2020 EVENT CANCELED, offering virtual option. *** Held on some of the best trail networks in Chapel Hill, NC, the Zen Squirrel is a three-race trail running series that brings together adventure seeking athletes for fun, challenge, and healthy competition. Athletes choose to run in the 5 or 10 mile …
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2020 EVENT CANCELED, offering virtual option.
***
Held on some of the best trail networks in Chapel Hill, NC, the Zen Squirrel is a three-race trail running series that brings together adventure seeking athletes for fun, challenge, and healthy competition. Athletes choose to run in the 5 or 10 mile competitive events or in the 2-mile, untimed, fun run. All scenic, forest covered courses are pretty darn awesome and include a mixture of smooth and flowing dirt trails, rock and root strewn single-track, and challenging hill climbs.
Race #2 of the Zen Squirrel Trail Running Series will take place at Carolina North Forest in Chapel Hill, NC. Owned and operated by the University of North Carolina and located just north of the main UNC campus, this beautiful 750-acre wooded wonderland has ponds, streams, open fields, and over 20 miles of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. Come experience some of Chapel Hill’s best single-track.
Perfect for establishing pace and position, both the 5 and 10-mile courses start with .7 miles of wide gravel/dirt road running. After this dirt road section, athletes will run along twisty, flowy, and fast single-track trails before entering a small field near the main trailhead. This is the end of the 5-mile course. The exact distance of the 5-mile course is 5.1 miles, with an elevation gain of 406’. The 10-mile racers will run the 5-mile course in its entirety and then venture off on five more miles of single-track. Except for ½ mile near the finish, the second half of the 10-mile course is completely unique to the first half. The exact distance of the 10-mile course is 10.1 miles, with an elevation gain of 623’. While there are plenty of roots and rocks along the trails at Carolina North Forest, all trails are runner friendly and would be rated moderately technical.
The 2-mile, untimed, fun run course starts with .8 miles of wide double track, followed by 1.2 miles of twisty and fun single-track. The fun run is perfect for families with kids (aged 6+) and for those looking to get a small taste of trail running. The exact distance of the 2-mile course is 2.0 miles, with an elevation gain of 127’.
After the race, stick around for fun post-race festivities – food (including breakfast burritos!), music, massage/stretching, awards, games/giveaways, the FREE kids ‘Race for Treasure’, and the presentation of The Jester Group’s donation to the Haw River Assembly.
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Technical Trail
I participated in this inaugural event, choosing the 10 mile timed option. There were also 5 mile and 2 mile (untimed) options. There were plenty of volunteers and the race … MORE
I participated in this inaugural event, choosing the 10 mile timed option. There were also 5 mile and 2 mile (untimed) options. There were plenty of volunteers and the race was quite organized. There were no finisher medals but age awards went 5 deep and lots of give-aways, including 12 pairs of running shoes. The trail itself was quite technical for the 10 mile race with a lot of switchbacks, rocks and roots. Thankfully the trail was well marked, since as the runners spread out, it was common to not see any other runner ahead or behind. A physical therapist was on hand to provide both pre and post run assistance.