Panoramic view from the Big Schloss during the 2017 run.

Keith Knipling

2025 Report

September 27, 2025  •  Wardensville, WV

57 starters, 53 finishers

The 57 starters for the 19th running of The Big Schloss 50k

The Big Schloss 2025: The Next Generation

Trailwork day with the PATC. Big thanks to the runners who came out to volunteer and congratulations to the Patrick Henry crew who had another fantastic year at the Schloss!

The crisp feeling of Fall has been in the air on Great North Mountain for the last couple weeks, with recent dry weather bringing changing leaves earlier than usual. Unfortunately, as has been the case for the past 2 years, the rains returned for the week of the Schloss, with a forecast of showers for the day of the run. Thankfully we did not experience the deluge that we had last year or the hurricane the year before that, with only passing sprinkles and mists keeping the day cool though still somewhat humid until a steady rain developed towards evening. The Schloss trails had experienced the same massive overgrowth seen throughout the region this year, due to the heavy constant rains earlier in the summer, but again the PATC North Mountain Brigade led by Mike Allen was up to the challenge of getting the course ready in time for the run. With several trailwork days, and the help of runners Marcia Washburn, Chris Flint, and Nathaniel Faunce, in addition to myself and Bob Gaylord, the Brigade chopped, weed whacked, raked and clipped the trails into submission. With all this work, runners commented that they were some of the most groomed and runnable trails they’ve seen all year. Many thanks to the team for the fantastic work, we are lucky to have them!

Chase Platt running up to the finish in 2008 and completing his first ultra 17 years later!

Several new faces were in the crowd this year as the group started off into the mists around Rockcliff Lake, but we were also privileged to have the founders and creators of the run, Steve and Amy Platt joining us, supporting their son Chase as he ran his first ultra, with Steve also completing his third Schloss! It was a treat to hear some of the stories of how the course was created, with the help of enthusiastic locals. Amy reminisced that Chase and his siblings grew up running and playing around the Trout Pond Pavilion every year for the run just like Theo has, and to see this come full circle with Chase completing the Schloss was truly special.

Bucktail Crew with birthday shenanigans awaiting the first runners

Last year’s winner David Yoder started out in the lead into Bucktail Aid Station, with another Harrisonburg area runner relatively new to Virginia and running his first VHTRC event, Lance Harden, close behind running with John Oplinger. Katie Thompson, running her second Schloss, took the lead early for the women, followed by newcomer Mary Donahue. Runners were greeted by Ivory Lira and her team, with a birthday theme in honor of volunteer Lexi DeLisle. Little Stony Creek Aid Station, organized by Quatro Hubbard, saw Lance come down the trail in front and John right on his heels, with Bradley Hawley not far behind. Despite being within reach of the lead, John was enticed by Quatro into an impressively large swig of Jim Beam, which he may or may not have regretted later in the run. Unfortunately, David Yoder limped into Aid 2 next with a turned ankle and had to call it a day but was happy to lend a hand to help runners and volunteers at Aid 3 and the finish which was very much appreciated! The ladies held steady with Katie in the lead, Mary looking fresh in second, and Lindsey Weaver starting to separate herself from the rest of the women by Aid 2. The rain became steadier by Aid 3 at Wolf Gap, led by Jesse Fuller who cooked up some expertly seasoned fried rice, and The Big Schloss could be seen draped in clouds. Luckily most runners reported that the views were still dramatic from the top and not socked-in for the most part. The climb out of Wolf Gap up to Tibbet Knob caught some runners off guard as Aid 3 volunteers have been known to advertise that the course was “all downhill from here.” Caroline Prendergast was among the runners surprised by the steep ascent and rock scramble, remarking at the finish, “Who put a little bit of Old Rag in at the end there??”

Lance Harden after his win in a time of 5:43

Though Lance Harden held the lead for the majority of the run, the outcome was in doubt at the very end, as Bradley Hawley passed Lance after the turn off Long Mountain Trail. Lance was motivated to take the win however and retook Bradley before the final stretch, edging him out by 1 minute with a respectable time of 5:43. John Oplinger came in third with a big smile and strong kick into the finish. Katie Thompson held the lead for the women with a time of 6:50, followed by Mary Donahue in second and Lindsey Weaver rounding out the ladies’ podium.

Katie Thompson coming in with a time of 6:50

The day wasn’t without its drama, as earlier in the day Quatro discovered that his carefully placed ribbons up to Tibbet Knob had been taken down at some point since course marking on Friday. A quick drive up to Judge Rye Rd confirmed the ribbons directing runners down the road were still in place, so volunteer Homer Komthirath reflagged the trail section from the top of the climb down to Wolf Gap just as the first runners were making their way up. While no one was lost on that section, another case of possible ribbon tampering in the final mile of the course led runner Mathew Francis to miss the left turn over the creek on the Chimney Rock Trail and instead carry on down to the store on Thorn Bottom. Once he realized his mistake, he took the road back to the campground for three bonus miles. Normally this would be grounds for a DNF but given that he self-extracted on his own two feet, I decided to give him the finish.

Chef Jeff Best cooked up a feast at the finish line!

A big thank you to all of our volunteers and VHTRC family for making this event a success. Your hospitality and generosity was certainly on display and appreciated by myself and the runners, even leading winner Lance Harden to remark that his tagline for the club is “trail races for true trail runners, designed and hosted by trail runners.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Congratulations to all of the runners who came out and spent a wonderful day with us! I hope you will mark your calendars for next year’s event on September 26, 2026, which I believe will be the 20th running of The Big Schloss! Entry will open August 3rd. If any of you have your own photos or stories to share, or race reports, or if you see any errors in the results, please let me know!

Wolf Gap Aid Station with our sweepers Katie Keier and Jayme Dubinsky. Not pictured are our sweepers for the start to Aid 2, Bruce Tweedie and Bob Gaylord
Ted Bielawa marking course on top of Big Schloss
Theo on his third pair of pants, taking a break from playing in the rain
Lisa Peabody with Best Blood
Steve Platt finishing his third Schloss!

Cara's Flickr album (with photos from Jaap Boelens and Lexi DeLisle)

Other reports

Results

PlaceLastFirstM/FAgeAid 1Aid 2Aid 3FinishTimeComments
1HardenLanceM388:3910:2411:3213:135:431st male
2HawleyBradleyM458:4410:2911:4313:145:442nd male
3OplingerJohnM488:3910:2411:5313:526:223rd male
4EpsteinMarkM218:4710:4312:0913:566:26 
5CoyneJamesM298:5010:4812:1414:066:36 
5GarmonEricM388:5010:4912:1514:066:36 
7FowlerCalebM299:0311:1112:3514:096:39 
8FaunceNathanielM218:5110:4612:1414:136:43Helped with trail maintenance!
9ThompsonKatieF378:4910:5912:2914:206:501st female
10BonfattoMichaelM348:4910:4812:1814:276:57 
11FlintChristopherM428:5410:5912:3214:327:02Helped with trail maintenance!
12GoadRandyM498:5711:1012:4514:437:13 
12BeverungenRichardM468:5711:1012:4514:437:13 
12BinderJoshuaM268:5711:1012:4514:437:13 
15PeppelmanDavidM508:5411:0912:5014:527:22 
16DonahueMaryF368:5511:1512:5815:037:332nd female
17WalkerKevinM458:4911:0812:5815:037:33 
18BuckFinneasM238:5411:0812:5115:067:36 
19WeaverLindseyF399:0011:2213:0615:157:453rd female
19KirkShaneM409:0011:2113:0615:157:45 
21SchramkaJoeM569:0310:2113:0215:237:53 
22SpiveyAbigailF219:0111:2913:1215:308:00 
23WashburnMarciaF239:0111:2813:2715:478:17Helped with trail maintenance!
24CohenCarolF489:1311:5813:4415:498:19 
25McGlincheyEricM529:0911:4213:3615:518:21Happy birthday!
26RoqueMegF499:0911:4913:3915:548:24 
27FinkVictoriaF219:0111:3813:3315:578:27 
28PoffenbergerCharlieM518:5711:3713:4016:158:45 
29DarartiMuraliM478:5811:3713:4016:258:55 
29CorreaCalebM418:5711:3713:4016:258:55 
31KemperSaschaM509:1211:5813:5716:379:07First ultra in US!
32AltemosErinM519:1311:5814:0216:389:08 
32CalabreseJohnM459:1211:5814:0316:389:08 
34HarrisKristenF319:1411:5514:0016:399:09 
35DerenSilasM259:1411:5914:0416:399:09Winner straw hat division
36PrendergastCarolineF329:1912:0214:0016:409:10 
37PetersonAndyM689:1812:0514:1216:449:14Marked course!
38GreenawaltJamieF579:1311:5814:1416:489:18By a nose!
39DissJillF589:1312:0314:1416:489:18 
40GospodinovDimitarM519:1512:1514:2216:559:25 
41BourgeoisGaynorF579:1212:0714:1416:579:27 
41LundstromLaurelF459:1212:0714:1416:579:27 
43VazquezAlbertoM569:2912:1114:2217:039:33Started 0755, elapsed time 9:08
44FrancisMathewM609:0511:4213:4517:059:353 bonus miles! Technically should be DNF, but I'll allow it for successful self-extraction
45O'ConnellMeganF399:1212:0014:1017:069:36 
46PeabodyLisaF609:1712:1614:2517:179:47Best blood
46PerryRobertM629:2812:2514:2517:179:47 
48PlattChaseM209:1712:0714:1317:3710:07The Big Schloss creator offspring! First ultra!
49CallahanJamesM529:2112:3914:5917:4210:12 
50CrowleyJimM729:2412:2914:5718:1510:45Thanks for bringing a volunteer!
51CooleyTracyF539:2812:3915:1118:1910:49 
52BreidenstineBillM609:2412:3915:1118:3711:07 
53PlattSteveM559:2212:4815:3518:5211:22The Big Schloss co-creater!
DNFTraphagenStevenM229:2212:5215:36*****DNFDrop Aid 3 (Not feeling Tibbets)
DNFYoderDavidM348:3810:35**********DNFDrop Aid 2 (Ankle injury)
DNFHernandezOmarM469:1212:14**********DNFDrop Aid 2 (Not feeling the Schloss)
DNFBestJacobM229:0312:34**********DNFDrop Aid 2 (Not feeling the Schloss)

Volunteers

NameRole
Bob GaylordSweep/Check-in/Trailwork
Bruce TweedieSweep/Course marking
Katie KeierSweep
Jeni Dwyer Sweep assist
Jayme DubinskySweep
Ivory LiraAid 1 Captain/Finish
Lexi DeLisleAid 1/Finish
Dani SevelAid 1/Finish
Allison HolkoAid 1
Beatriz LuzAid 1/Roving
Quatro HubbardAid 2 Captain/Course marking
Sarah RogersAid 2
Juliana NicoliniAid 2
Patrick MannonAid 2
Jesse FullerAid 3 Captain/Clean-up
Homer KomthirathAid 3/Clean-up
Bryan ZelleyAid 3/Clean-up
Jaap BoelensAid 3/Clean-up
Jeff Best Grill Master
Ram OrugantiStart/Aid 2
Ted BielawaStart/Aid 1/Course marking
Levi MasonCourse marking
Andy PetersonCourse marking
Chris FlintTrailwork
Marcia WashburnTrailwork
Nathaniel FaunceTrailwork

Last updated September 30, 2025