Rootrock Trail Run

Upgrade to Trails

Rootrock Trail Run
Briar Chapel – Chapel Hill, NC
October 19, 2024

Overview

The 4th Annual Rootrock Trail Run at Briar Chapel puts runners to the test as they navigate 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon of stellar single-track. Held on the morning of October 19th, this popular, mid-fall trail run will be followed in the afternoon by the Rootrock Mountain Bike Race, which is a new addition in 2024. Welcome to the Rootrock Trail Races and get pumped for an awesome day of trail racing action. To learn more and register for the Rootrock MTB, CLICK HERE.

Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition to fantastic trails, centrally located Great Meadow Park, with its beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, offers a perfect setting area to start and finish a race. After racing, athletes will enjoy a festive vibe, post-race food, great music, the free kids race for treasure, and a fun awards ceremony with lots of giveaways.

Course Maps and Description

5K Rootrock Course Description

The 5K is perfect for families with kids (aged 6+) and for those looking to get a small taste of trail running. The 5K course starts with .45 mile of wide-open pavement, followed by 3.0 miles of double and single-track. The exact distance is 3.3 miles, with an elevation gain of 222’. While there are some hills, rocks, and roots along the course, the majority of the terrain is less technical than the 10K and Half Marathon courses. Rootrock 5K Technical Terrain Course Rating: Overall 2+ out of 5 – (1.8M of EASIEST/EASY and 1.5M of MODERATE) (This is a fun and fast course)

10K Rootrock Course Description

The one-loop 10K race course is a super-fun, tried-and-true loop that many Briar Chapel residents run and ride all the time. It starts with .3 miles of wide-open pavement and .2 miles of double-track trail, perfect for establishing pace and position. Other than a few road crossings and the last .3 miles of the course, this is the only pavement in the race. After entering the single-track trails, 10K racers run along semi-technical terrain, up gradual hill climbs, and along relatively flat stream valleys before finishing in Great Meadow park, a large grassy community area. The exact distance of the 10K course is 6.2 miles, with an elevation gain of 438’. Rootrock 10K Technical Terrain Course Rating: Overall 3 out of 5 – (1.0M EASY and 5.2M MODERATE) (An excellent, challenging, and very ‘runnable’ course)

Half Marathon Rootrock Course Description

The one-loop Half Marathon course is an AWESOME challenge, and includes all the terrain of the 10K course as well as many of the newer trails in the western portion of the neighborhood. These newer sections have some steep hill climbs with plenty of rock and root filled sections. The half marathon course has been slightly revised for 2024, replacing .6 miles of the neighborhood pavement near Encore, and a small section of two-way traffic near the golf course, with a direct connection to the western trails via the gravel road behind Constellation Park. In addition to the challenge of the added length and elevation, the Half Marathon course has decidedly more technical terrain than the 10K course. The exact distance of the Half Marathon course is 13.1 miles, with an elevation gain of 960’. Rootrock Half Marathon Technical Terrain Course Rating: Overall 3+ to 4- out of 5 – (1.6M EASY, 8.1M MODERATE, 3.4M DIFFICULT) (varied, fun, and very challenging course)

Course Maps (click on map titles for course details and elevation profiles)

Registration

Race Results

Registration Fees

5K: $37 by 1/24, $40 by 8/19, $45 by 9/19, $50 by 10/17, $55 by 10/19
10K: $45 by 1/24, $50 by 8/19, $55 by 9/19, $60 by 10/17, $65 by 10/19
Half Marathon: $70 by 1/24, $75 by 8/19, $80 by 9/19, $85 by 10/17, $90 by 10/19
Registration fees are $2-$10 lower for Youth 17-U and Seniors 65+

Expect Excellence. Your Registration Fee Includes:

Limited race entry to provide an intimate and friendly race experience and to prevent overcrowding on the trails
Fun and challenging course design
Professional race operations
Superbly marked course – you won’t get lost
Race tee that you’ll love and want to wear. Comes in men’s/unisex, women’s, and youth sizes (see link for sizing/specs).
Beautiful finisher medal.
Exciting atmosphere with great music
Excellent volunteer support
Frequent and well-stocked aid stations every 1-2 miles along the course
Medical support
Chip timing. Accurate and timely posting of results
Abundant, varied, and tasty post-race food/beverage (including items such as sliders, fresh fruit, hummus/veggies, bagels/peanut butter, trail bars, chips, cookies, and a crowd favorite, little cups of M&Ms. Beverages include water, Gatorade, soft drinks, and Honest Kids juice)
FREE Kids Race for Treasure (see below for details)
Cornhole Tournament (NEW) / Push-up contest (winners receive prizes and ALL who participant get swag)
Fun awards ceremony with lots of giveaways (see below for details)
FREE photo downloads post-race (a professional photographer will be at the race)

Schedule of Events

STAGING AREA: Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

THURSDAY, 10/17/24

4pm-6pm: Optional Early Check-in / Packet Pick-up @ Fleet Feet Carrboro (310 E Main St #120, Carrboro, NC 27510). Fleet Feet is offering 10% off any purchase when you check-in on 10/19 and if you bring in your bib into their shop after the race on 10/19 or 10/20 – NICE and Thank You Fleet Feet!

SATURDAY, 10/19/24 (Race Day)

7:15am-9:15am: Check-in / Packet-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
9am: 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 Contest (winners receive prizes and ALL who participate get swag.)
11:45am: Awards/Giveaways (Half Marathon)
ROOTROCK Mountain Bike Race in the afternoon (CLICK HERE for more info)

FREE Kids Race for Treasure

At 11am, kids 11-under are invited to participate in the FREE Kids Race for Treasure. 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 start each group separately on 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!

Awards, Giveaways, and Age Groups

Finisher medal to all participants. Prizes and awards for top five overall M/F competitors in each distance. Awards for the top three M/F competitors in each age group.

Age groups for each distance: 13-Under, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

We will randomly select winners of some great giveaways – includes gift certificates, running gear, and Roadless Races merchandise. Racers and volunteers are eligible to win.

Venue

Rules and Policies

Rules:

Earbuds and external speakers are not permitted in the race. Wearing earbuds during a trail race is not safe and is frustrating for those trying to pass.
Pets, pacers, and baby strollers are not permitted on the course.
Respect the environment. No littering.
Excellent sportsmanship is an expectation at our events. Respect other racers, volunteers, and race staff.
Follow the marked course and stay on designated trails. No shortcutting.
Please inform our timers if you drop out of the race.
Bib numbers must be visible from the front at all times.
Run at your pace. There are no cut-off times.

Policies:

Refunds – Receive a full refund (minus $10 and the runsignup processing fee) if you must cancel your race 14 or more days before the race. No cash refunds within 14 days. To cancel, email request to info@roadlessraces.com
Credits – Receive a coupon code for future Roadless Races if you must cancel your race within the following time periods: Cancel 14 or more days before the race to receive a 100% credit of your registration fee. Cancel 4-13 days before the race to receive a 50% credit of your registration fee. To cancel, email request to info@roadlessraces.com.
Transfers – Transfer your entry to another racer if you are not able to attend the race (go to runsignup, input your confirmation code, and follow directions for bib exchange.) Transfers must be initiated online at least 3 days prior to the race. No race day transfers. We do not allow transfers to another race, but you can cancel your race for full or partial credit.
Minimum Age for 10K and Half Marathon – Rootrock Trail Run 10K and Half Marathon racers must be at least 12 years old to race unaccompanied in the 10K or Half Marathon. Racers 8-11 years old MUST race WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian, unless approved by race director (email info@roadlessraces.com to request approval).
Minimum Age for 5K – Rootrock Trail Run 5K racers must be at least 10 years old to run unaccompanied in the 5K. Racers 8-9 years old MUST run WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian, unless approved by race director (email info@roadlessraces.com to request approval). Racers 6-7 MUST run WITH (alongside) a registered parent or guardian.
Cancellation/Postponement – Racers may choose between a full refund (minus runsignup processing fee) or a coupon code for 100% credit of the registration fee paid, should we need to cancel or postpone the event for any reason. Use credits for future Roadless Races events.