Below are twenty-one photographs taken along the Greasy-Gooney 10K course, mostly from late September 2005-- prior to the fall foliage season. Since the race is actually held right around the peak time for foliage viewing, the leaves may be much more colorful on race day! Eventually (if we can ever find the time!) we're hoping to update this page with some similar course photos taken during the foliage season, with a lot more reds, oranges, and yellows visible in the trees. Also note that the photos below were taken before the loop was fully paved in 2013.
Click on the thumbnail images to view larger versions, and then click your Web browser's "Back" button to return to this page. (The longer, panoramic images may be wider than the width of your screen and wind up downsized by your browser.)
Looking west at the intersection of Routes 649 and 613 in the center of Browntown. To get to the starting line, you'll head over the bridge and keep going for 0.8 miles. |
O.J. Rudacille General Merchandise in Browntown, which you'll pass on your way to the starting line. Stop in after the race for a soda! |
The view from the starting line, looking west. You'll have to imagine the starting line in the foreground. |
A beautiful view of the Greasy Run valley, half a mile into the race on the Gooney Manor Loop. Greasy Run passes through the middle of the field, while the humps of Hogback Mountain can be seen peeking out from behind the hills off in the distance. (The view from here will look slightly different now, as the pines on the nearby hill were bulldozed in fall 2013.) |
Hogback Mountain looming over the valley, with the Gooney Manor Loop passing a lonely tree in the foreground. Mile 1 is just beyond that tree. |
Looking back down the valley towards where the previous picture was taken. |
Trees towering over the course during a wooded section, a bit beyond the 2 mile mark. |
The view at 2½ miles, just before the steepest section of the course begins. Once again, the view is dominated by Hogback Mountain in the distance, with Gimlet Ridge sweeping down to the right. (The 2005 Greasy-Gooney 10K t-shirt design was based on the left half of this view, and this photo has also appeared on our race flyer in past years.) |
Looking back down the steep valley towards where the previous picture was taken. You might be too tired by this point to turn around, but it's a nice view anyway! |
A view from just beyond mile 3, near the highest point on the course. The rounded mountain to the left of center is Compton Peak, about 5½ miles away. The Blue Ridge comes into view on the right. |
Looking back just before the halfway point. Seeing these mailboxes means you've reached the top of the hill! |
A stone fence at about 3.2 miles, with Mount Marshall's southern peak rising at left and Gravel Springs Gap just left of center. |
The Gooney Manor Loop winding its way downhill at about 3.3 miles. |
Looking back across a field from around mile 3½, with Gimlet Ridge stretching down from Hogback Mountain. (A more colorful version of this view appeared on the 2017 race flyer!) |
Glenn Luttrell running through the woods at about 3¾ miles during the 2002 race. |
Sean Rankin approaches the Cool Springs Church of God (built in 1899 & named for the spring across the road) during the 2002 race, where the road used to change from gravel to pavement near mile 4. (It's all paved now!) |
Looking east from just beyond the 5 mile mark, with the rounded Compton Peak in the distance at center. Off to the right, the old Browntown-Harris Hollow Road (now a fire road) splits off to the south, heading up over the Blue Ridge at Gravel Springs Gap and down into Rappahannock County. |
Looking back towards the familiar humps of Hogback, around mile 5.7 or so. The house in the foreground is one of many newer homes built recently in the Browntown area. |
If you look closely during the race, you just might be able to see the radio tower on Hogback's second (tallest) hump and Skyline Drive's long Hogback Overlook beneath the third hump. |
The formerly grey barn (which has since been painted beige!) and the final curve, right around mile 6. You can just see the steeple of the Browntown Baptist Church off in the distance (at center), near the finish line. |
A view of the Blue Ridge, along the long straightaway just before the finish line. Compton Peak is just out of view to the left, then there's an unnamed peak and the long two-humped back of Mount Marshall, with the ridge known as Long Arm coming down to the right. |
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