Chris Jarvis Autumn River Run Half Marathon & 5K

The Chris Jarvis Autumn River Run course for the 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon will feature an expansive view of the North Platte Trails Network and the unique tunnels, underpasses and overpasses featured throughout the trail system.

The 5K course will be a simple out-and-back, leaving the La Quinta Inn and Suites west driveway. Following the Halligan Drive Trail, runners will travel on the north side of the road moving west. You will catch a short piece of the Mid-Plains Community College Trail, which will take you back over Halligan Drive and onto an interesting path, known as the NPPD Trail, parallel to the canal and under Interstate 80. Your turn-around will be just as you emerge from the underpass portion of the trail. The course is flat!

The half-marathon course is an out-and-back course that includes several “tentacles” expanding your view of the southern edges of North Platte and the North Platte Trails Network. You will leave the La Quinta Inn and Suites west driveway. Following the Halligan Drive Trail, runners will travel on the north side of the road moving west. The shoulder of Halligan Drive is part of the trails network, and you will stay on the shoulder at all times. You will cross over Halligan Drive to catch a short piece of the Mid-Plains Community College Trail, which will take you back over Halligan Drive and onto an interesting section of trail known as the NPPD Trail, which runs parallel to the canal and under the very busy Interstate 80. You will emerge on the NPPD Trail, moving south. This section is paved trail. At Walker Road, you will veer slightly left to Victoria Lane. This section of the course is not on the trail and the street will be open to minimal traffic. Runners should be aware that there may be light traffic. You will run south on Victoria Lane to State Farm Road. There will be a turn-around near the intersection of Victoria Lane and State Farm Road. Enjoy the scenery! You will return to Walker Road on Victoria Lane. Taking a sharp left, you will cross the Walker Road bridge, turning south onto the west side of the NPPD Trail. This portion of the course is gravel. You will cross State Farm Road and proceed on the State Farm Trail. Your second underpass is a narrow tunnel that will take you under US Highway 83. When you emerge from the tunnel, you will be in the University of Nebraska Research Center, the “State Farm.” The trail winds through the State Farm and leads to the turnaround on the State Farm Trail that runs parallel to State Farm Road, west of Tree Lane. You will then return, following the same route.

The marathon course will continue past the half-marathon turn-around. It will include another “tentacle” of trail that goes south from the State Farm Trail to Indian Hills subdivision, turning around and going back to State Farm Trail. You will then cross over State Farm Road, moving north, onto Echo Drive. You will run north on Echo Drive until just before Walker Road, then turn around and come back to State Farm Road. Echo Drive will be open to light traffic and is not on trail. The next section of the course is a short section on State Farm Road, which is open to heavier traffic, so athletes must stay as far right as possible. At Buffalo Bill Road, you will jump on the Buffalo Bill Trail, heading north, continuing along another scenic section of North Platte’s trails. This time you will go over Interstate 80, as well as the South Platte River — these overpasses are the only “hills” on the course. At the end of Buffalo Bill Trail, you will leave the trail for a short section of Leota, a beautiful residential street with stunning homes. At the end of Leota Street, you will find the trailhead for the Centennial Trail, perhaps the most scenic section of North Platte Trails network. This trail runs through wooded areas, and gently winds alongside the South Platte River. The marathon turnaround is located on Centennial Trail behind the Centennial Park soccer fields. You will return following the identical route, in reverse order, including the Echo Drive “tentacle,” the Indian Hills “tentacle” and the Victoria Lane “tentacle.” When you return to Halligan Drive, you will again be on the north side of the road, with the La Quinta Inn and your moment of glory in sight!