We’re excited for the 6th Annual Little River Trail Runs, this Saturday,
January 15th. Thanks for registering for the race. We have a record number of
registrants this year. Below is some information regarding pre-race logistics,
as well as race day instructions. Please let us know if you have questions (lrtr2011@gmail.com),
and we’ll see you on Saturday morning.
Weather
The current weather forecast calls for an overnight low of 20 on Friday night;
temperatures will reach 43 by Saturday afternoon. Do be sure to bring something
warm to throw on after the race. New this year is the Warm Zone, sponsored by
Fleet Feet, and featuring several tree heaters to keep you toasty before and
after the race, as well as hot chocolate and games. We’ll also have post-race
coffee, soup, bagels and fruit.
Registration now Closed. Both the 7k and 10 mile races reached their registration
limits in early January, so registration is closed. There is no race day registration.
If you have friends who are interested in the races, encourage them to sign
up early next year. Of course, friends and family are welcome to join us at
the race to cheer runners in or to volunteer for race-day duties.
Packet Pickup
Race numbers and Little River technical long-sleeved shirts (included in the
registration fee for those who registered by January 1) will be available for
pickup on Friday, January 14, from 2:30pm to 6:30pm at Fleet Feet Carrboro.
Fleet Feet is located at 200 N. Greensboro Street (Carr Mill Mall), in Carrboro.
Note that Fleet Feet is open until 7pm on Friday, but packet pickup will end
at 6:30pm. Please note that each participant in the race is required to sign
a liability waiver in hard copy when picking up his or her race number. This
means that each runner must be present to pick up his or her number. We will
not be able to allow runners to pick up numbers for others (except for those
belonging to their minor children), or to sign on behalf of other runners. We
realize that this is different from some races, but we hope you understand our
need to have each runner sign the waiver. Race packets also may be picked up
on race morning at the race site (Little River Regional Park). Race-day
pickup begins at 7:30am. Note that the 10 mile race begins at 9am,
while the 7k begins at 9:30am. If you’re planning on picking up your race
number on race day, be sure to arrive in plenty of time.
Parking and Carpooling
Please, please, please carpool to the race site! This is not only about
going greener…it’s a practical matter. There is limited parking
at Little River, and we have a record number of participants this year. Eighty-five
percent of registered runners indicated that they planned to carpool to this
event…so please be sure that you do this (and if even more runners carpool,
all the better!). We know that carpooling takes extra planning and effort. We’ve
set up a Facebook
page for the race “like” us on that page, there’s a Discussions
tab. Click there for a forum to use to arrange carpooling.
We’ll be offering VIP Parking to those who arrive with four or more runners
in their car. Carpooling also comes with the opportunity to earn gas money.
Compliments of Summa Consultants, we will be offering two $25 gas card awards
for the drivers of the “best” carpools. The awards will be based
on factors like the number of registered runners in the carpool, distance driven,
fuel efficiency of the vehicle, and others if deemed necessary. In the case
of a tie, the final decision will be made by audience applause. So pack your
vehicle to capacity with fellow runners and qualify for this special round of
competition.
You also may want to allow yourself a little extra time to get to the park and
to the start line. Note that races will begin at the published start times (9:00
for the 10 mile and 9:30 for the 7 kilometer) , even if folks are still continuing
to park. Reduce stress on race day by arriving early and by driving with friends.
Share Your Shoes
If you’re like us, you have at least
one pair of “gently used” running shoes in your closet, awaiting
a new home. Please bring your used running shoes to packet pickup (Fleet Feet
on Friday OR at the race site on Saturday) to donate to Share Our Shoes (www.shareourshoes.org).
For each pair you donate, Fleet Feet will give you a raffle ticket. On the Monday
after the race, they’ll post the winning number on the race website and
on the Facebook site, and that person will receive a FREE pair of shoes from
Fleet Feet Carrboro. Clean out your closet, help those in need, and have a chance
to win!
The Race. Both races will begin near the main park entrance, on the road. After
a few hundred meters of road running, the course turns onto a wide trail, before
then entering single-track trail. This is the same course that the race followed
in 2009 and 2010. Please position yourself accordingly at the race start (faster
runners toward the front, slower runners toward the back). You’ll also
have a bit of time to find the right “spot” once the race begins.
For those of you who are new to trail races, keep in mind that much of the race
is run on single-track trails. This means that passing other runners requires
a little more patience than in a road race. If you want to pass someone, say
“on your left” or “trail.” If someone asks to pass you,
please allow them to do so (on the left is the norm) as soon as it’s safe
to do so.
Headphones
Please remember that this is a “no headphones” event. This rule
is intended to provide a safe and enjoyable trail run for all participants.
While running with music can be great for training runs, running a trail race
while wearing headphones means that you can’t hear those who may want
to pass safely. So please respect this rule!
Aid stations
There will be one aid station for the 7k route, and three aid stations for the
10 mile route. All aid stations will have water as well as friendly, enthusiastic
volunteers. We encourage you to bring a handheld water bottle for the event.
This cuts down on our use of paper cups (and it allows you access to water throughout
your run). Aid station volunteers will be more than willing to refill your bottle.
If you need medical attention, please ask at any of the aid stations. We’ll
have medical personnel at the event, and bikes patrolling the wide trails of
the course (and checking in at the aid stations), just in case.
Prizes and Sponsors
Thanks to our title sponsors – Fleet Feet Carrboro, New Balance, Open
Eye Café and Balanced Physical Therapy/Balanced Movement Studios.
Sustaining sponsors include Acme Restaurant, Amante Gourmet Pizza, The Bicycle
Chain, Buns Burgers, Carrboro Yoga Company (CyCo), Carrburritos, Mediterranean
Deli, Road ID, Summa Consultants, Townsend Bertram & Company, Trail Runner
magazine and Triangle Multisport. Sponsors improve our event in numerous ways
– in particular, they provide the prizes that we’ll be giving out.
Please keep them in mind when you eat, drink and shop!
As in previous years, prizes will be awarded to the top overall finishers (men’s
and women’s) in both races, as well as to the masters’ (over 40)
winners. We’ll also have prizes for the first finisher in each age group
– 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39 etc. In addition to prizes for overall and
age group winners, we’ll be awarding some prizes through random drawings.
These drawings will be held both before and after the awards ceremony. You must
be present to win…another reason to hang out for a bit after the race.
And, new this year, we’ll have prizes in the team competition for 10 mile
runners; team members were required to declare their affiliation when they registered
on line. We have two team divisions, based on participants’ ages: 120+
(total age of 4 team members) and 180+. Team scores will be based on the overall
place of each runner. The awards ceremony will be held after the conclusion
of both races, and as soon as we’re able to get the results tabulated.
Please stick around for the awards if you’re able.
Going Green
We’re working to make this year’s race greener than ever. Our registration
is now entirely on-line and paperless. We won’t have race “schwag
bags” with sponsor flyers this year – but please do patronize our
sponsors!
Your voluntary purchases of carbon offsets will allow us to purchase offsets
from NC Green Power. Our race t-shirts come from SportScience, Inc., a company
that prides itself in a product that’s “grown, sewn, dyed, printed
and shipped within a 125 mile radius.”
On race day, help us be even greener: carpool to the race site, and bring a
handheld water bottle and/or coffee mug (see above). We’ll also be composting
and recycling as much as possible, including the paper cups used for soup and
beverages at the end of the race (look for the signs to direct you to recycling
and composting).
Directions to the Race Site
Little River Regional Park is located on the Orange/Durham county line, in Hillsborough,
NC. The park entrance is on Guess Rd, about 1.1 miles into Orange County. From
I-85 in Durham exit onto Guess Rd (Hwy 157) and go N. app 12 miles. After passing
a convenience store on your L, watch for the second entrance to Bromley Rd on
right. Park entrance is after that. Watch for the Orange Co line and the entrance
is a mile or so beyond that.
From I-40: Raleigh-Cary-Apex: NC 157 (Guess Rd.) is exit 175
off of I-85 in Durham. If on I-40, you can cross over at I-540 to 70W and then
take I-85 S. If you are coming from Apex, you might be better off going Hwy
55 through Durham to I-85, then S a couple exits to Guess Rd. Once on traveling
north on Guess Road, watch for the Orange Co line and the entrance is a mile
or so beyond that.
Chapel Hill, especially the Carrboro side : Take Old 86 through Calvander
and turn R on New Hope Church Rd. At the stop sign at the end of New Hope Church
turn R on Old NC 10. Go about 2 mi and turn L on Mt. Herman Church Rd. Go straight
at the stop light at 70 and the road name changes to Pleasant Green Rd. Go about
5 mi and at the 4 way stop turn R on St Marys Rd. Go about 3 mi and at the light
turn L on Guess Rd(157). Go about 2 mi, pass a Citgo station on L and after
entering Orange Co go about a mile and turn R into park.
If coming from Hillsborough, take St. Marys Rd out to Guess Rd (NC 157).
If coming from the W (Burlington etc) on I-40/I-85: Take I-85
at the split and get off at Exit 170. Go back a short distance towards Hillsborough
and at the light turn R on Pleasant Green Rd. At the 4 way stop turn R on St
Marys Rd. Go about 3 mi and at the light turn L on Guess Rd(157). Go about 2
mi, pass a Citgo station on L and after entering Orange Co go about a mile and
turn R into park.
Thanks for reading, and we’re looking forward to Saturday!
booda and Willow, race directors
lrtr2011@gmail.com
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Little River Trail Run 2011