The Rick O’Donnell 5.22 Mile Trail Run and 8-hour Ultra Challenge is ideal for your first trail race, timed event or ultra-distance goal. This year, Rick’s Run has been moved due to construction at Greenbrier State Park. The 2023 edition of of the race will be held at Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, about 25 minutes east-northeast of Frederick City.
The course will consist of farm lanes and grassy trails cut through hay fields just for us; some, but not much, gravel; and we are even hoping to get some wooded trails worked into the mix. The course will still be hilly, but sadly, not nearly as hilly as the traditional course. Unfortunately, it seems as if you’ll have to really try to find any rocks to kick this year. The exact course is yet to be determined, however the loop will be somewhere around 5 miles.
The mass-start (all events) single loop will be used for FSRC Grand Prix scoring purposes.
The “David Hartman Special” aid station will be ready to serve you as they’ve done since the inception of Rick’s Run. There will be plenty of room to set up your own aid station close to the course.
Oh, did we mention a brewery will double as race headquarters? In the spirit of having the event at Milkhouse Brewery, we are planning on our race premium being a special, race-branded pint glass! NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED ON THE PREMISES.
The 5 Mile Trail Run is a single loop of the course. Awards in the spirit of the run will be given to the first, second and third place overall male and female finishers in the 5 Mile Run.
The Challenges are for those who wish to run more than one loop. Within the allotted 4 or 8 hours, run as many approximate 5-mile loops as you’d like, as slow or as fast as you wish. Run 6 laps (or more!) to log an ultra-distance finish. The top three male and female runners logging the most mileage (quickest time tie-breaker) in each event will receive awards. The cut-off times are hard limits and the last loop must be started at least one hour before the cutoff unless the previous loop was completed in under one hour. No exceptions and no whining about this; Rick wouldn’t complain or try to bend the rules and you shouldn’t either!
Typical aid station food and drink will be provided and a drop bag area (uncovered) will be set up for those forging on after the initial loop. Since the only aid station on the course will be at the start/finish, be prepared. It is highly recommended for those running multiple loops to carry at least one water bottle.
Net proceeds from the Rick O’Donnell 5 Mile Trail Run and Ultra Challenge benefit the Frederick Steeplechasers Memorial Scholarship Fund.
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