Birds of a Feather - Event Details

Hello Birds of a Feather Runner,

Welcome to 2nd Annual Birds of a Feather Trail Trot coming up on Thanksgiving Day at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, NC. Prepare for a healthy and fun morning with family and friends! Here we go!!!

Below are logistical and safety details for the event. This message is long, but chock-full of detailed info. It should answer most questions you might have about this event, and probably some you didn’t even know you had:) Please take a few minutes to read, or at least skim. I will send a MUCH shorter reminder/update email on Tues evening by 9pm.

Also, please be aware that if you signed up a family member and used your email address during registration, that person will not receive this long note or the short note I will send on Tues. Please share the info with them. I will also post this email on the event registration page and on our homepage.

EVENT DETAILS – Birds of a Feather Trail Trot on 11/28/24

Schedule of Events:

Staging Area: Pavilion at Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

WEDNESDAY, 11/27/24 (Early Check-in / Packet Pick-up)

4pm–6pm: Optional Early Check-in / Packet Pick-up under the pavilion @ Great Meadow Park. This is OPTIONAL, but encouraged. You may pick up packets for friends/family. PORCH Briar Chapel will be accepting food donations.

THURSDAY, 11/28/24 (Thanksgiving and Race Day!)

7:15am–8:30am: Check-in / Packet Pick-up (check-in only if you did not pick up your packet on Wednesday). PORCH Briar Chapel will be accepting food donations.
8:25am: 5K Race Brief at the start line
8:30am: 5K Start (timed race), then 5K Fun Run Brief at the start line
8:35am: 5K Start (untimed fun run)
8:40am: 2M Race Brief at the start line
8:45am: 2M Start (timed race), then 2M Fun Run Brief at the start line
8:50am: 2M Start (untimed fun run)
9am–10:30am: PIE/beverages and music
9:30am: FREE Kids ‘Race for Treasure’ (kids 11-U) – Round ONE
9:45am: Awards (timed races) / Donation to PORCH Briar Chapel
10am: Contests (Cornhole, Push-up, Costume) / Giveaways
10:15am: FREE Kids ‘Race for Treasure’ (kids 11-U) – Round TWO for any kids that missed the first one.

Race Day Weather Forecast (as of 11/23): The extended race day forecast is calling for overcast skies, cool temps from the mid 40s to upper 50s, light winds, and a chance of scattered showers. We MAY get a little wet folks – so come prepared with layers AND your sense of fun and adventure! With the above said, the forecast has been fluctuating for the past several days, and it’s still uncertain as of now (and isn’t it always with the weather:). I will include the latest race day forecast in the email I send Tues.

Course Conditions: The trails are currently leaf covered and dry. We will leaf blow the courses on Monday and this will help a TON with trail visibility. The 10-15 mph winds predicted on Tues will drop some leaves, but not enough to completely cover the trails like they are now. Trail visibility is not much of an issue for the 2 mile course because there are very few roots/rocks (and a lot of grass/paved sections), but leaf blowing is a big risk mitigation tool at this time of year for rugged, root/rock strewn courses like the 5K. I will include the latest course conditions in the email I send Tues.

Start List: CLICK HERE to view the list of registered runners. As I write this email on 11/23, there are 425 runners registered. Our max is 600, with no more than 200 in each of the 5K events (to limit congestion and bottlenecks on the single-track).

Volunteers: We are looking really solid on volunteers but could use the help of 2-3 more generous people who would like to have a front row seat to all the action as course marshals from 7:45am-10am. Volunteers receive a race tee, $15 discount to a future race (that can be gifted to anyone), and our sincere appreciation. Plus, volunteering is fun! If you have any friends or family that would like to be a course marshal, please ask them to sign up HERE. THANK YOU to all the awesome volunteers!!!

PORCH Briar Chapel: With this event, we are helping raise funds and awareness for PORCH Briar Chapel to support their mission to put food on the table of those in need in Chatham County. Our goal is to raise $1500 and with $960 collected so far (as of 11/23), we are almost 2/3 of the way there. THANK YOU to all who donated during registration! Roadless Races will match 10% of funds collected. Also, PORCH Briar Chapel will be at the event collecting funds and non-perishable, canned/boxed foods. Their greatest need for the holiday season is mac and cheese, rice, mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, cornbread mix, fruit cups, canned veggies, pie/cookie/brownie mix, cinnamon, and any spices. Please consider bringing an item to contribute or if you would like to make a monetary contribution, you can view the current balance and DONATE HERE. THANK YOU for supporting this great cause!

Check-in/Packet Pick-up: We will be holding Early Check-in/Packet Pick-up (optional) from 4pm-6pm on Wed, 11/27 at the pavilion at Great Meadow Park (161 Salt Cedar Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516). To save time and make everyone’s race morning super-easy, we encourage you to pick up your tee and bib on Wed (if possible). You may pick up packets for family or friends. If you check-in on Wed, you DO NOT need to check-in on the morning of the event. If you are not able to make it on Wed, no problem, and we will see you on Thursday morning. Packet pick-up on Thursday opens at 7:15am.

IMPORTANT NOTE – PLEASE, DO NOT give your bib to someone else. This will make the results, age group, and overall awards incorrect for the timed events. Also, for emergency purposes, we need to know who is out there participating. If you need to transfer your registration to someone else or change distances/events (5K timed to 5K untimed for instance), you may do so prior to race day (by Tues 11/26/24) by going into your runsignup account profile, selecting ‘manage registration’, then ‘Transfer to Someone Else’ or ‘Transfer Event’ in the menu, and following the instructions. If you have problems, shoot me an email BY TUES night at info@roadlessraces.com and I can help you. Reminder/FYI, we have some very liberal policies but we are way to close to the race to offer refunds or full credits. See policies HERE.

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 Wed), we recommend arriving at least 45 min before your start time and if you check-in on Wednesday, we recommend arriving at least 30 min before your start time.

Directions and 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: If you live in Briar Chapel and somewhat close to the staging area, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND walking to the staging area. If you are driving to the venue, 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 STEET ONLY. If and when all the space fills up near the staging area or if you would just like to avoid the parking search, you can park @ Woods Charter School (160 Woodland Grove Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516), which is an 8-minute walk to the staging area. Thank you, Woods Charter!

Portajohns: Portajohns will be available near the pavilion at Great Meadow Park. Please take your restroom break early. We have ordered enough for our anticipated participation but if everyone tries to ‘go’ a few minutes before each start time, there will be long lines. Each event will start on time, so please factor your restroom break accordingly.

Race and Fun Run Briefs: The race and fun run briefs will take place at the start line near the pavilion, on the corner of Great Ridge Pkwy / Beacon Ridge Blvd. Look for the ‘START’ flags. The briefs will begin 5 minutes before the start time of each event. The brief will cover safety, course marking, aid stations, and logistical topics. Please plan on attending before your race/run.

Start Times: We will start in four waves. The 5K timed race @ 8:30am, the 5K untimed fun run @ 8:35am, the 2 mile timed race @ 8:45am, and the 2 mile untimed fun run @ 8:50am. To avoid congestion and mitigate other logistical issues, you MUST start at your designated start time.

2 Mile Course Description: The 2 mile course is perfect for the whole family. Redesigned from the 2023 1.5 mile course, the 2 mile starts with .79 mile of paved road, sidewalk, and trail, perfect for separating the field or runners. Following the paved section, runners will complete .71 mile of grass and non-technical double and single-track trails (the vast majority of which is wide and smooth – very few roots and rocks). The course ends with .54 mile of sidewalks and paved trail heading to the finish line. The exact distance is 2.04 miles, with an elevation gain of 134’. There is an aid station at 1.0M. The 2 mile course may be run or walked as a timed race or an untimed fun run. The 2 mile timed race will start 5 minutes before the 2 mile untimed fun run.

CLICK HERE to view the 2 mile course elevation profile and map in detail.

5K Course Description: The rugged 5K course offers a super-fun challenge for both newbies and trail veterans alike. The 5K course starts with .43 mile of wide-open pavement, perfect for separating the field or runners. Following the paved section, runners will complete 2.79 miles of undulating double-track dirt trails and flowy single-track with plenty of roots, rocks, and short hill climbs. The course ends with a .26 mile paved trail heading to the finish line. The exact distance is 3.38 miles (5.4K), with an elevation gain of 217’. There is one aid station at 1.8M. The 5K course may be run or walked as a timed race or an untimed fun run. To limit bottlenecks and congestion on the single-track trails, the 5K events are limited to 200 participants each. The 5K timed race will start 5 minutes before the 5K untimed fun run.

CLICK HERE to view the 5K course elevation profile and map in detail.

Race Strategy/Trail Etiquette: The 2 mile course is wide throughout the entire course and there are plenty of passing opportunities from start to finish. For the 5K, there is just under .5 miles of wide pavement before entering the single-track trails. This will space out the field of runners before it gets tight. While there are plenty of passing opportunities throughout the 5K course, passing may be difficult in some sections of the single-track. So, it is suggested that you factor this into your race strategy and 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 pint surveyor’s tape tied to branches between points of decision. Arrows will be tied to trees or stapled to wooden stakes. Before road crossings, you will see a CAUTION – ROAD CROSSING sign. Most road crossings will be staffed with a course marshal or sheriff’s deputy, but PLEASE BE CAREFUL AT ROAD CROSSINGS AND LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING ANY ROAD.

Aid Stations: There is one aid station on the 5K course, at 1.8M and one aid station on the 2 mile course, at 1.0M. The aid stations will be stocked with water and Gatorade. Use the cups provided or carry a camelback or handheld water bottle. First aid kits and emergency communication will be available at the aid station. An aid station will also be positioned at the finish.

Chip Timing / Results: The timing pros from Junction 311 are timing/scoring the timed 2 mile and 5K races. Timing chips will be affixed to the back of all 2M and 5K timed race participant bibs. Please wear your bib on the front of your body, either on your torso or on your shorts. Results will be posted online immediately after crossing the finish line. Look for the QR code near the pavilion for a link to the results.

NO IN-EAR EARPHONES or AUDIBLE MUSIC: The use of in-ear EARPHONES or AUDIBLE MUSIC is not permitted during any Roadless Races event. We understand that some 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 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 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 race course. 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.

Trail Strollers: Strollers that are appropriate for the trail ARE PERMITTED on the 2 mile untimed fun run ONLY (such as a BOB stroller, for instance). Regular street strollers are not recommended. If using a trail stroller, PLEASE START AT THE BACK, behind the runners and walkers. Strollers ARE NOT PERMITTED on the 5K course because there are root and rock filled sections on the 5K that will be frustrating (and potentially dangerous) to navigate.

Safety and Emergency Response: Deputies from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office will be on site watching over our safety (mostly at busy road crossings) and EMTs from the Chatham County Fire Department will be on site to provide any needed emergency response. Thank you, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department!

Recovery and Medical: AlbyPT will be providing non-emergency first aid medical services (patching up any boo boos) and will also be available to screen and discuss any injury recovery or movement performance questions you may have. AlbyPT is your partner in keeping life moving well. Specializing in various areas of physical therapy including orthopedics, aquatics, pelvic health, and dry needling; Michelle Alby, DPT is there to guide injury recovery, improve performance for the next race, or assist the body to its next great adventure. With private individualized sessions at your home or office, AlbyPT is an ideal partner in keeping life moving well. Thank you, Michelle for lending your medical and PT expertise to athletes! Go to the medical tent if you need first aid or medical assistance.

Photos: We will have three professional photographers covering this event. See the map above for their locations. Jay will be on the 5K just after the road crossing, Tim will be near the pond across from the dog park for the 2 mile, and Emma will be at the start and finish lines. All photographers will be at the staging area for the pre and post-race activities. They will be taking candid shots all morning long and feel free to ask them to take a group shot of you and your family/group. All photos will be available for FREE download a few days after the event. We will send an email when they are ready. SMILE BIG when you see the photogs!

Post-Race PIE / Beverages: Enjoy a slice of pie after you run, before you head home for your big Thanksgiving feast. Consider it an appetizer:) Beverages include cider, water, Gatorade, soft drinks, flavored seltzer water, and non-alcoholic craft beer from Athletic Brewing Company – NICE! Post-race refreshments are complimentary for all racers and volunteers. Thank you to Food Lion Briar Chapel for providing the yummy pie, cider, and whipped cream for this event!

Please Recycle: Look for the blue recycling containers near the pavilion and please do not throw trash into the recycling containers – THANK YOU!

FREE Kids Race for Treasure (9:30am AND 10:15am): At 9:30am and 10:15am, kids aged 11 and under 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) and have them 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! Any kids that miss the 9:30am kids race, can join us at 10:15am for round two.

Awards/Donation to PORCH Briar Chapel: The awards ceremony will be held at 9:45am. Awards (1st-5th place tumblers) and prizes (Fleet Feet gift certificates) will be presented to the top five M/F 2 mile and 5K timed race overall finishers. We will announce the overall winners and ask them to come up to the podium for their awards and photo. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses) will be given to the top three M/F 2 mile and 5K timed races age group competitors. Age groups include 5-8 (2M), 6-8 (5K), 9-10, 11-13, 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. Right before the awards ceremony, we will bring up PORCH Briar Chapel folks for a big ‘ole check presentation (literally, it’s a big check). THANK YOU AGAIN to all who donated during registration and to those that intend to donate $ or canned/boxed foods.

Giveaways/Contests: Cornhole/Push-Ups/Costumes: Immediately after the awards @ 10am, stick around for the contests, and your chance to win prizes and swag including Goodr sunglasses, fanny packs, and Fleet Feet gift certs. THANK YOU, Fleet Feet for supplying all the cool stuff! 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. Finally, while not a contest really but, anyone donning a costume will be in the running for some surprise swag – so, break out that turkey suit and you may just nab a goodie. All who participate in the contests will receive an item of swag.

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. AlbyPT, Athletic Brewing Company, Fleet Feet – Carrboro/Durham, and Food Lion Briar Chapel.

Whew, I know that was a lot – thank you for taking the time to read this message and THANK YOU for participating in the 2nd Annual Birds of a Feather Trail Trot.

Prepare for one heck of a fun morning and see you soon!

Jim

Jim Harman
Race Director
Roadless Races
jim@roadlessraces.com
roadlessraces.com
571-251-6034

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