HELL (9/11/04) - Over hill, over dale, they hit some dusty trails. They also hit mud, dense thickets and marshes where no real trail existed. Dances With Dirt celebrated its 10th year by once again sending the few (OK, more than that), the proud and the semi-insane out to follow breadcrumb-like colored flags through the wilds of Pinckney Recreation Area and Hell (not necessarily in that order).

"I've run Dances With Dirt nine of the 10 years and this was by far the hardest course they've had," said Matt Bedford, 43, of Fenton, winner of the 50-Mile Ultra. "It was really muddy."

Bedford has run the DWD 50-Mile Ultra three times, the 50K Ultra twice and the 100K Relay four times.

"We were one of the original 20 teams in the race's first year," said Bedford's wife, Julie, 38. "Julie's Running Relatives" finished 18th that summer.

They've done better since then. This year, Julie finished fifth in the women's 50K. And Matt had comfortable lead when he crossed the 50- mile finish line.

"There were four of us pretty close at the 50K mark," he remembered. "We lost two of them. Then the other guy cramped up and left me pretty much by myself."

Bedford ran 50 miles in nine hours, 30 minutes and 55 seconds. Bill Corriveau, 43, of New Franken, Wisc., placed second in 9:42:59, and Michael Ferryall third in 9:56:36. No women completed the 50-mile run this year.

In the 50K, Jeff Christian, 30, of Beaverton, won in 3:58:00, followed by Gregory Feuct, 26, of Ann Arbor (4:03:00) and Bill Jack, 26, of Royal Oak (4:40:48).

For the women, Melissa Hughes, 23, of Mt. Pleasant, was first (5:23:05), followed by Vicki Hunter, 43, of Boulder, Col. (5:25:02) and Susan Pepelman, 38, of Collegeville, Pa. (5:28:16).

In the 100K Relay, the Onsted Ringers (Pat Mitchell, John Waltz, Grant Woodman, Nick Mockridge and Matt Bozung) led the 315-team field (307 completed the relay) in 6:57:48.

"It's not our fastest time ever," said Mitchell. (The Ringers have competed in the relay many times.) "But the trail and course were tougher than ever, and the woods were really wet. There was a section where Matt (Bozung) was up to his chest in muck and he had to crawl across a log to get out."

The Ringers love Dances With Dirt. "We get ready for this race all year. This is our Super Bowl," Mitchell said.

Special-category winners were: All-Female Team: Trailmasters; Public Safety, O.P.P Runnersaurus; Clydesdale, Cross-Eyed; and Team Spirit, Kool Kool Kitties.

"I was 45 years old when I started this race," said Karl Stuber of Williamston after the 50K. "Now I'm a whole lot older."

This event was made possible by Running Fit stores and Nike ACG. For complete results, go to www.danceswithdirt.com. MR