Whatever happens with this weekend’s 32nd Mountain Mist 50K, thanks to the weather, will determine the newest champions of the Huntsville Slam.
If the event goes forward, champions will be crowned. If it’s canceled, they’ll be determined, perhaps with an asterisk. Or, maybe something else could happen.
For now, the only thing to do is plan for an ultramarathon Saturday morning and wait to see what happens.
Mist race director Dink Taylor has told registered athletes he is watching all forecasts in regard to the winter storm moving east. Taylor is in contact with Huntsville Police Department and Monte Sano State Park officials. He has HPD permits for runners to cross Bankhead Parkway and Monte Sano Drive, along with state park permits. Taylor said HPD and park officials ultimately will determine whether the race can go on.
“We’re watching the weather like everyone else is,” he posted on Facebook midday Tuesday. “We have been busy planning this race for several months, everything is scheduled and around $50,000 has been spent on the race already. We will do everything possible to have the race. 31 years and the race has never been cancelled but there is always a first time. Keep your fingers crossed, I know everyone wants to run Monte Sano trails!”
A cold front surging east from Texas will suck warm air northward from the Gulf of Mexico. That fuels the rain, and with freezing temperatures the chance for snow, ice and a mess. As of Wednesday midday, temperatures were almost 60 degrees in Huntsville but clouds were moving in. The line for ice and snow had shifted north of Birmingham, according to some forecast models, putting North Alabama in the crosshairs.
Slam Hopes on Edge
The rugged ultramarathon on Monte Sano’s trails is the final event of the four-race Slam.
It began in November with the Dizzy Fifty 50K, followed by the Rocket City Marathon and Recover From the Holiday 50K in December. Participants pile up 120 miles every 17.5 days on road, trail and the John Hunt Park cross country grass course. The best cumulative finish times determine the men’s and women’s champs.
After three events, Samuel Newport of Louisville, Ky., leads the men’s division by about four minutes. Karen Rudolph of Madison leads the women’s division by about 16 minutes. (See full standings below.)
Some forecasts predict the storm’s effects could last until Tuesday. Mountain Mist never has canceled in 31 years. Ten years ago, it was delayed a day due to winter weather. Two years ago, multiple days of rain turned trails into muddy slip ‘n slides.
Slam director Lindsey Shady is cautiously optimistic going into the weekend.
“We’re all asking the same questions, and right now I have the same amount of information you do,” she told Slam athletes Tuesday via email. “The (Mist) race director is thoughtful, experienced and always makes decisions with runner safety as the top priority. You can trust that if a call needs to be made, it will be the right one, made in the best interest of everyone out there.”
Wait and See
The Mountain Mist field is capped at 525 each year. Waitlist runners pluck the drops until the registration deadline, which was January 17 at midnight. After that, no waitlisters are added.
As of Wednesday afternoon the field was down to 516 entrants; 409 were male and 107 female. Runners from Alabama and Tennessee comprise the bulk of the field, which includes some from Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, New York, Massachusetts and every Southeast state.
Taylor advised Mist athletes that he will provide updates as best and timely as possible. Ultimately, they will have to decide about traveling into Huntsville. Postponing a day, as in 2016, isn’t ruled out but based on midweek forecasts for several nasty days, it is unlikely.
Shady said if the race is canceled, she’s mulling options for Slam athletes to get in the final mileage. As of now, that’s still to be determined.
“I remain hopeful that we’ll end up with a full Slam this year,” she said. “That said, I also want you to know that I’m thinking carefully about all possible scenarios and what they might mean for the Slam. If we do find ourselves dealing with truly unfortunate weather luck, we have some options.”
