{"id":57458,"date":"2019-06-04T09:23:50","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T16:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=57458"},"modified":"2020-05-22T13:04:21","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T20:04:21","slug":"best-trail-races-new-runners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/best-trail-races-new-runners","title":{"rendered":"Six Trail Races New Runners Will Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

You don\u2019t need a race on your calendar to motivate you to lace up your running shoes. You\u2019re very happy with your well-trodden, five-mile loop around the neighborhood, thank you very much. We get that. But there\u2019s something special about competition. It propels you to add that extra mile or two to your run, it forces you to train rain or shine, and it’s the perfect excuse to book a trip somewhere you\u2019ve always wanted to go. <\/span><\/p>\n

But like trails, no two races are exactly alike, so if you\u2019re new to the sport or haven\u2019t raced all that much, you\u2019ll want to pick an event that\u2019s fun, welcoming, and doesn\u2019t go straight up a brutally steep mountain side. To help you find the right match, we\u2019ve compiled a list of some of the best entry-level, 10-kilometer trail-running races in U.S. Now all you have to do is sign up. <\/span><\/p>\n

River Valley Run Trail Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

Manchester, Maryland | August 17, 2019<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"

You’ll find races of all lengths at the River Valley Run Festival. (Photo Courtesy of River Valley Run)<\/p><\/div>\n

This nationally recognized trail fest set in 500 acres of forested hills on Maryland’s River Valley Ranch is also home to an award-winning trail race. And despite a section\u00a0known as Dead Man\u2019s Hill, <\/span>the run is all about having fun: While the ominously named hill is steep, it’s also short, and the route is well supported with water stops and excellent signage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emerald Bay Trail Run<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

Lake Tahoe, California | September 15, 2019<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Runners

Runners enjoy views of Lake Tahoe during the Emerald Bay Trail Run. (Photo Credit: Harry Lefrak\/Lefrak Photography)<\/p><\/div>\n

Epic views of the high Sierra’s granite peaks and Lake Tahoe\u2019s picturesque bays mean this Californian 10K is one of the most stunning events on the racing calendar. Smooth singletrack parallels the water and sports only a few moderate climbs. Though, keep in mind that the lake rests at 6,225 feet, meaning the elevation can be an extra challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

XTERRA Kapalua Trail Run<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

Maui, Hawaii | October 26, 2019<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Runners

From the beach to former pineapple fields, there’s plenty to see at the Kapalua 10K. (Photo Credit: Jesse Peters\/XTERRA)<\/p><\/div>\n

Part of the <\/span>XTERRA World Championship<\/span><\/a> course, the <\/span>Kapalua 10K<\/span><\/a> starts on the lawn of the\u00a0Ritz Carlton before meandering through oleander shrubs and pine trees. While the course does have a steep uphill and downhill, the route isn’t too demanding. But beware. Running through old pineapple fields to sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean is bound to hook you on racing in the Aloha State.<\/span><\/p>\n

Silver Falls Trail Run<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

Silverton, Oregon | November 1-3, 2019<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Runners

Like waterfalls? You’ll love the Silver Falls Trail Run. (Photo Credit: Nine 22 Photography)<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re a waterfall enthusiast, this race should top your list. Located just an hour south of Portland, Oregon, in <\/span>Silver Falls State Park<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Silver Falls Trail Run<\/span><\/a> offers a 7-miler (which, at 11.2 kilometers, is admittedly longer than the other races on this list), plus a 5K, 50K, marathon and half marathon. And while the seven-mile route has just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain, the scenic views of the cascades along the aptly named Trail of Ten Falls<\/a> should boost your energy all the way to the finish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Big Bend Ultra Run Rock Dog 10K<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas | January 19, 2020<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Runners

Scenic desert running and cool winter temperatures make the Red Dog 10K worth the trip. (Photo Credit: Shanda Krueger)<\/p><\/div>\n

The <\/span>Big Bend State<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>National Parks<\/span><\/a> provide access to the wondrous solitude of the Chisos Mountains and <\/span>Chihuahuan<\/span> Desert. Though this event features 30K, 50K and 50-mile courses great for experienced competitors, its <\/span>Rock Dog 10K<\/span><\/a> is a perfect entry-level run. It doesn\u2019t involve too much elevation gain, and cooler January temperatures will keep you from overheating. It’s truly desert running at its finest, whatever the distance.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Pineland Trail Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n

New Gloucester, Maine | May 23-24, 2020<\/b><\/p>\n

\"The

You could come to the Pineland Trail Festival just for the food, music and festivities, but there is a 10K trail run, too. (Photo Courtesy of Pineland Trail Festival)<\/p><\/div>\n

One of New England\u2019s best trail races, the two-day <\/span>Pineland Trail Festival<\/span><\/a> includes music, barbecues, beer gardens, family activities and runs that cater to beginners and veterans alike. Routes range from 5K to 50 miles, and the non-technical 10K course winds though pastures and forests on wide, cross-country paths<\/span> with slow rolling hills, making it a perfect fit for newbie racers.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You don\u2019t need a race on your calendar to motivate you to lace up your running shoes. You\u2019re very happy with your well-trodden, five-mile loop around the neighborhood, thank you very much. We get that. But there\u2019s something special about competition. It propels you to add that extra mile or two to your run, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":57467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[727,1376,12],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-57458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-run","tag-latest-posts","tag-running","tag-travel"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/run\/best-trail-races-new-runners","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Six Trail Races New Runners Will Love","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/best-trail-races-new-runners","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/best-trail-races-new-runners"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/05\/Xterra4_CourtesyJesse-Peters_XTERRA-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/05\/Xterra4_CourtesyJesse-Peters_XTERRA-1.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000"},"articleSection":"Run","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["latest posts","running","travel"],"dateCreated":"2019-06-04T16:23:50Z","datePublished":"2019-06-04T16:23:50Z","dateModified":"2020-05-22T20:04:21Z"},"rendered":"