Western Reserve Trail Running

Explore trail running in Northeast Ohio!

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Upcoming Northeast Ohio Trail Running Events

Do The Dirty!

The Dirty Trail Race Series is a new short trail race series for Northeast Ohio in 2012. The Series will feature 16 different races across the region from Wooster to Kirtland to Rocky River to Loudonville, incorporating all seven races from last year's XTERRA Northern Ohio series as well as some new races. The final list of races and dates is being finalized and will be available on the site shortly.

Registration is now open for four races in the series and is available here.

Dirty Snowflake Prediction Run (Boston Township)
Dirty Love 10K (Willoughby Hills)
Dirty Dash 10K (Boston Township)
Dirty Feet 8K (Medina)

Other races in the series include:

Down and Dirty (Brecksville) - Tentative
Dirty Rocks (Rocky River) - Tentative
Dirty Bird (Wooster)
Dirty World (Akron)
Muddy Paws (Boston Township)
Dirty Mo (Loudonville)
Dirty Signal (Akron)
Dirty Girdle (Kirtland)
Leave No Trace (Boston Township)
Dirty Dozen (Boston Township)
Dirty Dirty (Akron)

More information and more races coming soon!

New WRTR Ultra Trail Series to begin January 2013

The purpose of the Western Reserve Trail Running (WRTR) race series is to promote regional competition, wide participation in the sport of trail running, foster volunteerism, and to recognize the annual WRTR series champions.

WRTR will not continue the long or short series in 2012!

We are currently formulating a new ultra trail series to begin in January 2013.
More information to follow as details are finalized.

Thanks to all of you who have participated in WRTR Long and Short Series.

2009-2011 Series Results are available at links below:

FINAL RESULTS
2011 Series Results (Long course) - Male | Female
2011 Series Results (Short course) - Male | Female

2011 Series Rules
2011 Race Legend

2010 Series Results
2010 Series Rules
2010 Race Legend

2009 Series Results

January Newsletter

Spotlight Runner: Melissa Cairns

What prompted you to begin running trails?
I first started running trails by accident. I was training with my dad to run my first marathon (Akron '07) and he got injured. After two long runs by myself, I decided to find some other people to run with, so I found Vertical Runner. I started running with the group and they changed me into a trail runner. I actually ran my first 50k, Buckeye Trail, before the marathon! My dad and I did finish the marathon together, though, and it was amazing, but the trails called me back. On the trails, I felt free and strong, maybe for the first time in my life.

What's your favorite aspect of running trails, especially ultras?
Over the last 6 years, my life has taken a lot of unexpected turns, and my running family has always been there for me. We flew down hills, struggled up them, got lost, found our way, tripped, fell, bled, and cried through thousands of miles. For me, running has helped me keep my sanity. Within a short amount of time, I was running 100 mile races because I was doing so many miles with my new crazy friends.

You can find more of Melissa Cairns Q&A in our January Newsletter.

Western Reserve Trail Running produces a new monthly newsletter to bring you news about various races, interviews with local runners and race directors, equipment tips and reviews, and volunteering opportunities among other information about trail running and the local trailrunning community.

Archives - 2012
January