Friends of the Chessie Trail (FOCT) is in the final stages of preparing for the 11th annual Run The Chessie races.
Scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, the event will include a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and marathon relay. All races take place entirely on the Chessie Nature Trail, voted one of the nation’s top three recreational trails. The surface is smooth gravel and grass, following the flat, former railbed along the scenic Maury River. Walkers are welcome in all races except the marathon.
Race director Eric Sheffield reports that registrations are on track to hit another record, with more than 500 runners from 29 states already signed up. Local runners who sign up before Sept. 30 will receive an 18% discount. According to Sheffield, Run The Chessie also offers the best student discount in Virginia which brings in a lot of young runners who add to the energy of the event.
While most of the runners come from out of the area, Run The Chessie is an opportunity for local runners to access big-race amenities and excitement that they usually have to travel to a more populated area to experience, said Sheffield.
All races will be chip timed and all runners will receive custom finisher medals and T-shirts. The top three finishers in each race will receive medals and downtown Lexington gift certificates. The top three age group winners will be recognized in a podium ceremony complete with hugetrophy photo-ops. The “Top Run” award will go to the runner with the highest age percentage score and their name will be inscribed on a perpetual trophy. Any runners setting a course record will receive $50 cash prizes.
Aid stations offering water, Gatorade and snacks will be set up about every two miles on the trail, as will toilets. After their race, all runners can participate in the post-race party with fresh cooked pancakes, fruit, other snacks, and pizza for the later-arriving half marathon and marathon runners. A food truck with fresh brewed coffee, iced coffee, and other treats will be near the finish line.
There is plenty of free parking at Virginia Military Institute’s McKethan Park, just above where the race starts on the Chessie Trail, midway between Lexington and Buena Vista. All four courses are USATF certified and the marathon is a Boston qualifier.
As always, 100% of net proceeds from the races will go to the Friends of the Chessie Trail for trail improvements. Previous races have resulted in more than $90,000 in trail improvements over the last 10 years.
Sheffield notes that it takes more than 50 volunteers to put on this event, and FOCT welcomes any volunteers that want to help out.
Runners and walkers can find more information and register at www.runthechessie.org , or contact Sheffield, at [email protected].
