Upgrade to Trails

It’s Our Why

Roadless Races creates fun, friendly, and challenging trail races in the Triangle Area of North Carolina. 

Our goal is to create exceptional events, promote healthy competition, facilitate personal accomplishment, and to build a community of fulfilled and happy trail racers.  

Our inaugural race in September 2019, the Zen Squirrel Trail Run at Briar Chapel, was a huge success, with close to 300 athletes, smooth logistics, wonderful community support, and tons of great energy.  In 2020 we had several in-person races planned but then COVID hit, so we produced virtual events instead.  We did more virtual events in 2021 and then eased back into in-person events during the latter half of the year.  In 2022, we were back at it – producing six events, and each year since, we’ve created and produced 8-12 in-person trail running and mountain biking races and 1-2 virtual events. Our goal is to add one or two events each year until the Triangle Area trail racing community is properly served. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the trails.  

We Believe

• We believe that racing on trails in the woods is more fun and interesting than racing on roads. Upgrade to trails!
• We believe in the power of healthy competition and personal accomplishment – and how this can positively affect all other aspects of your life.  Strive, improve, and achieve at Roadless Races.
• We believe in real challenge.  Our races are not a walk in the park, but rather a rewarding experience that will stretch you physically and emotionally. 
• All racers deserve respect.  We have no cut-off times, we do not run out of food for back-of-pack finishers, and we do not start cleaning up until the last racer crosses the finish line.   All are welcome at Roadless Races.
• We believe in the positive outcomes of building community and that participating in grassroots trail races is a great way to make and nurture friendships.  Join Roadless Races – you belong here.
• We believe in being fair and prove that by offering liberal and industry leading refund, credit, and transfer policies. 
• We believe in providing real value for your registration fee by offering a quality race production, challenging course design, fully supported race experience, accurate and timely race results, beautiful t-shirts, abundant post-race food, free photo downloads, and a fun awards ceremony.

Our Staff

Creating fun, facilitating personal accomplishment, and building community, the Roadless Races staff are the heartbeat of our organization.  Come rain or shine, dawn to dusk, this special group of positive-spirted people cheerfully jump in to do whatever is needed to make it all happen, from parking cars, to managing check-in, to working aid stations, to marking courses, to helping with timing, to distributing food, etc, etc.  From set up to clean up, our staff does it all – and has a ton of fun along the way.

We Love What We Do

Our Story

My name is Jim Harman and I’m the founder of Roadless Races.  For the past 24 years, I’ve been immersed in trail racing.  In 2000, I produced my first race and in 2002, I started a trail race production company called EX2 Adventures.  With the help and support of my wife, Kimberly we worked hard to keep the dream alive.  Early on, we both worked extra jobs.  I was finally able to make EX2 my full time gig in 2004, the year we got married.  EX2 started small and grew.  From one race that first year to 20 by 2007, EX2 Adventures was building community and making things happen in the Northern Virginia trail racing scene.  Since 2007, EX2 has consistently produced 18-22 races each year.

In 2016, Kimberly and I decided it was time for a change.  We loved EX2 and the community we built but after creating over 250 races, we craved new scenery and new experiences.  So, the search ensued to find the right person to take the helm of EX2.  We found that person and sold the business in December 2017.  Soon after that, we packed up and headed south to Chapel Hill, NC. 

After moving, Kimberly resumed her work in the Animal Welfare industry, a career she loves and is passionate about but largely put on hold after our son Jack was born.  For me, well, it didn’t take long before I was out scouting trails, designing race courses, and dreaming of starting a new venture.  You see, creating trail races is my passion and being a race director is what I’m supposed to be doing.  I love this stuff and I look forward to the challenge of growing Roadless Races. I welcome any comments, suggestions, or questions.  Email me at jim@roadlessraces.com or call 571-251-6034.