ARCHIVED RACE: Hit the Ground Running @ Colonel Francis Beatty Park, Matthews , NC, United States on 01 June 2013

Celebrate National Trails Day with us
June 1, 2013
Saturday 8:30 AM
Colonel Francis Beatty Park
>2K Fun Run
> Timed 6k & 11K trail races
Perfect for first time trail runners
Get your summer started off right at Colonel Francis Beatty Park in June, and our first race in our “Get Fit For Summer” series. Finisher ribbons for all the 2 K’ers, age group awards for those who compete in the timed 6k and 11K.

Course Information
All races will start and finish in the general area of the visitor center pavillion. We will start out on pavement(for spacing) before getting onto the natural trail.

2K Fun Run

On the fence about running a trail? New to running in general? Do your kids have too much energy? It’s National Trail Day and it’s time to get the trail a try! Try those legs out on this course and you’ll quickly see what all the fuss is about. You’ll start out with a few ups and downs and some switchbacks that will make you wonder if you’re going in circles. Just watch out for those roots and those squirrels! Before you know it you’ll be running a smooth, downhill single track back towards the lake where you started. There you will have that moment of transformation, realization that you are indeed a trail runner!

Seriously, the squirrels are nuts out there!

Hit the Ground 6K
Ready to try out some single track trail running? The park provides the perfect course for giving runners of any skill level an entry into the sport. It’s sure to give you a taste of the roots and smooth rolling hills, and just enough technical work without over doing it. You’ll begin with a handful of dizzying single track switchbacks to get you going before the smooth ride around the pond. The trail widens out and you will pound down the dirt on the dam before finishing on the trail overlooking the pond. Turn up the heat on this home stretch!

Hit the Ground 11K
Credit goes to the Tarheel Trailblazers for creating the perfect run of single track, rolling through several different types of terrain and track styles. Starting with the same single track switchbacks as the short course, you will continue the journey through the black diamond loop with more elevation changes and drops as the course is designed to be more challenging. The race then speeds up as you parallel the creek and lake on a straightaway before entering the woods again for the roots and rocks of single track glory! Wind your way through the low lands below the dam and then it’s one more mile on the first loop in which we started on. Take note of the twists and turns on your first run through so you can finish strong!

Did we mention ROOTS, ROCKS, MORE ROOTS and MUD PUDDLES?

Additional Info
As with any trail race, expect some roots, turns, jumping some logs, and mud puddles.
Bib Pickup will start at 7:30 AM at the Outdoor Shelter near the Visitor Center