Final Course Announced for Alpine Shop’s 2013 Trail Run Series

BALLWIN, MO. – We’ve reached the final race of the 2013 Trail Run Series. Shorter than all but the first course, this week’s collection of trails does have one “Grand” feature – Castlewood’s “new” Grand Staircase on the far west side of the park. It is a tradition for the Trail Run Series to end going up the stairs, and who are we to mess with that?

The race will start in the usual place and follow the same opening route we followed in week two, heading west across the meadow and then doubling back east on the trail to the bridge across Kiefer Creek. Instead of heading up the bluffs, though, we’ll continue next to the road until we go under the train tracks into a section of the park we haven’t experienced yet this year. We’ll follow the River Scene Trail along the Meramec River past the beach and all the way around the peninsula until we’re almost back to the train tracks once again. From there, we’ll head directly west along the tracks and finally duck through the pedestrian tunnel and look straight up at the “New” Grand Staircase.

You can still see the remnants of the old grand staircase that partiers, dancers and resort-goers used to climb from the beach and train depot up to the nightclubs and resort rooms at the top of the bluffs back in the 1900s. In this case, however, the party doesn’t start until you get to the top of the stairs, meet up with the Lone Wolf Trail and head back down the back of the bluffs, across Kiefer Creek for the last time this year and head back to the finish line.

It is expected to be hot and humid this week. Please plan accordingly.

As usual advance registration is open and highly recommended. If you haven’t signed up for next week’s race yet, advance registration is open until Wednesday, August 28 at midnight. Series sponsor Mountain Hardwear will be on hand with FREE Quasar Running Caps ($30 value) for the first 75 Pre-Registered racers who arrive to pick up your bib. So, get registered and arrive early!

You can find the entire map below, courtesy of GORC.

As usual, links to the final results will be posted right here at offroadracingleague.com and hosted by Big River Running Company.

Any changes to the course or other race-related information will posted on this site and at Alpine Shop’s Facebook page and Twitter account.