Rootrock Trail Run

The Rootrock Trail Run at Briar Chapel puts runners to the test with 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon of stellar single-track.  This popular, mid-fall, root-and-rock strewn trail run, is complimented by the Rootrock Mountain Bike Race, which is held the following day.

Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition to fantastic trails, centrally located Great Meadow Park, with its beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, offers a perfect setting area to start and finish a race.

After racing, athletes enjoy a festive vibe, post-race food, great music, the free kids race for treasure, and a fun awards ceremony with lots of giveaways.

The 5K is perfect for families with kids (aged 6+) and for those looking to get a small taste of trail running. The 5K course starts with .3 mile of wide-open pavement, followed by 3.0 miles of double and single-track. The exact distance is 3.3 miles, with an elevation gain of 222’. While there are some hills, rocks, and roots along the course, the majority of the terrain is less technical than the 10K and Half Marathon courses.

The one-loop 10K race course is a super-fun, tried-and-true loop that many Briar Chapel residents run and ride all the time. It starts with .3 miles of wide-open pavement and .2 miles of double-track trail, perfect for establishing pace and position. Other than a few road crossings and the last .3 miles of the course, this is the only pavement in the race. After entering the single-track trails, 10K racers run along semi-technical terrain, up gradual hill climbs, and along relatively flat stream valleys before finishing in Great Meadow park, a large grassy community area. The exact distance of the 10K course is 6.2 miles, with an elevation gain of 438’.

The one-loop Half Marathon course is an AWESOME challenge, and includes all the terrain of the 10K course as well as many of the newer trails in the western portion of the neighborhood. These newer sections have some steep hill climbs with plenty of rock and root filled sections. The half marathon course has been slightly revise, replacing .6 miles of the neighborhood pavement near Encore, and a small section of two-way traffic near the golf course, with a direct connection to the western trails via the gravel road behind Constellation Park. In addition to the challenge of the added length and elevation, the Half Marathon course has decidedly more technical terrain than the 10K course. The exact distance of the Half Marathon course is 13.1 miles, with an elevation gain of 960′.