[PeterParker]

Any word if the XC program is planning in the future to host a Big High School XC Invitational akin to the William & Mary High School XC Invitational given that all those new trails are supposed to be made on the mountain? (as mentioned in an article awhile back of projects the school was undertaking.)

They pull in some decent participation for the Winter & Spring track invitationals. They might also be able to pull in some of the Central Virginia, West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and western North Carolina teams for a nice size meet and exposure to the school? (as long as they don't run it in direct competition with the W&M meet...that meet is primo for almost all of Virginia's HS XC teams, both public and private.

[Sly Fox]

Obviously the program has wisely leveraged our indoor facility. But you do bring up an intriguing idea.

[Fumblerooskies]

To my understanding, we've never even hosted a college invitational in the past eight years.

[01LUGrad]

One main problem: No venue. There aren't any good places to host an XC invite in Lynchburg unless some guy allows LU to use his farm.

[Fumblerooskies]

You mean the trails all around campus would not work. It's my understanding that the university is going to officially "sanction" and mark many of Horton's trails on the east side. When that happens, that would be perfect.

[01LUGrad]

Have you ever been on one of Horton's trails? I spent 4 years on those things. They prepared me for XC races by busting every muscle in my legs. There is no way those things will work for an XC race. You want hills, but single-track trails over Liberty Mountain aren't going to bring people out to race. You need wide open spaces with lots of grass and room for spectators. Peaks View Park would be great, but there is way too much pavement.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Horton's trails and everyone should get out there and use them, but they aren't going to work for major XC meets.

[Sly Fox]

Surely there is a cooperative golf course somewhere nearby.

[PeterParker]

One main problem: No venue. There aren't any good places to host an XC invite in Lynchburg unless some guy allows LU to use his farm.

There isn't a more flat rolling hills venue akin to the W&M course; However, there are several invitationals in the Northeast that contain much more "hilly" terrain than their coastal counterparts...not conducive to fast PR times, but great races nonetheless...shows who the stronger runners are.


Plus, aren't there several LU faculty that own large tracts of rolling farmland if LU didn't want to use the new trails. What about a piece of the Masochist trail they use, is there a stretch of that course that contains a 5K section that is not straight uphill?

[01LUGrad]

One main problem: No venue. There aren't any good places to host an XC invite in Lynchburg unless some guy allows LU to use his farm.

There isn't a more flat rolling hills venue akin to the W&M course; However, there are several invitationals in the Northeast that contain much more "hilly" terrain than their coastal counterparts...not conducive to fast PR times, but great races nonetheless...shows who the stronger runners are.


Plus, aren't there several LU faculty that own large tracts of rolling farmland if LU didn't want to use the new trails. What about a piece of the Masochist trail they use, is there a stretch of that course that contains a 5K section that is not straight uphill?

I'm not worried about having a race on hills (no matter the size). The issue is with the practicality of the venue. You need lots of parking and a place for spectators to, well, spectate. The Masochist course is a good distance away from LU and it doesn't satisfy the parking and viewing requirements (it's run on an insane mix of rocky trails and roads...enter Josh Cox).

Sly mentioned golf courses. This is a great idea. It was my understanding that, in the past, local golf courses were against the use of their properties for use in XC races. Now, they may be under new ownership now (being 6-7 years later).

Again, I would love LU to host a meet. The general terrain in Lynchburg is perfect for the sport. It would also be great to get the LU name out there even more.

(PS...Pete, did you get a PM from me?)

[BJWilliams]

Black Wolf Farms (or whatever its called) is a possibility. I know they have a number of high school meets there

[PeterParker]

What about property on the backside of the mountain...doesn't LU own some of that...doesn't the camp have some rolling unoccupied land in the fall?

BTW you only need a cross section for spectating if you figure 8 the 5K Loop back on itself...as for parking, wouldn't an empty TRBC lot on a Saturday be ample with overflow at campus north? (Genuine question as I have not fully scouted that area and haven't been back to the mountain at a long enough clip to go exploring over that way.)

Golf Courses in Lynchburg Area:

http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/ci ... nchburg+VA


Parks in Lynchburg Area:

http://www.centralvirginia.worldweb.com ... ksGardens/

[Sly Fox]

This story references Liberty High School but it does fit this thread ....

New cross country homes

Liberty's and Rustburg's runners have new courses to trample on this fall.

Liberty, which will host only one home meet this season, is using a recently-finished course at Falling Creek Park in Bedford, which could potentially host the Seminole District and Region III meets in the future. The Red Devils showcased their new digs near the Seneca Industrial Park on Wednesday, primarily open pasture.

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