Running: Trail race scheduled Saturday

Published 11:22 pm Thursday, May 20, 2010

If area runners want a different challenge, they need only compete in Saturday’s Grizzly Trail Run at Raisin Woods Bike Trail. The 5-K event starts at 8 a.m.

“We wanted to have something other than the usual road race,” race director Matt Ross said. “It’s the first trail race for runners in our area.”

Any runner who has covered the 3.1 miles in training knows it is much different from the standard road race.

“This really is a true cross country course,” said veteran runner Terry Strawser of Eton. “Certainly you have to watch out for the roots on the trail as you’re making a lot of turns. You obviously will run much slower than a road race.”

Strawser, 55, who lately has run 21-minute 5-Ks in road races, recently did a hard 29 minutes over the trail course.

“This is technically a very moderate course,” said Joe Gleaton, who is coordinating the event for the Carpet Capital Running Club.

Grizzly Trail is one of four trails located at the facility and measures 2.7 miles, with another four-tenths of a mile being added for the accurate distance.

“Runners need to realize that you can’t run five abreast like you can for a road race,” Ross said. “The trail is 4 or 5 feet wide for the most part. It’s not that easy for runners to pass. We will put the fastest runners at the start. We urge runners not speed up when people are passing them. That could cause problems.”

Runners must be more alert than usual as they follow the white signs.

“While walking the course, we counted 14 or 15 different forks,” Ross said. “We plan to have a volunteer at every fork.”

Ross and helpers planned to mark the course today with surveyor’s tape and spray paint.

If participants do get off course, they can enjoy the wooded scenery provided by the other three trails: Cub (orange), 1.1 miles; Bear (blue), 1.8; and Polar (yellow), 4.9.

Overall awards will go to the male and female winners, plus master champions (40-and-over). Also, the top three in each of 15 age divisions will be cited.

Points also will go to CCRC members for the Runner of the Year competition in the various age categories.

“We have had 70 people to sign up so far,” Ross said. “Our projection is 150, though we have ordered 350 shirts.”

The fee on race day is $20. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

Proceeds will go to Cross Plains Community Partners (formerly Cheerhaven), an agency that helps mentally disabled adults.

To reach the facility, go east on Cleveland Highway and turn onto Dawnville Road for three-tenths mile. Turn right onto Brooker Drive and travel 1 mile to the facility on the left.