Upgrade to Trails

Overview

The Zen Squirrel Trail Run is where it all started for Roadless Races in 2019, and it’s BACK!  Offering 2 mile, 5 mile, and 10 mile distance options, this race brings together trail runners for fun, challenge, and healthy competition.  Runners will be treated to some awesome courses that include a mixture of smooth and flowing dirt trails, rock and root strewn single-track, and challenging hill climbs.  After finishing the race, enjoy post-race food, great music, a free kids race, and an awards ceremony with fun contests and lots of giveaways.  

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 20+ miles of fantastic trails at Briar Chapel, centrally located Great Meadow Park, with its beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, offers a perfect setting area to start and finish a race.

Course Maps and Description

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

Registration Fees

• 2 Mile: $35 by 1/12, $40 by 1/22, $43 by 2/22, $45 by 3/21, $50 on 3/22
• 5 Mile: $40 by 1/12, $45 by 1/22, $47 by 2/22, $50 by 3/21, $55 on 3/22
• 10 Mile: $50 by 1/12, $55 by 1/22, $57 by 2/22, $60 by 3/21, $65 on 3/22
• Registration fees are $2-$5 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).  
• 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)
• Awards ceremony with fun contests and 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)

SATURDAY, 3/22/25 (Race Day)

• 7:30am-9:45am:  Check-in / Packet-up
• 8:50am:  10 Mile Pre-Race Brief
• 9:00am:  10 Mile Start
• 9:35am:  5 Mile Pre-Race Brief
• 9:45am:  5 Mile Start
• 9:50am:  2 Mile Pre-Race Brief
• 10:00am:  2 Mile Start
• 10:00am-12pm:  Post-race Food/Beverage  
• 11am:  FREE Kid’s Race for Treasure (kids 11-U) 
• 11:15am:  Awards
• 11:30am:  Contests and Giveaways

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, Contests, and Giveaways

Awards (1st-5th place tumblers) and prizes (Fleet Feet Gift Certificates) for top five overall M/F competitors in each distance. Awards (1st-3rd place pint glasses) 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+.

Racers and volunteers are invited to join the contests – fun stuff such as cornhole, push-ups, rock/paper/scissors, etc, etc.  Contest winners receive NICE swag like Goodr sunglasses or race merchandise and ALL who participate receive an item of swag.  After the contests, we randomly select winners of the rest of the swag – more great stuff such as Goodr sunglasses, gift certificates, running gear, and Roadless Races merchandise. 

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 timer 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 refund (minus $10 and the runsignup processing fee) if you cancel 14+ days before the race. No refunds within 14 days. To cancel, email request to info@roadlessraces.com
• Credits: Receive a coupon code for future Roadless Races if you cancel. Cancel 14+ days before the race for a 100% credit of your registration fee. Cancel 4-13 days before the race for a 50% credit of your registration fee. To cancel, email request to info@roadlessraces.com.
• Transfer Your Entry to Someone Else: 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. To transfer to another racer, go to you profile on runsignup, and follow directions to ‘Transfer to Someone Else’.
• Change Distance: Distance changes must be initiated online at least 3 days prior to the race. No race day distance changes. To change distances, go to your profile on runsignup, and follow directions to ‘Transfer Event’.

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