The Raven Rocks 10k Trail Run is BACK this November! Woo hoo!
We have also brought back the 100k Raven Challenge with all of the fun elements from last year — plus we’re looking to add a few more activities to the challenge during the month of November!
You can sign up for one or the other — or do BOTH! Signups for both events at the same time get a discount which appears at checkout.
As always, these Raven events support the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. During registration we encourage runners and challengers to join as members of the museum to support their non-profit educational and conservation purpose.
Once the donation vehicle has been established, we will support the Friends of the Cross River Mountain Fire Tower. We are working with the Westchester Parks Foundation who plan to raise funds to support Westchester County and NY State in the restoration of the fire tower to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. That fundraising account will be set up soon with a range of support levels. More news to come!
More information about each event:
Raven Rocks Run – 10K Trail Run
The Raven Rocks Run is a challenging 10k trail run at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY.
The race will start in the Meadow near the fallen oak tree and its massive remains. The course passes by the spot where the Leatherman’s Loop begins. Instead of heading towards the river as the Loop does, the Raven Rocks Run 10k course climbs and climbs up to the two highest points in the park (Raven Rocks Overlook and the Fire Tower Summit) before heading back for a (mostly) downhill and (relatively) flat finish.
The course passes by the site of the former Blue Trail fire tower which is the highest point in the park. We are working towards getting back the tower to its former spot in the park.
Important: The Raven Rocks Run race plans are contingent on permit approval from the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation. This approval is not guaranteed but has been obtained for the prior nine races. As in all prior years we open registration with the understanding that the race will take place. We will update runners if the permit is not approved for the current year.
Raven 100k Challenge
The Raven 100k Challenge is simple: first, register for the challenge. Then run, hike, or walk 100k during the month of November.
Note: You can register as late as November 15 for the 100k challenge and enter your mileage to date when you register.
This works out to an average of around 3k per day or 25k (15 miles) per week.
If you complete the challenge, you will receive a wooden finisher medallion. Shirts are optional.
The Raven 100k Challenge supports the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization based at the Trailside Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
You can also join the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation for annual membership during signup.
Bonus achievements
In addition to running, walking, or hiking 100k during November, there are several bonus achievement badges you can unlock if you are able:
- Run 10k on the Raven Rocks Run course (raven badge)
- Run 5x 10k on the Raven Rocks Run course (ultra raven badge – subs out the raven badge when this badge is achieved)
- Run 10x 10k on the Raven Rocks Run course (flock badge – subs out the ultra raven badge when this badge is achieved)
- Take a selfie at the Raven Rocks Overlook and send it in (photographer badge)
- Submit a photo of yourself on a run with your “I Voted” sticker or if you can’t vote in the election, next to someone with an “I Voted” sticker. Or simply log a run, walk, or hike on election day! (bald eagle badge)
- Submit a photo of you running on Thanksgiving. Or simply log a run, walk, or hike on Thanksgiving. (turkey badge)
- Submit a photo of you running on Veteran’s Day. Or simply log a run, walk, or hike on Veteran’s Day. (veterans day badge)
- Photo of a raven or Raven related site, store, zoo, etc. and send it in (raven citizen award)
- Do a run in the dark to Raven Rocks (night owl badge)
- 200k distance in November (snowy owl badge)
- 300k distance in November (white raven badge)
- Run the Raven Rocks 10k course 5x IN ONE DAY (Raven Rockstar Badge)
- Run the Raven Rocks 10k course 32 times in November (Peeter Badge)
- Witness a meteor falling during a run (Meteor Badge)
- Read a stanza from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” poem and send us a link. Use soundcloud, youtube, facebook, whatever service you want. (wise owl badge)
- These badges will be displayed on the physical wooden finisher “medallion” once you complete the Raven Challenge.
- We will also show badges achieved on the summary page.
- Any other badge ideas? We are open to suggestions 🙂
HALFWAY (50K) bonus search
For those in the area near Ward Pound Ridge Reservation we have a special treat in mind. If you opt-in via the badge update form (AFTER you pass the 50 kilometer mark on your Raven 100k Challenge) we will send you GPS coordinates to somewhere in the park where we have hidden a small challenge surprise for you to find. It will be obvious once you get there, but not easy to find unless you have the coordinates. Complete instructions and advice come with the GPS challenge confirmation email.
Everyone will have a different and unique spot somewhere in the park. Some will be further off-trail than others depending on how familiar you are with the park. You can ask for harder or easier location in the request and we will do our best to accommodate your request! Difficulty estimates can be subjective though!
Let us know when you find your halfway bonus (or if you can’t find it!).
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