R-U-N? Park City Mini Trail Series
Are you in? That’s what I think of when I see the moniker R-U-N? But in reality, the acronym comes from the race organizer who has a dog who knows English too well. As she put it, “once my dog learned what “run” meant, we had to start spelling it out so he wouldn’t become hyper-active when he heard the word. So instead of saying, “Are you taking him on a run,” we would say, “Are you taking him on an r-u-n?” Pretty soon, we realized that just spelling the word became a challenge and we would challenge each other to take the dog out by saying, “R-U-N?”
R-U-N Trail Series (courtesy image)
Well, we can all go on a R-U-N with the Park City Mini Trail Series, a 4-race series, “designed to introduce new trail runners to the sport.” The series features a 5k, 10k, 15k, and new for 2012, a 1/2 Marathon, all on dirt trails at Round Valley in Park City, Utah. The terrain here is easy, so the races are designed with beginner users in mind, but are also great speed training for more advanced trail users who are running to compete at more major events.
In its first year, The Park City Mini Trail Series was created by race director Rhielle Widders to fill the void of a regular trail running race series. Trail running is a huge part of the community here in Utah but Rhielle felt that there were not enough opportunities for short track competition among the dirt runners on the Wasatch Front. Thus the PC MTS was born.
On the trails at Park City's Round Valley in the R-U-N Event.
The races feature aid stations stocked with water, and volunteers are placed every 1.5 miles in case of emergency or any runners getting lost. Plus, for any runners who need another tech t-shirt like they need a hole in the head, all participants get signature pint glasses. Extra bonus – if you do all four races, you can collect the 4-glass series set.
For more information on R-U-N? Events and the PC MTS Min-Trail series go to www.r-u-nevents.com.
Below are directions to Round Valley:
From Kimball Junction: Take SR-224 into Park City. Take a left onto Kearn’s Blvd. Continue East almost until you reach the freeway. Take a left on Round Valley Way, like you are going to the hospital. Instead of going to the hospital, you will take a left and drive around the dog park and into Quinn’s Recreation Area.
From Highway 40: Take I-80 and to SH-40 (if you are coming from Salt Lake City, you will pass the Kimball Junction Exit). Go east on SH-40. Take the second exit for Park City. Take the first right, like you are going to the hospital. Instead of going to the hospital, take a left onto Round Valley Way. You will pass the dog park as you enter Quinn’s Recreation Area.
