The following is reprinted with permission from the Collegiate Running Association and features the 2024 Collegiate Trail Running National Championships announcement. Featured photo from the Fountainhead Trail Race 2023: Kyle Gustafson/Swim Bike Run Photography.
The Collegiate Running Association (CRA) is excited to announce a partnership with EX2 Adventures and the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race which will bring the CRA’s 2024 Collegiate Trail Running National Championship to Fairfax County, Virginia on May 19. College students, regardless of experience, ability, or age, have the opportunity to join other college students to compete in a trail running championship in beautiful Fountainhead Regional Park.
Celebrating Collegiate Trail Running
This will be the fourth Collegiate Trail Running National Championship ever held with prize money specifically reserved for college students. Whether you’re a college student competing on a NCAA varsity team, working on a post graduate class, attending a local community college or a recreational college runner, you will be able to compete for prize money at the championships.
“Historically this event has been held within some incredible trail races across the U.S. We are thrilled to announce this partnership,” said Collegiate Running Association Co-Founder, Steve Taylor. “We’ve heard so many positive things about EX2 and their events. The location (Northern Virginia) really lends itself providing access for a lot of college students.
“One of the goals of the CRA is to create opportunities for college students in areas of the sport which have not historically existed. The Fountainhead 10K Trail Race will continue to provide an opportunity for college students to compete for a national championship in trail running, a discipline not supported by the NCAA (track & field and cross country) or USATF (age-based championships). We are happy to fill a void and look forward to college student of all levels coming out for this event.”
Fountainhead Trail Race details
The 2024 Fountainhead 10K Trail Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, with a separate half marathon to be held as well. The races will take place in scenic Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station, Virginia and the Fountainhead 10K course is absolutely beautiful and challenging. The Fairfax County, VA, park is only 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C. and has an extremely remote feel for being so close to a major metropolitan area. The 10K(+) course uses a several miles section of the popular Bull-Run Occoquan Trail and one of the side trails with a really epic climb!
What the organizers are saying
“EX2 is excited to bring the Collegiate Trail Running National Championship to the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race,” said Andy Bacon, EX2 Adventures Director. Bacon added, “I’ve been a big advocate of people getting into the sport of trail running, and EX2 Adventure’s shares that same belief. So, bringing the Collegiate Trail Running National Championship to Northern Virginia gives not just local students, but college runners all around country, a great opportunity to fuel their passion for trail running.
“Whether a recreational runner, or an elite runner, they’ll have an opportunity to be part of a great sport, and I hope this type of opportunity motivates them to stay involved beyond college.”
“We are excited to be head back to the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race,” added Collegiate Running Association Co-Founder Jon Molz. “Historically this is such a great event and the trails within Fountainhead Park are exceptional. The EX2 is known for their awesome trail races and we are looking forward to the continued growth of this event in the years to come.
“Northern Virginia is full of avid supporters of active, healthy lifestyles as is demonstrated by the creation of events like this. This is a great area with several universities in close proximity. It’s a community where people enjoy the outdoors.”
College athletes, register today
Registration details can be found here. When registering for the Fountainhead 10k, you’ll be asked if you’ve been enrolled in at least 1 college course since January 1, 2024. If you select “YES” to that question, your information will be sent to the Collegiate Running Association and you’ll be included in the Collegiate Trail Running National Championship where they will request verification before awarding prize money.
College students will toe the line Sunday morning for the Fountainhead 10K Trail Race, along with “general public” runners, with separate post-race results for the college students. EX2 will present category awards to the top 5 college runners along with the top 5 earning Collegiate Running Association All-America honors, as well as prize money being distributed to the top 3 men and women college runners and product from JAMBAR, our Official Energy Bar
Top women at the 2022 Collegiate Trail Running Championships. Photo: CRA
Editor’s Note: The 2024 Collegiate Mountain Running Championships will be held at Snowbird, Utah on July 13. Results from the 2023 Collegiate Trail Running Championships can be found here.
