WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS RACE
"The organization, friendly volunteers, beautiful course, price, and overall feel of the race. I can’t wait to run again next year!" - 2025 Participant
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"My favorite race.. and I’ve done a lot of races." - 2024 Participant
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"I was feeling burnt out of other running events due to cost, disorganization, and the lack of authenticity. This event was everything I needed and is what running should feel like." - 2025 Participant
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"Thank you so much! Such a fun race! We will be back next year!​" - 2024 Participant
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"Trail was flat, beautiful run around the river, perfect set up and great volunteers & aid stations." - 2023 Participant
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"The grilled potatoes at the on course food tent were fantastic!" - 2024 Participant
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"A very well organized race, a relatively flat course and the best scenery." - 2023 Participant
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"There was such a strong sense of community. Everyone was kind and supportive." - 2023 Participant
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"Absolutely loved the female leadership in race directing." - 2023 Participant
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"New River trail is lovely; the course was very well-marked; Gambetta had great hot food (quesadillas that were actually hot!); race director very responsive to emails and questions; nice to have a meal ticket at the end; nice shirt that actually fit; stellar medal, buff and patches; good photographic support; the usual (and wonderful) trail camaraderie" - 2025 Participant
The New River Trail Races are 100% dirt, flat, and entirely along the New River and Chestnut Creek in the New River Trail State Park.
Each distance is an out and back course.
The schedule for the race:
4:00 am 100k Start (8:00 pm cutoff)
8:00 am 50k Start (5:00 pm cutoff)
8:30 am 10k Start (5:00 pm cutoff)
9:00 am 25k Start (5:00 pm cutoff)
Start Line Address: 321 Firehouse Road Fries VA
An early start at 7:30 am will be offered for 25k and 50k runners who feel that they will need more time to complete the race.
50K aid stations at mile points 2, 5, 11.82, 15.94, 20.06, 25.73 for the 50k. See course map on website for more detail. The 25k will use the same aid stations and they will be located at 2, 5, 7.5, 10 and 13 miles. 10K has one aid station at mile 2 and 4.2. The 100k will have the same aid stations as the 50k. Each aid station will be stocked with electrolyte drink, water, Coke, PB&J, salty snacks, candy, and fruit. Hot foods at select aid stations. This is a cupless race! Runners are required to carry at least 1 water bottle/cup as there will be NO disposable cups available. THIS IS A CUPLESS RACE.
50k and 100k runners may leave a drop bag at the Start/Finish area race morning by 7:15 AM for the 50k and 3:45 AM for the 100k. Bags will be delivered to the Cliffview turnaround. Please clearly mark bags w/name, bib #. Waterproof the bag if necessary. Bags will be returned to the finish area by 4 PM. Forgotten or abandoned drop bags CANNOT be mailed. Items left after 6:00 pm will be either recycled, donated or disposed of. You can leave a note on the dashboard of your vehicle to help you remember.
Packet pick-up will occur at the Start/Finish area from 4-8 PM Friday night for all distances.
Race day pick-up:
3:00-3:45 AM 100k
6:30-7:45 AM 50k
6:30-8:15 AM 10k
6:30-8:45 AM 25k
Headlamps or flashlights are required for the 100k. Runners for the 50k should consider bringing headlamps or flashlights to pick-up numbers. Parking is across a grassy field with limited lighting. You are responsible for paying for the parking fee for the state park which is $7 per day that covers your entire day no matter the location. This is paid on-site unless you already possess a monthly or annual pass with Virginia State Parks.
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There will be no refunds of entry fees. Runners can transfer distances up to the day before the race, no refund for dropping down distances, runners increasing distances will have to pay the difference in price. Runners can transfer their entry to another runner, to be used the same year as originally registered. Rollovers are allowed for medical conditions including pregnancy and post-partum.
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Awards will be given out for the following:
1st Overall Male, Female, and Nonbinary
2nd Overall Male, Female, and Nonbinary
3rd Overall Male, Female, and Nonbinary
Age Group Awards:
20 and Under Male, Female, and Nonbinary
20 to 29 Male, Female, and Nonbinary
30 to 39 Male, Female, and Nonbinary
40 to 49 Male, Female, and Nonbinary
50 to 59 Male, Female, and Nonbinary
60 to 69 Male, Female, and Nonbinary
70 and Up Male, Female, and Nonbinary
Please be careful at road crossings. Traffic has the right away. The initial crossing by Low Water Bridge will have law enforcement/park service to assist at the beginning of the race, but not at the end of the race. Please listen to volunteers when it’s safe to cross. Volunteers cannot stop traffic, but will remind you to watch for traffic.
There is limited to no cell phone service on portions of the trail (especially towards Fries Junction, Gambetta Road, and Iron Ridge Road). There will be hand radio operators on the course to assist with communications as well.
Also, please remember that the trail is open to all during the entire event.
This means you will need to be courteous to other trail users, such as cyclists, e-bikes, and horseback riders.
CONTACT
PO Box 1141
Galax, VA 24333