Our Great Start
The Old Dominion 100 mile Endurance Run was started in 1979 by Pat and Wayne Botts to give East Coast runners an opportunity to complete 100 miles on foot in 24 hours or less over the rugged terrain of northern Virginia. The race was patterned after the Western States Endurance Run, which was first run as a running race in 1974.
Curiously enough, the first proponents of the run were the riders of endurance horses. These riders organized the Old Dominion Endurance Ride, Inc. and had their first 100 mile endurance ride in 1974. Following a similar competition at the Western States Trail in California by some of the Old Dominion organizers, where in the beginning, both the riders and runners shared the same trail at the same time, Pat and Wayne decided that the time was right to have a similar event on the East coast.
The First Trail - 1979
In 1979 and 1980, the race began and ended at the beautiful Morven Park Estate in Leesburg, Virginia. The first trail was designed to cross many of the routes that had been used by George Washington as he surveyed the land around Leesburg and in the Shenandoah River Valley. The rolling hills and streams traversed by modern day runners were the same areas traversed by Mosby’s Raiders during the Civil War. The original trail circled to the west from Leesburg, climbed the Blue Ridge Mountains, crossed the Appalachian Trail and descended to Calmes Neck, and then through many rural villages before returning to Leesburg.
Inaugural Race - 1979
In the inaugural race in 1979, although only a few runners were expected by the Run Director to attempt this race, 45 brave souls appeared to face an unknown challenge. Only 2 of the runners had completed a 100 mile race before, with just 16 people in the world having completed 100 miles in under 24 hours.
The Blessing - 1979
A priest blessed the start of the event with the words that the runners were in “in God’s hands, under God’s care, in a celebration of life and well being.” With the blessing completed, the event started at 4:15 a.m.
Off and Running, Neck and Neck
Ray Krowlewicz led most of the race, but an ankle injury slowed him and by eight miles he no longer led. Peter Monahan, Paul Appell and Bill Lawder took the lead, with Monahan ahead by four minutes. The three dueled it out to the finish, with Monahan finishing first in 17:56. Paul finished a minute later, with Bill coming in third. Even with his injury, Ray managed to finish ninth. 18 runners completed the race in under 24 hours the first year. There had been two women that had started the race, with Barbara Allen coming in tenth in 22:13.
A New, Tougher Course - 1980
1980s’ race provided new challenges as the course was modified slightly to make it tougher. But this year there was no shortage of 100 mile veterans. Frank Bonzanich, a finisher of the 1979 Western States race, and Pete Monahan, the winner of the 1979 Old Dominion were the prerace favorites to win. Unfortunately, Pete suffered a severe prerace injury that removed him as a serious contender for that years race, but veteran ultrarunners Bob Harper and Bill Lawder were expected to give Frank a challenge for the First to Finish buckle.
Frank Bonzanich - Only Daylight Finisher - 1980
After the start, at least six runners had a chance to be in the front pace, including eventual finishers Bozanich, Harper, Ed Foley, Sabin Snow and Fred Pilon. But Frank was relentless, running the first fifty miles and run/walking the last to be the only daylight finisher of the Old Dominion in 15:17. Bob Harper came in second. 17 of the 49 starters finished in under 24 hours with eight runners repeating their sub 24 hour times of 1979. Three of the 1979 nonfinishers made it on their second try.
Massanutten/Blue Ridge - 1981
In 1981, the Old Dominion changed its course as it moved to the Massanutten and Blue Ridge mountains around Front Royal, Virginia. The new course was run, for the most part, between the north and south forks of the Shenandoah River. It had seven significant climbs with a total elevation gain and loss
of 13,000 feet. There were 35 miles of trail, about 55 miles of dirt roads and 10 miles of hard roads.
The 13th Old Dominion Run
The 13th running, June 1, 1991 had several new features. Always held in conjunction with the endurance horse race, this year the events separated. Home base was in the middle of the course in Fort Valley at the beautiful Ingram farm and the course was altered to bring the tail of the big loop out of and back to finish at the farm. The consensus seemed to be the changes resulted in a more difficult course.
Woodstock - 1992
In 1992, for the first time the race began in Woodstock, Virginia at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds. 74 men and 9 women toed the mark at the start of the race, Old Dominion’s Fourteenth.
The Massanutten mountains splits the Shenandoah Valley for half it’s length, dividing the South Fork of the river from the North Fork. Massanutten’s arms embrace the Fort, our hidden valley. This is still a very difficult place to find. And, once you get here, it’s almost impossible to leave.
Sabbatical 2001
But, to those who have, we sincerely hope you will understand and support the necessity we feel requires our taking a hiatus during the 2002. We hope you will find your way back when Springtime comes again.
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