for help at 4 am. No one was pleased to try to locate the missing injured hiker somewhere up on the mountain. We denied, it was not us. I hope the club was not implicated in it and we will continue to have Chocolate Bunny Run next year.
This year I am not running in the race and so I have skipped the first 3 training runs (also it was because of scheduling conflict). I was debating whether to sign up for the last training run since it happens over Easter, and there was church event (Good Friday) and then Saturday Scripture reading through the night, and then Sunrise Worship on Easter morning). I tried to do them all, but in the end, it has to be one or the other, run or church.
My friend Jeremy will be running in the MMT this year. So I had a private training run with him in the day time.
We also did a made-up MMT 3 training run a week before, which is almost like the Chocolate Bunny run but in the day time and the course was 10 miles longer. We covered it in 12 hours. We were proud of our ability to pull off a training run on our own without support, but placing couple water drop.
On the day of the the Chocolate Bunny, we again went out to the course early, waking up at 5, and starting our run at 7:30. We ran part of the MMT 1 training run, since Jeremy hasn’t done that section before, mostly we wanted to cover the Short Mountain Section, which was about 10 miles. Then we hiked up Edinburg Gap, for an out and back of maybe 4 miles, so ended up having a total of 18 miles for the day so far. We knew we have to conserve our energy for the night time run. So we finished our morning run around 2 pm and went into town (Woodstock) to get rested, food, and be refreshed. In truth, we were almost spent all our energy.
The afternoon was hot, so there was nothing much to do but to head to the Chocolate Bunny meeting point and hoping to catch some sleep in thr shades before the run.
We drove separately and I arrived later at around 5:30 pm. I thought I was being there early to get a parking spot but many other runners were already there. Fellow runners and friends: Bob, Jeff and Laura were about to set out early. When I found out, I asked if I too could go with them. They said yes. There really no need to ask. It was a training run, everyone could start whenever they want but it is good to have accountability.
I wanted an early start because I am usually the last runner to finish. By starting early, volunteers would not have to wait at the end for too long for me to finish. I quickly looked for Jeremy to see if he was interested in the early start. He was. So the five of us, start at six. Robert P. too started out early after we have left.
We had to be careful of not to run too fast to pass the first aid station at Gap Creek ahead of volunteers showing up. Generally, it takes me about two hours to cover the Big Run section to Gap Creek. By 7:30, we already got to Crisman Hollow Road. Larry (Rusty) our RD (race director) and his wife drove by as we came off the trail. It was a good sign we would have aids at the aid station. About a mile later, we arrived at Gap Creek and we were greeted by cheerful volunteers. They were my favorite people, Ram, who paced me last year and Amanda who I ran with a few times in other events. Kevin, our trail boss was also there (he and his people are in charge of marking the course for the MMT 100 each year).
This was my first time getting to Gap Creek while sun had not set yet.
After Gap Creek we climbed up to Jaw Bone and crossed Kerns Mountain. By now, the fast front runners caught up to us. It would be a night where many runners would pass us while we were on Kerns. By 11 pm, we reached the Visitor Center, our second and final aid station, which is also about the halfway point. I estimated that it would take another 4 hours to finish the run.
Jeremy by now had run on ahead. My other friend Wayne who started at the normal time caught up. I checked back my previous run, and it seemed tonight I was a bit slower.
It could have been the food I ate that was not settling well, by the time I climbed up on Bird Knob, I felt I wanted vomit. Note, others also mentioned similar experience. It could be a flu or something going on (looking back). We were spreading germs. I was lightheaded and was feeling unwell. Robert P. passed me and it was kind enough for him to stop to check on me. I told him I was not feeling well and possibly due to lack of salt. So he gave me some Salt-caps and tums.
I slowed down my walk hoping my body would recover. After about an hour or so, by midnight, I felt a bit better but by now, I still could not bring myself to run, but at least moving faster. I am guessing there were 8 miles left.
The climb up on the purple trail (Brown Hollow) was long and tough. More runners passed me. I got to meet a new runner, Ian who had gone too far and missed a turn and he was backtracking. He helped me too so I was aware of not going too far.
I gave him some tips that MMT 100 is doable as long as one keeps on pressing and not give up.
He and I ran the next four miles together always staying ahead two runners who were trying to catch up to us.
It so happened the two runners that kept chasing us were also our friends (Emily and Lance). It was good we finally learned who were behind us.
Now there were only couple miles left. I haven’t gotten lost yet. A volunteer joked with me earlier saying don’t get lost out there. I tried not to. The trail was more familar to me by now where I kind of know where to turn except the last hill up to the finish. Somehow I got off the trail and for a brief time unable to locate it. It took me 15 minutes trying to find it and then hiked out. I almost gave up and just bushwhacked out but ended up finding the trail again.
My fellow friends were waiting for me at the finish. We cheered, laughed and chatted till wee hours when the cops showed up to look for a missing hiker. So the party ended for me. I made a trip home. The rest of the trip was uneventful. I made a pitstop at a Sheetz gas station and slept till I was good enough to drive again. Coffee helped. Days later, looking back, we were grateful to make it back home safely.
Lessons/thoughts: None. I just love to be out there whether alone or with a friend or in a group, it was a good run. My weekend was all of the above. We thank volunteers of sacrificing their sleep and time for us to be able to enjoy and train up on a race. Actually, it is better to sleep at the trail after the run instead of making the long drive home. I would still be able to make it to the Easter Worship on Sunday.
In awe 