Marathon and Beyond Article 201509harpethhillsmarathon.com/docs/MBMonkey2015Sept.pdf166 l MARATHON & BEYOND l September/October 2015 When asked about the race, Trent answers, “What

160 l MARATHON & BEYOND l September/October 2015

Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey MarathonDo you believe in monkeys?

Do you believe in flying monkeys? Do you run for camaraderie, for a good, tough time, and for bragging rights? Do you want something a little different? There is a beautiful part of Nashville, Tennessee, called

Harpeth Hills where you may find all of these. The Harpeth Hills area houses two joined parks, Edwin Warner and Percy Warner, making up one of the larg-est municipal-park systems in the country. It boasts rolling hills, dense forests, and lots of grassland. Every November, Percy Warner Park erupts into craziness with loco runners, flying monkeys (human and otherwise), too much food, and a lot of fun. Every year since its inception, the race has filled up. In the last few years, a lottery has been instituted, thanks to the demand for spaces. Where’s the magic? For one thing, there is an air of fantasy about the whole thing—there are

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The BasicsNAME: Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon

ADDRESS: 155 Carnavon Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37205

PHONE: 615-356-7277

WEBSITE: http://www.harpethhillsmarathon.com

E-MAIL: [email protected]

RACE DIRECTOR: Trent Rosenbloom

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2006

COURSE CERTIFIED: Proudly not certified

COURSE TYPE: Road course, two loops, wooded surroundings

FUTURE RACE DATE: November 22, 2015; November 20, 2016; November 19, 2017

TYPICAL WEATHER: Can be anything—from warm and sunny to cold and rainy, and some years there is snow and ice.

COURSE ELEVATION: 3,600 feet gain and loss over the course; 7,200 feet of overall elevation change. The lowest elevation is 600 feet above sea level, reached at mile 7.25 and 18.25. The highest point is 970 feet above sea level, reached at mile 5.5 and 20.25.

START TIME: 8:00 A.M.

COURSE RECORDS: Set in 2012. Ben Schneider 2:34:17; Leah Thovilson 2:59:36

ASSOCIATED EVENTS: None, although the RD jokingly states that runners can do a half-marathon if they run 13.1 miles along the racecourse first to get to the half-marathon’s starting line.

PRIZE MONEY: There is no prize money.

MARATHON AWARDS: There are overall awards to the first male and female and first masters male and female. These are hand-knit flying monkey dolls.

ENTRY FEE: For 2015: $90.

COURSE MARKINGS: Wooden signs every mile—funny signs such as “This is not a hill.”

MARATHON FINISHERS IN 2014: 298

MALE/FEMALE RATIO OF FINISHERS: 64 percent male, 36 percent female

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NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS: 100

AID STATIONS: Nine aid stations; runners pass aid stations a total of 20 times.

MEDICAL AID: Medical aid at the start and finish; cyclists radio in need.

ON-COURSE ENTERTAINMENT: Approximately 10 areas that may have music. You might see a flying monkey or two.

EXPO: There is a packet pickup, but no official expo.

PASTA DINNER: No official pasta dinner, but plenty of local restaurants nearby.

POSTRACE PARTY: The postrace party starts at the finish line with a full potluck provided by volunteers and runners and ends when the last person decides to leave.

LODGING AND TOURIST INFO: The lodging link on the race website (www.harpethhillsmarathon.com) lists three hotels close to the race start/finish, and links to other hotels in nearby communities.

GETTING THERE: Harpeth Hills is a suburb of Nashville, and Nashville’s airport would be by far the most convenient for runners.

flying monkeys on the course, though some of them are human, and some are . . . magical. There is a potluck of food at the end and a raffle. And there are no age group awards, just enjoyment.

History of the parksAlmost hidden on the west side of Nashville but only about nine miles from the downtown area is a vast stretch of land, nearly 2,700 acres, that comprises Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. Before the larger Nashville area was settled, this area was part of a 440-mile path called the Natchez Trace Trail, which extended from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, linking the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Mis-sissippi Rivers. The trail was created by American Indians and was then used by early explorers in the area. The end of the Natchez Trace (now the location of the Warner Park Nature Center and the Cane Connector Trail) is in the Warner Parks. Many early settlers lived in this area, and fish and game were plentiful. Cemeteries begun by early settlers exist within the parks.

The Works Progress Administration provided much of the construction that created the park. A steeplechase, the only racetrack ever built by the federal government, opened in 1941. During the years of World War II, the parks were the sites of victory gardens. The Friends of Warner Parks says this area contains


some of the “oldest forests in middle Tennessee and is a haven for many rare and endangered species of birds, plants, and wildlife” (http://warnerparks.org/about-us/history/). Consider this history when you’re running through the Percy Warner Park roads. The sole charity for the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkeys Marathon is the Friends of Warner Parks, and when you buy posters, Silipints (reuseable, outdoor-friendly silicone pint cups), or extra shirts at the packet pickup, a dona-tion goes to the Friends of Warner Parks.

Do you believe in monkeys? This race comes with its own legend. As you search for information about this race, you continually receive warnings about the flying monkeys in the park. You may remember the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz—large, mischievous winged creatures that were slaves to the owner of a certain golden cap. Accord-ing to the race website: “Nashville’s Percy Warner Park is home to a legendary breed of flying monkeys, named the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkeys after the geologic region where they reside.” These flying monkeys are dying out but are to be feared and avoided like the plague. They may be seen anywhere along the marathon course. The website says that a fortunate few may see the few remain-ing monkeys take flight! You can also hope for the sightings of various wildlife, friendly or otherwise.

History of the raceThe marathon started as a dare, according to race director Trent Rosenbloom and volunteer coordinator Diana Bibeau. The Nashville Striders’ website had a com-ment from an anonymous contributor who said that a marathon put on in Percy Warner Park, which was known for a difficult 11.2-mile loop, would have to be one of the hardest in the country. Trent proposed just such an event to the Nashville Striders. Diana had already been volunteer coordinator for the Striders and agreed to be volunteer coordinator for the race. Diana says that three Nashville running groups continue to cover six water stops every year, and four area running stores (National Running Company, Team Nashville, Fleet Feet, and Athlete’s House) continue to sponsor water stops.

The first year had 96 finishers and many of the same volunteers, including volunteer coordinator Diana and race director Trent. Another continuing thread is that there are no financial sponsors, although several groups provide volunteer support or swag. According to Trent, “We charge a fair registration fee that covers the cost of the race plus a small additional amount which covers a donation to the Friends of Warner Parks. People do use the charity option when signing up, to avoid the lottery, and sometimes people make a straight-up donation.”

must see/must avoidMUST SEELower Broadway honky-tonks. Already it sounds interesting, right? If you are headed down Lower Broadway toward the Cumberland River, you will come to a series of honky-tonks, with great food and country and blues music.

The Parthenon. Located at 2600 West End Avenue, Nashville, the Parthenon is in Centennial Park and is a full-scale representation of the Athenian Parthenon. (http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parthenon.aspx) Built for the 1897 Centennial Exhibition and includes a 45-foot-tall statue of Athena.

The Country Music Hall of Fame, 222 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville. (http://countrymusichalloffame.org/) Prepare to travel through several decades of country-music history, including video clips, recorded music, photographs, and educational programs. If you are lucky enough to be there at the right time, you may be able to catch live performances.

The Hatch Show Print Museum, 224 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville. (http://hatchshowprint.com/) This museum started at this location in 1875 when the Hatch family moved its print shop to Nashville. There is a gallery with histori-cal posters, an active print shop where visitors can view production, and of course a store where posters and memorabilia can be purchased.

Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish, 624 Main Street, Nashville, is described as Southern soul food and specializes in spicy-hot chicken. Your race director, Trent, recommended this one. The prices are pretty good and some reviewers who describe themselves as experts were impressed at how hot the chicken wings were. Taste for yourself.

Hermitage Museum, 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Nashville. This former home of President Andrew Jackson is 20 minutes away from downtown Nashville and well worth your time. Tours are available.

Yazoo Brewing. 910 Division Street, Nashville. One of Nashville’s premiere craft breweries, with a number of classic local beers, an ever-changing series of hopped-up ales, and an innovative line of sour and funky beers. Yazoo has supported the race since its very beginning.

MUST AVOIDOpryland Hotel area. Why? It is described as “big, sprawling, expensive, locked in, and gaudy.” You take your chances.



When asked about the race, Trent answers, “What do I want people to take away? Bruises, suffering, and an appreciation for the natural beauty in middle Tennessee. Also a healthy fear of flying monkeys. The Flying Monkey is unique, first because it has the feel, ethos, scenery, and hills usual for trail races but is not a trail race; it has the convenience and accessibility of a road race. Second, we have a rich community of runners, fully embracing the opportunity to run and celebrate together. I let them know they have the opportunity to get hurt—I put it in the e-mails—and though they won’t admit it, they love that! Third, the metro park where we hold the race is one of the largest in the country, and it shows the natural beauty that middle Tennessee has to offer. ”

Trent had asthma as a child and was never active until he started running while in medical school, confining himself to a three-mile loop on the Vanderbilt University campus. Fifteen or so years ago, he started running more and trained for the Country Music Marathon; that day it was 90 degrees, and he hadn’t trained enough. Consequently, he stopped running for three years until he found out he was going to be in Duluth, Minnesota, the following summer. “I put on my shoes for the first time, ran three miles, ate a gluttonous dinner, and signed up for Grandma’s. That was December. I ran it in June and was hooked. I ran a total of five marathons that year and next year I created the Monkey. I also joined Marathon Maniacs. Every other year, I have run the Flying Monkey.”

Diana could be described as a supervolunteer coordinator. She manages the entire volunteer coordination for the race, including food, course, and setup. She handles course logistics, and her husband helps her get the equipment out. We asked her if she had any good stories. “One year was ‘the year it rained.’” (Trent describes the year it rained: “From about 15 minutes into the race until nearly five hours later, the Monkey received a constant, chilling, soaking rainfall that added to the challenges of running Monkey. Ultimately, the rain dumped several inches and turned the entire finishers’ area and parking lot into a mud pit. Runners who participated that year look back on it with bravado and with well-earned bragging rights, and all received a special commemorative T-shirt the following year stat-ing, ‘I ran Monkey the year it rained.’”) Diana adds, “I told my husband to take the service road to deliver stuff to the stops. Driving along the road, he didn’t realize there was a stone wall, and the Murano ended up on top of it: $2,000 and a lot of volunteers later, the car was fixed. I’m told I said things to him that only a wife would say.”

Diana started running when she was 31 and has been active all of her life, meeting her husband at a marathon in 1999. When they moved to Nashville in 2001, the first people they met became lifelong friends, all very capable runners. She was on the board of directors of the Nashville Striders for 10 years. She was asked to be volunteer coordinator. She considers many things about the Monkey to be distinctive and says that the race has developed a cult following. The after-

race meal is a potluck provided by runners and volunteers. Each runner is asked to bring a food donation for the meal, and any possible leftovers are donated to food banks in the area. Mike Brooks, from Maine, a megamarathoner and ultra-runner who has run the Monkey race more than once, enthuses about the amount of food and the kegs of beer at the finish.

Race director Trent shared this race story: “Every year after the race, we do door prizes. I call names at random. In 2013, it was very cold out, humid, windy, a 20-degree day. In November, when the first cold hits, it’s really cold! The race was done, the door prizes were finished, and everyone left as quickly as they could. As we were leaving, someone drove up with a cardboard box containing a litter of tiny feral kittens. Had he shown up 10 minutes earlier, they would have been door prizes. My wife came to me in a panic and told me to do something, the kids want a kitten! My wife was relieved and horrified when I told them they could keep a cat. They all picked the same cat and the same name—we now have a cat named Monkey!”

The Monkey is addictive. Josh Hite, from Cookville, Tennessee, is a frequent flyer, having run the second year and every year since. He often runs up to 20 marathons a year, but the Monkey is always included. “I see it as a preliminary to the holiday season: the Monkey, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, my wife’s birthday—the Monkey starts the holiday season. I put on a marathon of my own, The Blister in the Sun, in August. But Trent has something really special. It’s a postmodern race for runners, not for racers. My kids, who are 6 and 10, look

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forward to coming every year. They go to the middle of the field (start/finish area), pitch a tent, and go out to yell, ‘Monkey, monkey!’ for runners. Have you heard about the food afterward? And the beer tent? Some people sandbag, go slower, so they can finish after noon and get beer (Tennessee does not allow alcohol to be served before noon on Sunday). And everyone comes away with a door prize.”

The volunteers and runners are memorable. Angela Ivory, a Nashville native, 50 States Marathon Club member, and genuine “sweetest person” was mentioned a number of times. Josh begged her to run the last quarter mile of the Monkey with him. Mike Brooks remembers Angela coming out to volunteer as a high- light. Angela passed away from cancer in 2012 after a long battle. She was a fixture. Her passing occasioned a moment of quiet reflection in her memory at the race in 2013.

Ben Schneider, a five-time winner of the race, has additional reasons to remember the Monkey fondly. He met his wife there in 2008 and then the next year, in the parking lot at the race, they became engaged. Ben waited until after the race to propose, and describes that race year as nerve-wracking.

Dave Bell, a 50 States Marathon Club member (club vice-president) and Marathon Maniac from Colorado, has “three monkey kills—those who have run it will understand.” He keeps coming back because “I like being abused by Trent (he refers to his runners as idiots—it fits). The danger is that you never know when a monkey will attack! There is awesome camaraderie and you get a lot for your buck.”

The courseOn the west side of Nashville, Edwin Warner and Percy Warner parks encompass nearly 3,000 acres of wooded hills and dark hollows. The largest of those parks is Percy Warner—full of beautiful forested areas and lots of long hills. Within those hills, there is a fairly difficult 11.2-mile paved loop that is known to hill junkies all around the region.

There is an extremely detailed, mile-by-mile course description on the race website (http://www.harpethhillsmarathon.com/coursedetail.html). Here is a more general description from Trent Rosenbloom, the race director.

The marathon course essentially covers two laps around the park along a 12.7-mile figure-eight-shaped route, once going forward and once going backward. That route includes a 1.5-mile zigzagging hill and an 11.2-mile serpentine loop called the Main Drive. The looping, winding marathon course is specifically designed to allow runners to go both up and down each hill and to become a bit disoriented as they wind through the park. Runners start and finish in an open, grassy field that appears downright benign and friendly. However, it does not take long for the course to show its teeth. Immediately after coming off the field,

Course Map

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runners jump onto the zigzag and find themselves climbing more than 300 feet into the dense woods before coming out onto the Main Drive, two miles into the race. Runners encounter hills of all sizes and rolling terrain, with notable breathless moments at miles five, seven, 10, and 12 before coming to the end of the first lap around the Main Drive. Back through the zigzag and past the halfway mark, runners drop down a long hill before taking on the Main Drive in the reverse direction, this time climbing hills at miles 15, 18, 20, and 23. Notable among these is the lollipop Luke Lea Overlook loop on the course, added to the second lap atop one of the longest climbs in the race at mile 18. This climb is so steep and long that it gives the phrase “hitting the Wall” a whole new meaning. Luke Lea offers runners a view of much of Nash-ville in the distance but requires them also to endure several short and steep ascents. After winding their way along hills, hollows, woods, open fields, steep bluffs, and breathless overlooks, runners

find themselves back where they started, coming out into the gentle grassy field where they run the last one-third mile in full view of the finishers and volunteers. Finish line activities take place at one end of the Vaughn’s Creek area.

The inaugural race in 2006 had 96 finishers, but interest has mushroomed since then. Part of the reason for the glut is that many runners repeat this race over and over. The course limit is set at 300 runners, and a lottery system has been instituted, since according to Trent, “More runners would strain the system, and there is swag customization (the medals are handmade flying monkeys); we also rely on volunteers. We want people to be able to stick around after the race and enjoy food, drink, and camaraderie.”

runner’s highs/ runner’s lows

HIGHSA road run in the middle of a beautiful forested park, with your imagination conjuring flying monkeys at every turn!

Enthusiastic volunteers who urge you to have an adventure.

An unbelievable postrace smorgasbord/potluck.

LOWSIf you are looking for crowds, this is not your race.

If you debate with yourself too long, the race will be filled. And there is a lottery! Register your interest early in the year, and be ready to jump on it when the lottery is announced August 1.

On a diet? Don’t stick around at the end of the race! Trent’s homemade pumpkin pie is a must-try.

No age-group awards. If this is why you attend races, you will be disappointed.

The lottery typically opens on August 1, and names are drawn a week later. Only 350 runners are admitted, with expectations that about 300 will arrive and run. As some other races do, this one allows a charity option where runners can pay more and register without going through the lottery process.

There have not been a great many changes over the years. The 2014 course was the same as 2006. In that first year, there was a pasta dinner at Maggiano’s, a wonderful classic Italian restaurant (chain) in the area. At the end of the race (it was a very cold day and not conducive to wet runner gatherings), a couple of station wagons at the course finish opened their backs to reveal almost every sugary homemade goody you could imagine, including your author’s favorite, gourmet Mexican popsicles. In 2010, a major flood destroyed part of the course and it was rerouted to include more hills. In 2011, the course reverted to the original plan. In 2014, there was no official pasta dinner, but there are a number of easily accessible restaurants in all price ranges near Harpeth Hills. The race director, to prove he can take it, runs the marathon almost every year.

If you are fast, do not come expecting a cash award. The race has awarded flying monkey dolls (hand-knit by volunteers) to the overall male and female win-ners and to the masters male and female winners. Finishers receive a handcrafted medal with, what else, a flying monkey. There is also a raffle at the end of the race. If your luck holds, you may win a raffle prize.

Each race year has a theme that Trent sets, which is a deep, dark secret, though hints are revealed through e-mails and on the website. Examples include “may the hills be ever in your favor” for 2015, and a Superman theme in 2013, where every runner received a satin super-hero cape emblazoned with a flying monkey. If you are registered, you will receive a series of taunting, threatening (in a nice way) e-mails that should heighten your sense of mystery.

The expo is held the day before the race at the Gordon Jewish Com-munity Center, located at 801 Percy Warner Boulevard, a few miles from the start/finish. It has packet pickup and swag on sale to support the park. ©

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the bottom lineWe have weighed various aspects of a marathon within a 1,000-point scor-ing grid. Besides the author of the article, a dozen runners at the race were randomly chosen to score the race for us (FMM = Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon). The results follow:

1. HISTORY/TRADITIONEvaluate the race’s sense of history and tradition. (Possible points: 30 FMM score: 25)

2. ENTRY FORMIs the race entry form clear, concise, attractive, complete, and easy to fill out?(Possible points: 20 FMM score: 15)

3. ENTRY COSTFor most races, the entry fee covers between 30 and 50 percent of the cost of putting on the event. Rate the value of your dollar relative to this race. (Possible points: 30 FMM score: 20)

In conclusionThis race is simply a joy and a pleasure, considering of course that runners sometimes get hurt and like to brag about it. It is not an easy race, but it is well worth your time if you would like to try something a little different. Prepare to receive insults from your race director as his version of encouragement. It is telling that runners overwhelm the lottery every year and that since year one there has been a waiting list. Come for the run, not for the race; come for the beer and to meet old and new friends and for the possibility of being destroyed by flying monkeys. There is a sense of friendship, which does not speak much about competition, except within the individual. Trent says, “I think it’s very important in putting on the race to provide something for the runners that makes them feel both proud of what they’ve done and happy to have participated, even if they hurt. Proud: a really challenging course, where you run hard; happy: a well-supported, well-marked, pretty course with adequate runner stuff. People want to come, not to tick off a state or qualify for Boston. They come for the sake of running the race.”

Mark your calendars for the lottery date, August 1, get tough, and come join the flying monkeys. Refresh yourself with a rerun of The Wizard of Oz first.

4. LOCALE/SCENICSIs the race held in an area that is easy to get to and scenic, offers adequate food and housing services, and offers nonrace activities for family and friends?(Possible points: 50 FMM score: 45)

5. REGISTRATION Is registration well organized and efficient? Does it bog down unnecessarily?(Possible points: 20 FMM score: 15)

6. PRERACE ACTIVITIESEvaluate activities such as pasta feeds, parties, and so on during the days before the race. (Possible points: 50 FMM score: 30)

7. EXPODoes the expo offer a fair number and variety of booths relative to the race’s size? Are there quality exhibitors and good guest speaker(s)?(Possible points: 50 FMM score: 25)

8. COURSETake into consideration the following: degree of difficulty, certified, sanctioned, quality of road or trail surface, adequate mileage and directional markers, aid stations, medical coverage, race communications, accessibility to course for friends and family, typical weather, and so on. (Possible points: 400 FMM score: 350)

9. RACE AMENITIESThis category includes race T-shirt, finisher’s medal, finisher’s certificate, adequate and efficient finish area, ease of sweatbag retrieval, showers, postrace refreshments, awards ceremony, raffles, results postcard, results book, and so on. (Possible points: 250 FMM score: 200)

10. VOLUNTEERSAre the volunteers experienced and adequate in number? (Possible points: 100 FMM score: 100)

TOTAL SCORE FOR HARPETH HILLS FLYING MONKEY MARATHON 825 points


Documents

Marathon and Beyond Article 201509harpethhillsmarathon.com/docs/MBMonkey2015Sept.pdf166 l MARATHON & BEYOND l September/October 2015 When asked about the race, Trent answers, “What