|
Cross-continental runner passes through Highland
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
 | | Elena Helmerick (left) is running across America. She ran through Highland April 10-11. On the downhill sides of the mountains on the western edge of Highland, friend Lucile Miller of Charlottesville joined her. (Recorder photos by James Jacenich) |
|
MONTEREY - Elena Helmerick, 23, is running across America. She's running in support of local, natural foods, sustainable agriculture, and to encourage others to exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. She's running to discover America, its farms and country roads, its people and their passions.
Helmerick began her journey April 1 in Virginia Beach. "I really just want to push myself, and show people that even though they may not try something as crazy as running across the country, they can still be passionate about getting out and moving their body," she said.
She felt now was the time to fulfilla seven-year dream to run across the country before going to veterinary school in the fall.
Her 3,200-mile, three-month, 10-state journey took her through the heart of Highland County April 10-11. Her boyfriend, Nick Lehecka, and their two dogs followed behind in a recreational vehicle.
She runs six hours a day in two three-hour shifts, stopping once in a while to take in the view or talk to passersby.
April 10 she ran past Civil War site Fort Johnson on Shenandoah Mountain, Highland's eastern gate. She passed the small farming settlement of Head Waters. On an embankment to her left was a century-old one-room school house, gently remodeled but no longer in use. An old woodenframed Presbyterian church stands sentinel over Head Waters, a sign of the county's faith. A small country store with a gas pump was on her right, a sign of the county's entrepreneurial spirit.
She ran past the McDowell Battlefield where Civil War general Stonewall Jackson had his first victory of the Valley Campaign; and crossed the Bullpasture River Valley, site of a 1750s French and Indian War fort.
Her run across Highland followed Mountain Turnpike, formerly the Staunton-to-Parkersburg Turnpike, and retraced the steps of past generations that journeyed west to the outer reaches of Virginia (now West Virginia) and beyond to Ohio.
She passed miles of fence carefully placed to contain cattle and sheep and the homes of farming families that trace their roots generations back in the Alleghenies.
She crossed Jack Mountain into Monterey, the county's capital, named for a Mexican town captured in the Mexican-American War of 1848. Monterey is the smallest incorporated town in Virginia with a population under 150. It has many houses dating back to the boom days of the early 20th century timber industry.
She spent the night in Monterey. She rested with only the sound of peepers to fillthe nighttime air.
April 11 she crossed Monterey Mountain into the Blue Grass Valley, so named for its lush pastures, and ran past Hightown, named for its altitude. The mountains of Highland aren't the highest she'll findon her journey to the Pacific, but they are enough to make a runner slow down and take notice.
Near Hightown two rivers form - the James heads south and the Potomac heads north. In western Highland County, Helmerick's friend Lucile Miller of Charlottesville ran the downhill sides of the mountains with her. Miller's husband, Cliff, provided Lucile transportation on the uphill side of the mountains.
Helmerick spent a summer internship on the Miller family farm in Sperryville while she was attending North Carolina State University.
Crossing Highland, she learned that the county, despite its farming character, lacked a veterinarian. Some wistfully told her they'd like to see her come back to open a practice here someday. That would be several years down the road and Highland might not be able to wait for her return. Still, the admiration of old Highland, full of memories of past glories for the young runner, filled with the enthusiasm of youth and the hope of a bountiful future, appeared to be mutual.
"I think Highland County is wonderful," Helmerick said, as she took a few minutes to rest by the side of Mountain Turnpike, 10 miles west of Monterey.
She was hardly out of breath, looking more like she was out on a morning stroll than a 90-day series of marathons.
"The people are nice and the views are spectacular," she said.
She said Highland stood out on her journey so far as the place where cars and trucks left her a wave and wide berth as they passed her on the way through the county.
She headed into a ripple of steadily higher and narrower mountains. On her way into West Virginia, she passed mostly family owned forests logged by mostly family owned logging companies.
To her left on Allegheny Mountain, Highland western gate, was Bear Mountain Retreat's natureoriented lodge.
Highland is but a part of her journey westward, hopefully one that remains with her long after her trip is over. Will its friendly people and open spaces leave a favorable impression that will withstand the scrutiny of a nationwide run? Perhaps the view of a rippling sea of mountain ridges as seen from Shenandoah Mountain, the narrow strips of pastureland straddling pristine spring fed streams, or the small villages and towns inhabited by people with friendly smiles and warm "hellos" will make her want to journey this way again.
She's somewhere in Ohio by now on her way to the western sea, but she carries with her a part of us.
To follow her journey visit www.run3200.com and to make a contribution to her favorite causes, visit www.worldhungeryear.org and www.RunDiabetesRun.org. Send a message to Helmerick at Elena@run3200.com.
| 
)