It’s down to the last week! The 2022 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series concludes with the final race on Thursday, August 25, at 6:15 pm. There’s very little drama on who the series winners will be as the open categories – Open Men and Open Women – are already wrapped up! Andy Rains and Amanda Eiger are both more than 15 points ahead of their nearest pursuers. However, second and third place in those divisions is anyone’s grab. In the Masters division, Mike Barro and Jen Ullery both have 11 point leads heading into the final race. As long as they finish in the top seven in their division in this race, they’ll take home titles as well.
Race HQ remains at the same pavilion and is closest to the Weidman Rd. entrance to the park—the West side. Enter the park and head up the hill. Take the first left you can and follow the road until it ends at the large parking lot. Race HQ will be at almost the exact opposite side of the parking lot, in the Northeast corner.
Alpine Shop is pleased to welcome On Running Footwear to their first appearance at a Trail Run Series Event. Alpine Shop has carried the Swiss brand with the distinctive looking CloudTec® sole for nearly three years and they have become favorites of our staff. If you get a chance, try on a pair of On Running shoes this evening and see why.
Race start time will be at 6:15 pm near the timing tent.
From the start, enjoy the descent from the starting line down the Winding Hills Trail to the lowest section of the park. (We say enjoy it, because it will be your last descent for nearly a mile.) As we did in week two, we’ll take a right turn at Owl Creek Trail and head South towards the Corporate Picnic Shelter. Just like week two again, we’ll join the Hawk Ridge Trail for the first, and steepest, climb of the night. Head up the five and half story climb over one tenth of a mile towards the Mason Park Entrance. You’ll have a slight uphill grade over much of the next mile until we hit a stretch of trail we have not explored this month, until now.
We’ll follow Hawk Ridge all the way up into the Northeast corner of the park. You’ll tackle nearly constant rolling hills all the way around that corner until we meet up with the Dogwood Trail. You’ve tackled this stretch of trail alongside the ponds a number of times, but don’t get too overconfident. We won’t be heading back downhill like we did last week.
A left at the White Oak Trail would take you back down hill. Instead, we’re taking a right and hitting our second steep climb of the evening. When we get to the top, we’ll be at the highest point of this route’s elevation. It will be (mostly) downhill from here.
Just before that top will be where the Owl Creek, White Oak and Hawk Ridge trails all come together for a short two tenths of a mile. We’re joining up with the Hawk Ridge Trail for the second time tonight as we repeat our ending from course two. Follow Hawk Ridge south until we’ll make an extremely sharp, left turn. PLEASE NOTE – this turn can be hard to notice. When you see the cones on the course, please be ready to turn. It’s not quite a 180 degree turn, but it comes close!
Head down Fox Run Trail for approximately three-tenths of a mile down to the bottom of the hill. Make a right turn onto Owl Creek Trail and we’ll follow our usual way back to the finish line!
Enjoy some Schlafly Beer, some Great Harvest Bread Co. treats, some hot dogs and other refreshments at Race HQ following your race. And return your On Running demo shoes, too! Then head over to the Optimal Performance Center tents as they’ll help you work through any aches or pains you still have after you’re finished. 
Approximate total distance of the race is 3.65 miles. Lowest elevation: 499 ft above sea level. Highest elevation: 659
Registration is still available here or at race HQ the night of the race