Zen Squirrel #3 – Briar Chapel

Description:

For the third and final race of the series, we head back to beautiful Briar Chapel. Taking advantage of the vast trail network in this 900-acre oasis on the south side of Chapel Hill, this race will be run in the opposite direction of the first race at Briar Chapel and the 10 mile course will include close to 4 miles of new trail not used in the first race. Once again, we will stage the event at Great Meadow Park, with its beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, providing another awesome backdrop for the series finale. The 5 and 10-mile race courses start with .5 miles of wide-open pavement and double track trails, perfect for establishing pace and position. After entering the single-track trails, 5-mile racers run along semi-technical terrain, up gradual hill climbs, and along relatively flat stream valleys before finishing in a large grassy community park. The exact distance of the 5-mile course is 5.0 miles, with an elevation gain of 463’. The 10-mile course includes all the terrain of the 5-mile course, about .5 miles of connecting pavement, close to 4 miles of new trail, and non-technical portions Bennett Mountain. With less hill climbing and fewer rock and root-filled sections, this Zen Squirrel 10-mile course at Briar Chapel is not as technical as the Race #1 edition. The exact distance of the 10-mile course is 10.1 miles, with an elevation gain of 963’.