It’s another season of trail running races in Georgia for 2011 and Dirty Spokes Productions along with XTERRA have some great trail races coming up soon.  Start the new year off on the right foot, toeing the line at the 1st Annual Dirty Spokes 8.0 Mile Trail Running Race at Heritage Park on February 5th or the classic 5th Annual XTERRA Thrills in the Hills at Fort Yargo State Park half-marathon.

The Dirty Spokes Trail Run Series begins this year at the 1st Annual Dirty Spokes 8.0 Mile Trail Running Race at Heritage Park in Watkinsville, GA or also known as Farmington, GA, on February 5th.  I’m not quite sure which town is the suburb of which town.  At any rate, these are some pretty sweet mountain biking, horseback riding (watch where you step!), and of course trail running trails, ranked #12 trail running trail in Georgia by SeriousRunning.com users.  Dirty Spokes says about the race:  ‘This is a great single and double track off road running experience!  The race will start on the gravel road (required for spacing) but will soon lead into the woods.  The terrain is made up of a little big of everything, rolling hills, single track, double track, technical section (rocks, roots and tight twisty sections), creek crossings (shallow and narrow).  If you have never visited Heritage Park – do it!  The course is beautiful and offers something for every runner truly wishing to ‘ditch the city.’  Nestled in the woods of suburban Atlanta lies a true gem.  Well groomed system of trails with gentile slopes and beautiful scenery will leave you breathless (if that doesn’t, the 8.0 miles will).  Once you descend into the woods, you forget about the city.  As a matter of fact, you will come t o know why we follow the creed ‘ditch the city.”

The race is on February 5th starting at 8:30 with packet pick-up between 7:00 and 8:00.  Register now until January 25th race entry is $30.00.  After that the price rises to $35.00 with $40.00 fee at race day.  Each runner will get a “Dri-Fit” shirt but there is no guaranteed for late entries.  Medals will be given out to the top three finishers in each age and sex category.  This is sure to be a great race and become a Dirty Spokes tradition.  Get in on the 1st Annual action!

After you get the trail racing taste in your mouth try the next XTERRA Georgia trail race series race Thrills in the Hills.  This is my favorite trail race in the series.  It’s at Fort Yargo State Park which is rated as the #2 best trail in the United States according to SeriousRunning.com users.  There are 21K and a 42K race distances available.  Register now through February 18th for the 21K distance for $35.00, after that it’s $40.00 until February 24th, then $45.00 on race day.  The 42K is $45.00 from now until February 18th, $50.00 after that until February 24th, and $55.00 on race day.  Register here!  New to this year, Firehouse Subs of Winder will be giving away free subs to all participants of the race!  Subs are my favorite food after a trail race for sure.  If you want to read more about the race check out my race recap of the 2009 Thrills in the Hills trail race.  Or check out more 2011 trail races in Georgia.

XTERRA Footwear is having a 50% off sale on their Trail Running shoes now until December 17th.  Looks like Christmas is coming early for trail runners.  Use coupon code:  “Xmasjoy” when checking out to receive the 50% discount.  XTERRA started as a SUV, then it was 1 trail race, and now it has grown to 195 events in 16 countries!  It is the premiere trail running organization which spans across the United States and now they have moved on to making trail running shoes.  Why not, they have the feedback of thousands of trail runners all over the nation, who have run and raced on all types of trail surfaces?  Their team members worked for many of the best footwear brands in the industry.  Now they are building the best trail running shoes for the greatest running events anywhere.  Their shoes have been tried and tested on the most intense race courses XTERRA has to offer.

XTERRA has made a trail running shoe that performs on hard packed dirt, loose soil, sand, rock, asphalt, or a combination of all.  XTERRA Footwear builds shoes for the XTERRA races, training, and outdoor lifestyle.  The XTERRA XR 1.0 is made for support and stability which doesn’t mean it has to be “overbuilt” and bulky.  It’s lightweight and stable which provides the optimal flexibility, breathability, cushioning, and support to handle trails and neighborhood roads.  The XR 1.0 is made for heel-strike and forefoot runners.  Colin Chapman, designer and builder of the Lotus Cars, once said, “Simplify and add lightness” and that’s what XTERRA tried to do with the XR 1.0.  They found that most trail running shoes were too stiff, too heavy, and the lugs were so sever they could be felt through the shoe, but running on trails in a road shoe didn’t provide enough support, traction or protection.  That is why they developed the hybrid XTERRA XR1.0 running shoe, a shoe that can go both ways.  So enlightened.

The XTERRA XT1.0 and 2.0 is a light, comfortable running shoe designed for XTERRA trail race training.  XTERRA race training includes all things active and fun.  Your routine might include running your favorite trail, hiking, scrambling, playing hid and go seek, chasing Fido at the park, surfing, leaping tall buildings, or even going to the gym.  (Lame).  At any rate, the XT 1.0 and 2.0 are made for all of those activities plus running.  If you don’t like having to change your shoes then this is the running shoe for you.  This shoe is designed for shorter XTERRA and road races.

So how do they fit and feel?  Well I don’t know what your foot shape is, but that doesn’t matter, XTERRA offers a 100% absolute guarantee on any purchase of shoes!  50% off and a 30-day money back guarantee, you can’t go wrong with these shoes as a present!  Go to XTERRA footwear and get your Christmas shopping complete.

After the successful inaugural run last year, XTERRA Colorado series is back again, starting on October 9th at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.  Cheyenne state park is Colorado’s newest state park nestled in the mountains overlooking Colorado Springs in the countryside that inspired the song, “America the Beautiful.”  The event will feature a marathon, half marathon, and 5K trail race distance.  The marathon is two loops of the half marathon course so make sure you bring your mental toughness to run past the half marathon finish line for another lap.  XTERRA Colorado labels this event as both challenging and rewarding.  The event sold out last year and is on pace to hit the 300 participant limit again, so register soon for the epic race.  Online registration closes on October 6th, after that prices increase $10 for race day entries.  The marathon entry is currently $65, half-marathon $45, and the 5K is $25.  All participants get a technical race t-shirt, finisher’s medal, food to replenish, entry into swag raffle, and the swag gained from knowing they completed the XTERRA Colorado Marathon of Trail Races!

Race director Victoria Seahorn started the XTERRA Colorado race series in honor of her late best friend, Lindsey Gabe, who passed away from breast cancer in 2005 at age 60.  Victoria and Lindsey ran many races and began their training together.  Victoria has run 29 marathons and countless half and short distance races.  At Lindsey’s wake Victoria stood up and announced she was going to put on a race, to honor Lindsey.  That is when Victoria set out to organize the inaugural ING Atlanta Marathon which was the 2nd largest inaugural marathon and half marathon combo of all time, with 15,000 participants toeing the start line!  Now Victoria has set out to honor her best friend again by hosting a trail race where Gabe passed away, in Colorado Springs, with the 2nd Annual XTERRA Colorado Marathon of Trail Races.  Victoria is a true, genuine, caring person who embodies everything it means to be a runner.

So come out and run this great event, challenge yourself, accomplish your goals, enjoy the scenery, and honor the runners that have run before us with a marathon of a trail race in Colorado Springs.

This weekend marks the end of the XTERRA trail run season with the Trail Running National Championship in Bend, Oregon.  This Saturday, September 18th at 9 am the elite trail runners from every part of the nation will meet in Bend, which was named “America’s Best Trail Running Town” by Outside Magazine, to see who is the fastest trail runner in the nation is.  The trail race is a “Xduro” half-marathon course that runs through the Deschutes National Forest.

More than 500 trail runners will descend on Bend this weekend including champions from each XTERRA trail race series region who get a free entry to the XTERRA Nationals.  Saturday they’ll get a chance to compete against trail runners more their speed (pun intended) like 2-time defending champion Max King.  Don’t fret if you’re not the fastest in your region, they have a 5K and 10K race for the mortals too.  The race course weaves from downtown Bend to pristine forest trails and then along scenic Deschutes River trail.  It entails a lot of switchbacks on sandy, rocky, and dirt-strewn single and double track.

This should be an awesome event to attend even if you aren’t running.  Race prizes range from $1,000 for 1st to $200 for 5th so you know a lot of great trail runners are going to be there.  Good luck trail runners!

I’ve been running in the Dirty Spokes Productions trail races for the past two years and they are some of the best trail races I have ever run.  They always offer distances that any type of runner can participate in, have a competitive field of avid trail runners, and are well run trail running races.  The Georgia State Championship Trail Running Race is coming soon so start training.

From the Race Director Tim:

Coming soon is the Georgia State 8.5 Mile Championship Trail Running Race, Tribble Mill Park, Gwinnett Co., October 23rd, 2010! That´s right the official state championship trail running race brought to you by Dirty Spokes Productions!  Here´s your opportunity to find out who´s the best trail runner in the state of Georgia!  We will crown the overall male and female winners on October 23, 2010 – CASH PAYOUT!  We will be giving away $300 1st Place Male, $200 2nd Place Male, $100 3rd Place Male / $300 1st Place Female, $200 2nd Place Female, $100 3rd Place Female that is the top 3 overall finishers (as well as hand out medals to the top 3 finishers in each age category)! We will also be giving away Sweet Custom Embroidered Running           Jackets (Georgia State Champions – Custom Embroidered) to our Overall top 3 male ⁄ 3 female finishers.  Each runner who finishes out top 3 in their category will receive a “free entry” to the XTERRA Georgia Victoria Bryant 10K Trail Running Race, December 4th, 2010 (you must mail these in and we must receive these by November 15th, 2010 to take advantage of the free entry).

What are the qualifications to enter the Georgia State Championship Trail Running Race? None. You don´t have to have run any previous races or have to enter any times to us from any previous races to qualify (you don’t have to be a member of any club or group either). Do you need to be from the state of Georgia to qualify? No, if you live in another state but think you can hold the title in Georgia, not a problem. If you want to compete – come on out!

Each participant will receive a “Dri-Fit” shirt as well as our custom “Georgia State Championship Trail Race Socks” $35.00 value – race registration $40.00 (no guarantee of a dri-fit shirt or custom socks with late or race day registration)!

We will also have FREE PIZZA after the race for all participants from Cooleys Pizza!

Directions To The Park:
Tribble Mill Park
2125 Tribble Mill Pkwy
Lawrenceville – GA, 30045

ENTRY FEES (We will be taking race day registrations):
* Again, NO GUARANTEE of a Green Layer Dri Fit Shirt or Custom Socks with late or race day registration (we will not mail shirts or medals, you must pick them up).

TIMING:
We will be doing chip timing RFID Timing System (each participant will receive their own timing chip at the registration table 10/23/10 – your timing chip will correspond to your name and bib number.  At the end of the race we will collect your timing chip back (after you cross the finish line).  If for some reason you are unable to finish the event we will still need to collect your timing chip (you will be billed $35.00 for any chip lost or not returned).  Once you have started the race you may not change categories (distances).

PACKET PICKUP:
Packet pickup will be the morning of the race starting at 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Race starts at 8:30 a.m SHARP!

Race Course:
This 8.5 mile race course has a little bit of everything! This is one of the toughest trail running courses we have put together!  The race will start in an open field and quickly narrow down to a double track trail… the first .9 of a mile is back and forth uphill (double track) once you get to the top of the hill you will cross a gravel road and quickly start back down (still double track).  Then you start to hit the single track sections and once you get there you will find this course / terrain is made up of a little bit of everything!  The terrain is rolling hills, steep hills, single track, double track, granite rock outcroppings along with technical sections (tight and twisty along with rocks and roots) along with two shallow creek crossings.  We are calling it the Georgia State Championship Trail Running Race for a reason (bring your “A Game”)!  We will have the GPS Data listed on our site as soon as it is finalized…

So check it out, maybe win some money and run with the elite trail runners of Georgia!

Note:  Pictures above are not from this particular trail race but another Dirty Spokes Productions trail race.

To give us Trail Runners a little tax day relief XTERRA is offering $15 race registrations tomorrow, April 15th!  Finally someone is recognizing the positive benefits of Trail Running and giving us tax breaks.  When is the federal government going to get on board with XTERRA and Trail Running?  Hopefully someday we’ll get enough Justices on the Supreme Court to pass tax breaks for Trail Runners.  Until that happens, register for one of these trail races, tomorrow, April 15th for only $15!  What a break!

Register for one or more of these upcoming XTERRA Trail Race events for just $15 each:

XTERRA Lake Las Vegas 5/10/21km Runs – Henderson, NV – April 24, 2010

XTERRA Waco 5/10/21km Trail Runs – Waco, TX – May 22, 2010

XTERRA Oak Mountain 5/10/21km Mud Runs – Pelham, AL – June 12, 2010

XTERRA Richmond 21km Xduro and Fugitive 10km Trail Run – Richmond, VA – June 19, 2010

XTERRA Bend 5/10km Trail Runs – Bend, OR – September 18, 2010

XTERRA Wheeler Canyon 21km Xduro Trail Run – Ogden, UT – September 18, 2010

XTERRA Makena Beach 5/10km Trail Runs – Makena, Maui, HI – October 23, 2010

XTERRA Kualoa 5/10km Trail Runs – Oahu, HI – December 5, 2010

Thanks XTERRA, you are truly great Americans.  Wait, isn’t XTERRA made by Nissan…

This past weekend the 2010 XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Thrills in the Hills at Ft. Yargo Park in Winder, GA was ran.  450 runners from 16 states showed up for the event!  It was beautiful weather for trail running, a vast difference, from the sloppy, muddy fun of last year’s Thrills in the Hills trail race.  This year also introduced the first marathon distance trail run in the XTERRA Georgia Trail Run Series!  Check out the over 200 photos from the event on our Facebook fan page.  You just may be pictured if you were there traversing the course!

If you weren’t in the front of the pack and missed it, Errol Josephs, 40, of Lawrenceville, Georgia won the marathon distance with a time of 3:31:58.  Amanda Holshausen, 37, all the way from McCordsville, Indiana, beat all females in the marathon with a time of 3:45:03 and placing 6th overall!  David Bell, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia won the half marathon distance with a time of 1:18:00.  Elena Linn, 24, of Marietta, GA won the half marathon distance with a time of 1:32:13.  All the runners did a great job.  There is one more race in the six race series on June 5th, the XTERRA Georgia Trail Race Deep South.  This is the last race of the season.  Congratulations to everyone who has participated!

Don’t forget to check and see if you made our Facebook fans page photos!

If you’ve never tried trail running, this is your chance, the 1st Annual XTERRA Fall Fitness 5K Trail Race at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.  Don’t be embarrassed, it’s the race’s first time too.  So why is this particular race a great one to start trail running?  Well first off, it is put on by Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC who hosts plenty of mountain bike and trail running events all over Georgia and Alabama.  Every one of their events are professionally planned with the customer in mind.  That is why they have planned this trail race event, to offer a fun trail run for those who live close to the city of Atlanta and want to try trail running.  Dirty Spokes Productions, LLC, giving the running community what they want.

The race will be held on the trails of the Gwinnett Enviromental and Heritage Center Trails in Buford, Georgia just outside of Atlanta.  The race will start on the street which is required for spacing.  Get a great position by racing to the tree line quickly and begin to run on moderate to easy single and double track; with about 1/2 mile of the course on paved roads if you’re into that sort of thing.  The trail has rolling hills and climbs perfect for any runner looking for a challenge at this fun and manageable distance of 3.1 miles.  Walkers are encouraged to participate too; however, they must be able to finish the course in a 16 minute per mile pace in order to get an official time.

Run faster than that and get an official time that nets you an award.  You deserve it for waking up at 6 in the morning to make it to the startline by 8:30 AM.  Awards will be handed out to the top three male and female runners as well as the top three in each male and female age category.

So hurry up and sign up for this trail running race!  Price is $25 from now until September 25th.  All runners registered before the late registration deadline are guaranteed a dri fit race T-shirt, a $25 dollar value in itself.  So sign up now and run this race for free!  Price increases to $30 after Sept 25th and is $35 on race day.  So register now to run your first trail race!  You’ll be hooked!  Be careful though, trail running can ruin you for roads.

It’s here.  It’s upon us.  The 2010 Georgia XTERRA Trail Run Series begins September 27th with a 13.1 mile run through the woods of Bull Mountain.  I’m excited.  I moved to Georgia too late to participate in the first half of the series last year, so I look forward to competing in the entire series this year.  I’ll actually be in the less competitive category of 30-34 year old.  Your race age for the 2010 series is based on your age on December 31st, 2010.  My December 2nd birthday barely gets me in there in the 30-34 category.  This is the first time in my life being in an older category has resulted in slower runners, ever since I was a kid each age group got faster and faster.  I guess I’ve reached the running pinnacle, it’s all downhill from here; I still prefer to charge the uphills.

The race is to be held at Camp Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega, Georgia.  This camp nestled in the North Georgia mountains is a true gem.  Dahlonega is one of my favorite places to enjoy the outdoors.  The beauty of an area like Bull Mountain is definitely something you don’t want to miss.  The race has single track, double track, and Forest Service off-road running.  The course contains rolling hills, climbs, creek crossings, roots, and some technical sections.  Great for any trail runner wanting a little bit of a challenge.  The well groomed system of trails with gentle slopes and beautiful scenery will leave you breathless if the 13.1 miles doesn’t.  Any level of trail runner is encouraged to participate and enjoy the scenery; however, you must be able to walk 16 minute miles in order to get an official time.

Medals and prizes will be handed out to the top 3 overall finishers for males and females.  Also medals will be handed out to the top 3 finishers in each age and sex category.  All race participants will receive a sweet “Dri-Fit” T-shirt that lets everyone know that you are an extreme trail runner.  So register before the 15th to take advantage of the lowest entry price of $40. Price goes to $45 if you register after the 15th online and is $50 on race day.

Come out and run this awesome race.  Bull Mountain is one of the first areas I ever went mountain biking and is now going to be one of the first areas that I win my 30 year old age group!  Hope 30 is just as dirty.  See you at this awesome trail race!

It’s finally upon us, the Inaugural XTERRA Marathon of Trail Races at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 3rd, 2009!  Why is Colorado just getting an XTERRA Trail Race Series now?  I’m not sure.  Maybe XTERRA was waiting until they got the right group of people to put this trail race series together or maybe XTERRA isn’t as extreme as we all thought they were.  Hopefully that is not the case.  Obviously there is a lot of great Trail Running in Colorado, SeriousRunning.com alone has over 100 Trail Runs listed in Colorado!  It looks like now we can list some pretty sweet trail races in Colorado too.

This exciting course will be run at the brand new Cheyenne Mountain State Park which is nestled in the landscape that inspired the song “America the Beautiful.”  Maybe the beauty will inspire you to run faster…hopefully not to look at it all.  You better register for the full marathon just to make sure you don’t run too fast past the beauty.  The Cheyenne Mountain State Park XTERRA Trail Run will have a full marathon, half-marathon, and 5K option.  The full marathon will be two loops of the half-marathon course so you don’t miss any of the diverse nature in this prairie to peak eco-system.

Don’t just run this race for the beauty though, run it to win.  The Inaugural XTERRA Marathon of Trail Races and earn points for the overall XTERRA Colorado Trail Run Series champion which will include races through 2010.  Your race age is your age on December 31st of 2010, pretty sweet if you want to move up to the slower age category.  There will be at least 3 races in the series and you must run 2 to qualify.  Only the longest distance in each event will count for points, so you better run the full marathon on October 3rd if you want to win the regional series title.  Be the hero of your region!

In addition to being able to say you ran the Inaugural XTERRA Colorado Trail Race Series you also will receive a Zorrel technical race T-shirt, Inaugural finisher medal, good food, and an entry into the raffle for swag items.  Remember, you can’t buy running swag so this is could be a great way to gain some swag.  You can purchase an entry into this awesome race online from now until September 30th.  Marathon is $65, Half-Marathon is $45, and the 5K is $25.

So be a part of history and run this great new race!  It’s going to be a great time.  Stop learning about history and make it!