Event Description
Dirt Days Trail Series - Backpack Trail Run
Sunday, July 22, 2018 9:00 am
East Fork State Park, Bethel, OH
The East Fork Backpack Trail Run is where the series all began.
The 5.6 mile race will have handicap starts as in the past. This classic race will remain relatively unchanged from previous years. The unique aspect of this race is the handicapped start. All runners will receive a handicap based on Age, Sex, and previous performance in the series. Those with the larger handicaps will start first and those with no handicaps will start last. Everybody will start within a 30 minute time frame.The object is that everyone will have an equal chance at finishing first, and it will be a true chase to the finish.
As the name states, the race will take place on the well-established Backpack Trail, at East Fork Lake State Park. The 5.4 mile course is densely wooded, and might give runners the feeling that they are on the Appalachian Trail. The course reverses direction each year. The 10.8 mile (two loop) race will have a mass start with no handicaps.
We have added a "Trekker" category for those who would like to do the 10+ mile course but need extra time to finish. If you think that you need more than 2-2.5 hours to finish, we encourage you to consider the this option. You can start at 8:00 instead of nine. You will receive a time and credit for participation. Also, you can finish before all the food is gone!
You Must Pre-register by Wednesday, July 18, 2018 to receive a handicap for the 5.6 mile race.
Race day registration will be available for both the 5.6 mile and the 10.8 mile race however there will be no handicaps given for the 5.6 mile race (This means that you will start last)
This is the fifth stop of the 2018 Dirt Days Trail Series. Each race will be scored separately. In the shorter handicapped race your actual finish position determines your placement for the Backpack Trail Run scoring. However, your actual running time, not your handicapped finish place, is used to determine your place for series points
Location:
East Fork Lake Ohio State Park
Link to East Fork State Park Web Page
GPS Coordinates to the beach: 39.016999, -84.133509
Important - Race begins and ends at the beach on the SOUTH side of the lake off. Use Route 125 and not Route 32.
Start Time:
The clock will start at 0:00 at around 9:00 am.
All participants in the 5.6 mile course will start between 9:00 and 9:30
All 10.8 Milers (except for Trekkers) Start at 0:00 on the clock (9:00 am)
Trekkers start at 8:00 am
The Course:
As the name states, the race will take place on the well-established Backpack Trail, at East Fork Lake State Park. The 5.4 mile course is densely wooded, and might give runners the feeling that they are on the Appalachian Trail. The course reverses direction each year. The 10.8 mile (two loop) race will have a mass start with no handicaps.
Individual Event Awards:
The overall top male and overall top female (The first male and female to cross the finish line) will receive a FREE Pair of Altra Trail Shoes, redeemable at Fleet Feet Sports.
Random drawing Shoe winner: An additional FREE Pair of Altra Trail Shoes will be randomly awarded at each event, redeemable at Fleet Feet Sports!
No duplicate shoe winners are allowed throughout the series. This means that many people regardless of ability will have an opportunity to win a pair of shoes.
10 age-graded awards.
10 randomly drawn door prizes.
You must be present to win any random drawing and you cannot accept for someone else, so stick around!
T-Shirts:
Dirt Day Trail series Tech shirts will also be available for purchase both online and at the race. These shirts are being sold by Fleet Feet and are $15 each while supplies last.
Amenities:
We will have a variety of treats for you.
Registration Fee:
Registration Fee: $15 Pre-registration per race. Late registration, when offered, will be $17. It was determined that not enough folks were pre-registering so the race day fee was raised to $20 to "encourage" pre-registration.
IMPORTANT: We must have your registration by Wednesday, July 18, 2018 to receive a handicap for the 5.6 mile race.
Register online through Thursday, July 19, 2018. Late online registration will be available through Friday July 20, 2018
Register by mail by printing and mailing a paper registration form. Postmark by Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Register on Race day from 7:30 am through 8:45 am
Race Day Registration and pick up:
There is no early packet pick up for this event. Check in on day of race is from 7:30 am through 8:45 am.
The Dirt Days Trail Series:
This is the fifth stop of the 2018 Dirt Days Trail Series.
