IT’S RACE WEEK – LET’S GO!!!
Hello Rootrock Trail Run Racers,
Welcome to the 4th Annual Rootrock Trail Run coming up this Saturday, October 19th at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, NC! Prepare for an awesome morning on the trails, as you and close to 250 fellow athletes run 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon along scenic, forest covered courses that include a mixture of smooth and flowing dirt trails, root and rock strewn single-track, and challenging hill climbs.
In addition to the trail run in the morning, we added a mountain bike race in the afternoon – for one big, epic day on the trails! If you have the time, stick around in the afternoon to race, volunteer, or spectate. And by the way, if you race in both the trail run AND the MTB race, you will receive an extra item of swag – and entrance into a very special pain cave:). For more info on the mountain bike race, CLICK HERE.
RACE DAY INFO
Below is the race info email, which contains logistical and safety details for the race. This message is long but should answer most questions you might have. Please take a few minutes to read.
Schedule of Events:
Staging Area: Pavilion at Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)
Thursday, 10/17/24 (Optional Early Check-in / Packet Pick-up)
Fleet Feet Carrboro: 310 E. Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510
- 4pm–6pm: We encourage early check-in if you live locally and are able to attend. Racers may pick up packets for other racers. Fleet Feet is offering 10% off any purchase when you pick up your packet on 10/17 and if you bring your bib into their shop on 10/19 or 10/20 – NICE and thank you Fleet Feet!
Saturday, 10/19/24 (Race Day!)
Great Meadow Park in Briar Chapel: 161 Salt Cedar Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
- 7:15am–9:15am: Check-in / Packet Pick-up (check-in only if you did not pick up packet on Thursday)
- 8:20am: Half Marathon Pre-Race Brief
- 8:30am: Half Marathon Start
- 8:50am: 10K Pre-Race Brief
- 9:00am: 10K Start
- 9:20am: 5K Pre-Race Brief
- 9:30am: 5K Start
- 10am–12:30pm: Post-Race Food/Beverage
- 10:45am: Awards/Giveaways (5K/10K) and Coastal Credit Union donation to Meals on Wheels
- 11am: FREE Kids ‘Race for Treasure’ (kids 11-U)
- 11:15am: Contests: Cornhole Tournament (NEW)/Push Up (winners win prizes and ALL who participate get swag)
- 11:45am: Awards/Giveaways (Half Marathon)
Race Day Weather: As of Tuesday, October 15 @ 2pm, race day weather is looking SPECTACULAR, with sunny skies, light winds, and temps ranging from the low 40s in the early morning (brrr:) to the mid 60s by awards (ah, that’s better)! I will send another email on Thursday or Friday with race reminders and an updated forecast.
Course Conditions: The trails are in great shape, and with sunny skies predicted all week, there is nothing in the forecast that would cause any adverse conditions. A big THANK YOU to Chris and TJ from TORC, Jarz and crew from Crank Arm, and Don and Ralph from Briar Chapel maintenance for doing a bang up job helping to get the trails race-ready after all the wind and rain we received in September.
Volunteers: Our events rely on the generous support from volunteers and we can still use the help of a few more volunteers, mostly at aid stations. The shifts are 2-3.5 hours long between the hours of 7:45am-11:45am. Volunteers have a front row seat to all the action, get a race tee, free food, $15 off a future Roadless Races event, and our sincere appreciation. Plus, volunteering is easy and fun! If any of your friends/family would like to volunteer, please ask them to SIGN UP HERE.
Registration: If you have friends or family that have not signed up yet but intend to race, please let them know that online registration will be available through race day and that the reg fee goes up at 11:59pm on Thursday, 10/17 so if they sign up before then, they can save some $. REGISTER HERE.
Start List: CLICK HERE to view the list of registered racers.
Early Check-in/Packet Pick-up (Optional): Optional early check-in/packet pick-up will be available at the Fleet Feet Carrboro store on Thursday, 10/17 from 4pm-6pm (301 E. Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510). At check-in you will receive your bib number (with timing chip) and your race t-shirt. Racers may pick up packets for other racers. Fleet Feet is offering a 10% discount on any purchases during 10/17 check-in and on race weekend 10/19 and 10/20. If you are checking-in on Thursday, you DO NOT need to check-in on race day.
Race Day Check-in/Packet Pick-Up: If you do not check-in early on Thursday, check-in/packet pick-up will be available at the staging area from 7:15am-9:15am on race day, Sat, 10/19.
Arrival: Please arrive early to help alleviate backups. It takes time to park, check-in, use the bathroom, warm up, and attend the pre-race brief. If you are checking in on race day (did not check-in on Thur), we recommend arriving 45-60 min before your start time and if you check-in on Thursday, we recommend arriving 30-45 min before your start time.
Directions/Address of Staging Area at Great Meadow Park: 161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
- Briar Chapel is located off Rt. 15/501, which is 15 minutes south of downtown Chapel Hill.
- From 15/501, take Andrew Store Rd west for approximately 1 mile.
- Turn right onto Granite Mill Blvd (2nd Briar Chapel entrance) and follow the Race Parking signs.
- Park and follow the signs to check-in.
Parking: Park along the neighborhood streets of Briar Chapel, adjacent to Great Meadow Park. SEE MAP below with parking areas. Please arrive early and carpool, if bringing family or friends. Some of the streets at Briar Chapel are narrow so PLEASE PARK ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET ONLY. There are several entrances to Briar Chapel but we suggest using the entrance off Andrew Store Rd. After entering Briar Chapel, follow the signs for Race Parking. If and when all the space fills up near the staging area, you can park @ Woods Charter School (160 Woodland Grove Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516), which is a 8-minute walk to the staging area. Thank you, Woods Charter!
Restrooms/Portajohns: Restroom facilities will be available at the pavilion and portajohns will be located near the pavilion. Please take your restroom break early. We have ordered enough portajohns for our anticipated numbers but if everyone tries to ‘go’ a few minutes before the race, there will be long lines. Each race will start on time so please factor your restroom break accordingly.
Pre-Race Brief: The pre-race brief will begin 10 minutes before your race start time and will take place at the race start near the pavilion.
Race Start: The Half Marathon will begin at 8:30am, the 10K at 9am, and the 5K at 9:30am.
Race Courses: Briar Chapel has 20+ miles of AWESOME single-track, and some of the best trails in the Triangle. There are some easy, flat mellow areas but many of the trails at Briar Chapel offer a fun challenge and include plenty of rocks, roots, and hills. We would categorize most of the trails at Briar Chapel as moderately technical. Some of the trails on the half marathon course, in the western territory, are decidedly more technical, with more roots, rocks, and hill climbs. Each of the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon, one-loop race courses, start with .3 miles of downhill pavement running, perfect for separating the field of runners. After that, runners hit the trails, and stay on the trails, except for a few road crossings and a short paved section at the finish.
To view course descriptions, maps, and elevation profiles, click on the links below
Race Strategy/Trail Etiquette: While there are plenty of passing opportunities on the trails at Briar Chapel, many of the single-track trails are narrow and passing may be difficult. So, it is suggested that you factor this into your race strategy. At the beginning of the race, there is about .3 miles of wide pavement before entering the single-track. So, it is recommended that you place yourself appropriately at the start line, with faster racers near the front, mid pack racers near the middle, and ‘back of pack’ runners near the rear. Also, proper trail etiquette should be practiced. Overtaking racers should use audible signals such as ‘passing on your left’ or ‘passing on your right’ and, when possible, slower racers should allow them to pass. Keep in mind, however, that it is the responsibility of the overtaking racer to pass safely.
Course Marking: The course will be marked with red, yellow, or pink laminated arrows at all turns or areas of decision and ‘comfort’ arrows and/or pink streamers in between points of decision. Arrows will be tied to trees or stapled to wooden stakes. There are some minor social trails at Briar Chapel that lead to homes or down to a stream. Do not turn off the main trail if you do not see an arrow. Before road crossings, you will see a CAUTION – ROAD CROSSING sign. Most road crossings will be staffed with a course marshal or sheriff deputy, but some will not. PLEASE BE CAREFUL AT ROAD CROSSINGS AND LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING ANY ROAD.
Splits and Merges: There are two splits and two merges on this course. The splits and merges will be marked with signage.
- Split #1 @ 1.6M – HM runners turn left and 10K/5K runners turn right.
- Split #2 @ 1.8M – 10K runners turn left and 5K runners turn right.
- Merge #1 @ 9.5M (HM) / 2.6M (10K) – HM and 10K runners will merge back together.
- Merge #2 @ 12.6M (HM), 5.7M (10K), and 2.75M (5K) – 5K runners will merge back with HM/10K runners with .5 miles left in the race
Mile Markers: Mile markers will be located at every aid station as well as one mile from the finish and ½ mile from the finish.
Aid Stations: Remember to STAY HYDRATED. Aid stations will be stocked with water and Gatorade. Use the cups provided or carry a camelback or handheld water bottle. GU energy gel will be available at A2, A3, A4, and A5 for the half marathon. The Half Marathon has seven aid stations spaced 1.4-2.2 miles from each other. The 10K has three aid stations spaced 1.5-1.9 miles from each other. The 5K course has one aid station at mile 1.6. First aid kits and emergency communication will be available at each aid station. An aid station will also be positioned at the finish.
NO IN-EAR EARPHONES or LOUD AUDIBLE MUSIC: The use of in-ear EARPHONES or LOUD AUDIBLE MUSIC that restricts hearing is not permitted during any Roadless Races event. We understand that many folks like to run with music. To strike a balance, you may use bone conduction headsets (on low volume so you can still hear your surroundings). Why, you may ask? Well, for the following three reasons:
- Safety – we need to look out for each other! Our courses are held on trails in remote areas. If someone gets injured out on the trails, we rely on racers to notify us so we can activate emergency response. Racers must be alert at all times.
- Courtesy – trail races are very different than road races. Passing is usually not a problem in road races but passing can be a challenge on single-track hiking trails. To pass safely, trail etiquette suggests using audible signals such as passing on your left. Passing someone who can’t hear you is difficult and frustrating.
- Community – at Roadless Races we strive to build community. Please use your time with us to unleash yourself from your device, enjoy the sounds of nature, talk to people, make some friends, and have fun.
No Dogs on the Course: We love our furry friends, but for the safety of all racers (and dogs), they are NOT PERMITTED on the racecourse. Spectators are welcome to bring LEASHED (6′ leash max) and SUPERVISED dogs. Please do not allow your dog to come within 10′ of the racecourse.
Photos: Talented professional photographers Mark Brocker and Jay Profitt will be at the race capturing images of the fun and friendly competition. All photos will be available for FREE download a few days after the event. Smile big when you see Mark and Jay out on the course!
Chip Timing / Results: The timing pros from Junction 311 are timing this race. Timing chips will be affixed to the back of your race bib. Please wear your bib on the front of your body, either on your torso or on your shorts. Results will be posted on-site and on runsignup.com immediately following the conclusion of the event. Look for a QR code at the finish area that will direct you to the results.
Finisher Medal: After you finish the race, grab your beautiful finisher medal. They double as a bottle opener and they are NICE!!!
Safety and Medical: Deputies from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office will onsite watching over our safety (mostly at busy road crossings) and EMTs from the Chatham County Fire Department will be onsite to assist with any medical issues, and to provide any needed emergency response. Go to the medical tent if you need first aid or medical assistance. Thank you, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department!
Post-Race Food/Beverages: Tasty post-race food such as sliders, bagels/peanut butter, hummus/veggies, fruit (bananas, apples, etc), trail bars, chips, cookies, trail mix, little cups of M&Ms, etc. will be available after the race – enjoy! Beverages include water, Gatorade, seltzer water, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic craft beer from Athletic Brewing Company – NICE! Food is complimentary for all racers and volunteers.
Athletic Brewing Company – Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer: A cold beer hits the spot after a race and now you can enjoy a tasty post-race craft beverage that doesn’t compromise your ability to stay sharp and healthy. After the race, grab an Athletic Brewing Company beer and enjoy! Thank you and cheers to Athletic Brewing Company!
Awards/Giveaways: The 5K/10K awards ceremony will be at 10:45am and the Half Marathon awards at 11:45am. Awards (1st-5th place tumblers) and prizes (Fleet Feet gift certificates) will be presented to the top five M/F overall finishers in each distance. We will announce the overall winners and ask them to come up to the podium for their awards. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses) will be given to the top three M/F age group competitors for each distance. Age groups include 13-Under, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+. Age group winners should pick up their pint glass from the awards table. At each award ceremony we will do giveaways – cool stuff like Goodr sunglasses, Fleet Feet gift certs, and race swag.
Coastal Credit Union Donation to Meals on Wheels: Not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative, that provides member dividends, teller service 7 days a week, better rates, low fees, and safe/secure banking, Coastal Credit Union has been putting community over profit for over 50 years, and we are thrilled to partner with such an upstanding corporate citizen. At this race, and several of our others, Coastal has committed to donate $3/athlete to the local chapter of Meals on Wheels to support its mission of providing meals and connection to homebound seniors in need. Please join us right before the 5K/10K awards to celebrate as Coastal Credit Union presents Meals on Wheels with a BIG CHECK. You rock, Coastal Credit Union – THANK YOU!
FREE Kids Race for Treasure: At 11am, kids 11-U are invited to participate in the Kids Race for Treasure. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!! All kids are welcome to participate, and parents are encouraged to line the ‘race course’ to cheer them on. We will match kids in age groups (3-U, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-11) to run a short out and back ‘race’ in the large field near the staging area. After running, kids can grab a prize (toys from the dollar store:) from the Treasure Chest!
Contests: Cornhole Tournament (NEW) and Push-Up Contest (winners win prizes and ALL that participate get swag): After the kids race, stick around for the contests, and your chance to win prizes and swag. First up will be the cornhole tournament where all participants have one shot to get the bag in the hole (feel free to practice beforehand). Make it and you move on to round two, etc until we have a winner (who can select their choice of prizes). Next up is the super-fun push up contest where the top two M/F participants who are left ‘standing’ at the end can select a prize of their choosing. All who participate in the cornhole or push up contests will receive an item of swag.
Gift Certificates, Swag, and Discount from Fleet Feet: Building community and helping their customers reach their running goals is what Fleet Feet is all about. Thank you so much to Fleet Feet Carrboro/Durham for contributing gift certificates for the overall prizes and swag for giveaways. Bring your race bib into the Carrboro or either of the Durham stores on 10/19 or 10/20 and take 10% off your purchase.
Awesome Sponsors: THANK YOU to all our generous sponsors for providing product, services, donations, and giveaways in support of grassroots racing and our community. Please show your love and support our sponsors in any way you can. Athletic Brewing Company, Coastal Credit Union, and Fleet Feet – Carrboro/Durham.
Whew, I know that was a lot – thank you for taking the time to read this message and THANK YOU for participating in the 4th Annual Rootrock Trail Run.
Prepare for an excellent day on the trails and see you this Sat.
Jim
Jim Harman
Race Director
Roadless Races
Roadlessraces.com
jim@roadlessraces.com
571-251-6034
