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Tom Jennings, ultra marathoner, race director of the Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs
Guest post by Christine Vassen
Trail Runner magazine asked readers: Tell us someone awesome you’ve met through trail running.
I paused when I saw this and thought immediately of Tom Jennings, race director for Oil Creek 100 (and an amazing trail runner himself). I meet Tom at an Erie Runners Club 12-hour endurance event. He was the ‘100 mile guy with the funny things on his shoes. I was way too intimidated to ask him what they were. I learned that Tom was an ultra runner and I figured that ultra runners never spoke to newbies. (I was wrong on that fact.)
The next year, I read about the Oil Creek 100 trail runs and e-mailed Tom to ask several newbie questions, such as: “Are there really bears out there?” Tom humored me and patiently answered all my questions. I started training for my first marathon.
February in northwestern Pennsylvania is snowy/icy. Jack Frost hits us hard. As race director, promoting the 50K newbie angle, Tom offered to take a group of us out for the 5-mile loop. I figured, 5 miles = no problem. We arrived and Tom greeted us enthusiastically. We headed up the bike path to the trail. Tom was in great spirits telling us how easy it was. I was already struggling and we weren’t even on the trail yet!
Tom consistently checked on us that day and sent a follow-up e-mail that afternoon to make sure we’d make it home OK. At one point, I realized he was breaking the trail in the snow and I thought this seemed insane. But, to me, that’s what’s trail running is about. Meeting people who make the impossible seem normal and entirely doable.
Last year, I suffered a serious injury. As Oil Creek approached, I had to be there. I couldn’t participate, and I couldn’t even stand and cheer. My loving husband, who couldn’t understand why I wanted to be there, drove me to the race and set-up a sleeping bag on the ground at the finish line. He agreed to leave me there while he went for some food. It started to drizzle. Tom checked on me periodically. Thankfully, Tom covered me up at one point to make sure I didn’t get completely drenched. He understood why I wanted to be there. Only an awesome trail runner would understand.
I got to watch Tom at the Burning River 100, which he is training for again this year. At 3 a.m., Tom was still making the run look easy. He was laughing and having fun. The next year, I was back at BR100 volunteering at an aid station for much of the day. Last weekend, I participated in a supported Oil Creek training run. Tom goes out early and puts fruit and water at critical points along the trail. At the end of the day, he gathers everything up and leaves zero trace. He also helps maintain the trails.
I would have never had such amazing experiences if Tom had ignored my e-mail or laughed at my silly newbie questions.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Christine Vassen, above, completed the Oil Creek 50K in 2011. You can read her account of the experience here.
