2021 NEWS ABOUT MMTR

We have been privileged over the years to have the support of several entities that have allowed us to utilize the historical MMTR course. Private businesses, federal and state agencies, private landowners, and our incredible volunteers have all contributed to the success for 38 years. Our veteran runners will know that over the years the race has seen several changes, from the start to the finish, even a few things in between.

Any race director will attest to the logistical challenges of their race, from a 5K to a 100 miler, our goal is to make those logistics as hidden as possible so the runners can do what they came to do. MMTR is no different. Over the past few years, runners would have noticed the increasing frequency of changes to the course. There were several contributing factors for those changes, and as we attempted to plan for 2020 through Covid-19 restrictions, more and more limiting factors arose. Those factors contributed to the decision to cancel for the 2020 season.

In an effort to remove those variables from future races, and set MMTR on a more solid footing for the future, beginning in 2021 the MMTR 50 Miler course will be changing from its historical point to point from Monroe to Montebello, to an out and back course, beginning and finishing in Montebello.

Dramatically altering a racecourse as historic as Mountain Masochist is not a decision we have taken lightly; however, we feel the 2021 changes will offer more enjoyment to our runners. Centralizing the start and finish location means no more 4AM or earlier wake-up call for runners. No more hour plus bus ride in the dark. Camp Montebello, the historical finish of the race has agreed to host us as the start and finish location, bringing back a lot of historic finishes for the race. We are excited for what the new course will bring – new challenges, offering runners more ‘trail time’ in the Blue Ridge mountains and less time on gravel roads. Less travel time for support crews.

Additionally, we are pleased to be adding the MMTR 50K to the lineup of races, for runners who want to taste just a little masochism.

This news will certainly be met with mixed reactions – anger, pain, joy, pain, relief, pain. Exactly what you will experience during the race – in that order. There will certainly be challenges moving forward in 2021, but we are hopeful these changes will first and foremost allow us to continue MMTR, and secondly to preserve as much of the history and legacy of the Mountain Masochist as possible.

We hope you’ll join us in the mountains in 2021.