Wake Forest Athletics
Emily Ruth Wins Black Mountain Marathon
2/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 27, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest field hockey assistant coach Emily Ruth took home the top honors at the Black Mountain Marathon this past weekend. Regarded as one of the toughest marathons in North America, Ruth finished the with a time of 3:56.27
The marathon took place at Mount Mitchell, which reaches it's peak at 6,684' -- the highest in eastern America. Once known by its indian name of Black Dome, its name was changed to honor Dr. Elisha Mitchell through whose efforts the controversy over that lofty distinction was settled.
Runners began at dawn in Black Mountain, the quaint "front porch of Western North Carolina", and follow trails to an elevation of 5,340'. Marathoners then turned and retraced their course to the Start/Finish area in Black Mountain.
Race founders Wendell Begley of Black Mountain Savings and Trent Thomas from Black Dome Mountain Sports saw a need for this kind of event for both the elite athlete and the weekend warrior. Their goal was to design a race that was attainable physically while offering the opportunity to test oneself against the often-uncooperative forces of nature.
