5 MILE

2024 Course Updates: The newly designed 5 mile course traverses several trails within the Gay City State Park network. The course will start in the upper athletic fields and follow the White Trail for the first 1.5 miles before splitting from the 3 mile. The route then follows the Orange and Red Trails for the next several miles, before splitting onto the Yellow and then Blue Trail to finish. Be prepared to encounter a lot of rocks and roots and several ups and downs throughout the course. Runners will emerge from the Blue Trail and turn onto the main road before finishing back where they began.

COURSE

Gay City State Park Trail Map

EVENT RECORDS:
Male: 34:37 – set by Joshua Pasay in 2023
Female: 40:56 – set by Gillian M. Plummer in 2022

Course Suitability for Disabled Athletes:
Click here for more details.

RACE START

Registrants must submit an estimated finish time during the registration process and these times will be used to organize runners at the start. Due to the immediate narrowing of the trails: there will be 3 starting waves. Each registrant will be assigned a wave based on estimated finish time provided during registration. All participants will be required to be at the race start area prior to the first wave starting.

The 5 Mile will start with the 8 Mile in the upper athletic fields of Gay City State Park. Both races will run together for roughly 4.9 miles.

All participants will be notified by email the week of the event with race start logistics and need to know updates.

DIVISIONS & AWARDS

This event is timed by Bay State Race Services and uses the B-Tag timing system (timing chip is attached to the back of the race bib). Please wear the race bib on the front of the shirt.

DIVISIONS:

  • Top 3 Overall Male and Female
  • Male Age Group – 12-19, and 10-year age groups from 20-80+
  • Female Age Group – 12-19, and 10-year age groups from 20-80+
  • Clydesdale (men 200+lbs.)
  • Athena (women 150+lbs.)

  • Nonbinary/Genderqueer More…

  • Disabled Athletes More…

AWARDS:

  • Commemorative Awards to the Top 3 in Each Division
  • All awards based on chip time
  • No “double dipping”

  • To collect an award after race day, click here

COURSE LIMITS

Course limit is 1 hour and 30 minutes for the Summer Solstice Trail Run – 5 Mile Course. To finish within these time limits you must maintain a pace of approximately 18 minutes per mile. More…

COURSE SUPPORT

MARKINGS:

  • Directional arrows and course marshals marking all turns (follow red arrows)
  • Start and finish lines with timing mats

AMENITIES:

No on-course hydration will be provided. Participants are encouraged to carry their own fluids.

  • Hydration: Pre/Post Race (Water & Nuun Sport)
  • Portalets: Pre/Post Race
  • Medical personnel
  • Event alert system notifications in the pre-race area. More…

NOT ALLOWED ON THE COURSE

No dogs (service dogs must be identified as such at all times). No unregistered runners or walkers. Headphones discouraged. No bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, or motorized vehicles.

Baby Jogger/Strollers are NOT permitted in 8 mile, 5 mile, or 3 mile, please see details on the stroller policy HERE.

  • OUR RACE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF THESE PARTNERS